The Burning Maze (Trials of Apollo, the Book Three) - by Rick Riordan (Paperback)

About the Book

The Greek god Apollo, cast down to earth as the ungifted human teenager Lester Papadopoulos, and his demigod friends must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor--and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles--somewhere in the American Southwest.

Book Synopsis

Lester and Meg go through the Labyrinth in the red-hot third book in the bestselling Trials of Apollo series, now in paperback.
A clash of mythic intrigues and centuries of pop culture to thrill die-hard and new fans alike.--Kirkus Reviews

• #1 New York Times best-selling series
• Rick Riordan is considered the storyteller of the gods because of his five #1 New York Times bestselling series based on mythology
• A continuation of the Percy Jackson saga, but it also stands alone
• A new take on Greek and Roman mythology from the point of view of a fallen god
• Brings back beloved demigod characters from the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series
• Introduces new demigods
• Villains are based on Roman emperors
• Features a diverse cast with people from all kinds of backgrounds and lifestyles
• Perfect for middle schoolers but can be enjoyed by older readers, too
• Includes a teaser chapter for Book 4

The formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg. Thanks a lot, Dad.
With the help of some demigod friends, Lester managed to survive his first two trials, one at Camp Half-Blood, and one in Indianapolis, where Meg received the Dark Prophecy. The words she uttered while seated on the Throne of Memory revealed that an evil triumvirate of Roman emperors plans to attack Camp Jupiter. While Leo flies ahead on Festus to warn the Roman camp, Lester and Meg must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor--and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles--somewhere in the American Southwest. There is one glimmer of hope in the gloom-filled prophecy: The cloven guide alone the way does know. They will have a satyr companion, and Meg knows just who to call upon. . . .

Review Quotes

[Apollo] continues to grow as a sympathetic narrator, his egotism and vanity slowly giving way to humility and self-sacrifice. His flashes of vulnerability, especially around the reminder of his long-departed lover Hyacinthus, are endearing . . . .--Kirkus Reviews

Of course, this is Riordan, so there's plenty of snarky banter and comedy mixed in among the drama. Amid the cinematic pacing and well-choreographed action scenes, Riordan squeezes in plenty of character development into the expanding cast of characters, even minor ones who don't get a lot of page space. Riordan's fans will appreciate seeing some familiar faces in this puzzle-filled installment, and a cliff-hanger ending will make them eager for the sequel.--Booklist

About The Author

Rick Riordan, dubbed "storyteller of the gods" by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology. Rick collaborated with illustrator John Rocco on two #1 New York Times best-selling collections of Greek myths for the whole family: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. Rick is also the publisher of an imprint at Disney-Hyperion, Rick Riordan Presents, dedicated to finding other authors of highly entertaining fiction based on world cultures and mythologies. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @RickRiordan.