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theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Islamophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Cursing, Gore, Body horror, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence
icedlemonade's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Islamophobia, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Racism
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you're a fan of Rick Riordan in general, you'll probably be a fan of this! Magnus is such a fun narrator, with sass almost equal to Percy's sass. Fans of the Percy Jackson series will definitely love the connections made between the two series, and some of th elittle digs towards Percy Jackson himself (the pen as a sword comment was gold).
Honestly, pretty much everything I know about Norse mythology comes from Marvel (I know, I know). So getting to see more of Norse mythology in this book was fun, especially in the ways that Riordan does it. Do his books start to read similarly after a time? Yes, but I think that's what keeps bringing kids back to his writng. They know what to expect, and usually that expectation is a good time.
If you like these mythology themed middle grade fantasy books, then you'll definitely want to keep this one on your radar!
Honestly, pretty much everything I know about Norse mythology comes from Marvel (I know, I know). So getting to see more of Norse mythology in this book was fun, especially in the ways that Riordan does it. Do his books start to read similarly after a time? Yes, but I think that's what keeps bringing kids back to his writng. They know what to expect, and usually that expectation is a good time.
If you like these mythology themed middle grade fantasy books, then you'll definitely want to keep this one on your radar!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Islamophobia, Ableism, and Grief
Minor: Racism
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
📱
This book was alright. There were some parts I liked, but I didn't really connect with any of the characters and I didn't really care what they were going through.
This book was alright. There were some parts I liked, but I didn't really connect with any of the characters and I didn't really care what they were going through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Grief, and Islamophobia
Minor: Racism
finnft4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow, this is so underrated. Seriously. Magnus Chase is way better than anyone said it was going to be. I don't care if it's an unpopular opinion.
The plot and concept are both so interesting and, even though it does follow a similar structure to other Riordan books, it just feels so different. I guess the change to mythology and the new characters is responsible for that, though. Speaking of the new characters, I'm seriously impressed. For once, I really like all the characters. None of them are boring. They're all so likable and interesting. Magnus, Sam, Blitz, Hearth, and Loki, to name just a few. In a single book, I managed to care more about these characters and their backstories than most of the new characters introduced in Heroes of Olympus. That's probably harsh, but after reading this, I'm realizing now how disappointing that sequel series was to me (This is probably SUPER unpopular, considering how many people like HoO. And if you do like it, no harm no foul. I just found it mediocre. Not awful, by any means, but disappointing when considering its predecessor).
The villain (or, at least, who I assume to be the antagonist), is extremely refreshing. Maybe my favorite Riordanverse villain, period. I'm stoked that we get more of a human-like antagonist this time, rather than an embodiment of evil devoid of personality like Kronos or Gaea. He's smart, fun, entertaining, has a motive beyond "I AM BAD", and FOILs Magnus's character very well.
The writing itself is absolutely hilarious. I thought Heroes of Olympus was funny, but this is on an entirely other level. On the other hand, I completely understand the criticism that Magnus sounds too similar to Percy. Personally, it didn't bother me, but I certainly see where it's coming from. I think the distinction between the two really comes down to their characters rather than narration at all. They're complete opposites in that way - fighter vs. healer. Besides, I'd rather have another character that's similar to PJO Percy, a character I LIKE, than a boring HoO character that acts identically to another HoO character to the point where I can't tell who's speaking sometimes. I'm hardly exaggerating when I say that Magnus's SWORD has more of a personality than Jason. I'm probably being super harsh now, but I'm serious when I say that the characters seriously dragged down that entire pentalogy for me. I dunno. I'm a simple guy who gets bored easily (and probably has ADHD - wow, I'm a real demigod!). Do something I like, and I'll read it. I'm not gonna complain too much about a character being similar to another as long as they're entertaining and interesting. I'll take Magnus's or Percy's narration any day over the mundanely dead third person narration.
