The Red Pyramid by: Rick Riordan 5/5 stars  
Series: The Kane Chronicles 
Published: May 4th, 2010 
Page Count: 516 
Genre: Fantasy/Middle Grade 
Synopsis: 
Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Review: SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON!
As usual Rick has made a incredible, pretty fast paced, super enjoyable, and hard to put down read. Unfortunately when I read this it took about a week to read because of my life being so busy, and frankly having little to no time to read. But still when I finished this book I was blown away into 200 pieces, and still steaming about a few hours later. 

In the beginning we meet Carter aged 14 years old as usual traveling all around the world with his father in his one suitcase. Going to visit Sadie his sister raised by her grandparents living in England and sees her father twice a year. They go to visit a museum in Washington D.C. and their dad releases 5 Greek gods when using the Rosetta Stone to summon one particular Greek god. After that a gift that her dad gave her is a necklace which is The Eye of Horus randomly starts getting hot around Sadie's neck. 

Now before Sadie gets deported to USA she gets to meet her Uncle Amos who at first was really mysterious to me, but grew and warmed up to me pretty fast. But anyway he takes us to his home in New York the 42nd nome of the world (Egypt was orignally divided into nomes but it went global). Seeing that Uncle Amos's house is a House of Life with the ankh symbol that Sadie is able to read hieroglyphics. Then we meet Khufu a baboon bulter type and I love him so freaking much! 

Carter feeling dream travel or when your Ba travels to Duat, them learning that their father Julian was trying to summon Orisis the God of the Underworld to raise their mother from the dead. The first try Carter and Sadie get to go into the library the only place that Uncle Amos didn't allow them under any circumstance. Learning that their father summoned The Demon Days with Mother Nut producing 5 children in 5 days, and Julius unlocked those trying to contact Orisis.

Turning out that Sadie's cat Muffin is really the God of Cats- Bast who was protecting Sadie all along, I had a feeling that Sadie's cat would turn out to be a god of some sort. Being used throughout the whole entire book to help Sadie and Carter and along with Zia who was really a Shabiti discovered in the last few chapters in the book of the battle of The Red Pyramid. 

Zia bringing them to the first nome in Egypt in the House of Life main center, meeting the Chief Lector at the time was Iskandar. At least until Iskander dies and then Desjardins takes Chief Lector... Worse day ever for Sadie and Carter who are trying to get killed basically every moment of their life. Which Sadie almost died looking at past events in the Hall of Ages, which almost killed her and her ba. Zia bringing them the next morning to a cleansing and getting the hieroglyph tattoo needed to perform magic. Seeing all types of magic you can do and they were amazed, and quite honestly so was I. Being a magician adding to the giant list of why don't these careers exist in real life so I can be one. 

To fight the battle on the Red Pyramid with the Red Lord they travel to Washington, DC the largest magician monument in the world. Which us learning that Sadie is a godling for Isis and Carter is a godling for Horus, they are really useful throughout the whole book and without the gods they probably would've died at the beginning of their magician journey. And we meet Anibus- the god of funerals, and it's so cute how she has a crush on a god, but he does appear to her as a teenage boy so that probably has something to do with it. 

Appartently Elvis was a magician because they break into his house to steal some magical items. Then we think that Bast dies, but its really just the cat she took form to Muffin dying. In the epic battle scene which OMG Rick can write some freaking amazing battle scenes and just books you never want to put down so *bows* hands down to the amazing genius. Carter having to take Sekhmet down who is a killing machine to put it bluntly, but once shes full of blood she goes back to the heavens or wherever. While Sadie and Zia battle Desjardins who it was the best battle scene I've ever read, or really all of his battle scenes he's ever written. 

Final Thoughts:
This book was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone ever, even if you don't normally read mythology or middle grade this is a definitely must read series! It is great and will have me reading all of Rick's work. Plus Sadie's sarcasm is literally my spirit animal, and Carter is so funny and I love him for that! Rick can write the best characters I think ever written, their so strong that they feel like your in the room with them. And hands down and unlimited praise because of that. So anyway I have already read and finished the second book the Throne of Fire and can't wait to read the third and final book in this trilogy, though I'll miss all of the characters. 

Lady Midnight by: Cassandra Clare 5/5 Stars 
Published: March 8, 2016
Series: The Dark Artifacts 
Page Count: 668 (not including a Long Conversation short story)
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Synopsis: It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it

Review: SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON!
Wow Cassandra Clare has yet to disappoint! This was one of my most anticipated books of 2016 and so worth the wait. I understand that some have had to wait 2 years for this book but my first book out of Cassie that I had to wait for out of her and waiting until May 2017 will be the longest wait of my life feeling wise. I had all of the feels and they were in a huge range of sad, happy, angry, and just plain astounded. 

So we walk in on our opening scene meeting Kit at the Shadow Market who has the sight and is Johnny's Rook son or at least what he claims since he's hiding Kit from the Clave. Emma talking to Johnny and him telling Emma and Cameron Ashton her boyfriend at the time about some murders exactly like Emma's parents back in the Dark War. Julian and Emma parabatai being separted as Julian was on mission in London along with Ty, Tavvy, and Livvy. Him returning via Malcolm Fade the High Warlock of LA. 
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Emma talks to Clary about once monthly us also learning that Jace and Clary became the head of the New York institute and that Simon and  Clary became parabatai. I was so hoping that Jace & Clary became the heads and I kinda knew already even without reading Shadowhunter Academy that Simon and Clary would become parabatai. 

Then an official delegation coming from the faeries which shadowhunters aren't even supposed to be dealing with after The Cold Peace was created at the end of CoHF to the institute, when we meet Kieran an another of the Wild Hunt, Iarlath of the Unseelie Court, and the third rider was Mark taken in the attack on the LA institute in the beginning of The Dark War. Mark is staying at the institute for 2 weeks until the investigation that the fae agreed to help Emma with by decoding the text on the bodies of the dead. Mark not trusting anyone for days and refusing runes even when he clearly needed them. 

Since I ship Malec so badly I was so happy when discovering that Alec & Magnus had adopted on 5 year old warlock orhpan who had navy blue skin named Max. Emma learning that Julian while in London on a set of tarot cards, which I will get since you can buy them online. Shortly after learning that ley-lines are a very important part of the necromany magic Mark takes Emma to an spot where Mantrid demons are protecting the entrance, which shortly after Diana their tutor setting up an watch on the convergence site learning that during the daytime the site completely closes up where no one can enter. 

Ty & Livvy masters of the hidden computer in the institute finding out one of the bodies was Stanley Well and going to visit his house discovering his dead girlfriend named Ava Leigh with her left hand cut off roughly at the wrist some varying at which side, just like all of the other dead bodies found. Really that mention being one of my tiniest most important details to the massive plot twist later on in the book. But also discovering a ticket for an performance The Lottery later on in the month which they pocket. But also a arrow shot Julian in the shoulder which he pulled out (mcstupid!). It bleeding are Iratzes many times but finally an Iratze which oddly glowed healing Julian instead of calling the Silent Brothers since this was an secret mission. Sending the shreds of Julians gear to Malcolm to analyze, Malcolm reporting that Julian should've died since the arrow was tipped with a rare form of Belladonna and demon poison. Which at this point I was seriously wondering why Emma was able to heal him since normal parabatai magic couldn't of, and Emma and Julian love each other though it is forbidden by the Clave and besides the Silent Brothers and a few of the higher Clave members it isn't known why this is. 

The language written on the dead bodies is before Shadowhunters. The Lottery is a monthly thing where there's no mundanes just faes and weres. Belinda Belle beginning this months lottery a blue invitation (6 month plus member) Mr.Sterling who has 2 days of freedom before the Hunt, hunts him down and no one can help. Of course shadowhunters being shadowhunters don't listen to that rule. Which I really like and wish other downworlders will do that. Emma and Jules going to visit Johnny Rook about the Lottery, him explaining that in 2 days he will be an sacrifice so The Guardain who nobody knows who it is collects the energy of death. But all the while Ty discovering Kit. Which finally someone discovers him?! 

Emma getting a text that the Convergence has been entered going alone and telling none opening an port leading her to the middle of the ocean there full of demons. Jules feeling that Emma can't breathe due to her lungs being full of ocean water him almost drowning on land. Getting Emma out of the ocean and causing a nice little intense kissing scene that goes a little bit deeper on the beach. 

Then us meeting "Perfect Diego" that Christina is not in the best mood with because of something that he did back in the Mexico institute. It was Diego who shot Julian with the poisoned arrow. Which instantly made me dislike him. Diego being part of the Scholomance and was brought in to help with the necromancy case. 

Christina following Mr.Sterling into the bar and finding out that he had to kill someone in the two day time period and get anything and everything he ever wants for life, Belinda being the first Lottery winner also not having a hand. But killing Sterling and they take both of his hands before leaving 

In LA 2008 Julian walking in on Uncle Arthur cutting himself to get rid of the voices of angels and demons in his head, what the Clave calls Lunacy meaning the angel blood is rejecting. 

Why Christina left Mexico is because Jamie Diego's brother who Christina was planning on becoming parabatai with him, and dating Perfect Diego. Turns out that Jamie was really drunk and didn't mean it. 

They discovered that the necormancer is trying to bring back Annabel Lee from the Lady Midnight. Gywn the Hunter appearing since Mark shared a secret of his clock being his main power tool to give Mark 20 whips, but Julian then Emma both getting whipped instead trying to hide the injuries from Tavvy, Ty, and Livvy. Christina, Mark and Jules afraid that Emma won't wake up taking a day to wake up talking to her mom and dad. 

The ending of the book is so satisfying since Emma, Christina, Mark, Julian, Ty, and Livvy going to fight The Guardain who then we find out is Malcolm. Taking Tavvy as the 13th victim naturally being a Blackthorn all to raise Annabel from the dead, with them fighting and fighting and  Diana appearing right when they walk into the convergence. After one of my personal favorite battles that Cassandra has ever written we get Emma finding the black book inside of Malcolm and her kicking him into the portal into the ocean. Now if you ask me he isn't dead it was too easy, but at the epilouge we get Annabel rising from the casket which who even knows how that the Blackthorn blood needed to be shed it could've been just a drop or since Malcolm supposedly died it could've been his blood who raised Annabel. And Nightshade had been putting addictive demon powers into the pizzas to get more business so that when the Inquistor came they wouldn't get punished for defying the Clave with a secret mission.

One of the biggest and most important details in the ending seeing Jem and Tessa and finding out that Kit is Christopher the last herondale, and  Jem telling Emma with his ex-silent brother knowledge that if parabatai fell in love they got power hungry and betrayed all of their friends and family. Though I think that they can be super parabatai without it being them becoming murderous. Mark is staying with his siblings and is being allowed to be runed again. Which Mark and Christina is honestly the cutest thing ever! Now intead of Emma just telling Jules about the super parabatai she's deciding to lie to him and pretend she loves Mark, pure stupidity Emma.
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With the non ARC versions you also got a long conversation with our beloved TMI characters. So Sizzy is engaged, Malec has 2 children, and Clace PROPOSAL?! Though Clary is might not say yes seeing how hesitant she was when Jace asked at Simon (now a shadowhunter) and Isabelle engagment party.
Now this book I felt all of the feels and just want more immeadately wanted Lord of Shadows. Cassandra doesn't ever disappoint ever! Like I did tear up multiple times and felt the love, hate, sadness, joy, and betrayal that Cassandra always does to her readers.