Ann M. (boochicken) reviewed on + 33 more book reviews
As a story, the Kane Chronicles is as exciting as the other Riordan books. You get very involved in the characters and you learn a lot about Egyptian history, rituals and mysticism. The 3 stars is for the mysticism. For readers who may want to avoid heavy mysticism and occultic practices, this book is heavy-ladden with both. For example, the two main characters had indwelling of Egyptian gods in their bodies, the spirits of Osiris and Isis, in which the gods could speak to them in their heads, and the gods' powers could be channeled through the children. Many characters used amulets & other items as a channeling medium, and dieties could reside in artifacts. There's also the concept of a god or person's secret name, in which if that name be known by another person, you are now controlled or fully-known by that other person, and they can use that knowledge to control you. Finally, there's the concept of each person is made out of various souls or spirit forms, the ba for example could leave your body & travel through great spaces undetected while they sleep, and the ren, if removed makes your body "uninhabited" or like a catatonic idiot, your body becomes a shell of your former self. I hope I'm remembering the terms correctly. Anyhow, just be aware of what you are reading, and what your children are reading.
