The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
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Overview
Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge nearly plummet into Vesuvius while transporting the Athena Parthenos, but Reyna powers Nico to shadow-travel them to Pompeii. Exhausted, they take refuge in the House of the Faun, wary of hostile spirits. Reyna reflects on Nico’s burdens and sets guards as they rest for the next jump.
Summary
Falling over Mount Vesuvius with the Athena Parthenos in tow, Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge face certain death when Nico is too drained to shadow-travel. Reyna forces a transfer of strength using Bellona’s gift, letting Nico pull them into the shadows moments before impact.
They reappear at dawn in Pompeii’s House of the Faun, with Vesuvius steaming on the horizon. The jump leaves Nico near collapse, dark energies cracking the stones around him until unicorn draught steadies him. Reyna explains her power to impart strength in dire moments, while Nico warns that Pompeii teems with lemures and that mountain spirits may have tried to kill them.
As Coach Hedge rigs defenses and volunteers first watch, the group agrees to avoid another fiasco like their earlier stop in Albania. Reyna’s respect for Nico deepens as she recalls his secret work between camps, his trials in Tartarus, and his commitment to hauling the statue despite crushing loneliness.
Reyna summons her metallic greyhounds, Aurum and Argentum, to guard alongside Hedge. Clutching the coin Annabeth gave her, Reyna beds down near the cowering bronze faun statue and the hostile Athena Parthenos, determined to recover strength for the next night’s shadow-travel.
Who Appears
- Reyna Avila Ramírez-ArellanoRoman praetor; empowers Nico with Bellona’s strength, leads the landing in Pompeii, sets guards, and reflects on Nico’s burdens.
- Nico di AngeloExhausted son of Hades hauling Athena Parthenos; shadow-travels after Reyna’s boost; warns about lemures and possible mountain god hostility.
- Gleeson HedgeSatyr chaperone; panics mid-fall, sets perimeter traps, takes first watch, and guards the camp with his bat.
- Aurum and ArgentumReyna’s metallic greyhounds; summoned to patrol and guard the campsite in the House of the Faun.
- Athena ParthenosForty-foot statue being transported; nearly causes disaster midair and radiates hostility in the Roman ruins.