REVIEW: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

I have quite the obsession with literally anything and everything that Rick Riordan has written and likely will ever write in his lifetime. Greek mythology is pretty cool, but then he just amps it up to a new ridiculous never-before-seen level! When I heard he was writing a book in which APOLLO was the main character, I pretty much keeled over right then... and bought it as soon as it was released. 
If you haven't read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series or the Heroes of Olympus series, then I have two things to say to you: 1) Stop this silliness and READ THEM ALREADY, and 2) You cannot read this book without reading those unless you want to be spoiled for so so many things. Spoilers are sad. Just read the books. Please, thank you, and good day to you.

The Short Story:

If there has ever been a book/series for which ADVENTURE is the perfect descriptor, this would be it. The Hidden Oracle is a non-stop adventure with twists and turns that you almost definitely cannot see coming, fantastic friendships, and the most arrogantly lovable narrator you'll ever read. I think. I loved the plot and the character development and pretty much everything was perfect. I cannot handle my love for this book. 

The Long Story:

This book is about Apollo, who was one of my favorite characters in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. He is obnoxious, troublesome, clever, and has just gotten himself straight-up booted from Olympus for... something that he can't remember. One alleyway garbage fight later, he finds himself with a new "acquaintance" and a lot of things to figure out (like why he isn't the most beautiful being in the general vicinity anymore). Apollo has no clue how to live in this world as an ex-god-who-is-now-human person, so he turns the only place he can imagine might help him: Camp Half-Blood! YAY! Or not yay. Because things are going wrong and it seems like he might be the only one able to fix these broken things that all might have to do with the thing he can't remember that made Zeus kick him down to Earth and... yeah. It's complicated. And amazing.
I cannot declare my love for Apollo accurately with words. I love his obnoxious self and everything he says just cracks me up and golly gee he is irritating in the best way. But he has this hidden depth that you would never have guessed existed, but being inside his head gives you such a twist on his personality. His growth and change is wonderful to see, even though he retains some of his truly pompous opinions. 
If you read the PJO or HOO series and were intrigued by Apollo, I think you will REALLY enjoy this series. Like really a lot very much. 

5/5 stars.

Happy reading!