Rick Riordan’s newest novel Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer hit the shelves of bookstores everywhere on Oct. 6, 2015.

In the thrilling new installment to his best-selling Young Adult collection, Riordan once again melds mythology and teenage wit to produce a brand new epic. The acclaimed author adds a new, lively perspective to the mix with Norse mythology seeping into the rich fantasy world where Greek and Roman demigods run amuck.

Riordan begins by introducing his latest budding hero, Magnus Chase. Magnus is the cousin of Annabeth Chase, a staple character in his beloved Percy Jackson series, and son of a prominent Norse god.

Some might think that due to the repetitive structure of his books, fans of Riordan would have become bored of the distinct pattern and moved on to bigger and better reads. However, they could not be more wrong. Although Riordan uses the same recipe when developing the plot that made his prior books an astounding success, this particular novel has some dynamic elements which help it lure in his target audience like never before.

Riordan’s character development was what initially attracted fans to his work, and The Sword of Summer is no different. First of all, Magnus Chase does not start off as a normal kid at school or on a field trip. Right from the beginning, Magnus is introduced as a character with resilience and strength not because of monsters chasing him through Boston, but due to his learned sense of self-reliance after being homeless for two years. This sense of independence is consistent throughout the novel as Magnus is tossed into multiple life-threatening situations lacking a lifeline. Unlike Percy Jackson or Jason Grace, who already had familiar faces on which they knew they could rely from the start of their adventures, Magnus is alone. However, he never acts as if his independence is a handicap. He takes it all in stride, which makes him all the more admirable to readers. His voice is clear yet reminiscent of Riordan’s past characters, a perfect blend of humor and determination that keeps the audience desiring more.

The best part about this new series is that Riordan does not seem limited in any way. Though he is an accomplished writer at this point in his career and could proceed to crank out similar material knowing it would sell, Riordan continues to explore new boundaries. One way he does this is by bringing in a character with Arab influence, Samirah Al-Abbas. “Sam” Al-Abbas wears a headscarf and leads a double life as a Calculus student by day and a Valkyrie by night, an unusual yet alluring combination. Valkyrie, in Norse folklore, choose deceased warriors to fight at the foretold battle of Ragnarok alongside the gods. Other unique characters include Thomas Jefferson Junior, a half troll by the name of X, and Surt, the violent lord of fire.

Bibliophiles who have enjoyed Riordan’s previous work or who adore action-packed urban fantasy series should definitely pick up The Sword of Summer at their nearest book store. The next book in the series, The Hammer of Thor, is set to release in the fall of 2016.