Ever since reading the Percy Jackson series I am addicted to Rick Riordan’s books. I know they are meant for young adults, but they are fun reads, with lovely integration of Greek and Egyptian mythology and kid heroes. This is the second book in the Kane Chronicles, focussing on Sadie and Carter Kane and the Egyptian gods.
It is three months after the events from The Red Pyramid. Sadie and Kane are training new recruits in their Brooklyn safe house, when Carter hears from Horus that they have only five days to save the world. They have to revive the sun-god Ra who hasn’t been the ruler of the gods in millennia. Meanwhile the snake of Chaos Apophis is rising and wants to throw the whole world into chaos.
It is a simple fun, adventurous read. A lot of action happens really fast, and a lot of monsters and gods show up. I have no idea how kids like these books, but I like them. Sometimes I don’t believe that Sadie is supposed to be 13, and Carter 14, not only because of the heroism they display, but also because of the way they handle relationships, grief and living on their own. I have no idea if kids are really this mature, or if Riordan just wrote miniature adults. Anyway, another fun Riordan book, four out of five stars.

Almost two years ago I read The Magicians by Lev Grossman, because I loved his previous book, The Codex. The Codex was a Dan Brown like historical adventure. The Magicians was something completely different. It is often described as Harry Potter for adults with a nice cross over to Narnia. And it is. Kids graduating from high school go to a secret magic college called Brakebills. But more interesting is, what happens after graduation? What do you do then? And then they figure out Filleroy (Narnia) is real, and they have an adventure. A real one, with pain, horrors and death, and with a bitter-sweet happy ending.
This is the sequel, with small references to the first book, as well as using the same characters. The four remaining characters from The Magicians are the four kings of Filleroy. But weird things are happening, and Quentin is craving an adventure, a quest. And he gets what he wishes for, when he is dumped back on earth.
The story is again dark, with pretty awful things happening to everybody. The mythology of the world (Earth, Neitherland and Filleroy) is worked out further, and more background is given to what Julia had to go through to learn and earn magic. Heartbreaking stuff. Meanwhile, Quentin learns what it means to be a hero.
I loved the first book, and loved this one too. For me it is a wonderful mix of fantasy and a real story (nothing young adult here). Four out of five stars.