The Tyrant's Tomb

In The Tyrant’s Tomb, the concept of atonement manifests as a continuous, painful process of confronting past cruelties, and Apollo is the primary focus of this dynamic. Through the protagonist’s shift from a self-absorbed god to a mortal whose newfound conscience wracks him with belated guilt, the novel suggests that true redemption can only be achieved through empathy and the work of accountability. In this particular installment, Apollo is repeatedly haunted by his past when his divine transgressions manifest as immediate, life-threatening dangers. 

The climactic scenes of The Tyrant’s Tomb vividly illustrate this dynamic when he must battle a flock of giant ravens whom he once cruelly transformed as a punishment for telling him of a lover’s infidelity. Similarly, he must face his past abuse of Harpocrates and the Cumaean Sibyl when their aid becomes crucial to the completion of his deadly quest. As these humbling encounters force him to acknowledge the consequences of his actions, he must come to terms with the fact that his ancient misdeeds have given rise to centuries of festering traumas that now endanger the lives of his mortal friends. Baldly expressing his shame and remorse, he shows his willingness to acknowledge and condemn the very cruelties that he once saw as amusing pranks.