'The Dark Prophecy' follows the journey of Apollo, now in the mortal form of Lester, along with his companions Leo Valdez and Calypso as they embark on a quest to retrieve Meg and uncover hidden secrets. The book is filled with adventure, humor, and twists, introducing new characters while also bringing back familiar faces from the Percy Jackson series. Apollo, a sassy and narcissistic character, begins to show signs of growth and humility as he navigates through various challenges and side quests in order to achieve his ultimate goal.

The plot of 'The Dark Prophecy' is driven by Apollo's need to complete multiple tasks within a tight timeframe, leading to a series of miraculous interventions and unexpected encounters. The book delves deeper into the world of gods and myths, incorporating elements of LGBTQ representation and exploring complex relationships among the characters. Despite some criticisms of overused plot devices, the book is praised for its engaging storytelling, humorous narrative, and the expansion of the Percy Jackson universe.

Characters:

Characters are memorable and diverse, with Apollo's charm and development shining through, while Meg's depth and the authenticity in Leo and Calypso's relationship contribute to the story's richness.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by humor, wit, and relatable tones, featuring clever celebrity references that enhance the story, though it carries more serious undertones compared to previous works.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features character depth, particularly through Meg's backstory and the complexities of Leo and Calypso's relationship, alongside a quest filled with adventures that sometimes relies on improbable plot devices.

Setting:

The setting features Indianapolis imbued with mythical components, and safe havens such as The Way Station are integral to the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast with frequent action, although there are moments of slower, character-focused development that balance the adventure.

We’d been traveling west for six weeks, and Festus had never shown such hostility toward a state. New Jersey he ignored. Pennsylvania he seemed to enjoy, despite our battle with the Cyclopes of Pittsb...

Notes:

Meg's background adds depth to her character and explains her attitude.

Leo and Calypso's relationship shows the challenging side of love, making it feel real.

Apollo is trapped in the mortal body of Lester Papadopoulos due to a punishment from Zeus.

The story takes Apollo, Leo, and Calypso to Indianapolis to find Meg and battle monsters.

Apollo has prophetic dreams that guide their adventure in this book.

The book introduces a secret shelter called The Way Station run by a couple who have a daughter in need of rescue.

Apollo must free griffins to learn how to save his friend Georgie.

The author uses the device of divine interventions, which can be viewed as overused but adds to the adventure.

Apollo grows as a character, learning about mortality, friendship, and love throughout the story.

The book contains various celebrity references that some readers may find amusing or distracting.

The strong mix of old and new characters keeps the narrative fresh and engaging.

The humor remains throughout the book, despite having more serious themes than the first installment.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in The Dark Prophecy, notably seen through Leo and Calypso's relationship, which explores complexities and authentic dynamics.

From The Publisher:

Apollo, an awesome god turned awkward mortal, journeys across North America with some demigod friends on his quest to regain Zeus's favor in Book Two of Rick Riordan's uproarious Trials of Apollo series.

"A clash of mythic intrigues and centuries of pop culture to thrill die-hard and new fans alike."- Kirkus Reviews

#1 New York Times best-selling series

Rick Riordan is considered the "storyteller of the gods" because of his five #1 New York Times bestselling series based on mythology

A continuation of the Percy Jackson saga, but it also stands alone

A new take on Greek and Roman mythology from the point of view of a fallen god

Brings back beloved demigod characters from the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series

Introduces new demigods

Villains are based on Roman emperors

Features a diverse cast with people from all kinds of backgrounds and lifestyles

Perfect for middle schoolers but can be enjoyed by older readers, too

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.

Somewhere in the American Midwest, he and his companions must find the most dangerous Oracle from ancient times: a haunted cave that may hold answers for Apollo in his quest to become a god again-if it doesn't kill him or drive him insane first.

Standing in Apollo's way is the second member of the evil Triumvirate, a Roman emperor whose love of bloodshed and spectacle makes even Nero look tame.

To survive the encounter, Apollo will need the help of son of Hephaestus Leo Valdez, the now-mortal sorceress Calypso, the bronze dragon Festus, and other unexpected allies-some familiar, some new-from the world of demigods. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride. . . .

May 2017

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444 pages

Ratings (70)

Incredible (12)
Loved It (31)
Liked It (17)
It Was OK (7)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (119):

Read It (85)
Want To Read (28)
Not Interested (6)

2 comment(s)

nlobud107

Loved It

9 months

I enjoyed this book more than the previous one in the series. It had more excitement, and I liked seeing Apollo's character growth.

lemoon99

Loved It

1 year

Leo and Calypso saved this book!! Love the halfway house!

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The Dark Prophecy?

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The Dark Prophecy

Rick Riordan

Book 2 in the series:The Trials of Apollo

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