The Sword of Summer

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1

by Rick Riordan

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Urban Fantasy

499 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books, including the Percy Jackson series. You can follow him on Twitter and via his official website.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars.

Middle grade it may be, but I really enjoyed The Lightning Thief. I thought it was creative, fast-paced, entertaining and with a great message for all kids who feel a little on the outside sometimes. As with Harry Potter, it takes a normal, seemingly unremarkable kid and propels him into a world where he's a hero. And it's just fun!

The Sword of Summer, though, doesn't feel... like anything new. Some people will shriek "No!" at this, but I really think it's time for Mr Riordan to move on from these stories about young heroes and heroines and Greek/Roman/Egyptian/Norse Gods. At this point, the stories are all starting to blend into one and it feels like his well of ideas has run dry.

It's incredibly hard to distinguish Magnus's voice from that of Percy Jackson. It's pretty much the same kid again, with the same wit and snark, he's just been given a different name. Instead of being the son of a Greek god, though, Magnus is the son of a Norse god - a difference that doesn't make the story different enough, but does provide some major info-dumpy moments.

Don't get me wrong, Riordan's writing is still easy to read and quite funny. Magnus makes lots of snarky comments to ensure that the book never becomes too serious. But is it enough? Sadly, I don't think so.

I guess Riordan has a tried and tested formula that he applies to all his books, but it's starting to show. The Sword of Summer was predictable and none of the characters really stood out - I honestly doubt I will remember their names in a few days time.

As much as it will hurt the author's loyal fans, there comes a time when every author must move onto something new. For Riordan, I think it should be now.

ALSO: Completely unrelated to the book's content, but that guy on the cover does not look a teenager. In fact, he looks just like Kurt Cobain.

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[Christine Riccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really enjoyed this one! I'm finding the Norse Mythology (which I've never really learned about) FACINATING plus it's full of great diverse characters! Here's my full booktalk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrd1-... ! Let's discuss together!

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm obsessed. full video book review to come!

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 80% | Very Good
Notes: Sometimes slow and specious, it shines in spite of soft-spots: sparkling spry and spirited in several standout sections.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally read this book, after my pre-review got so disturbingly popular. I'm not impressed. It was amusing, but I didn't particularly care about the characters, and I was bored through most of its 500 pages.

Maybe the Percy Jackson concept is something that only works once, and now it's just being overused. It doesn't help that this book is full of Percy Jackson references that seem, well, masturbatory. And pop culture references that will look dated in less than 5 years.

Count me out for the rest of the series.

Pre-review: I've heard rumors about a Norse mythology book by Riordan, but only now has it popped up on Goodreads. I'm super excited! It better be as good as Percy Jackson.

I hope it has some of this:


Actually, I hope this series is better than Percy Jackson, because this time, Riordan has the opportunity to put Loki in it.
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Yep, I'm having a good time here. No, I'm not going to stop.



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I can't say I'd be disappointed if Captain America happened to show up. Though I don't know why that would ever happen, but I can always hope.
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In all seriousness, there's some complex emotional stuff going on with Loki and Riordan will be missing a golden opportunity if he doesn't take advantage of it.

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(Yep, this review keeps getting bigger and bigger.)

I leave you with this GIF of Loki. Loki everywhere.


I don't know what just happened. Exscuse my Lokifest.



Edit 9/23/14: IT HAS A TITLE. YAY.

[Emma Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read! I've been wanting to read Magnus Chase for such a long time and I was definitely satisfied!

I really loved all of the characters, the world building, and all of the different adventures! I can't wait to read more of this series in the future.

[Darth J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll give Riordan credit for his mythological research, but his writing and characterizations need a lot of work still. Not only does Magnus have the exact same voice and personality as Percy Jackson and Jason Grace, but they all have a weird combination of forced snark and dad jokes that makes them sound more cartoonish than believable--and you need something to ground characters in reality when you have all this magical stuff happening. While it's great that he's trying to include more diversity with his cast, the fact that the Muslim girl has a shape-shifting hijab seems just as ham-fisted and clueless as when he degraded Nico into a stereotype in the last book .


Wait, is this a hint at Riordan's Da Vinci Code-inspired mashup with Dan Brown?! In all seriousness, we do have a new series coming our way and the next book has been announced as well.

Those looking for more of a connection to previous books than just Annabeth Chase showing up will be disappointed, as it doesn't seem like this series will interconnect the same way that Heroes of Olympus did with Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Also, I'm taking off a point for this:

(Ask the fandom community if you don't already know)

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE: First 3 books are 99 cents on Kindle US 5/19/19

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I'm wanting to get into more Norse Mythology and even though this was a more funny take on those things I still enjoyed it. One star off for making my wolves the bad guys in a book once again. < -- And no, I need no commentary on that.

I loved Magnus friends, well I loved him too. There is a lot of snark and funny moments in the book. And I figured that going into this. I WILL be reading as many books as I can of Vikings etc that are more history based.

Magnus has no idea who his father is as it goes and he has to hunt for a sword so the world doesn't come to an end. Well, that is something to lay on a kid who has been living on the streets for two years. He has some trusty friends named, Hearth and Blitzen, that stay with him. They turn out to be something else and I love them to pieces.

There are other friends in the book that I enjoyed:
Sam
X
Mallory
TJ
Halfborn Gunderson

and I probably left someone out as I tend to do, but not on purpose.

I will continue on with the series to see what they get up to in their next adventures.

I will leave you will a couple of excerpts.

I'd seen some weird stuff in my life.

I once watched a crowd of people wearing nothing but Speedos and Santa hats job down Boylston in the middle of winter. I met a guy who could play the harmonica with his nose, a drum set with his feet, a guitar with his hands, and a xylophone with his butt all at the same time. I knew a woman who'd adopted a grocery cart and named it Clarence. Then there was this dude who claimed to be from Alpha Centauri and had philosophical conversations with Canadian geese.

**

"Long enough to know you're an idiot," she grumbled.
"What she's trying to say," T.J. offered, "is that hallmates always protect each other. We'll cover your escape."

The door of my room shook, Cracks spiderwebbed from the nameplate. A decorative spear off the way of the corridor.

"X!" T.J. called. "Help!"

The half-troll's door expolded off its hinges. X lumbered into the hallway as if he'd been standing just inside, waiting for the call. "Yes?"

T.J pointed. "Magnus's door. Squirrel."
"Okay."

X marched over and shoved his back against my door. It shuddered again, but X held firm. Enraged barking echoed from inside.

Halfborn Gunderson stumbled out of his room wearing nothing but smiley-face boxers, double-bladed axes in his hands.

"What's going on?" He glowered at Blitz and Hearth.
"Should I kill the dwarf and the elf?"

"No!" Blitzen yelped. "Don't kill the dwarf and the elf!"
"They're with me," I said. "We're leaving."
"Squirrel," T.J. explained

Halfborn's shaggy eyebrows achieved orbit. "Squirrel as in squirrel, squirrel?"
"Squirrel squirrel," Mallory agreed. "And I'm surrounded by morons morons."

