Source: Borrowed
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Series: Kane Chronicles #1
Edition: Hardcover, 516 pages
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon
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Rating: 4/5
Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a “research experiment” at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe – a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
Riordan has done it again, and I’m very happy he has. This book (and series) has the same premise as the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series, there are gods from ancient cultures who need the help of ‘godlings’ to protect the world and their way of life. It’s different enough that it provides something new to the world and similar enough that if you loved Percy Jackson there is a great chance you’ll love this too. There are even moments where they will mention the Greek/Roman gods, but very vaguely and you’ll only get the hints if you’ve read the other book.
The concept of the gods having to use human forms is really interesting and the premise of battle magic avatars is pretty much awesome, especially given the rather animal like nature of the Egyptian gods. On a side note I am so thankful that someone finally portrayed Anubis in a positive light since he’s my favorite of the Egyptian pantheon. Western culture has a nasty habit of making him look evil.
There is still that same since of adventure with the added mystery that you get with the other two series, but Riordan has chosen to give us more places to explore. Instead of sticking strictly to the US as he did with Percy this one takes us to Europe and Africa as well. Carter, our main character, has traveled the world with his Egpytologist father and has never too use to staying in one place for a long time. Sadie is Carter’s sister, but she was raised by her grandparents in London so they have barely had any contact with each other. I loved that this wasn’t just about discovering what has happened with the god Set but also about them navigating rather new relationship that they have with each other. They have a nice dynamic as Carter is quieter and more of a book smart sort of fellow and Sadie is loud and brash. He gives us a chance to truly know each other characters through the multiple points of few and add some depth to them in the process.
Overall this turned out to be just as much fun as Riordan’s other series, and that just as much research and care went into making the story as imaginative and real as possible.
In Libris Veritas 