"The best reason to read about the old Greek heroes is to make yourself feel better. No matter how much you think your life sucks, these guys and gals had it worse."
― Percy Jackson ―

"be aware that you could encounter other beings who may strive to deceive, distract, or manipulate. They go by the names draugr (zombies), vala (seers), witches (witches), and telemarketers (annoyances)."
― Hounding ―

" You can’t hold on to hate forever. It won’t do a thing to the person you hate, but it’ll poison you, sure enough.”
― Thomas Jefferson, Jr. ―

“Sometimes it’s best not to look as far as you’re able to look, or to listen to everything you’re able to hear.”
― Heimdal ―

“Such is human memory... you forget the truth and believe what makes you feel better.”
― Hel ―

“It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”
― Professor Dumbledore ―

"Muggles not to try playing Quidditch at home; it is, of course, an entirely fictional sport and nobody really plays it.
― Professor Dumbledore ―

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.”
― Professor Dumbledore ―

“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”
― George Weasley ―

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
― Professor Dumbledore ―

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
― Professor Dumbledore ―

“I’m a free spirit
Adrift in sunshine and song.
Office hours bore me.”
― Haiku by Apollo God of Prophecy ―

We are back again with another Is it worth reading? series where i will rate is the companion book worth your time to read or not. And i promise this would be my last Rick Riordan books review. For well... at least next month? who knows? I might read his Magnus Chase series in next few months or maybe next year depends on my mood. Anyway, without further ado, let's dive in!

Reading Order

By our book bible goodreads, this book didn't really listed with the number of the series, since it's not a novella but a companion book. BUT!! no worries fellas, i will give you a good reading order to you to avoid spoilers!

1. Read the whole Kane Chronicles (book 1-3)

2. Read Demigods & Magicians ( Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover) IT'S A MUST!

3. Then read this book

Why? Because the demigods and magicians include the story about Setne and how he end up in this book. At first i was going to read this book first then Demigods and Magicians (since it's a crossover, so i think i will finish Kane first then the crossover) but it end up a bit spoiler there. So, since I've done it, and you shouldn't, use this guide instead. Unless if you okay with spoilers. 

What is it All About?

So this book is talking about a guide for Brooklyn House magician, more like introduction about the house, how it looks like, talking about Egyptian Gods also, so yeah, just like its title, it's the manual for young magicians who's new, just joining the Brooklyn House. But it also added fun stories after the war and Setne the crazy magician ghost. 

Is It Worth Reading?

I think it's fun read, since the characters took turns to write the book, not only Carter dan Sadie, but also other characters in the Brooklyn House, even some gods included as the narrator.  I felt so challenged to answer all the quiz in the book tho i find some part of the book doesn't really fun, like the Bas's section to get ugly thing, i don't think it's really informative or fun read.

I like that if there are some comment added in the book by other characters who didn't narrate that chapter, they use different font. Just like the concept of Kane Chronicles where Sadie and Carter bickering and adding comment in each time they take turns to narrate, this one is also made like this which is  good because Riordan sticks to its concept even for this companion.

My Verdict

I would say Neutral for this one, even skip it. It's not because it's not a good read, i like it. But it doesn't really necessary for you to read this one in order to finish the whole series, but yes it is a fun read indeed. 

Previous Chapter :

"Giant-chicken mode," I remembered.
"Dude, my avatar is a falcon-headed warrior."
"I still think you could get a sponsorship deal with KFC. Make some big bucks.”
— Percy and Carter —

“But magic is neither good nor evil. It is a tool, like a knife. Is a knife evil? Only if the wielder is evil.”
— The House of Hades —

“The right choice is hardly ever the easy choice.”
— Julius Kane —

"Fair means everyone gets what they need. And the only way to get what you need is to make it happen yourself"
— Julius Kane —

Annabeth and I had been fighting together for years. We knew each other’s abilities. We could anticipate each other’s moves. I might have felt awkward and nervous about being her boyfriend, but fighting with her? That came naturally. Hmm…that sounded wrong. Oh, well 
—Percy Jackson —

 This is my first book in 2021 (although yes it's not my first review in this 2021, but at least it's my first book review - which not included in any series- in 2021). I decided to start my 2021 with another Rick Riordan's books. Yes, it has been yearly tradition to start my year with his book. It has been two years (three if we count this year) since i did that, i start 2019 with Percy Jackson and the sea of monster, last year i start the year with reading Heroes of Olympus series which still in related to Percy Jackson, this year, still related to Percy Jackson too but the companion books of it. 

This one suppose to be included in Is it Worth Reading series, but i decided to include it as book review instead after i finish the whole book, i think it's not just a companion, but can be count as a whole book. So, let's dive in!

Synopsis

This book is solely for explaining Greek Gods, how it began for the whole Greek mythology, starting from Uranus and Gaea the "father" and "mother" of earth, then the Titan lines, which lead to the main character there Kronos, then continue to the Gods line, Zeus, Poseidon and others.

The story start from the beginning of the creation, got some comparison with bible, (noah indeed being mentioned in the book here) also got some similarity with the bible if we learn more about it, i think it mentioned about the Sodom and Gomorrah's salt pillar (but in different story and the city is not mentioned here) also a bit of Egyptian animal god.  

The book itself based on Percy Jackson's POV. Actually the WHOLE book is written by him, not even a bit words from Rick Riordan (Yes, even from the First page to the last page, the Acknowledgement page too).

My Review

Of course it has the story about this god married with this god and have this kid god, or this god is "making out" with this god even they are not married and have this kid god after that. But Percy didn't say "making out" actually, the words that included in the story is child friendly, and again, fun to read that made the "gross" part become funny. 

“Yeah, we’re back to the whole brother-marrying-sister thing. Let’s get it out of our systems—all together, One, two, three: “GROSS!”

This book definitely gave a different perspective for some characters of the gods here. For example Hades, who's i know from my childhood is a scary Hell God, become somehow a pathetic god, a sad character. His love to Persephone is just too sweet yet touching to me. 

Zeus in other hand, the one that so wooow to me among other gods (okay, i might want to blame Hercules cartoon series by Disney for these two gods impression) become the god with lots of cheating here and there (even sleep with his daughter? ewww) and also super sly in order to gain that. All he got with in the story is him chasing a pretty goddess or pretty human princess and soon. 

Of course i got to learn lots of other gods and goddess. And with witty comment from Percy, somehow the reading is so fun and doesn't feels like i'm reading a Greek gods encyclopedia. I would really recommend you to read this one BEFORE you read the Heroes of Olympus series. Because knowing a back story of each god comes handy in recognizing them in the story since they mentioned a lot in that series.

My Rating

I would rate it as Woot Woot! (go to my rating system for further information if you new for my rating system) for this one, since i did enjoy reading it, and i finished it in super fast pace in my opinion. Again it's good for a new reader to enjoy a bit of mythology related book.

Read also :

"Life is a journey. The best part is going uphill. Things come all at once, bad brings good, one door closes, two open, go trough both."