The Pyramid of Souls: Magickeepers Book 2    by Erica Kirov Order:  USA  Can Sourcebooks, 2010 (2010) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Nick Rostov and his family of magicians are back in the second Magickeepers book, The Pyramid of Souls. This time, author Erica Kirov has tied Nick's adventure in with my favorite poem, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. The Shadowkeepers are still after Nick, but now they are after his cousin Isabella, too. Nick, though, has more pressing worries. Soon, all the magical families from around the world will convene in the Winter Palace hotel and compete in a magic competition to show which family has the best skills. This will be Nick's first time competing, and he has a big task ahead of him: he must make Isabella and her new elephant, Penelope, disappear. The festivities come to a halt when the Pyramid of Souls is stolen by the Shadowkeepers. Nick and Isabella are convinced the thief is a strange lady with a raven hat, as ravens were seen in their last encounter with the Magickeepers. Nick's new magic skills are put to the test when Isabella is kidnapped for her soul. The fast-paced storyline will keep younger readers entertained, even as they learn a bit about history, both real and magical, with some Russian thrown in. Nick and Isabella are very likeable characters to whom tweens can easily relate, helping them immediately step into the story. While the plot is rather straightforward and mostly linear, it still will engage younger minds, although older reader might find it a little lacking. While shorter than the first Magickeepers novel, The Pyramid of Souls is no less fun and full of adventure. Erica Kirov does a great job of combining fact with fiction in an entertaining, magical environment. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews