Review: The Flame of Olympus

Book One of the Pegasus Trilogy
By Kate O'Hearn
Available now from Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)
Review copy

Percy Jackson fans will be happy to learn that there's a new set of Olympians in town.  Originally published in the UK, Kate O'Hearn's Pegasus trilogy is coming to the US.  Released just last month was the first book, THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS.

Written in the third point of view, the narration flips back and forth between Paelen, a thief god, and Emily, a young New Yorker.  Paelen attempted to steal Pegasus' bridle during a battle between the Olympians and Nirads and ended up zapped to present time.  Emily found Pegasus injured on her roof and a group of men in black found Paelen with the bridle.  But both Pegasus and the bridle are needed to save Olympus.

No adventure is complete if the ragtag band of heroes isn't likeable.  Emily and her classmate Joel are resourceful children willing to work hard to protect their friends.  Joel may need to learn to control his temper, but Emily is already skilled at doing the right thing even when its hard.  Paelen could take a few lessons from her.  He begins the story a coward, but begins to change as he figures out what truly gets you respect.  On the thief scale of one to Eugenides, he's certainly no Eugenides, but he grows on you.  All considered, it's easy to root for their victory over the Nirads and cruel secret agent goons.

THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS might be inappropriate for some younger readers due to the number of deaths, at least one of which is fairly gruesome, and brief scenes of torture.  It's nothing I didn't read at that age, but I try to note these things for those with sensitive children.

Young mythology fans will enjoy THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS and eagerly wait for the rest of the series to be released stateside.  And it does not fall into my series pet peeve.  THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS tells a complete story, although there are threads left dangling to be addressed in the next book.