Nico realized how ridiculous it sounded. He’d never told anyone about Jules-Albert – not even Hazel. But he kept talking. ‘Hades had this idea that I should, you know, try to act like a modern teenager. Make friends. Get to know the twenty-first century. He vaguely understood that mortal parents drive their kids around a lot. He couldn’t do that. So his solution was a zombie.
Rick Riordan
Related My dad gave me a present once,' Nico said. 'It was a zombie.' Reyna stared at him. 'What?' RICK RIORDAN So many parents tell their kids how great they are. When he didn't make the team, I told him he had ... BILL DONOVAN This did not seem to reassure Nico. “I don’t like being in the dark,” he muttered.<... RICK RIORDAN On sentry duty with Hazel, he would try to take his mind off it. He loved spending time with her. He... RICK RIORDAN I had a long conversation with Steve Carlton. He told me that on the days he pitched, he felt it was... RANDY JOHNSON You belong at Camp Jupiter.” That sounded so ridiculous, Hazel almost laughed. She didn’t belong... RICK RIORDAN No,’ Nico said. ‘Getting a second life is one thing. Making it a better life, that’s the trick... RICK RIORDAN I mean, I look at my dad. He was twenty when he started having a family, and he was always the coole... ADAM SANDLER He asked me how many high school games I had coached. I told him it was around 780, and he said, 'I ... FLOYD CIRUTI Leroy used to tell hitchhikers his whole life story — about his travels, his hometown, the baby. H... BOBBIE ANN MASON He's an emotional guy. But I don't think he understood why this was happening. He was a little throw... BART SCHOUTEN I had a long conversation with Steve Carlton. He told me that on the days he pitched, he felt it was... RANDY JOHNSON Yeah, his school! It was his first real home, the place that meant he was special; it meant everythi... J.K. ROWLING Ophelia,' said the boy. He said it very quietly. She didn't like the way he said that at all. He sou... KAREN FOXLEE He didn't even know how to talk about it. He had practiced not talking about the things he knew unti... CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE You know how it is. You feel a little different because other people have two parents, even if they�... NICHOLAS SPARKS He's just a strong, hard-nosed kid. He could do certain things -- he's a beast with his Russian tie ... JASON HAYES He always told the truth. If you asked him a question, he was going to give you the answer. You migh... ENOS CABELL I did not know about the compensation. I told him I have no idea what he was talking about. MAUREEN TAYLOR No sooner had he thought this than he realized what was anchoring his happiness. It was purpose. He ... TRENTON LEE STEWART For a moment, Nico felt like a little kid again. He was tempted to blurt out, That’s so cool! Even... RICK RIORDAN People fell in love, and lost, and moved on. He didn’t know why he couldn’t. He didn’t know wh... CASSANDRA CLARE Lucas couldn’t have imagined that he would have ever felt so alone. No family, no friends. Even hi... MARK A. COOPER His grandmother had died, and so we had been talking about her being in heaven, ... And I said to hi... GRAINNE OWEN Jimmy's been off and on, and we know how capable he is. He either bats before or after Albert. It's ... HAL MCRAE The worst was relizing that I’d lost him for nothing because he’d been rght about all of it-- va... CLAUDIA GRAY This was a young man who had a very rough time growing up, but he never showed that, never complaine... EDWARD ROMERO Whatever you do in life will be insignificant. but it is very important that you do it because, You ... WILL FETTERS C.J. had once believed that he understood who he was, what he was about, what he was capable of. But... ROY L. PICKERING JR. He wanted to say a coincidence, but he couldn’t make himself believe that. Over the past few years... RICK RIORDAN I pop gum. My parents get so annoyed with me. I know my dad wishes he never taught me how to do that... HILARY DUFF My dad grew up wrestling. He knew Ken Shamrock, and I didn't know who he was at the time. So, he... PAIGE VANZANT It sounded a lot like me when I didn't want to go to Vancouver. Really, I had never heard of (Vazque... STEVE FRANCIS He was asking all these questions, wanting to know what the deformity was. I asked him why he needed... SUE BAILEY But he like my mother, had certainly come to know that those who work the most do not make the most ... AGNES SMEDLEY Did he say that? What was he thinking of? How did he know to tell the trustee to sell it [his HCA st... KATHLEEN CLARK He told me how some of the greens broke, which helped me a lot. He showed me some tricks around the ... BILLY MAYFAIR The thing I told Rod is that I would have hated to have to try and coach him. He just didn't listen,... DARREN PERRY I don't feel that way anymore," Nico muttered. "I mean... I gave up on Percy. I was young and impres... RICK RIORDAN The communication had gotten so bad that I don't think any of us know, even to this day, what was go... SHIRLEY MANSON [Contrary to speculation, coach Doc Rivers says he didn't demand that the Celtics retain Blount.] Th... DOC RIVERS Being the returning state runner-up immediately put a target on Alex. I knew he had pressure on him ... ZACH ERRETT He had a lot of talent, but didn't have much dedication, wasn't organized, didn't know how to learn,... JACK NICKLAUS He was complaining about his leg pain being so bad, which you never know somebody's pain tolerance. ... JODI WEBB We wanted to make sure he understood what we expected and needed from him. But I told Juan that this... AL GRUSHKIN The first impression I had was hitting ground balls to him and you realized that he was a special pe... BUDDY BAILEY He sounded so happy. He was really enthused. I could hear it in his throat that he had some problems... JUDY BARR He was just a raw-boned kid that loved the game and never took a play off. Coming from a small town,... DAVE WILSON He was a wonderful person. He was my oldest, my first born. I don't know why anyone would do that to... CRYSTAL JARVIS I'm getting asked a lot, 'You don't have kids, so how do you know how to act like a moth... WINONA RYDER So how did you think about him?” Rachel asks. Hallelujah shrugs. “We were friends. Good fri... KATHRYN HOLMES I think that was when dad first realized how serious my twin brother and myself were of learning the... REX RYAN Nico knew something about ghosts. Letting them get inside your head was dangerous. He wanted to help... RICK RIORDAN If he comes in a game like that, you know it has to be important to him. He was going to try not to ... CHIPPER JONES He had a lot of drops today. I don't know what it was. Maybe Joey got in his head. His game plan all... JAMES FARRIOR Let me drive," she said, reaching for the reins. He turned to her in disbelief. "This is a phae... JULIA QUINN Percy Jackson," Hermes said, "because you have taken on the curse of Achilles, I must spare you. You... RICK RIORDAN You can't be that or that or that... but you can try to behave as that... So, what next!?... DEYTH BANGER 38. “A wet bird never flies at night.” (My grandfather said that to me when I was a child and wa... JAMES C. DOBSON Brothers do not do that to their family members, and he knew that the only thing Pun left behind was... CUBAN LINK I?m not saying that he was an angel. A lot of parents sit back and say their kids were angels. When ... GUSS MAGBY I believe he was a hero and he did try to apprehend the shooter, and I understand that he probably d... LUCIA JACKSON I guess we've had a very close relationship because I don't pretend to know about cinema and I think... ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER I told Matt at halftime that he had to shoulder the load. We always put a lot on his shoulders, but ... MIKE HOLMGREN He was lying; I could hear it the way you hear a tune and you know how it goes. I wondered how many ... ANNIE BARROWS he’d spent his whole life trying to make God love him—and that this didn’t matter in the sligh... THOMAS MALLON I would hear stories about Steve Jobs and feel like he was at 100 percent exactly what he wanted to ... KANYE WEST Having had that experience, why my heart goes out to him and even more so if he should be found guil... DAN WALKER It was out of character for him to do this. He just kept saying that he had a surprise for us tomorr... CAROL COSTELLO Do you have kids?" Anna asks. I laugh. "What do you think?" "It's probably a good thing," ... JODI PICOULT Do you not understand?” he whispered. “I have never belonged to anyone. Not since I was a child.... KRISTEN CALLIHAN It's like when my doctor told me the story of these two brothers whose dad was a bad alcoholic. One ... STEPHEN CHBOSKY When he was in a game, he put his mind, body and soul into trying to win it. He was animated, but th... BILL GRANGER Only a few days earlier he had explained to her that he did not merely read books but traveled with ... JAN-PHILIPP SENDKER I always hear parents talking about how outraged they are because their kid saw a boob or something ... IAN MCCLELLAN You could know a man not by what his friends said about him, but by how he treated his servants. CASSANDRA CLARE He said he had a show he wanted to put on the