The Hammer of Thor

A couple of months ago, Magnus Chase’s life changed forever. . . because he died. But Magnus didn’t go down without a fight, and he earned himself a place in Valhalla, the Norse afterlife for heroes. It’s not easy getting accustomed to life in Valhalla, where Magnus’s days are filled with fighting and feasting amongst the honorable dead. But just when Magnus is finally settling in, his afterlife is disrupted by the news that Thor, the formidable god of thunder, has lost his hammer. A hammer-less Thor means a defenseless Earth, and armies of giants are lining up to invade while the god is weak.  

With his friends by his side, Magnus embarks on a perilous quest to find Thor’s hammer. With Loki, the cruel trickster god, pulling strings from his prison, will Magnus be able to complete his mission, or will he play right into his enemies’ hands? 

The Hammer of Thor is a witty and entertaining dive into the world of Norse mythology. Narrated by Magnus, readers will be guided through the story by his sarcastic sense of humor. Throughout the novel, Magnus often acts out of empathy and compassion for others. This, combined with his self-aware commentary, makes him a lovable and relatable character. Readers will find themselves invested in Magnus’s story. 

One of this book’s greatest strengths is its diverse cast of characters. On his quest, Magnus is joined by Sam, a devout Muslim whose faith is as strong as her work ethic and skills with an ax. Her knowledge and determination drive the plot and save Magnus on many occasions.  

Fan-favorite dynamic duo Hearth and Blitz also accompany Magnus. Hearth, a deaf elf with a skill for sorcery, and Blitz, a dwarf with a passion for fashion design, are fiercely protective of one another. The pair’s unique skills and personalities steal every scene they share.   

Finally, Magnus finds himself drawn to Alex, the shapeshifting child of Loki, who adds a bit of chaos to the story. Alex is a fierce fighter who is proud of her identity as both a shapeshifter and a transgender and genderfluid person. In addition to driving the plot and making this novel unforgettable, these characters offer readers an opportunity to consider new perspectives and learn about those who are different from them.  

The Hammer of Thor balances tension with moments of levity and handles serious topics in a way that is respectful and impactful. This novel addresses issues such as homelessness, ableism, transphobia, and child abuse in ways that are easy for younger audiences to understand. It also explores themes of trauma and grief, depicting the various ways characters mourn their losses. These subjects are explored in an age-appropriate manner that feels safe and inviting to children, as the story maintains its optimistic and entertaining voice. 

Readers do not have to be familiar with Rick Riordan’s previous works to enjoy the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series. This trilogy is a strong standalone series with unique new characters and settings. Fans of Riordan will enjoy references to his other series, as well as his entertaining conversational writing style. Fans and new readers will be interested in reading the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series because it opens a new world of magic and mayhem.  

This novel contains themes of friendship, perseverance, and strength. Throughout the story, Magnus and his friends often support each other through difficult situations. The bond the characters share empowers them as they work together to overcome every obstacle that comes their way. Despite facing setbacks, the heroes continue to work towards their goals, refusing to abandon their quest. Magnus and his friends are resilient, and readers can find strength through their actions. 

The Hammer of Thor is a must-read for middle-grade audiences that will entertain readers while encouraging empathy and introspection. This novel will help audiences find the joy of reading while taking them on an adventure that explores mythology and friendship. This fast-paced story will hook readers from the start and will be remembered long after they turn the last page.     

Sexual Content  

• Magnus’s friend Halfborn implies that his girlfriend Mallory likes seeing him shirtless when they are preparing for a practice battle. Mallory comments that Halfborn “always goes into battle bare-chested.” Halfborn replies, “Are you complaining about that?” This causes Mallory to blush.  
• Loki arranges a marriage between Sam and a giant against Sam’s will. Sam says, “We have to find Thor’s hammer before the first of spring or. . . I will have to marry a giant.” Sam and her friends prevent the wedding from occurring.   

