16th Birthday Chapter Summary

Section 1: This book is the start of a new series of books by Rick Riordan which are based on Norse mythology taking place in Boston. The story starts with Magnus Chase’s, the main character and protagonist, 16th birthday. He has been living on the streets for the past two years, due to his mother Natalie's death. His only company are some friends he met on the streets by the names of Blitz and Hearth. He is awakened by Blitz explaining that his family is unexpectedly looking for him. As Magnus goes to investigate more he overhears his uncle and cousin discussing about Magnus’s uncle Randolph sending to find him. As soon as Magnus hears this he goes to break into Randolph’s house to find answers, but Randolph gets home before Magnus can
get out. Randolph then drives Magnus to Longfellow Bridge and partially explains about the Norse and about his descents, claiming Magnus’s father was a Norse god. When they reach the bridge, Randolph tells Magnus to retrieve an ancient sword within Boston Harbor. As soon as Magnus has retrieves the sword, a fire giant known as Surt appears demanding the sword and destroying the bridge in the process to get the sword. Magnus sees that the pedestrians could get injured, so he attacks Surt. He realizes he is about to die, he is able to wound Surt and hurl both of them off the bridge into the Harbor. Magnus dies on impact. He later awakens in a place called Hotel Valhalla, where his adventure in Norse Mythology only begin.