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Review: Magnus Chase by: Rick Riordan

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Author: Rick Riordan
Overall Goodreads Rating: 4.28
Genre: YA Fantasy (Mythology)
Pages: 499
Published: October 6th 2015 by Disney - Hyperion Books

 MY OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 STARS 


IN A NUTSHELL
Fun and exciting read. Took a couple of chapters to really get into, but once I got into it I could not put it down! This book has all the comedy and charm that we all love and expect from Riordan's writing. The Norse Mythology was interesting and done in a way where I was never overwhelmed. I felt like I learned a lot, and it made me want to learn more about this particular mythology. The only downfall this book had was there were MANY similarities to Percy Jackson. I had a hard time getting over a few. There were so many that it took away from the originality of the book. If you want examples of the similarities keep on reading.


"Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...."

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed and at times cried. It had all the charm that I was expecting and once I really got into the book I did not stop reading until I was finished. I really enjoyed the friendships in this book, and how it was a main part of this book. What I love about Riordan's stories is that he always puts a emphases on relationships such as friendships and family dynamics. His writing is unique in the fact that he has his characters build trust and friendship instead of solely romances. He actually writes about children who love their parents, and have a healthy relationship with them. I have to acknowledge that because it is a rare factor in middle grade/YA books. I really came to love every character in this book, and not one of them fell flat. Magnus is funny and full of smart remarks and whit. Other characters you will meet in this book will still your heart and quickly become your new book friends. 
I loved learning about new mythology. Norse Mythology is complex and Riordan makes it easy to follow. After reading this book I felt like I learned a lot, and I even went on to do more research on my own. The Norse Mythology really added a new originality to the book because it was something I had never read about before! 
Now for the reason I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 stars. There were A LOT of similarities to Percy Jackson. Without giving away too much I will say, there were similar personalities, fighting situations, relationship dynamics, and special weapons,we already read about in Percy Jackson. This book is original with the Mythology and it was a real bummer to see these repeats, because this book had so much potential to be a one of  kind book in YA.  
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I am truly excited for the next book to come out. I highly recommend it. Just know that there are similarities to Percy Jackson, but it is still an amazing read. If you have children in middle school I would recommend this book for you and your children to read together. You can have a family type book club! Okaaay I just nerded out on a completely new level.

Tell me your thoughts on this book. Did you find the similarities as annoying as I did? How much fun did you have learning about Norse Mythology? And the most important question....Magnus or Percy? 
Happy Reading Y'all, 
Ashley 

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