Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Worthy addition to the mythological world of Percy Jackson.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 59 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a fantastic addition to the series, filled with humor, action, and depth, particularly highlighting the character development of Apollo from a self-centered god to a more caring individual. Readers appreciate the representation of LGBTQ+ characters and themes, although some express concern over the inclusion of darker humor and a few violent scenes; overall, it remains highly recommended for fans of mythology and those familiar with previous series.
- character development
- humor and action
- LGBTQ+ representation
- educational value
- recommended for fans
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
You know Zeus is extra mad at Apollo. Not only does he punish him with a mortal life, he also lets him fall to earth into a pile of New York City garbage and watches as he's beat up by a bunch of thugs and saved by an impetuous tween demigod girl named Meg who eagerly accepts his servitude as payment. At least Apollo knows where to go in New York for help: Percy Jackson's place. After some fresh clothes and mortal food, Percy offers to drive Apollo and Meg to Camp Half-Blood on Long Island. Apollo is sure Chiron will know what to do. But Chiron has his own problems: Campers are going missing, and the Oracle has gone silent. Demigods can't undertake a quest to find the campers until they get a prophesy—from the silent Oracle. Apollo knows that back in his godly days, he was the one to blame—he didn't defeat the monster Python at the Oracle of Delphi when he had the chance. Now in his mortal form, he has no chance at all against the monster—or a purple-suited man ominously named the Beast who seems to control Python. The Beast has connections to his new demigod friend, Meg, and an evil corporation that's out to destroy the demigods and eventually the world.
Is It Any Good?
Striking his usual stellar balance between mythological monster battles and character growth, humor, and pathos, this start to a spin-off of a spin-off series doesn't disappoint longtime Riordan fans. And you need to be a longtime fan to follow along. The storyline picks up where Heroes of Olympus leaves off and references the other books and their main characters often.
THE HIDDEN ORACLE treats us to Riordan's familiar formula but a very different kind of narrator. Apollo sure is a self-obsessed annoyance to start, not at all like instantly relatable and funny Percy Jackson. He comes around quickly enough for the reader to root for him, but only after a few trials suck the wind out of his sails. (It also helps that Zeus sticks Apollo with the mortal name Lester Papadopoulis and a face full of teen acne.) Lester/Apollo also sports some special talents that, even watered down in mortal form, make for some truly curious combat options. The power of a Neil Diamond song has never been wielded so successfully before, and—finally—being the god of plagues is good for something.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what near absolute power did to Apollo's conscience over the centuries. What's he like at the beginning of the book? How is he after a taste of life as a mortal?
The geyser spirit Apollo meets is pretty funny and pretty annoying at the same time. How does that character demonstrate the pervasive power of marketing messages?
What did you learn about history and mythology so far in this series? Does it make you want to know more?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Bugs ) , Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : May 3, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate