What Age Is Magnus Chase Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide

0 Shares

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t change our picks or your price.

Quick answer: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan is best for ages 10 to 14, a little older than Percy Jackson. The hero dies in the first chapter and goes to Valhalla, where warriors fight and die daily before coming back to life, and the series includes battles, homelessness and a gentle same-sex romance, but no swearing or sexual content.

Quick facts
Recommended age: 10 to 14 (9+ for strong readers)
Reading level: Grades 4 to 8
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy based on Norse mythology
Published: 2015–2017, trilogy
Main concerns: Battles, death themes, homelessness
Connection: Set in the same world as Percy Jackson

Magnus Chase is Rick Riordan’s Norse mythology series, set in the same world as Percy Jackson. It’s funny, action-packed and full of Thor, Loki and other Norse gods. It’s written for slightly older readers than Percy Jackson and deals with some more mature themes. This guide explains what’s in it so you can decide when your child is ready.

Table of Contents

What Is Magnus Chase About?

Sixteen-year-old Magnus Chase has been living on the streets of Boston since his mother died. On his birthday, he learns he’s the son of a Norse god, and that the wolves that killed his mother are after him.

In The Sword of Summer, Magnus dies fighting a fire giant and is taken to Valhalla, the hall of slain heroes. With a crew of new friends, including Sam, a Muslim Valkyrie, he must find a legendary sword to stop the end of the world, Ragnarök.

Start with The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. book cover

Check price of The Sword of Summer on Amazon

Content Guide for Parents

Content	Level	What to Expect
Violence	Moderate	Battles with giants, wolves and monsters. In Valhalla, warriors fight to the death daily and are revived.
Death themes	Moderate	Magnus dies in the first chapter, and his mother’s death haunts him.
Homelessness	Present	Magnus lives on the streets, which is portrayed with empathy.
Romance	Mild	A gentle romance between Magnus and Alex Fierro, a genderfluid character, with a kiss in the third book.
Language	Very mild	No real swearing.
Positive messages	Strong	Kindness, inclusion, loyalty and found family.

Age-by-Age Breakdown

Age	Is Magnus Chase a Good Fit?
Under 9	Usually better to start with Percy Jackson.
9 to 10	Fine for strong readers, especially Percy Jackson fans.
11 to 14	The sweet spot.
15 and up	Still fun, with plenty of humor.

How Magnus Chase Compares to Percy Jackson

Magnus Chase is a little older in tone than Percy Jackson. The hero is 16, he’s dealing with homelessness and his mother’s death, and the humor is a bit more sarcastic. The violence is similar, though Valhalla’s daily battles add an unusual twist.

Fans of Percy Jackson usually love it, and Percy’s cousin Annabeth appears in the series.

Is Magnus Chase Okay for a 9-Year-Old?

Strong readers of 9 who loved Percy Jackson often enjoy it. The content is similar, though the themes of homelessness and death are a bit heavier.

The series includes characters from diverse backgrounds, including a Muslim heroine and a genderfluid character, which many families welcome as a chance to talk about inclusion.

What Parents Should Know

It’s a trilogy. The Sword of Summer, The Hammer of Thor and The Ship of the Dead.
It’s set in the Percy Jackson world. Some characters cross over.
It’s funny. Chapter titles alone make kids laugh.
It’s inclusive. Diverse characters are central to the story.
There’s a companion book. 9 from the Nine Worlds features short stories.

How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for Magnus Chase

Read the first chapter yourself. Ten minutes with the opening pages tells you a lot about the tone of Magnus Chase.
Think about what upsets your child. Every child is different, so match the content table above to your own child rather than to their age alone.
Ask what they already know. Kids often hear about popular books from friends, so ask what they expect and why they want to read it.
Offer to read it together. Reading at the same time, or aloud, makes it easy to pause and talk about hard scenes.
Keep the door open. Tell your child they can stop at any time and come to you with questions.

A Simple Plan for Reading Magnus Chase Together

Before reading: look at the cover and blurb together and ask what your child expects from Magnus Chase.
While reading: check in every few chapters with one open question, such as “What surprised you?”
After a hard scene: ask how it made them feel rather than what it means.
After finishing: talk about the ending, then let your child choose what to read next from the suggestions below.

Questions to Talk About With Your Child

Which Norse god would you want as a parent?
How does Magnus’s time on the streets shape him?
What makes Magnus’s friends a family?
Which Norse myth surprised you most?
Would you want to live in Valhalla?

If Your Child Isn’t Ready Yet: Similar Books to Try

These picks offer myths and adventure for different ages.

D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire: ages 7 and up. A classic illustrated collection of Norse myths. It’s a perfect introduction.

D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths by Ingri book cover

Check price of D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths on Amazon

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: ages 9 and up. Start with Percy Jackson before moving to Magnus.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan book cover

Check price of The Lightning Thief on Amazon

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman: ages 12 and up. Gaiman retells the Norse myths with humor and drama.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman book cover

Check price of Norse Mythology on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions