Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers. Published 2007.
This story has been compared to a young female Indiana Jones which makes the idea of it quite exciting. Unfortunately I don't think it lives up to its expectations. The main character, Theodosia Throckmorton, lives in London in 1906 and spends her days ridding the relics her parents dig up in Egypt of ancient curses. Over the course of the first book, she discovers a secret society trying to protect the world from these Egyptian curses and their effects and she eventually joins them in their plight.
My issues with the story is that the frame is trying to follow Harry Potter too closely. While the Hero's Journey is as old as time, there is something gimmicky about this. Secondly, not much action actually happens. We get 100 pages in before there is any real excitement. I'm also wondering the whole time where she gets her special power to see the curses and this is never really explained and apparently she's the only one in the world who can do it.
The writing itself is not horrible and if a student really loved mysteries, Egypt and the Riordan series, or even was looking for life after Harry Potter, I would suggest this book.
Interest level: Grades 5-8 Intended reading level: Grade 5
Genre: mystery, fiction
First book of a series
Comparable titles: Red Pyramid, The Mysterious Bendedict Society, Akata Witch
Book connections: Egyptian figurines, amulet necklaces
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