The Burning Maze

The Trials of Apollo

Content Ratings

Mild Romance

Piper and Jason's relationship is referenced; Caligula's historical hedonism is noted in historical context but not depicted explicitly; romantic content is minimal.

Moderate Themes

The death of a major series character confronts readers with genuine grief; Caligula's historical cruelty is referenced as a character's defining evil; the novel does not soften the emotional cost of heroism.

Moderate Violence

The death of a major beloved character from previous books is depicted with full emotional force; combat with Caligula's forces is intense; the tone is darker than previous entries.

Synopsis

Apollo and Meg travel to Southern California to confront the emperor Caligula and free the third Oracle, with help from Piper and Jason, in the Trials of Apollo's darkest entry—one that carries a significant and emotionally devastating loss of a major series character. Riordan makes it clear that the series is willing to pay real costs.