fourohfourerror 's review for:

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan

3.75

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I feel like this is where the series started to really feel like a "where are they now" for me. Like, there's a higher ratio of cameo side characters than the average Riordan book.

I am glad Leo and Calypso found this home, and that we got more insight into where and how demigods can exist as a adults. 

I do like the continual explorations into Apollo as a person. Without Will here as a crutch, we got to see a lot more of Apollo's healer abilities shine through naturally-- plus the creative healing knowledge as a weapon. More of Apollo getting his powers back too, with the singing to bring down the wall and the showing his true form, which I like less since it feels a little bit like crutches for him as a person. 

One thing that struck me in this book is how much Apollo finds beauty in others. In all his flashbacks in this book and the first, he waxes poetic about the beauty of his past lovers. "Jaime" is the first time we see Apollo express this kind of attraction in the present, and it's for a throwaway character no less. He shows some interest for Thalia, but it feels more "for old time's sake" than anything else. It almost feel like he's holding everyone at arm's length out of fear-- which is understandable, given the fates of his past lovers.