The Dark Prophecy

Recensione sul blog: http://thereadingpal.blogspot.it/2017/09/recensione-130-la-profezia-oscura.html

"Tutto ciò che è vivo merita di avere l'occasione di crescere."


Torniamo ad avventurarci con Apollo per riconquistare i vari Oracoli e sconfiggere il Triumvirato. Lester/Apollo, Calipso e Leo sono in viaggio per l'Indiana, dove troveranno un vecchio nemico di Apollo ad attenderli, e dove Apollo dovrà fare i conti con un passato che la sua mente mortale non ricorda.
Per quanto riguarda la storia, in questo libro facciamo un grosso passo avanti, non solo perché il viaggio continua, ma anche perché vediamo una crescita immensa nei personaggi e ci addentriamo dipiù nella mitologia relativa ad Apollo.
Lester sicuramente non è divertente show more quanto Percy, ma ci va vicino. Le sue battutacce (e gli haiku all'inizio di ogni capitolo) sono riusciti a smorzare molti punti piuttosto tristi, deprimenti, e che se fossero stati scritti in un libro per adulti sarebbero stati molto più terrificanti. Apollo è costretto anche a vedersela con la propria mortalità, e con quella dei suoi amici. Lo vediamo crescere, diventare più empatico e cercare di rimediare ad errori del passato; anche se a volte, in stile Lester-Apollo à la Riordan, continua ad essere egocentrico e totalmente fuori dal mondo!
Calipso e Leo fanno i conti con la loro nuova relazione, messa a dura prova dal viaggio. Leo... Io giuro che non so cosa pensare di lui. Fin da quando è comparso in Eroi dell'Olimpo, ho avuto una sorta di amore-odio con questo personaggio. Passa dall'essere simpatico ad essere estremamente pesante in due nanosecondi. Calipso, invece, ha un problema simile ad Apollo. Da Titana è passata ad essere mortale, a non riuscire più a controllare la sua magia, e a viaggiare per l'America per cercare di fermare un gruppo di ex imperatori romani che vogliono conquistare il mondo. Poveretta.
In questo secondo libro ritroviamo anche Meg: piccola rompiscatole, irriverente ed estremamente potente, la figlia di Demetra si ritroverà a fare i conti con il proprio passato, volente o nolente. Capisco la sua riluttanza a parlarne, il suo dolore e la sua paura, e spero che riesca ad aprirsi davvero e volutamente con Apollo, prima o poi. I due sembrano davvero essere amici e tengono l'uno all'altra: lo possiamo vedere in più di un'occasione.
Il grifone Eloisa rimarrà per sempre nel mio cuore, ma voglio parlarvi di altri personaggi importanti: Emmie e Jo, che si alleano con Apollo per sconfiggere il Nuovo Ercole. Entrambe le donne sono forti, sono guerriere. Jo ama il lavoro manuale, si sporca le mani, cerca di distrarsi in questo modo. Emmie, pur essendo una guerriera forte quanto Jo, mi è sembrata diversa. Le piace cucinare, è buona, gentile. In un certo senso, accogliente. Ma sono anche madri preoccupate, con una figlia impazzita e rapita. Mi è dispiaciuto molto per loro, si è percepita la loro rabbia, come anche la loro disperazione.
Il Nuovo Ercole, invece... Insomma, che devo dire? È pazzo. In epoca romana, alla morte ha subito la damnatio memoriae e il suo nome è stato cancellato da tutte le epigrafi. Ma non posso dirvi il suo nome, perché sarebbe uno spoiler enorme. Posso solo dire che è malviagio e pericoloso. E che non vi piacerà.
Ritroveremo anche quale personaggio della serie principale... Però, di nuovo, sarebbe un spoiler pazzesco. Ma come mi sono mancati! Mi è venuta voglia di rileggere tutta la serie e di ritrovarmi con il mio piccolo Percy dodicenne!
In generale, i libro si legge molto velocomente grazie allo stile semplice e divertente tipico di Riordan, e mi sono legata molto ad alcuni dei personaggi, quindi non posso fare altro che consigliarvelo! show less

LOOK, I'M EXCITED AND REALLY BAD AT PUTTING SPOILER TAGS WHEN I'M EXCITED, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

You know, it really amazes me how Rick Riordan can somehow keep his formula going while at the same time turning his own favourite topics around. Because Trials of Apollo is different in its quests than Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus, and it's really nice to see. I feel like it revolves around home and family more than others - all the characters we know and love are like, actually safe for once (unless they take a jaunt out to help Apollo). Apollo, meanwhile, seems to always be protecting demigod safe spaces - last time it was Camp Half-Blood, and this time, it's the Waystation. Next time: New Rome.

The Waystation is show more new, but it's a smaller, more domestic version of Camp Half-Blood, run by an elderly ex-Hunters couple, Josephine and Emmie. I really liked them, because they were so soft yet badass, and finally we have f/f in the Riordanverse and it's so ... peaceful? I just love the idea of this elderly couple taking care of half-bloods throughout the years and making the decision to grow old together. This decision comes up a few times, juxtaposed against Artemis's dislike of romance and Apollo's quick flirtations, and I think it's a really cool contrast - and Apollo learns his lesson in the end. While I am sort of sad this destroyed my headcanons, I appreciate Rick's decision to not allow romantic love of any kind in the Hunters, because I think otherwise it would come off as f/f romance being lesser than m/f romance. There's no loopholes; romance is romance and Artemis will not allow it. (Is she confirmed aroace now? Because if so, sweet.)

As the series goes on, Rick is using less well-known parts of Greek/Roman mythology and history, and it's really cool, because I looked up a bunch of stuff while reading this and I'm amazed at how huge mythology is. He keeps digging up more and more minor gods and monsters and they're just as threatening as the famous ones from Percy's time and it's really cool to see.

Of course, the emperor of the day: Commodus. We got so much backstory and it was cool how Apollo had a thing with Commodus, because it made a lot of the confrontations between them more powerful. And, you know, from a quick Google search, Commodus may have been bisexual, so it's rooted in history too, which is neat. Oh, and it said on Wikipedia Commodus got assassinated? In Riordanverse, APOLLO IS THE ONE WHO KILLED HIM. What a fucking plot twist. I was floored. I'm really excited for the third emperor: Caligula, please? Or Tiberius. I haven't brushed up on Roman emperors lately, but I feel like those are the most likely.

Also: Plague arrow. Holy shit. It's hilarious and I'm all for Riordan's talking weapons. Last book I was in tears at it, and this book: HITTEST ME WITH THY BEST SHOT. I fucking died. I'm typing this from the grave. Speaking of humour, Apollo's hilarious. He's still self-centered and narcissistic but it's endearing rather than annoying. The other characters contribute some of the trademark sarcasm, while Apollo failing at pretty much everything he does is some good slapstick humour. (Apollo as 16-year-old Lester, trying to flirt with a grad student, falling against the wall, and then realizing the grad student has a girlfriend and Apollo literally running away had me chuckling.)

The whole book is nice and silly and a ride but it has its dark moments too - it gets gory at times, with beheadings and stranglings and sand stained red with blood, but it's all masked by jokes and pop culture references from Apollo. I think the one big criticism I have is that Rick is starting to go a bit too overboard on them. Like, right now, we all remember the water bottle flipping thing and look back on it with a laugh, but in a few years no one's going to remember. Same with a lot of other references: Pokemon Go, for instance. There's also a lot of older ones that the kiddos probably wouldn't get.

I really liked all the side characters. Leo and Calypso weren't the perfect couple and I liked the conflict between them and how Calypso has gone from the girl who saved Percy to a fully realized character. I liked that she was conflicted about her time on Ogygia - that it was a home and a safe place but also a desolate prison for her, and how Leo's "rescue" was also taking her away from that stability she'd known for three millenia. Former immortals bickering was so good too and their dynamic was really funny. Leo is also ... significantly less annoying, I think partially because Rick finally acknowledged that Leo can be kind of insensitive and that it's caused problems with people. He's redeemed himself for me.

