Critic Badge - Book review: Percy Jackson / Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

 The only reason I started reading these books is because I saw the first Percy Jackson film and spotted the credit "Based on the novel by Rick Riordan". I'm so glad I investigated this book series. The film was good but the book was a million times better!

The second film was so loosely based on the second book, "The Sea of Monsters", that I'm not surprised there were no more films despite five books in the Percy Jackson series then a further five in the following Heroes of Olympus series in which the world we've learned about so far, the world of modern day Greek demigods, is expanded to include their Roman counterparts.

It's all about, at the beginning, 12 year old Percy Jackson discovering he's the son of a Greek god, none other than Poseidon. The series follows his adventures fighting monsters and trying to complete difficult quests with his friends Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood the Satyr. The five books of this series follow on from the previous as Percy grows up and learns more about his destiny.

The Heroes of Olympus series follows on after a life or death battle in Manhattan and the gods recognise mistakes have been made in the past. New demigods are introduced, both Greek and Roman, to the storyline through the first two books who then have to learn to work together, a task normally so impossible that their godly parents have kept them from knowing the others exist to prevent wars.

The writing style is fantastic. Where it's aimed at adolescents, it's really easy to read. Riordan doesn't try to overcomplicate anything or use tricky words.

These series are a must for any mythology fan.

For more information, click here for Rick Riordan's website.

Critic Badge - Exhibition review: Brick Wonders at the Novium, Winchester

 22nd January 2022

I didn't know I was going to this exhibition. A friend of mine surprised me and it was lovely.

The exhibits, as ever with big Leg displays, were incredibly well made and were so varied.

The first section was a trip around the world with displays like an underwater scene with a turtle similar in size to, well, a real full grown turtle, a colourful depiction of the Internet, the Aurora Australis and various famous landmarks like Easter Island and Hoover Dam.

Next there were Lego representations of things like the pandemic (tablets and syringes) and social media logos.

I was excited to spot a Lego model of the Mole from Thunderbirds on a screen. The guy involved in creating the display was being interviewed and he had it behind him. I was disappointed though that this model hadn't been included anywhere in the exhibition.

The next section of the display was about technology so there was an enormous model of the International Space Station as well as a small one, and things like a container ship.

The final part was depictions of the Seven Wonders of the World. These were the Pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse at Alexandria, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

The exhibition was a temporary one within a museum about Winchester built around a Roman archaeological dig site which is incorporated into their exhibits.

Critic Badge - Album Review: Not all Those Who Wander Are Lost, Dave Brons

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost - Dave Brons

I first heard about Dave Brons' music online, possibly Instagram. There was an offer to download four free tracks and I took advantage. I adored them and instantly had to get the album.

The music is inspired by Tolkien and so really has an other worldly feel. Straight away I feel like I'm walking through a forest or experiencing magic.

My favourite track is Awakened by Starlight (track 4). It has a light and airy quality and feels like the perfect sort of track to meditate to or, at the very least, sit and chill to.

There's a lot of soft, almost childlike voices taking you on a journey throughout the tracks, giving the album a storyline.

Another track I like is The Riders of Rohan (track 9) which feels like a complete opposite of Starlight. It's deeper and faster and, as the title might suggest, you feel like you're participating in a fast paced, urgent horse ride.

I can't really say there's anything I particularly dislike about the album, just tracks I like more than others. I definitely would, and already have, recommended it to others and will continue to as well, hence the link at the top!

Happy listening!