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hibernatinghomebody's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
createandchaos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The development that has been sown throughout The Trials of Apollo has finally come to its head in the final installment, The Tower of Nero.
The book itself is heart wrenching, the narrative displaying how Apollo has changed from where he started back in The Hidden Oracle and how he's putting all he's learned to use. Combined with the rest of the series, it's an ending that is heart wrenching and makes you want to cry with what all the characters have been through. It's a story of redemption, grief, trying to be better, and ultimately? At the core of it all, there was a story of escaping and beginning to heal from abuse.
The way Rick Riordan wrote Apollo and Meg finally break free from their abusers hold on them was heartbreaking, with it all beginning with Apollo recognizing the abuse Nero was inflicting on Meg back in The Hidden Oracle with what he dealt with under the hands of Zeus, a realization that has festered and expanded until it culminates into two powerful paragraphs/sentences in the last book.
"The Beast is dead." Meg tapped the side of her head. "I killed it..."
"As soon as I thought this, I realized how foolish it was. Zeus didn't work that way. He would not save me any more than Nero had saved Meg. I had to let go of that fantasy. I had to save myself."
The moments when they fight back against and/or came to the realization about their abuser is heartbreaking but it is also gratifying. They're free, they can heal, or in Apollo's case, with the newfound realizations about himself and how toxic and abusive the environment is among the Olympians, he's chosen to distance himself and to spend time with those who actually care about and love him.
He's spent more time and bonded with his children than he ever did before his trials and he's not going to let all that time go. He's moved on from his past, taking off his laurel wreath and contemplating the creation of the hyacinths, stating that he'd been responsible for Daphne transforming just to escape him and wondering if he created the hyacinths to commemorate Hyacinthus or to wallow in his grief and guilt. Hell, Apollo even misses the scars he gained over his journey because to they've become symbols of his humanity, they started to represent the hope that maybe he won't forget what it's like to be human. Apollo regained his own immortality and godhood for the purpose of keeping his promises, to come back, to remember being human, and to be better.
The Trials of Apollo has been a hell of a ride, but it was a ride worth taking.
The book itself is heart wrenching, the narrative displaying how Apollo has changed from where he started back in The Hidden Oracle and how he's putting all he's learned to use. Combined with the rest of the series, it's an ending that is heart wrenching and makes you want to cry with what all the characters have been through. It's a story of redemption, grief, trying to be better, and ultimately? At the core of it all, there was a story of escaping and beginning to heal from abuse.
"The Beast is dead." Meg tapped the side of her head. "I killed it..."
"As soon as I thought this, I realized how foolish it was. Zeus didn't work that way. He would not save me any more than Nero had saved Meg. I had to let go of that fantasy. I had to save myself."
The moments when they fight back against and/or came to the realization about their abuser is heartbreaking but it is also gratifying. They're free, they can heal, or in Apollo's case, with the newfound realizations about himself and how toxic and abusive the environment is among the Olympians, he's chosen to distance himself and to spend time with those who actually care about and love him.
He's spent more time and bonded with his children than he ever did before his trials and he's not going to let all that time go. He's moved on from his past, taking off his laurel wreath and contemplating the creation of the hyacinths, stating that he'd been responsible for Daphne transforming just to escape him and wondering if he created the hyacinths to commemorate Hyacinthus or to wallow in his grief and guilt. Hell, Apollo even misses the scars he gained over his journey because to they've become symbols of his humanity, they started to represent the hope that maybe he won't forget what it's like to be human. Apollo regained his own immortality and godhood for the purpose of keeping his promises, to come back, to remember being human, and to be better.
The Trials of Apollo has been a hell of a ride, but it was a ride worth taking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Grief
softgalaxy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have mixed feelings about this series, but it was an interesting overall story arc of understanding what it means to be human.
I enjoyed seeing different characters in each book. I know this isn’t the last CHB book as we have The Sun and The Star coming in 2023 as well as a new Percy, Annabeth, and Grover book.
Was this series entirely necessary? I’m not so sure. It had very high stakes, but it all seemed to be solved much more quickly than the other series’ plots.
Regardless, I love this wee CHB world and all the characters. Uncle Rick, thank you once more.
I enjoyed seeing different characters in each book. I know this isn’t the last CHB book as we have The Sun and The Star coming in 2023 as well as a new Percy, Annabeth, and Grover book.
Was this series entirely necessary? I’m not so sure. It had very high stakes, but it all seemed to be solved much more quickly than the other series’ plots.
Regardless, I love this wee CHB world and all the characters. Uncle Rick, thank you once more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Slavery and Grief
rosieryel's review against another edition
fast-paced
ill be honest i did just finish this series so i can read the nico book when it comes out but it was still fun and enjoyable mostly despite me being way out of the its demographic :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
embla_v's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
4.75
Oerhört bra serie av Rick Riordan!!! Den är rolig, underhållande och väldigt spännande. Detta är sista boken i serien om Apollon.
Boken handlar om Apollon som blivit skickad till jorden av sin pappa Zeus. Zeus förvandlade även Apollon till en tonårspojke vid namn Lester. Nu måste Lester ta sig an ett antal utmaningar, tillsammans med hans härskare (och vän) Meg, för att kunna återta sin ställning som olympisk gud.
Rekommenderar till alla som gillar Rick Riordan böcker, är intresserade av grekisk (och romersk) mytologi eller bara vill ha en bra fantasy bok att läsa. Jag rekommenderar att vara 10+ år. Oerhört bra bok och definitivt läsvärd!!!
(Jag skulle dock rekommenderar att läsa Percy Jackson- serien först och efter den läsa Olympens hjältar- serien, innan man läser Apollon-serien men det är inte ett måste)
Boken handlar om Apollon som blivit skickad till jorden av sin pappa Zeus. Zeus förvandlade även Apollon till en tonårspojke vid namn Lester. Nu måste Lester ta sig an ett antal utmaningar, tillsammans med hans härskare (och vän) Meg, för att kunna återta sin ställning som olympisk gud.
Rekommenderar till alla som gillar Rick Riordan böcker, är intresserade av grekisk (och romersk) mytologi eller bara vill ha en bra fantasy bok att läsa. Jag rekommenderar att vara 10+ år. Oerhört bra bok och definitivt läsvärd!!!
(Jag skulle dock rekommenderar att läsa Percy Jackson- serien först och efter den läsa Olympens hjältar- serien, innan man läser Apollon-serien men det är inte ett måste)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
skyllarduncan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A great and bittersweet ending to the series (both the Trials of Apollo, and all of the characters we have grown to love over the years). Apollo had a great (if predictable) character arc over the course of the series, and Meg really grew on me. It was great to see Camp Half Blood one last time, going back to where it all began. And of course, always great to hang out with Nico and Rachel. I thought the story was exciting, moving, and well executed. I will definitely miss reading about this world and these characters that Riordan has so carefully and thoughtfully brought to life over the years.
I do think that the story got a bit hung up when facing Nero, and was drawn out more than necessary. On the other hand, Apollo's final battle with Python was much shorter than I had anticipated, but it got the job done and I don't think it needed to be prolonged any further. Lastly, because I grew up with these characters and knew this would be goodbye, I do selfishly wish we had more time with each of them at the end. Despite that, I appreciated we got one final glimpse into their lives and a chance to say goodbye to each of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The ending was so good. I love that we got to check in with so many of the heroes from the past books. I really want to reread the whole PJO universe now.
Rep: Olympian god turned mortal bisexual male MC, female side character with glasses, Black female side character, biracial (Black & Asian) male side character, Italian gay male side character, white gay male side character, Indigenous sapphic female side character, Latine female side character, side male character who uses a wheelchair. All demigod characters have ADHD and/or dyslexia.
CWs: Blood, child abuse, emotional abuse, death, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, violence. Moderate: gore. Brief: animal death.
Rep: Olympian god turned mortal bisexual male MC, female side character with glasses, Black female side character, biracial (Black & Asian) male side character, Italian gay male side character, white gay male side character, Indigenous sapphic female side character, Latine female side character, side male character who uses a wheelchair. All demigod characters have ADHD and/or dyslexia.
CWs: Blood, child abuse, emotional abuse, death, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, violence. Moderate: gore. Brief: animal death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Animal death
martinatan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I found myself kind of stunned by the climax of the book, and very much thought during the climactic scenes that it was so wonderfully Greek. It felt like a continuation of a classic epic tale and it was really satisfying and fulfilled me expectations of the series premise in that way. Always a wondrous thing to see these characters and this world that I’ve grown up continue to flourish and make me laugh and cry. Hard to deny the immense joy this series has brought me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
charlottebreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
CW/TW: Emotional + child abuse, violence, death
Age Rating: 10 - 12 years
- Meg was great
- Nico and Will were so cute together
- Lester/Apollo was such a good main character
- The villains were threatening
- The final fight was pretty good
- Overall, great book :)
Age Rating: 10 - 12 years
- Meg was great
- Nico and Will were so cute together
- Lester/Apollo was such a good main character
- The villains were threatening
- The final fight was pretty good
- Overall, great book :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
(spoiler review) Okay, I think maybe the reason I wasn't liking this series was because Rick did too good of a job making Apollo annoying and self absorbed and ridiculous. I did quite enjoy this book and I liked how it wrapped up and I liked Meg's confident transformation, I liked Lou, I liked that they are trying to rehabilitate Nero's orphans, I liked Apollo's mental, and emotional growth. I also like the additions of Nico and Will and I'm very excited to see their book. It's finally time for Nico to shine. OH, also I like how everything wrapped up really well, all the loose ends tied up in a nice pretty bow, and New York did not explode! Woo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War