Rick Riordan - Blog Posts

The most unrealistic part of the Pjo series is that a Percy, a 12 year old kid with ADHD, would easily remember a prophecy he was told one time after being dusted with corpse smoke

Leo Valdez

Okay, so. I remember having to write a small creative thing for my English class, so I figured why not do it on one of my favorite things, that being Uncle Rick’s (Rick Riordan) camps of trauma. 

I also found that on the fan wiki it said an adorable little fact about Leo childhood, probably  like my favorite character (tied with Percy, Apollo and Nico of course. I will NEVER be able to decide who I like more) “ He once got in trouble after turning a cross-section kidney and some skeleton legs into a kidney monster and scared the school nurse.”. It also said his named was shortened from Leonidas so, ye.

Now, I couldn’t ignore that. It was to adorable of a concept. so I wrote the write and now I have smol fic. I’ve recently found it again so I decided to post cause yes. 

Please note that the characters most likely aren’t well in character, and that this is smol fic with not a lot of writing. It is also in Leo’s POV.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘’Yes sir?’’

I don’t understand. All I did was make a cool toy out of the stuff the nurse had in her office. Her reaction to my little monster was pretty funny, everyone else thought it was hilarious. So I don’t understand what I did wrong.

‘’Leonidas Valdez’’

‘’Do you understand why you’re here?’’

‘’No sir, I don’t could you tell me, sir?’’

The principal frowned at me, I must of done something really bad then, but what? Either way, he looks funny. His grey, porcupine-like hair swayed gently in the breeze that was being emitted from the minuscule fan that sat on his desk. I could make a better fan though. I could make a fan that could pinpoint where you are in the room and then rotate to that direction, and on summer days it could spray a cloud of mist in your face to cool you down, and when it’s winter it could convert into a heater to warm you up, and-

‘’Leonidas Valdez! Are you listening?!’’

‘’Uh, y-yes sir! I’m listening!’’

The principals frown contorted into a frightening scowl, damn it, I’m really in for it now. I look down at my feet, mi Madre isn’t going to be impressed. A loud bang sounded out causing me to look up only to have an oddly shaped blurring thing shoved in my face.

When the strange object finally moved away from my face and started to solidify, did I realize what it was. It was my kidney skeleton monster toy!

‘’As I was saying Leonidas’’ he paused to give the scariest of death glares ‘’ you have destroyed valuable school property, turned it into a monstrosity and then used it terrorize a member of the staff!’’

As the words left his mouth I felt anger boil inside me, like a bomb ready to explode if someone cut the wrong wire. How DARE he accuse me of making something ‘monstrous’, how DARE he accuse me of ‘terrorizing’ a staff member! I did NEITHER of those idiotic things, the only thing I did was create one of the most coolest toys to ever exist!

‘’Sir, with all due respect, I did NOT do any of those awful things! I just made use of the resources around me and the toy I made just so happened to give the nurse a little scare! I’ve done nothing wrong!’’

‘’Leonidas sit down in your seat and be silent!’’

What? I hadn’t even realized I was standing up, I should sit so I don’t make him even angrier.

‘’Now, Leonidas, seeing as giving you a multitude of detentions isn’t enough, I’ve decided as punishment you will be given a week-long suspension as well as calling your mother about this issue, which I have already done, and she has asked to speak with me personally’’

‘’W-what?’’

‘’You heard what I said Leonidas, now be quiet’’

I stared down at my feet not believing what he just said, not taking notice of anything that was happening around me, not noticing the door open and close, not the small exchange of words or the chair next to me being filled with a familiar figure.

I only looked up when I felt someone else’s hand sweaty hand grab mine.

Mi Madre’s hand.

This is gonna be a really long afternoon.

.     .     .

‘’Mijo, look at me please’’

I was sitting on a chair next to one of mi Madre’s newer projects, fiddling with a few pieces of metal and wire. I don’t wanna have this conversation but I’m gonna have to at some point, right? Oh well, here goes nothing.

‘’M-mum look I d-didn’t mean to get in trouble a-and I’m sorry’’

Madre was silent. Why? Why wasn’t she saying anything? Is she that mad at me? I feel tears build up at the corner of my eyes. I. I need to look up…but. I can’t. If I look up I’ll only see a disappointed face, I don’t wanna see that.

‘’Mijo’’

I felt her cup my check in her hand and gently force me to look up at her. Her emotionless face is kinda scary.

‘’Mijo, I’m not mad, I’m proud of you’’ she looked at me with soft and caring eyes ‘’you stood up for something that you made in front of that horrid principle, and for that I’m proud’’

I can’t believe it she’s not mad, not even a little. I felt a smile form on my face.

‘’Now seeing as you have a week-long suspension Mijo, you can help me out in the shop’’

‘’okay’’

Let's welcome him!

He’s ready I swear

the untamed if it was written by rick riordan

ep 1. I Accidentally Get Resurrected

ep 2. My Teenage Nephew Bullies Me

ep 3. The Teacher’s Pet Duels Me to the Death

ep 4. Lan Xichen Shoots His Shot

ep 5. Jiang Cheng Needs a Wingman

ep 6. We Speak With Lan Zhan’s Frozen Grandma

ep 7. Lan Zhan Smiles

ep 8. We Embark On an Epic Field Trip (Also Nie Huaisang is Here)

ep 9. I Throw Hands With a Bird

ep 10. We Meet Our Celebrity Crushes

ep 11. We Pull Up to Evil Summer Camp

ep 12. The Low-Budget Dog Animatronic Tries to Eat Me

ep 13. We Battle the Tortoise of Doom

ep 14. I Threaten to Strip

ep 15. My Stepmom Ships Us Off

ep 16. Pretty Much Everyone I Love is Dead Now

ep 17. I Find a Cure

ep 18. I Plummet To My Death

ep 19. I Come Back Wrong

ep 20. Lan Zhan Breaks Up With Me

ep 21. I Evade Non-Consensual Therapy Sessions

ep 22. My Evil Flute Solo Kills Everybody

ep 23. I Ditch the Dinner Party

ep 24. My Ex’s Brother Tries to Stage an Intervention

ep 25. Jin Zixuan Fumbles My Sister

ep 26. I Reanimate My Homie

ep 27. My Brother Questions My Interior Design

ep 28. Lan Zhan Discovers the Joys of Fatherhood

ep 29. I Get Major FOMO

ep 30. I Fulfill My Cottagecore Fantasies

ep 31. Everything Goes Downhill

ep 32. My Nephew Becomes an Orphan

ep 33. I Plummet to My Death (For Real This Time)

ep. 34 Jin Ling Gets Eaten By a Wall

ep 35. We Become Tomb Raiders

ep 36. Lan Zhan Steals a Chicken

ep 37. I Force Feed Radioactive Porridge to Teenagers

ep 38. Xiao Xingchen Breaks the Bro Code

ep 39. I Go On a Shopping Date

ep 40. I Crash a Conference for Free Food

ep 41. Nie Mingjue is an Unreliable Narrator

ep 42. Everyone Wants to Kill Me (Again)

ep 43. Lan Xichen Trauma Dumps

ep 44. We Visit the Ruins of My Cottagecore Fantasies

ep 45. I Do Group Conflict Resolution In My Underwear

ep 46. The Truth Comes Out

ep 47. I Become a Hostage

ep 48. Jin Guangyao Talks Too Much

ep 49. I Reunite With My Evil Flute

ep 50. My Boyfriend Abandons Me On a Mountain (Not Really)

What I'm most curious about is how they handle Annabeth's insecurities as a "dumb blonde" or if it will be edited to basic doubt in her abilities as a girl? I can't wait to see a more accurate portrayal of the character growth and arcs, even if some are handled differently with modern-day sensitivities in mind.

I'm certain this actor is going to be amazing portraying Annabeth's core character, no matter what she looks like. Rick knows his characters best, and if there's a conflict from the original into the new form, I trust him to handle it better than anyone else.

Rick Riordan’s response to the racism and hatred directed at Leah after she was cast as Annabeth:

“Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase”

“This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. It’s a shame such posts need to be written, but they do. First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself. These thoughts are mine alone. They do not necessarily reflect or represent the opinions of any part of Disney, the TV show, the production team, or the Jeffries family.

The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth’s strength. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind hero they want to be.

If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. You have no one else to blame. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online are out of line. They need to stop. Now.

I was quite clear a year ago, when we announced our first open casting, that we would be following Disney’s company policy on nondiscrimination: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis prohibited by law. We did that. The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive.

I have been clear, as the author, that I was looking for the best actors to inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters, and that physical appearance was secondary for me. We did that.  We took a year to do this process thoroughly and find the best of the best. This trio is the best. Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase.

Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. “But I am not racist,” you say. “It is not racist to want an actor who is accurate to the book’s description of the character!”

Let’s examine that statement.

You are upset/disappointed/frustrated/angry because a Black actor has been cast to play a character who was described as white in the books. “She doesn’t look the way I always imagined.”

You either are not aware, or have dismissed, Leah’s years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Without having seen her play the part, you have pre-judged her (pre + judge = prejudice) and decided she must have been hired simply to fill a quota or tick a diversity box. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left.

You have decided that I couldn’t possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. You feel I must have been coerced, brainwashed, bribed, threatened, whatever, or I as a white male author never would have chosen a Black actor for the part of this canonically white girl.

You refuse to believe me, the guy who wrote the books and created these characters, when I say that these actors are perfect for the roles because of the talent they bring and the way they used their auditions to expand, improve and electrify the lines they were given. Once you see Leah as Annabeth, she will become exactly the way you imagine Annabeth, assuming you give her that chance, but you refuse to credit that this may be true.

You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white.

Friends, that is racism.

And before you resort to the old kneejerk reaction — “I am not racist!” — let’s examine that statement too.

If I may quote from an excellent recent article in the Boston Globe about Dr. Khama Ennis, who created a program on implicit bias for the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Medicine in Boston: “To say a person doesn’t have bias is to say that person isn’t human. It’s how we navigate the world … based on what we’re taught and our own personal histories.”

Racism/colorism isn’t something we have or don’t have. I have it. You have it. We all do. And not just white people like me. All people. It’s either something we recognize and try to work on, or it’s something we deny. Saying “I am not racist!” is simply declaring that you deny your own biases and refuse to work on them.

The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. There is power in plurality. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Anyone can be a hero.

If you don’t get that, if you’re still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesn’t matter how many times you have read the books. You didn’t learn anything from them.

Watch the show or don’t. That’s your call. But this will be an adaptation that I am proud of, and which fully honors the spirit of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, taking the bedtime story I told my son twenty years ago to make him feel better about being neurodivergent, and improving on it so that kids all over the world can continue to see themselves as heroes at Camp Half-Blood.”

(x)

About the possible PJO series:

Guys, I've seen the ongoing discussions about whether the series should be live-action or a cartoon, and both have benefits and downsides worth considering, but...

What about an Anime?

We wouldn't have to worry too much about casting or special effects, if they do it right, of course. Just imagine the potential.

The pjo world is basically perfect for an Anime adaptation, and it would give the show a bigger and more diverse audience.

And, let's face it, we've all been used to seeing drawn pictures of the crew, so it wouldn't be much of a change.

Of course, this could go horribly wrong, but that can happen with the other two concepts as well. If the series is good I'm not going to complain, regardless of what they choose to go with, and we all love Rick's world too much to wan't it to suffer more than the movies already did.

Also note: Nothing has been confirmed. We're only speculating. Sorry, but let's don't get our hopes too high for the moment.

Hey guys what’s up just got back from watchin the pjo show premiere yeah it was a totally fine show and I feel a normal way about it

“Percy’s special”

Oh I’m not gonna make it.

Seeing this kind of bullying in tv (actual realistic bullying, most people won’t like, push you and hit you or anything, since that way they’ll get caught, so they keep it simple and nobody does anything because they don’t see it as bullying) just took me back to school and holy shit. The way Nancy Bobofit pronounces the word special, like if it was disgusting, I think that’s very important representation. Because we know Percy has adhd, of course we know, but in the later books this fact has been pushed aside. Rick doesn’t really add much adhd traits and struggles in his books compared to in his first book. And meanwhile I knew about Percy’s time in school, seeing it is so so different and it’s not often bullying is shown this way and seeing a story of a bullied character, who’s deemed weird and “special” who then goes and saves the world and has lots of friends and a romantic partner, that’s really important for kids. For kids and for me. I’ll shut up I’m sorry I just have lots of feelings about it like I get it percy, I get it.

AHHH I CANNOT WAIT TO READ CHALICE OF THE GODS

Sometimes you just feel like editing percabeth you know.

OH MY GOSH

Yes

I completely forgot about that

“Becky made this gif for me: It’s me holding Baby, one of my favorite cast members for the Percy Jackson TV show. Baby has a short role, but it’s an Emmy contender.“ -Rick Riordan

found thanks to @/PercyJacksoon on Twitter

*narrows eyes*

Is that the dog that helped Percy annabeth and Grover that one time

“Becky made this gif for me: It’s me holding Baby, one of my favorite cast members for the Percy Jackson TV show. Baby has a short role, but it’s an Emmy contender.“ -Rick Riordan

found thanks to @/PercyJacksoon on Twitter

I am a big Percy Jackson fan but one thing always annoyed me about the big prophesy

A half-blood of the eldest gods,

Shall reach sixteen against all odds.

And see the world in endless sleep,

A hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap.

A single choice shall end his days,

Olympus to preserve or raze.

do you notice how they say "eldest gods". Everyone assumes it is about one of the children of the "big three" (Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon). They are not the only "eldest gods" around. If you think about it, this could also be about Demeter! (Hera and Hestia are both unable to get half-blood children, Hera can't cheat and Hestia is a maiden goddess who made a vow of chastity.) And there is more, Aphrodite is the oldest god! She was a child of Uranus (something explained in Heroes of Olympus). So why wasn't Silena Beauregard not the one in the prophesy??? She was 16 17ish when she died!!!!!

So they could've said big three, oldest brothers, etc.

Here’s my thing.

So, I don’t know about Catholics SPECIFICALLY (I grew up going to lots of different Christian churches as a kid, but you’d probably consider them all Protestant...) but I do have a general understanding of Christianity

And there’s like three MAIN rules

You believe in god

You don’t lie, steal, murder, etc, etc

And you don’t worship false idols

Which means you don’t believe in or worship other gods and you don’t worship people, things, etc

So by that definition... and if other religions are the same way... demigods like... can’t be religious...

Cause of course they believe in/ worship other gods, what kind of weird fucking denial would you have to be in to not to.

Is Catholicism like... less weird about that shit??? Cause I read that Rick said nico was Catholic and it didn’t sit right with what I currently know...

(Also, side note, I haven’t read toa, I’ve just been seeing a lot of stuff on here- so please don’t be a dick in my comments if I’m off on something...)

Magnus is the fruity and Alex is the edge. Don't fight me cuz I know you can't