The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan

My Rating: 5 Stars

First of all, I have to say I'm a huge fan of Mr Rick Riordan's work and style. I've read quite a few of his books and the feeling never really changes.
The Sword of Summer is the first book of the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard collection and it was absolutely brilliant! Fast-paced adventure filled with twists and a lot of humour... I mean buckets of humour!

About the story: Meet Magnus Chase, a troubled boy that lives in the streets after the mysterious death of his mother. Growing up not knowing who is the father was, imagine his surprise when one of the people that he has been avoiding finds him and tells him his dad is Norse god. Magnus life takes a big and fatal turn that will take him on a quest beyond the world of the living and into the world of Viking myths and legends. His mission? To prevent Ragnarok, the end of days. Guided by a prophecy, together with his three friends Magnus most travel the Nine Worlds in search of a weapon that has the power to change the course of destiny. Easy right? Oh, did I forget to mention the giants, fire-giants, trolls, resentful gods? 

A great start for this series. There is nothing not to like, the characters, the settings, the plot and don't even get me started on the humorous conversations and chapter titles.
I really liked Magnus as a character. His spirit, his ability to face his fears, his loyalty, his courage and of course his sarcasm make him an epic hero that I want to read more of. Sam, the main female protagonist is incredible. She is a force of nature, not afraid to speak her mind and to follow her instincts. Despite being set aside for her lineage, Sam doesn't let others opinion bring her down. 
The rest of the team Blitzen the dwarf and Hearth the elf complete the picture and add the spice to the story. With this group it really shows that you can't be good at everything, you're not perfect and that's okay because you are unique and you have friends that will always have your back. Their friendship is incredible and I could feel the strong bond between them right from the start.

Is this like Percy Jackson? No. Percy and Magnus are two very different characters with two very different destinies.

The second book is all ready to go on my Reading List and I can't wait to get my hands on those pages! Highly recommend it!

Some of my favourite quotes:

“I told my new friends that I was allergic to dismemberment. They just laughed and herded me toward the combat arena. This is why I don’t like making new friends.” 

“The thing about talking swords…it’s hard to tell when they’re kidding. They have no facial expressions. Or faces.” 

“No, Satan would be a schlub next to this guy. This guy is like Satan’s fashion consultant.” 

“I don't expend my energy trying to fight the change of seasons. I focus on making sure the days I have, and the season I oversee, are as joyful, rich, and plentiful as possible.” 

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