Hello dear readers! This is Miss A. Misra here with another book review! ( that intro is getting too old..) This time, it’s quite a recent one. It’s “The Chalice of the Gods” by Rick Riordan, published in mid-September or October last year. I bought it at the airport along with the “Ordeal by Innocence” book I wrote about before. It is a smaller novel than the original Percy Jackson series but is connected to the series. The text print is bigger and easier to read (much to Mom’s approval). The book is left at a part where Percy STILL has a quest to finish, and it’s just my luck that the next book in the series has not even been published up to now! The release date is some three or four months away.
So, this time, Percy is going to another university, but it needs three recommendation letters from three different gods or goddesses. His councilor, a water nymph helps him search out a task. Ganymede, the cupbearer in Olympus, has lost his magical chalice ( If you didn’t know, it’s a type of fancy goblet with lots of designs and gold-rimmed edges and all those totally necessary jewels.) that grants anyone immortality. And of course, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover set off to investigate at once. According to Ganymede, everyone on Olympus, except for Zeus, hates him. Eventually, he points out that Hebe ( the Greek goddess of eternal youth, if I remember right. It’s pronounced like: “Hee-bee”, not “hey-bey” or anything else!) and Iris (the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and yeah, it’s pronounced as you see it, okay?) would be the most plausible suspects. Grover mentions that he THINKS he knows what Hebe’s secret lair is. And wouldn’t you be surprised? The name of the place was literally-
“Hebe Jeebies”
(insert “jungshook” face here)
How ironically obvious. But Hebe must have just taken one look at that word in the dictionary and been like: “Heebie” is pronounced like my name, so I’ll just go and (*steals*)Anyways, it was a sort of jumbo, massive, disco, karaoke, and arcade place rolled into one. There were candy types that existed AGES ago, arcade games no one remembered since their childhoods, and songs playing that were unheard of for years. So, it’s a place meant to cause nostalgia to be young again, which I guess does make sense since Hebe was the goddess of youth, anyway! Hebe was the manager and had taken her human form as a girl of around 14 or 15, with a paisley minidress and also some white boots along with them. Which, is not a very good style to go with, but from Percy’s POV, it looks okay. So, let’s let it pass the time.
When the trio reached, they met the manager of the place, Sparky, and she was nine years old. But do you know what? Well, she was 90-SOMETHING years old but after working in Hebe’s place she got her blessing and wished to be young again. Odd, but whatever. After some strolling around, they find Hebe in the karaoke bar and when they try to inquire about Ganymede’s cup, she gets angry and turns them all into eight years old again! When they try to go to Sparky, Sparky sets a flock of flesh-eating chickens on their trail!
( phew)
So now they are stuck as primary schoolers, need to find Ganymede’s chalice, not offend other goddesses, and get back to their original ages. That’s a whole load of work for a trio of teens. Did I mention that on the way Iris ( goddess of the rainbow) gives them ANOTHER quest that requires Percy to go to a river full of snakes? I did not. Now you know.
Will they be able to find the chalice? Not get killed by some snakes? And will they make it in time before Zeus finds out Ganymede lost the magic cup and blasts some people with his scary lightning bolts?
Well, this book was quite good and entertaining, but the plot just failed the point in my case. Why even? To get a college application he needs THREE QUESTS. I thought the mortal people didn’t even know of the gods-so how? I read that part so many times and it still did not make sense.
Otherwise, it’s really good. Though Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are all 17 now, the story is still written in the same sarcastic and humorous way I like. Some parts were so hilarious I almost fell off my chair. The humor is so spot on, it feels like it is Percy who is writing the book. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the narrator himself is fictional. The book ends without Percy getting his last quests, which is sad. But as it IS smaller than the rest of the original series that’s expected.
One thing to keep in mind is that to enjoy this book is to read some of the original series because there are so many inside jokes and lines that only fans of the series will get. If you haven’t yet read the original series, most of the jokes will make no sense to you!
book review by child reader
The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle #LittleReader Review
Hi! This is Miss A.Misra here again to give you a book review on-The Storm keeper’s island by Catherine Doyle.
This book was given to me by a friend on my birthday. I was saving all my new books to read later after the exam, and I started with this one yesterday, and finished it some time ago.
This certain book was totally engaging and had me hooked from the first line. It has the tongue-in-cheek ironic humour yet the deep dark secrets of Arranmore island poke through and get straight to you.ย
The Storm keeper’s island is about a magical island called Arranmore ( you must have understood that in the last line, though!) where a boy called Fionn and his sister Tara ( very annoying, might add, but gets nicer.) go to their grandfather. Fionn’s sister refuses toย tell him anything ( typical) and goes off with her friend Bartley and his younger sister, Shelby. Shelby is quite nice and obviously Fionn thinks she is better than her good for nothing, rich brother.
