This is the first book of the series Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. In The Sword of Summer, 16-year-old Magnus Chase lives on the streets of Boston when he discovers that he is the son of Norse god Frey. His uncle tasks him with finding a sword to protect him from a fire giant named Surt. Magnus attacks the fire giant but dies saving the civilians on the bridge. Magnus wakes up in Hotel Valhalla, the place where einherjars go for their bravery. There he meets Sam, the Valkyrie who chose him for Valhalla, and his friends Hearth and Blitz, who convince him to leave Valhalla to pursue the sword of summer and prevent Fenris Wolf from escaping his secluded island. Magnus and his friends go on a journey to prevent Ragnarok, or the apocalypse, while finding out the truth about Magnus’s past, all while helping Thor along the way.
I would recommend this book to fans of Norse mythology or people who have read any of the author’s past books. This book allowed the reader to indulge in the world of Norse mythology and Magnus Chase while feeling fully interested in the book. I did not have any problems with the book and would recommend reading the rest of the series as well if you enjoyed the first one. I thought the cover was interesting and provided an accurate reflection of what would be in the book.