Seti’s Charm

Max Carter's grandfather runs a museum with a very special charm on display. When the book opens the museum is being robbed, Max's grandfather is attacked, and the thieves set fire to the museum to cover their tracks. Fortunately, Max arrives just in time and saves his grandfather from the fire. But his adventure is just beginning. While recovering in the hospital, Max's grandfather tells him that the stolen charm was actually a replica and that he needs to get the real one and take it back to Egypt. With the help of a burly Frenchman Max travels to the Caribbean in search of the charm. What he finds is not what he expected.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit. A good adventure for boys, short chapters, and good action. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed but overall it was good. I also appreciated the fact that even though it is the first in a series it had a logical ending.

After reading several pretty heavy books in a row, I was in the mood for something more light and easy to read. This is where Seti's Charm came in. It was the perfect book for what I wanted + everything connected to ancient Egypt is a huge bonus for me.

Max was a very likable character. I'm sure he's going to appeal to a lot of readers, no matter their age. I loved his courage and how he basically did everything he could to help his grandfather. This includes going inside burning buildings, facing down people with guns, and even facing his hateful step-grandmother.

The story involved a lot of interesting characters (coughRenaultcough) that I hope to see again in the next book(s), if there will be any sequels. They were all quite interesting and just fun to read about.

Miriam (the step-grandmother) however was the worst. I loathed her with a passion and I had hoped at the end of the book she'd be somehow gone, but no such luck. I just felt so bad for Max because Miriam has been treating him so badly. But other than that, I really enjoy this book.

The Egypt element was a bit on the minor side, although Seti's amulet did set things in motion for the story. I loved the mystery surrounding it and also the writing was pretty good.

Fast-paced, mysterious and full of action, Seti's Charm is a prime examble why I love middle grade books so much. I'm already looking forward to Max Carter's next adventure!

Seti’s Charm is an exciting book for middle grade adventure readers. This is a middle grade adventure story is reminiscent of Alex Rider and Indiana Jones. It is action packed from the first to the last. Even reluctant readers will be interested in the story.

The writing quality is first rate in terms of plot, character development, mood and setting. Author Chris Everheart writes respectfully to and for young adult readers.

The plot is straightforward: priceless archeological artifact is stolen from small museum. Teen hero sets out with mysterious soldier of fortune/friend of the family to retrieve said artifact only to discover a more far-reaching scandal. Plenty of chases, near-misses, struggles, captures and escapes.

While it is the action that will attract many young readers, they will be sucked into the history and importance of the archeological artifacts. Information about the artifacts—symbolism and importance-- is imparted in a hip, exciting way.

The main characters have a lot more depth than typically found in YA stories. This is where the quality of the writing shines. Readers will be enrapt by the exploits of young Max Carter and his mysterious cohort Renault while reviling the acrimonious step-grandmother, Miriam. Mr. Everheart didn’t turn out a thin actioner with nothing but chase scenes to recall and remember.

A rich action adventure that just might spark your middle grade reader’s interest in history.

Fourteen-year-old Max Carter has grown up in his grandfather's museum, training to be the world's youngest archaeologist. When the museum is robbed and burned by greedy smugglers, Grandpa begs Max to return their prized possession to Egypt and break the curse that caused this disaster. But Seti's Charm--a priceless funeral amulet from the mummy of Pharaoh Seti I-- is in the hands of murderous thugs.
A good read that leans more toward boys than girls - however I enjoyed it.

Fast Paced, Richly Drawn, Worthy Adventure

This is an interesting and appealing book that's a little bit off the beaten track for middle grade adventure readers. I was familiar with the author, Chris Everheart, from reading his YA thriller series "The League of Delphi". That's a sort of dark conspiracy series that's written well enough to have earned an admiring adult as well as YA audience. Well, this is a middle grade adventure story that exhibits a lot of YA touches in terms of the quality of the writing, the mood and atmosphere, and the higher than usual evident respect for the younger reader. This book has a bit of oomph to it.

The plot is pretty straightforward. Priceless amulet is stolen from family museum; 14 year old hero sets out to return it accompanied by mysterious soldier of fortune type. Lots of chases, escapes, struggles, captures, more escapes, more struggles, and so on. I'm not being dismissive, that plot has worked for everything from Indiana Jones back to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped", (and even back to those Greek guys wandering around the Mediterranean).

But this book has a number of interesting things going for it. First, the history and importance of the Egyptian amulet is explained in a cool, informative and exciting sort of way. The book is almost an armchair archaeology text in places. Even if it sometimes feels a bit like an info dump, this exposition works and I think would capture the imagination of a younger reader. Second, the characters have a lot more depth and shading, (at least the heroes do), than I usually see in middle grade fiction. I think that's where the YA background shows up most clearly. Everheart isn't just grinding out a thin actioner. Finally, mood and atmosphere are set out very well, as are the action pieces. When hero Max saves his grandpa from the museum fire, you feel the heat. Good stuff.

On the down side, evil step-mom is way over the top. Convenient coincidences pop up regularly. Most fourteen year old runaways have more trouble globe trotting than Max does. But hey, if you're going to question those sorts of things then the entire world of middle grade action adventure will just come tumbling down around your ears. (I mean, Indiana Jones never has trouble getting a hotel room or booking a flight, even in the high season.)

So, with a solid Egypt angle, an appealing kid hero, nice secondary characters, breathless action, and very solid and effective writing, this book ended up being a happy find.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

Erratum:
In the Adobe Digital Editions version, on page 94, we got the start of Chapter 30, minus the title 'Chapter 30"! It ran for four pages (the entirety of chapter thirty), then we got the actual chapter thirty and the same text again. The end of chapter thirty has Max encountering Renault, but at the start of chapter thirty-one, he's still searching for Renault; then chapter thirty-two takes off sequentially as it should. Something got badly screwed up here! We got chapter thirty three times: once as part of chapter twenty-nine, once as chapter thirty, then again as chapter thirty-one.

This short, fast read begins really dramatically and goes right into the action. Max's grandfather is the founder and curator of the Carter Museum, but neither he nor Max expected anyone to break in, assault Max's grandfather, and then set fire to the place. Thank goodness then, that Max chose that time on that night to stop by the museum. He managed to get inside and pull his grandfather almost literally from the flames. He also noticed something missing from one of the display cases.

Max's grandfather almost miraculously survives the assault (and being tipped out of the ground-floor window when Max rescues him from the fire!), but things go downhill from there. Max's step-grandmother is a harpy who somehow deludedly manages to blame fourteen-year-old Max for the fire and her husband's condition. Worse than this, Grandpa tells Max, in a brief moment of lucidity, that the stolen amulet was a fake - that he must find someone named Renault, and return the real and cursed amulet to Egypt. No pressure then...!

The amulet, said to be worth a million, is a wadjet eye - the Eye of Horus - designed to protect the Ka or soul of a person on their journey to the after-life. Max's grandfather came into possession of it by accident, but he never returned it, instead setting it up as the center-piece in a museum exhibit where it's been ever since. Now he evidently believes that set I has unleashed a curse upon him for taking it from the Pharaoh's mummy.

Of course you know that Max is going to manage to get where he needs to go, and here I have to say that the author neatly writes around one of the most common issue with stories like this - why doesn't the character go to the police. Often it's skirted around or glossed over, or simply ignored. Here at least, the author presents a plausible scenario, if dramatic! OTOH, there were some minor issues. At one point, Max misunderstands some spoken French and confuses 'petit chien' with 'pétition', but they actually don't sound at all alike to anyone who knows a little French, as does Max! It's the difference, close enough, between shan and shon.

I recommend this novel. It's fast-moving, well-written, visits some interesting places, and is appropriate to its target age audience. The story is believable and has a good plot, and the characters, particularly the young Max, are realistic and likable. Their actions are plausible, and even the villains seem true-to-life. Good one! I recommend it.

The story has little new in it, but is well written for a teenage audience.

An action packed story from beginning to end.

Seti’s Charm by Chris Everheart is such a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Even though it’s aimed at a younger audience I found it exciting and adored Max Carter. This is exactly the type of book I loved reading as a teenager as it’s full of adventure, interesting archaeological facts and you get to travel across the world.

Max Carter is 14-years-old and the grandson of Dr. Maxwell Carter, a renowned archaeologist who runs a small museum (*mini brainwave* did the author name them Carter after Howard Carter who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb?). When Maxwell interrupts a robbery he is seriously injured and the museum is set on fire.

The thieves have stolen the jewelled Eye of Horus, a charm belonging to Pharaoh Seti I. While in hospital, Maxwell urges Max to retrieve the charm and return it to the mummy because it is cursed, his only instruction being to find a man called Renault. Poor Max has to retrieve the stolen amulet, try not to killed by international criminals, dodge the FBI, locate a man called Renault, all the while trying to avoid his horrible step-grandmother who seems intent on sabotaging him at every turn.

It could be argued that some scenarios are not realistic, but I am perfectly willing to suspend realism if the story is decent, so this didn’t bother me at all. As long as there is nothing blatantly ridiculous in a book, them I’m a happy reader and Seti’s Charm is a first-rate adventure story. The storytelling is seamless and I liked the way that almost every chapter ended on a cliff-hanger, making the pace fast and exhilarating.

I would recommend this to both younger and older readers, and I can imagine those with an interest in archaeology being particularly appreciative. I can’t wait to read the next one!

A fast-paced read which will appeal to fans of Alex Rider, and also reminiscent of Indiana Jones with the archaeology angle. This books sets you up for what will probably be a good series. As a school librarian, I am sure my boys would enjoy this, albeit I found it very American in style and vocabulary (we are in the UK) but we will be ordering it for our shelves!

In a dark museum two men are working frantically to remove an Egyptian artifact. An old man hears them and tells them they are not supposed to be there. They attack him and he goes down hard. Max, a 14 year old is out looking for his grandfather when he sees the inferno that was the museum. Max tells his grandfather the museum is gone and along with it Seti’s Charm. His grandfather says, “Not the real one.” Max’s grandfather believes the charm is cursed and must be returned to Egypt or he will die from his injuries.

This begins Max’s quest to find the original Eye of Horus known as Seti’s Charm. His grandfather’s only clue was to find Renault. Max must find this man and ask for his help to find the amulet and return it to Egypt. His travels take him to St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. where he must fight for his own life and the life of an unexpected friend.

I enjoyed this book. It was filled with suspense and intrigue. I will definitely read more from this author. Chris Everheart, has also written the young adult Delphi Trilogy.

Seti's charm is very mysterious at the beginning and really hit it off for a brilliant start. I felt sorry for Max's grandpa's little 'accident'. It was really courageous for Max to try and save him.

Anyway I won't say anymore or I'll spoil what turned out to be a brilliant read. I definitely recommend to read it!

Flib's. Age 10 😃

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Max Carter is being raised by his grandfather as his parents are dead. Grandpa is training Max to be an anthropologist. Grandpa's museum is being robbed of a priceless amulet. During Grandpa's attempt to stop it he is hurt badly enough to end up in the hospital. Grandpa tells Max that he has put a copy of the amulet in his museum and wants Max to go after the real one. With the help of a Frenchman, Max start his journey. Who is this Frenchman.? Will Max find it?

It is a fast paced, action packed mystery. It is will written and has perk my interest in Egypt's history. I suspect middle grade boys will enjoy this book, but adults can too!