Book Review – The Dark Prophecy

Book: The Dark Prophecy (The Trialls of Apollo 2) by Rick Riordan
Release Date: May 2nd 2017
Tags: Greek Mythology / Fantasy / Young Adult / Humor
Rating: 3,5 out of 5 stars

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Other books in this series I reviewed
The Hidden Oracle

Other books by this author I reviewed
The Heroes of Olympus / The Sword of Summer / The Hammer of Thor

Goodreads

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Possible spoilers for the previous books in the series

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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 do anything about them without his powers?

After experiencing a series of dangerous—and frankly, humiliating—trials at Camp Half-Blood, Apollo 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. . . .

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Review

The Dark Prophecy was a book that I was very much looking forward to after the first book. Apollo as a character really surprised me in that one. Unfortunately this second book let me down. Which I can’t remember Riordan ever doing. I know.  I’m sad.  Even having said that, I still think it’s a good read. Just not as good as I am used by him. Overall I just missed a spark in this book. I missed the humor. There were bits here and there  but I barely wrote down any quotes because they weren’t really good enough to be shared. It is a shame, because that is one of the things that makes these books so strong. The humor. I also felt that the book was dragging a bit here and there. It was quite a bit bigger than The Hidden Oracle and I don’t think that was necessary. Still this series does step away from the usual prophecy, quest, happy ending, new prophecy kind of set up which is a good thing. We start off with Apollo traveling on Festus with Leo and Calypso. They are heading off on a chase based on something that Apollo saw with Meg.  Honestly the plot very much feels like an in between book. I don’t feel like this made any real hole in the triumvirate plans.
I think this combination of characters is also what made me less interested perhaps. I love Leo. I like Apollo. I don’t care for Calypso and this book strengthened that feel. I just don’t necessarily like Leo when he is around her. I don’t understand why they have to be so attached to the hip for instance. So those interactions just didn’t work for me as much. What I liked in the first book was how Apollo interacted with everyone at the camp. His kids, Chiron, Nico, Rachel. There were some genuine ties being made there. I feel we kind of lost them here. He barely thinks of them. Only mentioned here and there in combination with his bow.

I’m also kind of over the constant shit on Apollo throughout this book. I get it. He did some stupid things. He was a God. So did the other Gods. Why does he always get the brunt of everything?

There are various new characters in this book. And while they are all very interesting in their own way (ex Artemis hunters, two lesbian moms, a ghost with an 8 ball) there are already so many characters to remember in this series. And Apollo name drops like you would not believe.  And yet that is also a partial draw. You do get updates on other characters like from The Heroes of Olympus series.  I just think it was slightly overdone in this book.