Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos
Encyclopedia
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos is a children's
novel
by R. L. LaFevers
.
, where the darkest spells abound. However, it is delicate work, and time is running out for her to set things right. A crate arrives from Theo's mother in Egypt
, which contains a cursed statue of Bastet. While transferring the curse from the statue to a wax figure, she becomes distracted and redirects it into her cat, Isis. Her hands are full enough when her mother returns from the tombs of Egypt, bringing countless cursed valuables and antiquities with her. While picking her mother up at the train station, Theodosia catches a street urchin named Sticky Will trying to pick her father's pocket. He informs her that someone is following her mother. Theo tells him she will be at the station tomorrow and he can tell her more about the man then. Back at the museum, they unload Theo's mother's trunks.Theo senses the curses on the artifacts. The most powerful is a gem called the Heart of Egypt, with the power to topple the whole of Great Britain
and the entire British Empire
.
The next day, her brother Henry returns from boarding school. The Heart of Egypt is stolen. Theo suspects someone from the British Museum
and investigates, Henry tagging along without her consent. A Mr Tetley is accting suspisiously, and they decide to follow him. While traveling through the Seven Dials, they meet Will and witness a man taking the Heart from Mr Tetley, then the same man is stabbed in a churchyard. Theodosia hears the man mumble "Somerset House
". She sends Henry and Will to Somerset House while she struggles to keep the man alive using her amulets. Will and Henry bring help, and Theo is introduced to Lord Wigmere, head of the Antiquarian Society and The Brotherhood of Chosen Keepers, a group dedicated to nullifying curses. Theo is relieved to know there are others like her, but disturbed that no one else can sense the curses the way she can. Henry and Will are not told the true nature of the Keepers, although Will is taken on as a message boy. Theo is also angry that Lord Wigmere may suspect her mother of stealing the Heart of Egypt, as she works closly with Count Von Braggenchnot, head of the Serpents of Chaos who will do anything to rain plague and pestilance down on England
.
After Theodosia escapes, she sneaks onto a ship on which her mother and father are traveling to go to Egypt. While in Egypt, Theodosia finds a hidden part of a pyramid, and fights von Braggenschnot and Nigel Bollingsworth, who turns out to be a spy. She ends up winning, and finding an important artifact.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by R. L. LaFevers
R. L. LaFevers
R. L. LaFevers is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series . R. L...
.
Plot
Theodosia Throckmorton, a clever and shrewd girl of sorts, has the harrowing and busy work of nullifying curses in her father's museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, where the darkest spells abound. However, it is delicate work, and time is running out for her to set things right. A crate arrives from Theo's mother in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, which contains a cursed statue of Bastet. While transferring the curse from the statue to a wax figure, she becomes distracted and redirects it into her cat, Isis. Her hands are full enough when her mother returns from the tombs of Egypt, bringing countless cursed valuables and antiquities with her. While picking her mother up at the train station, Theodosia catches a street urchin named Sticky Will trying to pick her father's pocket. He informs her that someone is following her mother. Theo tells him she will be at the station tomorrow and he can tell her more about the man then. Back at the museum, they unload Theo's mother's trunks.Theo senses the curses on the artifacts. The most powerful is a gem called the Heart of Egypt, with the power to topple the whole of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the entire British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
The next day, her brother Henry returns from boarding school. The Heart of Egypt is stolen. Theo suspects someone from the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and investigates, Henry tagging along without her consent. A Mr Tetley is accting suspisiously, and they decide to follow him. While traveling through the Seven Dials, they meet Will and witness a man taking the Heart from Mr Tetley, then the same man is stabbed in a churchyard. Theodosia hears the man mumble "Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
". She sends Henry and Will to Somerset House while she struggles to keep the man alive using her amulets. Will and Henry bring help, and Theo is introduced to Lord Wigmere, head of the Antiquarian Society and The Brotherhood of Chosen Keepers, a group dedicated to nullifying curses. Theo is relieved to know there are others like her, but disturbed that no one else can sense the curses the way she can. Henry and Will are not told the true nature of the Keepers, although Will is taken on as a message boy. Theo is also angry that Lord Wigmere may suspect her mother of stealing the Heart of Egypt, as she works closly with Count Von Braggenchnot, head of the Serpents of Chaos who will do anything to rain plague and pestilance down on England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
After Theodosia escapes, she sneaks onto a ship on which her mother and father are traveling to go to Egypt. While in Egypt, Theodosia finds a hidden part of a pyramid, and fights von Braggenschnot and Nigel Bollingsworth, who turns out to be a spy. She ends up winning, and finding an important artifact.
Character list
- Theodosia Elizabeth Throckmorton: Main Character, an eleven-year-old girl with magical vision and the ability to sense curses. Theodosia is very clever, and has an excessive knowledge of artifacts. She has a brother named Henry and a cat named Isis.
- Henry Throckmorton: Theodosia's brother, a troublemaker, who assists his sister in her schemes.
- Sticky Will: A London pickpocket that Theodosia met when he tried to steal her father's wallet. Now an errand boy for the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers.
- Lord Wigmere: Head of the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers, a knowledgeable old man who knows to listen to Theodosia when she's serious.
- Grandmother Throckmorton: Theodosia's grandmother. She often cares for Theodosia when both her parents are away.
- Henrietta Throckmorton "Mother": An archaeologist who works for the Museum of Legends and Antiquities. She often brings back artifacts from her digs.
- Alistair Throckmorton "Father": A research specialist at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities.
- Nigel Bollingsworth: First Assistant Curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities. Theodosia plans to marry him.
- Clive Fagenbush: Second Assistant Curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities and Chosen Keeper in training.
- Edgar Stilton: Third Assistant Curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities
- von Braggenschnot: A sinister German, partial to guns.
Books
- Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos
- Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris
- Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus
- Theodosia and the Last Phaoraoh
- Theodosia and the Flame of Sekhmet