Reviewed by S. Cox, August 2022
Continuing on from the previous book, Apollo (formerly the sun god, now the 16-year-old mortal Lester Papadopoulos) and his 12-year-old demigod master, Meg McCaffrey, are on a mission to stop the Roman emperors Commodus and Caligula from invading Camp Jupiter on Lester’s birthday, April 8th. Before the attack happens, though, Apollo must face the repercussions of his past mistakes, and learn what it means to be a true hero.
Did I like it? No. Did I love it? Yes, yes I did. Rick’s sense of humor never fails to send me into fits of crying laughter, unable to explain myself to my family, but trying all the same. Sometimes they didn’t understand what was so funny, but most of the time they did. Rick’s writing style is easy to follow, informal, and oftentimes quite random and Apollo-y - just the way I like it. Also, the highly descriptive haiku at the beginning of each chapter are quite funny.
“Hi, everybody,
Here’s a little tune I call
‘All the Ways I Suck’ ” - Chapter 5
“Glurg” - Apollo, page 307
The Tyrant’s Tomb is generally for anyone of middle or high school age. If you don’t like fight scenes, don’t read this. If you don’t enjoy people gradually turning into zombies, don’t read this. If you don’t like explosions of epic proportions, don’t read this. If you don’t like “Uncle” Rick, don’t read this.
If you liked The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan, or any other books in the Apollo Trials series, the Percy Jackson series, the Magnus Chase series, or the Kane Chronicles, then you’d like this. Also, if you like Greek/Roman mythology, and/or adventure, this book would be a good fit. I’m looking forward to getting the next and final book, The Tower of Nero. Happy reading!