The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan

Genre: fantasy & adventure
Series and Book #: Kane Chronicles #2
Pages: 446
Synopsis:

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie, have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command; but the devious gods haven’t given them time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet—the Chaos snake, Apophis—is rising. If they don’t prevent him from breaking free in a few days’ time. The world will end. In other words, it’s a typical week for the Kane family.

To have any chance of battling the forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god, Ra. But that would be a feat more difficult than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh—and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is, exactly?

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Loved the second book in the series, and can't wait for more! Rick's writing is simple but funny, action packed, and so intriguing!

One thing I hate about sequels; the author has to reexplain everything. Especially in a complex book where so much is going on all at once. Rick retold some facts at the beginning of the book, and throughout the rest of the story, he added snippets from the prequel The Red Pyramid (see my review here). He didn't retell the entire first novel, which was much appreciated.

Again, I loved Sadie and Carter Kane's narration of the story. They are so different in how they see the events. Rick also did an amazing job of all his characterizations, both in the first and second novels.

Overall, I definitely will be waiting anxiously for the next in this series. The Egyptian mythology is difficult to understand but interesting. Rick makes is all the more enjoyable by adding fascinating tidbits from the modern world. I really recommend this to any readers looking for spunk, humor, and adventure.

The Cover: Relates to the story wonderfully.

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

Genre: teen fantasy
Series and Book #: Kane Chronicles #1
Pages: 514
Synopsis:

Since his mother’s death six years ago, Carter Kane has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the globe with his father, the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane. But while Carter’s been homeschooled, his younger sister, Sadie, has been living with their grandparents in London. Sadie has just what Carter wants—school friends and a chance at a “normal” life. But Carter has just what Sadie longs for—time with their father. After six years of living apart, the siblings have almost nothing in common. Until now.

On Christmas Eve, Sadie and Carter are reunited when their father brings them to the British Museum, with a promise that he’s going to “make things right”. But all does not go according to plan: Carter and Sadie watch as Julius summons a mysterious figure, who quickly banishes their father and causes a fiery explosion.

Soon Carter and Sadie discover that the gods of Ancient Egypt are waking, and the worst of them—Set—has a frightening scheme. To save their father, they must embark on a dangerous journey—a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and its links to the House of Life, a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

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One thing I love about Rick Riordan is the constant action and humor he adds to his books. Since having read his first mythological series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I've been itching to read his next two series the Kane Chronicles and the Heroes of Olympus (although I won't be reading those for awhile). The Red Pyramid lived up to my expectations.

You would think that Rick would write the Egyptian gods and goddesses similar to the Greek ones. But, as always, he did his research and The Red Pyramid gave you an entirely different brand of divinities. First off, they weren't present like the Greek gods and goddesses. They were trapped in the Duat, a sort of alternate place that can be used to keep things and to travel through, and Carter and Sadie's dad let them out. They were also less human. They were more divine than the Greek gods. They used magic and their powers more.

I loved how Rick added magic to the story! I know a lot about Greek mythology, but I hardly knew anything about Egypt mythology. I loved how Rick explained things in the story so you could understand the myths behind the characters.

Overall, I can't wait to read more from this series. This book certainly lived up to my expectations and what I expected after having read Percy Jackson. It may have surpassed my expectations, actually. The magic, the myth, and how it all fits into modern day life was awesome and I love how Rick can tie it all together in his books. Can't wait for more!

The Cover: Perfect, as usual. It takes a scene from the book and adds the characters. Always loved Rick's covers.