Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Rick Riordan doing what he does best: making mythology fun, diverse casts feel natural, and reluctant readers turn pages. Magnus Chase is a solid adventure series with heart, humor, and educational value wrapped in monster battles.

That said, it's not breaking new ground. If your kid loved Percy Jackson, they'll probably like this—but it's essentially the same recipe with Norse ingredients instead of Greek. Some reviewers call it derivative, and they're not wrong. The formula is visible: snarky teen discovers they're special, assembles a found family, goes on quests, fights monsters, learns life lessons, repeat.

The LGBTQ+ representation (particularly Alex Fierro) is either a major pro or a dealbreaker depending on your family values—conservative reviewers flag it as inappropriate, while mainstream sources praise it as thoughtful. The homelessness angle adds depth and empathy.

Bottom line: If you've got a 10-13 year old who needs a fun, fast-paced series that sneaks in mythology education and positive values, this delivers. Just don't expect Percy Jackson 2.0 to feel revolutionary.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14, especially Percy Jackson fans ready for a Norse mythology spin. The reading level is accessible for upper elementary, but themes around homelessness, death, and identity skew toward middle school maturity. High schoolers might find it too formulaic unless they're die-hard Riordan completists.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

Rick Riordan's series tackles real-world issues like homelessness with empathy and models values like respecting others' talents and choosing right over easy. The diverse cast (including LGBTQ+ representation) is handled with care. Some parent reviewers express concern about 'forced tolerance' messaging, but the series fundamentally promotes cooperation, friendship, and moral courage. Occasional crude humor and teen-level snark keep it from scoring higher, but the emotional core is sound.

Imaginative

72

Norse mythology gets the Riordan treatment—gods, monsters, and quests through the Nine Worlds. It's creative world-building that introduces readers to lesser-known myths. However, some reviewers note it follows Riordan's established formula too closely (similar structure to Percy Jackson), using 'trope after overused trope' and feeling like a knockoff of other Ragnarok stories. Still, it sparks curiosity about mythology and delivers adventure, just not groundbreaking territory for Riordan fans.

Safe

75

As a book series, physical safety concerns don't apply. Content-wise, there's fantasy violence (battles with monsters, deaths in Valhalla that reset), some scary imagery, and mature themes around homelessness and identity. One critical review flags concerns about the handling of a transgender character (Alex Fierro) as potentially inappropriate for younger readers, though other sources praise the representation. No graphic content, but the action and themes skew toward the upper middle-grade/YA boundary.

Enriching

80

Strong educational value through Norse mythology exposure—readers learn about Odin, Thor, Loki, and the Nine Worlds in an accessible format. The series explores themes of found family, homelessness, identity, and moral choices. Characters demonstrate bravery, loyalty, and problem-solving. The 4.8 Amazon rating suggests strong reader engagement. It builds reading stamina (full trilogy) and cultural literacy, though it's primarily entertainment-forward rather than deeply literary.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Makes Norse mythology accessible and fun—kids will actually want to learn about Odin, Thor, and the Nine Worlds
Tackles real issues like homelessness and identity with empathy while keeping the adventure moving
Diverse cast with thoughtful LGBTQ+ representation (gender-fluid character Alex Fierro)
Fast-paced action and Riordan's trademark humor keep reluctant readers engaged
Strong themes of found family, loyalty, and choosing what's right over what's easy

⚠

What to Watch For

Fantasy violence throughout—deaths in Valhalla, monster battles, some scary imagery (though deaths reset daily in Valhalla)
Mature themes including homelessness, absent parents, and identity struggles
LGBTQ+ representation is central (gender-fluid character)—some conservative reviewers flag this as 'forced tolerance'
If your kid has already read all of Percy Jackson, this might feel very familiar—same structure, similar humor, predictable beats

Conversation Starters

"Magnus starts the book homeless—why do you think Rick Riordan chose to write about that? What did you learn about people experiencing homelessness?"
"How is Norse mythology different from Greek mythology? Which gods or stories surprised you?"
"Alex Fierro is gender-fluid—what does that mean, and how do the other characters handle it?"
"If you died and went to Valhalla, what would you want to do every day? Would the 'reset' thing get old?"
"Magnus has to choose between saving his friends and completing his quest—what would you do?"

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Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard