Magnus Chase takes a selfie with literary everyone
If you read all of Rick Riordan's works, then you can guess how "The Hammer of Thor" will end out. Annabeth Chase foresees a future with Percy Jackson, so she figures that it's high time that her boyfriend meets Magnus Chase, her cousin. It's not a spoiler, as the couple has join forces with the Kane siblings. Moreover, there are similarities between Greek mythology and the Norse's ancient culture. Does Riordan suggest that there's a link between Mount Olympus and Asgard? It's hard to tell. (Greece was a Roman province when the Vikings roamed the northern seas. And they didn't venture into the Mediterranean region. Constantinople reached the height of her power, while the Ottoman Turks have a plan. A big one.) Perhaps archaeologists will unearth a groundbreaking evidence soon.
"Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" stands out for a number of reasons. Riordan's pop culture references will engage anyone, everyone. Magnus Chase may not be flashing a sardonic smile, but the other characters do. (And how.) Readers will get to know more about the recurring characters, and the facts may surprise them. For instance, Magnus Chase, the son of Frey, is an atheist. Not one Norse deity reacted to it. (A chapter or two might be devoted to it in "The Ship of the Dead", which will be out next fall.) The image of Loki, screaming in pain, and Sigyn, his wife, will remind art lovers of the crucifixion in the arts. Riordan may be hinting about the pagan origins of Christianity, but Young-adult readers will likely overlook it. This genre is pure (armchair) entertainment.
Riordan laid numerous Easter eggs along the way, which would provide readers with what to expect in the next book. It's safe to say that "The Ship of the Dead" won't be the last of the series, as the upcoming meeting between Percy and Magnus will be a whole new adventure in this saga. Let's take a look:
Randolph Chase might have been destined to meet Loki, but it's hard to predict the future. Doomsday might be the exception. Some readers would blame Randolph for the unexpected death of Magnus Chase, while others will be tickled with the teenager's semblance to a young Kurt Cobain. The older Chase was a scholar of Norse mythology, even obsessed about the legends that gave him trouble (throughout his lifetime). This would cost the lives of his wife and two young daughters, prompting him to seek Loki. The latter has malicious intents, and Magnus happens to be standing in the middle of a prophecy. Does Randolph hold a grudge against Odin? How about the good guys in Asgard? What will be his role in Ragnarok? It's too early to figure out the answers, but the void (in the penultimate chapter) is good enough for a guess.
Alex Fierro may be Loki's prodigal son (or daughter). Loki's sons are responsible for his eternal punishment, where he is chained in a sulfurous cave and a serpent drips venom into his face. He wants freedom, so he would appear in the dream of those who could help him escape from the cave. Alex Fierro isn't one of those who wasn't tempted by his sweet words. Unlike Sam, her older sister, Alex isn't afraid of shape shifting. In fact, this is a distinctive aspect of Loki's personality. Alex dislikes his father, s/he doesn't have daddy issues either. Will she be on Asgard's side? Sif, Thor's wife, have shown her warm side to Alex. And the goddess of the Earth haven't forgiven Loki for a petty incident (that happened millennia ago.) Your guess is as good as mine.
Utgard-Loki would remember a good deed. The ruler of Utgaroar, the stronghold of the mountain giants, would remember what Magnus Chase done to him. (Read "The Sword of Summer".) He repeatedly warns the teenager about Loki's plan, but he (and the rest of his ragtag team) are blindsided again (and again). Utgard-Loki has nothing but contempt towards Loki, and nothing will give him satisfaction other than his humiliation. Readers will see it as a hint that the mountain giant will side with Magnus (when Ragnarok breaks out). But the (mountain) giants have little love for anyone who is shorter than seven feet in height. Asgard, we have a problem.
The gods may play a major part in postponing Ragnarok. They may not. Riordan may be implying that the Norse gods are no better than their Olympian counterparts. Heimdall is preoccupied with taking selfies. Sif is too superficial. And Odin only cares about the perfect PowerPoint presentation. Magnus couldn't figure them out. "You know, Magnus... sometimes it's best not to look as far as you're able to look, or to listen to everything you're able to hear," Heimdall said. Go figure (or wait for the next book).
The series might turn out be a spin-off of "Games of Thrones". Magnus would admit it, which won't be bad at all. Jack, his Sumarbrander sword, would live to fight and sing Top 40 songs. The giants fancy a medley of Prince's songs (and their lair resembles a set from "Cheers"). And Riordan's depiction of Boston is like a setting of a crime drama film. Percy Jackson's appearance in "The Ship of the Dead" might mean that the next book will be an update of "The Odyssey." But Riordan wrote "The Heroes of Olympus".