air about the survivors of a plane crash and would I p... JJ ABRAMS Daddy - I remember when he first let me drive the cultivator for him, you know... He eased you into ... GLEN CAMPBELL Stairs to climb are difficult it takes time and effort and going down is easies job... what do I mea... DEYTH BANGER Sounded to me like he had a pretty good idea what he was saying," Van replied, with surprisingly lit... JONATHAN FRANZEN No, it had never been like this for him before, with anyone. Of all the women he’d known, she was ... J.D. ROBB This one guy Roland was so weird that during sex his voice altered—as if he were a fucking alien�... KATHY GRIFFIN Now that right there was tough on him, I know, because first year as a head coach and you have a dea... JAMIE WINBORN I'm not comparing myself at all to him, but I like the idea that Ernest Hemingway always wrote a... IMELDA MAY What do parents look like?" "You know how the tightrope guy at the circus wants everyone to bel... JODI PICOULT Aside from all that, she was carrying about a million tons of titanium ore to the heavy industries o... CHRISTINA ENGELA My old man taught me a lot of stuff in his death that I don't even know if he would have been ab... FREDDIE PRINZE, JR. He was asking me what he should do, and at that time I told him that if he had the courage and the h... JOSEPH TOWLE He had a theory that musicians are incredibly complex, and know far less than other artists what the... E.M. FORSTER Little Joe was still behind him. Eli could feel it. He wanted to look back, but he couldn’t. The t... SANDRA NEIL WALLACE Ice Cube's the coolest dad. A lot of parents - a lot of kids do not think their parents are cool... O'SHEA JACKSON, JR. You never really know what to expect. He did OK. He was overthrowing, but that's [something] to be e... JOHN GIBBONS I had a feeling this was coming three years ago. This is the most ridiculous situation. He says one ... HILLY KRISTAL Jeez, Hazel," Percy said, "tell your horse to watch his language." Hazel tried not to laugh. "W... RICK RIORDAN As for my brothers,' Zeus said, 'we are thankful -' he cleared his throat, like the words were hard ... RICK RIORDAN I try to get a lot of advice from him and do whatever he does because he's done it for so long. He k... ANDY BENSON He asked for that. Since the first one, he wasn't on me for that one, but after that one, they put h... BON BEAN Yeah, let’s get John here. That way we can stall for a while longer. We can keep on doing nothing ... MICHAEL GRANT Browning ... tells us that what won him for Christ was this, that while others tried to soothe his a... A. J. GOSSIP ...Goddamn himself for letting his independence slip away from him. He didn't even know how it had h... KIMBERLY GARDNER
More Rick Riordan
It's not easy. I got lots of rejections when I first started out. If you want to write, you have... RICK RIORDAN All of my characters tend to be montages of different people I've met: little bits and pieces of... RICK RIORDAN I don't recommend shadow travel if you're scared of: a) The dark b) Cold shivers up your s... RICK RIORDAN Technically, even on inspection, it was against camp rules for two campers of the opposite sex to be... RICK RIORDAN Annabeth:My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris. Percy: the ... RICK RIORDAN Correct." Kekrops sounded bitter, like he regretted his decision. "My people were the original Athen... RICK RIORDAN Gods of Olympus.” Piper stared at Leo. “What happened to you ?” His hair was grease... RICK RIORDAN He turned to Frank who was trying to pull his fingers out of the Chinese handcuffs… “Okay,�... RICK RIORDAN Save yourselves!” Percy warned. “It is too late for us!” Then he gasped and pointed to th... RICK RIORDAN Survive first. Figure out crayon drawing of destiny later. RICK RIORDAN I'm the Super-sized McShizzle, man!" Leo said. "I'm Leo Valdez, bad boy supreme. And the ladies l... RICK RIORDAN Delaying death is one of my favorite hobbies RICK RIORDAN Leo: "So...giants who can throw mountains. Friendly wolves that will eat us if we show weakness. Evi... RICK RIORDAN I have lightning and wind powers," Jason reminded him. "Piper can turn beautiful and charm people in... RICK RIORDAN Can we just call them storm spirits?” Leo asked. “Venti makes them sound like evil espresso drin... RICK RIORDAN On the bright side," Percy said, "both Jason and I outrank you, Octavian. So we can both tell you to... RICK RIORDAN Behold!" Percy shouted. "The god's chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke! RICK RIORDAN Hercules,huh? Percy frowned. "That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn... RICK RIORDAN I try not to think. It interferes with being nuts -Leo Valdez RICK RIORDAN Um," Grover said. "Percy?" "Yeah?" "I thought you'd want to know." "Yeah?" "Cerb... RICK RIORDAN Oh, come on!’ Percy complained. ‘I get a little nosebleed and I wake up the entire earth? That�... RICK RIORDAN You can keep watch, in case – you know, the lake decides to attack us or something." - Leo Valdez RICK RIORDAN He hated being filled with terror. It was embarrassing. RICK RIORDAN Have you ever noticed how parents can go from the most wonderful people in the world to totally emba... RICK RIORDAN I’ve met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil Titan Lord who wanted to destroy Wes... RICK RIORDAN Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot." "He's the sun god," I said. "That's not what I me... RICK RIORDAN I wanted to argue but I found I couldn't. Athena was pretty darn smart. RICK RIORDAN There is always a way for those clever enough to find it. RICK RIORDAN When Athena falls in love, it's purely intellectual. It's a meeting of minds. The purest kind of lov... RICK RIORDAN Headache!" Zeus bellowed. "Bad. bad headache!" As if to prove his point, the lord of the univer... RICK RIORDAN your loved ones have been used to lure you into Kronos's traps. Your fatal flaw is personal loyalty ... RICK RIORDAN Wisdom's daughter walks alone. That didn't just mean without other people, Annabeth realized. I... RICK RIORDAN The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation," she said. "Evil is easy to fight. ... RICK RIORDAN People usually asked her if she had a belly button. Of course she had a belly button. She couldn't e... RICK RIORDAN Athena stood in the middle of the road with her arms crossed and a look on her face that made me thi... RICK RIORDAN Athena called, "Annabeth Chase, my own daughter." Annabeth squeezed my arm, then walked forward... RICK RIORDAN I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain," she said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, ... RICK RIORDAN She studied me with concern. She touched the new streak of gray in my hair that matched hers exactly... RICK RIORDAN There is always a way out for those clever enough to find it. RICK RIORDAN The first lesson every child of Athena learned: Mom was the best at everything, and you should never... RICK RIORDAN Not knowing is half the fun," Aphrodite said, "Exquisitely painful isn't it? Not being sure who you ... RICK RIORDAN Annabeth gripped the hilt of her dagger. “A bounty on our heads . . . as if we didn’t attract en... RICK RIORDAN The cord, a familiar voice said. Remember your lifeline, dummy! Suddenly there was a tug in my ... RICK RIORDAN You sneaked into my cabin?” Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Percy, you’ll be seventeen in two ... RICK RIORDAN I learned a long time ago: Never bet against Annabeth. RICK RIORDAN Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge." We stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of c... RICK RIORDAN And,” Annabeth continued, “it reminds me how long we’ve known each other. We were twelve RICK RIORDAN He had no idea where the stereotype of dumb giggly blondes came from. Ever since he'd met Annabeth a... RICK RIORDAN I could have killed you.” “Or I could have killed you,” Percy said. Jason shrugged.... RICK RIORDAN I'm Dylan. I'm so cool. I want to date myself, but I don't know how! You want to date me instead? Yo... RICK RIORDAN Argh!" Thalia pushed me, and a shock went through my body that blew me backward ten feet into the wa... RICK RIORDAN This is Annabeth,” Jason said. “Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people. RICK RIORDAN You drool when you sleep. RICK RIORDAN Hey, can I see that sword you were using?" I showed him Riptide, and explained how it turned fr... RICK RIORDAN I'm calm," Rachel insisted. "Every time I'm around you, some monsters attack us. What's to be nervou... RICK RIORDAN Remind me again-why do you hate me so much?" I don't hate you." Could've foole... RICK RIORDAN Leo: Rainbows. Very macho. Annabeth: Butch is our best equestrian, he gets along great with the... RICK RIORDAN It's okay,” he said. “We're together.” He didn't say you're okay , or we're alive ... RICK RIORDAN Monkey bar," Annabeth said. "I'm great at these." She leaped onto to the first rung and start swingi... RICK RIORDAN She raised an eyebrow. "You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?" You'd probably ki... RICK RIORDAN Once she was gone, I knelt next to Annabeth and felt her forehead. She was still burning up. "Y... RICK RIORDAN Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" I