By
Rick Riordan.
Disney
Hyperion.
Magnus
Chase, son of Frey the god of Summer, fell off a bridge, died, and
became an einherji – one of the Norse champions of Asgard.
He lives on Floor 19 of the Hotel Valhalla together with his friends
Alex (who occasionally changes sex), inseparable friends Hearthstone
(an elf with father issues) and Blitzen (a dwarf with a literally
killer fashion sense), Thomas Jefferson Jr. (a crack-shot
Civil War veteran who can never resist a personal challenge), Samirah
(devout Muslim Valkyrie) Halfborn Gunderson (Viking berserker with a
straightforward approach to life), and Mallory Keen (an Irish
revolutionary with mother issues). And then there’s Magnus’ sword
Jack, sentient Sword of Summer with a penchant for singing hit songs
from the 70’s and 80’s. Life in the hotel is cozy – if you
don’t mind dying every day in the ultra-competitive rehearsals for
Ragnarok: Watercolor lessons to the death, anyone? The trouble is,
Ragnarok might come early.
Loki,
god of mischief, is on the loose once more. He’s building an army
of giants and undead warriors aboard the gigantic warship Naglfar.
Magnus and his friends must recapture Loki before he brings about the
end of the Nine Worlds. Bravely setting forth on a banana-yellow
magic longship, they encounter a mead-loving sea giant with
particular dietary requirements, a Yorkshire giant with a
talent for creating murderous pottery, Hearthstone’s father who
should never have taken a cursed ring, and a group of giant
thralls who really should have unionized. Immortal relatives and
Magnus’ feelings for Alex make life even more colorful for the
heroes before they have to face Loki for the ultimate trash-talk
smack-down.
Riordan’s
offbeat and wry sense of humor infused with a deep knowledge of Norse
mythology makes Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard an
entertaining read from start to finish.
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