The Kane Chronicles by Rick Ridoran - Reading from 'The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)' from March 11th 2019

[Haris]

Chapter 13-15: (view spoiler)[Then there was that Israelite fellow, Mickey.”
“Moses?”

Rick Riordan really knows how to joke about every mythology :D
These beduins seem like really a lazy folk tho, and it's kinda sad Zia didn't remember mostly anything even though Carter busted his ass to save her. And then sided against him as well...
(hide spoiler)]
Chapter 16-18: (view spoiler)[Frankly the 16th was a interesting chapter since finally Walt's problem was revealed. And it's really an interesting twist. Though I'm disappointed since I expected more references to the PJ series since that dude was Roman. Though it's not logical since this guy is way way older but still, a guy can hope.
And damn, the russian magician got himself a death squad.
(hide spoiler)]

I can't get back into reading. Always something else pops out :|
Either way I'm wrapping this book up tomorrow

[Haris]

Chapter 19-21: (view spoiler)[This diving into the duat is really interesting. And I definitely want to see Ra at it's best now. I mean even his aspects are interesting

And poor Bes... (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 22-24: (view spoiler)[This felt a better ending compared to the one in the first book for me. I'm glad I'm reading this series. And damn, RA really isn't what I was expecting in this book (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

I haven't been doing all that well with reading either, so you aren't alone in that

Chapter 13-15 (view spoiler)[
I don’t know what it is about Carter, but I just don’t care much about his chapters. What I like about his chapters though is Zia herself. Her reaction is perfectly reasonable. And Vlad is doing a good job just being creepy. I feel a little bad for Carter, being friend zoned and all.
I love how the narrator added famous names to the story and linked them to Greek Myth. Walt being the descendant of Tutankhamen (what a name to spell). And Bast! I missed her presence in this book, though Bes is also an enjoyable character to act as the guardian. Sadie never fails to make me crack a smile with her sarcasm, including naming the hole she created ‘Sadie Kane Memorial Crater’. Or maybe it’s just my poor sense of humour. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 16-18 (view spoiler)[
Sadie’s chapter felt just long, but I really loved it. The mix of Roman and Egypt, the creepy mummies, a ghost named Mad Claude. The fact that they tried to offer a juice pouch and beef jerky to a god (Ptah—I am really happy I am listening to this as audio because otherwise, I had no idea how to pronounce all these names). I was, sadly enough, spoiled a little about what was going on with Walt so it didn’t really surprise me that he was going to die eventually. Now with the book of Ra completed, they can finally start their journey to raise Ra once again.
I can’t believe it, I’m actually enjoying Carter’s chapter. Well, I didn’t enjoy Carter per se, I enjoyed the rest of the crew. Between Zia, Bes and Sadie, the dynamic is funny and loveable. The fact that they got Carter Pokemon pj’s made me laugh. I really hope there will be an all-out battle at the Brooklyn house, but I fear for the worst. You’ll see that it will be saved for the next book. Well, it seems that they finally start their journey to awaken Ra. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "I haven't been doing all that well with reading either, so you aren't alone in that

Chapter 13-15
I don’t know what it is about Carter, but I just don’t care much about his chapters. What I like ..."

I kinda liked Carter's chapters more. I really don't like Sadie's crush of Anubis that much

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "I haven't been doing all that well with reading either, so you aren't alone in that

Chapter 13-15
I don’t know what it is about Carter, but I just don’t care much about his chapters...."

The crush is admittedly kinda uncomfortable, with the whole age gap and such and the fact that Anubis is a god.

