The Tyrant's Tomb

The Tyrant's Tomb is the fourth book in The Trials of Apollo series. It was released on September 24th, 2019.

Disney-Hyperion
In his penultimate adventure, a devastated but determined Apollo travels to Camp Jupiter, where he must learn what it is to be a hero, or die trying.

''It's not easy being Apollo, especially when you've been turned into a human and banished from Olympus. On his path to restoring five ancient oracles and reclaiming his godly powers, Apollo (aka Lester Papadopoulos) has faced both triumphs and tragedies. Now his journey takes him to Camp Jupiter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the Roman demigods are preparing for a desperate last stand against the evil Triumvirate of Roman emperors. Hazel, Reyna, Frank, Tyson, Ella, and many other old friends will need Apollo's aid to survive the onslaught. Unfortunately, the answer to their salvation lies in the forgotten tomb of a Roman ruler. . . someone even worse than the emperors Apollo has already faced.''

Penguin Books (UK)
''You will get to the Tiber alive. You will start to Jive.''

I am Apollo

I will remember

The former God Apollo, cast out by his father, Zeus, is having a pretty rough time of it.

''Well, for one thing, he's called Lester. But being an awkward mortal teenager is the least of his worries.''

Though he and his friends (some of them) have emerged from the Burning Maze, rescued the Oracle and lived to fight another day, they can't escape the tragedy that has befallen them, or the terrible trials still to face.

So, with heavy heart, Apollo (OK, Lester) and Meg have a triumvirate still to defeat, oracles to rescue, and prophecies to decipher, so that the world may be saved, and Lester may ascend into the heavens to become Apollo once again.

''But, right now, Caligula is sailing to San Francisco to deal with Camp Jupiter personally, and they have to get their first. Or risk its destruction. . .''

Development
In an interview, Rick Riordan stated that the book will have Camp Jupiter, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, and Reyna Ramírez-Arellano. Editor Stephanie Lurie has confirmed that the Arrow of Dodona will appear in the book. On March 7th, the cover and first two chapters of the book were released. On May 16th, Rick Riordan revealed that he finished writing the book on April 1st. However, due to the preparation, printing, promotion, and distribution of the book, it won't be released until September 24th.

The Barnes & Noble edition of the book was announced to contain exclusive content such as a full poster of one of the scenes in the book as well as diary entries by a female Camp Jupiter "probatio" who investigates an ancient Roman mystery. ReadRiordan released a video of Rick Riordan previewing the book. He revealed that Camp Jupiter was having a big "shake up" in the power structure.

Landing in San Francisco and Airborne Attacks
Hours after flying out of Santa Monica, Apollo and Meg McCaffrey arrive at the Oakland Airport near San Francisco, and watch as the coffin containing Jason Grace, who was killed by Caligula, is loaded into a hearse. Apollo is driving and Meg calls shotgun, the Bay Area brought back some good memories of the former god but it was also where Mount Othrys of the titans was once located. Meg liked this place, it was totally not like the Burning Maze, but despite its collapse the Julia Drusilla Yachts of the Triumvirate Holdings are currently sailing towards Camp Jupiter. The two were almost at the entrance near Caldecott Tunnel, when suddenly an ugly humanoid creature lands on the hearse and rips the roof off, Apollo swerves into a canyon.

Meg used her chlorokinesis to make them land safely and trap the monster in a eucalypti branch cage. Below were some picnickers, one with armor and another with goat legs. The ghoul breaks free, Apollo prepares to shoot an arrow but suddenly recognizes it. "Vulture Diaper" is a eurynomos, a corpse-eating creature that's supposed to be in the Underworld. However, it says that Hades gives him old dead, his master, who's not Caligula, gives him fresh dead. It says the "king's" army will rise again and the "food" will join them on the blood moon, Apollo remembers that a eurynomos can turn mortals into vrykolakas (zombies) or even worse, Skeleton Warriors. Apollo keeps shooting Celestial Bronze arrows at it, although they seem to hurt it none of the arrows kill it. Suddenly, a Roman girl with fauns and dryads arrive and she fires an Imperial Gold projectile out of a manubalista at the eurynomos killing it. She introduces herself as Lavinia and will take Apollo and Meg to Camp Jupiter. One faun named Don tried to leave like the other nature spirits but Lavinia prevented him. Meg briefly talked to Lavinia about a dryad named Poison Oak, Lavinia snuck out of patrol for the picnic.

