The Trials of Apollo Book 3: The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

The Trials of Apollo Book 3

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. . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28006096-the-burning-maze

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Wow. Just wow. Not going to lie, this book had more surprises than I anticipated and not a lot of them were good. Riordan wasn't lying when he made his dedication page say, "To Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy I hope you are pleased with yourself." That was my first warning. The book as usual is great. Riordan is an incredible writer. But when you get attached to such amazing characters and something happens to them...yeah not so fun. No spoilers here! But prepare yourself for some pretty intense stuff!

Apollo and Meg are back and with the help of some familiar faces they are off to find another Oracle. They enter the Labyrinth with the help of our the wonderful satyr, Grover. And they have the figure out how to get through the Burning Maze to save the Oracle. A third emperor is revealed and he brings along a familiar villain. The riddles and puzzles get harder and there is even more to lose. 

A great story that will keep you on your toes. With more plot twists than I can count, but what else would i expect when we are in a maze of puzzles? Sad that instead of only waiting a year for the next one, it is a year and a half! SO mean after everything that goes down! Hoping for some good things in the next two books!