In “The Red Pyramid,” the first book in “The Kane Chronicles,” Rick Riordan’s new series for middle readers, a child has godlike* powers but does not know it until strange things begin to unfold.

    A parent disappears, prompting introductions to ancient characters and travels to otherworldly places. There are battles with evil forces and a looming* deadline by which the child must complete a mission, lest society descend into chaos.

    If this sounds like “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” that is no coincidence. “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” is the author’s five-book, The New York Times best-seller fantasy series, and source of the film “The Lightning Thief.”

    Why mess with a successful formula, especially if you can use it to make your new story just as fast-paced and intriguing* as its predecessor?

    Riordan has done just that. There are two protagonists* instead of one — siblings Sadie and Carter Kane — and their powers hail from gods who are Egyptian rather than Greek. Their mission: to find their archaeologist* father. (SD-Agencies)knives.