The Throne of Fire

Rick Riordan

62 pages 2-hour read

Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2011

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Carter is a teenage magician and descendant of Egyptian pharaohs. He recently served as the host for the warrior god Horus and still retains the god's aggressive combat instincts, which often clash with his naturally cautious personality. He operates as a leader for the new magician trainees at Brooklyn House while harboring a fierce determination to locate and rescue Zia Rashid.

Key Relationships

Brother of Sadie Kane

Son of Julius Kane

Son of Ruby Kane

Nephew of Amos

Romantic Interest of Zia Rashid

Former Host of Horus

Mentor of Walt Stone

Mentor of Jaz Anderson

Protected by Bes

Sadie is a powerful young magician who previously hosted the goddess Isis. She resents the constant pressure of fighting apocalyptic threats and desperately wants a normal life, especially as she approaches her birthday. She is highly rebellious, fiercely independent, and struggles with the weight of her responsibilities in the Egyptian magical world.

Key Relationships

Sister of Carter Kane

Daughter of Julius Kane

Daughter of Ruby Kane

Niece of Amos

Former Host of Isis

Romantic Interest of Anubis

Romantic Interest of Walt Stone

Mentor of Jaz Anderson

Protected by Bast

Friend of Liz

Friend of Emma

Vladimir is a ruthless Russian magician who favors a white suit that makes him look like a sinister ice cream vendor. His eyes are ruined pits of scar tissue from a past attempt to wield magical texts. He firmly believes ancient prophecies dictate that chaos must win and actively works to sabotage the current magician leadership to awaken the serpent Apophis.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Michel Desjardins

Captor of Set

Follower of Apophis

Enemy of Carter Kane

Enemy of Sadie Kane

Bes is the Egyptian dwarf god of protection, notable for his loud personality and habit of wearing nothing but a Speedo. He holds a bitter grudge against Russian magicians who humiliated and exploited him in the past. He steps in to protect the Kane siblings primarily as a favor to his longtime crush, Bast, but quickly becomes invested in their survival.

Key Relationships

Protector of Carter Kane

Protector of Sadie Kane

Admirer of Bast

Friend of Tawaret

Desjardins serves as the Chief Lector and the most powerful authority figure among the traditional Egyptian magicians. He remains highly suspicious of the Kanes and their habit of working with gods, preferring to rely strictly on mortal magic. His energy and influence are slowly being drained by Menshikov's manipulations.

Key Relationships

Superior of Vladimir Menshikov

Rival of Carter Kane

Rival of Sadie Kane

Ra is the ancient king of the Egyptian gods, representing the sun and the forces of order. He was poisoned and forced into an enchanted sleep centuries ago following a betrayal. Finding the three scattered sections of his sacred book is the only known method for returning him to power to fight Apophis.

Key Relationships

Betrayed by Isis

Enemy of Apophis

Apophis is the ultimate embodiment of chaos and the ancient enemy of Ra. He is currently locked in a deep magical prison but uses his influence to manipulate mortal magicians into facilitating his escape. His impending release on the spring equinox drives the story's central deadline.

Key Relationships

Ancient Enemy of Ra

Worshipped by Vladimir Menshikov

Supporting Characters

Walt is a fourteen-year-old magician trainee at Brooklyn House who is exceptionally athletic and tall for his age. He descends from the pharaoh Akhenaton, a lineage that carries a dark curse affecting his health and magical abilities. Despite his hidden struggles, he shows immense bravery in his training and develops a quiet connection with Sadie.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Sadie Kane

Trainee of Carter Kane

Fellow Trainee of Jaz Anderson

Jaz is a dedicated trainee at the Brooklyn magician headquarters who strongly prefers not to use her full name, Jasmine. She specializes in healing magic but pushes herself dangerously far during early conflicts. Her early bravery results in a magical coma, sidelining her from the main quest but demonstrating her total loyalty to the Kanes.

Key Relationships

Trainee of Sadie Kane

Trainee of Carter Kane

Fellow Trainee of Walt Stone

Zia is a talented magician whose real body was placed in an enchanted sleep by a previous leader for her own protection. While a clay double of her interacted with Carter in the past, the true Zia remains hidden in a submerged tomb. She holds significant tactical importance to the upcoming war against chaos.

Key Relationships

Sought by Carter Kane

Acquaintance of Sadie Kane

Amos is the uncle of Carter and Sadie and a seasoned magician in the Egyptian world. He operates out of the Brooklyn headquarters, providing guidance, resources, and protection to the siblings and their new trainees. He constantly weighs the severe consequences of awakening ancient gods against the threat of chaos.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Carter Kane

Uncle of Sadie Kane

Bast is the Egyptian cat goddess who resides at the Brooklyn mansion as a guardian. She feels a deep sense of responsibility for the Kane siblings and uses her connections in the divine world to ensure their safety while they embark on their quest.

Key Relationships

Protector of Carter Kane

Protector of Sadie Kane

Allied with Bes

Set is the chaotic god of the desert who previously clashed with the Kanes. He maintains an unpredictable and self-serving nature, willing to offer valuable information in exchange for his freedom. His knowledge of dark magic makes him a target for other villains seeking to harness chaos.

Key Relationships

Prisoner of Vladimir Menshikov

Wary Ally of Carter Kane

Wary Ally of Sadie Kane

Anubis is the jackal-headed god of death who frequently manifests in a handsome human form. He is bound by divine rules to graveyards and places of mourning, limiting his ability to directly intervene in mortal affairs. He harbors a soft spot for Sadie and tries to equip her for the trials ahead.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Sadie Kane

Isis is the Egyptian goddess of magic who previously shared a mental link with Sadie. Her ancient betrayal of Ra set the current apocalyptic events in motion. She frequently tempts Sadie to surrender control to her immense magical power.

Key Relationships

Former Host of Sadie Kane

Mother of Horus

Betrayer of Ra

Horus is the falcon-headed warrior god who previously used Carter as a host. He communicates with Carter through visions, constantly urging him to seize divine power for himself rather than relying on ancient, unpredictable entities like Ra.

Key Relationships

Former Host of Carter Kane

Son of Isis

Liz is one of Sadie's normal, mortal friends from her life in London. She finds herself unexpectedly dragged into a magical chase but handles the revelation of Egyptian gods with surprising resilience.

Key Relationships

Friend of Sadie Kane

Friend of Emma

Emma is Sadie's other mortal friend from London. She supports Sadie during a terrifying encounter with animal gods, proving her loyalty despite having no magical abilities of her own.

Key Relationships

Friend of Sadie Kane

Friend of Liz