The Mark of Athena

Angeles Martinez

804

The Mark of Athena

 (Contains some spoilers ;3)

I am currently reading The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. (FINALLY I’M READING THIS!!!!) In the book, there are 7 demigods-4 Greeks, 3 Romans. (By being Greek it means the child’s parent is the Greek God/Goddess side, while the Romans have the Roman side of the same god/goddesses [Ex: Piper’s mother is Aphrodite in Greek, and Venus in Roman.]) The Greeks (Annabeth, Piper, Leo, and Jason) and Romans (Hazel, Frank, and Percy) are the main 7 who must complete the prophecy. (Seven Half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.) Of course, this quest will be deadly and complicated, but this quest is the most complicated now.

For one, for thousands of years, the Greek and Roman demigods have hated each other, whenever they get close to each other; they instantly want to fight each other (Ha, they practically started a war!) How are these Roman and Greek demigods going to be able to fulfill the prophecy when they’re demigod-mates (Can’t think of anything else to call them) are all hating each other? The Greeks may understand and not be so eager to fight, but the Romans fight with honor and all that, they will attack, no matter what. The reason that they’re fighting though, is because according to Jason (Son of Zeus or Jupiter, whatever side you favor) the reason the Greeks and Romans hate each other is because the Romans did something to Greeks concerning Athena (a very respected goddess) and it pissed off the Greeks a lot. (They started a war [a very bloody one too], and the gods had to interfere and separate both groups, making them to never find each other and start another bloody, deadly war.) And of course, Hazel, Frank, and Jason are Roman (Jason being on the Greek side though…complications again there) and Annabeth (practically the leader on the quest) is Greek and the daughter of Athena, can they really be able to do this quest together without wanting to murder each other once Annabeth finds out the full truth of what the Romans did to the Greeks and her own mother? Will Annabeth learn to hate the Romans and be just like: You hurt my mother dearly; you ruined everything about her-now you die?

That’s only part of what Annabeth needs to worry about though. She has another problem, slightly well a lot linked to the Roman-And-Greek thing. When Percy was missing (Long story…) Annabeth got a visit from her mother. (It was rare that the gods visit their children nowadays so obviously it was a big deal!) Her mother was very dazed and angry about the whole bloody Romans turned me to a pathetic, not-respected goddess-they replaced me and ruined me! She saw Annabeth and took out her anger on her, giving her a coin-The Mark of Athena-and told Annabeth she must avenge her. “Yes, my children will avenge me. They must destroy the Romans. Horrible, dishonorable, copycat Romans. Hera argued that we must keep the two camps apart. I said, No, let them fight. Let my children destroy the usurpers….Replaced. Sacked. Looted like a trophy and carted off-away from my beloved homeland. I lost so much. I swore I would never forgive. Neither would my children. Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me,” Athena had insisted to Annabeth, who clearly did not want to start a war, or fight anyone. For centuries, the children of Athena have all been given the Mark trying to avenge their mother, trying to solve the case, and trying to prove worthy to their mother. But can Annabeth really do it? Can Annabeth really betray her Roman friends just to avenge her mother? And during a quest that could save the world from the wrath of the giants and Gaia, Mother Earth herself?

And that’s only half of Annabeth’s problems. Another is Percy. Percy originally is from the Greek Side, but for the past about 6 months (before the quest started) he has been missing. Annabeth finally has found him, but it’s only because Hera thought it was time to start the quest. And now Percy has seemed to change. He still loves Annabeth, but he seems a bit closer to the Roman Demigod children, he seems to act Roman too! (Romans act like, tough, confident and “perfect.”) Annabeth’s used to being leader and taking charge alone, but Percy means so much to her, she can’t lead the quest alone…she needs Percy by her side…and certainly, with the whole Mark of Athena thing, how can Annabeth not be able to have Percy, the guy who’s been there for her since she was 12, the guy who she’s had a crush on for a while and finally got him to her boyfriend, the guy who understands her completely, by her side?

Annabeth clearly is one of the main people to have problems and complications along with them, but I think Annabeth knows what she’s doing. She’s the daughter of the goddess of wisdom and war; she knows how to be a leader, how to make decisions, and how to think these kinda things through. But though Annabeth has dealt with monsters, titans, giants, angry gods and goddesses, can she really be able to survive this emotional roller coaster and still save the world? Or will, this whole thing break her down so much she doesn’t know how to fix herself? Who will she have to betray? Who will she betray? If she betrays anyone, will it be someone she loves so dearly? Will this Mark bring the bad side of Annabeth just so she can prove herself worthy to her mother like many other Athena children have tried but failed to do?