The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riodan Book Review
“Meg McCaffrey, a girl of few words and much belching.”
About
Author: Rick Riodan
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Series: The Trials of Apollo Book 2
Click to read other book reviews
Other Trials of Apollo Book Reviews
Synopsis
Zeus has punished his son Apollo–god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more–by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo/Lester do anything about them without his powers? After experiencing a series of dangerous–and frankly, humiliating–trials at Camp Half-Blood, Lester must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he’s gaining in new friendships–with heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride. . . .
Review
Spoilers Contained Below
To those rooting for Meg 😉,
And Leo. You gotta love Leo. I love Leo and I would have loved to see more of him in this book. But alas, man I’m typing like the Arrow of Dodona, this book is about Apollo.
Obviously he would love that.
Like with The Hidden Oracle, I read this back when it came out, but since I’m going on a Trials of Apollo reading spree, naturally I read this book next.
This book really started in the action of it all, which I can appreciate. Leo, Calypso, and Apollo/Lester are in Indianapolis where they encounter the blemmyae beings and get saved by Emmie and Josephine who used to be Hunters of Artemis. I loved how they were able to get out of the Hunters and grow older together because they loved each other. I also liked how Artemis supported their love instead of looking down on them because you can really tell how much Emmie and Josephine cared for each other. They also cared a lot about their ostriches and daughter Georgie.
The ostriches on the covers explain a lot 😂.
But I loved the safe haven of the Waystation. It was like a home to them when they were on their journey. I especially loved how Emmie and Josephine made Apollo clean toilets and peel carrots. Apollo complained like no other and it was hilarious. He thought carrots were the root of all evil and that he never knew food had to be prepared in that way. I guess he really needed that big heaping of humbleness on his plate. Glad Emmie and Josephine gave it to him.
Part of this journey was getting to the Oracle of Trophonius, which was a cave. Britomartis, the Goddess of Nets (not the internet 😂) told him he would help him find the cave if he got back her ostriches. So of course, he had to go.
The rescue mission of the ostriches—Heloise and Abelard—-was nothing but a good time. I mean, aren’t all adventures with Rick Riodan a good time?
And you gotta love the tater tots
“Four different kinds of Tater Tots?” I felt overwhelmed by culinary confusion. “Why would anyone need so many? Chili. Sweet potato. Blue? How can a tot be blue?”
(pg. 115)
I bet Percy Jackson would appreciate the blue taters 👌🏼.
Not only did Apollo rescue the Heloise and Abelard, but they also found the traffic light! I’m joking they found Meg. When plants started popping up and growing, I was like, it’s Meg!!!! I missed her traffic light self and her cat-eye glasses. I loved how she was working behind the scenes to still help Apollo in need. But it also made me wonder how she knew they were there. There’s this whole gray area I’m still confused as to where and what Meg was doing in the time between meeting up with Apollo again and when she went off with Nero. What boggles my mind is how Rick Riodan’s book adventures span days, when to me it feels like months or weeks that everything happens. So maybe it was days since Apollo saw Meg, but I’m not sure. But man, they experience more in a day than I do in a year 😅. It’s crazy.
I’m still wondering about Meg, though. Did Nero scold her? Did she fight back? Is she still scared of Nero? What happened after we last saw her? Why did she go back to Apollo? Was it based on Nero’s orders so that she can lead him to the Python at the end? Why is Meg such a key factor in all of this? What is her backstory? There’s a lot still missing for me, but that’s not to say I don’t like Meg, just highly invested.
With the ostriches and Meg, they all went back to the Waystation to regroup. Upon returning, Apollo had a nightmare about someone he killed: Commodus. He plunged his head underwater, but now he’s back and he has a definite bone to pick with Apollo. For sure. But Apollo felt bad about it, so at least he knew what he did was wrong.
Apparently the Triumvirate chose him as one of the emperors in their group because they needed someone who was weak and easy to control. This actually made a lot of sense, but they were still using him, which was wrong.
The showdowns with Commodus definitely lived up to its name in being a show. But Apollo said that Commodus was one for frivolity. He had the whole shebang with fireworks and an elephant. You gotta love Livvie the elephant. She was such a smart elephant in listening to Apollo and trying to trample Commodus. Good elephant, smash the bad guy 🤪
The second showdown was pretty lit, if you know what I mean. I am curious as to why Apollo gets Godly strength during certain points when he should be mortal. Kind of like with The Hidden Oracle, he had an unusual bout of power when saving Meg and his kids. So does his power only work to help others? I’m not sure. But he glowed as his pure form which scared Commodus away because when they say you shouldn’t stare directly at the sun, they mean it. Since Commodus flew away, I’m still wondering if he will pose a problem for later? But I don’t think so because he might be too scared to do so, but you never know because he’s a part of the Triumvirate
“Where’s Commodus?” I asked.
Hunter shrugged. “We didn’t see him.”
“What do you mean?” I demanded. “He literally just fell out this window.”
“No,” Leo corrected. “He Lityerses-ly flew out the window. Am I right?”
(pg. 377)
I have never cracked up so much 😂. It’s like the Harry Potter Jokes of Sirus-ly. Play on words is the best.
You know what’s also the best?
The cameo Thalia Grace made. I forgot that she became a hunter of Artemis. But man, to say that Thalia Grace has had an interesting life is an understatement. But I’m glad she’s still her kick butt self leading a group of hunters. It also goes along nicely with the idea that Artemis still cares for her brother, so she would send her hunters to watch over and help him. I hope at the end of this journey, Apollo can see his sister and they can hug it out because how cute would that be.