asked. "It only works on wild animals.... RICK RIORDAN Percy: Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right? Annabeth: Come back alive,... RICK RIORDAN You are okay?" he asked. "Not eaten by monsters?" "Not even a little bit." I showed him that I ... RICK RIORDAN What if it lines up like it did in the Trojan War ... Athena versus Poseidon?" "I don't know. B... RICK RIORDAN The real story of the Fleece: there were these two children of Zeus, Cadmus and Europa, okay? They w... RICK RIORDAN A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He... RICK RIORDAN Percy (to Annabeth): If I was going to pick one person in the world to reattach my head, I'd pick yo... RICK RIORDAN Dreams like a podcast, Downloading truth in my ears. They tell me cool stuff." "Apoll... RICK RIORDAN Young people don't always do what they're told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderf... RICK RIORDAN It's hard to enjoy practical jokes when your whole life feels like one. RICK RIORDAN Rachel: You're a half-blood, too? Annabeth: Shhh! Just announce it to the world, how about? RICK RIORDAN I turned to Dionysus. "You cured him?" "Madness is my specialty. It was quite simple." "Bu... RICK RIORDAN My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding stude... RICK RIORDAN Hermes gazed up at the stars. "My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons... RICK RIORDAN Hermes smiled. "I knew a boy once ... oh, younger than you by far. A mere baby, really."Her... RICK RIORDAN It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inv... RICK RIORDAN Like water leaking through a dam," said Piper. "Yeah," smiled Percy. "We've got a dam hole." RICK RIORDAN I'd love to tell you I had some deep revelation on my way down, that I came to terms with my own mor... RICK RIORDAN A hero can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as he has the nerve. RICK RIORDAN Very slowly using two fingers, Annabeth drew her dagger. Instead of dropping it, she tossed it as fa... RICK RIORDAN I said hello to the poodle. RICK RIORDAN Nico, you can do this," Jason said. "It might be embarrassing, but it's for the scepter." RICK RIORDAN Love is on every side, Cupid said. And no one's side. Don't ask what Love can do for you.<... RICK RIORDAN Is this guy Love or Death?" Jason growled.Ask your friends, Cupid said. Frank,... RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson... RICK RIORDAN You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or ask a poet to explain his poem. It defeats th... RICK RIORDAN Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing. RICK RIORDAN The real world is where the monsters are. RICK RIORDAN It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality. RICK RIORDAN I felt like one of Apollo's sacred cows- slow, dumb, and bright red. RICK RIORDAN We're staying together," he promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again. RICK RIORDAN Hades raised an eyebrow. When he sat forward in his throne, shadowy faces appeared in the folds of h... RICK RIORDAN The main courtyard was filled with warriors - mermen with fish tails from the waist down and human b... RICK RIORDAN She whirled when the monster was almost on top of her. I thought the thing in her hands was an umbre... RICK RIORDAN Leo,” Hazel gasped, “I can’t—my arms—” “Hazel,” he said. “Do you trust me?”... RICK RIORDAN Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out! RICK RIORDAN She held up her calloused, grimy fingers. Leo couldn't help thinking there was nothing hotter than a... RICK RIORDAN Tantalus made a wild grab, but the marshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames. RICK RIORDAN Everyone thinks you've been kidnapped," he said. "We've been scouring the ship. When Coach Hedge fin... RICK RIORDAN Huh," Leo said. "Well, if you ever get off this island and want a job, let me know. You're not a tot... RICK RIORDAN Um...is that thing tame ?" Frank said. The horse whinnied angrily. "I don't think so... RICK RIORDAN Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tyson pounding the Earthborn into the ground like a game of wha... RICK RIORDAN Frank imitated the voice of Vitellius: 'They're wimps! Back in my day, we died all the time, and we ... RICK RIORDAN He [Death] pulled a pure-black iPad from thin air. Death tapped the screen a few times and all Frank... RICK RIORDAN Just his luck he was related to this grubby old dude. He hoped all sons of Neptune didn't share the ... RICK RIORDAN Look," Percy continued, "I know I'm new here. I know you guys don't like to mention the massacre in ... RICK RIORDAN Part of their problem was Percy. He fought like a demon, whirling through the defender's ranks in a ... RICK RIORDAN Juno: "All roads lead there child. You should know that." Percy: "Detention? RICK RIORDAN They all ordered massive plates of eggs, pancakes, and reindeer sausage, though Frank looked a littl... RICK RIORDAN Percy tried to remember. He really did. For some reason, Annabeth and he had visited a spa and decid... RICK RIORDAN That's because we keep weapons in the attic, silly boy. Do you think this is the first time m... RICK RIORDAN Tyson, Frank is a descendant of Poseidon." "Brother!" Tyson crushed Frank in a hug. Percy ... RICK RIORDAN Elections only happen in two ways," Reyna said. "Either the legion raises someone on a shield after ... RICK RIORDAN You speak horse?" Hazel asked. "Speaking to horses is a Poseidon thing," Percy said. "Uh, I mea... RICK RIORDAN Frank stared at him. "Unfair? You can breathe underwater and blow up glaciers and summon freaking hu... RICK RIORDAN They're Lares. House gods." "House gods," Percy said. "Like...smaller than real gods, but large... RICK RIORDAN I'm fine!" Percy yelled out as he ran by, followed by a giant screaming bloody murder. RICK RIORDAN This is Leo. I'm the... What's my title? Am I like, admiral, or captain, or..." "Repair boy." RICK RIORDAN Reyna sent me to get Percy," Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?" "Yeah," Percy said. "He sla... RICK RIORDAN Percy scowled. "I-I know you." Nico raised his eyebrows. "Do you? RICK RIORDAN Annabeth's face, her blond hair and gray eyes, the way she laughed, threw her arms around him, and g... RICK RIORDAN Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!" He slung his M16 onto his bac... RICK RIORDAN There!" Mars finished writing and threw the scroll at Octavian. "A prophecy. You can add it to your ... RICK RIORDAN Jeez, Hazel," Percy said, "tell your horse to watch his language." Hazel tried not to laugh. "W... RICK RIORDAN Hey!" said the guy in the video. "Greetings from your friends at Camp Half-Blood, et cetera. This is... RICK RIORDAN Life is only precious because it ends, kid. RICK RIORDAN Now, come over here so I can pat you down." "But you don't have-" Percy stopped. "Uh, sure." RICK RIORDAN Can you surf really well, then?" I looked at Grover, who was trying hard not to laugh. "Je... RICK RIORDAN Hera, do not dare take credit! You have caused at least as many problems as you fixed! RICK RIORDAN He wondered if...his dad, Zeus, would write him a note: “Please excuse Jason from eternal damnatio... RICK RIORDAN Usually I give demigods something simple like a shopping trip, singing a funny song, that sort of th... RICK RIORDAN Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts t... RICK RIORDAN If you look at it from any other side, it looks like a pile of enormous deer droppings, but Chiron w... RICK RIORDAN Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo." Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be... RICK RIORDAN The god of wine looked around at the assembled crowd. “Miss me?” The satyrs fell over... RICK RIORDAN My faithful companion, Zoe Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And ... RICK RIORDAN Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and me. "These two are dangerous. It'd be mu... RICK RIORDAN But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!" Chiron and Grover glanced nervously ... RICK RIORDAN Kronos couldn't have risen if it hadn't been for a lot of demigods who felt abandoned by their paren... RICK RIORDAN Your uncle," Poseidon sighed, "has always had a flair for dramatic exits. I think he would've done w... RICK RIORDAN I looked at Thalia. "You're afraid of heights." Now that we were safely down the mountain... RICK RIORDAN Doesn't miss many meals, does he?" Zeus muttered. "Tyson, for your bravery in the war, and for leadi... RICK RIORDAN The Council agrees," Zeus said. "Percy Jackson, you will have one gift from the gods." I hesita... RICK RIORDAN As for my brothers," Zeus said, "we are thankful"-he cleared his throat like the words were hard to ... RICK RIORDAN It's just Annabeth mom jeez! RICK RIORDAN Хей! - извика Гроувър. - Тя май припадна! - Гррр! - обади... RICK RIORDAN Той ме погледна тъжно, сякаш мислеше какви цветя да изб... RICK RIORDAN Синдром на Дефицит на Вниманието (СДВ) RICK RIORDAN You're cute when you're worried, your eyebrows get all scrunched together. RICK RIORDAN then things got even stranger. Mr. Brunner, who'd been out in front of the museum a minute befo... RICK RIORDAN There are parties and then there are huge major blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties... RICK RIORDAN Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” ... RICK RIORDAN Percy smiled. He knew the stakes were high. He knew this day could go horribly wrong. But he also kn... RICK RIORDAN Hazel squinted. "How far?" "Just over the river and through the woods." Percy raised an ey... RICK RIORDAN Can’t this thing go any faster?” Thalia demanded. Zoe glared at her. “I cannot control tr... RICK RIORDAN Erre es korakas, Blinky!" Dionysus cursed. "I will have your soul! RICK RIORDAN In a way, it's nice to know that there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame ... RICK RIORDAN THAT'S IT!" Terminus cried. "That's AGAINST THE RULES!" Polybotes frowned, obviously confused t... RICK RIORDAN Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes. RICK RIORDAN Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all. RICK RIORDAN If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself. RICK RIORDAN She'd also called me brave...unless she was talking to the catfish. RICK RIORDAN A big sacrifice is coming, and you won't have the courage to make it. That will cost you dearly. It ... RICK RIORDAN Gaea?” Leo shook his head. “Isn’t that Mother Nature? She’s supposed to have, like, flowers ... RICK RIORDAN Humans see what they want to see. RICK RIORDAN Remake the world, a little at a time, each in your own corner of the world. RICK RIORDAN Then she did something so unexpected Nico would later think he dreamed it. She walked up to Nico, wh... RICK RIORDAN You will suffer, son of Hades!’ What else is new? Nico thought. RICK RIORDAN This is so cool!" Nico said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat. "Is this really the sun? I th... RICK RIORDAN Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea. If I'd known what was coming, I would've called i... RICK RIORDAN I had a crush on Percy," Nico spat. "That's the truth. That's the big secret. RICK RIORDAN For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’ Percy looked a... RICK RIORDAN He turned, registering a face with blond hair, and for a split second he thought it was Will Solace.... RICK RIORDAN Good. So you may be dense, but you’re not an idiot.’ ‘How can you even talk to me like t... RICK RIORDAN Nico," I said at last, "shouldn't you be sitting at the Hades table?" He shrugged. "Techn... RICK RIORDAN Oh, did you expect me to play fair?" Cupid laughed. "I am the god of love. I am never fair. RICK RIORDAN With great power... comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later. RICK RIORDAN Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can." Grover cracked a smile.... RICK RIORDAN Because I know you, Percy Jackson. In many ways, you are impulsive, but when it comes to your friend... RICK RIORDAN Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wro... RICK RIORDAN What about a compromise? I’ll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I’ll apol... RICK RIORDAN Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind... RICK RIORDAN Don't feel bad, I'm usually about to die. RICK RIORDAN I nodded, looking at Rachel with respect. "You hit the Lord of the Titans in the eye with a blue pla... RICK RIORDAN Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand... RICK RIORDAN Don't you ever feel like, what if the world really IS messed up? What if we COULD Do it all over aga... RICK RIORDAN She looked at me, like she was drinking in the fact that I was still here. And I realized I was doin... RICK RIORDAN The world was collapsing, and the only thing that really mattered to me was that she was alive. RICK RIORDAN How did you die?" "We er....drowned in a bathtub." "All three of you?" "It was a big ... RICK RIORDAN Love conquers all," Aphrodite promised. "Look at Helen and Paris. Did they let anything come between... RICK RIORDAN Ever had a flying burrito hit you? Well, it's a deadly projectile, right up there with cannonballs a... RICK RIORDAN Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face. RICK RIORDAN I will call him Small Bob," said Bob. "He is a good monster." End of discussion.The Tita... RICK RIORDAN We’ve arrived,” Leo announced. “Time to Split.” Frank groaned. “Can we leave Valdez i... RICK RIORDAN Wow. When he started looking back on the war with Kronos as the good old days--that was sad. RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy mountain cliff in Maine, Perc... RICK RIORDAN You promised, Seaweed brain. We would not get separated! Ever again! RICK RIORDAN Nico, I've seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did? That was maybe the bravest. RICK RIORDAN Annabeth?” Percy said again. “You’re planning something. You’ve got that I’m-planning-s... RICK RIORDAN