The Kane Chronicles

                                          
  Summary: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan is the first book of The Kane Chronicles following the story of two siblings, Carter and Sadie Kane, in the form of an audio transcript. The young protagonists were separated after their mother died, so Sadie, at age 6, was sent to London to live with her grandparents, while Carter  travels the world with his father, the Egyptologist. They're used to seeing each other only twice a year until Christmas, when Carter and Sadie are 14 and 12 respectively, and their father sets off an explosion at the British museum, turning their lives upside down.
  Carter and Sadie learn of new worlds and forces as old as creation as they undertake a mission to save not only their father, but North America, from the embodiment of evil itself. The two siblings must learn how to act like brother and sister and how to control their newfound powers. The book is filled with hilarious moments of sibling bickering that will have you laughing out loud. Riordan introduces new characters while never ceasing to keep the old ones exciting. 
  The Red Pyramid is a unique combination of Egyptian mythology and the modern world, full of action, adventure, and the slightest hint of romance. This book will take you deep into the world of Egyptian magic while still keeping you firmly anchored in a world you thought you knew. A read that will keep you turning pages until you're convinced it's all true. 

                                                             *****SPOILERS*****
  Now, for those of you who've read the book, let's discuss how utterly amazing it is! I was hooked from the first page. Carter's narration is great. He's funny, sarcastic, and insecure, while still telling the story with invigorating detail. Sadie is just as wonderful, as well. She's a beautiful combination of sass and bravery, while still acknowledging her faults and having insecurities. Together, their sibling bond makes them super powerful. 
  I also love the way it's written like a recording. The way Sadie will butt in while Carter's narrating to make comments is hilarious, and Carter will correct Sadie while she's narrating just to piss her off.  And because it's a recording, Sadie's narration has to be read in a British accent! Rick Riordan is so creative to have written this like he has. 
  Let's talk about the other characters throughout this book. 
  • Uncle Amos- He's Julius's brother and also a magician. He takes Carter and Sadie to the 21st nome to train them but doesn't get the chance as he is whisked off on a mission to spy on Set. You really get to know Amos towards the end of the book when he reappears, and even though he's being possessed, you still feel like you know him. 
  • Zia Rashid- AMAZING, and possibly my favorite character. From the moment she showed up at the museum in New York, I fell in love with her (and so did Carter). Her relationship with him was adorable and I wish there was more of it...EXCEPT THAT SHE WASN'T REAL. Well, she was, but that wasn't really her. After the battle at the Red Pyramid, she "died"(which was heartbreaking), but it was actually a shabti of her, and the real Zia is hidden somewhere. Well, we know what Carter will be doing in the next book.
  • Set- Set is actually the antagonist of this book, but ends up being helpful later, since he was under the influence of an even greater evil to be dealt with in the following books.  I know you're supposed to hate Set, but he's hilarious! I cracked up when Sadie spoke his secret name, and he was complaining about how Evil Day was such a stupid name (I agree), while Sadie was trying to banish him. 
  • Bast- the Egyptian goddess of cats, and a super duper bada**. Bast was actually Sadie's cat, Muffin, because she agreed to protect Sadie, and eventually Carter, after their parents freed her from her imprisonment. The amount of times Bast nearly dies protecting them is heart wrenching. She's also Carter and Sadie's only adult supervision on this quest, but, as she is a god, is a source of knowledge while Carter and Sadie are hosting Gods. 
  THAT'S RIGHT. CARTER AND SADIE ARE HOSTING GODS. HIT THE DECK. SOUND THE ALARM. THESE TWO ARE GODLINGS. Carter is hosting Horus, the god of war, while Sadie is hosting his mother/sister (it's complicated), Isis, the goddess of magic. 
  I loved the parallel of Carter and Sadie vs. Horus and Isis. The conversation between magician and god were hilarious, especially Horus and Carter's. I was laughing hysterically when they were being chased by Sekhmet, and Horus is complaining about Carter not wishing him happy birthday. "She's almost as annoying as you, I told Horus. Impossible, Horus said. No one bests Horus." They're about to be eaten by crazed lion goddess, and those two are bickering.  
  Can we also discuss hilarious  chapter titles? Just like Riordan's other series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the chapters titles are random and funny. They say things like "Leroy Meets the Locker of Doom" and "I Face the Killer Turkey", and it still makes sense. WHAT EVEN? 
  The final battle at the end of this book was super intense. Carter and Sadie merge with their respective gods and become these super powerful beings. They beat the snot out of Set, only to find out that he was working under the influence of Apophis, the serpent of Chaos. We' re left with the cliffhanger that this Chaos serpent is going to destroy the world in a few months and that the House of Life wants to destroy the Kanes, but Carter and Sadie are going to recruit more magicians and teach them the path of the gods. They sign off the recording and readers are left wondering what's coming next. 
                                                           *****SPOILERS*****

  That's the end of my spoiler-full review. If you're interested in this series, you should check it out! I'd recommend it for people 10 and up (maybe 8+ If you're really mature), because it can get mildly scary and graphic at times. All in all, it was an amazing book, and I can't wait to review the rest of the series. Overall rating: 9/10. Until next time, this is Libby Lancaster signing off, GOODBYE!!!!! 

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