The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow, is a 2012 fantasy/adventure novel by Rick Riordan and the third and final book in the Kane Chronicles. Rick Riordan announced the book on January 9th, 2012 on his blog and was released on May 1st, 2012.

Summary

 * The book begins with Carter and Sadie, the main characters, travel to Dallas, Texas, the 51st nome, with their initiates, and meet JD Grissom, the leader of the nome. They tell him that they need a heavily guarded magic scroll from the king Tut exhibit at the Dallas museum of art, or his nome will get attacked and destroyed by the forces of Apophis, the chaos snake, who in three days will rise, swallow the sun, and destroy the world. Sadie sees a face in the wall, which tells that they will not understand the scroll and they instead need a golden box. However, the nome is attacked, and the scroll is destroyed. To save everyone from getting killed, Sadie summons Ma'at, killing the forces of chaos but almost losing her life. They discover that the entire 51st nome has been destroyed, including all of the magicians. At the 21st nome in Brooklyn, they discover the the box is a shadow box, and it holds the shadow of King Tut.


 * Horus visits Carter as a pigeon and hints a connection between shadows and statues. Carter suspects that there is a better way to execrate Apophis and decides to consult Thoth. He tells everybody at dinner and Sadie makes him go to their school dance. During the dance, Sadie meets Anubis and he suggests that the sheut is like a computer backup drive, but Shu breaks them up later. Sadie gets an idea about using Bes´s sheut to give him back his ren.


 * The Russian magician named Lenoid they met last year comes with bad news when Shu drops him at the dance. Sadie takes him to the First Nome to meet Amos. He tells them that the rebels, led by Sarah Jacobi and Kwai, have teamed up with Apophis. Amos tells Zia and Sadie to visit Bes. Meanwhile, Carter and Walt go visit Thoth. Thoth is being attacked by demons. Walt and Carter kill them, and Thoth helps them understand who Setne is. They realize they have to visit the Land of the Dead at his trial and persuade Osiris to help them.


 * When Zia and Sadie are visiting the House of Rest, Sadie realizes that Amos is calling on the Path of Set, who he once hosted. Tawaret tells them where Bes once hid his sheut. Carter, Sadie, Zia, and Walt meet and exchange information. They meet Osiris and persuade him to let Setne go with them. Sadie and Walt go to look for Bes's sheut, while Zia and Carter go with Setne to find The Book of Thoth.


 * They go to the temple of Apis and Zia reveals herself as the host of Ra when they were attacked. Setne tricks Carter when Zia's injured and gives orders to Bloodstained Blade to kill them. Meanwhile Sadie and Walt visit the goddess Neith, who tells them she will help them if they can survive her hunt till sunset. They survive by using their Shen amulets to split up and transfer to each other's side, and then in the end right before sunset Sadie tricks Neith by mesmerizing her with tales of hunting Jelly Babies and etc. Walt uses the rest of his energy to revive Bes's sheut, and then he survives by becoming the host of Anubis.


 * He sees Setne's plan and tells Sadie to go help Carter and Zia. Meanwhile Bloodstained Blade brings them to the Land of the Demons, and Carter and Zia kiss. They find the sheut and Setne binds them with the Seven Ribbons of Hathor. Sadie comes to help and they bind Apophis's shadow to the execration statue. The shadow sends a distress call to all forces of Chaos, and they arrive.


 * Tawaret arrives with the gods from the Fourth House and saves them. When they return to the mortal world, the Brooklyn House is at the First Nome, helping Amos and the others protect it. Ra is reborn with Zia as his host and is not senile anymore. The other gods come to help them, while Ra gives Carter the pharaoh's throne. He orders the other gods to help. They go in the First Nome to help protect Amos against the rebels. Apophis eats Ra, and then Sadie and Carter execrate his shadow. Apophis dies and Ra bursts out. Ra and the rest of the gods retreat from the world.


 * Carter and Sadie go to see their father to report Setne's escape. Their father is just happy that they're alive and succeed to save the world. Sadie talks to her mother who asks her to be careful because her gift of prophecy has shown her visions of "other gods" and "rival magic".


 * Carter takes Zia out on a date in the Mall of America. She tells him that she will be staying in Brooklyn House. They share a passionate kiss and start a relationship. Meanwhile, Bes and Tawaret finally get together after many centuries. Walt, now the host of Anubis, dances with Sadie and the pair also have a romantic kiss.


 * The book ends with an invitation to anyone with pharaoh's blood to join the House of Life. Sadie also mentions having to check out "unexplained magic" in Long Island.

Humans

 * Amos Kane  Brother to Julius Kane, described as dressing in a classy suit with sunglasses, and has the appearance of a barrel shaped Jazz musician. He is a powerful magician. He was the temporary host of Set ,until he was done with using him.
 * Carter Kane  Age 14, Carter is the descendant of Ancient Egyptian Magicians; he is one of the main protagonists. Described as always dressing 'impeccably' in khaki pants, dress shoes, and a button-up shirt. The host of [Horus]], his main weapon is a khopesh, an Ancient Egyptian sword favored by guards of the Pharaoh. His specialty is combat magic.
 * Sadie Kane  Age 12, Sadie is Carter's sister, and shares his magical ability. She was raised in England by her grandparents after her mother died. She has light skin, caramel colored hair with one red streak on the left side, blue eyes, and never goes anywhere without combat boots. She is a powerful and natural magician who can read hieroglyphics and understand Ancient Egyptian. She becomes the host of Isis.
 * Zia Rashid  A powerful magician who Carter Kane has affection for. Considered the most promising student in the First Nome. She is the unknowing host to Nephthys.

Gods/Goddesses

 * Horus  Falcon-headed son of Osiris, destined to reclaim the Throne of Ma'at. His host is Carter.
 * Isis  Goddess of magic and wife of Osiris. Her host is Sadie Kane, formerly her mother Ruby Kane.
 * Bast  Goddess of cats, her host is Muffin, Sadie Kane's cat. Also a deadly combat mage. She is sworn to protect the Kane siblings.
 * Anubis  God of funerals and assistant of Osiris, takes the form of a human with a jackals head, or an attractive teenaged boy. He and Sadie show strong and mutual feeling towards each other.

Chapter list

 * 1) We Crash and Burn a Party
 * 2) I Have a Word with Chaos
 * 3) We Win a Box Full of Nothing
 * 4) I Consult the Pigeon of War
 * 5) A Dance with Death
 * 6) Amos Plays with Action Figures
 * 7) I Get Strangled by an Old Friend
 * 8) My Sister, The Flowerpot
 * 9) Zia Breaks Up a Lava Fight
 * 10) “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” Goes Horribly Wrong
 * 11) Don't Worry, Be Hapi
 * 12) Bulls with Freaking Laser Beams
 * 13) A Friendly Game of Hide-and-Seek (with Bonus Points for Painful Death!)
 * 14) Fun with Split Personalities
 * 15) I Become a Purple Chimpanzee
 * 16) Sadie Rides Shotgun (Worst. Idea. Ever.)
 * 17) Brooklyn House Goes to War
 * 18) Death Boy to the Rescue
 * 19) Welcome to the Fun House of Evil
 * 20) I Take a Chair
 * 21) The Gods Are Sorted; My Feelings Are Not
 * 22) The Last Waltz (for Now)

Trivia

 * Rick Riordan makes a Doctor Who reference in this book.
 * Drew Tanaka and Lacy (characters from Camp Half-Blood Series) appear on the book, indicating that the Egyptians and the Greco-Romans coexist within the same universe.
 * Shu, Anubis' great grandfather, would (when she is also Isis) be Sadie's grandfather
 * Ruby Kane, in the book, tells her daughter Sadie Kane that she has not lost the gift of foresight and sees conflict with other gods and magic (possibly the Greco-Roman or the Norse [Rick Riordan's unnamed series]), which is still unclear.