The Trials of Apollo
Banished from Olympus, the God of Music must survive as clumsy Lester Papadopoulos to reclaim his divinity.
"The Trials of Apollo" is a five-book saga that traces the humiliating descent of Greek god Apollo. Stripped of divinity by Zeus as punishment for hubris, the once-proud deity crash-lands on Earth as Lester Papadopoulos—a mortal teenager with acne, allergies, and no healing hands. To reclaim his throne, he must assemble an unlikely crew of demigods and navigate a modern world that has forgotten him, completing four impossible quests to restore the Oracles before they vanish forever.
- Protagonist
- Apollo (as Lester Papadopoulos)
- Antagonists
- Nero, Gaea's children, The Triumvirate Holdings
- Setting
- Modern-day United States and Camp Jupiter
- Publication Era
- 2016-2019
- Preceding Series
- The Heroes of Olympus
- Succeeding Series
- The Chalice of the Gods
Lore & Background
This series dissects divinity through the lens of vulnerability. Apollo traverses modern America not as a savior, but as a student, fighting to restore four Oracles corrupted by Gaia's lingering remnants and the corporate machinations of Triumvirate Holdings. He grapples with the sting of injury, the warmth of friendship, and the terrifying fragility of life. His journey challenges the very definition of godhood in an era where humanity has outgrown its need for myth.
In Their Own Story
The sun beat down on the pavement, but Lester felt only cold sweat. No golden light, no healing warmth—just the stinging bite of a papercut and the crushing weight of being ordinary. He adjusted his glasses, watching a group of demigods sprint past with swords drawn. 'I used to drive that chariot,' he muttered to himself, tripping over his own shoelace. 'Now I can't even walk straight without face-planting.' A shadow fell over him as a monster roared, and for the first time in millennia, Apollo felt true fear. He wasn't the god of the sun anymore; he was just Lester, and survival would have to be enough.
Reader's Guide
The saga ignites when Apollo falls from Olympus at Camp Half-Blood, landing alongside Meg McCaffrey. Tasked by Zeus to revive four Oracles destroyed or corrupted by Gaia's followers and the Triumvirate Holdings, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey. He must contend with tyrannical forces like Emperor Nero, who wields power over Camp Jupiter and ancient Roman magic, while navigating cryptic prophecies from the Oracle of Delphi.
As the quest expands across New York to California, Apollo faces threats ranging from mythological monsters to modern corporate armies. The stakes rise from personal survival to preventing a second Titanomachy. Key allies like Will Solace and Nico di Angelo join the fray, guiding him through cryptic visions. The climax unfolds in Los Angeles, where Apollo infiltrates the Triumvirate's stronghold. Through sacrifice and hard-won humility, he restores the Oracles and regains his divinity, forever changed by the memory of being Lester.
Did You Know?
- The protagonist is named Lester Papadopoulos in his mortal form to hide his identity while on Earth.
- Meg McCaffrey is a daughter of Demeter who was raised by the villainous Emperor Nero.
- Will Solace, previously seen as a minor character, takes on a major leadership role as a healer and son of Apollo.
- The series features a return to Camp Jupiter, expanding the lore of Roman demigods introduced in The Heroes of Olympus.