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The Trials of Apollo#2.5

Camp Half-Blood Confidential: Your Real Guide to the Demigod Training Camp

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In response to an awful camp orientation video created by the god Apollo, Percy Jackson and other residents of Camp Half-Blood answer such questions as “What is this place?” and “Do I get to keep the T-shirt?” Newbies can check out the section on the Divine Cabins, read up on Magical Landmarks, and consult the chapter of Training Arenas. But Camp Half-Blood Confidential explores much more than just the buildings and grounds. It includes info that can only be learned from those who live there.

For instance, campers do not always co-exist in peace and harmony. The camp is not run with superior efficiency. Prophecies do not flow forth with great regularity. Sprinkled throughout are stories from heroes who have called Camp Half-Blood home or just passed through on their way to places unknown. Chiron himself introduces the book with a brief history of training based on his millennia of experience. And, of course, there are divine words of wisdom from the god Apollo himself, because... well, because the demigod authors would prefer not to be struck down, thank you very much.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2017

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About the author

Rick Riordan

260books434kfollowers
Rick Riordan is the #1New York Timesbestselling author of many books, including the Percy Jackson series.

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5 stars
9,100 (44%)
4 stars
6,479 (31%)
3 stars
4,100 (19%)
2 stars
737 (3%)
1 star
230 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,314 reviews
Profile Image for emi.
538 reviews1,157 followers
May 29, 2020
Let's be real here.

Anything with the name "Percy Jackson" on it is 5/5 stars and I will consider the greatest thing ever.

But Nicosangin this book's so obviously 5/5 stars and it is the greatest thing ever.
Profile Image for Jayson.
2,668 reviews3,682 followers
April 29, 2024
(B+) 76%| Good
Notes:Anecdotal-tale procession, interstitial sales sessions, penned confessions/indiscretions, infotainment (sneaky lessons).

*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>[ "br" ]>
Profile Image for lauren ♡.
619 reviews112 followers
May 13, 2017
Everyone: Ugh. Can Rick Riordan stop with the Percy Jackson books already?
Me:
I LOVED THIS????

It was so cool learning more about the history of Camp Half Blood. I live for that kind of information. Plus Rick's writing style is hilarious and I'll never get sick of it.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW ANNABETH DESIGNED ALL THE CABINS FOR THE MINOR DEMIGOD CHILDREN???? WHAT A BABE!!!!!

And Apollo was hilarious like always.
Profile Image for Natalie Monroe.
612 reviews3,773 followers
May 7, 2017
Ah, yes, let's squeeze more money out of the Percy Jackson franchise. Let's wring every last drop of blood out of him through meaningless backstories and cheap humor.

It's time to let the son of Poseidon rest. Seriously.
Profile Image for Jesica.
142 reviews44 followers
May 31, 2017
“Grover, perhaps you should take our young friend to the den and show him our orientation film.”
“But... Oh, right. Yes, sir.”
“Orientation film?” Nico asked. “Is it G or PG? ’Cause Bianca is kinda strict—”
“It’s PG-13,” Grover said.
“Cool!” Nico happily followed him out of the room.

(Quote fromThe Titan's Curse)

Okay... why I quoted that particular moment? Because that moment lead straight to this book. It’s all about the ‘Orientation Film’ Nico watched that day and also I think Nico is cute when he was still so childish. So Nico tells the other campers of the film he watched and the campers decide to create a more informative book for new demigods to replace the awful film (the film is written, directed, produced, hosted, and starred by Apollo so go figure..:p) this book is the collection of information about camp half blood from many point if view and some interview too. Most of the demigods involved is the newer demigod like Sherman Yang, Malcolm Pace, Valentina Diaz, Miranda Gardiner, Paolo and such.. though some of the older demigods present too like Percy (naturally), Annabeth, Rachel, Nico, Will and Connor.
It’s basically just a fun read for Percy Jackson fans and not much more. But since I read this just for theThe Dark Prophecysneak peak at the back, I guess I couldn’t really complaint. Some part is just hilarious like when Percy describe the old orientation film. Apollo is unbelievable!!! But the other parts are mostly nothing new and some information even seemed rather unimportant and the characters seemed to blend. Rachel sounds more like Percy and less like herself. But despite those things I don’t like, this book still managed to make me laugh so I guess 3 stars is fair:)
Profile Image for Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora).
1,009 reviews42.3k followers
August 2, 2017
Dos cosas: I LOVE YOU, PERCY! MARRY ME, APOLLO!

