The second title in Rick Riordan's Trials of Apollo series - set in the action-packed world of Percy Jackson.The god Apollo, cast down to earth and trapped in the form of a gawky teenage boy as punishment, must set off on the second of his harrowing (and hilarious) trials.He and his companions seek the ancient oracles - restoring them is the only way for Apollo to reclaim his place on Mount Olympus - but this is easier said than done.Somewhere in the American Midwest is a haunted cave that may hold answers for Apollo in his quest to become a god again . . . if it doesn't kill him or drive him insane first. Standing in Apollo's way is the second member of the evil Triumvirate - a Roman emperor whose love of bloodshed and spectacle makes even Nero look tame.To survive the encounter, Apollo will need the help of a now-mortal goddess, a bronze dragon, and some familiar demigod faces from Camp Half-Blood. With them by his side, can Apollo face down the greatest challenge of his four thousand years of existence?

Rick Riordan is the author of the New York Times #1 best-selling The Lost Hero, the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series. Kids across the country voted him Author of the Year for that book through the Children's Book Council in association with Every Child a Reader. Rick also penned the New York Times #1 best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: Book One: The Lightning Thief, Book Two: The Sea of Monsters, Book Three: The Titan's Curse, Book Four: The Battle of the Labyrinth and Book Five: The Last Olympian. The first two books in his Kane Chronicles, based on Egyptian mythology, The Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire, were New York Times #1 best sellers as well. Rick lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and two sons.