Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

“Then I died. The end.”

Ever since that terrible night two years ago, when his mother told him to run, Magnus Chase has lived alone on the streets of Boston. He  survived by his wits, staying one step ahead of police and truant officers.

Then Magnus learns that someone else is trying to find him. His uncle Randolph, a man his mother warned him against visiting, is searching for him. Mangus does his best to avoid him, but the two wind up meeting anyway. Randolph tells him about Norse history, and a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years, which is supposedly Magnus’s birthright.

As Randolph talks, puzzle pieces fall into place for Magnus. The Stories of Norse mythology, the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday resurface in Magnus’s memory. He doesn’t get time to consider it, or continue the conversation with Randolf before a fire giant attacks. This sudden threat forces him to choose between his life, and the lives of hundreds of innocents.

Sometimes the best way to start a new life… is to die.

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Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Rick Riordan

Disney ⦁ Hyperion

491 Pages

The theme of this book is that things at their worst can still get better.

This book is set in modern day, and is intertwined with Norse Mythology. It is another good book by RIck Riordan that focuses on the existence of Norse gods, the nine worlds, and many of the monsters seen in Norse mythology. 

The most important part of that in this book is Valhalla, where Magnus goes after he dies. The gods and a magical sword that is Magnus’s birthright are also important.

I enjoyed the characters, especially when it came to their sense of  humour. The book is narrated by the main character, who makes events slightly more humorous than they would be if he were narrating while it was happening. The modern-day interpretations of Norse myths are also humorous, with unique twists despite being based on the original myths. This allowed their dynamic as a group to be far more interesting.

This book contains violence and the temporary death of the main character.

I enjoyed this book’s creative take on Norse Mythology, especially how the author merged it with modern ideas and technology. The plot was also creative, mixing elements of stories from Norse Mythology and a fresh batch of modern characters in the first book of an exciting trilogy.

People who enjoyed reading Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard may also like The Last Shadow Warrior.