The Sword of Summer
By Rick Riordon
Reviewed by Jacob Dunn
Disney-Hyperion
497 pages

The Sword of Summer describes the life of Magnus Chase, a sixteen year old boy living on the streets, two years after his mother's murder. Magnus' prime concern was his next meal, but it becomes so much more when people start looking for him. His uncle Randolph, a man he had been told not to trust, tells him he is in great danger and takes him to retrieve his "inheritance". Magnus ends up dying by falling off of a bride after battle with Surt, an evil fire demon. his life carries on much longer after his death, however. he finds himself in a hotel afterlife for those who died honorably. Magnus discovers he is the son of the Norse God, as are many who surround him in the unimaginably large hotel. After given a quest, he sets off with his three friends, Blitz, Hearth, and Sam to find his inheritance: a sword once wielded by his father. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well rounded novel, complete with action, humor and mystery as Magnus discovers himself and the nine worlds. I would especially urge those who have read and enjoyed the Percy Jackson Series and/or the Heroes of Olympus Series, for there are connections that can be made between the two series. Join Magnus and his gang as they confront giant squirrels, barter with bag ladies from the ocean, and escape their enemies in the nick of time. Whether you enjoy mystery, science fiction, or adventure novels, The Sword of Summer has it all, nearly five hundred pages of Riordon's finest. Read the story; feel thestory.