Once a goddy, now an uptown shoddy
"The Hidden Oracle", which is a continuation of the Greek and Roman sagas, is a melodrama. No kidding. Rick Riordan thought of "The Kane Chronicles", where the first-person narrative turned the banter between the Kane siblings into an entertaining chronicle of Ancient Egypt. In the case of Riordan's latest book, it's Apollo's fall from grace.
"I wanted to eat. I wanted to use the restroom. My body hurt. My clothes stank. I felt as if my brain had been stuffed with wet cotton. Honestly, how do you humans stand it?"
"The Trials of Apollo", the name of the new series, is a whole new level for the ardent followers of Greek myths and Roman stories. There's much to tell, which producers of 20th Century Fox haven't explored yet. (And don't expect them to adapt "The Titan's Curse" to the big screen.) Riordan didn't start his premise (to his new novel) from scratch, as he's a huge fan of mythology. He's a walking Wikipedia on Greek and Roman myths, without a doubt. Furthermore, this series is for those who wish for a sequel to "The Heroes of Olympus". (They might have made an oath by the River Styx. An imaginary body of water at least.) Riordan expects his readers to know the background behind his characters, but those who are clueless must not worry. Let's have a look:
Rachel Elizabeth Dare might not like this piece of information. In "Percy Jackson & the OIympians", Rachel Elizabeth Dare was chosen to be the modern-day Oracle of Delphi. She happened to be a mortal, which made some demigods jealous of her. She could be more powerful than Hillary Clinton until Zeus turned Apollo into a mortal (one more time). "The Hidden Oracle" would refer to Dodona, located near the border of Greece and Albania. It was a remote region during ancient times, where an oracle to Rhea would be found. She was the mother of the gods, who didn't side with the titans during their clash with the Olympian deities. Unlike Pythia, woods covered much of Dodona. Those who passed by it would hear voices, suspecting they have gone mad. They might not have heard the entire story of Jason, whose ship would guide him to the Golden Fleece. The wood, where the ship was made from, came from Dodona. Perhaps Rhea warned him about his unhappy end, but he was human. And so was Apollo.
Demeter may be a role model for a healthy lifestyle, but she was an unrepentant carnivore. Most stories about the Olympian deities didn't include Demeter. If she was mentioned at all, she won't be a principal character. Most would be familiar with the bittersweet tale about Persephone kidnapped by Hades. Apollo would be one of those few deities who knew Persephone's guilty pleasure. (It would be spareribs.) Meg McCaffrey, who saved Apollo from the thugs in Hell's Kitchen, happened to be Demeter's other daughter. But the sun god was mystified by her prowess in combat skills. He could imagine Demeter's children to be experts in farming, but self defense would be another thing. Perhaps Meg became his companion for a reason.
The Python of Delphi has unfinished business with Apollo. Fans of Greek mythology would be familiar with the story about Zeus and Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis. It drove Hera mad, so much that she sent a serpent to keep Leto from giving birth. But Apollo came into the world. He fought Python and killed him. The Oracle of Delphi was found by the site (where he was slain). Riordan added juicy details, which revealed the Python's whereabouts. He wasn't dead at all, and he wanted to get even with Apollo. He thought of an effective means of dividing Camp Half-Blood. It won't be e-mails, not cellphones either.
You don't want to mess around with this Triumvirate. During Roman times, a triumvirate would refer to a political alliance among powerful Roman figures. The First Triumvirate was composed of Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus. It was a peaceful alliance, but this wasn't the case with Caesar Augustus, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. They were the Second Triumvirate, and those who were familiar with the Bard's plays would know the outcome. No surviving records could suggest if another alliance was formed, but Riordan might have his own sources. Nero, whom Tacitus described as compulsive and corrupt, might have his own triumvirate. And it wasn't hard to imagine their delusions. (There have been many Biblical tales that would warn followers about pride.) What if they have devotees all this time?
The gods are proud of their famous children. As Apollo would put it, the gods may be neglectful parents. But they would beam with pride whenever their children would show their best qualities. Think of Archimedes. Try to know more of George Washington. Take a look at Blackbeard.
If you read enough, then look for a copy of "The Hidden Oracle".