A raven soared down the hall. It landed on the nearest light fixture and squawked at me accusingly.

"Well, that's great," Mallory said. "The ravens have sensed your friends' intrusion. That means the Valkyries won't be far behind."

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Claudia Lomelí · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG, I loved so much the last chapter! Of course Magnus would lose that bet! He needs at least 9 more books to surpass Annabeth, hahaha.

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”The thing about fate, Magnus: even if we can’t change the big picture, our choices can alter the details. That’s how we rebel against destiny, how we make our mark.”

And to rebel is exactly what he does! *lol*

Gosh, I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun read and I once again was hooked from the very first page. Uncle Rick certainly knows how to tell a good story and my heart instantly flew out to Magnus. That poor boy definitely had a hard life and at the beginning of the book I just wanted to hug him and give him a home.
I mean his mother died, he’s been living on the streets of Boston for two years and now a huge Fire Giant is after him. What a way to start your day. *shakes head*

And people like me think it’s tough to cook, to do the laundry and to raise your almost two year old rascal who’s in the middle of early terrible twos. XD I’m sure Magnus would switch places in a heartbeat, but then again he probably never experienced the tantrum of a little child. *LOL*

Anyway, let’s get back to the book. ;-P
What I wanted to say is that I loved Magnus. He’s such an awesome character! He’s funny, he’s intelligent, his heart is at the right place and he knows that “Chocolate must be savoured, not rushed.” How could you not love such a boy? <33

Well, of course I liked all of his friends as well. Blitzen and Hearthstone were two really interesting characters and Sam was just kick-ass! XD Plus I loved the way Uncle Rick managed to involve Norse mythology throughout the entire book. It was fun to read all those interesting background stories and I absolutely adored the way he included Boston into his story. =))

It’s such a beautiful city and *LOL* the idea of “The World Tree”!!! Boy, I laughed so much! Everyone who ever visited Boston knows about those bronze ducks. It’s just hilarious! Well done Ricky, well done! ;-)

The secret star of the entire show and one of my three favourites is “Sumarbrander” though! That sword is soo much fun!!! I can’t wait to read more about him and I really hope he’ll talk even more in the next book! <3

”Dude,” said the sword, “I was forged ready.”

”And another thing!” he yelled. “Giving me away so you could marry a giantess? Dude, what was that? Blades before babes, you know what I’m saying?”

Jack knows “The Bro Code”!!! Who would have thought it?! *LOL*

And this finally brings me to my third favourite person of the book: Loki!

I’ve always been a huge Loki fan and I was so happy that he was playing a part in this book! (Then again, no surprise there! Everyone who knows a fine share about Norse Mythology also knows that Loki is a constant part of it. As is Thor, but we won’t talk about the blonde Thunder god here. ;-P)
I think Loki was portrayed pretty well in this book and his fickle and cunning nature was spot-on. XD
I won’t say anything about his role in this book though, I guess you’ll just have to read it if you truly want to find out. (Yes, I’m mean, I know. *lol*)

So this said I really enjoyed “The Sword of Summer”! Despite its 489 pages it was actually a very quick read and I can recommend it to everyone. If you love funny adventure stories that are combined with a good dose of mythology this is definitely the right book for you! ;-)

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

THE SWORD OF SUMMER was released today! Whoop xD GET YOUR BUTTS MOVING PEOPLE AND GO BUY A COPY FROM YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE TODAY :D

*This review is spoiler-free*

4.5 stars

Rick Riordan’s books were some of the first novels I read as a reader, and throughout these past years, his books have always remained my all time favourites. Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles, and now you can add Magnus Chase to that list of awesome. Why? BECAUSE THE SWORD OF SUMMER WAS FANTABULOUS.

In fact, I loved this book so much that I bookmarked all the funny bits + my favourite parts… which was basically the whole book. Whoops.



Just a note: The Sword of Summer is perfectly readable and spoiler free if you have not read any Percy Jackson book. But, it would certainly add to the enjoyment of the novel if you did because in usual Riordan style, there’s some inside jokes here and there.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE GET ANNABETH CAMEOS?!?!? She doesn’t have a role in the main plotline of the story but she’s there and as fabulous as she is and I totally flailed each time she popped up.

The Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase books do have parallels and similarities, but it didn’t feel like I was just reading the same book with different names. While both books have gods and goddesses and demigods and monsters and badass characters and truck loads of humour… yet the characters themselves were all very much unique as well as the plotline and world building etc.

Talking about Riordan’s out-of-this-world sense of humour, can we just admire it for a while?

“Could you do a glamour and turn into something smaller?” I asked it. “Preferably not a chain, since it’s no longer the 1990s?”
The sword didn’t reply (duh), but I imagined it was humming at a more interrogative pitch, like, Such as what?
“I dunno. Something pocket-size and innocuous. A pen, maybe?
The sword pulsed, almost like it was laughing. I imagined it saying, A pen sword. That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

EXCUST ME MY HEART JUST STOPPED. RICK RIORDAN, YOU ARE SNEAAAAAKY.

“This is an important battle – the fire lord Surt, Fenris Wolf. Surely that’s worthy of your attention.”
Thor’s right eye twitched. “That’s a fine offer. Really. I’d love to, but I have another pressing appointment – ”
“Game of Thrones,” Marvin explained.
“Shut up!”

And let’s not forget chapter titles like this: “The Man with the Metal Bra”, “You Had One Job”, “Hearthstone Passes Out Even More than Jason Grace (Though I Have No Idea Who That Is)” (!!!!!) and “How to Kill Giants Politely”.

Other than his funny dialogue, one of the strongest aspects of The Sword of Summer is in its diverse set of characters. Samirah al-Abbas, who is Magnus’ Valkyrie, is a young Muslim girl and wears a hijab. She’s in an arranged marriage that she’s happy is happening (she’s in luuuuurve) and has big dreams for her future. There’s also Blitz (a dwarf) and Hearth (an elf, who also happens to be deaf), and they just bring another level of hilarity to the novel. They pretend to be homeless dudes when they were undercover, looking after Magnus before he was introduced to the whole world of Vikings and monsters and magic.

I will say there is ZERO romance in this book, which I did quite like because dammit, not EVERY romance just happens to begin at the start of a series. Thanks for keeping it realistic, Riordan. I do hope there is a romance in the future books, and I can sorta see one (but maybe that’s my crazy fangirl mind speaking) – we shall see!



So why not a full 5 stars?

1. I feel like Magnus character could use some more brushing up and development. I love his goofy snarkiness, but feel as if I don’t know him all that well other than his funny side of his personality.

2. I feel like the last 1/4 to 1/5 was less enjoyable than rest of the book. I felt a little bored, and you can even tell from my bookmarks because there is less in that area.

BUT that being said, The Sword of Summer lived up to my expectations and I loved this book through and through. Diverse and lovable characters, complex world-building, hilarious dialogue (in usual Riordan fashion)… hands down one of my favourite books of 2015. BRING ON BOOK 2.

----

Edit: 31/07/15

GUYS. LOOK. WHAT. I. HAVE. GOODBYE INTERNET. SEE YOU IN A FEW HOURS.



