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{{Infobox Book
| name          = The Titan's Curse
| image         =
| image_caption =
| author        = [[Rick Riordan]]
| country       = [[United States]]
| language      = [[English language|English]]
| release_date  = May 1, 2007
| series        = ''[[Percy Jackson & the Olympians]]'' (Book 3)
| genre         = [[Fantasy]], [[Young-adult fiction|Young adult]], [[Greek mythology]]
| publisher     = Miramax and Hyperion Books for Children
| media_type    = Print ([[Hardcover|hardback]] and [[paperback]])
| pages         = 312
| isbn          = 978-1-4231-0145-1
| oclc          = 76863948
| preceded_by   = [[Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters]]
| followed_by   = [[Percy Jackson and The Battle of the Labyrinth]]
}}

'''''The Titan's Curse''''' is [[fantasy]]-[[adventure]] novel based on [[Greek mythology]]. It was written by [[Rick Riordan]] and was [[Publishing|published]] in 2007. ''The Titan's Curse'' is the third novel in the ''[[Percy Jackson & the Olympians]]'' series. It is the next book after ''[[The Sea of Monsters]]''. The book tells the story of the adventures of the fourteen-year-old [[demigod]] [[Percy Jackson (character)|Percy Jackson]] as he and his friends go on a dangerous adventure. In this quest, they have to rescue his friend [[Annabeth Chase|Annabeth]] and the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] goddess [[Artemis]], who have both been [[kidnapping|kidnapped]].

''The Titan's Curse'' received good [[wikt:review|reviews]]. It was [[wikt:nominated|nominated]] for many [[award]]s. The book was also the number one ''[[The New York Times]]'' children's series [[wikt:bestseller|best seller]]<ref name="biz">{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2007/06/04/story3.html|title=Local author's fantasy fiction has made him a best seller|last=Thomas|first=Mike W.|date=2007-06-01|publisher=San Antonio Business Journal|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref><ref name="smart">{{cite web|url=http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=9436870C-395E-4647-A34E-EEBB11C53DCA|title=Hugely anticipated finale to blockbuster Percy Jackson and the Olympians series goes on sale today|last=Bass|first=Deborah|date=2009-05-05|publisher=Disney Book Group|accessdate=2011-08-01|archive-date=2012-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302104623/http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=9436870C-395E-4647-A34E-EEBB11C53DCA|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''Book Sense'' Top Ten Summer Pick for 2007.<ref name="booksense">{{cite web|url=http://news.bookweb.org/booksense/5273.html|title=The Summer 2007 Children's Book Sense Picks|publisher=American Booksellers Association|accessdate=2011-08-01|archive-date=2009-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107081448/http://news.bookweb.org/booksense/5273.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was [[wikt:released|released]] in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]] on May 1, 2007.<ref name="riordansite">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228062238/http://www.rickriordan.com/children.htm|url=http://www.rickriordan.com/children.htm|archivedate=2009-02-28|title=The Titan's Curse|work=[[Rick Riordan]]|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> The novel was also released in [[audiobook]] format. Actor Jesse Bernstein read the audiobook.<ref name="audiobook">{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780739350331|title=The Titan's Curse|work=[[Random House]]|accessdate=2011-08-01|archive-date=2010-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217143612/http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780739350331|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="amazon">{{cite book|title=The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) (Hardcover)|isbn=978-1423101451 |last1=Riordan |first1=Rick |date=May 2007 }}</ref> It is followed by ''[[The Battle of the Labyrinth]]'', which is the fourth book in the series.

==Plot==
Like the other books in the series, ''The Titan's Curse'' is of the [[fantasy novel|fantasy]] [[genre]]. It uses the [[Greek mythology|ancient Greek mythology]] in a modern setting as background.<ref name="powells">{{cite web|url=http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9781423101451|title=The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3 (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #03)|work=powells.com|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref><ref name="mylibrary">{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-164111348/riordan-rick-titan-curse.html|title=Riordan, Rick. The Titan's Curse.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)|last=Follos|first=Alison|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> Reviewers have called its plot "[[wikt:fast-paced|fast-paced]]", meaning that the story moves very quickly. It has humor as well as [[wikt:theme|themes]] such as love and loyalty.

