The Serpent's Shadow: The Kane Chronicles, Book 3

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***Six months have passed since the events of The Throne of Fire, Ra has not improved and Apophis has returned to rise again. The House of Life is truly divided between the magicians who battled against the initiates in Brooklyn and those followers and friends of the Kane family. Amos is the Chief Lector, but his followers are few and those loyal to him find themselves under attack by rival magicians and forces of chaos. Apophis and his minions have destroyed all copies of the scroll describing how to defeat him and Sadie and Carter are at a loss of how to save the world from destruction. They have only a matter of days to figure it out or the world will be plunged into eternal darkness and destroyed forever. Will the discover a way to unite the House and the Gods to defeat Apophis in time? And even if they do will it be enough to win against the powerful chaos snake?So I really did enjoy the series conclusion to the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan. I considered giving it a perfect stars and then I was looking at some of my Goodreads statuses and thinking back to when I started the book a few hours before and I realized I did have some issues with the novel and it just wasn't perfect rating quality. My issues aren't many and most of them occur at the beginning of the novel but I think they're notable enough to warrant a less than perfect rating. First of all a lot of my complaints about the last novel are also true for this novel. For one Riordan sort of jumps right in to the story which begins six months after the last novel left off. Again Carter and Sadie's lives have changed rather dramatically and even though at the end of the last novel Desjardins had bought them time in the battle with Apophis when we return the time is used up. Riordan jumps right in not completely explaining the changes just putting these characters in an all new scenario and basically telling readers this is how it is now, deal with it. I still prefer the descriptive lead in of the first book rather than the culture shock in the second and third books. Yes you get into how things are now within a few chapters but you don't understand it and feel it in the same way you did with the lead in he gives in The Red Pyramid. The openings of the second two books in this series have kind of a sink or swim sort of feel to them which I don't like. The beginning of the book is also heavily dominated by Sadie's point of view. Don't get me wrong I like Sadie as a character, but I'm more of a Carter fan, and this is for more than his personality. Scenes from Carter's point of view are more descriptive and better set the scene. Sadie is more internally focused while Carter is more externally focused which is I know is a little odd since Sadie is the outgoing one while Carter is more awkward and I guess you'd say shy. But it make sense actually think about the person who is the life of every party, it's not because they're focused on everyone else and making them happy it's because they're focused on themselves to the point that because they believe there is something special about them everyone else believes it too. Sadie's not that bad, no, but it's an example of what I mean. I like Sadie's scenes don't get me wrong, but they're not as rich as the ones told by Carter. This brings me back to another issue I had especially at the beginning of the novel, the story was a little over-light on description. This changes the further you delve into the story and gets much better but in the beginning when Sadie basically describes the setting as another Egyptian section of a museum and since they're all the same that's enough said, well um that's not enough said. She describes many scenes like this or gives loads of back story in a short sentence that list things series readers might recognize but doesn't explain at all for a new reader instead making comments like don't ask. That doesn't cut it with me if you're going to mention back story. If back story is included in a series book for potential new series readers it needs to be enough to actually understand what you're referring to, not just a laundry list of past events that wouldn't make sense to anyone who hasn't read previous series works. Additionally the opening where Sadie congratulates everyone for surviving the apocalypse and offers a quick description of things that the reader should have experienced kind of threw off the feel for me. I mean while the events she describes are apocalyptic in proportion, they're things that the general populace would remember had they actually happened. Before this Riordan has given the novels a sort of fantastic but also realistic sort of feel. He sets the tone with his authors notes then it opens with one of the two siblings talking. And while you could almost convince yourself their story really happened as you read it with the other novels with her speaking to the reader with things every person on earth should have noticed it takes the realistic sort of feel from the novel. I mean yeah this has always been fiction, but it's more of a feeling you had while reading the other two books that the opening of this book removes in a few sentences. Additionally Riordan continued with the dual narratives of the last novel with pausing storylines at important moments and switching to a different one. While every scene packed so much more punch that it worked better in this novel so things didn't drag like they did in the last, it's still frustrating to leave the storyline at a critical scene. My final issue with the book is again with Sadie, in that she's supposed to be thirteen and while the events of her life would obviously mature her, her relationship and the way she looks at them and addresses them feel more like an older teen would act and feel than a barely teen would. Her relationships are in my opinion a bit too mature to associate with a thirteen year old.Now that I've given you the run down on what I didn't like, let's move on to what I did. First of all this book upped the ante in danger and excitement to the point it was the type of book you can't put down. It continued with the same dual first person narrative sandwiched between an authors' note format like the other series novels, but once you got past the opening of the rushed scenes it was so much more in action that the other novels. On top of that despite the dark feel Riordan has expertly woven in an element of humor through most scenes so that they aren't too dark for his middle grade audience. Many of his scenes are outright inspired. I kept stopping just because I had to shared quotes from the novel as I was reading. And honestly I stopped myself from sharing more because it seemed every few pages there was something I wanted to read aloud to my husband or mention online. I mean he has a hippo goddess going to battle with a hypodermic needle as a weapon and Sadie tricking a goddess of the hunt by a fearsome story of fighting Jelly babies. The goddess scene was excellent because she's describing normal every day events like they're some kind of dangerous war story or African safari. You'd have to read it to truly understand the hilarity of the scene. And those are just two of the scenes that I couldn't resist sharing on Goodreads. There were so many more quotable, memorable and truly inspired scenes in the novel that if I'd let myself I'd have quoted the book to people online every few minutes. As you get further into the novel getting past the abrupt opening and falling in to the changes in the characters' lives now this book truly tops the charts in not only it's fast paced storylines, but in humor and unforgettable scenes and I can't even truly find the words to explain what I mean. It was excellent. Riordan also resolves the two love stories that have slowly developed for our leading siblings over the course of the book. While I still maintain that Sadie's relationship is a bit too mature for her age, the way Riordan solved her love triangle was truly original and something I never would have guessed as a possible outcome of that plotline. I'd seriously like to know more about that in the future, exactly how that works and all. But I won't go into the why because it would be a definite plot spoiler that I think you as a reader should experience for yourself. The plotline between Zia and Carter was sweet and also inspired but in a different way. Watching these characters grow and come together was a nice I guess you'd say icing on the cake to the story. It left a reader feeling fulfilled at the end. Riordan did however mention that things weren't over for The House of Life and its members. He makes mention of other gods and unexplained magics that hint at a future combo Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles novel that I'd definitely be interested in reading. In some ways that part of the ending frustrates me but I have to hope that he did that because he doesn't intend to lay Carter, Sadie, Walt and Zia to rest just yet. I am hoping though that if they return they bring Bes, Bast, Anubis, Horus, Isis and Ra with them. Heck I'd even welcome seeing more of Set in potential stories to come. Some parts of the plot were left a little open ended so I'm hoping that means even those this series is complete that there are spin off stories to come. Between the two series I'll admit I'm partial to Percy but that's probably because he has more stories and I've spent more time with him in his stories. However I feel that the Kane Chronicles and its characters are equally memorable and likeable characters even if I do like Percy more. There were also parts of the ending that made me feel a bit disappointed, but I'm hoping that if we do see future stories those parts will be made better in that. The hint Riordan left of possible future adventures with these characters have left me just as excited as the story itself and I'm sincerely hoping he follows through with those.Characterization made an excellent come back in this novel. Yes there were indistinguishable background characters, but more of them became distinctive than in the last novel and the background characters weren't randomly named as they were in the second novel. I think that made all the difference for me. Yes there are tons of unnamed initiates but the fact that Carter and Sadie didn't bother to mention their names made it feel like it was okay for them not to be distinctive. The secondary characters with names were at minimum distinctive and many were extremely well developed. Riordan introduced a younger character who's I'm guessing four or five by the name of Shelby who was a particularly memorable secondary character. No she didn't play a big role in the novel but scenes featuring this young girl whose ages is not actually given that I noticed, were scenes that stick out in your head and definitely bring a smile to your lips. For example she runs through the middle of a battle smacking enemy magicians on the butt yelling "Die, Die, Die!" Sadie refers to her as adorable in this scene and you can't help but laugh at the image of a kindergartener spanking people in battle. Granted I wouldn't want my child to behave that way at her age, but this girl leads a very different life than my children do. She's interesting because of the way she melds childish immaturity and views of the world with a life of magic, danger and war. She's clearly powerful, but she's got this sort of personality that makes her stand out the way many of the secondary initiate characters don't. Yes Jaz, Julian, Alyssa and Cleo are distinguishable now, they don't blend together anymore but neither do they stand out in the way Shelby does. She is definitely one of my favorite characters in this series. Carter and Sadie continue to be well developed character in this series who also continue to grow and mature as characters. Zia and Walt gain a whole new level of development and character growth in this book as well. I could continue to list characters and mention how well developed they are but that would make for a very long review so let me just say I found the character development, both secondary and primary, in this novel to be excellent.Overall I'd definitely recommend this truly inspired finale to the Kane Chronicles series. While middle grade readers might still be daunted by the length I hope they'll find their way past that to enjoy the excellent story within. I also think many adults will be thrilled to take this journey with or without their children. It's a story and a series not to missed.

