Book Review: The Kane Chronicles

Author: Rick Riordan
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 4, 2010)
Genre: YA Mythology
Read: Paperback
Stars: ****/5
Summary: (GoodReads) 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.

Author: Rick Riordan
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 3, 2011)
Genre: YA Mythology
Read: eBook
Stars: ****/5
Summary: (GoodReads) Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

Review:

Having read the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series and I knew a bit about Greek and Roman mythology but I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the Egyptian version so I was a bit tentative when picking up the book.

The book starts with a warning that it is a transcription of a digital recording. It's the first time ever that I have seen a warning of this kind in a book. A nice way to say any mythological errors/deviations should be forgiven.

Riordan was great with Greek and Roman mythology, but I think he excelled at Egyptian. I understood so much about Egyptian mythology, its hierarchy and stories while reading the books. I've had an interest in Egypt but wonder now why I never delved into Egyptian Mythology.

The books are written as a dialogue between Sadie and Carter, the brother and sister deo who are trying to save the world from chaos. I wasn't sure how well this would read but I have enjoyed the books. There were times when I felt like telling a character to shut-up but those moments weren't so many that it would spoil the books the books for me.

If you like YA Action Mystery Thrillers, then you should read this series. The third book is scheduled for May 1st and I'm looking forward to it.
Have you read the Kane Chronicles? Liked it?