Edit: 09/10/14

GUYS WE HAVE A SYNOPSIS:

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...

SO MUCH EXCITEMENT. SO IT WAS THE COUSIN.


Edit: 07/10/14

My thoughts: Magnus needs to be some close relative of Annabeth's. I highly doubt he'd make Magnus Annabeth and Percy's son, because that would be TOTALLY weird seeing Percabeth all grown up and I'd honestly hate that. So no, let's hope that doesn't happen.

We can't forget Annabeth has step-brothers...However, SPOILER FOR THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS: In the book, Annabeth mentions she has an uncle and cousin in Boston but she doesn't really know them because her dad and uncle don't get along well. WAIT WHAT NOW. The only reason I can see for Rick Riordan to include that is to give us a little hint towards who this Magnus Chase guy is.END SPOILER

But regardless, there will have to be Percabeth cameos, right? THERE HAS TO BE. THERE MUST. *nods quickly*

Edit: 07/10/14

MAGNUS CHASE. AS IN ANNABETH CHASE. *screams*

More info: http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/2014/...

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Update 03/28/2020: I really want to get into reading Rick Riordan again. Is The Trials of Apollo any good?

--

10/09/2015

Guess who's a very grumpy camper? *points to self*

In my own little world, I've always told myself that Rick Riordan can do no wrong. Okay, fine, I sort of hated The Blood of Olympus, but The Sword of Summer was supposed to be a fresh start--it was supposed to be the book that would put Riordan back up on my mental pedestal.

Well, I've been fucking let down, Rick. I'm sorry (and sad) to have said that, but it's true. This book was just nowhere near the level of epicness I was expecting. Maybe it's because, after ten (eleven if you count Greek Gods) books of kick-butt Greek and Roman mythology, maybe I was just expecting too much.

The main thing that made it unenjoyable, at least for me, was its similarity to the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, maybe with a little bit of Harry Potter mixed in as well. Let's break it down, shall we?

"I did not want to be the harbinger of the wolf. I wanted to be the harbinger of ice cream, or falafel."

1.) Magnus's voice sounded exactly like Percy's. I mean, if you asked me to guess which lines were whose, I wouldn't be able to answer. I might've been okay with it if the sarcastic humor worked with the story, but somehow it didn't. There was just something a bit more... juvenile about the writing style, and it worked with 12 year-old Percy, but not 100% with 16 year-old Magnus.

2.) All the other characters were just so predictable. As with PJO, in The Sword of Summer, we're given a hot-headed female who's clearly the most mature in the group, some really quirky sidekicks and sassy villains. Notice that I said sidekicks and villains as plural nouns--that's because there're more than one of each, and they all have the same psyche.

3.) The plot was your typical Rick Riordan storyline. See, other than his mid-series cliffhangers, Rick's books mostly do just follow a formula plot. It hurts me to admit that, but yes, it does seem to be the case. You can practically guess the ending without even starting the book.

4.) The mythology twists? I call bullshit at the word "twists"--I wasn't surprised at all. We've got really obvious villains, which sucks because they were actually unexpected in the original PJO series. But with this? It's basically spoon-fed to us. SPOON-FED.

5.) This book felt horribly info-dumpy. I NEVER FELT THIS WAY ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PJO SERIES. I'm not even sure why I felt that way with this book... Maybe it's because most of the Norse mythology facts were just inserted (forcefully) into awkward dialogues in huge chunks, and I honestly had trouble following along. I CAN'T REMEMBER A THING, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN A DAY.

Phew. So glad I finally got that off my chest. Anyway, despite my ranting, this book wasn't horrible--there were still some quotes that made me chuckle (especially those lovely chapter headings that we all know and love), parts that made me immensely sad, and parts that made me root for the main characters. And, as usual, Rick's books are just so easy to read.

Oh, and bonus points for diversity! We have a Muslim demigod as our main heroine (I still don't understand how she's both a Muslim yet a server of the Norse gods), as well as an adorable deaf elf as one of Magnus's sidekicks.

And with this, I conclude that I did not love The Sword of Summer, but am hoping for a 200% energy boost for the sequel when it comes out. Please make it ten times better. Thanks.

--

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

--

Aimee, Always | Twitter | Instagram

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I like my rivers the way I like my enemies - slow, wide, and lazy."

Instead of going for three individual reviews, I thought it's better to do a series review for Magnus Chase. After all, there was little variation between the three books, aside from the continuation of plot. First two felt like 3.5-star reads where as the last one was definitely a near 4.5-stars, which concluded the series in a much better-than-expected manner. Oh, and very acceptable cliff-hangers at the ends of first two books.

"Nothing started a day better than a little breaking and entering."

We all know Riordan is one of the most consistent writers when it comes to world building, character development and that hilarious storytelling (assuming you've already done with PJO). Magnus Chase is no exception when it comes to these three characteristics. Simply put, he makes learning mythology a lot of fun. There was hardly a page in the entire trilogy that I could not laugh at, no matter how dire the circumstances were. Most of the characters were entertaining enough to keep one engaged, and the world building (or the modifications to the existing world) does not lack any creativity. With any other author, I might've said the humor was overdone but with Riordan, there's no such thing.

And as always, Riordan had done his research well. The god tree along with the nine worlds, and other monsters are well placed throughout the story, enabling the reader to understand the Norse Mythology in a detailed way. Honestly, I think reading these mythology series is one of the best ways to get started in Greek, Roman and now Norse mythologies in an unforgettable manner. Just like with all the Greek and Roman gods, the modernization of the setting does not alter the experience at all.

However, when compared to the Greek campaign, there are several things worth mentioning, starting with the plotlines. I'm not saying they were bad or boring or anything, but it just wasn't quite the PJO level. May be it was the underlying similarities. Nevertheless, it did feel a tiny bit repetitive at times. The pace was also a little too slow for my liking, especially after reading all three sub-series of camp half-blood. But in the rare event that you haven't read any of Greek/ Roman books, I'm almost certain that one could easily enjoy this series.

"I'd always slept with one eye open."

It was a nice touch to find a way to link Annabeth to this story, and then Percy too, which did make things super exciting for a while. I almost wished they could've taken a lengthier part in the story, though that probably would've overshadowed the main characters here, defeating the whole purpose. Still, it was nice to encounter them again. Another really good series by Riordan. If you belong in the intended age group OR if you haven't read PJO yet, this one would be an awesome read!

"You hear what you want to believe."

[Bex]

YESSS




HELL YEAH. I NEED SOME LOKI ACTION.




yes, Loki, you are fabulous...

But wait... this comes out in 2015?!










I'm sorry, Loki spaz.

Honestly, the Avengers doesn't quite portray the Norse Gods as they were in the myths... they happened to have sleep with a lot more people and get drunk a lot more, but that's beside the point. I think. You may be surprised to know that my weirdness not only encompaces Loki gifs,but extends to Norse Gods as well! Upon learning that Rick would be writing this series, I actually went on Wikipedia and proceeded to research all good old Wiki had to offer about Norse gods, from which I learned that Thor cheated on his wife and had a kids with some other goddess, Valkyries are fucking scary creatures with lots of power to blast your ass, and other interesting tidbits like that.