[Mara]

Chapter 19-21 (view spoiler)[
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am totally clueless (I wasn’t about the whole REM sleep thing—mindless internet research is paying off). The first challenge feels a little easy, like, Sadie just reads the paper and doesn’t risk anything. Of course, Menshikov is following them (though I wonder how, as the sea is really dangerous and such from what I read). I feel bad for Tawaret, as she seems to be a really gentle goddess. I wasn’t really surprised to see Ra being so old, though I hadn’t expected there to be a retirement home for old gods. Now I wonder what Olympus does with the old gods, hmmm….
The moon god is a jerk, Bes is gone (poor guy) and the Kane siblings start a war with the moon god, basically. Or defeat him in that tabletop game that somehow reminds me of a ‘game of goose’ or goose board (please don’t be a faulty translation). (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22-24 (view spoiler)[
The battle against Apophis felt a little… anticlimactic. I understand that it’s postponed till the last book, but in the end, it was Desjardins that ended the fight and defeated Apophis and Vlad (this really felt like a throwback to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, with (view spoiler)[ Kronos taking over Luke’s body (hide spoiler)]. Ra makes me chuckle half of the time, mostly because he acted like a toddler (which might not be good, but at least I got a few laughs out of it.
Talking about anticlimactic battles, the Brooklyn house one disappointed me. You join at the tail end of the battle and that’s it. Sadie and Carter tell everyone about what happened—you get a Harry Potter-esk divide between the houses and we learn that Jaz is healed by the rising of Ra (so it was worth something). Well, onto the next book, I suppose. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am totally clueless (I wasn’t about the whole REM sleep t..."

Couldn't agree more. Though I still like this ending more than the last one. Anyhow, when do you want to start the next book? I'm fine with whenever

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am totally clueless (I wasn’t about the whol..."

I'm fine with somewhere next month, I have no other br planned because I am not always the best at keeping up with them (see this one XD)

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am totally clueless (I wasn’t ..."

Oh please, we managed to read 10 books together so easily. It's just been a rough month. Let's start on the first then :)

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am totally cluele..."

That's true. I keep on forgetting how much we read together already XD But the first it is!

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, because I am ..."

Two Percy series and these two books. So it's 12 books actually :D

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and all that stuff, ..."

Technically 11 because we didn't br The Lightning Thief, but still a lot.

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve houses and al..."

True, we'll read 20 or so books this year just alone :D


Chapter 1-3
(view spoiler)[Oh wow this book started really fast-paced, already a battle at the second chapter. And I really wonder what a shadow has to do with defeating a giant snake. And on top of that. Plan B will definitely happen, it's obvious as soon as they mentioned it.

I feel like Sadie's explanation got even more annoying. She said half a paragraph for her brother but then detailed long explanations of Walt and Anubis made me roll my eyes a little bit.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Chapter 1 - 3
(view spoiler)[ While formulaic, I must say that Riordan knows how to start a book. There was one thing that annoyed me, and that was that they kept it a secret for very long what they were looking for. The stakes are raised in this book, the entire 51st Gnome was completely wiped out and I was like wait, what?, because I don’t know Riordan for killing off many characters but nope, he just killed them off (well, I think they might return at the end? But I will see). The recap wasn’t too tedious and there was plenty of action and things at stake (poor penguins). Carter’s chapter passed in a blur, but I liked it. Seeing them all at the Brooklyn House makes me happy, giving me the ‘found family’ kind of feeling, and that the same cast of characters is carried over to this book. And I think I get the title! Since they’re talking about people’s Shadow and such, and since Apophis is a Serpent. It could be a possibility! (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, and the twelve ..."

It's going to be weird once we finish this, as we eventually run out of books to read.

(view spoiler)[ I hadn't even thought about it, but since they seemed so reluclant about plan B, it makes indeed sense that plan B is the one they will go with. After all, when will it actually be easy for them XD

Honestly, I barely notice them anymore, but I think I zone out during her descriptions and moaning about her love interests (suddenly I am really happy that I have the audiobook). Honestly, every time I heard Anubis description I somehow end up thinking off Nico and that's definitely weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey of Ra works, a..."

We can always find other books :D

(view spoiler)[It isn't so weird actually. I bet if Sadie ever met Nico she would be smitten with him as he has the same death vibe around him like Anubis. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4-6
(view spoiler)[
So Sadie dragged Carter to dance right before going on a serious task. I approve, it was enough drama for the first chapters. But it's sad that it didn't last that long.

And now we even have plan C LOL. But I'm glad at least they have a clear goal right now but I hope Carter and Sadie won't be separated for long. In the book 2 the plot was really boring when they weren't together.

Again another annoying Anubis description. Just damn, that girl is thirsty.

(hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 19-21
I’m glad for the clear explanation of how the whole journey o..."

That's true, plus, still 7 books to go

(view spoiler)[ One day Riordan will write that isn't completely boy crazy (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I finally get why Sadie drives you insane, she is getting there with me too. I somehow fear the worst and that they will remain separated for most of the time, but only time will tell. (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Chapter 4-6
(view spoiler)[ I’m pleasantly surprised with Carter’s chapter. He isn’t all that Zia obsessed anymore, and that immediately makes him more likeable. And my favourite god returns with Ra, who is the only one who isn’t pretty much an ass. The idea of Horus as a pigeon is, well, interesting.

The idea of them going to school is almost ridiculous, but it also makes sense. I think you need to meet people outside of your group, or you go crazy. Drew’s and Lacy’s cameos were a nice throwback to camp half-blood. I have reached a point that Sadie is starting to drive me crazy with her love woos. Like, girl, I get it, in love is hard bla bla bla but seriously, is it possible to stop thinking about either Anubis or Walt? You’re thirteen, for heaven's sake. I like the chapter with the Russian boy, Amos and Zia a lot better, because we’re getting somewhere with the plot (and she isn’t pining after boys), and uncle Vinnie’s mention never fails to make me crack up. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

7-9
(view spoiler)[Geez so many deadlines, literally everything is happening on the same day. I did like these two Carter's chapters now as his friendship with Walt is nice, also Walt has some awesome destructive new powers :)

I hope Sadie will find Bes' shadow soon. I miss that big dwarf

So another evil dude will help our MCs, that's kinda fun :D
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Chapter 4-6

(view spoiler)[Wait what? Drew And Lacy were those harpies, weren't they? How could I have missed that lol

And I know right, Sadie is so freaking love-struck. She shouldn't be that much into boys if you think of her age
(hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Chapter 4-6

Wait what? Drew And Lacy were those harpies, weren't they? How could I have missed that lol

And I know right, Sadie is so freaking love-struck. She shouldn't be that much..."

(view spoiler)[ Honestly, I was kinda spoilt on their cameo because otherwise, I wouldn't have noticed. They're from the Aphrodite cabin. Like, in The Lost Hero, Piper had beef with Drew (Lacy was okay as far as I remember)

I think, with Sadie, it feels like her part is more a romance novel than an adventure novel about ancient deities and deadlines and a lot of action (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Chapter 7-9
(view spoiler)[ Carter and Walt’s friend is really enjoyable, and honestly, the entire interaction with Thoth positively surprised me. The fight was short enough so that it didn’t drag on, but there was also some excitement. Thoth wasn’t a too bad god, he was really aloof about the whole thing and actually did help Carter and Walt, instead of sending them on another quest and add another chapter of doing crazy things. It’s also to hear more about ‘uncle Vinnie’ and how he technically is is just a big bad guy. I hope that Walt will make the end of the book, though it’s nice to see that his illness isn’t suddenly erased.

I feel bad for Bes and I really hope that Sadie will manage to find his Shadow. I wonder what’s up with Zia, as there is clearly something going on. (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Chapter 10-12
(view spoiler)[ It’s cool to see how the land of judgement works, and that there are still modern day people who are up for trial. I feel like Walt and Anubis are co-operating in some way??? Since Walt suddenly knows his stuff. Setne is a really creepy guy, but I suppose that isn’t surprising since he’s kinda the bad guy? The thing about this chapter was that it felt really Sadie focussed, sort of forgetting about the other people. If it was only her there, nothing much would’ve changed. And guess what, they’re splitting up, again.