The four carried Jason's coffin to a secret and closer entrance near Lake Temescal. But it's small, so Lavinia went on ahead, the men carried the coffin, and Meg stayed in the back with Jason's projects. When they stopped Lavinia revealed that centurion let her sneak away due to "turning a blind eye." Don smelled something funny coming, it was Hazel Levesque but also two more eurynomoi. It was hard to fight in close quarters, but Hazel says she fought them when Caligula attacked. Apollo tried to sing a song but got scratched in the belly. Hazel managed to kill one with her spatha, but the other told her that more will come soon, only to be skewered by quartz when he said they were stronger underground. When she got her sword back, she revealed that she had a dream of Jason's death and they carry him back to camp.

Arriving at Camp Jupiter and Ominous Dreams
Soon they all arrived at Camp Jupiter, it didn't look as bad as what Leo Valdez had said. Everyone watched as they carried the coffin to Via Praetoria, judging from the camp's sparseness and that some were in casts, the fallen god estimated that about half the legion was lost. They are greeted by Frank Zhang and Reyna Ramírez-Arellano. Upon seeing the daughter of Bellona, Apollo remembered a warning Venus gave him, telling him to stay away from someone named Reyna, he realized the two Reynas are the same person. When the praetors asked about the coffin, Apollo sang a song about his time as a mortal, their quest to secure the oracles, and Jason Grace's sacrifice. By the end of the song, the camp was in tears and Reyna and Frank announced a state funeral and that Jason's plans for Temple Hill will be completed by the weekend. They allowed Apollo and Meg to stay as guests, soon after Apollo passed out.

Apollo dreamed of the Julia Drusilla yachts sailing north with Caligula and Commodus talking on the head ship. They plan to reach Camp Jupiter by the blood moon and have a "plan b" if the assault fails. The scene shifted to a skeleton in an underground chamber that had the same eyes that the eurynomoi had. He then woke up in a room above Bombilo’s coffee shop and Meg informed him he was out for a day and a half. He saw that work has started on Temple Hill and that Jason’s funeral is that night. Frank flew into the window as a raven, he said that Meg told him about the prophecy from Herophile.

Apollo and Frank headed to New Rome while Meg helped Lavinia feed the unicorns. On the way, Frank explained the battle to the fallen god, he said that they were swarmed by hundreds of the undead, with several of their forces missing and fearing they will be used against them in death. Apparently, the fresh water of the Little Tiber was the only thing that stopped them and that things would have been worse if Leo had not arrived and gave them a twenty-four hours notice. They ran into Terminus who teased Apollo’s mortal form as payback for centuries of mocking the boundary god. After learning from the license Zeus gave him that his birthday is April eighth, he realized it's the date of the second wave of the attack. As they walk through the city, he saw that the residents on high alert after the attack. They reached a bookshop and are greeted by Tyson.

A New Prophecy, A Hero's Funeral, and A Suprise Visitor
As they enter they see a cat named Aristophanes, Tyson explained that the owner of the bookstore died in the attack. They entered the back room, which has been converted into a tattoo parlor and see Ella by a bed with hot needles, both of them recognize Apollo on sight. Upon seeing the superheated needle in the makeshift tattoo parlor, Apollo made sense of a line of the dark prophecy, "The words that memory wrought are set in fire." He asked Ella if she knew anything about an attack in the next four days, she mentioned a tomb and death. She elaborated by looking at the index on Tyson’s thigh and reciting a line of the books "A Wildcat near the spinning lights. The tomb of Tarquin with horses bright. To open the doors, two-fifty-four." But she did not elaborate on the topic and instead talked about Frank's Stick, prompting the son of Mars and Apollo to leave.

They reach evening muster and Jason’s funeral and, due to no augur or Pontifex Maximus being present, Apollo performed the funeral rites himself. The precision headed to the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, where a funeral pyre is set up. Along the way he realized a connection between Tarquin and the Sibylline Books Just as they give Jason his "last meal", Lupa and her wolves arrive requesting to speak with Apollo alone.

Inside the temple, she urges him to be strong for the sake of the legion. She also says that if he finds Tarquin’s tomb and defeats him, then he can call on divine help and start to regain his godhood. As Apollo is about to thank her she vanishes. He exits to tell Frank and Reyna the short version of the encounter and joins Meg for dinner. After the last of the embers in the funeral pyre dies out, they head back to camp. He tries to explain his plan to Meg, but she forbids him from saying anything.

Sibylline Dreams and Senate Meeting
Apollo dreamed of the Oracle of Cumae meeting with Tarquin in the old Roman senate house, pressuring him to by the six remaining volumes of the original nine Sibylline Books, he reluctantly agreed after she burned three more. Meg woke him up and gave him a toga to wear in the senate meeting. They arrive and sit with Lavinia, who asked him about her mother, Terpsichore, the muse of dance and what is going on between him and Reyna. Soon after that, Reyna called him to speak.

During his speech, he explained the threat of Commodus and Caligula arriving on the blood moon, the unknown weapons they have, and Tarquin's army of the undead. He explained his plan to find the tomb and use the opportunity as a turning point. Ella recites the prophecy and, after a moment of confused silence, Lavinia explained that it is under a merry-go-round in Tilden Park on Wildcat drive. The senate chose to send Apollo, Meg, Hazel, and Lavinia (a fourth due to Apollo being tied to Meg), and approve the members.

The four hade sandwiches at the bell tower of New Rome University, talking about the upcoming quest and complaining about various things. After a while, they decided to meet in the Field of Mars at sundown and go about there time separately until Sunday. Back in Bombilo’s spare room, Apollo laid in his cot and fell asleep. He dreamed of the day he gave the Sibyl her semi-immortality, given her an unknown number of millennia of life, against her will and in a fit of rage, denied her eternal youth so that she can never die even if her body crumbles to dust after she rejects his love. He woke up feeling guilty for his curse, gathers his equipment and meets the others in the Field of Mars.

Heading to the Tomb and Fighting the Skeleton King’s Forces
Apollo arrived at the Field early and talks with the Arrow of Dodona, he expressed his concerns and the Arrow said it will think about it. Just then, Frank and Hannibal arrive and they speak about the quest in question as well as the son of Mars’ curse. Frank said he has learned to live with it while Apollo hoped he is not reckless. Just the Meg, Hazel and Lavinia arrived and the four set out.

As they hike to Tilden Park, Apollo talked with Hazel about the battle. She explained how Frank used his shapeshifting to turn the battle in their favor, but she saw it as reckless, Apollo told her everything he can about Tarquin. They reached the merry-go-round and Hazel and Meg sensed something evil underground, they go to a slab and, after thinking the combination over, realized that 254 is 500 BCE, the closest to the last Roman king’s estimated year of death. Hazel wrote C-C-L-I-V, the date in Roman numerals, on the tile and it opens.

The four entered the tomb and made their way to the king, Hazel distracted the guards and they made their way to the throne room. When they arrived, they see fresh zombies of former legionnaires who died in the attack with Lavinia recognizing Bobby. A Eurynomos named Caelius arrived and explained they will attack during the emperor's strike. Tarquin then faces the four, calling them out. Meg unexpectedly charged at Tarquin as the others are forced to follow her lead. They took out his forces easily but more join them. Tarquin unleashed the poison in Apollo’s system, causing him great agony and slowly killing him. However, Hazel collapsed a wall behind Tarquin and the pain stops. They escaped and Meg creates a ladder out of tree roots to get above ground. The girls helped Apollo get to the surface, but sensed more incoming enemies. Lavinia goes to hold them off and points the others back to camp.

Characters

 * Apollo
 * Meg McCaffrey
 * Hazel Levesque
 * Reyna Ramírez-Arellano
 * Frank Zhang
 * Grover Underwood
 * Tyson
 * Ella
 * Lavinia Asimov
 * Tarquin
 * Caligula
 * Commodus
 * Lupa
 * Terminus
 * Bombilo
 * Aristophanes
 * Eurynomos
 * Fauns
 * Don
 * Dryads
 * Boost
 * Caelius
 * Dakota
 * Ida
 * Larry (Legionnaire)
 * The Oracle of Cumae
 * Hannibal
 * Poison Oak (mentioned)

Chapter List

 * 1) There is no food here/ Meg ate all the Swedish fish/ Please get off my hearse
 * 2) Dude, this isn't cool/ Dude just tried to eat my dude/ That's my dead dude, dude
 * 3) I cannot chew gum/ And run with a coffin at/ The same time. Sue me.
 * 4) Ukulele song?/ No need to remove my guts/ A simple “no” works
 * 5) Hi, everybody,/ Here’s a little tune I call/ “All the Ways I Suck
 * 6) Sailing north to war/ With my Shirley Temple and/ Three cherries. Fear me.
 * 7) Nice stroll into town/ Happy birthday to Lester/ Here’s some gift-wrapped pain
 * 8) Tattoos! Get yours now!/ Free, wherever books are sold/ Also, a large cat
 * 9) Dearly beloved,/ We are gathered here because/ Hera stinks. Amen
 * 10) Sing it with me: Who’s/ Afraid of the Big Good Wolf?/ Me. That would be me.
 * 11) Dirt and bubble gum/ Lavinia brought enough/ For the whole senate
 * 12) I now have a plan/ To make a plan concerning/ The plan for my plan
 * 13) Romance disaster/ I’m poison for guys and gals/ You wanna hang out?
 * 14) Reluctant arrow/ Grant me this boon: permission/ To skedaddleth
 * 15) Nightmare carousel/ Totally let your kids ride/ I’m sure they’ll be fine
 * 16) Meet the new Tarquin/ Same as the old Tarquin, but/ With a lot less flesh
 * 17) Meg, don’t you dare—MEG!/ Or you could just get us killed/ Yeah, sure, that works, too
 * 18) Cooking with Pranjal/ Chickweed and unicorn horn/ Slow-basted zombie
 * 19) O book, what’s my fate/ What is the secret of life?/ See appendix F
 * 20) Hamster ball of death/ Spare me your fiery doom/ I’m not feeling it
 * 21) See this right here, kids?/ This is how you don’t do it/ Questions? Class dismissed?
 * 22) I sing of dead plants/ And heroic shrubberies/ Inspiring stuff
 * 23) In my pickup truck/ With my dogs and my weapons/ And this fool, Lester
 * 24) Stick my godly face/ Where it doesn’t belong and—/ Venus, I hate you
 * 25) Frozen in terror/ Like a god in the headlights/ Why U speeding up?
 * 26) I’d like to sing a/ Classic for you now. Thank you./ Please stop stabbing me.
 * 27) Let’s play guess the god./ Starts with H. Wants to kill me./ (Besides my stepmom.)
 * 28) We all need the hand/ On our shoulder sometimes so/ We can chew through steel
 * 29) Ever heard the phrase/ “The silence is deafening”?/ Yeah, that’s a real thing
 * 30) A voice and a shh./ I have seen stranger couples./ Wait. No, I haven’t
 * 31) O, blood moon rising/ take a rain check on doomsday/ I’m stuck in traffic
 * 32) We have a special/ Today on slightly used trucks. Thanks, Target shoppers
 * 33) Welcome to the war/ We hope you enjoy your death/ Please come again soon!
 * 34) O insert name here/ Please hear us and fill in blank/ What is this, Mad Libs?
 * 35) Such a deal for you/ Two-for-one single combat/ Kill us both for free!
 * 36) Not again. My hear./ How many syllables is/ “Total hopelessness”?
 * 37) I didn’t do it./ Explosion? I don’t know her./ Probably Greg’s fault.
 * 38) Got two words for you:/ Swiss Army unicorns, man!/ Okay, that’s four words.
 * 39) Captain Underpants/ Does not appear in this book/ Copyright issues
 * 40) Stop making me cry/ Or buy me some new tear ducts/ My old ones broke down
 * 41) If you hate me, fine/ Just don’t hit me in the gut/ Or, well, anywhere
 * 42) Life is uncertain/ Accept presents, and always/ Eat your birthday cake
 * 43) Our great opening! Win a free Inferno trip!/ And take a cupcake!

Trivia

 * The time between the release dates of The Tyrant's Tomb and The Burning Maze is the longest as of yet. Whereas other books within a series have come out within twelve months of each other, these two books were released within eighteen months of each other.
 * The Tyrant's Tomb was released on the same day as Percy Jackson Demigod Collection.