At the end, when Commodus is gone from the Oracle, another prophecy is revealed. Obviously called the dark prophecy, which sounds weird given how it’s about the burning maze. There’s also a lot of foreshadowing in this book with death and jiving. It almost makes me wonder which it is.. The book alludes to a lot of trials (duh) for Apollo that are dangerous. So I’m curious if the trials will lead to his death where he makes a great sacrifice for his life and that reinstates him as a God. Kind of like the Disney Hercules movie plot line? Is he going to give up his life at the end to save Meg’s? I feel like that would be full circle. But you know what would also be full circle? If Apollo got reinstated as a God and fell in a trash can on Mount Olympus 😂.
But I really do see that as the ending. I know that at the end of the series Apollo is going to face Python, his greatest fear and enemy. And I don’t say this because I already saw the book title and cover for book five, but I say this because it only seems like endgame after seeing Python briefly in The Hidden Oracle. So it makes sense that as his last feat he actually defeated Python and became a God.
For Rick Riodan’s taste, I feel like this whole journey as a human wouldn’t be purposeful if there wasn’t some mortal aspect that is tied to how Apollo finishes his journey. I believe that Apollo is going to learn the meaning about being a human and how difficult it can be. And over the course of the book, I could already pick up parts where Apollo is starting to understand this sentiment. Not only with peeling carrots and cleaning toilets, but the mortality aspect of it all. How you lay your life down and you’re constantly put at risk, but yet keep going. And there was this whole scene where Apollo talked about humans constantly needing to be productive.
Being productive. Ugh. It’s such a human concept. It implies you have limited time (LOL) and have to work hard to make something happen (double LOL).”
Which I laugh at too. I mean, people naturally want to be productive because it keeps them busy, but I never thought of it in the perspective that it is because we think on a time limit. It’s kind of a morbid thought. But what Rick Riodan does so well is he discusses mortality and life in such a light-hearted way that isn’t overwhelming for younger, or older readers. I can appreciate that because as someone who was a God, he goes into every battle now, knowing that he isn’t invincible. That’s what it feels like to be human. To live each day knowing we are not invincible,, but still doing our best to “be productive,” and to still find joy.
In the first book, I think Apollo was dealing more with the shock of no longer being a God; He was thinking of all the woe-is-me thoughts. I also felt like he was going through all the five stages of grief all at once 😂. He was highly in denial, not too angry or depressed, but definitely bargaining. Has he reached acceptance? I don’t think so. But maybe with the last book he will. In this book there’s a shift to where he’s more humorous and unbelieving still, but trying to make the best of it. Which is a good way to see the situation because gosh knows he could be still in that dumpster he crash-landed in curled up in a fetal position.
When the prophecy said, “The cloven guide alone the way does know,” my mind instantly went to Grover.
Call me Apollo, but Grover showed up at the end 😂.
We love a manifestation and keen seeing.
But I absolutely love how Grover is coming back into this series, but now as a guide for Meg and Apollo. I can’t wait to see what exciting things they get into next. But I also feel bad for Grover because he just appeared out of nowhere in front of them. That had to be utterly surprising. But hey, good for us, we get to see Grover again!
Going forward, Apollo, Meg, and Grover are obviously going into the Labyrinth, which was brought up during The Heroes of Olympus. I remember being briefly brought to the Labyrinth during The Heroes of Olympus, and I remember thinking how cool a concept it seemed. Dangerous and scary, but cool. It gives me escape room vibes, but worse. So it makes for good reading content for sure. I am excited to see the next oracle and how the prophecy plays out, especially with Meg finding her roots because I think we all want to know more about Meg.
I also think that Meg and Apollo should have a heart-to-heart about what happened at the end of The Hidden Oracle with Nero. Because when Meg came back, Apollo and her fell into acting like old pals again, which is fine. But I think there’s something not being said between them that needs to be said. Because who knows if she’s going to betray him again? And Apollo should really be sentimental with her because maybe that will get through to her on some level. But I also feel like he might not think it’s his place to talk to her about things. And as much as Meg is brazen, she’s also very introverted.
Which surprises me. It also makes sense given all she’s been through. She doesn’t say much because I think Nero made her feel scared to speak or she just hasn’t been around enough people to talk openly. I know as an introvert myself, that it is difficult to talk to others because I don’t see many people even if this whole circumstance with Covid-19 is not going on. It’s hard because you fall out of practice talking and when you’re by yourself, you have no one to say anything to. So I understand Meg. I feel like she needs a good friend and maybe Apollo is that to her. Maybe she looks up to him too? I don’t know. But they have a good relationship going and I would like to see something a bit more vulnerable between them. But that might be the YA contemporary part of me that wants that. I get that this is a middle grade fantasy so that probably has no part in the book.
But again, communication is such a good thing to have.
Anyway, what was your favorite part? Least favorite part? Anything I mentioned that you want to discuss more about?
If you could be the God/Goddess of something what would it be? 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. 34 Full Bloom Flowers
Characters: I would have liked more exploration on Meg’s character, but I think Apollo’s getting somewhere with his character arc
Writing: No one writes like Rick Riodan
Plot: The adventures in this book were fun—-the zoo and the Waystation. But I liked the dynamics in The Hidden Oracle more because we got to see more past characters and be at Camp Halfblood. But this is still worth the read.
Action: Action packed, with a lot more frivolity