4.5 stars. This was a very interesting book. I’m intrigued and excited to read more about the world. I really enjoyed finding a writing style that could surprise me and engage me in such a way. I’m excited for all of the ways this world and it’s foundations can evolve. If you love fantasy, or elves, or both, this will not disappoint!

So book 1 I wasn’t totally convinced, not instantly hooked. But it was good enough I started the second book and I absolutely could not put this one down. It is everything that is trademark Rick Riordan and it felt like I was more settled in the world and it was so much better and smoother.

There were so many good quotes but I’m gonna have to go with the last sentence. DEFINITE spoilers.

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“I think it’s time you met Percy.”

YESSS. I like all of the characters Rick has created, but Percy will always be my fav. I am so excited and cannot wait to start the next book right this minute, at 12:20 am because I have no self control.

Dear Rick, I am very mad at you. You know why. "Gods. I can't even think right now. Is that normal? Like, just forgetting how to think?"

I'm happy to say this is my favourite Trials of Apollo so far. I finally started to see the master scheme starting to come together, and it was entrancing from start to finish. The Arrow of Dodona is one of my new favourite characters. I mean... "The arrow went deadly still. BUT SOOTH. IS THIS A CROSSWORD I SEE BEFORE ME? VERILY, I DOTH LOVE CROSSWORDS."

This book had everything. Politics, "I intend to overthrow the human race and institute a government for the horses, by the horses"; heroes "when Jason Grace thrust out his arms, and the cage of wind exploded"; and of course, ridiculously long-named Roman emperors. I'm looking at you Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.

I have loved watching Apollo evolve as he spends more time on earth. Hopefully he will follow some of the best advice he was ever given. "Promise me one thing. Whatever happens, when you get back to Olympus, when you're a god again, remember. Remember what it's like to be human."

“No story ever ends, does it? It just leads into others.” I love how this series ended. I love that it branches out but also let’s us know that everything will go on as it always has, as it always will. That being said, I would absolutely read more about those stories if it was published.

Can we talk about Apollo’s character development? Huge and amazing. I loved the nod to Hyacinthus at the end. I loved the appreciation of scars. This was a beautifully written arc that developed over the series. At the beginning he was absolutely unlikeable. I absolutely deserve an award for suffering through 210 of his haiku. But by the end he gained some humanity.

This book was “like Will’s skill at healing, it was gentle, useful, and exactly what we needed in a pinch.” ‘I’m so proud.’”