No debería extrañarles que profese mi amor profundo por todo lo que escriba Rick Riordan, sobre todo si son estos libros compañeros a las sagas principales y están escritos con más humor y salseo, si cabe, que los libros principales.

Camp Half-Blood Confidentiales una guía práctica para los semidioses que recién llegan al Campamento Mestizo y no saben a qué oscuros rincones del bosque no se deben acercar, qué deben hacer para no ser comidos por las Furias, cómo no morir incinerados por la Pared de Lava y, sobre todo, cómo no ser engañados por la película de introducción al campamento que hizo Apolo en los 60's.

El libro está lleno de ilustraciones, de datos curiosos sobre cada uno de los lugares que componen el Campamento y, lo mejor de todo, pequeñas historias narradas por nuestros semidioses favoritos.
Profile Image for Itramsunshine .
75 reviews50 followers
October 12, 2017
Done! A bit slow, sometimes a bit boring but I ended up enjoying it somehow.
Profile Image for Dean Ryan Martin.
291 reviews40 followers
February 9, 2022
"It's too bad if you overlook the place, though, because the strawberries play a vital role at camp. They make us money, which pays for a lot of useful stuff here at Camp Half-Blood (page 134)."

Author's Writing Style:4 stars!

Yay:It is conversational. It is easy to read. It is entertaining.Nay:It is a short guide that can be finished in one day.

Characters' Development:4 stars!

Yay:This is not a novel. This is like a school handbook. It is a collection of three contents. One, essays written by select demigods such as Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Rachel Elizabeth Dare and more. Two, written advertisements with black and white artworks presented by Pete the Palikos, god of geysers. These advertisements feature the special landmarks of Camp Half-Blood such as the Athena Parthenos, Pegasus Stables and the Volleyball court. Three, short comedic plays as headed by god Apollo.Nay:Nothing. The personal essays are nicely-written, the advertisements are funny, wanting me to visit the camp if only it is real, and Apollo's plays make him the brightest star in Olympus.

Plot:3 stars!

Nay:This book is not a must-read. I mean, you can go straight into the series even without this guide but being patient for a while and make time to read this helps you understand the world-building.Yay:This book is an ideal read before you start these series: Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo.

It introduces you to the Camp Half-Blood itself, its history and how it operates. I love this one essay written by a daughter of Demeter, in which she tells the story on how the camp would use strawberries to finance their operational needs. I am impressed with how they turn the business idea into an action plan. It is smart!
Profile Image for Mariana.
105 reviews27 followers
June 1, 2017
Rick Riordan is an amazing writer, he is probably one of the best writers who add representation in his book, but he still hasn't been able to find a middle ground on how to write girls and it was very apparent in this book.
Rick Riordan usually ends up writing two types of girls: Girly or Non girly bratty girls. His bratty girls are usually all the lead girls in his book while the girly girls are usually used for jokes or the mean girls. I'm getting tired how the Aphrodite girls are mostly written as bimbo girls who can't do anything right and the idea of them knowing how to fight is often joked about.

This book would have gotten a higher rating if it wasn't because he just keeps writing the same girls over and over and over. Give me better representations of girls and don't fall back to the same troops and I'll give you a better rating.
Profile Image for Sophia.
2,279 reviews355 followers
July 8, 2024
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
I’m going to admit, I read this a lot earlier than when I wrote this review.
I ended up losing my copy (and Probatio’s Journal) and I usually flip back through before writing my thoughts.

But like all other companion novels, this didn’t add too much to the main novel plot, but it does tell some pretty entertaining stories.

I will say, there were a few stories that seemed a little forced in. They were good stories, though obviously tales Riordanreallywanted to write.
My favourite entries were the Pete the Palikos ones.
Profile Image for Vi.
366 reviews146 followers
July 8, 2019
What can I say about this book?
It was quite short but I enjoyed every minute of it. Seeing my favourite characters again is always a heartwarming experience, and still finding their humour funny even better.
Hope I get to see them again ❤️.
Profile Image for Ella Zegarra.
616 reviews226 followers
July 21, 2024
Mi vida era tan sencilla cuando tenía nada que ver con Percy, ahora literalmente no pasa un día sin que busque algo de la serie:v
Profile Image for Ashley.
845 reviews578 followers
March 9, 2021
Star Rating:—>5 Stars

A light, fun, upbeat little novella that has a little of just about everything, with facts about the camp & the demigods, and all the mythological creatures that call camp half blood home, and all about the history behind behind the camp.

