Narcissus Turned And Scowled At Leo. “who Are You?” “i’m The Super-sized Mcshizzle, Man!” Leo Said. “i’m Leo Valdez, Bad Boy Supreme. And The Ladies Love A Bad Boy.

-Rick Riordan

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Narcissus Turned And Scowled

Rick Riordan

Narcissus Turned And Scowled At Leo. “who Are You?” “i’m The Super-sized Mcshizzle, Man!” Leo Said. “i’m Leo Valdez, Bad Boy Supreme. And The Ladies Love A Bad Boy.

Topic

Boys

Men

Bad Boy

More From Rick Riordan

Now, You'll Have To Answer My Questions." "oh, Very Well," Set Said. "i Like Brazil For The World Cup. I'd Advise Investing In Platinum And Small-cap Funds. And Your Lucky Numbers This Week Are 2, 13--" "not Those Questions!" Menshikov Snapped.

Numbers

Lucky

Investing

The Pinecone Is A Fearsome Tool Of Destruction! -bacchus

Tools

Destruction

Bacchus

Leo: "so...giants Who Can Throw Mountains. Friendly Wolves That Will Eat Us If We Show Weakness. Evil Espresso Drinks. Gotcha. Maybe This Isn't The Best Time To Bring Up My Psycho Babysitter." Piper: "is That Another Joke?

Espresso

Evil

Friendly

I Can't Promise That Every Child With Learning Differences Will Become A Novelist, But I Do Think All Children Can Become Lifelong Readers.

Children

Thinking

Differences

Piper Gripped His Hand And Followed Him, “if I Fall, You’re Catching Me.” “uh, Sure.” Jason Hoped He Wasn’t Blushing. Leo Stepped Out Next. “you’re Catching Me, Too, Superman. But I Ain’t Holding Your Hand.

Fall

Hands

Jason

So, Yeah. Our Cat Was A Goddess. What Else Is New?

Cat

Goddess

Yeah

Eating Next To A Twenty-foot-long Crocodile Took Some Getting Used To, But Philip Was Well Trained. He Only Ate Bacon, Stray Waterfowl, And The Occasional Invading Monster.

Feet

Long

Monsters

Warning: The Following Is A Transcript Of A Digital Recording. In Certain Places, The Audio Quality Was Poor, So Some Words And Phrases Represent The Author's Best Guesses. Where Possible, Illustrations Of Important Symbols Mentioned In The Recording Have Been Added. Background Noises Such As Scuffling, Hitting, And Cursing By The Two Speakers Have Not Been Transcribed The Author Makes No Claims For The Authenticity Of The Recording. It Seems Impossible That The Two Young Narrators Are Telling The Truth, But You, The Reader, Must Decide For Yourself.

Illustration

Background Noise

Two

Aphros Nodded, A Glint Of Pride In His Eyes. “we Have Trained All The Famous Mer-heroes! Name A Famous Mer-hero, And We Have Trained Him Or Her!” “oh, Sure,” Leo Said. “like…um, The Little Mermaid?” Aphros Frowned. “who? No! Like Triton, Glaucus, Weissmuller, And Bill!” “oh. ”leo Had No Idea Who Any Of Those People Were. “you Trained Bill? Impressive.

Hero

Eye

Pride

As In All Abercrombie's Books, Friends Turn Out To Be Enemies, Enemies Turn Out To Be Friends; The Line Between Good And Evil Is Murky Indeed; And Nothing Goes Quite As We Expect. With Eye-popping Plot Twists And Rollicking Good Action, Half A King Is Definitely A Full Adventure.

Kings

Book

Adventure

I Am Never, Ever, Going To Make Things Easy For You, Seaweed Brain. Get Used To It.

Brain

Annabeth

Easy

The Gods Need Heroes. They Always Have.

Hero

Needs

Dionysus

Annabeth's Voice Caught On The Word Friend. Percy Was A Lot More Than That. Even Boyfriend Really Didn't Cover It. They'd Been Through So Much Together, At This Point Percy Was Part Of Her--a Sometimes Annoying Part, Sure, But Definitely A Part She Could Not Live Without.

Voice

Together

Annabeth

Sometimes, It Takes Us A While To Appreciate Something New, Something That Might Change Us For The Better.

Appreciate

Might

Sometimes

Ah, Mastery Of The Five Elements!" "is That The One We Want?" I Asked. "no, But A Good One. How To Tame The Five Essential Elements Of The Universe - Earth, Air, Water, Fire, And Cheese!" "cheese?

Fire

Air

Water

If There Were Ever Any Half-bloods Who Needed To Worry About That, It Was Thalia And Me. I Wondered If Maybe I Should've Sent Poseidon That Seashell Pattern Tie For Father's Day After All. --percy Jackson

Father

Blood

Ties

There's No Point In Defending Camp If You Guys Die. All Our Friends Are Here.

Guy

Camps

Dies

You Have To Read A Lot So You Know What Good Writing Looks Like And You Get Inspired. You Have To Write A Lot Because It's Like A Sport - You Have To Practice. And, Also, You Have To Persevere. Don't Give Up. I Got Rejected On My First Book, Like, 14 Times, But I Just Kept Going. So Believe In Yourself And Don't Give Up.

Sports

Giving Up

Book

Red Cattle," Annabeth Said. "the Cattle Of The Sun." "what?" I [percy] Asked. "they're Sacred To Apollo." "holy Cows?

Cows

Red

Sun

How Does It Taste?” Carter Wondered. Zia Smiled. “stick Out Your Tongue.” To Answer Carter’s Question, The Tattoo Tasted Like Burning Car Tires. “ugh.” I Spit A Blue Gob Of “order And Harmony” Into The Fountain.

