The Burning Maze by Rick Riodan Book Review
“Promise me one thing. Whatever happens, when you get back to Olympus, when you’re a god again, remember. Remember what it’s like to be human.”
(pg. 216-7)
About
Author: Rick Riodan
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Series: The Trials of Apollo Book 3
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Other Trial of Apollo Book Reviews
Synopsis
The formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg. Thanks a lot, Dad.
With the help of some demigod friends, Lester managed to survive his first two trials, one at Camp Half-Blood, and one in Indianapolis, where Meg received the Dark Prophecy. The words she uttered while seated on the Throne of Memory revealed that an evil triumvirate of Roman emperors plans to attack Camp Jupiter. While Leo flies ahead on Festus to warn the Roman camp, Lester and Meg must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor–and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles–somewhere in the American Southwest. There is one glimmer of hope in the gloom-filled prophecy: The cloven guide alone the way does know.They will have a satyr companion, and Meg knows just who to call upon. . . .
Review
Spoilers Contained Below
To those who dare enter the Labyrinth,
This one, I didn’t reread, but I read for the first time, and I can thoroughly say this book hits differently than the other books so far in the series.
I mean . . . SIGH!
Let’s start from the beginning shall we.
The maze is such a unique concept that you can’t help but be in awe or wonderment about what it entails. Apollo, Grover, and Meg face the Strixes in the beginning, which are these big scary birds that straight up try to attack them. I appreciate a book that starts with action because it really gets things going.
When they fight past them, they end up in Palm Springs at a place called aeithales. In the dark prophecy, it said something about finding Meg’s roots again. Literally. This was Meg’s home where she grew up. It was the place her father created when working on bringing back to life the Melai. But the dad got uprooted from aeithales because of the New Helios corporation, the same corporation that destroyed Piper McLean and her dad’s life. But it sucked because Meg was only a child and little did she know her whole life was being run by a bunch of evil Roman emperors who wanted to create a new Apollo. It’s totally unfair that she was stuck in the middle of a bad situation. I absolutely loved getting to have the flashback of young Meg and her dad Phillip. Phillip, the name of a prince.
Her dad honestly sounded like such a sweet, pure man who loved gardening and nature. I mean, get you a man who respects Mother Nature, am I right? The way a person treats the environment says a lot. I loved how the dad had a cute little workstation with a tree stump and how Meg would watch him. And then Meg would help him plant seeds and had this cute little moment planting a plant named Hercules. My heart! 💚 But there was one moment late at night where Meg couldn’t sleep and her dad was talking on the phone. She knew something was up/bothering her dad and like a sweet, innocent girl she waddled to him and his whole demeanor changed from angry to caring. They had to leave aeithales because someone was going to set fire to it. The image of Meg and her dad driving away really hurt my heart. It’s like the sad ending clip in Toy Story where the car is driving away and the toys look back at Andy.
Man, but was Phillip a good dad who did everything to protect Meg. He deserved better. Meg deserved better.
But can we talk about how Hercules the plant survived and years later, asked about Meg. We love a loyal plant! But then he passed away too.
Can we also talk about how there was literally a plant called Aloe Vera? 😂 Gosh, my Asian parents are screeeammmmingggg. If there’s any plant they worship it’s Aloe Vera. He/she should be a god 😂. But anyway, I love the cute plant people who were super caring and loving towards Grover, Apollo, and Meg. You gotta love the kindness of nature. You could also really tell how in her element Meg was. But at the same time she was closed off, which I get. This was her home and it had good and bad memories. That had to hurt to be back and think about all she lost. I really wanted to give Meg a good old hug because she felt like she couldn’t talk about it to others. Apollo would tell the story, which I liked because it showed that he knew Meg well enough. And Meg is one of few words, but I think it’s because she had been through a lot.
Piper McLean is also someone who has and is going to go through a lot.
And I would like to give her a big whooping hug too!
After the war with Gaea, part of my mind liked to hope that all the demigods got their happily ever after and that they were living a normal life. For the most part, we got to see that Percy Jackson got that and Annabeth too. Grover kind of had it good, but not really now. Rachel Dare? I would still like to know what took the glitter from her rainbow.
But Piper and Jason? The OTP of the HoO (Heroes of Olympus), I expected better! 🤧 What do you mean they broke up!!! Rick Riodan has done us dirty!!!
Darn.
But I also liked it at the same time. A lot of books create the same presumption and Rick Riodan highlights how sometimes that’s not always true—-the girl and the guy don’t always stay together. It was hard knowing that Piper and Jason were broken up because they were cute together from what I remember, but it also made a lot of sense.
“But. . .whatever I thought was there, my happily-ever-after. . . it just wasn’t.”
I nodded. “Your relationship was born in crisis. Such romances are difficult to sustain once the crisis is over.”
(pg. 263)
They were both young and went through the utmost dramatic/traumatic/challenging things growing teens could go through. Of course, in those moments maybe they were not thinking clearly and found solace in the love they had for each other. I could also understand how violence and the possibility of passing away could create that bond of love. So yes, maybe their love was spur of the moment through their experiences. So, yes, after the war, maybe they realized they needed to figure out who they were post-violence.
There’s something so healthy about that: two teens knowing they need time for themselves. And heck, if anyone deserved time for themselves to figure that out, it was those two. Jason literally was one of the demigods who helped save the earth and Piper was by his side. Give the teens a break!
Even though they were broken up, you could tell they still cared about each other. In most healthy breakups, that’s usually the case. And you also don’t forget your first love. I feel like even if they were broken up, they would find their way back to each other with time if it was meant to be.
But another reason I really felt for the break-up was why Piper did it.
“I do love him. But . . . like i told you, Hera forced us together—-the marriage goddess, arranging a happy couple. My memories of starting to date Jason, our first few months together, were a total illusion. Then as soon as I found that out, before I could even process what it meant, Aphrodite claimed me. My mom, the goddess of love . . . So if you take that away,” Piper said, ‘the goddess of marriage pushpin me to settle down with a nice boy, the goddess of love pushing me to be the perfect romantic lady or whatever–“
“You’re wondering who you are without all that pressure.”
(pg. 263-4)
This goes back to that idea again of both of them needing to know who they were before loving another. And if you read any of my blog posts, I am a big preacher about how a person has to be 100% him/herself before being in a relationship with someone who is also 100% him/herself. I found it highly mature that Piper stepped away and was strong enough to be like I love you, but I need to love me. I also think that having that pressure on her from a literal goddess is a lot at that age. It might have made her feel confined that her life was already set in stone with who she would love and what her path would be. So breaking up with Jason was her way of choosing her own path and I loved that.
When she opened up to Apollo about the real reason she broke up with Jason, I found it to be a cute, intimate moment between them. Very light-hearted and different from the conversations with Meg. Meg only talked if she wanted to say something and so did Piper, but Piper was more vulnerable. Which I feel comes from the fact that Piper had a supportive dad, while Meg didn’t.
I also felt like Meg and Piper’s lives were very similar. The moment when Piper hugged Meg after Apollo told her about what happened to her dad and what he built, my heart just swelled. Because here were two kickbutt young women, who were undoubtedly fierce, hugging in their shared pain and loss. That’s powerful. In the great words of Adelaine Morin, girls should be supporting girls. And I loved how they are the very example of that. I think that Piper would make a good big sister to Meg if Meg ever needed one.
I also found it interesting how Jason was so forthcoming with telling Apollo everything too. There must be something about talking to a 16-year old pimpled teen body with the spirit of sun god that just makes you say your innermost thoughts. But it emphasized how much they trusted him.
Man, was I excited to see Jason again. I was wondering how the other great hero of Rick Riodan’s books was doing. He was in a normal boy school, and I really have to wonder out of all the schools why that one? 😂 But I digress. I found it funny though how when Piper walked in, all the boys stared. Can you blame them? Probably the most action they would get in a day.
Jason and Piper went into the maze before and Jason found the Sibyl, but didn’t tell Piper about it because he didn’t want to worry her. The Sibyl said that if Piper or him went after the emperor one of them would die and he didn’t want that for her. My gosh, Jason Grace, always the hero, protecting the ones he loved. Gosh, this is going to mean a lot later on when I talk about him 🤧 .
SIIIIGGGHHH, BUT WE’LL GET THERE.