Violence  

• A magical goat named Otis is struck in the chest with an ax. “Living in Valhalla, I was used to deadly weapons flying out of nowhere, but I was still surprised when an ax sprouted from Otis’s furry chest. . . the ax had pierced his heart.” Otis dies, but due to his magical nature, he comes back to life.   
• Magnus chases after Otis’s killer and engages in combat with them. “An ax hurtled from above, slicing the buttons off my denim jacket. An inch closer and it would’ve opened up my chest.” The fight scene is described over five pages. The killer escapes and leaves Magnus behind on a rooftop. 
• Magnus and his friends participate in a practice battle in Valhalla against the other dead heroes who live there, such as Charlie, T.J., and Big Lou. During this battle, “Halfborn and Mallory chopped us a path through a pack of berserkers. T.J. shot Charlie Flannigan in the head. . . We dodged a volley of fiery tar balls from the balcony catapults. We had a brief sword battle with Big Lou from floor 401.” Because they are in Valhalla, everyone who dies in this battle will come back to life. This fight scene is described over 15 pages. 
• Alex decapitates a wolf using a garrote after the wolves attack an old man in an alley. Alex “lashed out with her wire, using it like a whip. With a single flick, one of the wolves lost its head.” 
• Alex is bitten on the neck and killed by a wolf. “The last beast took her by the throat. She wrapped her fingers around its neck, but her eyes were losing focus.” After her death, Alex is reborn in Valhalla.  
• Hearth breaks his ankle after falling into a tomb. Magnus “heard a wet snap followed by Hearth’s grunt, and [he] knew immediately what happened.” Magnus heals Hearth. 
• Magnus and his friends fight zombies in a tomb. “Sam thrust her spear under [a zombie’s] jaw. The weapon’s light burned away his head like a flame going through toilet paper.” This fight is described over four pages.  
• Magnus’s Uncle Randolph stabs Blitz in the stomach with a magical blade called the Skofnung Sword because he is following Loki’s orders. “With a cry of horror he buried the Skofnung Sword in Blitzen’s gut.” Blitz is badly injured, but he eventually recovers. 
• After Uncle Randolph stabs Blitz, Magnus retaliates by slashing “upward, and the Skofnung Sword flew out of Randolph’s grip, along with. . . a couple of pink things that looked like fingers.” Randolph recovers from his injuries.  
• The police shoot Hearth as he and his friends run away from a party that had become dangerous. “Behind us, a shot rang out. Everyone flinched except Hearth. . . Hearth stumbled, a red stain soaking his shirt.” Hearth recovers from this injury. 
• Sam kills a giant named Little Billy with an ax. “In one fluid moment, Sam turned and threw her ax right at Billy. The giants gasped. Little Billy’s eyes went even more cross-eyed as he stared at the hatchet now sprouting from his forehead.” 
• Sam hits a giant named Thrynga in the side with an ax. “Samirah’s ax hurtled across the room and embedded itself in Thrynga’s side.” Thrynga recovers from this injury. 
• Magnus breaks his ribs when he collides with a stalagmite during a battle. Magnus “slammed into a stalagmite. Something in [his] chest went crack.” 
• Loki kills a snake by breaking its spine. Loki “grabbed the snake that had been dripping venom on him, yanked it off its stalactite, and snapped it like a whip.” 
• Uncle Randolph falls into a pit and dies. Uncle Randolph “slipped sideways into the darkness without a sound.” 
• Thor smites Thrynga, killing her. “Thor pointed his hammer at Thrynga as casually as if he were channel surfing. Tendrils of lightning shot from the runes engraved in the metal. The giantess burst into a million bits of rubble.”      

Drugs and Alcohol  

• Sam goes into an alley that “heroin junkies liked to shoot up in. . . which made it a great place to get beaten, robbed, or killed.” No drug use is depicted in this scene. 

Language    

• Halfborn calls someone a “meinfretr.” Magnus says that this is an Old Norse swear word that translates to “something like stinkfart.” 
• Mallory makes a gesture with her hand that is equivalent to giving someone the middle finger. “Mallory made a V with her fingers and flicked them under her chin.”  
• The word idiot is used many times. For example, Mallory tells Halfborn, “You’re an idiot.”

Supernatural  

• Sam is a Valkyrie, a warrior who leads the souls of dead heroes to Valhalla, the Norse afterlife for heroes who died bravely in battle. Sam comments on her role, calling it her “part-time job reaping souls of the dead and running top secret missions for Odin.”  
• Magnus comments on the various things he has done since his death and rebirth. Magnus “travelled the Nine Worlds meeting Norse gods, elves, dwarves, and a bunch of monsters with names I couldn’t pronounce. I’d scored a magical sword that presently hung around my neck in the form of a runestone pendant.” 
• Magnus speaks with a magical anthropomorphic goat named Otis. “Otis climbed into the chair I’d reserved for Sam. He sat on his back haunches and put his front hooves on the table.” 
• Magnus recalls fantastical things he did in the previous book. “I’d played catch-the-lava-ball with fire giants. I’d eagle-skied over the rooftops of Boston. I’d pulled the world serpent out of Massachusetts Bay and defeated Fenris Wolf with a ball of yarn.”  
• Magnus learns that he will have to encounter a wight, which is “a powerful undead creature that likes to collect magical weapons.”  
• Magnus has a magical talking sword named Jack. “As I bounded across Newbury Street, Jack sprang to full form in my hand. His blade—thirty inches of double-edged bone-forged steel— was emblazoned with runes that pulsed in different colors when Jack talked.” 
• Alex can shapeshift because she is a child of Loki. “The animal grew into a regular teen, long and lanky, with a swirl of dyed green hair. . .”  
• Sam and Magnus go for a ride on a flying horse. “Sam saddled a white stallion. She climbed on his back and pulled me up behind her, then we galloped out the gates of the stable, straight into the skies above Boston.”  
• Hearth performs magic by casting runes. “From the inside pouch of his jacket, he produced a small collection of runestones.” 
• Zombies come to life and attack Magnus and his friends. “To absolutely no one’s surprise, the twelve mummified warriors stepped out from their niches along the walls.” 
• A pilot named Barry is briefly possessed by the mysterious person who killed Otis the Goat. “Barry’s new voice crackled with distortion and went up and down in pitch.” 
• Magnus and his friends walk across the Bifrost, a rainbow bridge connecting Earth with Asgard, the home of the Norse gods. “Radiance surrounded us, fuzzy and hot. Rather than walking across a slick, solid surface, I felt like we were wading through the waist-high field of wheat.”  

Spiritual Content  

• This novel is centered around Norse mythology and contains frequent depictions of and references to Norse gods. 
• Sam is Muslim and comments on how she views the Norse gods. Sam says that she “doesn’t accept that Norse gods are gods. They’re just powerful beings. Some of them are my annoying relatives. But they are no more than creations of Allah, the only god, just like you and I are.”  
• Magnus watches as Sam prays. “Sam took off her shoes. She stood very still at the foot of her rug, her hands clasped at her stomach, her eyes half-closed. She whispered something under her breath. . . Then she began her prayers, a soft, singsong chanting of Arabic that sounded like she was reciting a familiar poem or a love song. Sam bowed, straightened, and knelt with her feet tucked under her and pressed her forehead against the cloth.”    

 by Kelly Barker