Tattoo

Blue

Order

Leo Had Recently Discovered How To Change The Display, Like The Times Square Jumbotron,so Now The Banner Read: Merry Christmas! All Your Presents Belong To Leo!

Merry Christmas

Squares

Banner

Travis: I Didn’t Know They Made Permanent Makeup. I Looked Like A Clown For A Month. Connor: Yeah. They Put A Curse On Me So That No Matter What I Wore, My Clothes Were Two Sizes Too Small And I Felt Like A Geek. Travis: You Are A Geek.

Makeup

Clothes

Two

Grover Didn't Say Anything For Awhile. Then, When I Thought He Was Going To Give Me Some Deep Philosophical Comment To Make Me Feel Better, He Said, "can I Have Your Apple?

Philosophical

Feel Better

Apples

Okay," Annabeth Said. "what Exactly Do You Smell?" "something Bad," Tyson Answered. "great," Annabeth Grumbled. "that Clears It Up.

Smell

Annabeth

Said

We Were Just Looking At Maps.

Maps

Coach," Annabeth Said, "it Was An Accident. We Were Talking, And We Fell Asleep." "besides," Percy Said, "you're Starting To Sound Like Terminus." Hedge Narrowed His Eyes. "is That An Insult, Jackson? 'cause I'll-i'll Terminus You, Buddy!

Eye

Talking

Sound

Good Job On Percy Jackson I Read All Of Them 8 Times And Have Listened 42 Times And Still Not Bored Thanks.

Jobs

Bored

Thanks

Despicable Creatures, Vultures: Without A Doubt The Most Disgusting Birds Ever. I Suppose They Served Their Purpose, But Did They Have To Be So Greasy And Ugly? Couldn't We Have Cute Fuzzy Rabbits That Cleaned Up Roadkill Instead?

Cute

Bird

Doubt

So," I (percy) Said Glumly. "we're Going To Get A Ride From Your Brother, Huh?" Artemis's Silver Eyes Gleamed. "yes, Boy. You See, Bianca Di Angelo Is Not The Only One With An Annoying Brother. It's Time For You To Meet My Irresponsible Twin, Apollo.

Brother

Eye

Boys

She Was Beautiful In Combat. I Know That’s A Crazy Thing To Say, Especially After We’d Just Climbed A Sewage Waterfall, But Her Gray Eyes Sparkled When She Was Fighting For Her Life. Her Face Shone Like A Goddess’s, And Believe Me, I’ve Seen Goddesses. The Way Her Camp Half-blood Beads Rested Against Her Throat—okay, Sorry. Got A Little Distracted.

Beautiful

Sorry

Crazy

Just Tell Me, Percy, Do You Still Have The Birthday Gift I Gave You Last Summer?" I Nodded And Pulled Out My Camp Necklace. It Had A Bead For Every Summer I'd Been At Camp Half-blood, But Since Last Year I'd Also Kept A Sand Dollar On The Cord. My Father Had Given It To Me For My Fifteenth Birthday. He'd Told Me I Would Know When To "spend It," But So Far I Hadn't Figured Out What He Meant. All I Knew That It Didn't Fit The Vending Machines In The School Cafeteria.

Summer

Father

School

Percy Was Getting Tired Of Water. If He Said That Aloud, He Would Probably Get Kicked Out Of Poseidon’s Junior Sea Scouts, But He Didn’t Care.

Tired

Sea

Water

Is That Me?,' Leo Said. 'like Me--having This Dream--looking At Me Having A Dream?

Dream

Said

Hephaestus

Yes, Horus Said. I Remember This Place. It’s El Paso, I Told Him. Unless You Went Out For Mexican Food, You’ve Never Been Here.

Mexican

Remember

Said

Scrawny? Baby, I Invented Scrawny. Scrawny Is The New Sizzling Hot.

Baby

Nymphs

Hot

No One Can Hate You With More Intensity Than Someone Who Used To Love You.

Love

Relationship

Hate

Sadie, I Can't Intervene." He Turned Up His Palms In Frustration. "i Told You When We First Met, This Isn't An Actual Physical Body." "shame," I Mumbled. "what?" "nothing. Go On.

Frustration

Goes On

Body

Yeah." He Took One Last Look At The Cityscape Of Rome, Turning Bloodred In The Sunset. "festus, Raise The Sails. We've Got Some Friends To Save.

Sunset

Rome

Looks

How Old Is She Now?" He Asked. "hard To Say. She Was A Tree For A While. Now She's Immortal.

Tree

Immortal

Hard

Leo Valdez Deserved A Special Punishment," She [khione] Said. "i Have Sent Him To A Place From Which He Can Never Return.

Punishment

Special

Return

Don't Feel Bad, I'm Usually About To Die.

Death

Sorry

Mythology

People Usually Asked Her If She Had A Belly Button. Of Course She Had A Belly Button. She Couldn't Explain How. She Didn't Really Want To Know.

People

Buttons

Want

Great, I Thought. We Just Blowtorched A National Monument.

Monument

Whats Up, Seaweed Brain?

Brain

Seaweed

Many Of The Best Traps Are Simple. You Just Have To Think About It, And Hope Your Victim Doesn't.

Simple

Thinking

Victim

So I Saved Your Life, And You Repaid Me By Raising Kronos. That's Fair.

Saved

Fairs

Wait Just A Minute," Ares Growled. He Pointed At Thalia And Me. "these Two Are Dangerous. It'd Be Much Safer, While We've Got Them Here—" "ares," Poseidon Interrupted, "they Are Worthy Heroes. We Will Not Blast My Son To Bits." "nor My Daughter," Zeus Grumbled. "she Has Done Well.

Daughter

Hero

Son

I Have Some Extra Costumes-" "no!" Ephialtes Snapped, And For Once Percy Was In Agreement.

Agreement

Costumes

Extras

Felix Believed That The Answer To Every Problem Involved Penguins; But It Wasn't Fair To Birds, And I Was Getting Tired Of Teleporting Them Back Home. Somewhere In Antarctica, A Whole Flock Of Magellanic Penguins Were Undergoing Psychotherapy.

Tired

Home

Bird

Hey! Guy With Scary Eyes?" Madison Called Out. "you Know What A Moose Does When Someone Insults Her Family?" Ivan Raised His Eyebrows. "she Does This." Madison Crouched Down And Charged Ivan. Her Head Hit Him In The Stomach.

Eye

Guy

Scary

The Taller They Are, The Longer They Fall.

Fall

I Keep Forgetting About Your Amnesia. Heh. Forgetting About Amnesia. That's Funny.

Forget

Amnesia

The Name Says It All. That's Where Dad (hades) Tries Out His New Punishment Ideas, But He Says The Traditional Ones Still Work Best: The Lava Flows, The Minefields Full Of Exploding Surprises, Burning At The Stake, Running Naked Through Cactus Patches... You Name It, We've Got It Here - Nico Di Angelo

Running

Dad

Punishment

I’m A Cat. I Respect The Sanctity Of Sleep.

Sleep

Cat

Sanctity

People Of Earth, I Come In Peace!

People

Earth

You Cannot Imprison Me!" He Bellowed. "i Am Hyperion! I Am-" The Bark Closed Over His Face. Grover Took His Pipes From His Mouth. "you Are A Very Nice Maple Tree.

Nice

Tree

Mouths

Dejardins Was So Stunned, He Momentarily Forgot How To Speak English. "ce N'est Pas Possible. On Ne Pourrait Pas-

Speak English

Speak

Stunned

You Seem To Be Clean," Terminus Decided. "do You Have Anything To Declare?" "yes," Percy Said. "i Declare This Is Stupid.

Stupid

Clean

Said

And I Could Always Set Coach Hedge On Fire,” Leo Volunteered. “then He Can Be Fire.” The Thought Of A Blazing Satyr Screaming, “die, Scumbag!” As He Attacked Gaea Was Almost Enough To Make Piper Laugh— Almost.

Fire

Laughing

Gaea

Percy Looked At His Friends. "i'm Getting Tired Of This Guy's Shirt." "combat Time?" Piper Grabbed Her Horn Of Plenty. "i Hate Wonder Bread," Jason Said. Together, They Charged.

Hate

Tired

Guy

I Think Anytime You're Writing To The Middle Grades, You're Writing To Young Readers Who Are Trapped In A Number Of Ways Between Two Worlds: Between Childhood And Adulthood, Between Their Friends And Their Parents.

Writing

Thinking

Two

I'd Love To Tell You I Had Some Deep Revelation On My Way Down, That I Came To Terms With My Own Mortality, Laughed In The Face Of Death, Et Cetera. The Truth? My Only Thought Was: Aaaaggghhhhh!

Way

Faces

Revelations

We'de Have To Get In And Get Out The Hard Way; And If We Made A Mistake, There Was No Telling What Sort Of Curse We'de Unleash: Monster Guardians, Plagues, Fires, Exploding Donkeys(don't Laugh; They're Bad News).

Mistake

Fire

Laughing

"monkey Bars," Annabeth Said. "i'm Great At These." She Leaped Onto To The First Rung And Started Swinging Her Way Across. She Was Scared Of Tiny Spiders, But Not Of Plummeting To Her Death From A Set Of Monkey Bars. Go Figure.

Annabeth

Monkeys

Way

Akhlys Lunged At Percy, And For A Split Second He Thought: Well, Hey, I’m Just Smoke. She Can’t Touch Me, Right? He Imagined The Fates Up In Olympus, Laughing At His Wishful Thinking: Lol, Noob!

Fate

Thinking

Laughing

You Said Your Mom Is The Goddess Of Balance," I Reminded Him. "the Minor Gods Deserve Better, Ethan, But Total Destruction Isn't Balance. Kronos Doesn't Build. He Only Destroys.

Mom

Deserve Better

Balance

Brother Dear,” I Said, “did Your Soul Leave Your Body While Amos Was Talking, Or Did You Actually Hear Him? Egyptian Gods Real. Red Lord Bad. Red Lord’s Birthday: Very Soon, Very Bad. House Of Life: Fussy Magicians Who Hate Our Family Because Dad Was A Bit Of A Rebel, Whom You Could Take A Lesson From. Which Leaves Us—just Us—with Dad Missing, An Evil God About To Destroy The World, And An Uncle Who Just Jumped Off The Building—and I Can’t Actually Blame Him.” I Took A Breath. [yes, Carter, I Do Have To Breathe Occasionally.]

Brother

Uncles

Dad

Whoa," Connor Stoll Said. "back Up. Zoom In Right There." "what?" Annabeth Said Nervously. "you See Invaders?" "no, Right There—dylan's Candy Bar." Connor Grinned At His Brother. "dude, It's Open. And Everyone Is Asleep. Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" "connor!" Katie Gardner Scolded. She Sounded Like Her Mother, Demeter. "this Is Serious. You Are Not Going To Loot A Candy Store In The Middle Of A War!" "sorry," Connor Muttered, But He Didn't Sound Very Ashamed.

Mother

Brother

Sorry

Good Luck, Boss. Don't Let'em Turn You Into Horse Meat! (blackjack)

Horse

Good Luck

Boss

I, Horus, Son Of Osiris, Claim The Throne Of The Heavens As My Birthright!" He Shouted."what Was Once Mine Shall Be Mine Again.is There Anyone Who Would Challenge Me?" The Gods Flickered And Glowed. A Few Scowled. One Muttered Something That Sounded Like "cheese", Although That Could've Been My Imagination.

Son

Osiris

Imagination

Tyson! Thank The Gods, Annabeth Is Hurt!" "you Thank The Gods That She Is Hurt?" He Asked, Puzzled.

Hurt

Annabeth

Tyson

Blackjack," Percy Said, "this Is Piper And Jason. They're Friends." The Horse Nickered. "uh, Maybe Later," Percy Answered. Piper Had Heard That Percy Could Speak To Horses, Being The Son Of The Horse Lord Poseidon, But She'd Never Seen It In Action. "what Does Blackjack Want?" She Asked. "donuts," Percy Said. "always Donuts.

Horse

Son

Olympus

Humans See What They Want To See.

Ignorance

Knowing

Perspective

Percy, We're Going To Polyphemus' Island! Polyphemus Is An S-i-k...a C-y-k..." She Stamped Her Foot In Frustration. As Smart As She Was, Annabeth Was Dyslexic, Too. We Could've Been There All Night While She Tried To Spell Cyclops. "you Know What I Mean!

Smart

Mean

Frustration

You Spoke The Truth, Percy Jackson. You Are Nothing Like... Like Hercules. I Am Honored That You Carry This Sword.

Spokes

Honored

Zoe Nightshade

We'd Spent Maybe Ten Minutes Together, During Which Time I'd Accidentally Swung A Sword At Her, She'd Saved My Life, And I'd Run Away Chased By A Band Of Supernatural Killing Machines. You Know, Your Typical Chance Meeting.

Running

Together

Band

Stop Smiling!” She Ordered. “i Can See You, Carter. Oh…and, Uh, Hullo, Walt.” The Pot Monster Made Squeaky Grinding Noises As It Stood Up Straight. One Clunky Arm Rose And Tried To Fix Sadie’s Nonexistent Hair. Leave It To Sadie To Be Self-conscious Around Boys, Even When She’s Made Out Of Pots And Duct Tape.

Boys

Hair

Self

Quintus..." Geryon Mused. "short Gray Hair, Muscular, Swordsman?" "yeah." "never Heard Of Him.

Hair

Yeah

Gray

Somewhere Behind Me, Zia Yelled, "hippo!" Which I Thought Was A Little Late. ~carter Kane

Littles

Late

Hippo

You Can Tell The Future?' 'more Like The Future Mugs Me From Time To Time.' Rachel Said 'i Speak Prophecies. The Oracle Spirit Kind Of Hijacks Me Once In A While, And Speaks Important Stuff That Doesn't Make Any Sense To Anybody. But Yeah, The Prophecies Tell The Future.

Important

Oracles

Stuff

I (percy) Set Nico On Guard Duty With Beckendorf And The Stoll Brothers, Figuring He'd Be Safely Out Of The Way. ... "what's Happening?" Nico Demanded, Trying To Climb Up Next To Me.

Brother

Trying

Way

We Heard The Army Before We Saw It. The Noise Was Like A Cannon Barrage Combined With A Football Stadium Crowd- Like Every Patriots Fan In New England Was Charging Us With Bazookas.

Football

Army

Fans

I Concentrated Hard And Snapped My Fingers. "you Don't See The Sword," I Told The Girl. "it's Just A Ballpoint Pen." She Blinked. "um . . . No. It's A Sword, Weirdo.

Girl

Fingers

Weirdo

Your Destiny Grows Clearer, Jason Grace. When The Choice Comes Again- Storm Or Fire- Remember Me. And Do Not Despair.

Destiny

Fire

Choices

What Did He Say?" Hazel Asked. "with The Cussing Removed? He Said He Can Get Us To The Top," Percy Replied.

Said

But She Wondered Why Beautiful Things Had To Be Wrapped Up With Evil History. Or Was It The Other Way Around? Maybe The Evil History Made It Necessary To Build Beautiful Things, To Mask The Darker Aspects.

Beautiful

Evil

Way

We Are Servants Of Ma’at—order And Justice. We Don’t Kill Our Enemies For Things They Might Do In The Future.

Order

Justice

Enemy

Percy (to Annabeth): If I Was Going To Pick One Person In The World To Reattach My Head, I'd Pick You. Silena: Awww . . . Percy, That Is So Sweet! Annabeth: Shut Up, Silena.

Sweet

Annabeth

World

Big Brothers Are The Ones Who Are Supposed To Pull Their Punches. Little Sisters—well, We Should Be Able To Hit As Hard As We Like, Shouldn’t We?

Brother

Little Sister

Littles

Contrary To What You Might Think, I Don't Spend Every Waking Hour Thinking About Boys." "just Most Waking Hours?

Boys

Thinking

Might

I See Murky Visions Of Other Gods And Rival Magic." That Really Didn't Sound Good. "what Do You Mean?" I Asked. "what Other Gods?" "i Don't Know, Sadie. But Egypt Has Always Faced Challenges From Outside –– Magicians From Elsewhere, Even Gods From Elsewhere. Just Be Vigilant." ~ruby & Sadie Kane About...? Possibly Greeks?

Mean

Egypt

Challenges

All I Could Think To Say Was, "the Lakers Are My Home Team!

Team

Home

Thinking

You're A Stalker With Hooves." "i Am Not! I Followed Her To The Big House And Hid In A Bush And Watched The Whole Thing.

House

Bigs

Grover

Everybody Was Patting Nico On The Back, Complimenting Him On His Fighting. Even The Ares Kids Thought He Was Pretty Cool. Hey, Show Up With An Army Of Undead Warriors To Save The Day, And Suddenly You're Everybody's Best Friend.

