User blog comment:SayuriDarling/The House of Hades Official Discussion/@comment-24062146-20131024134102

Hello! My first post! Do I need to say SPOILERS this far after we got the book?

I agree that Piper was just okay. I do like the development of the others, however. Hazel controlling the mist was not that random of an ability. Remember that Thalia did this in TC to convince they staff they belonged at the school. She said Chiron showed her. I am sure fooling mortals is easier than demigods, but Hazel was not the first we saw use this ability.

Frank was great. Really gaining confidence, which was mostly what he needed.

Some months ago I remember thinking it would be great is Leo could meet Calypso. I was excited to see this. For those who think she was out of character, please note that she heard Percy had demanded her freedom, and has likely spent the past year hoping he was coming back to rescue her. And even if she has been there for 3000 years, she still has the mind of a 15 her old. Her experience has been too limited for her to really "grow up". I think perhaps she has broken her own curse. For the first time she has fallen for a hero not for WHAT he is, but WHO he is. Plus, instead of selfishly asking him to stay, she sends him away, because it is the right thing to do. Another first for her. Maybe she has finally earned her way off the island.

Nico surprised me. Rick is a man in his fifties, from Texas. As I started to feel where that chapter was going I didn't believe he would really do it. I applaud him for this. It took great courage on his part. And while it caught me off guard, when I look back it does fit the character. It feels right. And if it was done to help certain readers relate to a character, then so what? My daughter has faced her dyslexia and stopped calling herself stupid because of Percy and Annabeth. If someone finds strength by seeing themselves in Nico, and seeing how Jason reacts with compassion and acceptance, then that is a GOOD thing.

The worst thing about this series is the CONTINUITY ERRORS. They are glaring it it drives me insane. I would rather wait a bit longer between books.

Oh, and WHY doesn't Piper do cows? Am I forgetting something? I know why Annabeth doesn't, but not Piper...