#reading the burning maze

[citrusreadstoa]

Reading The Burning Maze: Chapter 1 (SPOILERS)

"To Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy / I hope you're pleased with yourself" Melpomene is laughing in the distance. She's very pleased.

"NO. I refuse to share this part of my story." Oki doki. *closes book* We're done for the day. Jkjkjk he's just embarassed.

"In these pages, only suffering awaits." I love suffering! Gimme more!

"across pits of darkness and around lakes of poison" We were lied to. The Labyrinth is not any less malicious than before. Does this sound like a tamer Labyrinth to you?

"Except that our cloven guide, the satyr Grover Underwood, did not seem to know the way." You think the satyr that is terrified of the underground knows his way around the underground? Y'all delusional. You want a Labyrinth guide, get Rachel. I'm assuming Grover will be of more help later on if and when they go into the Labyrinth again.

"The bumps of his horns were clearly visible beneath the hat." What happened to the rasta cap? I guess everyone needs a change of pace now and then.

"Like... cacti." Like saguaro cacti?! Like the cacti the Erymanthian Boar ate when it dropped the questing party off at the junkyard of the gods?! The lands of scorching death line is killing me, man.

"I just didn't think we'd be wandering around down here for two days." How can you be sure it's been two days? Percabeth got stuck in the Labyrinth for a couple minutes and a full hour passed outside. Please tell me you've been keeping track whenever you poke out into the regular world.

"Perhaps I was too brusque," BRUSQUE (adj.): abrupt or offhand in speech or manner

"And plenty of our own fires." . . . "Best not to talk about it... here." Grover! If we're all gonna die, we need to know so we can make the best of our last days on this Earth! Are the walls listening or something? Don't you dare tell me yet another shoulda-been-dead person is controlling this damn maze again.

"His expression turned wistful," Idk about you, but I would not be wistful about almost dying in a living maze where no one but the walls will hear me scream.

"perhaps coffee and lemon-maple cronuts" CRONUT (n.): (paraphrasing Wikipedia) Invented and trademarked in 2013 by French pastry chef Dominique Ansel, the Cronut is a doughnut-like pastry made from croissant-like dough, filled with flavored cream, and fried in grapeseed oil.

"I wanted to believe my powers were simply recharging." Storybook characters never catch the cold. Fantasy characters' powers are never "just recharging."

"I couldn't even remember the taste of ambrosia, or the names of my sun-chariot horses, or the face of my twin sister, Artemis." That is incredibly concerning. We're talking about something he ate every day, horses he saw and drove every day, and his twin sister with whom he grew up and spent time with -- all three of these every day for thousands of years. His memory deteriorates along with his powers? It's this bad?!

"across the corridor in front of us roared a sheet of yellow fire," Eyyy, cover art!

"But we've wandered into his part of the maze." The Triumvirate's part. The part that belongs to the third emperor. "SCREEE!" The cry of a giant fire-breathing basilisk, I bet. Or a giant fire-breathing cockroach. Serpents and roaches?

"Some sort of avian creature." Giant flying fire-breathing basilisks! Oh wait, the owls. Right. Owls on the cover.

"Grover whipped out his panpipe . . . Meg knelt before the seeds" Super Gardening Bros! Wahoo!

"using its thick black tongue" Do owls have tongues that long? "My sight grew fuzzy. My knees turned to rubber." Does it sap his energy by drinking his blood?

"Strix" That word means nothing to me. I know jack diddly squat about strixes. "Well, killing it could be a problem." Can never kill monsters these day. All endangered species this and invulnerable hide that. Back in my day, you just sliced its head off and that was that.

"giggle nectar" I'm sorry? You tellin' me that the divine equivalent of anesthesia is officially, professionally, and canonically called giggle nectar?

"K-killing the bird will curse you" So it's an arai-lite.

