So, here's something I noticed in the Percy Jackson books that I haven't heard anyone else point out before. I think it's an interesting detail, and worth a few laughs once you notice it.
Basically, in every book in the Percy Jackson series, riptide is introduced in the first chapter. That's all completely normal. It's setting up the story, reminding you what's going on and what the world is like, what you'd expect from any book series.
But the thing is, every time it is introduced this way, in the first chapter, it's not described as a sword. But instead, something like a dangerous pen. Her are all the examples of this:
Sea of monsters: "…my fingers closed reassuringly around the ballpoint pen I always slept with… I thought about uncapping it, but something held me back… my mom had made me promise not to use deadly weapons in the apartment.…" pg. 3-4
The titan's curse: "my hand went to my pocket, where I kept my lethal ballpoint pen, riptide." Pg. 3
The battle of the labyrinth: "my hand crept instinctively toward my pocket, where I kept my lethal ballpoint pen, riptide." Pg. 4
The last Olympian: "I took my pen out of my pocket and uncapped it, and riptide sprang to full size—three feet of deadly celestial bronze glowing in the dark." Pg. 12
(I know it says it's three feet of celestial bronze, but it doesn't outright say it's a sword, so it counts.)
Its even in the newest book of the series, the chalice of the gods.
The chalice of the gods: "my hand drifted toward the pocket if my jeans where I kept my favorite weapon: a deadly ballpoint pen." Pg. 4
You'll notice there's one exception, the lightning thief. That's because that's the first time we see riptide. It's being introduced for the first time. The book is also in Percy's perspective, and you are discovering things about the world with him. That's part of the reason why, in my opinion, the books were so good.
There are more examples of this in the heroes of Olympus series, and even one in Magnus Chase, but it was less consistent especially with the changing POV's.
It's weird, because it's at the point now where this is clearly intentional, and I don't think anyone has pointed it out. I can't be the only one who noticed, right? Please comment if you did know this, because I would be genuinely shocked if I was the only one.
Anyway, bye!