The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze
A fallen god and a conflicted heir race against the heat to sever an emperor's grip on the modern world.
The Burning Maze is the third book in The Trials of Apollo. Apollo, as the mortal Lester Papadopoulos, journeys through the Labyrinth with Meg McCaffrey and the satyr Grover Underwood to find the third emperor of Triumvirate Holdings and to rescue the Oracle of Erythraea, the Sibyl Herophile.
Quick Facts
- Protagonist
- Apollo (as Lester Papadopoulos)
- Key ally
- Meg McCaffrey
Lore & Background
The third emperor turns out to be Caligula, who is using the sorceress Medea and the still-burning body of the Titan Helios in a bid to become the new sun god; Helios's flames have been engulfing the southern lands. Meg's former home, Aeithales, lies in Palm Springs, California.
Reader's Guide
Fleeing attacks by Strix, the trio reach Aeithales, where Mellie, the wife of Gleeson Hedge, sends Apollo and Grover to an army surplus store, only for them to face Naevius Sutorius Macro. Apollo and Meg then pick up Piper McLean and Jason Grace and sneak onto Caligula's ship to steal his shoes, which the Dark Prophecy names as a priority. Captured by Caligula's Pandai servants, they escape with the help of a young Pandai, Crest, but Jason holds off Caligula and is killed by his spear. Apollo, Meg and Grover enter the Labyrinth, find the burning body of Helios, reach Herophile and receive another prophecy. With the help of the Meliai they kill Medea and Incitatus, though Crest is killed too, and Jason's body is given to Apollo for burial at Camp Jupiter.
More in Prophecies & Quests
Elsewhere in Percy Jackson
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced