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Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Rick Riordan
4 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard by Rick Riordan with "The Sword Of Summer", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The series follows Magnus Chase, a Boston demigod and cousin of Annabeth Chase, as he explores Norse mythology and Valhalla.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 4 main titles released between 2015 and 2018. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Sword Of Summer"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

N/A - No data on Magnus Chase reading order was present. Debate

"The provided Reddit comments do not mention or discuss the 'Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard' series, nor do they provide any information regarding its recommended reading order. The discussion centers primarily on critiques of other authors (R.F. Kuang and Brandon Sanderson) and the validity of a generalized book ranking or poll."

Key Reddit Advice

No recommended reading order for 'Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard' could be extracted from this set of comments.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Sword Of Summer" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "The Sword Of Summer"Explore all by Rick Riordan

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order4 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
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1

The Sword Of Summer

Pub: 2015★ 4.5

Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus's birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus's memory. But he doesn't have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . . Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

2

The Hammer Of Thor

Pub: 2017★ 5

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Sword Of Summer".

"Magnus Chase, you nearly started Ragnarok. What are you going to do next?" It's been six weeks since Magnus and his friends returned from defeating Fenris Wolf and the fire giants. Magnus has adjusted to life at the Hotel Valhalla—as much as a once-homeless and previously alive kid can. As a son of Frey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of Odin's chosen warriors, but he has a few good peeps among his hallmates on floor nineteen, and he's been dutifully training for Ragnarok along with everyone else. His days have settled into a new kind of normal. But Magnus should have known there's no such thing as normal in the Nine Worlds. His friends Hearthstone and Blitzen have disappeared. A new hallmate is creating chaos. According to a very nervous goat, a certain object belonging to Thor is still missing, and the thunder god's enemies will stop at nothing to gain control of it. Time to summon Jack, the Sword of Summer, and take action. Too bad the only action Jack seems to be interested in is dates with other magical weapons. . .

3

The Ship Of The Dead

Pub: 2019★ 5

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Hammer Of Thor".

Magnus Chase, a once-homeless teen, is a resident of the Hotel Valhalla and one of Odin's chosen warriors. As the son of Frey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus isn't naturally inclined to fighting. But he has strong and steadfast friends, including Hearthstone the elf, Blitzen the dwarf, and Samirah the Valkyrie, and together they have achieved brave deeds, such as defeating Fenris Wolf and battling giants for Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Now Magnus faces his most dangerous trial yet. His cousin, Annabeth, recruits her boyfriend, Percy Jackson, to give Magnus some pointers, but will his training be enough? Loki is free from his chains. He's readying Naglfar, the Ship of the Dead, complete with a host of giants and zombies, to sail against the Asgardian gods and begin the final battle of Ragnarok. It's up to Magnus and his friends to stop him, but to do so they will have to sail across the oceans of Midgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim in a desperate race to reach Naglfar before it's ready to sail. Along the way, they will face angry sea gods, hostile giants, and an evil fire-breathing dragon. But Magnus's biggest challenge will be facing his own inner demons. Does he have what it takes to outwit the wily trickster god?

4

9 From The Nine Worlds

Pub: 2018Optional★ 5

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Ship Of The Dead".

Beloved characters from the Magnus Chase series star in these short stories, each set in a different one of the Nine Worlds from Norse mythology. The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy may have concluded, but we haven't heard the last of our favorite peeps from the Nine Worlds. Join Hearthstone, Blitzen, Samirah, Alex, Jack, T.J., Mallory, Halfborn, and more on a hilarious and unforgettable journey through Rick Riordan's unique take on Norse mythology. While Magnus is off visiting his cousin, Annabeth, his friends find themselves in some sticky, hairy, and smelly situations as they try to outwit moronic giants, murderous creatures, and meddlesome gods. Can they stave off Ragnarok at least until Magnus gets back?

Curation Note:This is a second supplementary work consisting of nine short stories, each told by a different character and set in a different Norse realm. These stories are generally considered non-essential post-trilogy content, connected loosely by Thor's side plot, and were published after the main trilogy concluded.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Sword Of Summer" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Rick Riordan intended.

Can I read Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.