The Throne of Fire

Rick Riordan

Carter and Sadie Kane have been building their school for young magicians in Brooklyn. Now they have been given the task of rescuing Ra, the ancient Egyptian Sun God, before the spring equinox in about a week. They have to start by getting into a museum in New York City and retrieving the first of three parts of the Book of Ra that shows Ra's three aspects.They are joined by some promising students, Jaz and Walt.

Then Sadie and Carter have to go to Russia and face down the third-most powerful magician in the world. They are joined by the Dwarf God, Bes, who hates Vlad for past actions. They also learn that Vlad has turned to the evil  side, helping Chaos try to defeat Ra and destroy the world. Yet he lets the second portion of the Book of Ra go easily as if he wants the Kanes to succeed.

Egypt is their next destination, both to find the third part of the Book and to rescue Zia for Carter. If they are able to accomplish those goals, Carter and Sadie will still have to spend 12 hours in the Duat (alternate land) trying to find Ra in his lands and bringing him back to our world.

The Throne of Fire is the second book in Rick Riordan's Kane series featuring Egyptian gods and magic. The target age level would be around 12 or so, but everyone can enjoy Sadie's and Carter's problems as they try to save the world - again.

Riordan tells the story from both Carter and Sadie's point of view as they swap off between chapters or sections. He makes it more fun when the two squabble like brother and sister at times. They run into fantastic situations - when Sadie visits her grandparents in London, her grandmother has turned into a vulture god and her grandfather into an overgrown ape god.

As well as being a good story, The Throne of Fire reminds/teaches the reader more about the ancient Egyptian gods and pharaohs.

The Throne of Fire appeals to everyone. I enjoy that this series addresses both a girl and a boy on their own levels, making this a book for both sexes. Sadie is supposed to have been raised in London, but she acts like an American most of the time, so we lose some of the extra culture clashes there could be.

I enjoyed The Throne of Fire. It was slower reading for me, yet I had to know what would happen next. There are new side story lines thrown in, including the real Zia rather than the fake one from The Red Pyramid, and Walt's genetic history.

Then there's Bes, the Dwarf God who wears Speedos. If he doesn't make you laugh, you're in a bad place. He's comic relief with lots of power.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence

The Red Pyramid
The Throne of Fire
The Serpent's Shadow