One Sentence Summary
The third book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan, follows Magnus and his friends on a perilous quest to stop Loki and prevent Ragnarok.
Book Genre
Fantasy, children’s fiction, adventure, mythology, young adult fiction
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of the book is the Norse mythology, particularly the Norse gods and their stories. It follows the hero’s journey of Magnus Chase and his friends as they attempt to stop the Ragnarok, the end-of-days.
Key Ideas
- Friendship: Magnus and his friends embark on a journey together as a united group, striving for the same goal and relying on one another for support and courage.
- Family: Magnus is reminded throughout the book about the significance of family and how he must stand by his own and protect them, no matter the odds.
- Bravery and Courage: In the face of challenging situations, the characters have to summon courage and remain fierce as they battle against monsters and prove their strength.
- Loyalty: Both mortals and gods alike are driven to follow their oaths and stay loyal to their word.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part One: Vigrid – Empowered by an unbreakable oath, Magnus and his friends embark on a dangerous journey in their quest to prevent Ragnarok, during which they battle the dead and visit realms and places such as Niflheim, Muspellheim and folklore locations.
- Part Two: Naglfar – The group sets out to search for the vital object needed to prevent Ragnarok and fend off various enemies along the way. They meet gods from other pantheons, ancient heroes and mysterious creatures waging wars to fulfill their goals.
- Part Three: The Ship of the Dead – At last, they come face to face with Loki and his allies, and find themselves at sea surrounded by zombies. They must band together and use all of their skills to fight them off or suffer the consequences of Norse prophesy.
Key Takeaways
- Friendship is one of the highest virtues and an important tool that gives strength in the face of adversity.
- Family is always by your side, it is vital to protect and stand by them no matter what.
- Bravery and courage can help overcome any obstacle, and stuck to your morals and loyalty may be more powerful than any weapon.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Rick Riordan is an American author who is best known for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. He has created a range of best-selling adventure books for children and young adults, including the Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus series, and The Trials of Apollo. He has also written spin-off books to the Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase series.
Target Audience
This book is aimed mainly towards children and young adults, but can also be appreciated by adults.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 3: Ship of the Dead was first published on October 3, 2017 by Disney-Hyperion.