Kids

Fighting

Warrior

My Dear Young Cousin, If There's One Thing I've Learned Over The Eons, It's That You Can't Give Up On Your Family, No Matter How Tempting They Make It.

Family

Cousin

Giving Up

Sadie Got Up And Kissed Amos On The Forehead. “leave It To Us, Uncle. I’ve Got A Plan.” “that,” I Said, “sounds Like Very Bad News.

Uncles

Sound

News

Leo Had Seen Tia Callida In Action; She Liked Knives, Snakes And Putting Babies In Roaring Fires. Yeah, Definitely Let's Unleash Her Rage. Great Idea.

Baby

Fire

Knives

Ever Hold Your Hand Over A Torch (sorry, A Flashlight For You Americans).

Sorry

Hands

Torches

I Caught Bast’s Arm When She Was A Few Steps From The Bank. “stay Away From The Water.” She Frowned. “carter, I’m A Cat. I’m Not Going For A Swim. But If You Want To Summon A River Goddess, You Really Need To Do It At The Riverbank.

Cat

Rivers

Water

Now The Tattoos," Zia Announced. "brilliant!" I Said. "on Your Tongue," She Added. "excuse Me?

Tattoo

Tongue

Brilliant

The Sea Does Not Like To Be Restrained.

Sea

Doe

I Hoped They Couldn't Run Very Fast With Those Stubby Little Legs And Flippers, But They Waddled Along Pretty Well.

Running

Legs

Littles

I Held Out My Dad’s Magic Box And Let It O, Sure It Would Smash To The Floor. Instead, The Box Disappeared. “cool,” I Said. “sure You I Can Get It Back?” “no,” Bast Said. “now Come On!

Dad

Magic

Boxes

Right," She Said, "we're Going To The Land Of The Dead And I Shouldn't Think Negative.

Positive

Thinking

Land

If You’re Listening To This, Congratulations! You Survived Doomsday. I’d Like To Apologize Straightaway For Any Inconvenience The End Of The World May Have Caused You. The Earthquakes, Rebellions, Riots,tornadoes, Floods, Tsunamis, And Of Course The Giant Snake Who Swallowed The Sun—i’m Afraid Most Of That Was Our Fault. Carter And I Decided We Should At Least Explain How It Happened.

Congratulations

Earthquakes

Snakes

Amos Sipped His Coffee. "sorry If That Distubed You. Khufu's Very Picky. He Only Eats Foods That End In -o. Doritos, Burritos, Flamingos." I Blinked. "did You Say-" "carter," Sadie Warned. She Looked A Little Queasy, Like She'd Already Had This Conversation. "don't Ask.

Sorry

Coffee

Khufu

Annabeth:my Fatal Flaw. That's What The Sirens Showed Me. My Fatal Flaw Is Hubris. Percy: The Brown Stuff They Spread On Veggie Sandwiches? Annabeth:no, Seaweed Brain. That's Hummus. Hubris Is Worse. Percy: What Could Be Worse Than Hummus? Annabeth: Hubris Means Deadly Pride, Percy. Thinking You Can Do Things Better Than Anyone Else... Even The Gods.

Mean

Pride

Thinking

Maybe It’s The Other Way Around,” Jason Suggested. “maybe People With Special Gifts Show Up When Bad Things Are Happening Because That’s When They’re Needed Most.

People

Special

Jason

All Of My Characters Tend To Be Montages Of Different People I've Met: Little Bits And Pieces Of Their Personalities Put Together.

Character

People

Personality

There Will Be Guards,” Bast Said. “and Traps. And Alarms. You Can Bet The House Is Heavily Charmed To Keep Out Gods.” “magicians Can Do That?” I Asked. I Imagined A Big Can Of Pesticide Labeled God-away.

House

Alarms

Pesticides

Beckendorf Closed Eyes Tight And Brought His Hand Up To His Watch. From That Distance, The Explosion Shook The World. Heat Seared The Back Of My Head. The Princess Andromeda Blew Up From Both Sides, A Massive Fireball Of Green Flame Roiling Into The Dark Sky, Consuming Everything....i Stared Out The Window Into Deep Blue Water. 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.

Girlfriend

Distance

Princess

We Started This Together, Leo. Seems Only Right You Come Along. You Find Us A Ride, You're In." "yes!" Leo Pumped His Fist. * * * * * Jason Gazed Up At The Dragon And Shook His Head In Amazement. "leo, What Have You Done?" "found A Ride!" Leo Beamed. "you Said I Could Go On The Quest If I Got You A Ride. Well, I Got You A Class-a Metallic Flying Bad Boy! Festus Can Take Us Anywhere!

Boys

Class

Dragons

June Cackled With Delight, Muttering, "whoops!" As A Car Almost Killed Them.

June

Car

Delight

You Want To Know How Egyptians Pulled The Brains Out Of Mummies. Or Built The Pyramids, Or Cursed King Tut's Tomb? My Dad's Your Man.

Kings

Dad

Men

Well," I Said. "if You Need Me, I'll Be Outside, Playing With Sharp Objects.

Needs

Said

Wells

I Thought About All The Things I Was Suddenly Able To Do—like Fight With A Sword And Summon A Magical Shell Of Armor. Those Were Not Things I Covered In Home School.

Home

School

Fighting

Swords Can’t Solve Every Problem.

Problem

Solve

Mark Of Athena

I Can See The Stars Again M'lady.

Stars

I Can

Zoe Nightshade

Back In Khufu's Day I Knew A Magician Who Parted The Nile Just So He Could Climb To The Bottom And Retrieve A Girl's Necklace. Then There Was That Israelite Fellow, Mickey." "moses?" "yeah, Him.