Of course, I haven't read that article in a while, so feel free to correct me. Sadly, I think we might be missing out on some of the family drama because this is a children's book, not one of those adult novels that Carl Hiassen writes, and Rick writes too, but I don't think I have those.

Ooh, and before we go, I have four more things:

1) Has anyone noticed how many names of gods Rick misspelled in his other series'? I mean, really, it's not like it retracts from the story (because that's still pretty good), but could you bother to spell it right?

2) Rick Riordan lives in Texas and he's writing about NYC. And he frequently gets his geography wrong. But that's okay. I just thought you should know.

3) I would be SUPER EXCITED if he did Japanese mythology too.

4) Does anyone know if he's doing a followup series to Kane Chronicles?

Virtual cake to whoever answers the last one.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a seriously solid first book to this series. I love so many things about this book - the characters, the REPRESENTATION (so many props), the world building, the plot, just everything.
It took a little bit to get going and moving, but beyond that was everything I ever want from a Riordan book - humorous, heart-felt, and fun.
I can't wait for later books and I really hope we are going to get into more of the 9 realms because YES.

[Brigid ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review:

I went into this with kinda mixed expectations––it sounds like Percy Jackson 2.0 (and well ... it kind of is), plus a bunch of my friends were disappointed by it. But honestly, it was better than I expected. It's no PJO, but I still really enjoyed it. Some thoughts:

- I actually don't know that much about Norse mythology, so it was a fun way to learn a bit about it––although I'm sure Rick Riordan took some liberties and glossed over some things. :P
- I LOVE SAM, OH MY GOD. Why wasn't she the main character??? ... Like, seriously. I'm not kidding.
- Magnus is okay, but he's basically Percy all over again––except like, stupider and more annoying?? I feel like Percy was always endearingly clueless, but kinda got smarter as the books went on. But also he started off being 12 and Magnus is like 16, so I feel like he should've been a bit more mature. But I don't know––I don't hate him or anything, I just don't love him. Maybe he'll get cooler as the series continues.
- I love the setting in Boston because, having lived in the area pretty much my whole life, I actually knew all the places the book referenced. Woot woot!
- Also I loved the appearances of Annabeth, even if they were brief. I hope she shows up more in the series (and if other characters from PJO/HOO also ever show up, I will be very excited).
- THAT ENDING, MAN. It was intense. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Full Review:

Coming eventually.

Pre-review ranting/fangirling under the cut.



----------

6/3/15:

PSSST GUYS. You can read the first chapter here!

And guess what? ANNABETH IS IN IT!!!!!!!!!



----------

12/14/14:

So a part of me is like, "Really, Rick Riordan? Are you just going to write a series about every type of mythology in the world? Maybe you should try something new ... ?"

But, screw it. I'M FUCKING PUMPED FOR THIS SERIES. AHHHHHHH.



Reasons to be excited:

- Norse mythology!
- IT TAKES PLACE IN BOSTONNNNN. HELL YEAH, REPRESENTTT.
- Magnus Chase? As in Annabeth Chase????? Rick Riordan wouldn't just use the same last name without reason, right???? (Edit: Apparently he is Annabeth's cousin and this was referenced in The Blood of Olympus somewhere but I guess I missed it. Anyway ... AWESOME.)



Umm yeah so I need this book right away please.

[Lindsey Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5 Stars]

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

"Randolph shook his head in disgust. 'Those movies...ridiculously inaccurate. The real gods of Asgard—Thor, Loki, Odin, and the rest—are much more powerful, much more terrifying than anything Hollywood could concoct.'

'But...they're myths. They're not real.'

Randolph gave me a sort of pitying look. 'Myths are simply stories about truths we've forgotten.'"

Yes, it's time for another drinking game!

The rules are simple. Each time something similar to Percy Jackson shows up and/or happens, take a shot. Try not to die of alcohol poisoning now, cause here we go!

Similarity #1

The protagonist is a male sass master that can't be tamed.



Similarity #2

Who is motherless because of Norse god-related reasons. She is a lovely lady, and he never knew his father.



Similarity #3
His female companion is experienced in the world of Norse mythology and doesn't like our dashing male lead at first.



Similarity #4
He travels with two comic relief characters, who are native magical characters a la Grover.



Similarity #5

They go on a quest to find a lost, very powerful magical item.



Similarity #6

Midway, they are unexpectedly taken out of action, leaving them with a slim window of time. Lotus Casino, anyone?



Similarity #7

Events cause them to question the morality compass of gods.



Similarity #8

He's betrayed by someone who thought to be a friend.



Similarity #9

His friends all have a secret painful past.



Similarity #10

Norse mythology is fucking real and hidden under humanity's noses for centuries.



Similarity #11

Norse gods are silly, per Riordan tradition. Thor, in particular, is fond of Game of Thrones.



Still standing? Don't look so happy yet—We still have a bonus round. Drink if you spot a Percy Jackson reference.

PJ reference #1

Annabeth is his cousin. She and her dad make not-so-brief cameos.



PJ reference #2

Pen-sword.

"The sword pulsed, almost like it was laughing. I imagined it saying, A pen sword. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

PJ reference #3

Jason Grace's name appears in a chapter title.



PJ reference #4

The series name: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard/Percy Jackson & the Olympians.



Alright, let's get serious. I may bitch and moan about The Sword of Summer, but the truth is, I really liked it. Sam (Magnus's female questing companion) is a badass Muslim with a hajib and although I'm sure Riordan penned this before the Paris attacks, I'm glad she exists as a positive role model in a climate of Islamphobia.

Arranged marriages aren't portrayed as a contract with the devil. These days, most require enthusiastic consent from the bride and groom themselves. It's more like a blind date, except it's your parents talking up his job and house.

Annabeth's appearances are kept to a minimum, which is a relief. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion and enjoyed learning about Norse mythology. Reading Riordan's stuff is like slipping on a pair of comfy old sneakers.

Am I proud of it? No. Riordan is capable of so much more than a formula of random mythology, juvenile humor, and contemporary references. (Btw, love the nod to Taylor Swift. What? I'm a huge fan) I want him to do something totally different. I want to stop writing Percy Jackson books, dammit, and set a new story in a new universe.

But I guess I'm destined to be a hypocrite because I can't wait to get my hands on The Hammer of Thor.



My review of The Hammer of Thor
My review of The Ship of the Dead

Blurb reveal: Is it just me or does this sound a hell lot like Percy Jackson? Troubled kid, son of a god, ancient enemies are stirring, must find a magical object or the world will end... Still gonna read it (duh), but it makes a girl wonder.

Pre-review: Hmm... I was hoping for a girl narrator, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing Annabeth and Percy. Oh, God, give me the boy. later on, so that's forgiven. Hopefully, Magnus can redeem his name from another fictional character from a series I'm not very fond of.

And some of this would be lovely:

[mwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myths are simply stories about truths we’ve forgotten.

HOLY SHIT this was AMAZING.

