Customer Reviews

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus

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In the wake of the Twilight craze, we've all seen far too many vampire and werewolf stories flooding the market. Not that I have anything against Dracula or the Wolf Man, but I always had a soft spot for the Mummy. Maybe there's not enough room for edgy romantic triangles in archaeology and Egyptology but it seems to me to offer plenty of fertile ground for fun stories. That's where Theodosia is a bit of fresh air - even if it does come from long buried crypts and the basements of British museums!

In this third book of the series, Theodosia is still trying to rid the Egyptian artifacts of curses in her parent's museum, the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in Edwardian London. Theo has a useful talent for detecting curses, and with a new exhibit about to open there's plenty to do. But when she attends a magic show for an Egyptian magician named Awi Bubu, it appears that he is more authentic than she expected. Soon after, she and her brother discover an emerald tablet hidden inside another artifact at the museum, and before long the Serpents of Chaos, the Arcane Order of the Black Sun, and even Awi Bubu himself are after it. The only one who doesn't seem interested is the Brotherhood of Chosen Keepers - the very group who ought to be taking a most careful notice.

Having enjoyed Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris recently, I found this one to be a little more exciting. It's a fun story with a clever wit to it. Theodosia is a likeable heroine who finds herself in impossibly dangerous and difficult circumstances, yet seems to take it all with characteristically low-key English stride. Fans of the Percy Jackson series ought to enjoy this one.

I have to admit, I enjoy Young Adult fiction as much as I do "regular" fiction. In some cases, significantly more. It seems to me that children's authors have to make their stories so much more original and believable in order to keep the interest of their target audience. Having said that, it can also be a big jump when purchasing a book in a series that one has never read, because the same things that attract an older audience can be the same ones that go terribly awry. So it is a pleasure to say that this was not the case with Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus.

Theo (as she is called by her friends and family) is a very special girl who works in her family's museum and, behind the scenes, rids Egyptian artifacts of their curses. She has a cat names Isis, belongs to a super-secret organization and has a pick-pocket for a friend. Really, what could go wrong? As it turns out - so many things...

The story is well written and was very enjoyable - in fact, I have recommended it to my 9-year-old to read. I enjoyed it so much that I will be heading to the library this week to find the first book in the series, and hopefully the third as well. While reading these in order is not totally necessary, enough of the first book was alluded to in this one to have me a little confused a few times. So while not strictly necessary, I would recommend it.

It's a great book in what appears to be a fun series, and I look forward to reading more!

What a refreshing change to read a book for young readers that gets the historical details of ancient Egypt (mostly) correct! "Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus" by R. L. LaFevers, was an absolute delight! Theodosia knows about malicious ancient Egyptian heka (magic) and how to combat it. Though her parents and those around her are mostly oblivious, clearly Theodosia is not the only one that is intrigued by the power and the magic of the Ancient Egyptian culture. Sometimes those who are interested have malicious intentions and Theodosia and her friends are the only ones that can stand in the way of these people letting lose powers that they clearly don't understand.

As someone who actually has a professional egyptologist in the family, it is quite obvious that LaFevers has done her research on both that subject as well as the times of Victorian / Edwardian London and the growing Theosophical and mystical fraternities of the day. I rarely endorse kids books, or indulge in reading them myself. I am one of the few people who really just did not get into the Harry Potter thing at all. However, with this particular series, as an adult and given the subject matter, I found them very enjoyable and purchased this book and the remainder of LaFevers' series for my Kindle eReader.

I like this book even better than the last one I read by R.L. LaFevers. She invented a wonderful female role model with Theodosia Throckmorton. It has a satisfying ending with the lead in to the next adventure in the series. Theodosia is a young girl intelligent beyond her years who spends her time in her parents museum taking curses off Egyptian artifacts while evil doers try to steal them for their own use. She is helped and hindered along by a full cast of characters interesting in their own right. Suspense with a splash of horror, mixed with wit and humor. Nice read no matter what your age.

