Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2016 Apollo has been cast out by Zeus, and he won’t be welcomed back until he undergoes some hardships and learns important lessons-but geez, that’s tough when you are stuck in the body of a mortal teen boy. Off he goes to Camp Half-Blood (Percy Jackson fans will be thrilled with the significant amount of character and setting overlap here) to enlist some help, losing little of his imperious tone or haughty observations about meat sacks (humans) and their weaknesses as he travels. There are some serious problems brewing involving Oracles, the Roman emperor Nero, and the likely ruination of the world, but it’s all told in such a snappy, quick-paced, snarky way that there’s never any doubt that Apollo and his allies will save the day, at least for this go round, as the book ends with Apollo still not forgiven and restored to his godly self. Riordan fans will find all of the key elements here: wisecracking narration, underdog kid turned hero (well, god turned underdog turned hero in this case), mythological core, and robust side characters who round out the field. This is familiar territory for Riordan, but the formula works so well, and Apollo is just so appealingly unpleasant, that there’s little to fault in this adventure. A hearty glossary offers context for locations, characters, and historical references used throughout the book. AS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 07/01/2016 Riordan thrilled readers with the tale of a boy who discovers he’s a demigod, and in this spin-off series starter, he turns the tables. Apollo has done something to anger his father, Zeus, and he’s been cursed to walk the earth as gawky, mortal 16-year-old Lester Papadopolous. If that weren’t bad enough, he’s required to obey the command of whichever demigod he encounters first, and in his case, that’s grouchy, volatile Meg, a 12-year-old with a powerful ability to wield garbage as a weapon. Together, the pair make their way to Camp Halfblood, only to discover that demigods are going missing, and it has something to do with whispering trees, the blocked Oracle of Delphi, and a dangerous new threat. Apollo’s first-person narrative, awkwardly juggling his godly egotism and teenage insecurity, is pure comedy, and Riordan’s careful interweaving of Greek myths throughout the story adds some emotional depth to his often vainglorious lead. Cinematic scene breaks and fast-paced action give this plenty of appeal, but it’s the familiar faces that will reel in Riordan’s fans. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.