Girl

Khufu

Necklaces

Different Elevator Music Was Playing Since My Last Visit-that Old Disco Song "stayin' Alive." A Terrifying Image Flashed Through My Mind Of Apollo In Bell-bottom Pants And A Slinky Silk Shirt.

Song

Mind

Different

Being A Hero Doesn’t Mean You’re Invincible. It Just Means That You’re Brave Enough To Stand Up And Do What’s Needed.

Hero

Mean

Brave

Ah... Much Better" He Said. "backbiter, Luke Called It. An Appropriate Name. Now That It Is Reforged Comeplately, It Shall Indeed Bite Back

Names

Said

Bites

And Togheter, Holding Hands, He And Annabeth Fell Into The Endless Darkness

Hands

Darkness

Annabeth

The Metal Blade Hit Her Shoulder And Passed Cleanthrough Her Body As If She Were Made Of Water. Hisss!

Water

Body

Blades

Ever Had A Flying Burrito Hit You? Well, It's A Deadly Projectile, Right Up There With Cannonballs And Grenades.

Flying

Burritos

Wells

You Will Not Believe Me, But I Am Proud Of Your Strength. Sometimes. . . Sometimes The Only Way I Can Care For My Children Is To Keep My Distance.

Children

Distance

Believe

My Brother Broke Into A Toothy Grin. "yay! Your Brain Works!

Brother

Brain

Yay

Think About Isis,” Jaz Repeated. “and Sadie…there Is A Purpose. You Taught Us That. We Choose To Believe In Ma'at. We Create Order Out Of Chaos, Beauty And Meaning Out Of Ugly Randomness. That's What Egypt Is All About. That's Why Its Name, Its Ren, Has Endured For Millennia. Don't Despair. Otherwise Chaos Wins.

Believe

Winning

Thinking

The World Will Fall, The Gods Will Die, And I Will Never Achieve A Perfect Score On This Stupid Machine. -dionysus

Stupid

Fall

Perfect

He Pinched The Name Tag And Ran His Fingers Under The Letters. "can You Read This, Mate? It Says C-h-a-r-o-n. Say It With Me: Care-on." "charon." "amazing! Now: Mr. Charon." "mr. Charon." "well Done.

Names

Done

Care

The First Lesson Every Child Of Athena Learned: Mom Was The Best At Everything, And You Should Never, Ever Suggest Otherwise.

Mom

Daughter

Children

The Telkine Growled And Muttered As He Tapped On His Keyboard. Maybe He Was Messaging His Friends On Uglyface.com

Keyboards

He [death] Pulled A Pure-black Ipad From Thin Air. Death Tapped The Screen A Few Times And All Frank Could Think Was: Please Don't Let There Be An App For Reading Souls

Reading

Thinking

Air

Since Percy’d Lost His Memory,his Whole Life Was One Big Fillin-the-blank. He Was____________________, From____________________. He Felt Like ____________________, And If The Monsters Caught Him, He’d Be____________________.

Memories

Monsters

Lost

She Tied Her Blond Hair Back With A Strip Of Denim Torn From Her Pants Leg, And In The Fiery Light Of The River, Her Grey Eyes Flickered. Despite Being Beat-up, Sooty, And Dressed Like A Homeless Person, She Looked Great To Percy. So What If They Were In Tartarus? So What If They Stood A Slim Chance Of Surviving? He Was So Glad That They Were Together, He Had The Ridiculous Urge To Smile.

Eye

Light

Hair

Beckendorf Walked Up With His Helmet Under His Arm. 'she Likes You, Man.' 'sure,' I Muttered. 'she Likes Me For Target Practice.' 'nah, They Always Do That. A Girl Starts Trying To Kill You, You Know She's Into You. 'makes A Lot Of Sense.

Girl

Men

Practice

Sugar And Caffeine. My Willpower Crumbled.

Sugar

Willpower

Caffeine

She Blinked. "hmm? Oh, Don't Care. What Did Anubis Look Like To You?" "what Did... He Looked Like A Guy. So?" "a Good-looking Guy, Or A Slobbering Dog-headed Guy?" "i Guess... Not The Dog-headed Guy." "i Knew It!" Sadie Pointed At Me As If She'd Won An Argument. "good-looking. I Knew It!" And With A Ridiculous Grin, She Spun Around And Skipped Into The House. My Sister, As I May Have Mentioned, Is A Little Strange.

Dog

House

Guy

No!" Amy Said. "dan, You're Lucky It Was Only Concussive. You Could've Wiped Out The Whole Holt Family." "and That Would've Been Bad Because...?

Lucky

Amy

Said

Percy Is The Most Powerful Demigod I've Ever Met. No Offense To You Guys But It's True.

Powerful

Guy

Demigods

I Nodded, Looking At Rachel With Respect. "you Hit The Lord Of The Titans In The Eye With A Blue Plastic Hairbrush.

Eye

Blue

Lord

It Is True I Do Not Like Fire. But Leo Valdez's Flames Are Not Strong Enough To Trouble Me." Somewhere Behind Hazel, A Soft, Lyrical Voice Said, "what About My Flames, Old Friend?" "you," He Said From Percy's Mouth. "me," Hecate Agreed. "it Has Been Millennia Since I Fought At The Side Of A Demigod. What Do You Say? Shall We Play With Fire?

Strong

Play

Voice

So Which Way Now, Sacagawea?" - Annabeth To Rachel

Annabeth

Way

Everyone Hates Clowns," Otis Said. "even Other Clowns Hate Clowns.

Hate

Clown

Said

She Held Up Her Calloused, Grimy Fingers. Leo Couldn't Help Thinking There Was Nothing Hotter Than A Girl Who Didn't Mind Getting Her Hands Dirty. But Of Course, That Was Just A General Comment. Didn't Apply To Calypso. Obviously.

Girl

Dirty

Thinking

Turkey, Australia, And Japan Are Three Of My Top Destinations.

Japan

Turkeys

Australia

Mr. D," Grover Asked Timidly, "if You're Not Going To Eat It, Could I Have Your Diet Coke Can?

Coke

Grover

Diets

With Great Power... Comes Great Need To Take A Nap. Wake Me Up Later.

Naps

Needs

Percy Jackson And The Olympians

You're Pretty Smug, Lord Ares, For A Guy Who Runs From Cupid Statues.

Running

Guy

Cupid

Oh, I Wouldn't Say Love Always Makes You Happy. Sometimes It Makes You Incredibly Sad.

Sometimes

Make You Happy

Love Always

Sadie," He Said Forlornly, "when You Become A Parent, You May Understand This. One Of My Hardest Jobs As A Father, One Of My Greatest Duties, Was To Realize That My Own Dreams, My Own Goals And Wishes, Are Secondary To My Children's.

Dream

Jobs

Children

I Smiled At The Giant. “actually, Cacus, I Have Another Secret Weapon.” The Giant’s Eyes Lit Up With Greed. “another Weapon? I Will Steal It! I Will Copy It And Sell The Knockoffs For A Profit! What Is This Secret Weapon?” “her Name Is Annabeth,” I Said. “and She’s One Of A Kind.

Eye

Names

Greed

Even Strength Must Bow To Wisdom Sometimes.

Inspirational

Wisdom

Understanding

Percy," My Father Said, "what Exactly Do You Mean?" "kronos Couldn't Have Risen If It Hadn't Been For A Lot Of Demigods Who Felt Abandoned By Their Parents," I Said. "they Felt Angry, Resentful, And Unloved, And They Had A Good Reason.

Father

Mean

Parent

Monsters,' Her Dad Said, A Tear Tracing His Cheek. 'i Live In A World Of Monsters.

Dad

Tears

Monsters

It Doesn't Matter! From Waist Down, My Best Friend Is A Donkey.

My Best Friend

Matter

Donkey

A Hero Can Go Anywhere, Challenge Anyone, As Long As He Has The Nerve.

Hero

Long

Challenges

We Tend To Think Of Divorced Or Complicated Families As A Modern Invention, And That Is Not At All True. You Only Have To Read The Greek Myths To See Broken Homes, Widows, Divorce, Stepchildren, Children Trying To Get Along With New Parents.

Children

Divorce

Home

The Friday Before Winter Break, My Mom Packed Me An Overnight Bag And A Few Deadly Weapons And Took Me To A New Boarding School.

Mom

Friday

School

You Have To Be Compelled To Write. If You’re Not, Nothing Else That You Do Matters.

Writing

Matter

Letting You Go

The More You Know, The More You Try To Change Them, And That Can Be Disastrous.

Trying

Knows

Writing Is Like A Sport - You Only Get Better If You Practice

Sports

Writing

Practice

Then Something Occurred To Me. "get Closer," I Told Blackjack. He Whinnied In Protest. "just Within Shouting Distance," I Said. "i Need To Talk To The Statue." Now I'm Sure You've Lost It, Boss, Blackjack Said

Distance

Boss

Needs

Fair... You'd Be Amazed How Often I Hear That Word, Frank Zhang,and How Meaningless It Is. Is It Fair Your Life Will Burn So Short And Bright? Was It Fair When I Guided Your Mother To The Underworld? No, Not Fair. And Yet It Was Her Time. There Is No Fairness In Death. If You Free Me, I Will Do My Duty.

Mother

Fairness

Duty

I'd Come To Respect The Bag.

Bags

He Offered To Stop The Tide For Me Once. He Offered To Build Me A Palace At The Bottom Of The Sea.

Sea

Tides

Palaces

Alabaster, You Told Me Earlier That Heroes Don't Die. You May Be Right, But I Can Tell You One Thing." Claymore Looked The Boy In The Eyes. "i'm Not A Hero.

Hero

Eye

Boys

Wouldn't That Put A Twist In Your Toga?

Twists

Togas

But Who Are You?" Percy—" I Started To Say. Then The Skeletons Turned Around. "gotta Go!" What Kind Of Name Is Percy Gotta-go?

Skeletons

Names

Kind

I Didn't Understand How. But The Toilets Had Responded To Me. I Had Become One With The Plumbing.

Toilets

Plumbing

Cabin Fifteen Does That To Everyone," Annabeth Warned. "if You Ask Me, This Place Is Even More Dangerous Than The Ares Cabin. At Least With Ares, You Can Learn Where The Land Mines Are." "land Mines?

Land

Doe

Cabins

Rachel: You're A Half-blood, Too? Annabeth: Shhh! Just Announce It To The World, How About? Rachel: Okay. Hey, Everybody! These Two Aren't Human! They're Half Greek God!...they Don't Seem To Care.

Two

Blood

Greek

Percy: I’ll Walk Down To The Cabins And Connor And Travis Are Stealing Stuff From The Camp Store, And Silena Is Arguing With Annabeth Trying To Give Her A New Makeover, And Clarisse Is Still Sticking The New Kids’ Head Into The Toilets. It’s Nice That Some Things Never Change.

Nice

Kids

Giving

Sounds Like A Plan Worthy Of Athena.

Sound

Athena

Worthy

Tyson, Frank Is A Descendant Of Poseidon." "brother!" Tyson Crushed Frank In A Hug. Percy Stifled A Laugh. "actually He's More Like A Great-great-...oh, Never Mind. Yeah, He's Your Brother." "thanks." Frank Mumbled Through A Mouthful Of Flannel.

Brother

Laughing

Hug

The World May Need Fixing, But It's Worth Preserving.

May

Fixing

Needs

Aphrodite,” [annabeth] Said. “venus?” Hazel Asked In Amazement. “mom,” Piper Said With No Enthusiasm. “girls!” The Goddess Spread Her Arms Like She Wanted A Group Hug. The Three Demigods Did Not Oblige. Hazel Backed Into A Palmetto Tree.

Girl

Mom

Tree

Leo Fell In Love With Every Girl He Saw-as Long As She Was Completely Out Of His League.

Girl

Long

League

Carter Pulled Out Several Lengths Of Brown Twine, A Small Ebony Cat Statue, And A Thick Roll Of Paper. No, Not Paper. Papyrus. I Remember Dad Explaining How The Egyptians Made It From A River Plant Because They Never Invented Paper. The Stuff Was So Thick And Rough, It Made Me Wonder If The Poor Egyptians Had Had To Use Toilet Papyrus. If So, No Wonder They Walked Sideways.

Dad

Cat

Rivers

I Remembered The Myth About Andromeda And How She Had Been Chained To A Rock By Her Own Parents As A Sacrifice To A Sea Monster. Maybe She'd Gotten Too Many F's On Her Report Card Or Something.

Sacrifice

Rocks

Sea

I Said Hello To The Poodle.

Poodles

Hello

Said

Where's The Glory In Repeating What Others Have Done?

Done

Glory

Khufu Carefully Picked Out Everything That Ended With-o—doritos, Oreos, And Some Chunks Of Meat. Buffalo? Armadillo? I Was Scared To Even Ask.

Khufu

Meat

Oreos

Reyna Sent Me To Get Percy," Frank Said. "did Octavian Accept You?" "yeah," Percy Said. "he Slaughtered My Panda.

Pandas

Reyna

Accepting

I Have Moments Like That Alot, When My Brain Falls Asleep Or Something, And The Next Thing I Know I've Missed Something, As If A Puzzle Piece Fell Out Of The Universe And Left Me Staring At The Blank Place Behind It. -- Percy Jackson

Fall

Brain

Pieces

I Had Nightmares About What Poseidon Might Turn Me Into If I Were On The Verge Of Death-plankton Maybe." -percy Jackson

Might

Nightmare

Poseidon

Now, I Figured That The Built-up Gas In Most Boys' Locker Rooms Was Enough To Cause An Explosion, So I Wasn't Surprised When The Flaming Dodgeball Ignited A Huge Whooooooom!

Boys

Dodgeball

Lockers

We'll Have To Work On Your Bunny Phobia Later.

Bunnies

Phobia

Olympian

Monsters Don't Die. They Just Dissipate Into Smoke And Dust, Which Saves Heroes A Lot Of Trouble Cleaning Up After A Fight.

Hero

Fighting

Dust

Otis Barreled Towards Them Empty-handed, Before Apparently Realizing That A) He Was Empty-handed And B) Charging Towards A Large Body Of Water To Fight A Son Of Poseidon Was Maybe Not A Good Idea.

Fighting

Son

Ideas

Weapons Are Allowed. Dirty Tricks Are Expected. But Try Not To Kill Anybody!” Tantalus Smiled At Us Like We Were All Naughty Children. “any Killing Will Result In Harsh Punishment. No S’mores At The Campfire For A Week! Now Ready Your Chariots!

Children

Dirty

Naughty

A Half-blood Of The Eldest Gods, Shall Reach Sixteen Against All Odds And See The World In Endless Sleep The Hero's Soul, Cursed Blade Shall Reap A Single Choice Shall End His Days Olympus To Preserve Or Raze.

Hero

Sleep

Odds

I Was Glad To Be With Her, But It Also Kind Of Hurt, And It Hurt When I Wasn't With Her, Too.

Hurt

Kind

It Hurts

Happy The Dragon Was Not So Happy.

Dragons

"aphrodite," She Said. "venus?" Hazel Asked In Amazement. "mom," Piper Said, With No Enthusiasm.

Mom

Venus

Enthusiasm

I Like Both Greek And Egyptian. More Greek Stories Have Survived, So We Know More About Them. They've Always Been My Favorite. On The Other Hand, I Like The Egyptian Stories Because They're Not As Commonly Known And They Have An Exotic Flavour.

Hands

Greek

Stories

Hope," Frank Grumbled. "i'd Rather Have A Few Good Weasels.

Weasels

Frank

Calm Down, Horus Said. "don't Tell Me To Calm Down!" Bast Frowned. "i Didn't." "talking To Him!" I Pointed At My Forehead.

Talking

Calm

Said

Once She Was Gone, I Knelt Next To Annabeth And Felt Her Forehead. She Was Still Burning Up. "you're Cute When You're Worried," She Muttered. "your Eyebrows Get All Scrunched Together." "you Are Not Going To Die While I Owe You A Favor," I Said. "why Did You Take That Knife?" "you Would've Done The Same For Me." It Was True. I Guess We Both Knew It. Still, I Felt Like Somebody Was Poking My Heart With A Cold Metal Rod.

Cute

Friendship

Heart

You Must Forge Your Own Path For It To Mean Anything.

Mean

Olympus

Path

Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.

2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.

2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.

2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.

3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.

3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.

3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.

4. Proper Usage of Quotes

4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.

4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.

4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.

5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.

5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.

6. Quotes in Different Contexts

6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.

6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.

6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.

7. Punctuation and Formatting

Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:

Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.

Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.

Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.

8. Ethical Considerations

Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes

Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.

Conclusion

Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.

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Joseph Barber Lightfoot