MAGNUS CHASE AND THE GODS OF ASGARD Book One: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

MAGNUS CHASE AND THE GODS OF ASGARD

Book One: The Sword of Summer

by

Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan has written young adult series about Greek mythology, Roman mythology, and the Egyptian gods. Now, he has added a new series about Norse mythology, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. In The Sword of Summer, book one of the new series, Magnus is a sixteen year old boy who has been living on the streets of Boston for two years, ever since his mother was killed in their apartment. By wolves.

But on this day, at the beginning of The Sword of Summer, Magnus’s life takes a decidedly left turn. It all starts when one of his homeless buddies tells him that a man and his daughter are looking for Magnus, handing out fliers with his picture on it. Although Magnus escapes detection by the pair, his life will never be the same. In fact, this day becomes the day that he dies.

            I am extremely fond of Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. The only negative I found with Magnus Chase is that he reminds me very much of Percy. But, that can also be a positive, as Percy is an excellent character. And, of course, Norse mythology is very different from Greek mythology.

            As with his prior series, the first installment in Riordan’s Magnus Chase trilogy is very well written. Riordan is funny and clever, and the book is action-packed and highly entertaining. It is also very educational – I knew little about the Norse gods before beginning the book. And, it is one of those books where you finish a chapter and immediately think “just one more”.

            I look forward to working my way through the other two books in this trilogy.

GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS by Deborah Crombie

GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS

by

Deborah Crombie

            Who killed Reagan Keating, a young nanny whose body was found in a garden in Notting Hill? This is the central question arising in Deborah Crombie’s seventeenth Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James novel, Garden of Lamentations. Nonetheless, it does not quite feel like Crombie’s heart is in this murder – and perhaps it is my heart that is not in it – but, that is okay.

            Because Denis Childs is back.

            And, the most interesting thing about Garden of Lamentations is Childs’ return. We finally get some answers to questions left hanging in a few of the previous books in the series. Crombie had left pieces in these prior books, and, in Garden of Lamentations, she begins pulling those pieces together for us.

            Deborah Crombie is a wonderful author – one of my all time favorites. I have been through her Kincaid/James series numerous times, and each time, I marvel at how she continues to evolve and improve as a writer. Her ability to weave complex plotlines and to develop interesting, complex characters has grown. Crombie began as a good mystery writer, but has evolved into a first-rate novelist.

            And, in my opinion, Garden of Lamentations is her best one yet!

CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling

CASUAL VACANCY

by

J.K. Rowling

            Barry Fairbrother – a 40 something member of the Pagford parish council – is dead. Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults, is a character study of at least nine families, using reactions to Barry Fairbrother’s death as its genesis.

            J.K. Rowling is a master at character development. I always admired the development of her characters in Harry Potter, and I have fallen in love with Cormoran Strike, the hero of the mystery series that she writes as Robert Galbraith. As I was experiencing Cormoran Strike withdraw, after finishing the last book published in that series, I decided to try Casual Vacancy, even though my recollection was that it had received a tepid reception when it was published.

            Although Rowling’s trademark character development runs through Casual Vacancy, it differs from her other novels in that there is no mystery or adventure directing the plot. Perhaps because of this, at first I found Casual Vacancy to be slow – so slow, in fact, that it seemed exaggerated. But, it was not long before these characters hooked me and dragged me into their world.

            Casual Vacancy is so dark – at first I wondered if Rowling exaggerated the darkness, intending it as a metaphor. But, I think instead that she has captured the true, dark side of humanity. In this book, we are confronted with Rowling’s insight into the side of people at which most of us do not want to look.

Casual Vacancy is a very interesting book involving small town living with big time issues. I came to admire these people. I loved the growth some characters showed and was saddened by the tragic events that unfolded. This is not an escapist book – but, it is a well written, fascinating character study.

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