Rick Riordan is a popular author. I have not had the pleasure of reading his novels, but I have meet him once and have read two of his books adapted for the graphic novel format. The Red Pyramid book one of The Kane Chronicles was adapted by Orpheus Collar.
And while it is a good story (we are following Egyptian mythology this time), it is also a slow story in places. It took me several days to finish it, as I was only able to digest a few pages at a time. At most, I would read a chapter or two, then put it down. Granted, I was not in a “reading mood” some of that time, but even when I was, it took time. I think this is partly because of the format of the book. The panels are crowded onto the page and each one is filled with details and overly busy. The colors are similar, therefore, blending into each other. Even the similar panels/pages can be overwhelming at times.
But I liked the story. Two siblings, one who lives with their grandparents and one with their father, must battle Egyptian villains, gods and even themselves. It is a story of working together, plus, some kickbutt action. It is interesting to see how similar the Greek and Roman stories are similar to the Egyptian stories. The adult reader will appreciate that, while the 10 to 14-year-old reader will jut enjoy a good graphic novel. A few parts are not for everyone: Annubis is a little creepy with his flirtatious with a 12-year-old and he’s thousands of years old. And there is violence shown, there are deaths, possessions, really crazy gods, and even a little puppy-love-romance. There are some slightly graphic horror-like images (there are demons and skeletons that are fleshy) but not necessarily gratuitous. Yet, I think some sensitive readers might be turned off.
Overall, I am glad I read this, but it probably will not end up on my top 10 favorites anytime soon.
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