The Hidden Oracle is first in Riordan’s The Trials of Apollo series. The once great god of healing, prophecy, and music has been condemned to live among the mortals on earth- as one of them. It’s not the first time either, but this may just be the worst! He’s stuck in the form of an acne riddled teenager named Lester, and he’s been stripped of every ounce of his godly power. Apollo has to serve the first demigod to claim his services, which turns out to be a seemingly feral one named Meg. 

Meg’s first task is to get her safe to Camp Half-blood. This leads him to Percy for help since Apollo isn’t certain he’d be able to find the camp being mortal as he is. A battle with plague spirits at an orchard bordering the camp boundaries separates Meg and Apollo from Percy, and gives the pair a clue to Meg’s godly parent when she summons a peach karpoi. The usually dangerous plant spirits are often temperamental and happy to attack all Invaders to their territory. Peaches, though, is clearly there for Meg. With his help, Apollo and Meg make it to the camp. There, Apollo learns that several Oracles are defunct. Not only that, but the forest around the camp is luring students in, not to be seen again. Can Apollo, and those willing to help him, solve the mystery before it’s too late?

I’m gonna admit, it took a bit for Apollo to grow on me. He’s arrogant to a fault, and refuses at first to consider his own role in being stripped of his powers and the problem as a whole. He does start to change, over the course of the story, which is good, since he has a quest and needs help. I did love that he prefaces each chapter with a funny haiku! God of poetry, indeed! 

I enjoyed seeing Percy again, and others from Half-Blood. A little later, we get to see some of Jupiter’s students, too. Leo and Festus were my faves from those earlier books and I’m not disappointed here 🙂 It was odd, though, who the initial villain of this book (and likely the series) was. It’s a historical person I have an affinity for, and a more positive outlook now thanks to a duology about them I read recently. That ruffled my feathers at first, to be sure. Oh well, it’s an alternate earth anyway!

In the end, Apollo, won me over. And the story in general is typical of Riordan’s humourous take on myth and legend. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

****This book was purchased and read for my own enjoyment.