While I liked Carter and Zia working together, and Carter no longer being annoyingly obsessed with her. Still, they trust Setne way too much and during the two chapters I was just waiting for it to go wrong. I was surprised to realise that Zia had sort off merged with the Scarab. I had expected her to follow to the path of Ra like Amos is following the path of Set. Honestly, I was waiting for Bloodstained Blade to turn on them, it was something long time coming (especially when they summoned him and the ship again). (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

10-12
(view spoiler)[The hall of judgement was really fun, and it's kinda interesting that the hall changes depending on the soul. And a good Wall Street banker is sure something of a rarity.

So basically Zia is the ideal godling for Ra and that's why there's so much trouble. And Setne is the type of guy I avoid I typically avoid on the street.

Bloodstained Blade turning on them is kinda obvious as that guy was just looking for a bad command so he could find a flaw to abuse.

Random thought, Percy had the dam joke while this novel has the Hapi joke :D
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

I realized I'm a day behind. I'll fix that in the upcoming days since I'm rather busy now

[Haris]

Chapter 13-15
(view spoiler)[Setne putting Bloodstained Blade against Carter and Zia is kinda obvious. I'm glad they messed him up even for a little while.

So Walt and Anubis fusing into one is weird as heck for Sadie. Or she got her wish fulfilled, I don't know really. I mean this way she doesn't have to choose between boys XD

And Zia being Ra's godling is kinda weird. I mean just picture the old senile Ra inside her (even saying it...makes me feel disturbed on a whole new level)

(hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "I realized I'm a day behind. I'll fix that in the upcoming days since I'm rather busy now"

No worries! I was a day behind too (but weekdays are easier for me to read than weekends, which is kinda weird but happens)

[Mara]

Chapter 13-15
(view spoiler)[ More boys talk, but hey, I like Neith. She is a good kind of crazy—in a world like this, zombies aren’t even that farfetched tbh. The game of hide and seek was pretty fun, and bits of Sadie’s personality I like actually shined through. Jelly Babies? Really??? I was smiling like a fool. And then, boy trouble. Well, that’s one way to fix a love triangle. Merge the two guys together. It’s pretty original, to be fair, but still. Couldn’t it have been different? Like, no love triangle to begin with???

It’s weird that I enjoy Zia and Carter putting forces together, but I really, really like their dynamic. Between Zia blasting BSB (quality nickname Rick). And Setne steaking off with the book of Thoth wasn’t really surprising, though it was fun how casually they acted around a wrapped up Setne who was squirming around like a worm. I like Zia even more in this book. She’s fierce, a little hot-headed, a lot more relaxed. (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Chapter 16-18
(view spoiler)[ The glamour of them as demons somehow reminded me of Annabeth and Percy’s adventure in Tartarus, when they were hiding in the Death Mist. Sadie comes to the rescue and they’re finally reunited, thank gods. They work best when they banter. Capturing the Serpent’s shadow feels almost too easy, like, where is the real struggle. It was awesome to see all the old gods wreak havoc in the land of Chaos, and Bes! I missed the grumpy old dude so much.

Well, Sadie got a taste of her own medicine, and her situation isn’t even that bad! She got both of the guys in one, while Carter’s crush shares a body with a buff grandpa. That’s a lot worse! While the fight was epic, like, a proper fight and not the one of the last book, like Amos channelling Set (and Set being his wonderful, havoc-wrecking self), Walt getting insanely protective over Sadie was a why??? Honestly, when Walt fought Kwai, I somehow imagined Nico fighting there (I was expecting skeletons rising from the floor instead of jackals, but fair enough, I never can unsee the official fanart). I’m not surprised to see Carter take the role as the pharaoh, as Ra had hinted it??? I can’t believe the book has almost ended. (hide spoiler)]

I will finish the book tomorrow. Technically there are still five chapters left, but I have like, 1 hour of audio left so yeah.

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Chapter 13-15
Setne putting Bloodstained Blade against Carter and Zia is kinda obvious. I'm glad they messed him up even for a little while.