===Plot summary===
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Annabeth Chase and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, are kidnapped and Percy and his friends must find Artemis before the [[winter solstice]]. This is because at the winter solstice, her [[wikt:influence|influence]] on the [[Olympus|Olympian]] [[wikt:council|Council]] could change an important vote. The vote was on the war with the [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]]. [[Thalia Grace]], [[Zoe Nightshade (Percy Jackson)|Zoë Nightshade]], [[Bianca Di Angelo]], and [[Grover Underwood (Percy Jackson)|Grover]] go on this dangerous quest. They also are searching for a rare monster that Artemis was trying to hunt down when she went missing. This monster is so powerful that it can destroy Olympus. Percy is called by a [[hippocampus]] (which is a mythological sea-horse) to rescue a [[cow]]-like creature called the [[Ophiotaurus]] which lives in the sea. Percy names the Ophiotaurus "Bessie". He did not know that it is a male.

With help from [[Apollo]], they reach a small town in New Mexico. Grover feels the [[wikt:presence|presence]] of [[Pan (god)|Pan]], the Greek god of nature. Soon, a wild gift from Pan, the giant [[Erymanthian Boar]], comes to carry them to [[San Francisco]]. It takes them to the [[wikt:junkyard|junkyard]] of the gods. Here, Percy meets [[Ares]] and talks to [[Aphrodite]]. Aphrodite [[wikt:hint|hints]] that Annabeth and Percy will fall in love in future. The group then enters the junkyard. There, Bianca tries to steal an [[action figure]] for her younger brother. However, she awakens a [[prototype]] of Talos, a giant man of [[bronze]]. She destroys it, but dies after this. The demigods then go to [[Hoover Dam]]. Percy is attacked by [[wikt:skeleton|skeleton]] warriors there. He meets [[Rachel Elizabeth Dare (Percy Jackson)|Rachel Elizabeth Dare]], a girl who can see through the Mist (which prevents common people from seeing monsters and magical things). She saves Percy by confusing the skeletons. This allows Percy and his friends to escape.

In San Francisco, they learn that Bessie the Ophiotaurus is the monster Artemis was searching. This is because [[wikt:sacrifice|sacrificing]] it and burning its [[wikt:entrails|entrails]] will give a person the power to destroy [[Olympus]]. They ask for the help of Annabeth's father who gives them a car. They travel to the [[Garden of Hesperides]], where Zoë meets her sisters. She is [[poison]]ed by a [[dragon]] called [[Ladon (mythology)|Ladon]]. They continue to the Mountain of Despair on [[California|California's]] [[Mount Tamalpais]], where [[Mount Othrys#Mythology|Mt. Othrys]], the Titan capital, is now present. From the top of the mountain where Atlas held up the sky, they see Artemis holding the sky. Annabeth is held [[wikt:captive|captive]] by Luke. Percy takes the burden—the Titan's curse—from Artemis. After this, a fight breaks out. Atlas (the General of the Titans) kills his daughter Zoë by throwing her against rocks. Artemis tricks [[Atlas (Titan)|Atlas]] into taking his burden from Percy. Luke falls from a cliff during a battle with Thalia, and Percy thinks that he is dead. They go to Olympus and they keep Ophiotaurus there and at that party Percy is told by Annabeth that Luke has survived.<ref name="TitansCurse">{{cite book| last = Riordan| first = Rick| authorlink = Rick Riordan| title = The Titan's Curse| url = https://archive.org/details/titanscurse00rior| accessdate = 2011-08-01| series = [[Percy Jackson & the Olympians]]| date = 2007-04-01| publisher = Hyperion Books for Children| isbn = 978-1-4231-0145-1| oclc = 76863948 }}</ref>

