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Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers
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Theodosia Throckmorton (Theo for short), the young daughter of the curator of the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London, is very busy these days. The year is 1906, and the world’s western powers are busily excavating the treasures of ancient Egypt and hauling them across the ocean to their respective nations. Her parents, keen participants in this race for the world’s history, are classic workaholics, and if it weren’t for the fact that she was kept so busy de-cursing all the treasures in the museum, Theo would probably begin to resent spending so much time there. When her mother returns home from a long excavation in Egypt laden with treasures from an ancient pharaoh’s tomb, Theo is faced with an object bearing the most horrifying curse she had ever encountered, a curse that could destroy Britain if it is not placed back inside the tomb where it was found. Thus begins a fast paced mystery adventure full of secret sects, ancient curses, and possessed cats.
Written in the first person through the voice of Theodosia, LaFevers recreates the dark and gloomy streets of Edwardian Britain. An absent minded curator for a father, a globe trotting, adventurous mother and a little brother who likes to wreak havoc and who secretly wishes his sister didn’t treat him like mud, compliment the dry wit and intelligence of Theodosia herself. Although the plot sometimes hinges on too many coincidences, and some of the character’s motivation do not seem to be justified (for example, the head of the secret sect insists that it must be Theodosia who finds a way to get herself to Egypt and deposit the Heart of Egypt back in the tomb when he has a whole army of young men to do it), it is all in all a fun read, perfect for those who secretly harbor a desire to grow up to be Indiana Jones (like me).