Eleven-year-old cursebreaker and amateur Egyptologist Theodosia Throckmorton returns again in this sequel to THEODOSIA AND THE STAFF OF OSIRIS, and she's as feisty, capable, and trouble-seeking as ever.

Although she's fresh from saving Edwardian London from the secret society known as the Serpents of Chaos, Theo isn't the kind of girl to take a break. The book opens with her paying a visit to a stage show by a man called Awi Bubu, who professes to know real Egyptian magic. Theo has a little experience in that area, and is convinced that Awi Bubu must be a fake, but visiting his show not only proves her wrong, it plunges her into the midst of another adventure.

Things only become more complicated when her younger brother, Henry, home on holiday, accidentally discovers an emerald tablet in the museum storeroom. When museum curator Stilton--member of the Arcane Order of the Black Sun, a group obsessed with the occult who seems to think Theo is possessed by the Egyptian goddess Isis--identifies the tablet as an incredibly valuable and long-lost magical artifact, Theo is caught between helping him and revealing her secret to the Chosen Keepers. The Keepers are another organization who seems a little more sane than the Order but sometimes refuses to take Theo seriously. Add the Serpents of Chaos back into the mix, and things get pretty crazy pretty quickly.

I loved the first two books in this series, and the third is no exception. LaFevers has created a strong female character who's intelligent and resourceful, who makes mistakes (what eleven-year-old doesn't?) but mostly knows when to ask for help, and has a delightful cast of friends to rely upon. One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this book in the series was the attention it devoted to these friends and acquaintances, from pickpocket Will to magician Awi Bubu to Theo's grandmother.

As usual, I'm looking forward to seeing the development of all of LaFevers' well-drawn characters in the next book!

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

I have enjoyed the Theodosia books. Usually they are stories in themselves, yet moving toward a final ending point. This book was very enjoyable, but seemed more transitional to me. The focus seemed to be on establishing characters and showing who was on whom's side. There was action and it was a fun read, but if this was the only Theodosia book you read, I think you would be a little confused. The other books really could have been read in whatever order (so to speak). Anyway, I am looking forward to the next one. I hope the author will not stetch out the story too much.

I always enjoy the wit of the author. I love the setting and I hope we get to go back to Egypt!

Fans of books like Skulduggery Pleasant [SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT], Artemis Fowl (new cover) and The Hidden Staircase (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #2) will love Theodosia who embodies Nancy Drew crossed with Indiana Jones and a dash of Harry Potter. More than just a basic mystery, Theodosia must use her gifts to resolve the problems that arise in the museum. Fun and frolicking, this series is only getting better and gives us a heroine that hearkens back to the brave and ingenious Ms. Drew mentioned above. Adults will enjoy this read as well.

I wish the THEODOSIA THROCKMORTON series had existed when I was a kid. I went through one heck of an Egyptology phase, and I don't suppose I've ever left my brainy-heroine phase. My parents, though, should probably thank their lucky stars R.L. LaFevers hadn't written these books yet. I can just imagine the mess I'd have made, trying to whip up ancient Egyptian potions in the backyard.

Theodosia is an 11-year-old girl growing up in the Edwardian era. Her parents run a museum, and since they're rather absentminded about anything that doesn't pertain to their work, Theodosia has more freedom than is usual for girls of that time. It's a good thing, too, seeing as how she's always having to save the world. You see, Theodosia has an unusual talent. She can detect curses on ancient Egyptian artifacts. And since she's studied a lot, she knows all kinds of spells to break those curses.

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus begins with our heroine attending an "Egyptian" magic show with her street-urchin friend Will. She's expecting to see fakery, but instead realizes that the magician, Awi Bubu, knows much more about authentic Egyptian magic than he should. Then, while helping her parents catalog a roomful of artifacts, she and her brother find the legendary Emerald Tablet, which is purported to hold the secrets of alchemy.

Now Awi Bubu wants the tablet, and so do two secret societies: the nefarious Serpents of Chaos, and the Arcane Order of the Black Sun, whose leader believes Theodosia is a goddess but just might turn on her if she doesn't live up to his expectations. And as if that weren't enough to deal with, her grandmother is trying to turn her into a proper young lady.

I hadn't read the two previous THEODOSIA books, but found that I was able to catch up with relative ease. It did take a few chapters to get the hang of which secret society had what agenda, but after that it was smooth sailing. I will definitely go back and read the first two, though, because this was a lot of fun!

_Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus_ is filled with well-researched Egyptian lore and populated by quirky, memorable characters, starting with its resourceful heroine. Plus, it's funny. Theodosia has a witty way of describing situations, and some of the curses are simply hilarious.

I recommend the THEODOSIA books to any middle-grader with an Egypt fascination. Girls will be particularly fond of the series due to its engaging female lead, but boys who like Egypt (or sinister villains or stinky hexes) will find plenty to enjoy here as well. Don't forget to scratch Anubis between the ears.

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus is the third book in the Theodosia series, following Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos you, and Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris. Theodosia is a young archaeologist of sorts. She lives in the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London, England. In each book she solves archaeological mysteries and faces perilous danger. While on the way she confronts the Serpents of Chaos, the Order of the Black Sun, and other dangerous groups of evil cults, who want to use ancient Egyptian artifacts to take over the world.

In Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus, Theodosia is dragged to a magic show, where she meets the mysterious and suspicious Egyptian magician Ali Bubu. He performs a ceremony, which in a previous book the Order of the Black Sun used on Theodosia to make her have visions. Events after lead Theodosia to find an ancient emerald tablet, which was first believed to contain an alchemist's notes to turning metal into gold. But who believes in alchemy? Theodosia doesn't, but that doesn't stop the Serpents of Chaos, who wants to get their hands on the tablet. What happens next is a dangerous adventure, filled with fill mystery and excitement.

I love the Theodosia series because of the excitement and humor. It teaches people about Egyptology. I like the main character, because her personality is that of a modern day girl in a world of petticoats and horse drawn carriages. This series is something I would definitely recommend, especially if you like books like Percy Jackson and Olympians.

This is the 3rd book in this series. In the first two we meet Theodosia and get to know the principal characters in this delightful series.
Theodosia can sense Egyptian curses, and since her father curates a museum with a good collection and her mother is an archeologist, she runs across them fairly often. She's also taught herself how to remove many of them before they cause injury to the people who work in the museum or the visitors who come to view them. Because of this, she has also run across some very powerful artifacts and learned of two organizations that are in opposition. The Serpents of Chaos wants to harness the power of the artifacts to plunge the world into chaos and eventually take control. The Brotherhood of Chosen Keepers are trying to disarm curses and protect Britain from the goals of the Serpents of Chaos. In the second book, we find out about the Order of the Black Sun which is another secret organization that wants the power of the Egyptian gods and thinks Theodosia is a vessel of that power.
Her family loves her, but her parents are frequently distracted by their jobs, and her brother goes to a boarding school. Fortunately, she does have the Brotherhood and the work she's doing with them, except they want her to work with someone at the museum she can't stand. She also has Sticky Will, a pickpocket she met in the first book, who is about her age and quite possibly her first friend.
In a lot of ways, this reads like an older book. Even with the fantastic elements, the characters are much like characters from older juvenile fiction. There isn't any romance. The plot is intriguing and moves at a good pace.
Theodosia is a bright, precocious young lady, very self-possessed and mature. She's used to doing things for herself and doesn't always ask for help. I like her very much.
One of the things I look for in juvenile fiction is "Would my daughter be interested in this?" Getting my son to read fiction has never been a problem. My daughter enjoys reading, but not as much as he does. She's a little old for this series, but even so, I think she would enjoy it. They are best for the 8-12 set as independently read books or younger if the reader is a strong reader or if it's a book you are reading with your child.
Also recommended if you are a fan of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid and want more Egyptian themed fantasy fiction. It's not quite as educational as The Red Pyramid, but like it, it could inspire further interest into ancient Egypt. It could also garner interest in Edwardian England, museums and archaeology. The time setting is Edwardian, shortly before World War 1.