Amazing. Rick writes with perfect pacing and beautiful craft in the Mark of Athena. (spoiler alert!!!) At the end, where Riordan drops Pecy and Annabeth into tartarus, most people will think that Riordan is just cheap. Think again. The Doors of Death have to be closed from both sides at the same time. Annabeth and Percy have just been reunited, so he can't seperate them. That's why he drops both of them into tartarus. This book and the rest of the series are must reads. The a truly amazing!