This is Rick Riordan doing what he does best: making mythology irresistible to middle schoolers. The Trials of Apollo is his most emotionally mature series, with Apollo's journey from narcissistic god to humble hero providing genuine character development alongside the monster-slaying and prophecy-fulfilling.
The series wraps up the entire Percy Jackson chronicle, so longtime fans get closure while new readers get a standalone adventure. The mythology education is real—kids will genuinely learn about Greek and Roman stories, gods, and heroes without realizing they're being taught. Riordan's inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters (Apollo is canonically bisexual) is handled matter-of-factly, which is exactly how it should be.
The later books get heavier with character deaths and sacrifice, so this isn't quite as light as the original Percy Jackson series. But for kids ready for slightly more emotional depth, this hits the sweet spot between entertainment and substance. The 4.8 Amazon rating and passionate fanbase speak for themselves—this is quality middle-grade adventure that adults can enjoy too.