===Major characters===
{{Main|List of Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters}}
* [[Percy Jackson (character)|Percy Jackson]]: Percy Jackson is a fourteen-year-old demigod and the son of [[Poseidon]]. He is the [[Protagonist|main character]] who tells the story in the series. Percy goes on a [[journey]] to save his friend Annabeth and the Greek goddess Artemis, who have both been kidnapped.
* [[Thalia Grace]]: Thalia is a fifteen-year-old demigod. She is a daughter of [[Zeus]]. Thalia appears in Percy's dream in the second book. But she makes a full appearance at the end of ''[[The Sea of Monsters]]''. Thalia is given a greater role in the third book. Thalia is described as looking very [[punk (subculture)|punk]]. She wears black clothes, has spiky hair and wears [[eyeliner]]. Her personality is described in the book as "[[wikt:independent|independent]] and many times [[wikt:sarcastic|sarcastic]]". Thalia is a lot like Percy. So, they get into fights often. She has feelings for Luke and was very sad when he betrayed the gods. Thalia is also afraid of heights.
* [[Annabeth (Percy Jackson)|Annabeth Chase]]: Annabeth is a fourteen-year-old demigod. She is the daughter of [[Athena]]. Annabeth is friends with Percy, Thalia and Grover. She is kidnapped along with Artemis by the Titans. Annabeth is very interested in architecture and she wishes to be an architect when she is older.
* [[Grover Underwood]]: Grover is a [[satyr]]. He is 28 years old but looks like a [[teenager]]. This is due to the satyrs' slower growth rate (half that of humans). Grover wants to look for [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], the satyr god of nature and the wild, who fell into a "deep sleep" due to the [[pollution]] of the world.
* [[Bianca di Angelo]]: Bianca is a twelve-year-old demigod. She is the daughter of [[Hades]]. Bianca and her ten-year-old brother [[Nico di Angelo|Nico]] were trapped in the Lotus Hotel, where time is slowed down. When the book begins, they have been released and are attending a school. Bianca later joined the Hunters of Artemis. She was killed in the quest in the "Junkyard of the Gods". Her death greatly upsets her brother, Nico. He quickly blames Percy for it.
* [[Zoë Nightshade]]: Zoë is the daughter of Atlas and a hunter of Artemis. She dies after being bitten by [[Ladon (mythology)|Ladon]]. Ladon protects the golden apple tree. The fruits of the tree make a person [[wikt:immortal|immortal]]. Artemis turns her spirit into a [[constellation]] soon after her death.
* [[Luke Castellan]]: The demigod son of Hermes, Luke is the main [[antagonist]] of the series. The lord of the Titans, [[Cronus|Kronos]] takes over his body at the end of the book. Kronos' followers and army gather on a ship called the ''Princess Andromeda''
* [[Nico di Angelo]]: Nico is the ten-year-old demigod son of [[Hades]]. He and his sister, [[Bianca di Angelo]], were trapped in the Lotus Hotel, where time is slowed down. When the book begins, they have been released and are attending a school. They are rescued from a [[Manticore]] by Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover. He is left at camp during the quest, but stays in the [[Hermes]] Cabin because his parentage has not been discovered. He leaves camp after hearing Percy broke his promise of letting Bianca die. Before he leaves, he sends an army of skeletal warriors into the underworld. This shows that he is the son of Hades.

==Critical reception==
''The Titan's Curse'' received positive reviews from [[wikt:critic|critics]]. The reviewers praised the humor and action in the story. ''Children's Literature'' called the book fast-paced. They said it "is full of adventure and humour" and that "[r]eaders will relate to good natured Percy, the protagonist."<ref name="barnes">{{cite web|url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Titans-Curse/Rick-Riordan/e/9781423101482|title=The Titan's Curse: Barnes and Noble|publisher=Barnes and Noble|accessdate=2011-08-01|archive-date=2011-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607035605/http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Titans-Curse/Rick-Riordan/e/9781423101482|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Kirkus'' said that the book made Greek myths come alive in a way classrooms cannot. They said the book will have "readers wondering how literature can be this fun."<ref name="barnes" /> ''School Library Journal'' wrote that "[[wikt:intricate|Intricate]] [[prophecy|prophecies]] and relationships" are "neatly" [[wikt:weave|woven]] into the plot which they said had a lot of adventure. They added: "Teachers will cheer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians" as they would help students to learn about Greek mythology and also to read. They said that the book was a "winner" in "Olympic" (large) [[proportion]]s.<ref name="amazon1">{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Titans-Curse-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/B0014JOKL6/|title=The Titan's Curse|date=May 2007 |accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> ''Booklist's'' starred review said, "The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea" and said Riordan added more depth to the characters, but the books are still as funny as the previous ones.<ref name="amazon" /> ''KidsReads'' also praised the book and said that the books are popular because they combine "humor, adventure and a winning hero" and said readers who have read the previous books would like Riordan's style.<ref name="kidsreads">{{cite web|url=http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/1423101456.asp|title=The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Three|last=Piehl|first=Norah|publisher=KidsReads|accessdate=2011-08-01|archive-date=2009-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825023746/http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/1423101456.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
''The Titan's Curse'' received some awards and nominations. It was a [[Quill Award]] nominee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnbc.com/thequills/13414972/detail.html|date=2007-07-05|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220114638/http://www.wnbc.com/thequills/14078987/detail.html|archivedate=2008-02-20|title=The 2007 Quill Award nominees Are...|location=New York|publisher=WNBC|accessdate=2011-08-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also the number one ''[[The New York Times]]'' children's series best seller<ref name="biz"/><ref name="smart"/> and ''Book Sense'' Top Ten Summer Pick for 2007.<ref name="booksense"/>

==Audiobook==
An eight-hour and forty-eight minute audiobook<ref name="audible">{{cite book|url=http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_LILI_000585&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes|title=The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3 (Unabridged)|work=audible.com|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> read by the actor Jesse Bernstein<ref name="audiofile">{{cite web|url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/dbsearch/showreview.cfm?Num=30633|title=The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3 |date=September 2009|work=AudioFile|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> was released on April 24, 2007.<ref name="audiobook"/><ref name="amazonaudio">{{cite book|title=The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) [Audiobook] [Unabridged] (Audio CD)|isbn=0739350331 }}</ref><ref name="vermont">{{cite web|url=http://www.listenupvermont.org/3826EB5A-58C2-465E-9325-F11801F0CA6A/10/434/en/ContentDetails.htm?id=%7BFA445361-7E59-45D4-A024-26530F7CC8AD%7D|title=The Titan's Curse Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, Book 3|publisher=Listen Up! Vermont|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref> It was published by Listening Library.<ref name="booksontape">{{cite web|url=http://library.booksontape.com/bookdetail.cfm/YA1227ACD|title=The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book 3|publisher=booksontape.com|accessdate=2011-08-01}}</ref>

''AudioFile Magazine'' praised the audiobook. They wrote that it sounded "young, or old, or really scary" in different parts. They added that Jesse Bernstein "[...] effectively voices the confusion and loss the team experiences."<ref name="audiofile"/>

==Sequel==
{{Main|The Battle of the Labyrinth}}

''The Battle of the Labyrinth'' is the fourth book in the series. Annabeth and Percy find entrance into the [[Labyrinth]] during a game of [[capture the flag]]. Percy soon learns that Luke had used the entrance. He will lead the Titan army through the Labyrinth straight into the camp. To get into the Labyrinth, Percy has to find the [[Delta|Delta Symbol]] (Δ) and touch it. Using the Labyrinth, Percy tries to find [[Daedalus]] so Luke cannot get [[Ariadne]]'s string. This would prevent Luke from attacking the camp.<ref name="Labyrinth">{{cite book|last=Riordan|first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Riordan |title=[[The Battle of the Labyrinth]]|publisher=Hyperion Books for Children|date=2008-05-08|series=[[Percy Jackson & the Olympians]]|isbn=978-1-4231-0146-8|oclc=180753884}}</ref>

==Related pages==
* [[Mythology]]
* [[Mount Olympus]]
* [[Greek mythology]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Other websites ==
* [http://www.percyjackson.co.uk Percy Jackson U.K. website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719164500/http://www.percyjackson.co.uk/ |date=2008-07-19 }}
* [http://www.percyjacksonbooks.com Percy Jackson official US website]

{{Percy Jackson}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Titans Curse, The}}
[[Category:Percy Jackson and the Olympians]]
[[Category:2007 books]]