So Walt and Anubis fusing into one is weird as heck for..."

(view spoiler)[ Well, the Walt and Anubis merge is one way to solve a love triangle XD Totally agree, Zia hosting Ra would be just... weird. With him being an old grandpa and all. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Chapter 16-18
(view spoiler)[Poor Carter, his hot badass magician girlfriend turned intoa an old baldie. I bet that will leave him with PTSD or something.

Sadie saved the day once more and now I'm somewhat annoyed at Carter. This dude is supposed to be the best badass Pharaoh yet to come and he doesn't do anything, cosntantly being saved by his 13 year old sister. And yeah, she's 13 and her boyfriend is 5000 plus Walt's 16 years. That's just wrong
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

19-end
(view spoiler)[
It was a satisfying end even though I had some issues with the characters I quite like this book. And there's some foreshadowing for the next series so that's well (I mean Rick Riordan left some stuff to explore with Sadie and Kane but I highly doubt that he'll write another series about them for some time)

The gods being "banished" is kinda interesting and I like that Carter actually did something at the end lol. And Zia and him are quite a cute couple, I approve. I was kinda rolling my eyes when Sadie commented his description as being too much. I mean really girl?

Sadie and Walt? Meh

The mom ghost: "Walt and Anubis are both good young men."
YOUNG MAN?! That's just weird (hide spoiler)]

So when are we attacking
Frankly I'm hyped for the Nordic mythology

I'll also try to find somewhere the crossovers between Kane Chronicles and PJ

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "19-end

It was a satisfying end even though I had some issues with the characters I quite like this book. And there's some foreshadowing for the next series so that's well (I mean Rick Riordan left..."

(view spoiler)[ I don't know what irked me about this book (I think that it was there was more focus on the side characters than the main characters? idk). I am for whatever reason expecting this big coming together of all the characters. But yeah, I don't expect another series for them, especially since I feel like these books aren't that popular with the fans (which I find a shame because I think this is at least up there with Heroes of Olympus).

Honestly, I feel like this series was just a steady progression of us getting slowly fed up with Sadie and her two crushes. But yeah, the age differences are just kinda awkward. (hide spoiler)]

I'm up for whenever you are! I have them all on audio, so I'm always good to go. And I heard that the books were pretty great, so I am curious (and I know close to nothing about it, so that's good. Nobody had spoilt me anything yet).

I have the three stories as MOBI files I could send you? I have the story collections as an audiobook through a service, so I listen to that one, but I have most of Riordan's books also as ebooks.

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "19-end

It was a satisfying end even though I had some issues with the characters I quite like this book. And there's some foreshadowing for the next series so that's well (I mean Ric..."

Oh thanks, can you send them then please? And let's start tomorrow then, I need to wrap up another book, and write 2-3 reviews (which these days I'm really avoiding)

EDIT: I just freaking realized. Magnus freaking CHASE. We know a character with that surname

[Haris]

Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "19-end


(view spoiler)[True, Sadie and her love triangle practically lowered my rating of the book alone. It's a great book, but...I don't think I'll ever re-read it in the future (hide spoiler)]

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "19-end

It was a satisfying end even though I had some issues with the characters I quite like this book. And there's some foreshadowing for the next series so that's wel..."

I sent you the drive link, which hopefully works! I feel that. I usually just sit down and just, write down a string of consciousness and hope something decent comes out of it and throw that on the internet anyway because I can blame it on the lack of English skills if necessary.

I mean, fair enough. You don't get to hear Annabeth's full name often (and it feels like a hot minute since we read Heroes of Olympus)

[Mara]

Haris wrote: "Mara wrote: "Haris wrote: "19-end


[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, for me too. I don't mind romance novels, but if I read a fantasy story, I want only a little romance. I think the first book is by far the strongest for me, and now I know more about the world, I want to reread it somewhere in the future, but I'm not as excited about the rest anymore. (hide spoiler)]