Rick Riordan is back with another epic adventure that blends together the worlds of gods and men in
Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer.

Here’s some thoughts we had while reading the first few chapters (with as few spoilers as possible):

“My name is Magnus Chase. I’m sixteen years old. This is the story of how my life went downhill after I got myself killed.” Clearly this book is going to be epic.

Oh no! He’s homeless.

Aww someone is looking for him. An uncle & cousin Annabeth. That’s good. I wonder if that Annabeth is the same character from Percy Jackson?

“Magnus, run. Hide. Don’t trust anyone.” What the hell is after this kid?

“I don’t steal from just anybody. I choose obnoxious jerks who have too much already.” Nice to know you got values son.

Hold the phone…the kid has rich relatives? Why the heck is he a street kid? Oh great, he’s robbing them. This is how he dies.

He doesn’t die…yet.

“You’re sixteen today, aren’t you? They’ll be coming to kill you.” Nice way to be creepy Uncle Randolph. Although he did just break into your house. Where’s that nice uncle when you need him?

You did not just get into a car with the guy that basically issued you a death threat.

Well he’s dead. Can’t say we weren’t warned.

So just to recap, 16 year old Magnus Chase is the pivotal character in this new series. His mother has been killed by some scary beastie and now he’s choosing to live life as a homeless pick pocket, hiding from the thing that’s apparently coming to kill him…which from the first page you totally know is going to happen. He has a family that he is trying to avoid, and some questionable friends from the streets that try to look out for him. But it’s what happens after he dies that’s important. That’s when the adventure happens. That’s where Magnus’ story really begins….

Full of the hair-raising action that we have come to expect from Rick Riordan books, this one also has some incredibly witty moments e.g. “A pen sword. That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Readers of his previous series will love it, as well as new-comers to the fantasy adventure genre. Due to the nature of some of the battles, we recommend a reading age of 10+.