As I've mentioned before, I am emulating the noble ostrich in hiding between pages of beautiful prose and embarking on my career as a second hand adventurer. Magnus Chase is without a doubt one of the best YA heroes I've read about this year, ever, in fact.

I'm not inclined to talk about what this book is about because it's quite simply an urban fantasy adventure story based on Norse mythology. It has all of my favorite tropes: the reluctant chosen one, the quest, found family, side quests, and an all powerful hero who could solve everything with a flick of his fingers but won't lift any because Game of Thrones (I really would like to see how he'd react to the season that shan't be named).

Beyond being one of the best adventure stories I've had the fortune of reading in recent times, it was also really funny. Magnus, a falafel-loving Kurt Cobain lookalike, is an excellent and charming narrator.

In front, a room-service cart sat in the hallway with the severed head of a pig on a silver platter. The pig’s ears and nose looked slightly nibbled. Now, I’m not a food critic. Being homeless, I could never afford to be. But I draw the line at pig heads.

The humour in this book doesn't sneak up on you. Right off the bat, Magnus is snarky, rude, sarcastic and has an inability to restrain himself from quipping that MCU Tony Stark would be proud of.

Besides that, the found family is literally JUST THE BEST. I loved every one of them. I haven't loved ALL the characters in a piece of media since Avatar: The Last Airbender and you'd sooner ask me to pick a favorite potato before I had to choose among Blitzen who has an adorable (lifesaving, it's lifesaving) aversion to sunlight, Hearth who's basically a deaf young Gandalf who's fluent in Gesticulation and Samira, a Muslim Valkyrie and if that isn't the most badass thing ever, I don't know what is. Even the villains are amazing. They are charming, there is real peril, stakes and even lessons.

I saw descriptions calling this an inclusive Percy Jackson and if that's the case, sign me up and call me a Magnus Chaser because honey, I need the rest of the series desperately.

If for nothing else, then Thor's chariot goats. Perhaps Otis finally gets a chance to unload the breakthroughs he's gotten from his therapy sessions. Or to see what other manner of human corporate communication skills Odin manages to uncover next.

“I am a seeker of knowledge!” Odin announced.

“This has always been true. I hung from the World Tree for nine days and nights, racked with pain, in order to discover the secret of runes. I stood in line in a blizzard for six days to discover the sorcery of the smartphone.”

I really can't wait to read the sequels. This just became one of my favorite series of all time. At least 2020 is amounting to something.

[Evelyn (devours and digests words) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either my sense of fun and humour has wilted into nothingness or Rick Riordan has started to bore me with his repeating usage of storylines and familiar jokes.

I opt for the latter.

I like to think that I have a good sense of humour - I like to laugh at every single tiny jokes and it takes a lot to snuff out that side of me. Okay fine, to its credit Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer is funny (it certainly does has its stupid, ri-donkey-lous moments), but the humour instilled here did not succeed in impressing me - much less made me laugh. Usually when I go into a book written by Rick Riordan, I'd be anticipating for the belly laughter and the blissful fun that comes with it.

But instead I end up rolling my eyes to high heavens like where have I heard this joke before?

I suppose when you have read more than 10+ books with the same story arcs by THE SAME AUTHOR -  one way or another you're going to outgrow them.

I turn out to be one of those people and it sucked BIG TIME because I ended up:

a) being poker-faced in the entire story. I had no reactions to the jokes (which consists of snarks, witty comebacks and lots of modern pop culture) or the big answer reveals - none. Everything just feel too goddamn repeated. Formulaic and methodical even.

b) feeling underwhelmed by the overused plotlines/story arcs.

In this book, a prophecy forewarned Ragnarok (end of days) and that a hero will walk into the picture and prevent/postpone that from happpening. So its a cycle, heroes must fight back wrathful gods/monsters who try to destroy them and take over the whole wide world.

Yada, yada, yada. You know the drill. Nothing is fucking new here.

Moving on.

c) feeling annoyed AND bored... by the overused 'The Chosen Special Snowflake' trope and 1000x other tropes.

Gods, Riordan, if only you'd stop with the repetitions! It's getting real old.

d) feeling detached from MANY characters here. Something that's never happened to me when it comes to Riordan's books. So the fact that I'm 'not feeling it' really, really blows.

Don't get me wrong, each one of the characters here are actually all wonderfully fleshed out well with their own quirks and personalities (I have a HUGE adoration for both elf and dwarf: Hearthstone & Blitz) but they don't feel so fully developed.

I hate to compare this to Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles/The Heroes of Olympus but everything here reads to me like they're all remolded from the previous series only half-heartedly.


e) Getting real pissy at the 'question evading' move.

QUESTIONS ARE EVADED A LOT HERE. Which is something I notice Riordan has a habit of doing in all his written works.

Look, if you want to ground my attention to a story, make sure you don't try to keep frustrating me with the obvious lack of answers. That's what this book does a lot. Whenever Magnus Chase questions something/someone, other people would be on the verge of answering him then suddenly, something else happens and the book will be all... "Sorry. Your question will have to wait! You'll get your answers soon - just keep reading!"

Talk about getting exasperated, man.


f) feeling baffled and unimpressed with the depictions of the Norse gods and goddesses. All myths and legends are laced with grimness and bloodshed but it was never that way here. Everything that's dark and grimy are watered down into a sillier, lighter version. A part of me liked that Thor is a farting, TV show addict but another part of me longed for that kickass, majestic hammer wielding Norse god he was portrayed to be.

I truly was expecting something more serious here. I wanted the portrayal of the gods & godesses to be legit. Can't everything and everyone not be made into a laughingstock for once? This is Young Adult, the audiences can handle a bit of seriousness. Let there be more bloodshed!

* * *

I can never ever come close to hate anything Riordan writes but I can be underwhelmed and let down. Maybe even bored. Bummer.

However, despite its many not-so-redeeming qualities, there are still a ton of stuffs that I can praise.


• This book deals with DIVERSITY & EQUALITY (in the most unique way possible). Here, we have a muslim female sidekick, Samirah Al-Abbas, who wears a magical(!) hijab and wields some serious axe-slashing skill. Oh, and she's also in an arranged marriage with her twice-removed cousin.

Surprise, surprise! Seriously, that don't happen often in many YA books.

Eventhough Riordan glossed over the subject, I find it a pleasant thing that he brought it up for his readers. God knows how most of us are almost completely ignorant on that subject.

When someone mentions human equality in races - that's seriously great. But here, it's like the author himself has decided to humanize elves, giants and dwarves and that as much as us normal human beings, they deserve not to be excluded out or be stereotyped too. (You'll get what I mean when you read the book)

• The adventures never seem to s-t-o-p. They won't even let you have the liberty to pause and catch your breath because in every chapters, there will always, always be some quest going on despite the fact that Ragnarok is looming around the corner.

What makes it most interesting is that these quests are often enlightening. You'll learn a LOT of Norse myths along the way.

• The awesome and ACCURATE imitation of a teenager's lifestyle and voice. We all know Mr Riordan isn't a teenager but I swear, I think he may still be one because he realistically captured how a teenager would sound, behave and act like. The narration that comes from Magnus, a 16 year old, never felt so forced and it was easy for me to be able to just click with him.