[somewhereincairparavel]

JASON GRACE PLAYS LACROSSE AND TENNIS. I CAN'T AND WON'T BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS-

[gaygirldoodles]

No matter what you do, don't think about Leo Valdez

Don't think about the trauma of having his mother die like that at such a young age

Don't think about how his Tia Rosa treated him horribly despite how he was just a kid

Don't think about the amount of abuse he faced in all of those foster homes he was sent to

Don't think about how he had to run away from them, fending for himself on the streets over and over again

Don't think about him being sent to wilderness school, a thing notorious for being horrible towards the kids and downright traumatizing

Don't think about the people he knew even a little who were harmed by that system or even killed

Don't think about how the history of a friendship he held so dearly turned out to be fabricated by Juno. That it was all a lie

Don't think about him still being best friend with Jason - the real Jason - only for their to be a prophecy that one of them must die

Don't think about how he decided that it must be him

He couldn't let Jason die

Don't think about how he tells Hazel and Frank about his plan because Romans understant self-sacrifice, but Jason wouldn't. Jason, who's done nothing but sacrifice things for the people he cares about.

Don't think about how Leo and Jason never reunited after that.

Don't think about him finding out that his best friend, and someone he maybe even liked more than that, died.

"Where's Jason?"

But we all know that he knew

And he still asked

Don't think about how he would blame himself for that.

You can't avoid prophecies after all

They always have to be fulfilled somehow

Don't think about his mother, Esperanza

Don't think about how he spent weeks months in Bunker 9 building the Argo II barely interacting with anybody

Don't think about how he barely even celebrated Christmas if at all because the whole world depended on hin building this huge warship

Don't think about Leo using humor to hide how bad he truly feels just so that Gaea wouldn't win

He could not let her destroy him

Because as long as he didn't lose that part of himself, he was still winning, even if what she had done had left him broken

But you do want to think about how he was finally able to find a home.

A place that would accept him how he was

A place that would be safe for him

A place where he wouldn't have to run from abusive family members and fosters homes anymore

He once again had a family that loved him.

[the-eclipse-is-in-me]

Finished TSATS, now crying 😪😭😭😭

You guys, I don't want to read Chalice of the Gods, but I also want to know how the story starts so I understand Wrath of the Triple Goddess, I just miss TOA, and TSATS was amazing. it just feels like I'm back at square one, but this time, less relatable cause he's a senior and I'm not even a freshman yet, so ya, I still feel like I'm stuck in the other books, like something is missing from those stories and I can't continue until I finish it, but I read ALL 16 of the pjo-verse books before this, what should I do? :(

[moss-the-irishman]

I saw a post I can’t find anymore a while ago by @thebigqueer where she said that she thought Piper had real feelings for Jason, and not Compulsory Heterosexuality/ mind manipulation by Hera, and to be deathly honest, I agree.

[hitorimaron]

Inspired by In Search of a Hollow Tree by Dreamitbeit

Summary:

“Cd’s ood?” Thomas sounds out, frowning and bright with interest and asking questions as always.

Minho follows his line of sight up to the top of the building. “W.C.K.D is good.” When Thomas turns to frown at him, puzzled, Minho nods up at the lettering. “They were some crazy last ditch attempt from the governments to restore order. Had some big plan to find a cure for the Flare or whatever.”

Thomas lets out a disbelieving laugh. “A cure? To the Flare? What, were they crazy?”

Newt snorts and continues to dig through the small pile of debris with the practice of a scavenger, looking for anything they could use or barter or trade. “That’s the most likely scenario.”

(Or; Thomas is looking for his family. Two mysterious boys named Minho and Newt find him instead.)

[ender-princee]

I'm thinking about the lost hero trio and how it seems a lot of og fans don't like most of them (except Leo, which is a whole other story to talk about) and I actually have been thinking about them a lot. Like, they either all get mischaracterized or they have the integral parts of their characters looked over.

Like, Jason is like that because he's been at that camp since he was 2. This is all he's ever known. He will never replace Percy because they are nothing alike except in the fact that they are leaders and they're both good at it just in different aspects. That's allowed. A major difference between Percy and Jason is that Percy was allowed a mother that loved him and Jason had his cohort who he saw as family as well because once again he was at camp Jupiter for his entire life. This sense of order and justice is what he's been taught for so long, it would make sense that he might find some peace at camp halfblood because he's never experienced something so relaxing as that, and he doesn't even know what it's like to be human. Most other demigods got that experience before it was revealed to them that they were one. He's always been this.

And piper, I don't know if this still happens because I wasn't on the interest for the golden age of hoo and pjo discourse, but if you look at her past you can see a direct line as to why she ends up rejecting her feminity in those first few books and why she's learning how to be herself. I feel like a lot of people forget that she's a 16 year old girl. Like, she doesn't have her life figured out and with demigod standards, she's probably going through her midlife crisis. She's still understanding who she is as a person and what she wants out of life which at the time was attention from her father and to ignore the absence of her mother.