There is a secret about Arranmore island. It has a stormkeeper, who controls, manipulatesย and has reign over the weather, storm, sun and sea. This storm keeper is chosen by the wishing tree given by Dagda, the great conqueror. The current stormkeeper is Fionn and Tara’s grandfather!(OMG)
He controls the great area by pouring magic into a candle, and harnessing the power within him. But he is slowly fading away, losing power and memory. It is time for a new keeper. But who will get there first? Fionn or Bartley?
Meanwhile, an evil magician woman called Morrigan was confined deep into the ground by Dagda the Great, over thousands of years ago. She is still waiting for the prophecy to complete ” I shall reign whenย the boy rises”. Fionn feels her presence, ever so closely now, along with the eyes of the Secret Soulstalkers, Morrigan’s old army who have returned.ย
This book has a cliffhanger ending, and has a second part which is a bookย I don’t have yet.ย
My opinion? Well, this is an absolute must read! I have no complaints about this book, except it might need to explain some things a bit better. Its slightly confusing in some parts.
This is part of Bookchatter and #TBRChallenge
“GOOD work, Secretย Seven” Book Summary and Review by Little Miss A.Misra
Who is Little Miss A. Misra?
My first blog post: ON “GOOD work, Secret Seven”
Hello Everyone! I am Little Miss A. Misra. I am the daughter of Dr.Amrita Basu and Dr.Abhijit Misra , the people behind this website. Nice to meet you! I am launching the Children’sCorner on the blog.
Now, let me tell you a little bit about myself. Just a little bit. I promise it’s not going to be a lengthy autobiography.
I adore books. Half my house is full of books. Seriously. We could open a library if we wanted to. Every day, after lunch, I simply HAVE to sit in my room and read a book. Mostly I read Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, and Ruskin Bond.
I really like to paint and draw Anime. But mainly Anime GIRLS. I doubt I’ve drawn more than 5 boys in my life. And they were all of my father while drawing a family picture.
Anyways, moving on! I also enjoy gardening. We have two balconies, and it is bursting with greenery. It’s an attraction to birds, butterflies, and sometimes bees. In school, when a bee buzzes around us, everyone is divided into three groups. One group: The scared one, whose eyes keep following the bee to see if it’s near. Number Two: I must catch it with my book! (Or pretend to!)
Third group: The teacher who says it’s fine, why is everyone making a fuss?
Okay, the Introduction is done!
Let’s start today’s topic: ” Good work, Secret Seven” by Enid Blyton
Short Summary of GOOD work, Secret Seven Book no.6 from the Secret Seven Series by Enid Blyton
Book for 7 to 10 years.
In this book, the adventurous group ” Secret Seven”( Consisting of Peter, Janet, Pamela, Barbara, Jack, George, and Colin, along with Scamper the Dog) is getting ready for bonfire night. Once, while in Colin’s shed, risked their lives, because it caught fire suddenly, because of a candle! After having tea at a nanny’s home, their father comes to pick them up in a car from there. But, when he suddenly stops and tells them to wait a minute, two rogues unexpectedly steal it, and drive off!
Poor Peter and Janet were hiding and very scared. The people who stole the car, stopped it, in the dark, and went away. The two children come out and go to the telephone booth and call their father, wanting to tell the police. He came immediately and laughed at the idea.
Quick Book Review
Pro’s:
1. It’s quite exciting, especially the parts where Peter is dressed as Guy Fawkes
2. The book is very descriptive. I can picture everything in my mind.
3. All the chapters are very good, I keep wanting to read what’s next.
Con’s
1. The book is not AS funny as the others in the series
2. Some characters, like Barbara and Colin don’t do much, or say more than a sentence here. Even Scamper the golden spaniel has more parts than them
My review Rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
This book is amazingly written, with lovely descriptions and wonderful construction. Would suggest for a good read. The only thing is that it is not as funny as the other books in this series, and some characters have no role in the book at all!
But, again, it makes me want to have such amazing adventures with friends. They never seem to happen!
Conclusion:
Wonderful Book!
That’s it. I have nothing else to say.
Well, goodbye today, and will meet you next week!
Cheers!
WEEKLY Puzzle collected from various sources(I will mention sources if and when I find them,you can let me know too.)
Answer in the comments
This is quite easy. Look at the WORDs carefully
” I come once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never once in a zillion years. Who am I?”
This part of Blogchatter halfmarathon challenge and also #CauseAchatter