Nine loosely linked vignettes featuring nine secondary characters from the Magnus Chase stories are set in the nine worlds of Norse mythology; they culminate in Alex--Magnus's genderfluid romantic interest--facing down the fire giant Surt using Loki's trickster wiles. As usual, humor joins Norse mythological minutiae for a fast-paced, entertaining yarn. Inserts of glossy illustrations of the characters and worlds are included. Glos.

Nine different Norse-inspired tales with color illustrations, featuring Magnus Chase's irrepressible sidekicks.Thor thunders through the nine worlds, listening to rock music ("Rock, rock. Rock-rock-rock," he chants) and traumatizing all he passes with his tiny leather jogging shorts. Meanwhile, beloved characters from the Magnus Chase books all get chances to shine, using their skills and personalities to complete a variety of miniature quests. Blitzen the dapper dwarf turns an enemy dwarf into stone. Samirah the Valkyrie heroically takes a picture of an egg. Einherji Mallory teaches the dragon Nidhogg to tell jokes. And as readers have grown to expect from Riordan's series, the intersecting identities of each character play a variety of roles in their adventures. Samirah uses her magical hijab as a harness. Alex's gender shifts multiple times in the stories, with his and her friends greeting it with aplomb. One episode that stretches credibility in this regard focuses on the deaf elf Hearthstone, who somehow manages to accurately lip-read lengthy, complex sentences (including the name Siersgrunnr) from a troll who has his face covered by a "tinted plastic shield," the only significant area where Riordan stumbles in depicting marginalized identities. Otherwise, these stories are funny, exciting side quests centering on Hotel Valhalla, with Magnus graciously sharing the spotlight. Full-page illustrations contributed by James Firnhaber, Jim Madsen, and Yori Elita Narpati sound decorative grace notes.Bite-sized adventures for readers who want to linger in Magnus Chase's world. (Fantasy. 8-14)

Gr 5 Up-Fans of the "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" series will be delighted to dive into this funny and engaging short story collection taking place in each of the Nine Worlds. In Midgard, Amir is tricked into wearing necropants created by dark magic; in Helheim, T.J. makes a deal with Hel by finding and retrieving her lost hound in exchange for the safety of his mother; and in Muspellhein, Surt tries to recruit deities for a new world order after Ragnarok. Tales span about 15 pages and are told from the point of view of various characters. While they can stand alone, the stories are meant to be read in order, as they often lead into one another. Connecting all of the stories is Thor, who has humorously decided to jog throughout the Nine Worlds. If Thor logs enough steps on his FitnessKnut, he will be able to make an appearance on a Midgard TV show. Color inserts of the Worlds and characters are interspersed throughout the book. While any reader will be able to pick this up and jump right in, it will be most enjoyed by those who have read the "Magnus Chase" books and are familiar with Riordan's characters. VERDICT A first purchase for all collections where Riordian fans abound. Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