Then Leo, everyone loves Leo I think, and yet a lot of people reduce him down to ooo funny guy!! That boy is depressed. And he has been for a long time. He's seeing everyone around him succeed while he's very utterly alone and trying his best to figure out where he fits in this weird machine and then his best friend fucking dies after he finally thought he was going to see him again. Yes, Leo is funny, but reducing him down to funny mechanic who flirts with girls takes away an integral part of his character which is his crippling self worth (which they all have) and how it stems from his childhood trauma.

Honestly, I could continue with so much. I have so many thoughts about PJO and HOO but for the sake of not pissing people off, I'm stopping here. (Also, people forget about the fact that Percy is also a deeply traumatized kid)

[autumn0689]

Im casually re-listening to the TOA audiobooks, and istg it is SO GOOD!!!

The humor is absolutely funny and the theme is more mature, especially with a character like Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos, who is a complex character who has done horrible stuff and good stuff and is learning to embrace his humanity.

His relationship with Meg is honestly so sweet, and the way that they grow to care for each other, and I love how they address Meg’s trauma with growing up with an abusive parent (well, ‘step father’ but Nero ABSOLUTELY doesn’t deserve that title) and how she grows as a person to the point of being able to confront him and telling him off.

I also love how it also deals with Apollo’s not so good actions, especially in the Tyrants Tomb. The antagonists are also amazing, with Nero’s ruthless nature, manipulating children for his own goal and being willing to BURN CHILDREN!! to Commodus’s over the top style that also has a cruel side to it as he is willing to slice through as many animals as he needs to and is willing to kill his subordinates on a whim to Caligula’s extremely paranoid nature, causing him to change guards so often in fear of being betrayed, while also being incredibly selfish and power hungry, willing to do whatever it takes to become the Sun God.

The story is about dealing with abusive relationships while also dealing with the trauma those relationships leave you. It also deals with learning to be a better person, and that you have the ability to change. It also deals with platonic relationships, and how meeting a person can change your life for the better.

This story made me laugh, made me ache in sadness, and made me fall in love with the characters.

Trials of Apollo is such a great series.

[churrorat-art]

Meg and Apollo from trials of apollo the Burning Maze

[citrusreadstoa]

Reading The Burning Maze: Chapter 2 (SPOILERS)

"What do you mean 'you need to kill us'?" Grover can talk to them? And does that mean the strixes need to kill the questing party or the questing party needs to kill the strixes? "Because it was just yelling scree!" LMAO it was just screeching for the sake of screeching

"it's a direct command from the emperor." Why do I feel like the strixes would have done exactly the same had they not been commanded to do this? "The strix just calls him Scree." Omg I want to pet it.

"I didn't kill it. It committed suicide against that wall." Meg! I'm- I'm pretty sure you killed it. "I don't think the Fates will see it that way." LMAO "Then let's not tell them." Meg, you sweetheart.

"STRIXES ART DANGEROUS." FREAKING FANTASTIC INFORMATION "CURSES THE SLAYER AND CAUSETH MORE STRIXES TO APPEARETH." Is that the worst the curse gets? 'Cause it just sounds like a hydra bird. Thought the curses would be worse.

"THE BIRDS MAY BE REPELLED WITH PIG ENTRAILS." I think most anything would be repelled with pig entrails. I certainly would be repelled with pig entrails.

"Peaches didn't do well underground." Smart little peach. Don't get involved in the Labyrinth.

[somewhereincairparavel]

“Are you ready?” He glanced at the photo of his sister Thalia, then at the model of Temple Hill. “If anything happens to me—” “Stop.” “If it does, if I can’t keep my promise to Kymopoleia, would you take my mock-up design to Camp Jupiter? The sketchbooks for new temples at both camps—they’re right there on the shelf.” “You’ll take them yourself,” I insisted. “Your new shrines will honor the gods. It's too worthy a project not to succeed”

guys I'm not okay. someone give me a hug pls

[squiggle3worm]

Something that bothers me about The Burning Maze is the first page. It's never really mentioned outside of tbm that Zeus forced Apollo to write toa as punishment but it kinda takes away some of Apollo's character development. I understand that Rick wrote it to prepare us for Jason's death later in the book but it diminishes how important his death is to Apollo.

