Board Thread:Antaeus' Arena: Audience Chamber/@comment-3146930-20140803225750

Ok, so now we are getting into the main series of books. Today we will judge the first books in each of their respective series and see which one stands up on its own.

The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief was the book that in a way, started it all. We are introduced to characters that stay with us all the way to the current series and it lays the groundwork for the books to come. In it Percy is framed for stealing Zeus' Master Bolt and is sent on a quest to find it, leading him to the pits of the Underworld and the worst mattress store in California.

Pros
 * Introduces us to the Greek gods and explains how the are alive.
 * Characters are likable, even if somewhat familiar to other series out there.
 * Big twist ending that most of us probably didn't see coming, then another twist ending after that.

The Lost Hero
The Lost Hero is the first of the sequel series and despite being very different, doesn't mean it is bad. It introduces us to the same world, but now we can see what almost every important character is thinking. We see how the actions of the original series have played out now that some time has passed. In this story, a boy with no memory is stuck helping a goddess no one seems to like by saving her from a being that no one can stop. Meanwhile there is a character with a kidnapped dad and another looking for revenge for his murdered mother.

Pros
 * Different character views allow us to see what everyone is thinking.
 * New characters that appear much more fleshed out in one book.
 * Leo.

So which one of these books is the better introduction book to a series? You can vote for your favorite here.

 