If this had been lampshaded-if Calypso, perhaps, had highlighted their similarities and therefore created some uncomfortable tension-it might have worked out well, changing the dynamic from two characters unintentionally occupying the same space to two characters consciously competing for the role. They don’t fit well together, because they both awkwardly try to occupy the same narrative role. See the problem? Apollo and Leo are variations on a theme, which means that they work exceptionally well with characters who are very different from them (Leo with the implausibly calm, powerful, and perfect Jason Apollo with the taciturn and perpetually unimpressed Nico). Apollo is… a cocky little bastard who has some cool skills and talks a big game but is a huge spaz and strikes out every time he falls in love, which is all the time. The problem is that Leo is a cocky little bastard who has some cool skills and talks a big game but is a huge spaz and strikes out every time he falls in love, which is all the time. He was my favorite character bar none in HOO, and that includes Percy (though I would probably vote PJO Percy over HOO Leo, but that’s a question for another day, if ever). But he did not mesh as well with Leo and Calypso as he did with Will, Nico, and the other demigods at Camp Half Blood. I love his cockiness juxtaposed with his absolute patheticness. My immediate reaction to the novel is that I enjoyed it, but that it was a bit of a letdown compared to most of the other Greek-based books Riordan has done (when I say most of I am referencing Lost Hero, which I think is the weak point of the first ten books, although I did still like it).Īpollo’s POV continues to be charming. I didn’t invest the time to reread PJO and HOO, but I did reread The Hidden Oracle in order to prepare myself as best as possible. I was super excited to get the second book of Rick Riordan’s Trials of Apollo series.
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