I extrrraaa loved it because I've missed Percy, Annabeth, and other old friends from PJO SO much!
Profile Image for Elli.
422 reviews7 followers
February 19, 2018
funny and Nico di Angelo sings so immediate 5 stars from the get go.
Profile Image for Hallie (thecommonroomshop).
121 reviews332 followers
July 31, 2024
I’ve had this book on my physical TBR for AGES and I decided I couldn’t let the summer pass without reading at least one Percy Jackson-themed-book. I read this in one sitting and it was so cute! I love learning more about Rick’s world building. There truly is NOTHING out there that is even similar to this beautiful world of greek mythology & sarcasm. My only critique is that there was no PIPER! She’s one of my fav girlies ever! But still…ILY, Percy Jackson!! 🩵🫐🌀📘🌊
Profile Image for Harkeerat Dhunda.
72 reviews13 followers
August 1, 2017
This was a very fun, short but hilarious and informative read!
And might I just say that Pete the Palikos is now my favorite descriptive narrator and I'm so looking forward to reading more from him
Apollo: According to all known laws of physics, a dragon should not be able to turn into a suitcase
Leo: The dragon, of course, turns into a suitcase anyway, because dragons and Leo do not care about what humans or gods think.

Me: *Laughs hysterically.*
Also, loved that I'm now updated on so many unknown stories/legend on Camp-Half Blood.
That story of the curse on number 130 was my absolute favorite!
And Apollo's songs, stories, and swag-ness were all so delighting! (what else can you expect from Dad...Xd)
And Kudos to Dad for not going into his "my-love-life-sucks" lamenting mode!
Profile Image for Diamond.
133 reviews46 followers
December 28, 2019
Percy Jackson is my childhood favourite character and still it is))
Profile Image for Matt.
4,200 reviews13k followers
September 2, 2023
Choosing to read a short piece before I continue with the full Percy Jackson novels, I turned to Rick Riordan’s short tongue-in-cheek book that serves as an accompaniment to the series. Camp Half-Blood has long been where the demigods train, but there is no up-to-date manual for those who arrive for the first time. Percy and some others have undertaken rectifying that, which has some humorous moments. Riordan has a great handle on this series!

Percy Jackson has long felt that while Camp Half-Blood is a great place for new demigods, there is a need for a more inviting introduction. After stumbling upon a horrible video creation from the 1950s by the god Apollo, Percy takes on the task to create a new and ‘hip’ manual for all to enjoy. It covers a number of aspects, including history, context, and even some of the new architectural plans for the cabins. This manual has it all for newbies to take in. With in-depth explanations and a number of satirical poems or presentations, the reader can smile as they are educated throughout.

This short piece tackles many issues and adds some great humour to keep things moving. A perfect companion to the books, this document fits in wonderfully, offering a little context to the novels without revealing too much. Riordan touches on key aspects of the book and highlights key characters, as well as many of the Greek gods/goddesses. Those who have been enjoying the books can devour this as a lighter aside to the novels and hold key nuggets for everyone to enjoy. Riordan proves that he is versatile and keeps the reader hooked, which has me wanting more as I look to the next book in the series. While it may be YA, this is a series all can enjoy.

Kudos, Mr. Riordan, for a great addition to the series!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for May.
185 reviews10 followers
September 7, 2020
This was a fun and informative guide to Camp Half-Blood! I enjoyed reading the short stories about the characters, the history, and the parts of the camp. It was also nice seeing scenes of Apollo's original orientation film for new campers. There were some hilarious moments in this book such as the scene with Nico:

“First thing I'd do is make sure the poor newbie demigods don't have to suffer through the orientation film."
All conversation stopped. "What orientation film?" Will Solace asked.
Nico looked puzzled. "You know..." He glanced side to side, clearly uncomfortable with everybody watching him. Finally he cleared his throat and sang in a warbly voice to the tune of "The Hokey Cokey": "It lets the demigods in! It shuts the monsters out! It keeps the half-bloods safe, but turns mortals all about! It's Misty, and it's magic, and it makes me want to shout: the border is all about!" He punctuated the last line of the song with some half-hearted claps.
We stared at him in stunned silence.
"Nico." Will patted his boyfriend's arm. "You're scaring the other campers."
"More than usual," Julia Feingold muttered under her breath.
"Oh, come on," Nico protested. "You've all heard that annoying song, right? It's from Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."
Nobody responded.
"The orientation film," Nico added.
We shared a group shrug.
Nico groaned. "You mean I just sang in public and... I'm the only one who's ever seen that stupid film?"
"So far, anyway," said Connor Stoll.”


