Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

About the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series

Magnus Chase has been homeless on the streets of Boston for two years when he's ambushed by a fire giant on his sixteenth birthday -- and dies saving his uncle, only to wake up in Valhalla. It turns out Magnus is the son of Frey, the Norse god of summer and fertility, and his death was a battle-death that earns him a place among Odin's chosen warriors, training for Ragnarok. Unfortunately, he's also just accidentally set loose the sword that's prophesied to kill Frey and possibly start the end of the world nine days early.

Rick Riordan brings his modern-mythology formula to Norse legend, with a cast including Hearthstone (a deaf elf), Blitzen (a fashion-obsessed dwarf), Samirah al-Abbas (a hijab-wearing Valkyrie), and Alex Fierro (a genderfluid child of Loki) -- one of Riordan's most deliberately inclusive ensembles. It shares its universe with Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood (Annabeth Chase, Magnus's cousin, appears and crosses over), while telling a fully self-contained Norse-mythology story about giants, doomsday prophecy, and found family among Valhalla's fallen warriors.

Three novels tell one complete story ending at the edge of Ragnarok, supported by two nonfiction-style companion volumes that expand the world's mythology and characters without continuing the plot.

How to read this series

Read the three novels in publication order: The Sword of Summer, The Hammer of Thor, The Ship of the Dead. It's a complete, continuous trilogy; no other Riordan reading is required first, though Magnus is Annabeth Chase's cousin and Percy Jackson readers will recognize a few crossover cameos.

The two companion volumes -- For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds and 9 From the Nine Worlds -- are optional in-world reference and short-story material, best read after the trilogy since they assume familiarity with its cast and setting.