So he didn’t tell her to protect her. He also didn’t tell her so that it would be easier for her to leave LA when moving to Oklahoma. As mentioned a bit previously, Piper’s whole life changed. She was being evicted from her house, her dad no longer a star, and she was going to move to Oklahoma to be closer to her roots. I am full of nature puns today! 😅
When Piper talked about going to Oklahoma, it was always with a sad acceptance that that was going to be her life and there was nothing she could do about it. And that’s sad to think because Piper is such a strong-willed girl. But I think there comes a point where a person is tired of fighting and just wants to live a normal life, or as normal as it can be. And going back to her roots wasn’t a bad thing, just new. I also felt like she felt bad for putting her dad through so much with his career and the whole thing with being captured by a Titan. I must say, that Mist thing that covers mortal eyes to all the other things, must be really strong for the dad to not notice. Honestly, I would go insane if I was the dad too. But I give the dad credit for still knowing when to be crazy and when to take care of his daughter.
They were all they had and I respected how much love and care Piper had for her dad to be willing to move somewhere so different.
While in the room, Apollo also had a heart-to-heart intimate moment with Jason where Jason showed Apollo his sketches for all the shrines/temples he promised to create at Camp Jupiter. Then Jason talked about how he fought for Apollo not to be banished, which bonded them closer. Because again, here was this nice, humbled boy who thought better of Apollo when no one else did.
But I really loved the moment when Jason was like:
“Promise me one thing. Whatever happens, when you get back to Olympus, when you’re a god again, remember. Remember what it’s like to be human.”
(pg. 216-17)
Being a mortal himself who lived through battles no kid should go through, Jason wanted Apollo to remember what it was like to be human. To humble himself whenever he thought about putting others in danger or when thinking only about himself. Because there are real people living on earth who go through trying things and yet they still live, but maybe not always the easiest. And if there’s one lesson Apollo could learn from being turned into a mortal, is the resilience and strength it means to be human. What it means to be a hero.
Jason also asked him to promise to take his temple designs to Camp Jupiter if something happened.
In return Apollo promised—we all know how good he is at keeping those—and in return Jason would have to tell Piper about what really happened in the maze. When he told her about what he said to Apollo, I was happy that she was so understanding and not angry at Jason. She would have done the same. Honestly they love each other and we all know it.
Sooooooooooooo
we’re just going to talk about the elephant in the room,
The reason why this book hit differently,
The reason I’m still in disbelief,
The reason that everyone who read the Heroes of Olympus should read this,
The reason I have a tissue box with my name on it:
Jason Grace.
This was not how I saw the book going, but then again with the whole mushy mushy talk we got between Apollo and Jason, I should have expected something. But my innocent heart didn’t want to think that Rick Riodan would DO US DIRTY !!! I didn’t think he was foreshadowing anything. And all that Jason had been through and this is the way.
A hero’s way 💚 👌🏼,
I didn’t even say what I’m talking about.
But Apollo, Meg, Jason, and Piper all figure out they need Caligula’s booty shoes in order to go into the maze and find the Sibyl so she can tell Apollo the prophecy and Caligula wouldn’t take over and become the next Apollo. So they go find Caligula out on the water with his bridge of boats. On the water, they get attacked by pandai (which I kept imagining as these gigantic pandas when in fact they were not pandas), Madea, a person who could create all these wind tornado things and who was Caligula’s right hand woman. Madea wanted to drain Apollo and transfer the rest of Apollo’s godliness to Caligula.
When trying to find the shoes, everyone splits up with Piper and Apollo looking for the shoes and Jason and Meg as the distraction. Jason and Meg get captured and are encapsulated in these wind bubbles. Then Apollo and Piper face down Caligula and Madea, but Piper gets badly beaten and can’t charm her way through things or do anything really. So it’s up to Apollo to save them all. And his grand idea was to stab himself in the heart.
Now don’t go doing that at home kids! This is pure fiction. But I thought it was very brave that Apollo would even think to self-sacrifice himself if it meant that his companions would go free and safe. He also knew that if he did it, then Caligula and Madea’s plan wouldn’t work because they needed him to make Caligula a god.
So as a former god who thought highly of himself, the choice to end his own life was not easy. I didn’t think he would actually do it. I actually thought this would come much later in the series because it would make more sense that this would be a final act to be restored as a god; it would make much more sense if he sacrificed himself to save others. But he gosh darn did it.
Or attempted. The Arrow of Dodona missed his heart. Thank the Arrow!
But we should all be saying thank Jason 😰.
Because he really was a hero to the end. . . .
Someone hold my tissues!!!
He yelled again, “GO! Remember!”
I slow, dumbstruck. Jason held my gaze a fraction of a second too long, perhaps to make sure that last word sank in: remember—the promise he had extracted from me a million years ago this morning, in his Pasadena dorm room.
While Jason’s back was turned, Caligula wheeled about. He threw his spear, driving its point between Jason’s shoulder blades. Piper screamed. Jason stiffened, his blue eyes wide in shock.
He slumped forward, wrapping his arms around Tempest’s neck. His lips moved, as if he was whispering something to his steed.”
(pg. 304)
I would just like to have a moment of silence. . .
I mean, Piper screamed. I screamed.
Jason slumped forward. I slumped forward.
What do you mean 😭.
And then they all left the scene. . . they left Jason . . . my heart.
Everyone was shaken up after that. How could you not be?
To Apollo, the guilt weighed heavily because this was his quest and Jason willingly gave up his life for Piper, Meg, and him to live. If that’s not a hero, I do not know what is. Someone best be making Jason Grace a temple at Camp Jupiter, is all I’m saying. But Apollo had people sacrifice themselves or pass away during this quest like the Money Maker plant and others, but this one was different. Jason was an innocent kid whom he made a promise to. Jason was someone who had so much life ahead of him after having fought for his life in a literal war against Gaea. He was in physics class that same day and little did he know it was going to be his last.
When they got Jason’s body back, my heart literally broke for Piper 💔. Because if there was anyone he was profoundly impacted by this, it was Piper. She loved him even if at the moment she wanted to take time for herself. And I think she felt beyond guilty in the moment that she ever ended it because she felt like she had time with him. But now, she doesn’t. And she doesn’t ever get to see or know what could have been between them now that Jason sacrificed his life. But when Piper’s dad saw Piper all frazzled and saw Jason hurt, I lost it.
“”Surfing accident?” he ventured. “Oh, Piper, you know those rocks are dangerous. Why didn’t you tell me—? How did—? Never mind. Never mind.” . . .
Piper broke down in sobs, pressing herself to her father’s chest.
At that moment, Tristan McLean should have broken once and for all. HIs life had fallen apart. He’d lost everything he’d worked for his entire career. Now, finding his daughter injured and her former boyfriend dead on the beach of his foreclosed property—surely, that was enough to make anyone’s sanity crumble. Caligula would have another reason to celebrate a good night of sadistic work.
Instead, human resilience supervised me once again. Tristan McLean’s expression turned steely. His focus cleared. He must have realized his daughter needed him and he couldn’t afford to indulge in self-pity. He had one important role left to play: the role of her father.”
(pg. 312-3)
You can’t say that Tristan McLean wasn’t a good father 😢
I really can’t blame Piper for telling Apollo to leave either. She was angry, she was hurt, and she was sad. She was mad at Apollo because Jason wouldn’t have lost his life if Apollo didn’t come looking for them and brought them into his mess. She was more hurt at losing the love of her life.
When Apollo told everyone back at aeithales to tell everyone about what happened, my heart just dropped. It was bad news after bad news. The reaction from Hedge made me want to ugly cry. He was Piper’s protector and he went to go be with her. And that just warmed my heart because Hedge might be a bit crazy with his coach get-up and his love of explosives, but he knows when someone needs love and care. And right now that’s what Piper needed. We love a kind satyr.
But Grover also brought up an interesting point about Thalia Grace, Jason’s sister. I really do not know how Thalia is going to react to that. I feel like she’s going to take the Arrow of Dodona and make sure it doesn’t miss this time. Apollo has to tell her at one point. He owes Jason that. But it’s going to be rough.
At least Jason didn’t pass in vain because Apollo had the boots to get into the maze now. I swear, if he didn’t get those boots after everything, I would have gone Meg-a ballistic on him. 🤪
Having the boots, they enter the maze once again, this time with the help of Crest the pandai who had dreams of becoming the god of music. I think of Crest as that big, buff dude in Tangled who had unicorn figurines. But of course, as a creature, not a human. The essence is still there, though 😂.
Anyway, this time it is Grover, Meg, and Apollo going in this alone. But Grover also sent a note to Piper in the hopes she would meet them. Honestly, I don’t expect her to go after everything. She just lost her best friend and they wanted her to join them in the one place Jason and her went through heck and over with. Yea, I don’t think so.
The maze was a lot more playful this time around and I actually liked the idea of the Scrabble riddles. It was very fun for a manipulative maze. I would try guess what the word would be, but I’m no good at word games 😅
“I raised my voice. ‘Isn’t that right? The answer is Tarquin, the middle finger? I love you, too, maze.”
(pg. 347)
The whole maze was a joke to Apollo and it was hilarious. But Tarquin . . . if you’re A Court of Thorns and Roses fan, you would be triggered like me 😆 Anyway, that’s not the point here.
Or we can’t forget:
“‘You read poetry?’ Meg asked.
Grover licked his lips. ‘You know . . . mostly nature poetry. Whitman, for a human, had some beautiful things to say about trees.”
‘And leaves,’ Meg noted. ‘And roots.’
(pg. 348)
Gotta love Meg and her roots, for sure 😂
They get past the majority of the puzzle to find Helios, who was the sun itself and Madea’s Grandfather. He wanted Apollo to kill her, which is highly morbid if you think about it. But there are a lot of family issues in mythology.
Madea had gotten to them, and all hope seemed lost because she was draining Apollo of his power. I was like, it’s not going to happen because if it did, what’s the next two books going to be about. But I was curious as to how he would get through this situation. And similar to Meg, Apollo had to go back to his roots of who he was—the god of prophecy. What I really loved about the moment, though, was how Apollo thought about Jason’s sacrifice and how he had come too far to give up now. He did it for Jason 😢 So he sprouted a bunch of nonsense prophecy sentences.
But that all meant nothing because gosh darn, I loved loved loved the moment Piper came and as morbid as it may sound, took her dagger and shoved it in Madea’s back. Full circle moment. That’s for Jason! ✌🏼The fact that Piper even came back meant a lot. And I was happy that she fought through everything to still stand with Apollo. She’s a hero too.
Crest was also a hero because he played his unmusical ear out to help Apollo and them as a distraction. You know, he wasn’t the best pandai, but he sure at least tried to be. And that mattered a lot more in the end. And it was sad when Apollo looked back on the battle and thought of Crest—another promise he didn’t fully keep. I never knew I would grow so attached to his character, but passing is tragic no matter what.
On the lighter side was the Melai. The seeds Meg planted back on aeithales became the Melai, which were warriors back then. And they are ruthless. The kind of power they wield is disturbingly dangerous. They remind me a lot like minions, but vicious. I mean, they chewed up a magical horse. That’s pretty insane. But I thought it was hilarious when they were all like, “All HAIL MEG!” and “HAIL HAIL HAIL!” And then they were like:
“‘HAIL, SATYR!’ the others echoed.
‘Uh, yeah,’ Grover said weakly. ‘Hail to you too.”
(pg. 386)
Hail to you too?! What a Grover thing to say. He’s so awkward it’s funny 😂!
What was sweet was how when Meg told them that she wanted to go home and by home she meant Palm Springs/aeithales. It’s such a parallel to how she felt when she first got to aeithales. I think now she made peace with where she came from now that she knew who was behind everything. It helped her move forward and to see that the life there is still flourishing—that she still had a home there. I loved that. I hope when all the trials are over that she truly does return home because if there’s anyone who deserves some stability after EVERYTHING she’s been through, it’s Meg. And when the Melai asked her about her staying, I loved how there was an unspoken tacit between her and Apollo that she would go with him. I still don’t understand why she feels the need to do so when this isn’t her battle, but I think it’s because now she needs to make peace with her step-dad. When she cuts him out of her life, then I think she can truly return home. And how fun would that be for Meg? To be surrounded by life that relates more to her. To finally set roots. I can’t wait to look back at Meg’s in Palm Springs, growing things and carrying on her dad’s legacy. Maybe she’s going to college like all the other characters in Rick Riodan’s books. But she deserves that 💚.
