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_ren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming and Death of parent
monniebiloney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So far The trials of Apollo series has been disappointing. This book, by far has been the best of the 3, but still falls to some of the problems I had with the previous books.
the Pros: Apollo is a character with a personality and goals. (this was lacking in the 1st book), and goes through great character development (which was lacking in book 2). He has Meg around to have a relationship with (Apollo doesn't have any chemistry with any of the main cast in Book 2) and we have some nice side character show up here. The book had some iconic scenes and emotions ones as well.
Cons: We are still doing Hot potato with who has to hang out and help Apollo. all characters introduced are either A: Killed off, or B: Decide that they have better things to do the to help save the world. It's jarring to as the least. I under stand that the 7 are tired and just want questing to be over with, but it feels wrong for all for them (except for Jason, he was worried) to be so nonchanlant about everything.
The main problem I really had with this is the characters that died. The first character died when be barely had 50 pages with him! It was no where near enough time for us (and Apollo) to truly bond with him before his dead (Which is greatly shown by how Apollow reacts to Person As dead VS Person B who we had around 100+ pages of interactions with!) as a long time reader, I felt saddened for how one of my favorite characters ended with their potential nevee fufilled (for thats whats sad about his death--His potential. Not that a beloved character, a beloved friend has died. Not his dead is sad because it truly never really meant much.)
I loved the second character that died and his dead was well written and I really can't blame Rick for it, but I morn him all the same. I feel.like he had so much potential.
All in all the Apollo books feel like almost a cash grab to make sure we get a bunch of cameos and to 'close up' some problems with characters other fans probably complained about in the first 2 series. And it comes off as almost like they HAD to do it, rather then a sorry written with love.
the Pros: Apollo is a character with a personality and goals. (this was lacking in the 1st book), and goes through great character development (which was lacking in book 2). He has Meg around to have a relationship with (Apollo doesn't have any chemistry with any of the main cast in Book 2) and we have some nice side character show up here. The book had some iconic scenes and emotions ones as well.
Cons: We are still doing Hot potato with who has to hang out and help Apollo. all characters introduced are either A: Killed off, or B: Decide that they have better things to do the to help save the world. It's jarring to as the least. I under stand that the 7 are tired and just want questing to be over with, but it feels wrong for all for them (except for Jason, he was worried) to be so nonchanlant about everything.
The main problem I really had with this is the characters that died. The first character died when be barely had 50 pages with him! It was no where near enough time for us (and Apollo) to truly bond with him before his dead (Which is greatly shown by how Apollow reacts to Person As dead VS Person B who we had around 100+ pages of interactions with!) as a long time reader, I felt saddened for how one of my favorite characters ended with their potential nevee fufilled (for thats whats sad about his death--His potential. Not that a beloved character, a beloved friend has died. Not his dead is sad because it truly never really meant much.)
I loved the second character that died and his dead was well written and I really can't blame Rick for it, but I morn him all the same. I feel.like he had so much potential.
All in all the Apollo books feel like almost a cash grab to make sure we get a bunch of cameos and to 'close up' some problems with characters other fans probably complained about in the first 2 series. And it comes off as almost like they HAD to do it, rather then a sorry written with love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Deadnaming, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and Suicide attempt
abby_can_read'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
4.0
📱
This was a good book. It was wonderful to see some of the characters again. With Grover, I know there will be smiles and laughs. I used several tissues.
This was a good book. It was wonderful to see some of the characters again. With Grover, I know there will be smiles and laughs. I used several tissues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming and Gaslighting
sadie_g'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
4.0
Really felt like I was enjoying the characters and their dynamics a lot more in this book, and that Lester was really starting to understand what it means to be a human.
So glad to see Piper, Grover and Jason again in this book!! I knew Jason died in this series but I didn’t realize it was this book, and it hurt so much :(
So glad to see Piper, Grover and Jason again in this book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming and Child abuse
wiktoria_bojda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and War
Minor: Body shaming
betweentheshelves'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
4.5
First of all, what the hell Rick Riordan?? Pulling a stunt like that in the middle of a series nonetheless. I knew it was coming because there's a spoiler in the summary for [book:The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure|63028719] (thanks for that, by the way), but I didn't realize it was going to come so soon in the series.
Anyway, this might be the best in the series so far because while the stakes were risen in the first two books, I feel like they're pretty high by the end of this one. Things keep piling up and it will eventually be up to Apollo to set everything right. There's also some great character development there, as we've seen him evolve throughout all of the books thus far. Some great emotional development, actually. Thoroughly enjoying that and Apollo's narration still.
We'll see how the next two books go, I guess!
Anyway, this might be the best in the series so far because while the stakes were risen in the first two books, I feel like they're pretty high by the end of this one. Things keep piling up and it will eventually be up to Apollo to set everything right. There's also some great character development there, as we've seen him evolve throughout all of the books thus far. Some great emotional development, actually. Thoroughly enjoying that and Apollo's narration still.
We'll see how the next two books go, I guess!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming
mengzhenreads'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
4.0
This for me was a huge changing point in the series, as this is the book where it all actually gets real. Like damn, this is SERIOUS.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming
the_embodiment_of_chaos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming
anjasshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Dysphoria
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I read this and The Dark Prophecy both in one day in an obsessive haze where all I wanted to do was keep reading these books here are my thoughts on this one:
-shoutout to Piper during this fine Lesbian Visibility Week whether or not she's ready to admit she's a lesbian
-I'm glad her and Jason broke up I never cared for them as a couple, they were quite LITERALLY forced
-RIP Jason Grace, you had so many bricks to be smacked with ahead of you
-no but seriously why did y'all cry over that??? why did y'all suddenly start caring about Jason???? I say this as someone who was never on the Jason hate train I'm just confused????
-bout damn TIME Grover got some respect
-speaking of I'm never forgiving the PJO fandom for making Jason Percy's bestie when that was Grover, for everyone who did that this book is jUsTiCe
-I will ALWAYS appreciate a talking horse
-Leo asking "where's Jason?" did kind of break me
-I question how responsibly written Apollo is to sometimes make fun of and put down his body, I get that he hates being human but also the traits he's putting down are traits a lot of people struggle with ESPECIALLY in regards to weight
So far this series has been Apollo facing the consequences of his actions by being poor little meow meowfied. The Burning Maze continues the trend of book 3 in Riordan series being ELITE.
TWs: threatened suicide for self sacrificial reasons, death, some self deprecating jokes related to the protagonist being 'pudgy'
-I'm glad her and Jason broke up I never cared for them as a couple, they were quite LITERALLY forced
-RIP Jason Grace, you had so many bricks to be smacked with ahead of you
-no but seriously why did y'all cry over that??? why did y'all suddenly start caring about Jason???? I say this as someone who was never on the Jason hate train I'm just confused????
-bout damn TIME Grover got some respect
-speaking of I'm never forgiving the PJO fandom for making Jason Percy's bestie when that was Grover, for everyone who did that this book is jUsTiCe
-I will ALWAYS appreciate a talking horse
-Leo asking "where's Jason?" did kind of break me
-I question how responsibly written Apollo is to sometimes make fun of and put down his body, I get that he hates being human but also the traits he's putting down are traits a lot of people struggle with ESPECIALLY in regards to weight
So far this series has been Apollo facing the consequences of his actions by being poor little meow meowfied. The Burning Maze continues the trend of book 3 in Riordan series being ELITE.
TWs: threatened suicide for self sacrificial reasons, death, some self deprecating jokes related to the protagonist being 'pudgy'
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming