Status
Available
Local notes
Fic Rio (c.1)
Collection
Series
Publication
Disney-Hyperion (2010), 516 pages. $17.99.
Description
After their father's research experiment at the British Museum unleashes the Egyptian god Set, Carter and Sadie Kane embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest which 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.
Awards
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (Nominee — 2012)
Audie Award (Finalist — Audiobook of the Year — 2011)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2012)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2013)
Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2011)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2014)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2013)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2011)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2014)
Independent Booksellers' Book Prize (Shortlist — Children's — 2011)
Land Of Enchantment Book Award (Winner — Young Adult — 2012)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2011)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — 2012)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
NCSLMA YA Book Award (Winner — Middle School — 2012)
Surrey Schools’ Book of the Year (Winner — 2012)
Delaware Diamonds Award (Winner — Grades 6-8 — 2012)
Maine Student Book Award (Nominee — 2011-2012)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Children's Book Award — 2012)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-05-04
Physical description
516 p.; 6 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member bell7
Carter and Sadie Kane are brother and sister, but they've been apart for the last several years. After their mother died, Sadie went to live with her grandparents in England, while Carter traveled along with his Egyptologist father. Now it's Christmas Eve, one of the two days Sadie gets to spend
In a similar vein to the Percy Jackson books, The Red Pyramid]re-imagines Egyptian mythology as true and present tense. In this case, the gods have been banished for ages and are starting to be released. Instead of focusing on one character's perspective, we see both Carter and Sadie's as they switch back and forth every couple of chapters in a "recording" that we are privy to. This starts of rather cryptically with a reference to the reader, telling you to go to a particular locker and find an object that they have stashed away. Otherwise, the pace was a little slow building (again, I'm comparing this to Percy Jackson, which often started off with an explosion), slowly revealing details, often laying out mythological explanations a bit bluntly instead of expecting the reader to catch on. To be honest, I probably would not have caught on without these explanations in the same way I did with the Greek mythology that is much more present in literary and cultural references. Carter and Sadie were believable characters, and their sibling relationship was realistic and fun to see develop. I'll be looking for the next book in the series.
Show More
with her father and Carter, and he takes them to the British Museum. But when a magical spell goes completely wrong, Sadie and Carter have to find a way to save their father, defeat Set, and keep chaos from breaking loose.In a similar vein to the Percy Jackson books, The Red Pyramid]re-imagines Egyptian mythology as true and present tense. In this case, the gods have been banished for ages and are starting to be released. Instead of focusing on one character's perspective, we see both Carter and Sadie's as they switch back and forth every couple of chapters in a "recording" that we are privy to. This starts of rather cryptically with a reference to the reader, telling you to go to a particular locker and find an object that they have stashed away. Otherwise, the pace was a little slow building (again, I'm comparing this to Percy Jackson, which often started off with an explosion), slowly revealing details, often laying out mythological explanations a bit bluntly instead of expecting the reader to catch on. To be honest, I probably would not have caught on without these explanations in the same way I did with the Greek mythology that is much more present in literary and cultural references. Carter and Sadie were believable characters, and their sibling relationship was realistic and fun to see develop. I'll be looking for the next book in the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member smheatherly2
I loved the action and adventure that kep you on your seat throughout the whole book! Both Carter and Sadie are strong characters who both have to overcome their struggles of leading different lives, even though they're siblings. I loved how Riordan added in comedy in the form of the siblings
Show More
speaking to one another as they were "telling" the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Carter and Sadie Kane's father is a brilliant Egyptian Archaeologists and their lives change forever when he explodes the Rosetta Stone and they have to run away. They go on a quest to save their father and find secrets within secrets and that there are things they never knew that may kill
It's an interesting twist, the gods aren't warm and fluffy and this is serious stuff. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Show More
them.It's an interesting twist, the gods aren't warm and fluffy and this is serious stuff. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SwampIrish
As an adult, I made the Percy Jackson books available to my youngsters, but I never read them myself. After reading The Red Pyramid, I may have to rethink that. The Red Pyramid is a wonderful story that, frankly, I can find few flaws. There is a lot of action without the characters becoming
I think Rick Riordan has found his niche and he is comfortable there. I will definitely be keeping up with the series. I highly recommend!
Show More
overbearing or shallow. Sometimes in action books the narrative becomes weak links of chain to hold together the action scenes, but in this book I never got that feeling. The characters and the sidekicks were all drawn out well. My favorite is the baboon who will only eat foods that end with 'o' (oreos, doritos, etc...). I thought the alternating viewpoint (2 chapters the sister, 2 chapters the brother) would annoy me, but it worked well for the narrative and wasn't quite as jarring as I had expected. I haven't tracked the Egyptian mythology that Riordan uses in this book, but from the surface, it looks as if he's done his homework.I think Rick Riordan has found his niche and he is comfortable there. I will definitely be keeping up with the series. I highly recommend!
Show Less
LibraryThing member deslivres5
I knew, being a fan of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, that I would probably enjoy the Red Pyramid, the first book in The Kane Chronicles, and I did. I am much more familiar with Greek mythology than Egyptian mythology, but I appreciated learning more about the Egyptian gods.
Show More
The Kane Chronicles had a familiar feel to it: young adults and their previously unknown magical ability, thrust into an epic battle of the gods to ultimately save mankind. It was interesting that the two main characters were biracial siblings. Looking forward to the next installment of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Alera
Rick Riordan does it again. The Red Pyramid is a fantastic start to what I believe will be another brilliant series. There is one tiny thing to keep in mind while reading, this is not the Percy Jackson series with Egyptian Gods. It's a different series in it's own right and it should definitely be
Show More
given a chance to shine like that. The first of the Kane Chronicles introduces to siblings Carter and Sadie Kane who have been separated since their mother's death six years ago. On a scheduled parental visit, the two suddenly find themselves running for their lives after the Rosetta Stone explodes, their father disappears, and they find themselves at the center of a bitter war between Egyptian Gods and the balance between Chaos and Order. Show Less
LibraryThing member chocolattepi
I was so excited to pick up this new book by Rick Riordan, as a fan of the Percy Jackson series. Despite not knowing all that much about Egyptian Mythology, I found that it was an enjoyable read either way. And of course, I did feel as though the myths were well-respected and represented well.
The
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and I can't wait until the second one comes out. This series has a lot of potential, and I think old fans of Riordan's work, and new fans alike will not be disappointed.
The
Show More
book follows two children, Sadie and Carter Kane, as their father goes missing and a violent force begins to rise up in the West, threatening to unleash Chaos over the entire continent. And destroy the world. The story switches between both points of view, as they relay their story through an audio message to you, the reader, who finds the tape in a locker.Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and I can't wait until the second one comes out. This series has a lot of potential, and I think old fans of Riordan's work, and new fans alike will not be disappointed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member gschattgen
The Red Pyramid
For summer reading, I read The Red Pyramid by Rick Riodan, who is also the author of the Percy Jackson series. Instead of the ancient Greek and Roman gods that Riodan usually writes about, this book is influenced by the ancient Egyptian gods. When I started to read this book I
I liked reading this book because it was a lot like the Percy Jackson series which I really enjoyed. Riodan again took an ancient culture and brought all the aspects to life. While the gods took the forefront and most of the action, the way that the ancient Egyptians lived their daily lives was also incorporated into the book. I found it confusing when the Egyptians despised their gods and set about banishing them to different demissions. When the gods helped the Egyptians, they were still banished; for fear that they would cause chaos. I found it interesting that in today’s society when we think of evil black and other dark colors are the first things that come to mind, but the Egyptians thought of red as evil. This was because the black soil was the only place to grow food and the red represented clay and unfertile land that they avoided. Even in modern time the Egyptian descendants continued to live on the east side of rivers because it represented life and rebirth.
While the recording made it sometimes difficult to understand who was telling the story, I was glad that the characters had taken time to gather their thoughts and think about what they felt during this ordeal. The Kanes were better able to explain how they felt and make it so that you felt what they had been through by reflecting on their memories as opposed to writing their story as it happened. I was better able to understand what they had been through and follow the story having it told this way.
I liked how the story was constantly moving from one location to another. It gave the feeling of someone constantly being hunted.
Throughout the book, I enjoyed watching Carter and Sadie reacquaint themselves after they had been separated. They also constantly had to struggle to maintain control over the god that is inside of them. With the many differences the two of them have and having been separated for the better part of six years they have grown far apart. I can see how this would happen. If you look at families that live across the country like mine, when we get together, there are always things that bind us to each other, but we also need time to get to know each other again, and it usually isn’t so long between visits!
While I had my doubts coming into this book I found it to be an excellent read and I don’t know if I can wait for the next book to come out in April of 2011.
For summer reading, I read The Red Pyramid by Rick Riodan, who is also the author of the Percy Jackson series. Instead of the ancient Greek and Roman gods that Riodan usually writes about, this book is influenced by the ancient Egyptian gods. When I started to read this book I
Show More
thought that it might be difficult to understand as is it was written from the point of view of the two main characters Carter and Sadie Kane retelling their stories. They were recording their story onto tape well after they had experienced the events. While they took turns telling the story, I found that it was sometimes difficult to determine who was actually doing the talking.I liked reading this book because it was a lot like the Percy Jackson series which I really enjoyed. Riodan again took an ancient culture and brought all the aspects to life. While the gods took the forefront and most of the action, the way that the ancient Egyptians lived their daily lives was also incorporated into the book. I found it confusing when the Egyptians despised their gods and set about banishing them to different demissions. When the gods helped the Egyptians, they were still banished; for fear that they would cause chaos. I found it interesting that in today’s society when we think of evil black and other dark colors are the first things that come to mind, but the Egyptians thought of red as evil. This was because the black soil was the only place to grow food and the red represented clay and unfertile land that they avoided. Even in modern time the Egyptian descendants continued to live on the east side of rivers because it represented life and rebirth.
While the recording made it sometimes difficult to understand who was telling the story, I was glad that the characters had taken time to gather their thoughts and think about what they felt during this ordeal. The Kanes were better able to explain how they felt and make it so that you felt what they had been through by reflecting on their memories as opposed to writing their story as it happened. I was better able to understand what they had been through and follow the story having it told this way.
I liked how the story was constantly moving from one location to another. It gave the feeling of someone constantly being hunted.
Throughout the book, I enjoyed watching Carter and Sadie reacquaint themselves after they had been separated. They also constantly had to struggle to maintain control over the god that is inside of them. With the many differences the two of them have and having been separated for the better part of six years they have grown far apart. I can see how this would happen. If you look at families that live across the country like mine, when we get together, there are always things that bind us to each other, but we also need time to get to know each other again, and it usually isn’t so long between visits!
While I had my doubts coming into this book I found it to be an excellent read and I don’t know if I can wait for the next book to come out in April of 2011.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cyderry
The Kane Chronicles, of which this is the first installment, tells of Carter Kane and his sister Sadie and their special abilities and destinies. Carter lives with his father, Julius, an Egyptologist. Due to his father's occupation, they travel constantly spending only 1 day, twice a year with
On the visitation, Julius takes Carter and Sadie to the British Museum for a private showing, and there they see a transformation that totally floors them. Julius is involved in a battle with a magical being, engulfed in a golden sarcophagus and disappears.
Carter and Sadie have to flee London and are taken into the care of their Uncle Amos and several Egyptian gods. The adventures that follow are fun and entertaining.
This new series by Riordan has all the entertaining factors as the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series but I think that it would be more fun if the gods that were introduced were more well-known. Egyptian mythology is not that widely recognized, so more background of the gods would be helpful. But a good start for this new series.
Show More
Sadie, Carter's sister, who lives with their grandparents in London. On the visitation, Julius takes Carter and Sadie to the British Museum for a private showing, and there they see a transformation that totally floors them. Julius is involved in a battle with a magical being, engulfed in a golden sarcophagus and disappears.
Carter and Sadie have to flee London and are taken into the care of their Uncle Amos and several Egyptian gods. The adventures that follow are fun and entertaining.
This new series by Riordan has all the entertaining factors as the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series but I think that it would be more fun if the gods that were introduced were more well-known. Egyptian mythology is not that widely recognized, so more background of the gods would be helpful. But a good start for this new series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Ilithyia
Carter and Sadie Kane are siblings with an unusual and unknown destiny. Although they were raised separately, they are from two lines of ancient magicians that are able to harness magic that has been wielded for centuries in an effort to contain the ancient Egyptian gods. But when their father goes
As action packed as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but with an interesting sibling and family dynamic added. The greatest part is it exposes the reader to a mythology that is not as prevelant in our society. The Greeks influenced much of our western culture, but many of these myths are going to be new stories.
The one downside to reading this novel now, is that you'll have to wait until, at least, the spring to read the continued adventures of the Kanes. But it's worth it!
Show More
missing while performing a forbidden ritual, they find out that there are many things they never knew and many that they must learn if they are to save their father, themselves, and the world from the evil Egyptian god, Set.As action packed as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but with an interesting sibling and family dynamic added. The greatest part is it exposes the reader to a mythology that is not as prevelant in our society. The Greeks influenced much of our western culture, but many of these myths are going to be new stories.
The one downside to reading this novel now, is that you'll have to wait until, at least, the spring to read the continued adventures of the Kanes. But it's worth it!
Show Less
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
If you enjoyed the [Percy Jackson] series by the same author, you'll definitely want to pick up this first book in his new series, based around Egyptian mythology! I held off reading this for a little while because I'd heard two things: 1) It was too much like Percy Jackson, but still fun; 2) It
I needn't have worried. Riordan has done it again, created compelling young characters with both strengths and flaws that work for and against them throughout the course of the novel. The mythology flows seamlessly into the worldbuilding, and the actions/consequences of actions are logical and serve specific purposes. I think one's preference for this series or the Percy series will depend on your preference for the mythological system -- if you've studied Classics, you'll be drawn to the Classics side of things, and if you've studied the Near East, you'll be drawn to Near Eastern mythology. I've studied both, and I'm thrilled that Riordan has created such fun books for readers of all ages.
If anything, the main characters in this reminded me a bit of Amy and Dan from the [39 Clues]... but that's not a bad thing either! I can't wait for the next book in this series, and in the meantime, I'll likely tuck into Riordan's newest installment in his Camp Half-Blood world, [The Lost Hero], which I heard is even better than this one. Is that possible?! I wouldn't put it past him.
Show More
was better than Percy Jackson. Either way I couldn't lose, but I worried that it might cause me to lose faith in Riordan...I needn't have worried. Riordan has done it again, created compelling young characters with both strengths and flaws that work for and against them throughout the course of the novel. The mythology flows seamlessly into the worldbuilding, and the actions/consequences of actions are logical and serve specific purposes. I think one's preference for this series or the Percy series will depend on your preference for the mythological system -- if you've studied Classics, you'll be drawn to the Classics side of things, and if you've studied the Near East, you'll be drawn to Near Eastern mythology. I've studied both, and I'm thrilled that Riordan has created such fun books for readers of all ages.
If anything, the main characters in this reminded me a bit of Amy and Dan from the [39 Clues]... but that's not a bad thing either! I can't wait for the next book in this series, and in the meantime, I'll likely tuck into Riordan's newest installment in his Camp Half-Blood world, [The Lost Hero], which I heard is even better than this one. Is that possible?! I wouldn't put it past him.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ejordheim
A pretty interesting read. The characters may not be as well made as in the Percy Jackson series nor is the plot as nicely paced. However, the story is great and Riordan's storytelling style is prominent and enjoyable. A definite read for any Olympian fan who wants to spread their wings and learn
Show More
more. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan. This series is set to be a trilogy; with the next book released in 2011 and the final book released in 2012. I absolutely loved Riordan's series Percy Jackson and the Olympians; so I was excited to read this one. I actually listened to
The audio book was interesting. They had two readers one who read Carter's part and one who read Sadie's part. The person who read Carter's part sounded almost exactly like Percy Jackson. The person who read Sadie's part tended to sound a bit shrill at points in the book. Overall the audio was well done but the shrillness of the girl's voice got to be a bit much at times.
The story involves two of the Kane siblings, Carter and Sadie. They are the children of Julius Kane and have been raised separate for most of their lives because of a legal battle that Julius lost after his wife died (Carter and Sadie's mom). In this book they are drawn into a scheme by their father involving the Rosetta Stone and a number of Egyptian gods. Things go horribly wrong though and when their Uncle Amos comes to rescue them; Carter and Sadie are drawn into a world of Egyptian Gods and Magicians that is more dangerous than anything they have ever encountered. Will they be able to save their father? Will they be able to save the world?
If you liked the Percy Jackson series you will like this book. Riordan does an excellent job of creating believable characters that are easy to relate too. Carter and Sadie are just your every day kids but with a twist. Riordan manages to add history and depth to all of the characters. My favorite part about Riordan's writing is his ability to inject humor into his stories no matter how crazy the adventure and danger gets.
Carter is the more serious character in this story and Sadie is the one that is spunky with a lot of sarcasm. Between Sadie and Sadie's protector (the Goddess of Cats, Bast) you get a lot of laughs throughout this book. The pace was great; the characters are thrust from one adventure to the next and you are constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what will be thrown at them next.
Of course there is a lot of Egyptian mythology in here and Riordan has again done his homework. I don't know as much about Egyptian mythology as Greek mythology; but what I do know coincided with the facts Riordan presents and there was a lot for me to learn too!
My only complaint with this book is that well...it is definitely a Riordan book. It echoes a lot of the same themes and feelings that we saw in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You have all the dealing with Gods, the kids missing parental figures, and kids dealing with budding power. The writing style is nearly identical and Riordan is absolutely writing for the same audience he was writing for in his Percy Jackson series. Don't get me wrong most of the book is very unique and different; but I couldn't help feeling like some of this ground was covered in Percy Jackson. Comparison to the Percy Jackson series is inevitable, and while I loved that series, I was hoping that Riordan's next series would be something super special. And The Red Pyramid is entertaining and special, just not all that different from what we've read before.
Overall this is a great read. If you liked the Percy Jackson series you will enjoy this one. It took me a bit to get into the story but I imagine as the series develops I will get very attached to these characters, just like I got attached to the ones in the Percy Jackson series. If you are interested in reading more great books about Egyptian mythology check out the Theodosia books by R.L. LaFevers.
Show More
this on audio book so I have a couple of comments about that in the paragraph below (skip this if you have it in paper format). This was a great book and I think fans of Percy Jackson will find a lot to like here.The audio book was interesting. They had two readers one who read Carter's part and one who read Sadie's part. The person who read Carter's part sounded almost exactly like Percy Jackson. The person who read Sadie's part tended to sound a bit shrill at points in the book. Overall the audio was well done but the shrillness of the girl's voice got to be a bit much at times.
The story involves two of the Kane siblings, Carter and Sadie. They are the children of Julius Kane and have been raised separate for most of their lives because of a legal battle that Julius lost after his wife died (Carter and Sadie's mom). In this book they are drawn into a scheme by their father involving the Rosetta Stone and a number of Egyptian gods. Things go horribly wrong though and when their Uncle Amos comes to rescue them; Carter and Sadie are drawn into a world of Egyptian Gods and Magicians that is more dangerous than anything they have ever encountered. Will they be able to save their father? Will they be able to save the world?
If you liked the Percy Jackson series you will like this book. Riordan does an excellent job of creating believable characters that are easy to relate too. Carter and Sadie are just your every day kids but with a twist. Riordan manages to add history and depth to all of the characters. My favorite part about Riordan's writing is his ability to inject humor into his stories no matter how crazy the adventure and danger gets.
Carter is the more serious character in this story and Sadie is the one that is spunky with a lot of sarcasm. Between Sadie and Sadie's protector (the Goddess of Cats, Bast) you get a lot of laughs throughout this book. The pace was great; the characters are thrust from one adventure to the next and you are constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what will be thrown at them next.
Of course there is a lot of Egyptian mythology in here and Riordan has again done his homework. I don't know as much about Egyptian mythology as Greek mythology; but what I do know coincided with the facts Riordan presents and there was a lot for me to learn too!
My only complaint with this book is that well...it is definitely a Riordan book. It echoes a lot of the same themes and feelings that we saw in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You have all the dealing with Gods, the kids missing parental figures, and kids dealing with budding power. The writing style is nearly identical and Riordan is absolutely writing for the same audience he was writing for in his Percy Jackson series. Don't get me wrong most of the book is very unique and different; but I couldn't help feeling like some of this ground was covered in Percy Jackson. Comparison to the Percy Jackson series is inevitable, and while I loved that series, I was hoping that Riordan's next series would be something super special. And The Red Pyramid is entertaining and special, just not all that different from what we've read before.
Overall this is a great read. If you liked the Percy Jackson series you will enjoy this one. It took me a bit to get into the story but I imagine as the series develops I will get very attached to these characters, just like I got attached to the ones in the Percy Jackson series. If you are interested in reading more great books about Egyptian mythology check out the Theodosia books by R.L. LaFevers.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hoganedix
While I felt like this was simply too long, the story is classically Riordan in plot twists and ups and downs that grab at kids. They will love it.
LibraryThing member witchyrichy
A rousing listen...I liked the alternating voices and the way the Sadie sounded more formal when she was being quoted by Carter. Parts of it read like a video game where characters had to collect certain items.
LibraryThing member aps3644
An enjoyable departure from the Greek Mythology found in the Percy Jackson series while still sticking to Riordan's strengths.
If you liked Percy Jackson & The Olympians then you will definitely like The Red Pyramid.
If you liked Percy Jackson & The Olympians then you will definitely like The Red Pyramid.
LibraryThing member ChemChick
A fun first book in Riordan's new series.
LibraryThing member elbakerone
Carter Kane has spent his life traveling with his Egyptologist father. For Christmas, Carter and his father head to England to see Sadie, Carter's sister, who lives with her grandparents and only sees her dad and brother twice a year. Their visit is drastically changed after a trip to the British
It's difficult not to draw a comparison between this first installment of The Kane Chronicles with Rick Riordan's hugely popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, but although there are many similarities, The Red Pyramid is a unique and original tale. This story was told from both Carter's and Sadie's perspectives and both narrators infuse the story with Riordan's signature humor - including witty chapter titles. The book is filled with action and packed with details and information about Egyptian gods and mythology, encouraging learning alongside entertainment.
I found the ending of the book to be interesting and unexpected and I'm very curious to read how The Kane Chronicles will continue in the future. Riordan knows how to weave a great story and fans of his writing will definitely want to pick up this book.
Show More
Museum when Carter's father unleashes a spell that releases five ancient Egyptian gods into the world. It's up to Sadie and Carter, with the help of some unlikely bodyguards, to stop Set, god of chaos, from destroying the world. Along the way, they'll have to learn about their father's secret life of magic and the truth of their family heritage.It's difficult not to draw a comparison between this first installment of The Kane Chronicles with Rick Riordan's hugely popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, but although there are many similarities, The Red Pyramid is a unique and original tale. This story was told from both Carter's and Sadie's perspectives and both narrators infuse the story with Riordan's signature humor - including witty chapter titles. The book is filled with action and packed with details and information about Egyptian gods and mythology, encouraging learning alongside entertainment.
I found the ending of the book to be interesting and unexpected and I'm very curious to read how The Kane Chronicles will continue in the future. Riordan knows how to weave a great story and fans of his writing will definitely want to pick up this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member porch_reader
When this book came out, I took note. I've read 2 of the Percy Jackson books and the 39 Clues book that Riordan wrote, and I enjoyed them all. But my intention wasn't to read it right away. I've got tons of other books that I need to get to, and this is the first book of a new series. So, I planned
But when I saw it sitting on the YA shelf at my local library, I couldn't resist. I picked it up and started it, even though I was in the middle of a couple of other books. Eventually, it pushed everything else out of the way, and I gulped it down over the weekend.
What a wonderful start to a new series! Usually, I think that series start a little slow. I have to get to know the characters. In a fantasy series, there is even more to learn about the world that we're in. But Riordan started this one off with lots of action and never let up. Along the way, we get to know Sadie and Carter Kane - a brother and sister who don't know each other very well. Since their mother's death, Carter has traveled with his archeologist father, and Sadie has lived with her mom's parents. But when Carter and Mr. Kane return for an annual visit with Sadie, things do not go as planned, and Carter and Sadie find themselves facing a huge challenge together. The book ends with enough of a resolution to be satisfying, but with lots of issues for future books to resolve.
Other things that I liked about this book:
Riordan uses the alternating voices of Sadie and Carter to tell the story very effectively. I felt like Sadie is the better developed of the two. Carter seemed a bit flat, but even so, the contrasting perspective provided even more insight into the challenges they faced and the people/magicians/gods/baboons they encountered.
The links to Egyptian gods and history were interesting. Just as I wanted to read Greek mythology after the Percy Jackson books, this one made me want to dig into Ancient Egypt.
Riordan also displays a great sense of humor. There are a number of funny lines - including the title of chapter 35, "Men Ask for Directions (and Other Signs of the Apocalypse)."
The only problem with this book is that now I have to wait a while for the next one to come out!
Show More
to read it later - maybe after another book in the series was out. But when I saw it sitting on the YA shelf at my local library, I couldn't resist. I picked it up and started it, even though I was in the middle of a couple of other books. Eventually, it pushed everything else out of the way, and I gulped it down over the weekend.
What a wonderful start to a new series! Usually, I think that series start a little slow. I have to get to know the characters. In a fantasy series, there is even more to learn about the world that we're in. But Riordan started this one off with lots of action and never let up. Along the way, we get to know Sadie and Carter Kane - a brother and sister who don't know each other very well. Since their mother's death, Carter has traveled with his archeologist father, and Sadie has lived with her mom's parents. But when Carter and Mr. Kane return for an annual visit with Sadie, things do not go as planned, and Carter and Sadie find themselves facing a huge challenge together. The book ends with enough of a resolution to be satisfying, but with lots of issues for future books to resolve.
Other things that I liked about this book:
Riordan uses the alternating voices of Sadie and Carter to tell the story very effectively. I felt like Sadie is the better developed of the two. Carter seemed a bit flat, but even so, the contrasting perspective provided even more insight into the challenges they faced and the people/magicians/gods/baboons they encountered.
The links to Egyptian gods and history were interesting. Just as I wanted to read Greek mythology after the Percy Jackson books, this one made me want to dig into Ancient Egypt.
Riordan also displays a great sense of humor. There are a number of funny lines - including the title of chapter 35, "Men Ask for Directions (and Other Signs of the Apocalypse)."
The only problem with this book is that now I have to wait a while for the next one to come out!
Show Less
LibraryThing member lawral
Rick Riordan has done it again! He's taken kids who could be normal, personality-wise if not in circumstance this time, linked them up with a deity and set them loose. This time, the kids are not children of gods, but the children of former members of a society (of magicians!) dating back to the
The whole story is told from both Sadie and Carter's points of view in, more or less, alternating chapters. I really liked getting to see the story unfold through both of their eyes. The changing point of view didn't bog down the story, really, since everything was still told in sequence with little to no instances of both characters covering the same event. I did wish, however, that their was a bit more of a difference between their voices. When they're actually talking, there is plenty of difference between proper, nerdy Carter and punky, spunky Sadie, but when they're narrating they're not all that different. Every once in a while Sadie, as narrator, gets riled up about something and it's really clear that she's the one telling the story (the name of the narrator is on every page to help with that as well), but for the most part both of them just sound like Riordan.
Something that is mentioned on multiple occasions but is far from a focal point of the story is that Sadie and Carter's father is black and their mother was white. Both of the kids are biracial, but neither of them looks it. They have that mini-me thing going on with their parents: Sadie looks astonishingly like her mother and Carter looks just like his dad. In the beginning of the book, Sadie talks about how, without her mother there, people question her relationship to Carter and their father because she's so clearly white and they so clearly aren't. She talks about how annoying it is, on the few days a year that they get to spend together, that people question whether or not she belongs in her family. This is, of course, complicated because she doesn't feel like she belongs due to the very limited amount of time they are actually on the same continent. Also near the beginning, Carter expresses his envy of Sadie's normal life with their grandparents. He feels hurt and rejected because his grandparents fought so hard for Sadie and not for him. While I was reading, I wondered about that; why did their grandparents only fight for the grandchild that looks like them? There is a magically influences reason for why they only went to court for custody of Sadie, but I didn't feel like Carter really processed that information when he found out. Maybe because he wasn't thinking about it in the same way that I was, he didn't need the cathartic breakthrough that I was looking for. It was enough, for him, to know that without magical influence his grandparents may have fought just as hard to hold on to their grandson as they did their granddaughter. This is all balanced out by Sadie's feelings of abandonment because she was left with their grandparents rather than being allowed on the road with Carter and their dad, so maybe I'm reading too much into the situation.
Family issues aside (and I'm paying more attention to them here than was paid in the book), I love that Carter and Sadie's race was a non-issue. I do wish that both of them had been presented as biracial characters, or that they even saw themselves that way, rather than one white and one black, but I'm glad that this did not pick up elements of a "problem novel" about a biracial family. It is simply a fantasy book with biracial main characters!
Book source: Philly Free Library
Show More
time of the Pharaohs that is dedicated to serving/controlling the gods of Egypt. Carter and Sadie are more powerful than most because of their lineage, but there is a Harry Potter-esque it-could-be-anyone thing going on that will open up the rest of the series for a lot of interesting sidekicks. At this point in the series there are only a few kids still training in this society, one of whom is already set up as the girl Carter will embarrassingly and awkwardly crush on for probably the rest of the series, but I'm sure Riordan will bring in a whole cast of interesting kids by the end.The whole story is told from both Sadie and Carter's points of view in, more or less, alternating chapters. I really liked getting to see the story unfold through both of their eyes. The changing point of view didn't bog down the story, really, since everything was still told in sequence with little to no instances of both characters covering the same event. I did wish, however, that their was a bit more of a difference between their voices. When they're actually talking, there is plenty of difference between proper, nerdy Carter and punky, spunky Sadie, but when they're narrating they're not all that different. Every once in a while Sadie, as narrator, gets riled up about something and it's really clear that she's the one telling the story (the name of the narrator is on every page to help with that as well), but for the most part both of them just sound like Riordan.
Something that is mentioned on multiple occasions but is far from a focal point of the story is that Sadie and Carter's father is black and their mother was white. Both of the kids are biracial, but neither of them looks it. They have that mini-me thing going on with their parents: Sadie looks astonishingly like her mother and Carter looks just like his dad. In the beginning of the book, Sadie talks about how, without her mother there, people question her relationship to Carter and their father because she's so clearly white and they so clearly aren't. She talks about how annoying it is, on the few days a year that they get to spend together, that people question whether or not she belongs in her family. This is, of course, complicated because she doesn't feel like she belongs due to the very limited amount of time they are actually on the same continent. Also near the beginning, Carter expresses his envy of Sadie's normal life with their grandparents. He feels hurt and rejected because his grandparents fought so hard for Sadie and not for him. While I was reading, I wondered about that; why did their grandparents only fight for the grandchild that looks like them? There is a magically influences reason for why they only went to court for custody of Sadie, but I didn't feel like Carter really processed that information when he found out. Maybe because he wasn't thinking about it in the same way that I was, he didn't need the cathartic breakthrough that I was looking for. It was enough, for him, to know that without magical influence his grandparents may have fought just as hard to hold on to their grandson as they did their granddaughter. This is all balanced out by Sadie's feelings of abandonment because she was left with their grandparents rather than being allowed on the road with Carter and their dad, so maybe I'm reading too much into the situation.
Family issues aside (and I'm paying more attention to them here than was paid in the book), I love that Carter and Sadie's race was a non-issue. I do wish that both of them had been presented as biracial characters, or that they even saw themselves that way, rather than one white and one black, but I'm glad that this did not pick up elements of a "problem novel" about a biracial family. It is simply a fantasy book with biracial main characters!
Book source: Philly Free Library
Show Less
LibraryThing member jawG
i havnt read it so yeah but they should make a movie
LibraryThing member beserene
I genuinely enjoyed this first installment in Riordan's new YA fantasy-mythology series, 'The Kane Chronicles'. Those who liked the latter half of the Percy Jackson series will find much to love here. Those who preferred the first half of Percy's series, however, will be a little surprised by where
There is plenty of good stuff otherwise, though. I like the fact that Riordan has made room for both female and male protagonists here -- Sadie and Carter are typical YA heroes, but it's a particular pleasure to see a girl acting heroically in a YA myth-fantasy by a male author. I also like the emphasis on teamwork -- the two siblings are extraordinary as a team, rather than simply being individually (and unattainably) awesome. The narrative of the novel, which bounces between Sadie and Carter's perspectives, can at times be a little inconsistent and the interrupting asides are a bit annoying, but I think these are things that will smooth out as the series continues. I'm not as familiar with Egyptian myth as I was with Greek, but it seems to me that Riordan has taken as much care to follow the traditional rules as he did previously, using the characterizations of the Egyptian gods and monsters in a respectful way and opening the door to kids who will no doubt devour the older stories as they become fascinated by this series.
So, bottom line: it's not perfect, but I liked it and I look forward to the next installment.
