When I read Rick Riordan’s first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief, I was unimpressed and stopped reading the series. Of course, the Percy Jackson stories garnered a strong following of teenage readers who thought the idea of a kid having the powers of the Greek gods appealing. Rick Riordan’s newest series novel, The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles #1, features a brother and sister team who seek to rescue their archeologist/magician father from the clutches of the Egyptian god, Set. [SPOILER ALERT!] In fact, Carter Kane is possessed by Horus and Sadie Katie is possessed by Isis. [END OF SPOILER ALERT!] Plenty of magic, a globe-trotting journey, and sibling rivalry result. I found this 516-page book too long and too discursive. I’m sure The Red Pyramid will make a great movie with tons of CGI effects. You might want to wait for the movie version. GRADE: C+
(Thanks to the North Tonawanda Public Library for providing this book.)
While I agree it was too long I guess I liked it more than you did, George. I think he learnerd something as the Percy Jackson series went along, and though there are similarities here (and both are pretty much a clever takeoff on Harry Potter, combined with the mythology elements) I thought he did a pretty good job.
And maybe you should have given a WARNING about the whole possession thing for those who haven’t read it yet and don’t know.
Oops, you’re right, Jeff. I should have given a SPOILER ALERT. I’ll go back and insert it. And you’re also right about the “borrowing” of the Harry Potter template.
And here I just picked up a used copy of The lightening Thief based on some comments by Jeff. I guess eventually I’ll try it, but you took the win from my sails, George. Then again, I recall other books that I liked and you didn’t. You certainly got this one from the library fast! There are over 250 holds on it in my system, for the 8 copies they got. I’m not one of them, I was just curious. That’s more than there are for The Big Short.
Rick Riordan has plenty of fans, Rick. Maybe THE LIGHTENING THIEF will appeal to you. Unless you’re Mark Twain, I think it’s risky to allow a teenage character to narrate a novel.