Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Riordan's usual winning mix of action, mythology, and humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel to the first book significantly improves on its predecessor with a blend of humor, action, and educational content about Egyptian mythology, making it appealing to a younger audience around 10-14 years old. While some reviewers express concerns about the emphasis on romantic elements involving younger characters, the general consensus is that the book provides relatable role models and engaging storytelling that captivates readers.
- action-packed
- character development
- educational content
- humor
- relatable role models
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
It's almost the end of the world. Again. But in this installment of the Kane Chronicles series, it's a battle between the force of chaos -- the giant snake Apophis, who's about to break out of his prison -- and the Ma'at, or order. Brother-sister team Carter and Sadie are convinced that the best way to fight Apophis is by waking the sun god, Ra. But first they have to find three torn parts of a scroll to work the spell, recover Ra's boat in the Duat, and, of course, find Ra himself, who retired eons ago. All this by the spring equinox, just days away. But the House of Life isn't convinced that Ra is the one who will save the day and is threatening to come after Carter, Sadie, and all their new magic students training in Brooklyn. Some of the gods aren't gung-ho about Ra's return either -- and of course it's always the scary ones with big teeth and claws who are ready to pick a fight.
Is It Any Good?
Sadie and Carter's world may be ending -- a common theme in many fantasy books these days -- but they really are in for a fun ride, and so are readers. If our summary of the book's plot didn't make sense, readers will definitely want to re-read The Red Pyramid and check out the handy glossaries in the back of THE THRONE OF FIRE (thank goodness they're included this time!). With the complex story set-up out of the way already, Throne of Fire gets right to the action. It digs into life in Brooklyn, with new recruits in training, and is filled with adventures that mix gods and mortals, world travel via portal, pyramid and museum pillaging, and inventive combat magic.
Riordan's wit is in top form here, introducing a new protector god who's irreverent to say the least (not spoiling the surprise). To say nothing of the funny chapter headings (such as "A Birthday Invitation to Armageddon") and the teasing brother-sister banter as Sadie and Carter take turns narrating. And, as always, the brilliant author manages to work a little educational material into a great summer beach read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what drew them to this series. Is it because of author Rick Riordan? How does this series compare to the Percy Jackson books?
A popular theme with many big fantasy series is the end of the world. Why do you think that is? Why do you think authors enjoy playing with that idea -- and why are readers interested in it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
- Publication date : May 3, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 464
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate