The Sword of Summer
Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
Genre: Fantasy
Original publication date: October 2015
Book description: 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 truant officers.
One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph 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.
Thoughts:
It is a YA fantasy story that I initially read as m introduction to Rick Riordan's works. This is very nostalgic and lovely to read. There is a lot of characters you are meant to fall for, even if they might act not according to what you believe you end up warming up to them.
I really think that as most of Rick Riordan's books you fall in love with the characters and then that's it, you enjoy the reading so much more.
The family ties are not shown as the best but we see a very strong bond at least on Magnus side for his mother. She raised him on her own ad yet he never felt bitter about not knowing his father. We see a relationship based on blood that perseveres time and space as Magnus cousin Annabeth leaves the comfort of her life to come to another city to search for a lost cousin she has not seen or spoken to in years. It says a lot of the family bonds here.
Also, we see a great representation of a traditional family in Sam's, she's taken in by her grandparents after her mother's death, she is a girl born to a single mom in a culture still very set in certain ways. That speaks volumes in the family union and acceptance of the grandparents, as they are very traditional and family-oriented. We see the idea of a positive arranged marriage, and even if we do not see much of it, you can get a glimpse and even if she is very young and is promised to marry a specific teenager she does not seem bothered by it, Sam seems to actually want it.
The friendship group here is as usual unexplainable and so endearing, people get together and without even knowing each other they're already risking their lives to help each other!
We have a very slow-paced story. Very slow so if you are looking for a plot-driven book, this is not for you.
We see friends fighting to save each other's lives based on we are supposed to be a team because you're-placed-on-the-same-floor-as-us situation. We have the strong wish to protect because it was ordered for us to but then we got to know you and wish to actually protect you. It all seems to be extremely quick and for no reason. But oh well, suspend your belief for a bit and it's perfect, just don't look to justify the why.
The combination of adventure, comedy, its pretty good. We have the talking sword with a sassy attitude, and you completely root for it.
I like it but there is very little happening in itself. It felt longer than necessary for the amount of plot development it had.
This was a reread and it was used for the #AYearAThon link this book prompt we have a Sword on the cover of both.
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