The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles, Book 3) [Hardcover]

Rick Riordan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2012 | Age Range: 10 and up | Series: The Kane Chronicles (Book 3) | Lexile Measure: 690L (What's this?)

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent's shadow . . . or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld.

 

Nothing less than the mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles.

 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Exclusive: What are Sadie and Carter Kane Reading?

Sadie Kane: "Reading? You should talk to my brother the genius… Sometimes I read books about London and occasionally I try to learn new hieroglyphics, but mostly I’m too busy with trainees and trying to defeat Apophis.”

My Reading List:

• The Symbolic World of Egyptian Amulets by Philippe Germond

• Treasures of the British Museum by Marjorie Caygill

• The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

• City Secrets London: The Essential Insider’s Guide by Robert Kahn and Tim Adams

• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

• Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian by R.O. Faulkner

• Egyptian Love Spells and Rituals by Claudia Dillaire

• Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Carter Kane: “I read a lot. That’s why Sadie calls me Mr. Wikipedia. My dad is a pretty big history buff, so I read classics and try to learn as much as I can about Egypt and my ancestors. It’s good research when you’re trying to saving the world.”

My Reading List:

• The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations by John Haywood

• Falconry: The Essential Guide by Steve Wright

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

• The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., by Martin Luther King and Clayborne Carson

• The Egyptian Book of the Dead translated by Robert P. Winston and Wallace Budge

• Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

• The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne

• The LA Lakers: 50 Amazing Years in the City of Angels by the LA Times Sports Staff

• Britannia in Brief: The Scoop on All Things British by Leslie Baker and William Mullins

• The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Review

Storytelling that will get readers hooked -- Philip Ardagh The Guardian Witty and inspired. Gripping, touching and deliciously satirical. Times Sure to become a classic Sunday Express --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781423140573
• ISBN-13: 978-1423140573
• ASIN: 1423140575
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (650 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre - the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children's fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 30 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller. In 2011, Rick received the Children's Choice Book Award for Author of the Year.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#24 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#26 in Books

#33 in Books > Teens

#38 in Kindle eBooks

#39 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#26 in Books

#33 in Books > Teens

#38 in Kindle eBooks

#39 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A good ending for the story arc, hope there are more! May 9, 2012

By Mom of Two

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thought this was a great ending for the trilogy. I just hope we will see more of the Kane family if another series soon. Loved the cameo appearances from Camp Half Blood at the school dance! :-) I hope we might see a story arc mixing the demi gods and the magicians at some point?!

47 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Riordan's Fans Won't Be Disappointed May 3, 2012

By Leigh

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

With "The Serpent's Shadow," Rick Riordan sticks with his winning formula: gods and heroes (or magicians) must work together to save the world--and they only have a few days to do it. In the final book of the Kane Chronicle, Carter and Sadie have to complete a quest to stop Apophis and the forces of chaos before they destroy all of the created order. Along the way there's plenty of humor, a little romance, some crazy outfits, and lots of fun twists as Riordan brings Egyptian mythology into the modern world. Fans of Riordan's Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series will notice a couple cameos--and some hints of more adventures to come. It's a fun romp of a read. Highly recommended.

38 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars He's done it again! May 6, 2012

By writingnow

Format:Kindle Edition

Honestly, I was a bit apprehensive going into this. Rick had left far more questions than answers at the end of TOF, and I had a horrible feeling that I was going to be disappointed with some of the resolutions.

I don't know why I doubted his abilities for a second.

Packed with the humor, action, and romance we've come to expect (not to mention including a suble nod or two to our friends in Manhattan), the final instalment in the Kane Chronicles Trilogy is guarenteed to keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. An absolute must-read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of the series May 13, 2012

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

I've got to admit that the first two books in the Kane Chronicles I was not crazy about. They werent quite on the Percy Jackson level that i love- But this one is incredible. I love it. It is easily the best part of the trilogy. Rick Riordan tied in some stuff from Percy's world, too-Piper McLean's enemy Drew is the local mean girl and Lacy (also from the Aphrodite cabin) is a friend of Sadie's. The characters reach the depth they need in this book. The ending is great.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An epic conclusion May 8, 2012

By Andy Shuping

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Apophis is rising and chaos is about to destroy the world. And only Carter and Sadie Kane can stop him. But the only ones left to stand with them are the young magicians of Brooklyn House as their allies are being attacked, the House of Life is divided and on the brink of the civil war, and the gods themselves stand apart. To put an end to Apophis they need to find a spell that has been lost for a millennia and the only one that can lead them to it is the ghost of a deadly magician. Can Carter and Sadie do the impossible one last time? Or will the world fall into chaos?

In this third and final book in the Kane trilogy, Riordan once again weaves his magic to create an epic battle and a memorable story. Riordan weaves a tale that will keep the reader on the edge of the seat through the twists and turns that are created, wondering and hoping that all of our heroes survive to do battle one more time. There's plenty of humor, some romance, the return of old friends, and lots of fun twists in this tale. And possibly a hint or two of future adventures to come. It's an epic read and I highly recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Riordan strikes perfection May 11, 2012

By Man1mal

Format:Kindle Edition

An excellent solution to an excellent serises! Riordan has done it again! He always describes with such great detail and precision. A pleasure to read. I hope he continues to excert what great talent he has on future books. Though the mythology theme is getting old. No of the less, this book is an excellent read and I would recommend it to anyone regardless of age!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Serpent's Shadow September 3, 2012

By Pearl

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Okay, I'm over 21 but I love Riordan's YA books. I wait as avidly for them as the teens. He manages to teach them responsibility and self-reliance without being preachy, like many of the books that I enjoyed as teen. I'm getting them to read Heinlein and Orson Scott Card also.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not great, but OK - Isn't Carter a main character? May 28, 2012

By awhite0

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Compared to other books by Riordan, this one was good but not great. It wasn't a page turner like the previous books and in the end, the story seemed compressed and didn't get into the relationships as much as it should have. Plus, with Carter being a pivotal main character, he sure didn't do much except get saved by other characters. The story had more focus on Zia and Walt than on Carter. Sadie made a decent showing though. But with Carter, what happens with him at the end didn't really hold up considering what went on previously in the story. Overall, I felt the story was rushed but was an OK ending to the trilogy.