Rick’s lack of consistency bothers me more and more [general]

If I’m not mistaken, he’s said that he doesn’t re-read his own books. That alone creates some (admittedly funny) mistakes, like trans Blackjack, but at other times it leaves me scratching my head trying to work out if said scene was a mistake from misremembering the canon or intentional on Rick’s part.

As an example, take a look at Percy’s (second) conversation with Athena in TTC. I’m pretty sure this scene has been brought up on discussions of fatal flaws. Here’s a transcript:

She nodded. “I concede the point. You may perhaps be useful. And yet… your fatal flaw may destroy us as well as yourself.” […] Athena looked almost sorry for me. “Kronos knows your flaw, even if you do not. Think, Percy. How has he manipulated you? First, your mother was taken from you. Then your best friend, Grover. Now my daughter, Annabeth.” She paused, disapproving. “In each case, your loved ones have been used to lure you into Kronos’s traps. […].”

Except that… Athena gets this wrong. Or at least, some of it. I’m sure some of you already know, but I’m just going to break it down.

Sally was taken by Hades, not Kronos, because Hades thought Percy had stolen his Helm of Darkness and was willing to barter. I’m not denying Kronos took advantage of Sally’s capture (if I recall correctly he also tried to barter with Percy), but his plan involved Luke, Ares, and flying shoes. No Sally.

Likewise, Grover was taken by Polyphemus. He was lured to the island by the magic of the fleece. Once again, Kronos was involved in wanting the fleece but the plan he had was to poison Thalia’s tree in order to trigger a quest. Not to take Grover.

Finally, Annabeth. Annabeth being taken was a mistake, Atlas clearly states earlier in the book that the original plan was for Thorn to take either Percy or Thalia, and as a result they had to improvise when Thorn failed to deliver the right demigod. I’m not even sure if Kronos was involved in that plan either.

Coming back to Athena, I can’t work out if this was simply a mistake on Riordan’s part - which would be pretty embarrassing given that the conversation and Annabeth’s capture happens in the same book - or if this is some kind of commentary on how despite being the goddess of wisdom, Athena is not all-knowing and sometimes has to speculate and assume. But then again, Percy never corrects Athena on said assumptions, out loud or in his head, which makes the idea that Rick forgot his own canon more likely.