The Throne of Fire
2011
- serie:the_kane_chronicles
- magic
- adventure and adventurers
- egyptian mythology
- fiction
- juvenile fiction
- fantasy
- nyt:chapter_books=2011-08-06
- quests (expeditions)
- action & adventure
The story
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. To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly? Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.
What it’s like
Snappy, breezy middle-grade adventure with a conversational, wisecracking energy: two siblings take turns narrating in alternating first-person chapters, and the voices carry you forward through short, punchy scenes that rarely sit still. The world is modern Brooklyn and far-flung hot spots layered over Egyptian myth, so expect brisk sunlit travel, cramped kitchens and training rooms, desert and river imagery, and the grit of a city street, all rendered in quick, playful sentences with plenty of dialogue and jokes. The mood is lively and warm rather than dark, with a sense of familial teasing underneath the peril. Fights and magical clashes happen often and are described with a cartoonish, bloodless energy: action-heavy, mildly scary moments, nothing gory, no sexual content. The emotional arc follows two siblings learning to trust each other and grow into their powers, with a steady undercurrent of humor. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a long train ride, or a comfort read for anyone who enjoys mythology-flavoured quests with a fast pace and a light touch. Best for young readers and adults who want a gentle, fast, funny fantasy adventure.
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