On a similar note, the concept of Magnus Chase feels new and interesting. There's no summer camps. There's an entirely different world to explore, and I love that separation from PJO and HoO. And the new world is so immersive and interesting. And I appreciate that, rather than trying to rush a fully-fledged story with a "big battle" at the end of it, the battle will certifiably result in doom and devastation, but it happens off-screen. The characters do what they can now but ultimately can't prevent their future fates at Ragnarök (and I like how the story handles the idea of destiny itself, on that note) - they can't change the big picture, but their choices can alter the details. I know some people don't like it, but I prefer it heavily to trying to rush that entirely different arc and story with a "threat that will undeniably end the world" in 3 to 5 books, all while trying to make it seem much bigger-scale than it actually is and STILL make the final battle the most underwhelming, almost comically bad thing imaginable (Heroes of Olympus, anyone?).
Seriously. It's great. It is already miles better than Heroes of Olympus (in my humble opinion - HoO had its moments, but Magnus Chase has already avoided all the issues I had with that series - boring characters, underdeveloped relationships, repetitiveness, low stakes). It has the potential to surpass the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians for me, honestly. We'll see.
"I like that. A family of four empty cups!"
And small caveat: I've seen people mention some problematic elements of this book, like how Hearth's deafness is represented, Sam's hijab being magical, and Norse mythology being made into a joke. If the idea of these bother you, I recommend reading other people's reviews about any of the matters. It's not my place to talk about it. And also, just a warning - this book is a lot more violent than other Riordan books. The myths get pretty dark.
CURRENT RANKING
[1] PJO: The Last Olympian
[2] HoO: The House of Hades
[3] HoO: The Mark of Athena
[4] MCGA: The Sword of Summer
[5] PJO: The Lightning Thief
[6] PJO: The Titan's Curse
[7] HoO: The Son of Neptune
[8] PJO: The Battle of the Labyrinth
[9] HoO: The Lost Hero
[10] PJO: The Sea of Monsters
[11] HoO: The Blood of Olympus
The plot and concept are both so interesting and, even though it does follow a similar structure to other Riordan books, it just feels so different. I guess the change to mythology and the new characters is responsible for that, though. Speaking of the new characters, I'm seriously impressed. For once, I really like all the characters. None of them are boring. They're all so likable and interesting. Magnus, Sam, Blitz, Hearth, and Loki, to name just a few. In a single book, I managed to care more about these characters and their backstories than most of the new characters introduced in Heroes of Olympus. That's probably harsh, but after reading this, I'm realizing now how disappointing that sequel series was to me (This is probably SUPER unpopular, considering how many people like HoO. And if you do like it, no harm no foul. I just found it mediocre. Not awful, by any means, but disappointing when considering its predecessor).
The villain (or, at least, who I assume to be the antagonist), is extremely refreshing. Maybe my favorite Riordanverse villain, period. I'm stoked that we get more of a human-like antagonist this time, rather than an embodiment of evil devoid of personality like Kronos or Gaea. He's smart, fun, entertaining, has a motive beyond "I AM BAD", and FOILs Magnus's character very well.
The writing itself is absolutely hilarious. I thought Heroes of Olympus was funny, but this is on an entirely other level. On the other hand, I completely understand the criticism that Magnus sounds too similar to Percy. Personally, it didn't bother me, but I certainly see where it's coming from. I think the distinction between the two really comes down to their characters rather than narration at all. They're complete opposites in that way - fighter vs. healer. Besides, I'd rather have another character that's similar to PJO Percy, a character I LIKE, than a boring HoO character that acts identically to another HoO character to the point where I can't tell who's speaking sometimes. I'm hardly exaggerating when I say that Magnus's SWORD has more of a personality than Jason. I'm probably being super harsh now, but I'm serious when I say that the characters seriously dragged down that entire pentalogy for me. I dunno. I'm a simple guy who gets bored easily (and probably has ADHD - wow, I'm a real demigod!). Do something I like, and I'll read it. I'm not gonna complain too much about a character being similar to another as long as they're entertaining and interesting. I'll take Magnus's or Percy's narration any day over the mundanely dead third person narration.
On a similar note, the concept of Magnus Chase feels new and interesting. There's no summer camps. There's an entirely different world to explore, and I love that separation from PJO and HoO. And the new world is so immersive and interesting. And I appreciate that, rather than trying to rush a fully-fledged story with a "big battle" at the end of it, the battle will certifiably result in doom and devastation, but it happens off-screen. The characters do what they can now but ultimately can't prevent their future fates at Ragnarök (and I like how the story handles the idea of destiny itself, on that note) - they can't change the big picture, but their choices can alter the details. I know some people don't like it, but I prefer it heavily to trying to rush that entirely different arc and story with a "threat that will undeniably end the world" in 3 to 5 books, all while trying to make it seem much bigger-scale than it actually is and STILL make the final battle the most underwhelming, almost comically bad thing imaginable (Heroes of Olympus, anyone?).
Seriously. It's great. It is already miles better than Heroes of Olympus (in my humble opinion - HoO had its moments, but Magnus Chase has already avoided all the issues I had with that series - boring characters, underdeveloped relationships, repetitiveness, low stakes). It has the potential to surpass the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians for me, honestly. We'll see.
"I like that. A family of four empty cups!"
And small caveat: I've seen people mention some problematic elements of this book, like how Hearth's deafness is represented, Sam's hijab being magical, and Norse mythology being made into a joke. If the idea of these bother you, I recommend reading other people's reviews about any of the matters. It's not my place to talk about it. And also, just a warning - this book is a lot more violent than other Riordan books. The myths get pretty dark.
CURRENT RANKING
[1] PJO: The Last Olympian
[2] HoO: The House of Hades
[3] HoO: The Mark of Athena
[4] MCGA: The Sword of Summer
[5] PJO: The Lightning Thief
[6] PJO: The Titan's Curse
[7] HoO: The Son of Neptune
[8] PJO: The Battle of the Labyrinth
[9] HoO: The Lost Hero
[10] PJO: The Sea of Monsters
[11] HoO: The Blood of Olympus
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Islamophobia and Ableism
Minor: Racism
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Abandonment, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Sexism, Alcoholism, Car accident, Bullying, Kidnapping, Racism, Animal death, and Islamophobia
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4,5 this was awesome and yeah it took me a while to read but I’ll blame it being a series for that. I thought I’d take a break before I read the second Magnus Chase book but I don’t think I’ll do that anymore because of the epilogue HOLY CRAP.
Magnus is funny and a mama’s boy and I thought the reunion (well really first time meeting him) with his dad was really sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence
Moderate: Racism
jstarshine16's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts
kaneli's review against another edition
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Islamophobia, and Child abuse
kaylamoran's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really enjoyed it! Not as much as his Greco-Roman books, but still good. Uncle Rick's sense of humor is perfect for me, gets me every time. Can't wait to keep reading the series to find out what happens next!
I'd say my biggest complaint is that Magnus' personality feels pretty much exactly the same as Percy's. And don't get me wrong, I love Percy. One of my fave book characters period. But I guess I just wish Magnus was different? Like a new lead character should have a more unique personality? Idk.
Also, Gunilla felt a lot like Clarisse, Jack like the Arrow of Dodona, and Blitz like Grover. Idk, some characters just felt recycled.
Anyway, will continue reading. I'll never like it as much as the demigod chronicles because I'm obsessed with those characters SO MUCH and of course they aren't here, but I definitely want to keep going.
I'd say my biggest complaint is that Magnus' personality feels pretty much exactly the same as Percy's. And don't get me wrong, I love Percy. One of my fave book characters period. But I guess I just wish Magnus was different? Like a new lead character should have a more unique personality? Idk.
Also, Gunilla felt a lot like Clarisse, Jack like the Arrow of Dodona, and Blitz like Grover. Idk, some characters just felt recycled.
Anyway, will continue reading. I'll never like it as much as the demigod chronicles because I'm obsessed with those characters SO MUCH and of course they aren't here, but I definitely want to keep going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, and Death
Minor: Ableism, Islamophobia, Racism, Torture, and Xenophobia
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