Style- Riordan’s writing is known for the fast-paced storytelling, humorous tone, and the inclusion of Greek Mythology with the modern world. One of his most unique qualities is his use of first-person narration. He often utilizes a sarcastic and teenage-like perspective, which gives his characters a relatable voice.
Characters- The characters in Riordan’s books are typically demigods with unique powers, flaws, and very strong personalities. For Riordan, diversity is a strong focus; his books usually include characters of different ethnicities, sexualities, and backgrounds.
Plot structure/setting- Riordan’s plot structure normally involves a quest with high risks, where the protagonist and their friends face a series of challenges. The setting alternates between the modern city and ancient mythological places, blending the real with fantasy.
Emulation- Look, I didn’t mean to blow up the whiteboard. I was just trying to solve for x. But apparently, when you’re the daughter of Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic, even your algebra problems come with a risk of spontaneous combustion. It all started in third period, when Mr. Frank handed me a worksheet that might as well have been ancient Greek. I was already having a rough morning, my pen had leaked in my bag, I forgot my lunch, and someone stepped on my shoelace so hard it broke. Then my pencil started glowing. At first, I thought I was just seeing things. I rubbed my eyes. A faint, silver shimmer, that looked like moonlight on a puddle. The guy next to me, Jason, didn’t seem to notice.
I whispered, “Pencil? Could you not?”
That’s when the whiteboard exploded. A ball of light shot out from my desk like I’d just launched a spell in Dungeons & Dragons, bounced off the projector, and hit the board with a loud bang. Mr. Frank screamed and dove behind his desk. And then the monster showed up. The air shimmered and twisted like heat rising off asphalt, and suddenly there was a seven-foot-tall creature in the middle of the classroom. It looked like a goat had made very questionable life choices and decided to cosplay as a Viking. Curved horns, red eyes, fur like it hadn’t been washed since the fall of Troy.
“Daughter of Hecate,” it said. “You were supposed to stay hidden.”
“Excuse me? I’m just trying to pass math.”
The monster lunged. I ducked behind a desk, which exploded a second later. Kids were screaming and running toward the hallway. Mr. Frank was still hiding under his desk, mumbling something about early retirement. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have a weapon. I didn’t even have lunch. But then my glowing pencil buzzed in my hand like a phone on vibrate. Instinctively, I held it up. In a flash of light, the pencil transformed into a bronze wand etched with Greek runes. I didn’t know how I knew they were Greek runes, I just did. Like I knew the spell on the tip of my tongue before I even spoke it.
“Anecho kratos!” I shouted.
A blue energy shot from the wand and knocked the monster backward. It growled in rage and disappeared in a puff of smoke. I stood there, wand still crackling in my hand, my heart pounding like crazy. That’s when the door burst open and a girl in orange armor stomped in, holding a spear.
“Seriously?” she said. “We told you not to use magic in math class.”
Explanation- I used a first-person narration with a humorous tone, just like Riordan’s main character, Percy Jackson. The main character is a sarcastic teenager who recently discovered that she was a demigod. I also included a situation with a quest where the character faces an unexpected mythological creature in a normal setting. To reflect Riordan’s style, I used short, choppy dialogue and figurative language to add some humor and energy to the story. The plot mirrors Riordan’s typical structure, which is a personal discovery that leads to a larger mission. I also included references to pop culture to reflect how Riordan keeps his stories grounded in today’s world while exploring mythological themes.