Rick should've left Zeus' wishes out of it if he wanted to preface the book with why Apollo was writing the series. Apollo being forced to write toa makes it feel disingenuous like he didn't want to remember what it was like to be Lester and the sacrifices that Jason, Money Maker, Crest, and everyone else who died made.

One of the lines is, "... Zeus wants me to record my shame for prosperity." This makes it seem like Apollo didn't learn anything because he doesn't want to feel the shame he got when he was Lester. The shame, guilt, and sadness he feels for losing so many people is part of what it is to be human. He learns that there is value to life even if it isn't immortal life but including that line makes it feel like he doesn't want to remember that. He should want to write it on his own volition not because Zeus told him to.

If the first page didn't exist, I would've thought Apollo was writing toa to follow Jason's final request of remembering what it was like to be human. I would've thought that the books were Apollo reflecting on his time as Lester and his time pre toa.

I like to think that Apollo goes back to read toa after he questions a decision he made or when he's trying to remember all the demigods, nature spirits, and monsters that he encountered as Lester. I imagine Apollo rereading the books centuries after to remember what it was like to be human.

[the-eclipse-is-in-me]

Justice to Percy Jackson in COTG

Hi peeps, I'm already way past this chapter but I need to ask a very inportant question, what would have happened to Jason Grace.

If Jason had survived long enough to go to college, what would he have had to do to get in, cause Percy almost had to get 25 recommendation letters, and I'm qouting here, so let me know what you guys think, cause this has been rotting my concience all day and now it can rot yours

[amanita-muscaria-lover]

Libby Reads Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze:

~spoilers below the cut~

The book is dedicated to the muse of tragedy??

GROVERRRRR

COACH HEDGE?!

Oooh Emperor #3 is about to be named?

Meg's lil crush on Joshua Tree is incredible

Caligula namedrop 😬

I am loving the Meg lore drops

I want need this book to stop mentioning Jason

PIPERRRR

Um the love Piper has for Leo makes me want to sob

Lowkey love the mover sitting on the chair (aka not doing his job)

WAIT so Piper and Jason broke up??

"We'd be together forever like Percy and Annabeth?" DAMNNN

Piper's dad owned three houses? Fuck

Apollo/Lester calling military intelligence an oxymoron really is something

"Recycling is good karma." hell yeah babe

Medea vs Piper Round 2

STOP TALKING ABOUT JASON

The way Robbie Daymond voices Caligula is so unnerving but it's oddly perfect ??

Lowkey fuck Demeter

"He'll be happy to see us then." MEG MCCAFFREY YOU SARCASTIC ASSHOLE ILYSM

RIP Shakespeare you would've hated students studying your works

Jason baby just go back to class

Mr. Rogers lore drop ???

SO HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO DIE?! RICK!!

"Anger is good. It means you're making progress. But be aware that you might be angry right now at the wrong person."

Party splits are a bad idea. So what does the party do??

Not Rick writing the word 'masseuses' instead of 'massage therapists' As a massage therapist I'm disappointed

Aphrodite is canonically jealous of Scarlett Joahannson I love it

Incitatus can talk? I'm as shocked as Piper

Medea vs Piper Round 3

TEMPEST AYOOOOO

Jason and Tempest taking on Caligula and Incitatus? Iconic as fuck

Jason's last words were an order to Tempest to get Piper and Lester to safety

"The people who deserve to die took forever to do so, those who deserve to live always went too soon."

Ahh now I understand why the next book is The Tyrant's Tomb

CREST NO

Medea vs Piper Round 4 *ding ding*

Yo the Meliae showed up quick

The Meg 🫡❤️❤️

Leo! Oh... oh god no baby boy

"WHERE'S JASON?" SORRY???

Percy doesn't know. Frank doesn't know. THALIA DOESN'T KNOW.

So my final thoughts are screw that 💔💔💔

[these-empty-stars]

why is Noah Kahan’s “Carlo’s Song” exactly how I imagine Leo was after Jason’s death

[gaycheeseandcrackers]

Jason Grace haters are not welcome here.

Jason Grace deserved better.

I am a Jason Grace defender until I die.