"I often speak without the benefit of forethought. Usually it works out. Sometimes it leads to improvisational masterpieces, like the Renaissance or the Beat movement. I had to hope this would be one of those times." 
 The Dark Prophecy is a strong sequel to The Hidden Oracle. However, I'm pretty biased when it comes to the Percy Jackson universe since this is the 12th book in the universe and I still want to keep on reading them. If I look at this objectively though, it wasn't quite as funny and the plot wasn't quite as exciting as previous installments. However, that's not to say that this wasn't funny or exciting at all because it totally was both of those things. All I'm saying is that I've just seen it done better before. 
 I think the biggest selling point in this series is Apollo. (Obviously! The series is called The Trials of Apollo!) Apollo has a lot to learn about being a better god and perhaps, most importantly, a good person. He's got a lot to make up for and he's only just starting to realize it now considering everyone he meets seems to have beef with him. 
 "(view spoiler)[Commodus (hide spoiler)] blames me for his death," I said. 
 "Why?" Meg asked. 
 "Probably because I killed him." 
 "Ah." Leo nodded sagely. "That would do it." 
 Apollo's a much different narrator than Percy and I wasn't sure if I was going to love him as much as I LOVED Percy and his kind nature. Apollo is certainly rough around the edges and at times he's pretty obtuse and self-absorbed. He's basically a middle grade version of an anti-hero. However, if you can look past all the blatant narcissism, Apollo is strangely endearing. He's definitely on a path to a great epiphany about his true nature and when he gets there I think he will like the person/god he's become. The main thing that makes me root for him is that when everything is down to the wire, Apollo is intensely loyal. He won't abandon a friend even if he makes multiple comments about wanting to use someone else as a metaphorical (and sometimes literal) human shield. He has a heart deep down inside all that bravado and I really like him when I get to see his more vulnerable side. 
 All in all, The Dark Prophecy has a lot of things working for it. It's hilarious, heartfelt, adventurous, magical, and simply FUN. There's also great LGBTQ+ representation with Apollo himself being wildly and gloriously bisexual and there is an F/F parented family in the mix as well. Yes, I've read better installments in the many other Percy Jackson universe but it doesn't negate that this one still had something to offer all its own. In the end, the story is charming and I'm so excited to continue on with Apollo's adventures while at the same time being in the throes of uncontrollable nerd rage that I have to wait an entire year to get my hands on the next book! I'll leave this review with one more quote from Apollo which I'm sure he would consider a wicked burn on Athena... 
 "I couldn't help smirking at my own ingenuity. I hoped Athena was watching, because WISDOM, BABY! And I did it with so much more style than Old Gray Eyes."