Am I at least a decade and a half older than the intended audience for this book? Yes. Did I still buy this and start reading it the day it was published? Also yes. Am I awesome for this? Absolutely.

So in The Chalice of the Gods, the new installment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, Percy is starting at yet another new school for his senior year. But a wrench is quickly thrown into his plans for a good school year when he realizes that to get into New Rome University next year, he has to get three recommendation letters from various gods. This obstacle won’t stop him; he’s been through much worse, after all, and joining his girlfriend Annabeth there next year is his top priority. So when a handsome god approaches him to find his stolen goblet, which has the power to instill mortals with immortality. For Percy, though, it’s just a simple fetch quest. Or is it?

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that I’ve been a fan of Riordan’s for years. I’ve reviewed (and read) almost all of his middle grade novels now, and really enjoy them. At this point, this is the series (well, multiple series) that has been consistently a favorite of mine for the longest time, and it means a lot to me. So returning to a Percy Jackson–centric story after several years was so much fun! Is nostalgia a factor in my fondness for this book? Probably, but I also think that it’s a genuinely enjoyable story. (That said, Riordan must secretly be Hebe, because he zapped me back to my youth with this book! You’ll understand if you read it.)

Anyway, Percy is, as we know, a delightful narrator. He’s snarky and witty without being annoying, but he’s also in touch with his emotions and has so much love for his friends and family. I love this kid so much. Though I will say it’s rather strange to be reading about someone who’s still only seventeen when I grew up with him. In real time, he should be in his late-twenties, so it’s kind of funny to see how little time has passed within his universe.

As for the other characters, seeing the original trio (Percy, Annabeth, and Grover) teaming up again for a quest is fantastic. They play off each other so well, and Riordan is clearly in his element writing their banter. Though after all these years, the banter surely must write itself with how well he knows them. And the new characters, mainly Ganymede and “Gary,” are excellent. I’d love to see more of the former especially!

The action is, typically of Riordan, both wacky and heart-pounding. The adventure in Yonkers is a standout, but I also really enjoyed the scenes in the arcade and in Washington Square Park. We get to see how far Percy has come in terms of physical combat, but also in terms of his empathy and intelligence. Annabeth may be the more traditional “brains” of this trio, but Percy has such emotional intelligence, and it’s lovely.

In the end, I could gush about Chalice of the Gods for way longer, but I’ll settle for this general, glowing overview. The characters are amazing, and the way the friendship between the main three is portrayed is beautiful. The action scenes are great and perfectly balanced with the quieter moments. It’s not a long book, but still has a fulfilling arc. And as usual, Riordan continues to solidify why he’s been one of my favorite authors since I was a tween.

Now I just need to reread the Lightning Thief before the Percy tv show…