The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan - Book Review

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Publication date: October 4, 2016

My rating: 4.5 stars

This book...

*shaking my head wordlessly*
I shouldn't be surprised I loved it as much as I did. This is a Rick Riordan's book, after all. But before reading it, I was terrified of reading this book. 

Long story short, I had some major issues with the first book in the Magnus Chase trilogy. 

I still ended up enjoying it, but the shock of not absolutely loving it was just too hard for me to handle. 

So when it came to anticipating The Hammer of Thor, I was cautiously excited. I readied myself for the possibility I wouldn't love it. 

And then...

OH GOD, I LOVED THIS BOOK! 

It was incredible and beautifully done.

Rick Riordan... you're amazing!

If you, like me, had your issues with The Sword of Summer, worry not! For this book will take it all away.  

In this book you may (or may not) find: 

• A gender fluid shapeshifter who is also a love interest. 

• A goat killer assassin. 

• A talking sword that loves to sing. 

• A wedding. 

• A psychotic god trying to escape 

• Overall craziness

• Some fun times.

• Some hard times

• Some sad times

• Some awesome times.

• Some times in general.

See?
Isn't this reason enough to read this book?
No need to thank me as long as you read it. 

And now that we got the ones of you who haven't read it covered, let's talk spoilers!


*Full Review (with spoilers)*

This book, you guys...
This book. 

'Just like the good old days: marching together into the unknown, searching for missing magical weapons, and risking painful death. I've missed my buddies!' 

Magnus Chase: 

Oh, Magnus. I loved him so much.
This time, he really stood on his own. He didn't feel like a pale copy of Percy anymore. He was Magnus Chase, the brave healer with the talking sword.

While Magnus does know how to fight, I loved that Rick didn't make him an all capable warrior or an expert in sword fighting.
Our protagonist is more of a healer than a fighter, and I found that I liked it just fine. 

Samirah al-Abbas (a.k.a. Sam): 

Our fierce Muslim Valkyrie.

She, as well, didn't feel like a pale copy of Annabeth anymore. 

She dealt with so much in this book (possibly more than anyone), but she pulled through. As hard as things got, she didn't give up.
Sam is a strong female protagonist and I admire her capabilities. 

Hearthstone (a.k.a Hearth): 

I just love this elf so much! I want to give him a hug and tell him everything is going to be okay. 

Blitzen: 

Ah, I like this draft. 
I'm so glad he's not dead. 

Amir: 

We finally got some Amir time in this book!
And it was so good. Aside from him almost freaking out to the death, that is.
This guy deserves a medal. He's willing to do anything - anything - if it means staying with Sam. So cute. 
Also, I'm starting to see why Sam loves him so much.

Alex Fierro: 

All hail Alex Fierro!
The awesomest and craziest shapeshifter alive (ergg... well, depends on your definition of "alive"). 
For the risk of repeating myself: I just loved her SO MUCH.
Him too. 
Yeah, sorry, I'm still a bit Magnus-confused at how this works. 
But as she was, for most of the book, a she, I'm going to refer to her as a she for now.    

Don't you just love how effortlessly Rick combines diversity into his books?
He does it like he does magic. 

I also somehow became a hardcore shipper of Magnus & Alex over the course of this book. I can't imagine them not together. Just like Amir & Sam, the two of them are meant to be. 

I'm definitely not scared of the third book anymore. Also not of the second book in the Apollo series.
Rick Riordan is officially back and I just want more more more! 

Unspoken - Good Fight

"First we need advice," I said. "About sailing across magical waters, fighting weird sea monsters, and not dying at the hands of a bunch of angry aquatic gods. Strangely enough, I know just the person to talk to." "Your caousin," Sam guessed. "Yeah," I said. "Annabeth." 

Annabeth smiled. "I don't know the ocean very well, but my boyfriend does. I think it's time you met Percy."

*Dying of squealing*
Magnus and Percy meeting?
Percy making another appearance?
This is going to be:
Just...
So...
EPIC.