The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
II
Overview
Jason infiltrates the suitors’ spectral court as Iros and learns the giants plan to rouse Gaea at Athens’s Acropolis. The Straits of Corinth are a kill zone, making the southern route the only option. Antinous displays deadly earth magic, Delphi is compromised, Olympus’s Victory runs wild, and Michael Varus unmasks Jason as his mother’s ghost appears.
Summary
Jason surveys Odysseus’s palace overlaid with a spectral mirage packed with more spirits than expected. Antinous parades a bust of Zeus and feeds it to a sand fountain, provoking a mountain-shaking boom. Jason, disguised by Hazel’s magic as the beggar Iros, enters while Piper and Annabeth pose as serving girls. He recalls Leo’s flare-based backup plan and Percy’s request to watch Annabeth.
Antinous invites Jason to his table. Jason plays the insolent beggar, eats, and demands to know their plans. He identifies Antinous’s and the suitors’ history, unnerving them by citing details from the House of Hades. When pressed, he challenges their usefulness to Gaea. Antinous names various recruits—Hippias, Hasdrubal, and the Roman praetor Michael Varus—boasting they will divide the world after Gaea’s victory.
Annabeth “accidentally” douses Antinous to aid Jason, then fades back into the crowd. Jason bluffs that he carries news from Epirus and demands proof of their worth. Antinous and Eurymachus reveal the strategic trap: the demigods must pass near Ithaca en route to Athens, and the Straits of Corinth are guarded by Cyclopes, storm spirits, and sea monsters. When Eurymachus overshares, Antinous kills him with a crust of earth, displaying lethal Gaea-given power.
Jason pieces together the larger plan: Gaea will rise at the Acropolis, the southern sea route may be less impossible, and the deadline is August 1. Delphi is no longer Apollo’s, and Victory runs rampant at Olympia, threatening any hope of success. Jason prepares to leave with this intelligence.
Michael Varus intervenes, claiming this place is fueled by desire and questioning “Iros’s” true purpose. He hints at their certainty of detecting the Argo II and invokes his parentage by Janus to see through deception. Varus addresses Jason by name, and the crowd parts as the ghost of Jason’s mother appears, calling him home, exposing Jason and escalating the danger.
Who Appears
- JasonDisguised as Iros to infiltrate suitors, bluffs for intel, learns Athens is the target, exposed by Michael Varus.
- AntinousGhoul leader with an arrow in his throat; enforces Gaea’s will, kills Eurymachus with earth magic.
- Michael VarusRoman praetor’s spirit; sees through disguises, names Jason, and triggers the appearance of Jason’s mother’s ghost.
- PiperDisguised serving girl; gathers intel while serving drinks, supports Jason’s bluff.
- AnnabethDisguised serving girl; distracts Antinous with spilled wine, subtly arms herself, aids Jason.
- EurymachusBald ghost suitor; reveals the Corinth traps and is killed by Antinous for oversharing.
- HippiasTyrant of Athens among the suitors; allied with Gaea for power.
- HasdrubalCarthaginian ghoul; bears hatred for Rome and supports Gaea’s cause.
- Jason’s mother’s ghostAppears at the end, calling Jason “home,” intensifying the emotional and strategic threat.