The Percy Jackson train is one heck of a ride, and I am now eagerly anticipating the fifth and final book in the series! I only wish I had put it on reserve at the library earlier, as being ninth on the waiting list would have gone by while I enjoyed the rest of the series. Suspense is a good thing, though—I’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts.

Battle of the Labyrinth was one of the best in the series yet. (Spoilers ahead.) As usual, Riordan grips us immediately with a fantastic scenario; in this case, it’s demon cheerleaders! (And he wrote this before Jennifer’s Body, mind you.) Percy is also developing feelings for Annabeth, who is jealous of his friendship with a non-demigod girl. When they return to camp (after a date that didn’t happen due to aforementioned cheerleaders), they discover the passageway into a labyrinth that Luke is hoping to exploit in order to enter the camp secretly.

Naturally, Percy and friends (including his half-brother, the Cyclops Tyson) must enter the labyrinth and contact Daedelus, the labyrinth’s maker, in order to persuade him to not give Luke the secret to navigating the labyrinth. Grover also hopes to find the lost god Pan, as he’s only been given a week to find him. Within the labyrinth the four friends encounter more adventures and mythological circumstances than ever, including Percy in a battle to the death, Herculean tasks, meetings with lots of mythological creatures, and an encounter with goddess Hera—just to start!

In the end, the four fail to keep Luke from entering the camp; however, with a little resourcefulness and the help of some very strong creatures they met in the labyrinth, they are able to defeat Luke—who is now a host for Kronos—and prevent him from completely destroying the camp—although they do sadly suffer some losses.

The big fight scene would have been a lot better if it had been more drawn out, but we now know that’s simply not Riordan’s style. He likes to cut right to the point, dashing from one slice of action to the next until our hearts are pounding and we’re dizzy, wondering what to expect next.

I can hardly wait to find out what happens in the conclusion—as well as to see book one, The Lightening Thief, on the big screen this month! Anyone buy their tickets already?