Also, brace yourself for MANY mentions of modern pop cultures. (Featuring... Taylor Swift) Oh... and TV shows, too.

• The HILARIOUS titles are back in the picture and they're most probably going to make you bend over chortling.To the readers who have loyally followed Riordan's trails for years now will know what I'm talking about. This author is the MAN when it comes to chapter titles.


To wrap it up, this book was just fun and silly to read. I'd say educational, too. But other than that, a part of me has decided that it's probably time I outgrow Riordan's books (Hello, maturity!) and move on to a more serious myth-related stories. I will still read Magnus Chase's further adventures but something tells me that the magic and the fun I'd be feeling will not be so much anymore. I'm totally not emotional right now.

See more reviews at...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars

[Elevetha]

I knew he was planning on making a Norse series but here it is! Or, rather, the vague idea roaming around on Goodreads that sometime in 2015 there might be a book about Norse mythology by Riordan. Or maybe in a few years after that....Well,



Just hope it's more like the Percy Jackson than the Kane Chronicles.


But I really hope that Loki, if he is brought up and we all know he will be, is not a generic villain. Please?

He (and Thor) BETTER NOT be teenagers. Hell, no. I don't need drooling over Loki and Thor like Sadie did over Anubis.





This series better "be worthy" of our anticipation...

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick can't do wrong. Another adventure of epic proportions lead by the incredibly sarcastic Magnus is not "just another" Percy Jackson, but a distinctive and a little bit more grown-up journey featuring dwarves, elves, Valkyries and of course, the master of mischief Loki and his many godly opponents. Hilariously written with a fast-paced plot and diverse and powerful characters. Addictive!

Advanced reading copy provided by Penguin

[Mohammed Arabey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Percy Jackson now, making me feel I was right here. Percy Jackson better Urban Fantasy, this one a bit higher or wilder.
A Breakneck, Jam-Packed Roller Coaster of an Adventure..
’I Know It's Jo’s Blurb for House of Secrets, but sorry, Can't help but use it here too’

The All-The-Ancient-Gods Geek, Rick Riordan takes us in a new Adventure Up and Down the Tree of Laeradr,Worlds of Asgard’s Gods & Viking Myths.

With a Variety of resourceful characters..

Oh and don't forget the Hotel Valhalla, such a lovely place (such a lovely place), such a lov...sorry.
It's a fun story really, almost perfectly summed up by the ending as;

‘I considered everything I’d been through – death and resurrection, fishing for the World Serpent, fighting with giants, running from monster squirrels, binding a wolf on a disappearing island’

BUT -with a quick look at all the other reviews, Goodreads clearly must add the Half Star to the ratings.- My rating is just 3.5, -to give it 4 is too much for my overall liking-
It's 2.5 Story , 3.5 Characters , 4.5 insightful look into the Norse Myths and Gods. -which was better than the Marvel Movies insight in a way.-

But again that isn't fair putting it that way, the story has some good points, and many weak ones..
So does the characters, some are strongly written and some just normal.

And here ,and so later, I must say drawing a Muslim Girl in this kind of fantasy is extraordinary perfectly written ,one of the points that made me love the series more..

This amazing drowning can be found in this lovely blog

So let's see why it was a real ‘Roller Coaster’ as I said in the beginning of this review, let's see What was Up and what was Down…

DOWN

**Meet Magnus ,& his street friends ,but Mind all the sarcasm.
reminded me strongly of Percy Jackson in the first few pages I have read for him..,I may used to his sarcasm later, may found some of it funny later..but that wasn't that good starting.
So from now on...I'll try to Review it as Magnus..

UP

**Oh, he's a Demigod -Perrrrcyyyy- Thanks to his Uncle's insightful speech of the Norse Gods.
The speech and the theory of the Viking discovered North America first is interesting, and the Boston history, I just love it. -specially I've read this theory in a Donald Duck comic adventure by Carl Barks back in the 50s.

“Myths are simply stories about truths we've forgotten.”

DOWN

**That's how to get a 2000 years lost Sword???

**A Catastrophic Fire Giant Fight in the middle of real world????

**Oh, and the Agony Death to complete the day !, just as promised.

UP

**Welcome to the Hotel Valhalla ,Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place), Such a lovely faaaaceee.
Though it wasn't my cup of coffee to read a dead character story ,but hey it's ancient Gods story , so suck it..

**A Tour in the Norse Heaven…
I loved how Uncle Rick made it so vivid.

**The Valkariy Samirah al-Abbas and the disastrous dinner.
Sorting Hat anyone?

Still UP

**Plenty of room at the Hotel Valhalla, Any time of year (Any time of year),You can find it here.
I just loved the Norse myth and how Rick Riordan take us there professionally , Yet I have this unsettling feeling..
"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"
But still , I just like the variety of the company, also liked that you can always break the rules and leaving the Hotel… got too much potential but alas, it didn't put in use just 2,3 chapters later..
And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"

**Oh ,and here comes Loki.

DOWN

**Escaping Hotel California, sorry, Valhalla..

**The Truth of Magnus’ Friends, the Elf and the Dwarf.
I just used the characters of the hotel, you know, the crazy half naked Viking ,and the smart sarcastic a bit girl… well… at least Samirah will be there.

**Attending the funeral..of himself.

UP

**The Quest; Magnus, you must find the Sword, God knows where now,and you must Stop the Norse Armagadone ,by restraining a Wolf God knows how, in an Island that only appear in , whatever he got only Nine Days, God knows where..
And remember...every one tell you any lead you must pay certain cost, Gods Knows How..sometimes they themselves who ask for that

DOWN

**...said a severed head, sorry, a God !

**A Giant Eagle in a Food Court, Kidnapping Magnus.
Too much weird fantasy in real world...I love things more like, Ministry of Magic secure if you know what I mean..

UP

**I -Me ,really- love Samirah al-Abbas.

The author really wrote it very well and very respectfully to the real moderated Muslim's lifestyle. Total respect. 2 of my best friends here -real YA, Big RR fans- told me the author researched deeply in the Muslim books to get understanding terms for Samirah , and I gotta say that though the flying Hijab was a bit too much, but otherwise I just can't appreciate the author enough..
PS: A novel later, Ink and Bone, has also a Muslim girl, smart and good and all...but just not as real as here.
**oh , and Hearthstone is quite fine too.

Still UP

**Go Fisihing the World Serpent.

**Meet a freaky geeky collector Goddess.
Magnus was really smart here.

**The Tree of Learadr

DOWN

**Hello, MILF, sorry, Aunt. Who also my best friend’s Mom.

**The Dwarfs contests and Rules are the most ridiculous thing ,ever.
Blitz can be my least favorite character , his obsession about fashion so overused.

**And again, more enemies for live..

**A Talking Sword, A Talking Sword...

UP

**Loki again, in the most disgusting set.
I honestly love the information about the Norse ancient myths.

**And meet The Funniest Talking Goat ever..
Creepy, funny, depressed goat ever...just kill it, sorry ,like it. , reminded me a bit with Shrek's Donkey.
&
**Have you met Thor?

