9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan

SYNOPSIS

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?

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

I’ve been fairly ambivalent about the Magnus Chase series; unlike the Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, or Heroes of Olympus series, this one has not grabbed my continued attention. The secondary characters seem underdeveloped and Magnus himself seems to just float through this series as if he accidentally became its main character. That said, I have continued to read the books because I always like to finish a series and because I kept hoping that we would eventually be given the chance to make a connection with the characters. I wasn’t overly interested in reading 9 From the Nine Worlds, but I’m happy I did because it brought us closer to some of them.

Finally Spending Time with the Other Valhalla Hotel Heroes
Personally, the biggest disappointment of this series is the lack of time spent with Magnus’s floor mates at the Valhalla Hotel; T.J., Mallory, and Halfborn all had stories to tell, but were rarely even acknowledged in the series. Instead, all of their relationships with Magnus seem to occur off-page, between books instead of being available for us to witness, which is why I liked that some of these short stories are from their perspectives! While we still don’t get a ton of information about them, I liked that we finally got their POVs and saw some of the adventures that they go on. I thought it was a smart move on Riordan’s part to help readers make a connection with these characters.

Hooray for Amir!
Amir and Samirah were possibly two of my favourite characters from this series because of their acceptance of each other. I was thrilled when Magnus helped Amir to see beyond the mortal world into what the world actually looks like, because it brought Amir and Samirah closer together. I thought Amir’s story was wonderful and liked getting his impression of the world because it was a very human one. This is a teenage boy who accepts that the girl he’s going to marry is a Valkyrie, that their friends are either dead or another species, and still manages to find humour in these situations. Well done Amir!

The Norse Gods Continue to Annoy Me
Odin, Thor, and all the other gods we meet in this series drive me crazy! They are basically parodies of the actual mythology and I often find myself frustrated that I have to read about them. I get why Riordan has chosen to portray them this way (it’s funny for young kinds, etc.), but wow, I end up feeling insulted on behalf of Vikings that this is how their gods are being shown to us. Why are Roman, Greek, and Egyptian gods allowed to be smart, while the majority of Norse gods are just there for a laugh? The portrayal of the Norse gods continue to fall short for me, which we continue to see in their short stories.

Overall, I’d recommend this collection to anyone who has read and enjoyed the Magnus Chase series as it’s a great companion to the books. We get some time with the secondary characters in the series and (for me, anyways) get to know them a bit better. It’s a cute collection and takes very little time to read.

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FINAL RATING: 3.5/5