I have always been interested in "things Egypt" so I don't know how I have so little knowledge about Egyptian mythology. And when you want a heavy dose of mythology on a hilarious platter, who do you come to? Why Rick Riordan, of course! The master of repurposed mythological tales has done it again as he wrapped up the Kane Chronicles with The Serpent's Shadow.Sadie and Carter know they must stop Apophis, the God of Chaos, from destroying the world. But how could two teenagers stop the apocalypse? When, when you are a Kane, you always have friends in strange places. With Bast, a cat goddess, to watch over their initiates in the house, they embark on a journey to find the way to stop Apophs, but each day he grows stronger. Add to that the fact that the senile sun god, Ra, who was supposed to help them dances around and has to be babysat, that their best friend Walt is slowly dying from a generations-old curse, and Carter was crushing on a magical clay figurine he thought was a girl. Once the figurine was destroyed and they rescued the real Zia, she had no memory of Carter's time with her shabti. And Bas, the dwarf god, has sacrificed his soul to save them and is now sitting like a shell of himself in the retirement home for the Gods.So how are they going to stop this unstoppable God of Chaos now that they have freed him and allowed him to gain more power than any one god or goddess can control, you ask? Well, it might involve a spell that is so powerful, it will destroy the Kanes for good, but when you have the weight and fate of the world resting on your shoulders, you really don't have much of a choice. Sadie and Carter will do anything to save the world, even if it means tough choices and big sacrifices. And with the Kanes against them, even giant serpent gods who thrive on chaos can stop them!It is no secret that I think Rick Riordan is a god. God of literary brilliance! His Percy Jackson series and the spinoff series are brilliant uses of Greek and Roman Gods, and this series is just as phenomenal. His ability to repurpose mythology brings it into the mainstream and gets our kids involved in stories that might have been too old, too, boring, and too distant for them before. And let's face it, mythology is interesting, but those stories are intricate and dense and those names get seriously confusing. Let's not even mention how ridiculous those tangled webs of relationships can be! But Riordan makes mythology accessible AND more important, absolutely HILARIOUS! The things that come out of these gods and godesses' mouths will leave you in a fit of giggles. And for my students who have read these stories, those gods and goddesses are interesting and the source of future research and reading. I find kids who read these books want to go on and read more about their favorite gods and goddesses, and since Egyptian mythology isn't as well known as Greek mythology, this series is a great way to strike a balance between the two! And this might be a middle reader series, but it isn't just for middle readers. Anyone from middle readers through adults would enjoy these books! All you have to have is a sense of humor and an interest in some nutty mythology!The conclusion of the series was whole-heartedly satisfying. I promise you won't think it is going to be until the very end, but it really is. I have to say, I thought this was another 5 book series, so at the very end, when things started winding down, I had to rush to do some research as to whether or not this was the final book in the series. Sadly, because I love this series and wanted it to continue, this is indeed the final book, but it ends beautifully. If there was a perfect way to end everything, The Serpent's Shadow was it. So, I know Riordan is working on the Percy Jackson spin-off, but I really hope he has another series up his sleeve!

Rick Riordan'Despite their bravest efforts, Apophis, the giant snake of Chaos, is still threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Now the Kanes must do something no magician has ever managed ~ defeat Apophis himself. No pressure there then.Battling against the forces of Chaos, their only hope is an ancient spell - but the magic has been lost for a millennia. Will they find the serpent's shadow, or will they be led to their deaths in the depths of the Underworld?'

Book 3 in Kane Chronicles. Carter and Sadie Kane and their trainees are getting ready to face the god Apophis, Lord of Chaos. They need a special item, hidden in a touring exhibition of Egyptian artefacts on view in a Texas museum. Unfortunately, the Book of Apophis, the fifth and last copy written by the magician Setne is destroyed and there is a massacre, which is blamed on the Kane`s.The balance between Ma`at and Chaos must be restored, which means Ra the Sun god has to be found and resume his nightly journey through the sky. Bast the cat goddess, who had been bound into Sadie`s cat Muffin,after being freed from her endless battle with Apophis tells them she has asked an old friend to help out while she returns to see how close Apophis is to feeing himself.Starting their journey in London for Sadie`s birthday, disasters ensue, from possessed grandparents and a stand off on Waterloo Bridge, then a limo ride to St Petersberg with Bes the dwarf god in spedos before the Egyptian Queen barque through the land of the dead passing through each "House" in turn, facing challenges on the way.Of course things work out, the bad guys get punished and all is well.

Red Pyramid (the first book) was purchased because I couldn't get hold of the Percy Jackson book I needed at the time.Sadly in my opinion this trilogy does not come up to Mr Riordan's expectedstandard.In the Percy books, we got used to in depth characters, good continuity in the story lines, plenty of descriptive narrative taking us from place to place & situation to situation.The Kane chronicles lack much of that. The main characters are irritating and very juvenile, despite supposedly being the next pharaohs of Egypt. They get into a fight/situation/place and whoops, its all over, they won and they are already in the next fight/situation/whatever. They manage to learn all sorts of new magic (of which they supposedly have no previous knowledge) apparently through the ether as there is no description of their lessons/reading etc.Disappointing given how good the Percy books are

I bought this book for my youngest son for his birthday, third and final book in the Kane Chronicles series, and so far it hasn't made it to the shelf. Not only did the Birthday boy himself read it but also his brother before they started the series again to read all three a second (and third) time, at the moment there is some sort of competion going on as to first to get to the book gets to read it, involving some compicated rules and 2 bookmarks in the same book. All in all I'd say that it must be a good read, and if they put it down for more than 5 minutes maybe I'll get a chance to find out what the fuss is about.

The Kanes are back with this continuation of the Kane Chronicles in a spinning world of madness versus order (Chaos versus Ma-at). As their wild Egyptian magical adventures continue, Sadie and Carter find themselves in more and more precarious and strange situations. Their pursuit to defeat Apophis, the giant snake of Chaos, and stop him from swallowing the sun, takes them on treacherous adventures to find an ancient spell... from Brooklyn House to the Underworld to the Land of Demons and the Sea of Chaos.Although this book is supposed to be a transcript, I find it hard to imagine Sadie or Carter describing things as they do in the book, so I suppose it is a mixture of transcript and regular writing. However I got over this pretty early on, as it doesn't really matter or affect the story when it comes down to it! Also I really enjoy that we see the story alternately from Sadie and Carter's perspectives. This adds a bit more variety to the book (not that it needs it!).I have always loved Rick Riordan's characters and this is no exception - the book is bursting with them and they often have wonderful quirky, unusual personalities as well as looks! For example, Bloodstained Blade - demon captain of the Egyptian Queen with a blood-covered double-sided axe for a head, Bes - the crazy hairy dwarf God who always wears Speedos and yells `BOO!' a lot, and Setne - a dangerously sneaky ghost with a nasty streak and as fondness for dressing like the `Ancient Egyptian Mafia'.Of course, Sadie and Carter are superb characters - I especially love Sadie's rebellious streak - and even though there was the occasional American word that I don't think Sadie would say being English, it was not enough to put me off at all.I would recommend the series to anyone with an imagination and taste for adventure and the unexpected! Obviously start with the first book: The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid  Also if you like these books, another series I have really enjoyed and would recommend, is  Candara's Gift: Book 1 in The Kingdom of Gems Trilogy (Accounts of Candara)The Kane Chronicles: The Red PyramidCandara's Gift: Book 1 in The Kingdom of Gems Trilogy (Accounts of Candara)