The Sword of Summer facts for kids
U.S. cover of first edition
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| Author | Rick Riordan |
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| Cover artist | John Rocco |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (book 1) |
| Genre | Fantasy, Norse mythology, young-adult |
| Publisher | Disney Hyperion |
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Publication date
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October 6, 2015 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
| Pages | 513 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4231-6091-5 |
| OCLC | 994762497 |
| LC Class | PZ7.R4829 Sw 2015 |
| Followed by | The Hammer of Thor |
The Sword of Summer is a young adult fantasy novel. It is based on exciting Norse mythology stories. The famous American author Rick Riordan wrote it.
The book came out on October 6, 2015. Disney Hyperion published it. It is the first book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series.
The story is told by Magnus Chase. He is a 16-year-old demigod and was living on the streets. After he dies, he goes to a Norse afterlife called Valhalla. There, Magnus learns he is the son of the Norse god Frey. He must stop the giant wolf Fenris Wolf from escaping. If Fenris escapes, it could cause Ragnarök, which means the end of the world!
The Sword of Summer got great reviews from critics. They liked its exciting plot and funny parts. People also praised its diverse characters and important themes. The book appeared on The New York Times and Amazon best-seller lists. It won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Middle Grade and Children's Fiction. A second book, The Hammer of Thor, came out on October 4, 2016. This book has been translated into 9 languages.
What Happens in the Story
The story begins on protagonist Magnus Chase's sixteenth birthday. He has been living on the streets of Boston for two years. His mother, Natalie, died two years ago. Magnus learns his uncle Randolph sent his other uncle Frederick and cousin Annabeth to find him.
Magnus breaks into Randolph's house to find answers. Randolph catches him and drives him to Longfellow Bridge. Randolph tells Magnus he is the son of a Norse god. This makes him a target for a magical enemy. Randolph says Magnus must get an ancient sword, Sumarbrander, from Boston Harbor. This "Sword of Summer" will protect him.
A fire giant named Surt appears and starts to destroy the bridge. Magnus attacks Surt with the sword. He does this to help other people escape. Magnus realizes he is about to die. He manages to hurt the giant and they both fall off the bridge. Magnus dies when he hits the water.
Magnus wakes up in Hotel Valhalla. He learns he is an einherjar, a warrior chosen for Valhalla. He will train there forever for Ragnarök. He meets Sam, the Valkyrie who brought him to Valhalla. He also meets his new einherjar hallmates.
At Magnus's welcome feast, the three Norns say Magnus is a son of Frey. They also give a confusing prophecy. The hotel's leaders banish Sam the Valkyrie. They say she "wrongly chose" Magnus.
That night, Magnus's friends Hearth and Blitz arrive. They reveal they are an elf and a dwarf. They convince Magnus to leave the hotel. In Midgard, the trio meets up with Sam.
The group meets the god Mimir. He tells them to find the Sword before Surt does. They must bring it to the island of Fenris Wolf. They get the sword from the sea goddess Ran. Then they travel to Nidavellir. There, they need a new binding for the Wolf.
During their journey, Magnus has dream-visions of Loki. Once, the goddess Hel offers to reunite him with his mother. Magnus struggles to say no to this offer.
After a side trip to Jotunheim, they help the god Thor. Magnus also discovers new magical powers. They finally reach Fenris's island. They are attacked by Valkyries, some of Magnus's hallmates, and Surt. But they successfully rebind the Wolf.
Magnus has a quick vision of his father Frey. Then he returns to Hotel Valhalla for a trial. Before he can be punished, Magnus's hallmate X reveals himself. He is actually the god Odin, in disguise. Odin rewards each hero. He offers Magnus a chance to return to life or choose a different afterlife. Magnus says no.
Magnus returns to Boston to talk with his cousin Annabeth. They hold a funeral for Natalie Chase. They share stories about their lives as demigods. In the end of the book, Loki punishes Randolph. Randolph failed to stop Magnus from rebinding Fenris. Loki hints that Randolph's family will be in danger if he doesn't cooperate.
Main Characters
- Magnus Chase – A 16-year-old son of Frey. He dies early in the book but becomes an einherjar. He is Annabeth Chase's cousin. He has healing powers, can handle extreme temperatures, and has other magic. As a human, he was weak. After his death, he gains great strength.
- Samirah "Sam" al-Abbas – The Valkyrie who brought Magnus to Hotel Valhalla. She is a daughter of Loki. Sam is from Iraq and is a practicing Muslim. She can shapeshift and carries an axe. Her green hijab can also hide her. She is engaged to her cousin, Amir Fadlan.
- Hearthstone "Hearth" – A friend of Magnus and an elf. He is deaf-mute but uses Alf Sign Language and can read lips. He had a difficult childhood because his parents didn't like his disabilities. He gained the power to use rune magic after a big sacrifice.
- Blitzen "Blitz" – Another friend of Magnus, who is a dwarf. He is the son of Freya. He and Hearth watched over Magnus when he lived on the streets. Blitz's father was killed by Fenris. Blitz is not good at crafting, which is unusual for dwarves. But he is a master at fashion. He works for Mimir, like Hearth.
- X/Odin – A half-troll and one of Magnus's hallmates. X is later revealed to be Odin in disguise. Odin was checking on the einherjar without them knowing. Sam brought X to Valhalla after he died stopping a dog-fighting ring. He is called X because his real name is hard to say.
- Jack (Sumarbrander) – The magical talking sword from the book's title. Sumarbrander means "sword of summer" in Norse. It used to belong to Frey. Magnus found it in Boston Harbor and made it his own. He nicknamed it Jack. Jack can turn into a pendant and move on its own.
The Prophecy
The Norns gave Magnus a prophecy. It said:
Wrongly chosen, wrongly slain, A hero Valhalla cannot contain. Nine days hence the sun must go east, Ere Sword of Summer unbinds the beast.
The first line first made people think Magnus was not fit for Valhalla. Later, Odin said it meant Loki chose the wrong hero to trick. The second line means Magnus managed to leave Valhalla, even though it's supposed to be impossible. The last two lines describe how Sumarbrander was meant to free Fenris. It also says that the only day to reach Fenris's island was nine days after the prophecy.
Next Book in the Series
The next book in the series is The Hammer of Thor. It was released on October 4, 2016.
See also
In Spanish: La espada del tiempo para niños