Show More
Riordan starts this one. The first half of PJ was lighter and funnier -- plenty of comic relief and charm -- than the last couple of books in particular; with the Kane series, Riordan has jumped feet first into the dark end of the pool. This series seems like it is written for an older audience, right off the bat, and some of the descriptive passages -- particularly of the demonic minions of Set -- are downright gruesome. Just a heads-up, especially for parents of younger kids who want to jump on the Riordan bandwagon.There is plenty of good stuff otherwise, though. I like the fact that Riordan has made room for both female and male protagonists here -- Sadie and Carter are typical YA heroes, but it's a particular pleasure to see a girl acting heroically in a YA myth-fantasy by a male author. I also like the emphasis on teamwork -- the two siblings are extraordinary as a team, rather than simply being individually (and unattainably) awesome. The narrative of the novel, which bounces between Sadie and Carter's perspectives, can at times be a little inconsistent and the interrupting asides are a bit annoying, but I think these are things that will smooth out as the series continues. I'm not as familiar with Egyptian myth as I was with Greek, but it seems to me that Riordan has taken as much care to follow the traditional rules as he did previously, using the characterizations of the Egyptian gods and monsters in a respectful way and opening the door to kids who will no doubt devour the older stories as they become fascinated by this series.
So, bottom line: it's not perfect, but I liked it and I look forward to the next installment.
Show Less
LibraryThing member phh333
Very "Harry Potter" like. Siblings Carter and Sadie must work together to save humanity from the Egyptian god Set. While doing this, the pair learn about their heritage and ability to perform magic. Told in two voices - Carter's and Sadie's and infused with the right amount of humor. Enjoyed
Show More
listening to audio version which used separate actors for the two children. Show Less
LibraryThing member philae_02
After the Percy Jackson series, Riordan decided to put a new twist on the ancient Egyptians with the young heroic siblings Carter and Sadie Kane. Separated at a young age by their parents, Julius and Ruby Kane, Carter and Sadie had not spent much time together, nor neither had any idea what magical
Overall, I enjoyed this book; however, I do have one criticism. Carter and Sadie alternate in narrating the events—even though Riordan puts whoever is narrating at the beginning of each chapter. But I found myself getting lost in who was “narrating” at times. But that is my only criticism. I can definitely see The Kane Chronicles picking up like the Percy Jackson series—it has massive potential. And there was even a clever reference about the “gods in Manhattan” which I was appreciative about (making a reference to the Olympian gods that live in Manhattan).
Show More
powers they possessed. During the Christmas holiday, Julius performed a spell at the British Museum, in order to “set things right”, but it didn’t go according to plan. As a result Horus, Isis, Osiris, Nephthys, and Set (the Evil One) were released into the modern world. Set, the god of Chaos, contrived a plan that will turn the modern world upside-down, unless Carter and Sadie can stop him. Teamed up with unlikely allies, Carter and Sadie hone their magical powers and set a course to save the world.Overall, I enjoyed this book; however, I do have one criticism. Carter and Sadie alternate in narrating the events—even though Riordan puts whoever is narrating at the beginning of each chapter. But I found myself getting lost in who was “narrating” at times. But that is my only criticism. I can definitely see The Kane Chronicles picking up like the Percy Jackson series—it has massive potential. And there was even a clever reference about the “gods in Manhattan” which I was appreciative about (making a reference to the Olympian gods that live in Manhattan).
Show Less
LibraryThing member ASBiskey
Rick Riordan has taken the concept of living mythology he used in the Percy Jackson series and put an Egyptian twist on it.
Rather than one demigod, we get two siblings, Carter and Sadie Kane, who are the descendants of the pharaohs, vessels of the Egyptian gods. Where Percy Jackson seems whiny
Fortunately, the story that they are telling is compelling and well thought out, so that it gets past the protagonists’ narration. Just as in the Percy Jackson books, mythology comes to life with a string of adventures within a grand quest. While I did not really care for Carter and Sadie, I did enjoy the story and look forward to their further adventures. Hopefully, they will mature as the series goes on, and the author will be able to manage their tag-team narration more effectively.
Rather than one demigod, we get two siblings, Carter and Sadie Kane, who are the descendants of the pharaohs, vessels of the Egyptian gods. Where Percy Jackson seems whiny
Show More
talking about all his struggles and challenges, now we get to listen to TWO whiny narrators. The way they switch off between chapters gets old, especially with their little jabs at each other when one takes over for the other. Fortunately, the story that they are telling is compelling and well thought out, so that it gets past the protagonists’ narration. Just as in the Percy Jackson books, mythology comes to life with a string of adventures within a grand quest. While I did not really care for Carter and Sadie, I did enjoy the story and look forward to their further adventures. Hopefully, they will mature as the series goes on, and the author will be able to manage their tag-team narration more effectively.
Show Less
Other editions
Similar in this library
Pages
516