rick riordan’s books have been my entire world since i was 8. despite all your flaws as an author, thank you, rick, for bringing this silly little bedtime story into the lives of so many people. these books are an intrinsic part of my identity. they helped shape me into the person i am today. these characters are like family to me. it feels like i know them. and thank you to the lightning thief, the book that started it all. the bedtime story that bloomed into percy jackson and the olympians, kane chronicles, heroes of olympus, magnus chase and the gods of asgard, the trials of apollo, and so much more. from 5 series and 21 amazing books (not including standalones and spinoffs), to 2 godsawful movies, to 1 amazing musical (rip), to a fantastic show, and now another upcoming movie (hopefully better than the percy jackson ones), the lightning thief was a beautiful catalyst for the riordanverse as we know it.