What happened in The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan - Recap

The basics

Title: The Son of Neptune

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #2

- The Lost Hero (2010)
- The Son of Neptune (2011)
- The Mark of Athena (2012)
- The House of Hades (2013)
- The Blood of Olympus (2014)

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Goodreads Summary:

PERCY IS CONFUSED. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

HAZEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem—when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wishes she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

FRANK IS A KLUTZ. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery—although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely—enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Here is a spoiler summary of what happened in The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan to help refresh your memory before you read the sequel. If you need help remembering what happened in The Son of Neptune then you’re in the right place.

What happened in The Son of Neptune?

• Percy has forgotten everything apart from Annabeth’s name.
• He starts off the book being chased by the Gorgon sisters. They’re trying to kill him because he killed their sister, Medusa, although Percy can’t remember doing so.
• Percy manages to escape and bumps into a woman called June. June tells Percy he can either take her to Camp Jupiter and get his memory back to save the world, or he can go and live safely in the sea. Percy chooses to take her across the river to Camp Jupiter, which means he regains his memories and shakes off the Curse of Achilles.
• Percy meets Hazel and Frank. They help him fight off the Gorgon sisters and then take Percy into the camp. He is introduced to Reyna, who knows who Percy is.
• It turns out June is the goddess, Juno, and she tells everyone that Percy is a son of Neptune.
• Reyna interviews Percy and she tries to find out why he can’t remember anything. Octavian allows Percy to join the legion.
• Nico shows up to visit Hazel, who is his half-sister. Percy recognises Nico but Nico pretends not to know Percy. Rude.
• Nico tells Hazel that he does know who Percy is.
• Hazel has a flashback to 1942 about her jewels affinity. Her mother Marie calls Hazel a poisoned child and Hazel fleees. She bumps into Pluto, her father, who tells her that a descendant of Neptune will one day wash away her curse. Hazel reckons Pluto was referring to Percy.
• Frank and Hazel invite Percy into the Fifth Cohort with them.
• Percy impresses everyone with his battle skills during a War Game.
• Mars shows up and tells Frank he is his son and tells him to go on a quest with Percy. This is so that Percy will respect Mars, because he had a bad relationship with Ares.
• Frank agrees to the quest and invites Hazel along. They need to go after Thanatos, the god of death. They use a ship called the Pax to travel.
• Hazel reveals that she died a while back but Nico saved her from the Fields of Asphodel to give Hazel another chance.
• Frank takes along a stick that is connected to his life essence, meaning if the stick burns Frank would die.
• Frank is told by the gods that he has a special talent, although he doesn’t know what that is.
• Mars tells Frank to stop comparing himself to Percy, because Percy has a Fatal Flaw which is personal loyalty. Mars tells Frank he will have to make a decision that Percy will be unable to make. Mars doesn’t say what that is though. He does give Frank a spear though so that’s nice.
• Hazel has a flashback to her death.
• In Mendocino, Hazel and Frank are attacked by grain spirits called karpoi. Hazel gets separated and lands in a field of grass. The karpoi attack Hazel until Frank and Percy are able to come and help.
• The trio find Polybotes and see that he’s leading his army towards Camp Jupiter.
• The trio meet Iris, and Frank is attacked by snakes. He uses the spear to summon Gray, which is able to defeat the snakes.
• In Portland they bump into Ella, who is a harpy. A son of Neptune called Phineas intends to keep Ella captive. Percy challenges Phineas by asking him to choose between two vials of Gorgon blood. One will heal, and the other is fatal. If Phineas wins, he will regain his sight. If Percy wins, Phineas will give the trio information on Thanatos.
• Phineas loses though and becomes dust. The trio take Ella with them as they leave.
• Hazel realises it’s likely Ella has memorised the Roman prophecies.
• Now they’re heading towards Seattle. Hazel has another flashback, this time shared with Frank. Frank sees that Hazel gave up her spot in Elysium to save her mother.
• Frank gifts Hazel his stick.
• The trio heads to Amazon HQ in Seattle and ask to speak with Hylla. They all get knocked over and taken to Hylla through a warehouse.
• Hylla recognises Percy since they met on Circe’s island. She blames him for her and Reyna being imprisoned. She goes to kill Percy but Hazel intervenes and tells Hylla they were sent by Reyna.
• Frank and Percy are put in jail.
• Hylla tells Hazel of her situation. Apparently Otrera has been brought back by Gaea, and Otrera wants to fight Hylla to become queen of the Amazons. Otrera will continue to come back to life because Thanatos isn’t able to do his job.
• Hazel gives Arion, the horse, a gold nuggest. Hylla realises Hazel may be able to tame him.
• Hylla tells Hazel the escape plan. Hazel frees Percy, Frank, and Arion, and they head to Vancouver.
• They end up at Grandma Zhang’s house. There are giants there who want to eat Frank to gain his gifts.
• Frank summons Gray, who fights off the giants and this gives the trio a chance to get into the house. Mars is inside and asks to speak to Frank privately about his gifts.
• Ella recites a prophecy but is unable to finish the whole thing.
• The house gets set on fire. Percy and the others escape, and Frank sees a buzzard flying off into the distance. He thinks this is Grandma Zhang.
• They board a plane to Alaska, which is a land beyond the gods. Ella doesn’t want to get on the plane so is left in the woods. Percy contacts Tyson to go and get her.
• They land in Anchorage and head to Seward. The train they’re on is attacked by gryphons, so the team are forced to walk the rest of the way.
• Percy gets trapped in a literal bog, and Hazel tries to save him but Gaea intervenes by sending another vision to her. Gaea tells Hazel Nico has been captured.
• They reach Seward and hide at Hazel’s old house. Hazel intends to figure out how to travel to the Hubbard Glacier.
• They are attacked by gryphons again.
• Arion flies the team to the Glacier. Here they find Thanatos, whose chains can’t be melted without using Frank’s stick.
• Hazel attacks Alcyoneus.
• Frank uses his stick to melt the chains and free Thanatos.
• Percy summons a hurricane to fight off the shades. Frank isn’t sure whether to help Percy or Hazel until Percy says Hazel needs help.
• Frank learns that he can shapeshift. He turns into an eagle and then a bear, and he knocks the giant out.
• Percy gets tired out, and then jabs the ice with his sword to break it. Percy falls into the void.
• Hazel and Frank mount Arion and drag the giant to Canada. The giant wakes up in a daze and then tries to attack Frank. Frank turns into an elephant and Hazel is able to defeat the giant. They head to find Percy.
• Percy is fine, but angry. He tells the two of them that the fall was nothing and he has fallen further before. The trio gather their weapons and head back to Camp Jupiter.
• During the journey, Percy’s memories return.
• The Camp is already under attack. Percy leads the Roamns into battle with the help of Tyson and Mrs O’Leary. Ella also helps.
• Percy challenges Polybotes to a duel and wins with the help of Terminus. The whole camp is watching in awe.
• The Camp names Percy praetor. Percy collapses.
• Hera visits Percy in a dream and says he’s a loose cannon, but valuable. He is connecting the Greeks and the Romans.
• Percy tells the Camp that Hera wants to unite the camps. Octavian tries to tell the camp not to listen to Percy but no one really listens.
• Percy and the others await the arrival of Jason and the other group from the first book. Percy says he’s looking forward to introducing Frank and Hazel to his other family.

That’s what happened in The Son of Neptune! Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!

Other recaps for this series:

• The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1)