Before the new Percy Jackson show: How to read the Rick Riordan-verse
Saga Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard/ Magnus Chase y los Dioses de Asgard se abrevia MCga pic.twitter.com/HoPP709yMM
— Citla (@citlaasoto) July 15, 2021
6) Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
Straight away, the surname “Chase” may seem familiar to you. That’s because the protagonist of this series, Magnus Chase, is the cousin of Annabeth Chase, who by this point in the Riordan-verse timeline has been Percy’s girlfriend for quite some time. Whilst this series is about Asgardian gods (so Norse mythology), the link to Annabeth makes it feel more connected to the mainline Percy Jackson books than are The Kane Chronicles does.
This series is a trilogy. The reading and publication order of The Gods of Asgard is:
- The Sword of Summer
- The Hammer of Thor
- The Ship of the Dead
In these books, we follow Magnus as he explores the world of Norse mythology and discovers how the gods of Asgard have influenced his life. He is joined by his close friends Sam and Alex, as well as elf and dwarf companions named Blitzen and Hearthstone. This series is one of Riordan’s most diverse when it comes to representation of LGBTQ+ and disabled characters. Riordan has received much praise for how he handles their storylines.
Percy and Annabeth appear directly in these books, because once again, Rick Riordan will not let Percy Jackson take a break. He is recruited at one point to help teach Magnus how to sail, in a crossover which is equal parts hilarious and ridiculous. The Chase family lore is explored in more depth across these three books, and it’s incredibly interesting to see Riordan develop yet another group of demigods from an entirely different mythology (Magnus is a demigod, to clarify, but of Norse descent as opposed to Greek or Roman descent) that still fit into the already established world. These books add another brick to Riordan’s growing world.
Bonus Note!
As with all the other series, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard has a few companion books that, while not strictly necessary to read, are fun additions for big fans.
Up first we have Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds, which gives an overview of key elements of Norse Mythology and the way in which Riordan has woven it into his universe (in the Gods of Asgard series, Valhalla is a hotel, which sounds kind of out there but actually works incredibly well as a concept). This is a really useful guide to the world. It isn’t overwhelming, it’s quick and funny, and it makes Magnus’ world feel even more real.
The second companion book is 9 From the Nine Worlds, which is a short book of nine stories, all told from the perspective of different characters within the Gods of Asgard series. It’s another quick read which lets you sit with this world for a little bit longer, but is not necessary to understand the wider narrative; it’s just an incredibly fun read.