The Sword of Summer

Tal como me sucedió con Percy Jackson, disfrute enormemente de este libro, escrito maravillosamente ideal para el público infantil, no solo resulta en entretenido y emocionante si no que logra llevar a través de los mitos, en este caso Vikingos a una aventura emocionante y llena de personajes tan increíbles como realistas, llenos de defectos, que con todas sus fallas y sus faltas logran como equipo salir adelante en esta aventura, trasmite además valores como la lealtad, el respeto, la tolerancia y además de todo lleno de personajes que obviamente gracias a Marvel están muy de moda como Thor, Loki y Odin, pero en este caso puestos en un contexto real o mas bien mas apegados a la realidad de la mitología, para los adultos resulta show more en un libro con mucha acción y toques de humor.
Si le encuentro algún pero, sería que me resulto un poco desesperante que la información de las razones del porque le esta sucediendo a Magnus todo esta locura es dada tan en gotitas que resulta candado, todo es "luego te explico, tu solo hazlo" y no solo es que Magnus no lo entienda es que nosotros como lectores estamos en las mimas. No es si no hasta casi la mitad del libro que podemos tener el panorama completo de las razones y motivaciones de todos, eso me resulto algo cansino, por lo demás me encanto el sentido del humor de Magnus, un adolescente irónico, me hizo reír.
Muy recomendable para quienes les gusta leer libros de corte infantil o bien para que se los compren a sus hijos, segura de que los van a disfrutar show less

Magnus Chase is a 16-year-old boy who's lived on the streets of Boston for 2 years since his mother was killed in a supernatural attack. He's avoided his estranged Uncle Randolph, who lives in a Back Bay mansion opposite the Leif Erikson statue and is obsessed with Viking artifacts, but as the book begins Magnus is forced into contact with his uncle. This unleashes a series of events where Boston is attacked by fire giants and Magnus dies in battle. And that's just the beginning.

Much like Rick Riordan's books about Camp Half Blood where Greco-Roman myths are real and demigods are trained on Long Island, The Sword of Summer incorporates Norse myth. In fact, the two series are in the same universe as Magnus is cousins with Annabeth Chase show more of the Camp Half Blood books! We follow Magnus as he is brought to Valhalla, learns of his godly parentage, and goes rogue on a quest to prevent Ragnarok, or the apocalypse. I think Riordan is even more clever in how he winds Norse myth into a young adult fantasy adventure, and most of all this book is funny as Helheim.

Magnus travels with a great team including the Muslim Valkyrie Samirah "Sam" al-Abbas from Dorchester, Blitzen, a dwarf with a great sense of fashion, and the deaf and magical elf Hearthstone. I'm definitely biased, but I love how Boston is set as the "hub" of the Norse worlds and that many scenes are set in Boston, or in an alternate version of the city. Although it should be noted that Eben Norton Horsford's discredited theory of Norse navigators sailing up the Charles River were rooted in the white supremacist belief that an Italian like Christopher Columbus was unworthy to be the person who "discovered" the Americas.

I think this is my favorite Riordan book yet, and I look forward to continuing the trilogy of Magnus' adventures. show less

Rick Riordan’s The Sword of Summer marks the start of his Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, a perfect blend of mythology, humor, and adventure. If you’re a fan of mythology (especially Norse), this book will hit all the right notes. Riordan breathes new life into old gods and legends, giving them a fresh twist while staying true to their mythological roots.

The main character, Magnus Chase, is a refreshing protagonist with a witty and sarcastic tone that’s classic Riordan. He’s a teenager who finds himself in a world of gods, monsters, and ancient prophecies—and though it seems like a heavy load, Magnus brings a sense of humor and relatability that makes the fantasy world feel grounded.

What I loved most, though, were show more Riordan’s takes on the gods and mythological characters. Not only does he stay faithful to their original stories, but he also adds a unique spin that makes them feel modern and accessible. For instance, Thor is portrayed as a big, somewhat clumsy guy with an affinity for selfies, while Loki has his usual trickster charm with a bit of a twist.

The chapter titles? Pure genius. Riordan’s sense of humor shines through them, with each chapter title teasing what’s to come, often with a snarky or ironic edge. It’s the kind of small detail that makes the book even more enjoyable.

For anyone who loves mythology but is looking for something that doesn’t take itself too seriously, The Sword of Summer is a must-read. Whether you’re familiar with Norse myths or not, Riordan’s storytelling makes the ancient tales feel like a fun, action-packed ride. show less

Summary: 16-year-old Magnus Chase is homeless, since his mother died in mysterious circumstances two years prior. One day, his Uncle Randolph - a man he barely knows, and one his mother didn't trust - lets slip that Magnus's father is actually a Norse god, and that he needs to find the lost Sword of Summer before anyone else can. However, Randolph isn't the only one searching for the sword; Magnus gets into a confrontation with a fire giant on a Boston bridge. Magnus dies in the confrontation, and is carried to Hotel Valhalla by the valkyrie Samirah, a daughter of Loki, and therefore generally considered untrustworthy. But when a prophecy surfaces that hints that Magnus is not worthy of the hero's afterlife, Sam is exiled. But Magnus is show more determined to prove himself by finding the Sword, assisted by two of his homeless friends (who turn out to be a dwarf and an elf) and Sam, and they'll trek across each of the Nine Worlds if that's what it takes to find the sword, keep Fenris Wolf from being freed, and thereby preventing Ragnarok - the end of the world.

Review: I had about as much fun with this book as I expected - which is to say, a lot! I was really excited when I found out that Riordan was doing a series based around Norse mythology, which I know better than Egyptian mythology (although not nearly as well as Greek/Roman mythology). But, in his usual style, Riordan explains stuff well enough that I never felt lost (it's not like Magnus knows all that much about the Norse gods to start out with, either), plus I get that little thrill of recognition whenever I did catch some deeper significance. This book can be read completely independently of Riordan's other books, although there are some threads that tie them together (Magnus is Annabeth Chase's cousin, for example). I was also really impressed that Riordan killed off his protagonist so soon into the book - it makes sense in retrospect (How else are you going to get him to Valhalla?) but at the time, I was very much "Wait a minute! You can't do that! Can you? He didn't really just die, did he?" The story, like all of Riordan's books, is fast paced and funny and featuring an interesting (and diverse) supporting cast, and I'm excited to see where else this series goes. (Although I may brush up on my Norse mythology basics in the meantime.) 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: If you like Riordan's other books, or Norse mythology with a modern twist, then this is definitely a series you should check out. show less

Magnus Chase has been on his own since his mom died, living on the streets of Boston. When his homeless buddies tell him that his uncle is looking for him, Magnus knows he's in trouble. Soon, he finds himself in an action-packed chase-and-fight sequence that results in his death. Now, usually it's not a good thing when a book's hero dies less than 50 pages into the story -- but Magnus has previously unsuspected ties to Norse mythology, so when he dies heroically, a Valkyrie whisks him away to Valhalla, where he joins the hordes of heroes awaiting Ragnarok. There's just one problem: Magnus has some unfinished business on Earth. Could it be that he's one hero that Valhalla just can't hold?

To me, this book feels like a return to Riordan's show more strengths. While I enjoyed the Heroes of Olympus series, it did have some weaknesses -- particularly when it came to the sheer number of point-of-view characters. This book zeros back in on a single first-person perspective (a friend who also read the book refers to Magnus as "an older, rougher Percy Jackson," and I think that sums him up pretty well, though there's still nothing content-wise to discomfit upper-elementary and middle-school readers). Riordan also brings back the witty chapter titles that will have some readers (or at least this one) snorting with laughter at times. The pace is a breakneck as ever, with the usual assortment of monsters and villains, just from further north this time. Riordan works his usual magic with the mythology, seamlessly blending it into the modern world with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor to hold everything together. There are also a few sly references to Riordan's earlier works, not to mention a cameo appearance by a certain other Chase -- readers who haven't encountered those earlier books won't feel lost, but Riordan's fans will love those little inside jokes. Bottom line: if you like Riordan's style, you'll definitely like this book -- and if you've never picked up the others, you can start here without worrying about what you've missed in earlier books. show less

I enjoyed this book. It's refreshing that all of Uncle Rick's books aren't just cut and paste with different pantheons of gods. Sure, Magnus has a sword but he doesn't really use it. This story is more about friendship, love, and intelligence overcoming the odds rather than brute force.

Another fun, jam-packed take on mythology. Riordan is launching a whole new mini-universe with this series, so the cast of characters is a bit crowded (I had trouble keeping track of all the gods, Valkyries, etc.), and the world-hopping can get confusing. I also got a little tired of the in-jokes, because a) they got old pretty quickly and b) I would've liked Magnus Chase to stand on his own, and not to have to compare himself, even unconsciously, to other characters in order to define himself. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing how this series plays itself out, especially with Annabeth (aka the kick-ass child of Athena) taking part.