The Red Pyramid characters

Appears from the start

A serious, well-mannered teenage boy who has spent his life traveling the world with his father, an Egyptologist, living out of a suitcase and soaking up history. Careful, studious, and eager to please, he feels the strain of never having a real home and of a distant relationship with his younger sister, who was raised apart from him. Thoughtful and observant, he narrates half of the story and is thrust, unprepared, into a world of ancient Egyptian magic and gods.

Appears from the start

Carter's younger sister, raised by their grandparents in London and used to a settled life and her own friends. Bold, sarcastic, and quick to speak her mind, she resents only seeing her father and brother a couple of times a year. Independent and stubborn, she narrates the other half of the story and, like her brother, is pulled abruptly into a hidden world of Egyptian magic she never knew existed.

Also known as Dr. Julius Kane

Appears from the start

The children's father, a brilliant and driven Egyptologist grieving the death of their mother years earlier. Warm but secretive, he gathers his family for a rare visit and takes them to a museum, where he attempts a dangerous private ritual that he refuses to explain. His actions there set the whole story in motion and place him at the center of its mysteries.

First appears in chapter 2

The children's uncle, a poised, impeccably dressed man who appears after their father's ritual goes wrong and spirits them away to a hidden mansion in Brooklyn. Calm, commanding, and clearly versed in secrets the children do not understand, he begins to reveal that their family has an ancient and dangerous heritage, though he holds back much of what he knows.

First appears in chapter 5

The ancient Egyptian god of chaos, storms, and the desert, unleashed by the ritual at the museum. Fiery, cruel, and cunning, he seals the children's father away and sets out to use his power for destruction on a catastrophic scale. He becomes the force the Kanes must race to stop before his plans come to fruition.

First appears in chapter 8

The Egyptian cat goddess, who had been living quietly in the guise of the family's house cat, watching over Sadie. Playful, fierce, and fiercely protective, she reveals her true nature to help defend the children and guide them through the dangers of the awakening gods. Loyal and quick to fight, she becomes their guardian and companion.

First appears in chapter 14

The falcon-headed Egyptian god of kingship and war, an ancient warrior spirit who becomes linked to Carter, lending him strength and counsel. Proud, forceful, and hungry to reclaim a throne, Horus urges bold action against Set, and Carter must learn to draw on the god's power without being overwhelmed by his will.

First appears in chapter 14

The Egyptian goddess of magic, whose power becomes bound to Sadie. Clever and formidable, versed in secret names and potent spells, she offers Sadie extraordinary magical ability and urges her against Set. Sadie must learn to wield the goddess's power while resisting the danger of losing herself to Isis's ambitions.

First appears in chapter 16

A young, disciplined magician of the House of Life, the ancient order that polices Egyptian magic. A gifted fire-caster loyal to her superiors, she first crosses the Kanes as an enforcer of the order's rules, which forbid the path they are taking. Serious and dutiful, she becomes an uneasy ally as their goals begin to align against a common danger.

First appears in chapter 18

The Egyptian god of funerals and the dead, who appears to Sadie as a strikingly ordinary-looking young man rather than a fearsome figure. Solemn and knowledgeable about the paths of the dead and the Duat, the underworld realm, he offers cryptic help and guidance as the Kanes seek what they need to challenge Set.