#commondus

Alright,you all know the drill at this point. I just read the first 13 chapters of the book and there are some questioning things that I need to talk about,but let's do it in order.

The book starts with Apollo,Calypso and Leo arriving in Indianapolis because Apollo had visions of it. Not even a full chapter in and they already got attacked by blemmyaes. I actually found it funny how almost a full city is in reality a coverage for monsters. At the start I thought it was only populated by them,but Apollo did say that there were some mortals in the streets unaware of what was happening,so I guess they were sent there by Commondus to intercept Apollo.

I don't like how they had to leave Festus behind during the attack,but I know that Leo will get him back in one way or the other. He ain't letting him go after what he had to do to get him back. Also the comic relief with Festus burning Leo's clothes wasn't really my cup of tea. How many more times will this dude have his clothes burned? Especially now that he has good control of his power? (Ring a bell?). Calypso tried to hit one of the blemmyae and got her hand broken,only to later come back and try to kick it. Girl,what were you thinking was going to happen after last time?? Of course your foot was going to get fucked too.

When Hemithea showed up to save the day,I thought she was Thalia for a couple of seconds before Apollo stated how old she looked. My delusional self apparently is still hoping,especially with the fiasco in BoO,lol. The whole "all romance is off-limits" is honestly something I hate,and I will make a post only focused on that because I hate the concept of the Hunters of Artemis and this is just another nail in the coffin for me. But I'm pretty sure that originally it wasn't like that. In TTC,when the Hunters helped them with Dr. Thorn and Zoë called Percy to meet with Artemis and talk about everything that happened,they had this conversation:

"I could appear as a grown woman,or a blazing fire, or anything else I want,but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron,before they go astray."

"Go astray?" I asked.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly,preoccupied,insecure. Forget themselves."

"Oh."

Zoë sat down to Artemis’s right. She glared at me as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was my fault,like I’d invented the idea of being a guy.

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…" She looked at Zoë. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoë said. "You turned him into a jackalope." "Ah, yes." Artemis nodded,satisfied.

It was only about males at the start,but apparently now it's about all the romantic dynamics in the world. And I don't think it was something implied since the start.

Anyway,the whole "Hemithea-Josephine-Georgina" sublplot is extremely sad and right now the one I'm more invested with for this book. I was already suspecting the fact that the two had a daughter,but it's kinda nice having the confirmation and more. Poor Georgina thou,that child went insane just because she wanted to help her parents. I hope she will be fine after Apollo will free her.

Apollo having more flashbacks,visions and dreams than anything else at this point is something integral for this serie. I like how it gives us a lot of the other characters backstories (dude made two girl goddesses only to get ditched for his sister,lowkey sad). I appreciate how he isn't crying anymore about Daphne,because in THO she was mentioned so many times (and each time it was associated with his immense guilt) that I started to dislike it so much for how repetitive it was. He is unfortunately still stuck between remembering things and then forgetting them,but it's fine,like I said last time this is the only way to approach this situation.

Another thing is that while I had my thoughts about Caleo,I can now understand why so many people hate or dislike this ship. After I finish this book I'll make a post about them too,because honestly? Calypso needs to have development. Girl,you can't be angry about Leo trying to find a solution to get Georgina back,only because he was "programming" everything like a machine. That's what you actually do when you plan something,especially if it needs to keep you and someone else (in this case a little girl that went crazy) alive and safe. And why are you so frustrated about him?? I thought we were good,since in HoH she learnt how to appreciate him in the end. But apparently we are still at the base.

To counter,I liked Leo and Apollo's conversation. They are a strange dynamic. I know that Apollo and Calyspo weren't going to get along with each other,and I'm happy about it because there is so much history here that we can't forget with just a "let's all be friends" way. Leo and Apollo are more peaceful with each other and I kinda liked that. Especially with the fact that Calyspo seems bipolar, especially when it comes to machines,while Apollo understands Leo's view. Having only Calypso and Apollo going on the quest,while Leo stays behind to help Hemithea and Josephine,is also a good way to force them to bond and understand each other better,even if now they are most of the time just arguing.

On the other hand we have the enemies that are kinda there plotting in the shadows (like another Primordial). I'm sure Commondus will have a more active role later on,since I'm only at 1/3 of the book,especially with Georgina and the Oracle in between this mess. Nero continues to gaslight Meg with the whole"I don't want the beast to hurt you,so please don't fail otherwise...I can't stop him" story. Even with that,and with the other two guys that he sent with her (one of which is Nico 2.0 from a discount store),Meg still decided to disobey him. Idk if she finally realized what was happening and Apollo's words in THO had an effect on her,or she is just doing something else. Guess I'll find out tomorrow. I also wasn't expecting Lityerses to come back. I totally forgot about him and Midas in TLH. The fact that he is out for Leo too? Last time it was Nico,now this one,who else? And apparently only now Calypso remembers to be his girlfriend and is protective of him and his well-being,ok girl-

The oracle of Trophonius might be my favorite so far,because people can actually go insane in a very horrible way,or die from it,if their minds can't stand it. I guess that Apollo will end up in the cave at some point and will have to drink from the two springs and hear the Oracle's verses. Also,the fact that he forgot Trophonius was his son??? And the ghost of his son's half brother is there??? Agamethus was probably having a field day with Apollo there and he couldn't even speak. Maybe if Nico was there he could have helped.

The narrative tone is also slow here like the other book. In 13 chapters the only things that happened were: them getting attacked,them getting saved and Apollo ad Calyspo going to the zoo after Britomartis gave them the quest,while Apollo continue to have visions. I still don't know how to feel about it because on one hand,there is actually time to breathe between a situation from another and this doesn't rush the story; on the other hand,it feels too slow and different from all the other books where we have characters running left and right every chapter. It's not unbearable tho.