DOWN

**Okay ,Thor is not the movies’ handsome macho hot guy...we get it, but you don't need to keep fart it.
Really horrible.
**KILLING GIANTS SISTERS AT THEIR HOME.
No matter what happened, no matter what their other sister did, no matter a damn thing that was stupid and brutal and not Good Middle Grade or even YA read.

**GUESS WHAT, TALKING SWORDS CAN'T SEE A JACK.

Still DOWN

** MORE Giants Killing.
No seriously, at least George R.R. Martian has a point writing the Red Wedding @ A Storm of Swords..
I have to admit, through all the ups and downs ,the part of the giants is the thing that really really stopped me rate it more than 3.
I Understand killing a Giant trying to drown a God!!!! , but plotting an escape by killing a whole family in their home is just the ridiculous of all.

UP

**The Hummer of Thor is...spoiler. and A NETFLEX.
Thor is so fun , I strangely find I just like him in some things..

‘Won’t you come with us? This is an important battle – the fire lord Surt, Fenris Wolf. Surely that’s worthy of your attention.’
Thor’s right eye twitched. ‘That’s a fine offer. Really. I’d love to, but I have another pressing appointment –’
‘Game of Thrones,’ Marvin explained.
‘Shut up!’ Thor raised his staff over our heads.

Oh, Marvin is the Goat I told you about.

UPs & DOWNs , Right & Left

** The Climax, the Wolf, The back of the hall mates, The Dome theory , the prolong anti-climax… and Who's the Hell is Annabeth ,and why should he lose the bet? Did she a fan of Game of Thrones too and watched ‘em all?

Okay ,yes after I finish it I got it that Annabeth is a Percy Jackson character , so I lose a bet.
The ending is sure mostly Up more than Down… but wasn't high enough due to some of the very down hell.

Finally
-----

Even if I didn't appreciate some of the over-doused fantasy here -Oh no, I may be really getting older :(- I still loved the insightful look into the Myths of the Norse..
And I have to thank my dearest friends here Malak and Raoofa for encouraging me to this world ,Worlds, of Rick Riordan...the all ancient Gods Master..

And one final small thing… wasn't cool at all bringing Jesus to the Gods of Asgard… I mean just why? , why not one of the Greek Gods, Egyptian ones or whatever.

“Because Anno Domini, in the Year of Our Lord, is fine for Christians, but Thor gets a little upset. He still holds a grudge that Jesus never showed up for that duel he challenged him to.” “Say what now?”

Anyway, As I said at the beginning, it was A Breakneck, Jam-Packed Roller Coaster of an Adventure.. Comes Complete with a variety of characters, some are awesome written, some are good enough and some are, just Jack.
And I am really waiting for book Two...and wishing the Roller Coaster takes me Up and Down more, but just Keeps me feel Higher all the time.

Mohammed Arabey
From 15 January 2016
To 22 January 2016

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Riordan's Norse series (though you'll meet a few old friends from the Percy Jackson series along the way). The third and last book in this trilogy, The Ship of the Dead, has just been published. Full review, originally published on www.fantasyliterature.com:

Rick Riordan, who has enthralled millions of readers with exciting tales of teenagers and their interactions with Greek, Roman and Egyptian gods and goddesses, turns to Norse mythology in his latest book, The Sword of Summer.

Magnus Chase is sixteen years old and has been homeless for two years, since his mother died. Magnus remembers the door of their apartment splintering and wolves with glowing blue eyes bursting in as his mother shooed him out the fire escape.



His mother had always told him to avoid his uncles, especially Uncle Randolph, so Magnus, naturally, runs into Randolph, who somehow convinces Magnus to accompany him to retrieve an ancient sword from the waters below Longfellow Bridge in Boston. Magnus magically calls the sword to himself. Unfortunately, it’s a corroded, slimy, barnacle-encrusted piece of metal with no hilt. Worse, a fireball-wielding man promptly appears and demands, whilst incinerating various items on the bridge, that Magnus give him the sword.

It’s not entirely surprising that Magnus dies in their confrontation ― particularly since Magnus announces on the first page that he dies. It’s a little more surprising when Magnus regains consciousness on the doorstep of the luxurious Hotel Valhalla, where the einherjar (heroes who have died in battle) live until Ragnarok, the final great battle at the end of the world. In Hotel Valhalla, the minibar is always stocked, the gigantic Tree of Laeadr grows in the dining hall, and einherjar gleefully die glorious, bloody deaths in daily battles, from which they are promptly resurrected. The display board in the hotel lobby informs Magnus of each day’s activities:

SINGLE COMBAT TO THE DEATH! – OSLO ROOM, 10 A.M.
GROUP COMBAT TO THE DEATH! – STOCKHOLM ROOM, 11 A.M.
BUFFET LUNCH TO THE DEATH! – DINING HALL, 12 P.M.
BIKRAM YOGA TO THE DEATH! – COPENHAGEN ROOM, BRING YOUR OWN MAT, 4 P.M.

Predictably, Magnus’ fate is not to simply rest fight in Valhalla. He is soon off on a quest, encouraged by some gods, hunted by others who are trying to capture or kill him, and assisted by a charmingly diverse group of friends, including his former Valkyrie Samirah, a hijab-wearing Muslim human girl with some extraordinary powers; Blitzen, a dwarf whose creativity runs to fashion design; and Hearthstone, a deaf elf with a hard-won magical talent and family issues.

Riordan skillfully weaves together a rousing adventure, constant humor, and interesting bits of Norse mythology, some more familiar than others. Characters such as Surt, Frey and Fenris Wolf, and legendary items such as Gleipnir (the chain that binds Fenris) and Naglfar, the Ship of Nails, were new to me, but have their roots in Norse mythology. Familiar Asgard gods such as Thor, Loki and Odin also show up in the pages of The Sword of Summer, though these characters’ appearance and personalities may raise the eyebrows of readers who are primarily familiar with their Marvel counterparts. There are a few sly references to Riordan’s prior series, such as cameo appearances by Annabeth (who will be familiar to Percy Jackson fans), that tie this new series into the same universe as Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Although The Sword of Summer is overall a light-hearted adventure tale, it incorporates the violence that was part of the Viking culture. It also deals with the issue of homelessness in a way that’s not too heavy, but doesn’t sidestep the problems and troubles of those who are homeless, such as their inability to keep themselves and their clothing clean, their invisibility to members of society, and the suspiciousness that often becomes part of a homeless person’s personality.

You're not going to get anything startlingly new or deeply profound with The Sword of Summer; it's in the same vein as his prior young adult books, the literary equivalent of Variations on a Theme. Magnus' personality is pretty much interchangeable with Percy's. But it's an entertaining novel with plenty of action and laugh out loud humor. Quirky chapter titles like "Make Way for Ducklings, or They Will Smack You Upside the Head" and "Come to the Dark Side. We Have Pop-Tarts" made me chuckle, as did Odin’s transformation (thanks to a week-long seminar) into a cheesy motivational speaker. On a more personal note, my own children’s enthusiasm for both reading and mythology took a big turn upwards with Rick Riordan’s books, and I’ll always be grateful for that. My 13 year old son Tyler couldn’t even wait for me to finish writing this review to swipe the book away from me.

