“ | You're right Jack, a good sword deserves a good friend, and it looks like you've found one. | ” |
–Frey to Jack about Magnus in The Ship of the Dead. |
Frey (also spelled Freyr) is the Norse Vanir god of peace, fertility, wealth, rain, summer, and sunshine. He is the ruler of Alfheim. He is the son of Njord, the twin brother of Freya, the husband of Gerd, and the father of Magnus Chase.
History[]
Early Life[]
Frey and his twin sister Freya were born to Njord, the Norse Vanir god of the wind, fishing, and the sea, and his father's unnamed sister.
Aesir-Vanir War[]
Frey fought along with his fellow Vanir during the Aesir-Vanir War. After the war they decided to exchange hostages. He and his father went to the Aesir, where they proved to be valuable additions to the tribe, while Mimir and Honir went to the Vanir, who proved to be terrible additions to the tribe.
Finding His Wife[]
After his twin sister Freya vanished, Frey sat on Hlidskjalf, the throne of Odin, to find her. However he saw a female jotun named Gerd and fell in love with her. She was all he could think about.
Eventually he asked his messenger Skírnir to introduce them, to which Skirnir agrees to do so in exchange for Sumarbrander, which Frey agrees to. Skírnir introduces the two and they eventually marry and had a son Fjolnir.
In Series[]
One day, Frey met a woman named Natalie Chase and they formed a relationship that resulted in a son, Magnus Chase. The two parted ways on good terms.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard[]
The Sword of Summer[]
Frey appears before Magnus for the first time when Magnus is on the verge of death from healing his friend Halfborn. Frey is welcomed with warm arms by Magnus who hugs him. Frey tells Magnus that he will never wield Sumarbrander ever again to which the sword happily agrees. Frey mentions that he will die during Ragnarök and that Magnus is the lost hope for the Nine Worlds. Frey encourages Magnus to contact his cousin Annabeth Chase and gives Magnus an urn containing his mother Natalie's ashes. He promises that they will meet again sometime, before Magnus is woken up by his friends.
The Hammer of Thor[]
Frey is mentioned by Magnus whenever he is using his powers.
The Ship of the Dead[]
Frey appears at the end of the book to with the other gods, and greets Magnus. He tells Magnus that he did a good job. He discusses the "fate of all living things" with the other gods at the Thanes' table.
Appearance[]
Frey has blond hair that falls to his shoulders, blue eyes, a hawkish nose, a stubbly beard, and brilliant white teeth. He was described by Magnus as a Hollywood Viking with a stronger resemblance to Chris Hemsworth's portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe than Thor himself. Frey also bears resemblance to his son Magnus, having the same crooked chin and cowlick Magnus always gets behind his right ear.
He is seen by Magnus wearing faded jeans, a flannel shirt, and hiking boots that Magnus thought was his mother's style.
Personality[]
Frey is a calm god who knows what he can and cannot control, such as summer ending and his fated death at the hands of Surt during Ragnarök. He is seen as quite benevolent in the series. He is helpful towards his children, notably Magnus, but is awkward around them at times.
Abilities[]
- Fighting Skills: Frey is a highly skilled swordsman and warrior, as he is destined to slay many giants, even Beli, one of their great generals, during Ragnarök, even though he wields only a deer antler as a weapon. He is, however, destined to ultimately lose to, and perish at the hands of Surt.
- Seasons Alteration (limited to summer): As the God of Summer and Sunshine, he can change the area around himself into summer.
- Photokinesis: As the God of Summer and Sunshine, he can create, control and manipulate light.
- Thermokinesis: As the God of Summer, he can create, control and manipulate heat.
- Atmokinesis: As the God of Summer, he is responsible in making the summer storms. As the God of Rain, he can control when it rains, and open up the clouds to bring sunlight whenever he wants.
- Harsh Temperature Insensitivity: As the God of Summer, Frey, much like his son Magnus, has a great deal of resilience to both temperature extremes, enough to be completely unfazed by both the intense flames of Muspellheim and the numbing cold of Niflheim.
- Alf Seidr: Frey, as the Lord of Alfheim, is a very skilled practitioner of Alf Seidr.
- Peace of Frey: He can expel energy in a shockwave, causing anything in the vicinity with weapons to be disarmed.
- Vitakinesis: He can heal both him or herself and others from wounds at incredible rates. As his son Magnus glows when he does this, it is possible that he does the same.
- Pacemiakinesis: As the God of Peace, he could create and manipulate peace in all forms (mental and physical).
- Growth Manipulation: As the God of Growth, he could make things grow or stop growing. It is unknown if this is limited to just plants or if he can do it with all living things.
- Telepathy: In The Hammer of Thor, his son Magnus was capable of reading the minds of fishes. It is presumed that he can do so as well.
- Pylikinesis (presumably): In The Sword of Summer, since Frey is the god of growth and fertility, his son Magnus could manipulate the branches of the World Tree, so it is presumed that this is one of his powers.
- Geokinesis (limited): In The Hammer of Thor, his son Magnus was capable of collapsing an underground ceiling in order to turn Blitz into stone. This may be limited to only revealing light sources, as Frey, god of growth, represents how living things broke through the earth to reach the light.
Children[]
Immortal Children[]
Partner |
Children |
Gerd | Fjolnir |
Demigod Children[]
Partner |
Children |
Natalie Chase | Magnus Chase (reborn as an einherji) |
Trivia[]
- Frey's Greco-Roman counterparts (in terms of attributes) would be Zephyros/Favonius, Demeter/Ceres, Persephone/Proserpina and Apollo, though he also shares one attribute (wealth) with Hades/Pluto.
- During the events of Ragnarök, Frey is destined to be killed by Surt (wielding Sumarbrander) the Lord of the Fire Giants, but will slay many giants, even Beli, one of their great generals, before he goes down.
- Thus, Frey is the only Norse god destined to be slain by their former weapon.
- Both Frey and his sister Freya (as well as Odin's wife, Frigg) can be associated with the Fehu Rune.
- He was the original owner of the sword Sumarbrander before giving it away to his servant Skírnir.
- Interestingly, Frey resembles the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Thor (portrayed by the actor Chris Hemsworth) more than the actual Thor himself does. (Which isn’t interesting at all, as MCUs Thor is a result of artistic liberty, which does not reflect Thor’s red hair and brutish personality in norse mythology.)
- His current weapon is a deer antler.
- Frey is said to own the ship Skidbladnir in mythology, a ship capable of carrying all the Gods with their weapons and capable of traveling the land and sky as well as the sea. Skidbladnir is said to be the best ship in the Nine Realms.
- Many locations in Norway and Sweden are named after him.
- Like Poseidon/Neptune, one of Frey's sacred animals are horses.
- In The Hidden Oracle, Apollo mentions having met a smoking hot god in a Stockholm tavern whose sword wouldn't stop talking; said pair was most likely Frey and Sumarbrander.