The Kane Series: The Red Pyramid

With The Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan launches a new saga that trades the familiar thunder of Greek gods for the storm of Egyptian myth—and the result is both exhilarating and refreshingly distinct. Carter and Sadie Kane, siblings long separated by circumstance, are suddenly bound together by a catastrophe that rips open the veil between the mortal world and the divine. What begins as a quiet reunion at the British Museum erupts into chaos, unleashing Set, the god of destruction, and plunging the Kanes into a war they never asked for.

The novel’s strength lies in its dual narration. Carter’s measured, thoughtful voice contrasts brilliantly with Sadie’s sharp wit and irreverent humor, giving the story rhythm and immediacy. Together, their perspectives capture not only the peril of battling gods, magicians, and monsters but also the messy, human heart of a fractured family struggling to heal.

Riordan paints Egyptian mythology with cinematic flair—temples hidden in plain sight, duels fueled by ancient spells, and gods whose motives shift like desert sand. From encounters with Isis and Horus to the looming menace of Set’s apocalyptic plan, every twist deepens the sense of a world where myth and modernity collide. Yet amid the epic battles, the core remains deeply personal: Carter’s yearning for stability, Sadie’s craving for connection, and their growing realization that their strength lies in each other.

The Red Pyramid is fast-paced, humorous, and rich in lore, but it’s also layered with themes of identity, legacy, and the fragile balance between order and chaos. It’s a story that expands Riordan’s mythological universe while carving out its own distinctive voice—one where family is both the greatest challenge and the greatest weapon.

As an opener, it’s ambitious, vibrant, and endlessly fun—a promise that the Kanes’ adventure is only just beginning.