The Hidden Oracle is the first book in Riordan’s new series,
The Trials of Apollo. It follows the events of The Heroes of Olympus; however, it
has a completely different perspective character, Apollo! The reader accompanies
him on his trials to earn his way back into Olympus, the first trial involving finding
the hidden oracle.
I was pleasantly surprised by the story. After the previous series’
ending, it was clear there were more tales to be told, yet there is always the
issue of rehashing what has previously been done. Riordan, however, presents a
brilliantly unique story using elements of Greek mythology, more specific to
Apollo, and some Roman history as well. He demonstrates his dedication with the
sheer variety of myths included, as well as the further expansion into Roman
aspects, all very accurately done. The issues that face Apollo are heavily
based of many myths but also tie into plot threads from the first series, Percy
Jackson and the Olympians, which delighted me. The villains do not feel forced
or boring nor do the trials shown, in that way, this first book feels exciting
and new but also a continuation of the books prior to this. Furthermore, the structure
of the book was excellent. Slowly, more and more elements were unravelled until
we finally realise the gravity of the situation facing Apollo and his friends.
To those with a knowledge of classics, the identity of ‘the Beast’ can be
worked out fairly easily but it still fascinating to see Apollo’s solutions.
The thing that really captivated me was how well-rounded the
story was. It wasn’t just action nor was it just humour, it combined moments of
happiness with scenes that were heart-breaking, and manages to evoke both joy
and melancholy within a few pages. Overall, I was pleased with the story, it
most definitely showcases Riordan’s ability to create a gripping tale and merge
it with history and mythology.
The narration of the story made the book an easy read. It is
similar to the previous books, in that emphasis is more placed on dialogue and
internal monologues than the descriptions of scenery or purple prose. Both
styles have their merits and their place, in this book it means that it is
quick to read and also quite character-focused rather than focused on world
building. Personally, I feel Riordan tends to flesh out that aspect over a few
books rather that in one book, which I don’t mind. The actual narration is from
Apollo’s point of view; therefore, we get his specific voice. Undeniably
arrogant, the narration is definitely hilarious; however, I could see how the
overly dramatic tone could annoy some people. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure
if I was too fond of it but over time, due to good character development, it
was enjoyable by the end. The tone also matches the structure very well as
humour and a relaxed pace gives way to a tense and emotionally gripping ending.
The narration therefore was well done, though quite jarring compared to the
styles of previous narrators.
In addition, the main characters were well-rounded and
enjoyable to read about. While many characters from previous series make
appearances, the focus is definitely on new character on the whole. Firstly,
our protagonist Apollo is in equal parts hilarious and annoying. His asides and
cultural references are great; yet the arrogance and self-pity are quite
annoying. It is this mix that completes his character and reminds us that he
was previously a god and adds to the story. Also, occasionally Apollo shows
brief moments of humanity and vulnerability, which often drew on myths, that
were beautifully done. A complaint I do have is that I felt the character
development was rushed in a few place but it was sweet. (The fatherly side of
him was also very adorable!)
A completely new character introduced was Meg. Adorable and
lacking manners, the reader feels sympathy for her and her antics and interactions
with Apollo definitely put a smile on my face. She is introduced as an orphan
who Apollo will serve and the plot revolves around the duo. The two provided an
interesting dynamic, which I thought was done well as the contrast in
personality made for realistic dialogue and enjoyable scenes. Her connections
to the plot made me curious for the next book and eager to see how her character
develops. She was definitely my favourite character of the book and her
parallels to characters like Percy and Nico made her all the more endearing.
The minor characters, mainly familiar faces such as the
campers, were developed a bit through dialogue and their actions but it is
clear that Riordan does not intend for them to be fleshed out that much. They
feel more there for world building and to aid Apollo’s development, rather than
characters in their own right. The major characters such as Apollo’s children
and Nico were more developed and helped for the Camp to feel like a more
realistic environment. Nico’s development was very pleasing to see, even if I
do wish we had seen some of it. Also, I definitely respect Riordan’s decision
to include openly gay and bisexual characters. This is both a brave move on his
part and so incredibly important as representation is important to normalise
such things, to make the book more realistic, and to provide relatable characters.
The villain, ‘the Beast’, was an interesting choice for a villain
and the reader genuinely grows to despise him. Without spoiling too much, I
felt the choice of his identity was perfect and the characterisation was good.
Overall, I enjoyed the book! It was easy to read and felt
like the familiar world of Percy Jackson that I had grown up with. There were
some issues with it, I disliked the inclusion of some myths and I felt a few
cultural references will age badly. However, I really liked it, despite my
fears and I would recommend it to the fans of the series.
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