How to Kill a Snake • The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Series: The Kane Chronicles #3
Previous Books: The Red Pyramid + Throne of Fire
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Source/Format: Bought || Hardcover

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade 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. 

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...

RICK RIORDAN just cannot do any wrong in my eyes. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single book that I've read from him, and THE SERPENT'S SHADOW is no exception. Filled with exciting adventures, as well as characters both beloved and new, the last book in the Kane Chronicles serves up a perfect conclusion to the tale of the Kane siblings.

One of the things that I love most about RICK RIORDAN is his ability to create characters that I enjoy reading about. Hanging out with Sophie and Carter Kane again as they rush to find a solution to the situation that stares them in the face was definitely a lot of fun. Having been a follower of the series from the very beginning, it's clear just how much they've grown in this particular installment. They again figure things out, and mostly on their own, and encounter plenty of friends and foes along the way. There's a certain character that I was so excited to see again - but you'll have to read the book to see just who that is.

The entire novel was exciting to me. I read it in the span of a few hours, anxious to see how things would turn out for the Kanes, their friends and the entire world. To be truthful, there are so many things going on all at once that it is a little difficult to keep track if you don't pay attention. But these arcs feel necessary to the story, and I'm extremely in awe of how it was handled.

RICK RIORDAN did an incredible job wrapping things up - as well as leaving room for future stories to come. And that, my friends, is something you'll only understand if you hit the end of the book! I would definitely recommend this to fellow RICK RIORDAN fans, as well as fans of mythology in MG/YA books. THE SERPENT'S SHADOW is fun, imaginative and enjoyable!