Rick Riordan has revealed the cover and synopsis for “The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4)” at BEA. The book will be published on 8 October 2013.
At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?
They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.
The post at Hypable.com mentioned that Riordan said this is the book that Percy and Annabeth shippers (I refuse to call them by their ‘ship name even though I root for them being together) have been dying to see. I don’t know about you, but I prefer no dying.
The cover art and the synopsis definitely look and sound ominous, and I expected that. Or rather, I prefer that, but had second thoughts about Riordan going there. If he was willing to age people up for the romance, though, he should be willing to age them up in terms of the stakes and the sacrifices, so I’m not going to settle for anything less than Percy and Annabeth going through a more harrowing experience than they did in the other books. After all, Riordan IS putting them through Hell, right?
I dread the “book that Percy and Annabeth (still refusing to use ‘ship name) shippers have been waiting for” part, to be honest, because damn it, does this mean we are going to get hit by the Relationship Anvil more times than we deserve?
Okay then, I’m buying a heavy-duty magically-reinforced helmet.
The Girl Who Read and Other Stories 
I’m also a shipper of the two (I don’t like the shipper name as well) but I hope HoH isn’t one giant relationship anvil (to use your term). I enjoy moments between Percy and Annabeth but I want the adventure I signed up for as well.
I cringed when I saw the ship name. I didn’t know people were calling it that. Argh!