The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

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.

Like The Red Pyramid Throne of Fire is a great book. The plot is fast-paced and full of action, and there is just enough characterization for the reader to invest in the characters without slowing it down. I love to call Riordan’s books “brain candy” because they have a fun, effortless way of making you learn ancient history and mythology. While I’m reading I can’t help but go look things up, which is frustrating only because when I’m reading about Egyptian Gods on google links I’m not finishing the book! I loved Zia’s twist, it’s nice to see a book teach boys that just because they love a girl doesn’t mean the girl has to love them back or she’s a horrible person. I am a little annoyed with how the Kanes are turning into less of a brother-and-sister-team and more of a hero-with-sister-sidekick. Sadie seemed a little more reactionary and in an assistant role than she was in the last book. I hope Riordan doesn’t leave his female readers in the lurch in the future. However, he has plenty of time to redeem himself in the next book, and I will be happy to read it!