Speaking of returning to one’s roots, I also enjoyed the fact that Grover thought it was time to return home to Camp Halfblood. Yes, sir, it’s about time. Can’t wait for that reunion between Annabeth, Percy, and him. I would love to see that for sure. Another satyr was leaving too: Coach Hedge. I loved that he was also going to follow Piper to Oklahoma to watch over her. It just meant a lot that he would give up his whole life in Palm Springs and move to protect/be with Piper in her time of need. I also loved how supportive Mellie (Hedge’s wife) was about moving. We love a supportive satyr relationship.
What really tugged at my heartstrings was the ending when Piper was leaving to find peace, to start over, who knows what. But I hope it brings her happiness because what she’s going through is immensely hard. It really made my heart swell that she got a place for Meg, Apollo, and Jason’s coffin so that they could bring him to Camp Jupiter when on their way to find Reyna, the daughter of Bellona who would help them on the next quest.
“I looked at the diorama of Temple Hill–all the little Monopoly tokens carefully labeled in Jason’s hand. I read the label: Apollo. I could hear Jason’s voice in my mind, saying my name, asking me for one favor: Whatever happens, when you get back to Olympus, when you’re a god again, remember. Remember what it’s like to be human.”
This, I thought, was being human. Standing on the tarmac, watching mortals load the body of a friend and hero into the cargo hold, knowing that he would never be coming back. Saying good-bye to a grieving young woman who had done everything to help us, and knowing you could never repay her, never compensate her for all that she’d lost.”
(pg. 411)
I thought I was done crying!!!! 😭
But there was a part of me that was holding out hope that Jason would come back. Someone would bring him back or something. The coffin and saying goodbye to him cemented the idea that Rick Riodan really closed a chapter on Jason Grace’s life. And I can feel it because Rick Riodan wouldn’t just pull a Leo and say Jason “passed away.” I mean Rick Riodan spent all this time paying homage to Jason’s last words and last actions, that it had to mean more. At least with Leo, we knew he wasn’t gone because it would have been more powerful. More like this.
This was real.
And this connects back to the idea that Apollo was learning the truth about being human. And people go through what Piper is going through everyday and it’s hard because in those situations as a loved one, you want to do everything to take away that pain, especially if you caused it. It hurt for him. I thought it was mature though that Piper didn’t hold a grudge against Apollo for it. Maybe deep down she was still hurt and angry, but she was able to look past it and see it as a heroic sacrifice for something greater. And I think that helped her cope better with the situation. I also think moving right now would be best for her to get a fresh start after everything. I just hope she’s going to be okay.
I also loved how she told Meg to come visit her. They would be such good sisters 😊 Imagine them gardening together and reminiscing about the good old days when they went on these adventures with Apollo. You know when you think about it, you would think that it would be insane and kind of flattering to be going on a quest with a god? That’s like being asked by Oprah Winfrey to travel the world with her. But not like Apollo in this book needs something to boost his ego, but I would be honored, yet terrified to be going on these quests with him.
But don’t even get me started on when Leo came 😅 When he asked, “Where’s Jason?” I picked up my tissues again.
Where is Jason indeed? 😰
And I just kept thinking how it was sooooooo gut-wrenching that after Leo “passed away,” Jason looked for him endlessly. And then when Leo finally came back, Jason was gone. They would never get to see each other in real life again and that . . . just HURT. HURT I TELL YOU. An Arrow of Dodona almost to the heart 💔
I can’t.
WHY RICK RIODAN? WHY?
At least, Camp Jupiter is okay. And I BETTER see Apollo keep his promise and take Jason’s sketches there. I also BETTER see those temples build themselves because that was Jason’s last promise and dying wish and I will go livid if Apollo doesn’t carry it through. I will literally shove him down a mrkmeke cave if it means that he carries out the one thing Jason wanted. LITERALLY. or should I say Literysis-ly 😉
But I’m serious.
The one thing that didn’t break my heart as much, but still left some cracks in it was the fact that Piper, Jason, and Leo were all on different paths now. After everything they’d been through, it’s crazy to see where they are going or where they are right now. I would have never thought this for Jason. I would have never thought Piper would be in Oklahoma or Leo going back to Indiana to be at the Waystation. I think there’s only so much adventure a teen can go through until they’re like, “No, I just want a normal life somewhere in the middle of the U.S.” And that’s fine because they deserve peace.