Other side characters, like Jamie, were really good. I liked how casually the existence of pantheons that even Apollo doesn't know about are discussed: that's a demigod from ... uh, the Yoruba pantheon? He does't know about it, but they exist, and it's accepted so easily. There are other gods that share duties and even the gods don't know about all the gods. The readers probably wouldn't have known about it as well, and I appreciate that Rick introduces a new and unknown pantheon briefly. It's getting kinda scary though. There are SO MANY now, and from what I can surmise it's basically: every pantheon exists.

And as for the ending? GROVER!!!! GROVER UNDERWOOD!!!! HE'S BACK!! Now I'm excited for the next one. My boy Grover is back. What a cliffhanger. Goddammit, Riordan. show less

Rick Riordan continues his track record with amazing representation with the second Trials of Apollo book. I enjoyed the first, but this one was what cemented my love for not only Apollo and Meg but all the other wonderful and rich secondary characters Riordan has created for his world. Characters exist of all different races, sexual orientations and even faiths in his world and it's not a big deal!! Which of course makes it a big deal to me as someone who is constantly searching for stories where nonwhite, nonstraight, etc people just exist without it defining everything about them. (Seriously when I finished this, I told all my coworkers that this was "the gayest book I'd read recently and NO SERIOUSLY THAT'S A GREAT THING LET ME show more EXPLAIN EVERYTHING") I like the Riordan doesn't shy away from topics that might be considered too "adult" for kids, but he also doesn't dumb anything down for them either. A and I can't wait for the next one! (Now on to the second Magnus Chase book...... ) show less

Riordan's second Trials of Apollo book, The Dark Prophecy, sparks the search for the next oracle, and a confrontation with another of the Triumvirate. Apollo, Meg, Leo and Calypso find themselves in Indianapolis looking for the Cave of Trophonius. Unfortunately for them, this is the seat of power for the emperor calling himself the New Hercules, and the city is filled with blemmyae- impeccably polite monsters whose faces are in their chests. It's going to take the help of some new friends to reach the oracle, and not everyone is going to survive.

I loved this continuation of the series! I tried guessing this emperor, but didn't get it before they announced it. Ironic since about a week before reading this I watched a movie featuring show more said emperor. Now I'm 99% sure I know who the last one is!

The story behind Trophonius being the oracle, and why he doesn't like Apollo, was so sad! I kinda don't blame him at all. Apollo is continuing to grow and evolve, against his wishes for sure. I can only imagine how hard things might be going forward. He's got a lot of poor godly choices to reckon with it seems.

****This book was purchased and read for my own enjoyment show less

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
Book #2: The Trials of Apollo Series
Source: Overdrive Audio/Public Library
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Lester/Apollo isn’t having the best of weeks! Ever since his father, Zeus took away his immortality, his life has been threatened at every turn, he’s had more than a few prophecies (oh, the irony!) to sort out, and one crazy quest to complete. Did I mention, at the end of that first quest came yet another tangled prophecy and quest? Yeah, Lester/Apollo isn’t having the best of weeks 😊

Lester/Apollo’s latest adventure finds he, Leo, and Calypso in the middle of Indianapolis trying to track down the next and darkest of the oracles! Walking into a trap doesn’t even begin to describe the situation, but show more as the kids have discovered, help often arrives in the nick of time and from the most surprising of sources. In this instance, Indianapolis happens to be home to a most wonderful refuge for the creatures, demigods, and deities of the world. Run and defended by two of Artemis’s former hunters, the station house is a unique, ever-changing site meant to provide shelter, healing, and, if needed, a home.

It takes just about a hot minute for things to really heat up in Indianapolis, for the second of the triumvirate to reveal himself, and for the kids to be knee-deep in sorting out one catastrophe after another. There’s a young girl who needs to be rescued and wiped of her madness, there’s Meg to find and do something with 😊, there’s the defeating of the second emperor, there’s the securing of the oracle, and there’s the ongoing defense of the refuge and its inhabitants. At every turn, there is true danger, life threatening events, the strangest of allies made, and the saddest of events unfolding. There is also Apollo’s wonderful sense of sarcasm, narcissism, humor, and reminiscing about the past.

As events unfold, Lester/Apollo is forced to face his past, his actions, the consequences of his actions/words, and his own current mortality. What he discovers is an ability to be truly saddened and shamed by some of his past exploits, a desire to right the wrongs of his past, and a sincere willingness (with some internal whining!) to make the present a far more acceptable place to be. Lester/Apollo digs deep to find what’s important to him and discovers he is interested in helping his friends/allies, old and new alike, finding creative if crazy solutions to problems, and helping those who are unable to help themselves. For a once-god only interested in his own happiness, glory, and benefit, this change of attitude is surprising to everyone, but especially Apollo.

The Bottom Line: Yet again, I was sucked into this saga and didn’t want to give up on the listening until the very end! For as much as I adore the act of physically reading a book, I think I have enjoyed this series more as an audio read. Once again, all the characters and their respective personalities simply shine through with the help of a wonderful narrator. In particular is Apollo’s voice; every bit of sarcasm, narcissism, and humor is amplified in the audio version of this book. As to the plot, everything deepened and became more complicated in this middle book of the trilogy and I enjoyed it all. Historically, the emperor in this book is one of my favorites because of his level of crazy, the big reveals and backstory are fantastic, the retrieval of Meg and Peaches is crazy awesome, and the scene in the cave of the oracle is as funny as it is sad. In all, I still wish I had read all the Percy Jackson books first (I’m working on it!) but am still able to follow along and thoroughly enjoy this trilogy. Book three is already on hold with library and I can’t wait to see or hear how this one ends! show less

3,5 ★
"I tried to think of a brilliant plan. Unfortunately, the only thing that came to mind was weeping in terror."
Not yet halfway through this 5-book series, I'm growing more and more certain that it would've been better as a trilogy. While the plot moved faster than the previous book, a good chunk of it is spent in characters we already met.
Sure it's cool to see how these beloved characters are doing. In fact, it's what makes the world feel so alive: it really seems like people are living their lives outside the main plot. But differently from The Hidden Oracle, where these characters appeared here and there to chime in, in The Dark Prophecy they take a protagonism that should have been the new cast's.
The best scenes in the book are show more the dynamics between Apollo (who's charisma rivals Percy's for my favoritism) and Meg or Emmie, and the ingenious decision to bring the villain as one of his former lovers. When the narrative actually focused on it's own set of characters I enjoyed it immensely. They are interesting and funny and I wanted to know more. I did not need to read about Calypso and Leo bickering for pages and pages when this story is not about them. Take them out and it doesn't change much.
This is clearly a direction the series unfortunately is taking and, because I really enjoy the actual story being told, I wish Rick Riordan trusted it to stand on it's on instead of relying on nostalgia, because it is strong enough to do it. show less

Riordan's become addictive, and not entirely in a good way. The original Percy Jackson stories were excellent, but now everything's become quite a bit stale. In all fairness, my favorite character has always been Clarisse LaRue (and if you've got a problem with that, loser, I'll be happy to rearrange your dental work for you) and I refuse to see the movie adaptations because of the mess they've made of Clarisse's character. I've obviously been less interested in the Percy-verse after The Sea of Monsters, once Clarisse became a cameo character, though Hazel Levesque did redeem the Roman series....

....which is why I've given The Dark Prophecy 3½*** despite its repetitive exhaustion of an originally interesting concept – because Meg show more McCaffrey is almost as interesting a character as Hazel. If it weren't for Meg, I'd have rated The Dark Prophecy quite a bit lower, because the Percy-verse has started to become as tedious as Hogwarts would become with too many sequels by J.K. show less