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Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (The Theodosia Series) |  |
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Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (The Theodosia Series) | |
网友对Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (The Theodosia Series)的评论
Think of a new series of Harry Potter books with Hermione Granger as the star. In many ways that's what you have here, at least in terms of the voice and the basic appeal of the heroine.
First, the egyptology in this book is much more interesting, and more full of colorful detail and atmosphere, than any other similarly themed series (including the new Riordan series, which drops more names but feels less authentic). This gives the whole series a creepy and magical feel that seems somehow more real than most kids magical fantasies.
Second, and much more importantly, Theodosia has a fresh, charming, spunky voice that is just wonderful. She can be snarky, sensitive, perceptive, fragile, tough, and no-nonsense. She is just a terrific star for this series, and is a wonderful treat. I have been delighted by the fact that recent series have elevated girls from secondary to lead roles, but this one has created a particularly charming star.
Now, to be fair, this book does not come with a dense back story, or a fully realized magical world. It is episodic, and the plots (society of good guys versus society of bad guys) aren't breaking any new ground. Think of it as more like the first in a series of Indiana Jones style plotlines. But, you don't usually get dialogue as sharp as this, or writing as well crafted, or characters as engaging in middle grade fiction. The sample chapter, above, gives you a pretty good sense of the book, (although I think the book gets better as it goes on), and I would strongly suggest that you take a look at that.
I thought the best way to extole the virtues of this clever novel would be to let you see what my daughter wrote about it. She's 13 and would much prefer to play video games or talk to her friends on the phone. I am always trying to get her interested enough in a book to show her how wonderful it is to be so absorbed that you want to read every spare minute. I think it's hard with this generation of kids that have it all because there are so many competing interests nowadays - and distractions.
Here is what she wrote for her review of this novel:
"In the book, the plot was unique, and though it may seem a little old based on the fact that it has to do with Ancient Egypt and things like Black Magic and curses (all of which have been done before) I can assure you that this book is not just a cliché knock off of other stories and movies with these ideas. Because it is told by a young girl dealing with all of this, you get the unique point of view from a smart and crafty person that most adults probably don't listen to or would imagine could do any of the stuff that she does everyday. This is emphasized especially because of the people in the story, such as Grandmother Throckmorton, who have some strict ideas for how young girls should behave.
Theodosia is extremely intelligent and sneaky, another take on the idea that kids are just as smart as the exact same adults that treat them like little babies. She is very unique, and in her environment and around her family, she can be seen as unrefined and rebellious. She has her own way of talking, and she manages to make quite a few funny and witty jokes, which are really hilarious. Anyone could read this book, though I have to say it would be best for kids from the ages, maybe, 10 and up. It's not like younger kids couldn't read it. Some parts may just make more sense to kids older than 8 and 9.
I found this book very funny and interesting, and it kept me reading on for hours (and let me assure you that is a quite a big accomplishment for a book, since I don't generally read like crazy during my free time.) To be quite honest, I love reading books that have English accents in them. I find it extremely refreshing and a good break from just normal California talk where I live. Combine the plot, the characters, the setting, and the comedy, and you get an impressive 5 stars for this book."
If it can sway my teen to ask to stay up late, to drag the book with her everywhere, and to ask for the next one in the series when she finished then there is a good chance your child (or you!) will love it. Give it a try!
Theodosia Throckmorton is not your average eleven-year-old girl. Gifted with intelligence well beyond her years, Theo practically lives at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities, run by her parents and used as the venue for displaying their archaeological discoveries. But what her parents don't realize - and what only Theodosia can see - are the ancient curses swirling around the finds that her parents bring back to London. Theo determines to educate herself about the ancient magic so she can neutralize the threats her parents unwittingly awaken when the artifacts are removed from their Egyptian tombs. It's a thankless job, since her parents - indeed, every adult she encounters - constantly make the mistake of underestimating her capabilities. When her mother returns from her latest expedition with the legendary Heart of Egypt - her most priceless (and dangerous) find yet - Theodosia is thrust into the middle of a web of international conspiracy, warring secret societies, and ancient curses bent on destroying England and unleashing worldwide chaos.
I've always loved stories involving Egypt and archaeological digs set during the first half of the 20th century - what can I say, blame Agatha Christie and Indiana Jones. Between Indy's adventures (and I'm recalling the Young Indiana Jones made-for-TV films) and Christie's Egyptian-set mysteries, tales about ancient discoveries have never failed to intrigue me. I decided to check out this series when I noticed a friend reading one of the books on GoodReads - with a delightfully named heroine, I knew I had to investigate the series. The Serpents of Chaos is a rollicking, fast-paced introduction to Theodosia's dangerous, magic-filled world. There's some merit to likening Theo to Harry Potter - both start out as eleven-year-olds with abilities no one in their families understand. However, Rowling does a better job of fleshing out Potter's universe in my view. LaFevers dives right into the action and doesn't let up until the final pages, which makes for a quick read. The pace is only occasionally slowed by a few rather longish descriptions of Egyptian magic or curse "antidotes." I would've liked a little more context to Theo's life, more of an introduction to her unique skill set and how she came to know so much about magic at such a young age.
Theo's voice is definitely the highlight of the novel. Impossibly worldly-wise, mature, and funny, Theodosia is an engaging heroine. LaFevers is careful to balance Theo's extraordinary knowledge with a relatable, heartfelt desire for her to be affirmed and valued by her parents. Theo's efforts to impress her parents and the scenes between her and her younger brother, Henry, were some of my favorite sections of the book. She's also a cat lover, which I deeply appreciated. I also loved how Theodosia manages to impress the clandestine organization tasked with protecting England. I can easily see Theo and company playing an important role in magical world events, perhaps leading up to the outbreak of World War I. This novel is sure to appeal to fans of Indiana Jones or the Mummy films, and to anyone who's ever been enthralled by a museum exhibit. I am curious to see how Theodosia juggles appearing to be an average girl with the responsibility of protecting the nation from dark magic threats. It should be a fun ride.
The year is 1906 and Theodosia Throckmorton is up to her ears in Egyptian curses in this fast-paced and humorous fantasy book for middle school readers. Theo's father is the Head Curator of the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London and the eleven-year-old girl spends a lot of time there. Her mother is an archeologist and, as the story opens, she arrives from Egypt with crates of artifacts from the Valley of the Kings. Her most valuable find is a large jeweled scarab called the Heart of Egypt.
Even though Theo's parents and the two assistant curators work with ancient Egyptian pieces all the time, only Theo can feel the evil magic oozing out of them. Powerful curses arrive at the museum with every crate of antiquities. She has learned to cope with them from books about how to combat Egyptian magic. But her parents don't believe her when she tells them about the dreadful spells--they just think she has a vivid imagination.
Then, almost as soon as it arrives, the Heart of Egypt is stolen!
That very day a bigwig from the British Museum comes by asking to see it. Theo thinks that's too much of a coincidence and when he leaves, she follows him.
After some exciting twists and turns, she meets the head of a mysterious organization called the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers. He tells her that because her mother took the Heart of Egypt, a massive curse will be unleashed on all of England. He and the other members of the Brotherhood can't go directly after the artifact because they are well known to the thieves, so he asks her to recover it. But even if she could, how would it ever be returned to the tomb in Egypt?
Theo is a plucky and resourceful heroine and she tells her tale in a lively voice with many humorous asides. The spooky curses and nefarious doings that swirl around her make the story fun and exciting.
This is R. L. LaFevers first book about Theodosia. She's written two other Theodosia books, as well as other series. The marvelous cover is by Yoko Tanaka.
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