Jason deserves peace.
But it was sad seeing Leo and Piper part ways after just finding each other. I hope we get to see them again when this journey is all over. It was really bittersweet.
When one journey ends, another begins in a snap. Again, it amazes me how quick everything is going with one trial after another. I give a lot of credit to Apollo/Lester. I’m kind of wondering, who is Lester? Is that a real person or is it just Apollo’s body to be Lester? Because that would be interesting if Lester was a real person and he was occupying Apollo’s body in Olympus? I can imagine the novella now 🧐.
Apollo is kind of in his feels at the end when going off with Meg to Camp Jupiter. And it’s humbling to see him so empowered to do good for all those who sacrificed themselves on his quest. I liked how Meg was sweet about it and believed that he would become a god again. She promised. If there’s one thing these books are teaching me, is that you have to keep those promises. So I hope this one is kept.
I also loved the way Rick Riodan ended the book.
“I would be Apollo.
I would remember.”
(pg. 429)
Jason really touched Apollo’s life in more ways than one and Jason will never really know how much.
Because Apollo as Lester was all woe-is-me, and I think now he’s getting into the acceptance part of being Lester. Because he knows that that is who he is on the outside, but he knows that is not who he is on the inside. He is Apollo, the sun god, the god of music/poetry. And he would remember himself and his divinity, but I think he will also remember what it meant to be human—-hat it means to be a true god or hero.
He would remember Jason and Crest too.
He would remember it all because as much as being Lester isn’t the most flattering, I think it’s teaching him lessons that even Zeus might have not known Apollo would get out of being a mortal.
I really look forward to going to Camp Jupiter in the next book. This series has really been good to us in taking us all over the creation and the camps. It’s also been soooooooo good about reuniting us with our favorite characters and seeing what they’re up to now. I love seeing that. We get to see Frank next, and I’m excited. You gotta love Frank! He’s reppin’ the Asians. And then we get to see Reyna, who I remember from the Heroes of Olympus, but vaguely. All I know was that she was an interesting character with a long history. I can’t wait to be reminded of why I loved Reyna. From my memory, she’s also a strong, independent leader. So we love that. What about Hazel? Are we going to see her? Gosh, I should really re-read the Heroes of Olympus.
I’m thinking in the next book, we have to deal with the fall out of Jason Grace and what that is going to entail for the Camps. I’m also curious as to what Jason’s school thinks? Do they know what happened to him? What are they saying? Just wondering.
I’m also hoping for another adventure, one with no passings please because we don’t need that. One is enough—-more than enough!
As for my predictions with this series, we have to see Nero again because Meg needs to work through her issues with him so she can move on. We need to take down the Triumvirate. We also need to see Python because that’s honestly what we’re working up towards here. That’s going to be Apollo’s last trial and part of me thinks that there’s going to be aDisney Hercules moment where he passes and then ascends as a god or something. I don’t know, but I’m interested. But you know what would be more interesting?
If Apollo chooses to stay as Lester because of what he remembers and what it’s like to be human. I don’t know. Probably not because he kind of has to be the sun god. Well, he doesn’t have to, but it would seem kind of messed up that after all he had been through that he doesn’t resume his place. But I think he will be a forever changed god. He will be more compassionate and not send people on death quests. I also think that he will honor the demigods more because he knows what it’s like to be human and vulnerable. So I’m really excited to see how he will take his place on Olympus again and what he will do.
Anyway, what was your favorite part? Least favorite part? What do you think will happen?
How did you feel about Jason? On a scale of broken to demolished, which one were you? 🤪
Anything I mentioned that you want to discuss more about? Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕
I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this.
And as always, with love,
Rating
4.68 Full Bloom Flower
Characters: I love how humanizing Apollo is becoming the more he interacts/learns from the other demigods. I also really enjoyed how we got to know more about Meg’s roots because that was something I was highly curious of with the previous two books. And like always, it was refreshing to see everyone again.
Writing: Laughable, cryable, all around emotional. If you want to hit the Titanic with books, this is the one
Plot: Honestly, this one rips your heart out and makes you want to throw the Scrabble board on the table
Action: Action?! Action!? It’s just too much 😰