Kane Chronicles: Book 3: The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow: Rick Riordan: 2012

Carter and Sadie, the main characters, travel to Dallas, Texas the 51st nome, with their initiates, and meet J.D. 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 within three days. 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. They discover that the entire 51st nome has been destroyed. At the 21st nome in Brooklyn, they discover that the box is a shadow box, and it holds the shadow of King Tut.

Horus visits Carter. Carter suspects that there is a better way to execrate Apophis and decides to consult Thoth. Sadie gets an idea about using Bes's sheut to give him back his ren.

The Russian magician they met last year, Leonid, comes with bad news. Sadie takes him to the First Nome to meet Uncle 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 repulse them, and Thoth helps them understand who Setne is and reveals that he can help them get Apophis' sheut and destroy him. 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 serapeum of Apis, and later Setne tricks them by giving orders to Bloodstained Blade to kill them. However, they survive both tricks and Zia kills Bloodstained Blade. 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 realizes Setne's plan and tells Sadie to go help Carter and Zia and sends her to them. Meanwhile they enter the Land of the Demons, and Carter and Zia kiss. Carter realizes that Zia is channeling the power of Ra. They find the sheut and Setne binds them by turning the glamour charm used to disguise them into bindings. Sadie comes to help and they bind Apophis's shadow to the statue. The shadow calls out to all forces of Chaos, and they arrive. While Carter and Zia are battling the demons, Setne makes his escape.

Tawaret arrives with the gods from the Fourth House, including a restored Bes 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 enter the First Nome to help protect Amos against the rebels. Together they defeat the rebels and Walt and Anubis kill Jacobi and Kwai. When the rest of the rebels realize they are being used, they switch sides to good and accept the leadership of Carter and Amos. During the battle that follows, Apophis eats Ra, and then Sadie and Carter execrate his shadow, finally destroying him. Apophis regurgitates Ra before he dies, but as a result, Ra and the rest of the gods except Anubis must retreat from the world for a time.

Carter and Sadie go to see their father to report Setne's escape. Their father is just happy that they're alive and succeeded in saving 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". And there is also the fact that Setne will have to be dealt with sooner or later too.

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, with Sadie finally able to be with both guys she loves without having to choose.

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.