Book Review – Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

sword of summer.jpgMagnus 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.

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My rating: Cyan-Full starCyan-Full starCyan-Full starCyan-Half starNo-Star

I really enjoyed listening to Magnus and his adventures! I found this better than the Kane Chronicles, and almost as much fun as the Percy Jackson series. That said; it is too much like Percy Jackson really, which is why I made it 3.5 stars. Riordan’s genius with teaching while he writes, and with comedy, really shine; but it felt a bit samey.

I like Magnus and his make do attitude, especially the way he deals with everything towards the end. But I love Hearth and Blitz – especially that Hearth is deaf and it’s not a big deal. I love their relationship, their protectiveness of Magnus, and their backstories. And I also love Sam, though less near the start when she blames Magnus for things.

Again, I love how much of the Norse mythology that is woven in is something I know and recognise, and the comments about the movies made me laugh so much!

I’m definitely going to be listening to the rest of this series – I feel Riordan’s book are excellent in audio form (and it helps that again the narrator was so good).

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Buy Sword of Summer from Amazon UK (affiliate link)

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