Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge." We stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of concrete that loomed between the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam. They were so tiny they looked like fleas. The naiads had left with a lot of grumbling—not in words I could understand, but it was obvious they hated this dam blocking up their nice river. Our canoes floated back downstream, swirling in the wake from the dam's discharge vents. "Seven hundred feet tall," I said. "Built in the 1930s." "Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia said. Graver sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States." Zoe stared at us. "How do you know all that?" "Annabeth," I said. "She liked architecture." "She was nuts about monuments," Thalia said. "Spouted facts all the time." Grover sniffled. "So annoying." "I wish she were here," I said.
Rick Riordan
Related Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can." Grover cracked a smile.... RICK RIORDAN Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can." Grover cracked a smile.... RICK RIORDAN Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh. Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all i... RICK RIORDAN Can’t this thing go any faster?” Thalia demanded. Zoe glared at her. “I cannot control tr... RICK RIORDAN Jason muttered "And I saw something...Really terrible." "That was Hera," Thalia grumbled, "Her ... RICK RIORDAN Argh!" Thalia pushed me, and a shock went through my body that blew me backward ten feet into the wa... RICK RIORDAN I was just looking at the jukebox. Just playing records. She said, You want to play with me? I sa... JACK KEROUAC Thalia's shoulders relaxed. "I owe you one." "Two." "One and a half," Thalia said. Sh... RICK RIORDAN Tell me when it's over " Thalia said. Her eyes were shut tight. The statue was holding on to us so w... RICK RIORDAN So…these Pillars of Hercules. Are they dangerous?” Annabeth stayed focused on the cliffs. �... RICK RIORDAN Can I ask you something?" you said. "How did you ever survive that scandal?" She said, "I... GABRIELLE ZEVIN The poet dreams of the classroom I dreamed I stood up in class And I said aloud... MARY OLIVER I looked at Thalia. "You're afraid of heights." Now that we were safely down the mountain... RICK RIORDAN Emma sat up very straight in the saddle. Her eyes were huge, but she said bravely, “I could do it!... JOSH LANYON Then Deborah stood at the wicket gate, the boundary, and there was a woman with outstretched hand, d... DAPHNE DU MAURIER Like water leaking through a dam," said Piper. "Yeah," smiled Percy. "We've got a dam hole." RICK RIORDAN Geric," she called. He turned back around. "What kind of flowers were they?" "I don't... SHANNON HALE I love you," he said. She looked up at him, her eyes shiny and black, then looked away. "... RAINBOW ROWELL So look," he began, leaning over the desk, "I was—" "Excuse me?" Bethany said. Her voice was ... SARAH DESSEN How would you like it if I said to you, 'It kills me to say this, but you're actually a tiny bit bea... MELINA MARCHETTA Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion. "I am dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said... C.S. LEWIS And then that voice from behind her said her name again. "Celaena." They had d... SARAH J. MAAS We shouldn’t,” protested Isabelle. “The Clave has a plan.” “The Clave has the c... CASSANDRA CLARE Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot." "He's the sun god," I said. "That's not what I me... RICK RIORDAN I don’t know. D’you think? He’s pretty wide in the chest.” The girl looked at me... M.T. ANDERSON It's beautiful," said Mort softly. "What is it?" THE SUN IS UNDER THE DISC, said Death. TERRY PRATCHETT While walking in a toy store The day before today, I overheard a Crayon Box With many thin... ANON. Hera: Ohh, Thalia Grace, when I get out of here, you'll be sorry you were ever born. Thalia: Sa... RICK RIORDAN There was a few seconds' pause. Then Amit said: I meant, what were you thinking just now. VIKRAM SETH Clarence Hurt was driving, and he got lost. “Does anyone know where the Post Office Building is?�... BRYAN BURROUGH My dad said to me a few years ago: "There's no harm in thinking." We were talking about Crazy Uncle ... MARIAH FREDERICKS But why did she come back and take her card away?" asked Miss Mackintosh. "I told Florence that Miss... E.F. BENSON Then, slowly, my feet settled to the ground. Before I had taken six steps I sagged like a sail when ... PATRICK ROTHFUSS She stared at me "You have a message," she said. "On you machine." I looked over at my answerin... JEFF LINDSAY What is it, Angel?" she said, starting up. "Have they come for me?" "Yes, dearest," he sa... THOMAS HARDY You looked strange climbing in the tree like that." Tiger Lily pulled her braids between her fi... JODI LYNN ANDERSON I was sitting in my lab, my hand spread open on the table, while the skull examined my palm. JIM BUTCHER There is a plain under a dim sky. It is covered with gentle rolling curves that might remind you of ... TERRY PRATCHETT Come she saidStay she saidSmile she saidDie she said NâZıM HIKMET Ophelia,' said the boy. He said it very quietly. She didn't like the way he said that at all. He sou... KAREN FOXLEE You're a rule person," he said. "My sister was a cheater. It sort of became necessary." "S... SARAH DESSEN For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’ Percy looked a... RICK RIORDAN Well I was out in my four door With the top down. And I looked up and there they were: M... LAURIE ANDERSON Peeta, you said at the interview you’d had a crush on me forever. When did forever start? SUZANNE COLLINS Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and… I mean, what do yo... RICK RIORDAN So what's your doll's name?" Boo asked me. "Barbie," I said. "All their names are Barbie." SARAH DESSEN The children came to a perfume shop. In the show window was a large jar of freckle salve, and beside... ASTRID LINDGREN I'm sorry,' said the shopkeeper. 'I can't understand your ridiculous accent.' 'My accent?' DEREK LANDY I love you, Eliza,” I said. She thought about it. “No,” she said at last, “I don’t li... KURT VONNEGUT I was at a dinner party many years ago,sitting along from Tom Stoppard, who in those days smoked not... STEPHEN FRY How did you meet him?" I asked her. She smiled. "Here, actually. During a dinner rush. He was s... SARAH DESSEN Hey, can I see that sword you were using?" I showed him Riptide, and explained how it turned fr... RICK RIORDAN So what was that all about?" "I think," Jace said, "that she asked if she could touch my mango.... CASSANDRA CLARE Suddenly Saffron had a picture in her mind of Sarah waiting at the bottom of the wall, and she was a... HILARY MCKAY A fly and a flea in a flue Were imprisoned, so what could they do? Said the Flea, Let us fly!<... ANON. Maybe,' he said hesitantly, 'maybe there is a beast.' The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph... WILLIAM GOLDING What's up?" I asked. You tell me," he said. "You were the one about ready to start making... RICHELLE MEAD Dancing?' Annabeth asked. Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. 'Ugh.... RICK RIORDAN Hello, Harry!” she said. “Er — my name’s Barny,” said Harry, flummoxed. “Oh, h... J.K. ROWLING Myrtle," Harry said slowly, "how am I supposed to breathe?" At this, Myrtle's eyes filled... J.K. ROWLING Did you learn the rotation of the border patrols?’ said Laurent. ‘Yes, our scouts fou... C.S. PACAT O Deep Thought computer," he said, "the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to... DOUGLAS ADAMS Damn, damn, damn," she said. "I never said why I like you, and now I have to go." "That's okay,... RAINBOW ROWELL I always thought they were fabulous monsters!" said the Unicorn. "Is it alive?" "It can talk," ... LEWIS CARROLL Rubbish. The Taj Mahal is only a hundred eighty-six square feet. This house has twenty-five thousand... MICHELLE HODKIN I told you everything I know", said the messenger. Arin had gone to his childhood suite, feeling anx... MARIE RUTKOSKI You should read something else." Why would he have done that to him?" I don't know," she s... NICHOLAS SPARKS He said you were on the scene when that Laurel Canyon homicide went down.” “I’m luc... JOSH LANYON The Queen‘s smile was wide and terrible. “What if I told you she could be freed by a kiss?” CASSANDRA CLARE One of them has to break,” the queen said to the princess. “Only then can it begin.” SARAH J. MAAS Did she help people?" Miss Level added. ... ... "She made them help one another, she ... TERRY PRATCHETT How old are you, anyway?' she asked, squinting at him. There was a pause. At last he said, 'Why... NATALIE BABBITT The Mistake He left his pants upon a chair: She was a widow, so she said: But h... THEODORE ROETHKE Thought you were--' '--Raphael said--' 'I said, no way in hell--' 'Damn straight--' NALINI SINGH When God Created Mothers" When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth ... ERMA BOMBECK That's us," he said. "Those five nuts right there." "Which one is me?" I asked. RICK RIORDAN Do you know how far the wall is from the mines?” He gave her blank look. She closed her eyes... SARAH J. MAAS The girl in the tight black dress was passing by us now, eyeing Wes and walking entirely too slowly.... SARAH DESSEN I was distracted, thinking about what she'd said, until she got to this last part. "Sherman?" I said... SARAH DESSEN You know," Marion said, "I met a woman once when I was a teenager. I knew she had gone through a lot... ERICA BAUERMEISTER So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near-- Ah," s... ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPéRY Doran stood on the dais, fists clenched. "All right," he said. "Let's do it, come on. Charge me up."... DEREK LANDY After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings... J.R. WARD The nutritionist said I should eat root vegetables. Said if I could get down thirteen turnips a... ANDREA GIBSON She said he looked hot in uniform. He said she looked hot without clothes. S... ANGELA VERDENIUS Lennie rolled off the bunk and stood up, and the two of them started for the door. Just as they reac... JOHN STEINBECK So?” Clary said. (After she Marked Alec with the Fearless rune.) “So what?” Alec rolled h... CASSANDRA CLARE Valentine whirled. Clary, lying half-conscious in the sand, her wrists and arms a screaming agony, s... CASSANDRA CLARE He gave me the brochure. It was about the Hunters of Artemis. The front read, A WISE CHOICE FOR YOUR... RICK RIORDAN I had a dream about you. We were in the gold room where everyone finally gets what they want. RICHARD SIKEN Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand... RICK RIORDAN Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name... LEWIS CARROLL You could be David's friend too". She glanced at Tamani when he said nothing. He was frowning. "The ... APRILYNNE PIKE Aren't you frightened?" Somehow I expected her to say no, to say something wise like a grownup... NICHOLAS SPARKS Do you have a Wish?' he asked, referring to this organization, The Genie Foundation, which is in the... JOHN GREEN Halt eyed them balefully. They were all being so obvious about not mentioning his sudden reappearanc... JOHN FLANAGAN I see you are looking at my feet," he said to her when car was in motion. "I beg your pardon?" ... J.D. SALINGER I had to stop him from arresting an old lady who let her dog urinate against the fire hydrant that w... LEE GOLDBERG Here it comes," she said with an expression of pure bliss. "Drug rush ... any moment now ... the sur... BECCA FITZPATRICK Caddy came home on Friday evening. Perfectly Harmless Patrick brought her in his battered old car...... HILARY MCKAY
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 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 Love is no game! It is no flowery softness! It is hard work- It demands everything from you- especia... RICK RIORDAN