The Sword of Summer
by Rick Riordan
Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Series Rating:
Published by Disney-Hyperion Books on October 6, 2015
Setting: Massachusetts
Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure
Pages: 499
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Nook
Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.
One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus's birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.
The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus's memory. But he doesn't have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . .
Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan shows us that Mr. Riordan knows what he is good at. He is excellent at writing about a hero with everything against him but the odds.
Can Magnus stop the end of the world?
Magnus Chase
Right off the bat, I feel bad for Magnus as he’s thrust into this world that he never knew existed because people were looking for him, and oh hey, it happens to be his birthday. Magnus has to run for his life while figuring out how to dodge his uncle. Well, that same uncle catches him, and he unearths the sword that has been lost for at least two thousand years, which is probably not wise.
I have to say that I did enjoy this book and had a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Magnus is a great character with humongous character growth. As he does end up changing from the kid we met at the beginning to what he becomes at the end. I only hope that Magnus can handle the long haul of keeping the end of the world from happening.
The Story
Magnus Chase finds out, not only on his birthday but the same day that he died, that maybe the Norse myths aren’t just myths after all. He ends up on his own adventures and quests. Of course, he isn’t alone but has a group of people to help him. I can’t exactly say who, except I love how each of them brings something that ultimately helps out. This group of motley heroes is precisely what the Aesir and Vanir need to help win this battle. I can’t wait to see what happens in the other books.
Five Stars
Mr. Riordan has a great formula on his hands, especially his way of writing, which keeps the feel of it being a middle grade book despite the characters being older. I am giving The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan five stars. This book deserves a massive recommendation to all who love a good mythology book.
I love learning about the different myths that Mr. Riordan uses in his books and how he uses the knowledge of the myths to create his characters in a way that seems to benefit his tales.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, the Heroes of Olympus, and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.
For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.
While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.
Today over forty million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller
Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2023 Goodreads RC
- 2023 Let Us Read Middle Grade
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