ashley’s Reviews > The Last Olympian > Status Update

I thought about May Castellan, alone in her kitchen, baking cookies and making sandwiches for a son who would never come home.
Hermes unwrapped Luke's face and kissed his forehead.
He murmured some words in Ancient Greek - a final blessing.
'Farewell, he whispered. Then he nodded, and allowed the Fates to carry away his son's body.

“We need a shroud,” I announced, my voice cracking. “A shroud for the son of Hermes.”

Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked,
“Family, Luke. You promised.”

Grover's music kept playing and grass grew around Ethan's body. Ethan stared at me, his face tight with pain.
“Deserve better,” he gasped. “If they just . . . had thrones—“
Kronos stomped his foot, and the floor ruptured around Ethan Nakamura. The son of Nemesis fell through a fissure that went straight through the heart of the mountain - straight into open air.

Silena took a heavy, painful breath. “Forgive me.” “Youre not dying,” Clarisse insisted.
“Charlie...” Silena's eyes were a million miles away. “See Charlie…”
She didn't speak again.
Clarisse held her and wept. Chris put a hand on her shoulder.
Finally Annabeth closed Silena's eyes.

Before I could lose my courage, I said, “Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right?”
I figured she would punch me. Instead, she drew her knife and stared at the army marching towards us. “Come back alive, Seaweed Brain. Then we'll see.”

“Hold on, Seaweed Brain.” It was Annabeth's voice, much clearer now. "You're not getting away from me that easily.”
I could see Annabeth now - standing barefoot above me on the canoe-lake pier. I'd fallen out of my canoe. That was it. She was reaching out her hand to haul me up, and she was trying not to laugh.

I found myself staring at her, which was stupid since I'd seen her a billion times. She was about the same height as me this summer, which was a relief. Still, she seemed so much more mature. It was kind of intimidating. I mean sure, she'd always been cute, but she was starting to be seriously beautiful.

Beckendorf was supposed to go to college in the fall. He had a girlfriend, lots of friends, his whole life ahead of him. He couldn't be gone. [..] I knew in my gut he was dead. He'd sacrificed himself to take out the Princess Andromeda, and I had abandoned him.

chapter 1 and TOO MUCH happened already.