As a fierce lover of mythology (mostly Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Norse), I have always looked for actual books of fiction that deal with the topic. Growing up, those types of books were rare so I ended up reading the same non-fiction books over and over. While it meant that I learned something, it got old after the fifth or sixth time. And then came Rick Riordan to the rescue...
Rick Riordan is an amazing Juvenile/Young
Adult writer. Having children himself, one of which was diagnosed with
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Mr. Riordan is a
master of keeping his stories moving at a regular pace to keep you
wanting...no, NEEDING to keep reading. He creates vibrant characters,
realistic for young people today to connect with. They do manage to
mature and grow in a believable amount of time, something to show the young readers so that they understand that they are not the only ones going through bad times but it does get better - it just takes that illusive thing called time.
And
frankly, he brought out a subject matter that I felt was largely ignored among
the juvenile reading groups. I am just grateful that he is here now so
that I can share him with my nephews, which I have. My little mathlete
"Bear" read the first in the Percy Jackson series and, though it took
him some time to make it through, he now enjoys something other than baseball and the world of everything have to be a known (and proven) fact.
It's something that we can share together when before, the pair of us
struggled to connect so that alone makes these books worth every penny.
This trilogy follows the lives of Carter and Sadie Kane and their
attempts to revive the Egyptian gods of old. The first book, The Red
Pyramid, is the longest of the three, though the first in a series can
usually claim that. After all, you need to introduce a number of new
characters as well as the world they live in and how they fit. While I
felt this book had the most drag out of any of the books that the author
has written, the next two are definitely worth pushing through.
Now that I have given you a bit of information, I present the main courses:
~*~Kids Menu~*~
Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural
Heat Level: Mild
The Red Pyramid
At the beginning of the story, we meet siblings Sadie and Carter Kane
coming together for Christmas - the first time that they have seen each
other in a year. To watch the pair tip-toe around each other, unsure of
how to deal with the other on the long term - especially when abandoned
to the care of a man who claims to be their uncle, is quite amusing. The
very sarcastic little sister, Sadie, I could really relate with the
character as she struggled to deal with a brother she did not know and
tried to make her way in the world without letting the growing danger
and overwhelming tasks make her into something she did not want to be.
She was a strong support for her brother, without having to be the
sappy, doting, naive heroine that tends to get on a person's nerves real
quick.
With their mother having already passed to the other side, the siblings
spend the whole of the Red Pyramids in pursuit of their father, a
world-famous Egyptologist. After trying to perform a complex ceremony
that neither Sadie or Carter had known to expect, Dr Kane released five
of the old Egyptian gods. As the door opened, all five gods left the
voids where they had been locked away, seeking out the nearest human
hosts they could make do with - two of which being Sadie and Carter
themselves. A third took possession of their father, who was kidnapped
by the fifth god Set, who was strong enough to act on his own power -
not needing a host. Imagine watching that - plus find out that you are
magicians - then that to be a magician, you have to have been the
offspring of the ancient pharaohs (easy way to check paternity), and
THEN!! If that wasn't enough, you find out that you are the first
generation offspring of the two strongest Egyptian royal blood lines
(and most famous pharaohs of all time). Everyone fears you and even more
people want you dead - just because you have unknowingly already broken
every rule the magicians have ever written. Oops.
With the helps of the gods that the pair host, their 'uncle', a sect of Old World magicians, and a
pretty spry goddess named Bast, Sadie and Carter are charged to bring
down Set and save their father in five days - all the while facing old
gods loyal to Set put to slow them down, a few challenges by "helpful"
gods along the way, and just the general calamity of a brother and
sister traveling across country together. After my own memories of less
amusing trips across country with my older brother, I was a bit jealous
(though the Kane's can keep the crocodile wrestling).
~*~Kids Menu~*~
Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural
Heat Level: Mild
The Throne of Fire
One of the main concepts that is repeated throughout this book series
is the order of the universe - Chaos and Ma'at (Order). There may have
been another word for chaos but if there was, I cannot remember it right
now. For each of these characteristics, there were gods embodying them;
specifically Apophis, a great snake who stood for chaos and Ra, the sun
god who stood for Order. Up until now, the powers have been equal since
one god is locked up in his own private void and the other retreated
from the world of man out of necessity (that's the equal scale thing
that comes back to bite everyone in the third book - no spoiler I
promise but...
blphemeunpna
*Glares at Bryonna, whose hands are covering my mouth* Okay, I promise
not to go on. Sorry, no one else I know has read the third book yet and
it's driving me crazy not being able to talk about it!!
Anyways, after the release of the five gods in the first book, we find
chaos growing stronger as the second book begins. The Carter siblings
have opened up their home in New York to any potential magicians who
answered their call at the end of the last book. They have collected
about two handfuls of potential magicians, two of which are at the
siblings' sides as Carter and Sadie are preparing to 'borrow' an
Egyptian artifact from a local museum. Unlike the last book, the first
big action packed scene takes place in the first few chapters, ending with half of Brooklyn catching fire and Carter and Sadie adopting/being forced to house a chicken munching griffin.
With the artifact in their possession, the siblings once more set out
into the world, this time to awaken the ancient god Ra who they feel is
the only chance they have to prevent the god of chaos from returning to
earth. Of course, the siblings and their few initiates are on their own
to complete such a massive task. After all, how do you wake a god who
has been hiding away for thousands of years? A big cup of coffee is
probably not going to do it. The biggest challenge is that, of course,
neither the other sect of magicians nor even the gods that only last
year supported Sadie and Carter want Ra revived. The last anyone saw Ra,
he was old, sick, and a bit senile. There is a chance that this foolish
endeavor will be a complete waste of time.
Nothing like a four-day deadline to keep a book pushing forward. The
Carter siblings pick up a new friend, a dwarf god named Bes as well as a
few allies that they least expected. Once again, Sadie and Carter
travel the streets of Brooklyn, London, and even make a special
appearance at a retirement home for Egyptian gods who have long been
forgotten with a surprise sacrifice at the very end to move most readers
to tears. Definitely a must-read for those that love Egyptian
mythology.
~*~Kids Menu~*~
Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural
Heat Level: Mild
The Serpent's Shadow
This third and final installment of the Kane Chronicles was...OUTRAGEOUS! STUPENDOUS! JAW DROPPING! FANTASTIC!
Sorry, had to get that out. I loved this book - it actually made reading both of the previous two books worth while. This book was the shortest in the trilogy, which made it easy for me to speed through in about 6 hours. (Who really needs sleep anyways?) With the shortest deadline ever - three whole days to mount a defense against the evil god.
Once again, this book begins with a bang - bigger than the last. The Kane siblings and a few of their initiates are in Texas to, once again, 'borrow' an artifact that may help defeat Apophis. (Have you seen a running theme yet?) The magicians who once barred the Kanes and their students from their annals now need the groups help more than ever as one nome (Egyptian word for region or county) after another fall to the minions of Chaos, resulting in total loss of life and land. Struggling to meet the needs of all concerned, the siblings are pulled apart to complete challenges of their own - one to restore the life of an old friend, the other to retrieve the one spell that might save them all from annihilation.
I know that I have not said much but it's a short book and hard to avoid major spoilers - especially considering the previous two books. But really, truly, honestly, this is an amazing book. One of my absolute favorites. Overall, a fantastic ending to series. Bravo Mr. Riordan! Hopefully there are more to come...
No, scratch that - there had BETTER be more to come!!