Overall, this was a nice short story!
Profile Image for Anniek.
2,236 reviews830 followers
June 13, 2017
This was such a fun little read! It cracked me up multiple times and it was fun to read more about the characters and Camp Half-Blood when there's no epic battles going on. I loved the scenes with Apollo, and especially the start of the book, where Nico di Angelo sings.
Profile Image for Sophia Alexis Books.
600 reviews30 followers
November 10, 2017
This book took me about an hour and a half to read and I really enjoyed it. Though I'm sad the cover of my edition is not showing up. 😢

4.5 stars! I liked the incorporation of characters we've met and haven't, as well as a singing Nico (one of the best parts, if I'm being honest).
Profile Image for Maedeh.
41 reviews42 followers
Want to read
April 28, 2017
خدا میدونه چقد دلم برای دنیای پرسی تنگ شده بود!چطور در مورد این کتاب اینقد دیر فهمیدم!
لعنت به دانشگاه-_-
Profile Image for Bontix.
366 reviews29 followers
November 12, 2018
Il libro è davvero molto carino e fa anche abbastanza ridere. Oddio, le parti con Apollo fanno schiattare, ma questo succede sempre: sono orripilanti nella loro genialità. 😂😂
In realtà per chi come me segue la serie da anni, le descrizioni del campo non aggiungono nulla di nuovo, ma i racconti extra sono interessanti perché permettono al lettore di dare una sbirciata al Campo quando è tranquillo. Sapere come Chirone e i campisti sono arrivati alla decisione di coltivare le fragole oppure la storia sulla macchina maledetta di James Dean... Insomma, è stata una lettura interessante e piacevole, perfetta per rilassarsi un pochino
Profile Image for chev (humna and vee’s version).
482 reviews277 followers
April 3, 2022
Amazing addition to the series, I am a fan of the trials of apollo series (it is action-packed, so if you haven't read it? what are you waiting for?)
5/5 Chev's picks
---
Thank you @charlotte, @alexandra and @moose for supporting my reviews, it means a lot.
and of course the all timers: @vixx, @kayla, @rebecca <33
Like my post to be mentioned;)
I am usually found here:https://beacons.ai/chevreads
Find me on:
Instagram: @chevreads
Wattpad: @writerthursday
P.S. Add me as a friend:) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
Profile Image for Una paloma lectora.
107 reviews75 followers
January 29, 2022
Cómo es posible que me haya reído y shockeado y llenado de emoción con un libro que literalmente habla de las instalaciones de Campamento Mestizo? Nunca lo sabremos, pero les juro que pasó.

Amo que este librito tenga incluidas ilustraciones y una imagen de PERCY COMO VERDADERAMENTE ES. Sinceramente, gracias Rick Riordan. Ya no confiaba en vos desde las ilustraciones que habías puesto en "Percy Jackson y la vara de Hermes".

Anyways, ame las historias que aportaron los nuevos personajes que conocemos en la saga de "Las pruebas de Apolo" y la profundización de algunas cosas que pasaron con Percy. Ame este librito.
Profile Image for Ryan Buckby.
675 reviews93 followers
October 12, 2020
Surviving is all about beating the odds. Also the evens. Those evens can be sneaky, so don’t take your eyes off them!

Any Percy jackson related book i will pick it up and read it without a fail and this one is no exception

My favourite scene in this book was Nico singing that song that Apollo had written because it's so unlike Nico which made it even more hilarious to read!

There was much added to this series in general just random facts about camp half-blood that aren't added into the main series. I also enjoyed the interviews with Percy, Annabeth and Nico
Profile Image for Coreen Angelie.
319 reviews69 followers
May 18, 2017
Educational, fun, nostalgic, humorous, entertaining and a huge ball of awesomeness. READ IT.

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