This would be a 3 or 3.5 star book for me personally, as a more critical adult, but I'm going with 4 stars based on the intended audience. Fans of the Percy Jackson series will be more than satisfied with The Sword of Summer, which is the first book in a projected trilogy called Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. Tyler and I will both be anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.

Initial post:
YES! Yes, yes, yes!! The ARC of the hardback just got delivered to my house!

My 13 year old son will think I'm the coolest mom EVER.

[Simona B · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To Cassandra Clare
Thanks for letting me share the excellent name Magnus.”

No joking. I swear on all the books I own that this is the actual dedication of this book.


“The once warriors-the warriors who fought bravely in the last life and will fight bravely again on the Day of Doom. Duck.”
“The Day of Doom Duck?”
“No, duck!”
Hunding pushed me down as a spear flew past.”

Seriously, how am I supposed to review a book that contains quotes like this?

In truth, there are very few thing you need to know about The Sword of Summer. I'll try to recap them for you as briefly and clearly as possible:

1) Does Riordan use and reuse all the schemes he already used in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus and the Kane Chronicles ?
Yes, and you all already knew that, so no need for me to linger on the topic.

2) Does Magnus Chase resemble, in attitude and personality, Percy Jackson?
But of course my dears.

3) Did I hopelessly fall (again) for Magnus's sense of humor just as I fell for Percy's?
Hell (lol) yes!

4) Do I give a darn about Mr Riordan's repetitiveness as long as he manages to make me double up with laughter?
Absolutely not!

If you are looking for something different, people, don't pick up this book. But if you're looking for an intelligent, well-written, impossibly funny and hilarious middle-grade book, with characters so realistic, relatively complex, and easy to connect with, with a plot that is so fast-paced as to not give you time to catch you breath, then this (or any other Riordan book, for that matter) truly is the best you'll ever do.

The only thing that somewhat bothered me concerns the characters: there are really many of them, and maybe that's the reason why I struggled to make myself care for those of them who don't get much screen time, namely the Valhalla Hotel gang (TJ, Mallory, Halfborn and) X. It's particularly sad because these are, coincidentally, also the ones I was most curious about. I hope they get bigger roles in the next books.

On the other hand, I completely loved each and every one of Magnus's quest companions. They more or less all represent fresh additions in Riordan's inventory, and each of them can boast a pretty solid background story. More specifically, Sam is probably nothing exceptional in terms of characterisation, but Hearth and Blitz, the elf and the dwarf, are marvellous. It breaks me that they probably won't be present in the next installments, or at least not as much as they were in this one.

And the villains! I seriously hope that The Hammer of Thor will regale us with more Loki. We want Loki. Loki is our king. And yes, he's so cool, his name should always be written in bold. Just because. Like, Loki.





And to go out with a bang, another little hidden jewel. It's not properly a quote, but a chapter title. If you've never read Riordan, really, people, you can't even imagine what this man can do with chapter titles. He completely redefines the whole category. Exhibit A, the masterpiece that introduces chapter 48:

"Hearthstone Passes Out Even More than Jason Grace (Though I Have No Idea Who That Is)"

[Juliana Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

El tío Rick nunca falla.
Hace mucho quería leer este libro y no había tenido el tiempo para hacerlo, pero finalmente tuve el placer de volver a leer las historias mitológicas de este autor, esta vez con una trama totalmente diferente, mitología nórdica, nuevos personajes, mitos fascinantes, dioses espeluznantes, aventuras extraordinarios y un primo de nuestra amada Annabeth Chase como el protagonista.

El humor de los personajes de Rick es bastante característico y Magnus no se quedó atrás, le verdad es que es bastante divertido leerlo, es un personaje muy ocurrente, novato en todas las tareas que tiene que ejecutar para lograr su misión, sentí que el personaje a pesar de ser un semidios es bastante humano, esta tan perdido como nosotros en este nuevo mundo y trata de hacer las cosas lo mejor que puede.

Todo el equipo de lucha involucrado en la misión es maravilloso, los personajes de Rick siempre logran llegarte al corazón, me encanta que cada uno sea totalmente diferente al otro, que todos se destaquen en cosas diferentes, que todos sean indispensables en la misión y que se complementen de esa forma tan maravillosa.

De mitología Nórdica se muy poco y por lo que leí en esta historia, los mitos de los vikingos son bastante locos, el tema de los nueve mundos, del árbol de los mundos y todo lo demás me pareció fascinante, aunque los nombre de todos los elementos (dioses, lugares, criaturas...) me fueron imposibles de pronunciar.

Finalmente, la trama esta llena de aventuras por diferentes mundos hasta llegar a la conclusión de nuestra misión (muy el estilo de Rick), el último capitulo fue un guiño hermosos para los fans de todos sus libros, leer a Annabeth en esta faceta es maravilloso y escuchar referencias a nuestros semidioses griegos te llena el corazón.

Nota: Rick es tan maravilloso a la hora de escribir sus personajes que te encariñas de ellos sin que te des cuenta siquiera, me pasó con una de las tragedias de la historia, nunca pensé que leer esa escena me fuera a doler como me dolió (los que ya leyeron sabrán a que me refiero)

Reseña: https://bastvilard.blogspot.com/2017/...
Video-Reseña: https://youtu.be/2EUOPlOYwtk

[Tina ➹ Woman, Life, Freedom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Golden Stars

“it’s Magnus, rhymes with swag-ness!”

of course it does!

so much FUN!
Magnus was a street-smart lucky dumbass kid & that kind of sarcasm, different from Percy, with funny sense of humor I never thought about (like memes!), but when I read them, I was laughing like 'my goodness! it is so true! it's all I needed!'.
he literally talks sarcasm!
All the descriptions & comparisons, his comments in between a serious scene all made me crack up.
Unique funny Phrases, like always, Riordan's style!

I mean,
“It wasn’t much of a Rear-Rester. It was more of a Magnus-Mangle.”


Hearth & Blitz were awesome. I love them! Loyal, lovely, protective, funny friends. Hearth, my sweetheart!
Sam is such a badass. She's definitely in my top 10 favourite female characters.
Chapters titles were so funny!

this book maybe was not as good as the rest of the Magnus or compared to Percy Jackson; but it was different & funny, with stupid comments & stupid events the squad fell in, as someone might fell from the tree of the 9 worlds. *pun intended!*
Norse mythology maybe is one of my least favourite myths (because of many strange names.); but Riordan definitely knows how to describe it as an amusing, funny, modernized story which made many many of us interested in Norse myths.

p.s. You know you must read Percy Jackson & Heroes of Olympus before this series. as you should know the characters (we have crossover too later on) also, you should know it's happening at the same time with Trials of Apollo.
-
World building: ★★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★★/5
Written style: ★★★★★/5
plot: ★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★/5

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious! Here's my video review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqMIV...