Book Review: Magnus Chase and the God's of Asgard

Title: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Hammer of Thor
Author: Rick Riordan
Rating: 4.5/5
Teen Reviewer: Se Choi

 Magnus Chase is an einherjar (a soul that died bravely and lives in Valhalla) that had already saved the world once from a wold called Fenris, had another mission to retrieve the hammer of Thor. He was informed by a friend that the hammer was hidden in a tomb located at Cape Cod. Gathering three of his friends, he travels to Cape Cod and opens the tomb. But instead of finding the hammer, he finds the Skofnung Sword. This turns out to be an evil scheme of Loki to free himself by cutting his restraints with the Skofnung Sword and starting Doomsday. Loki plans to trade the hammer for the sword. Magnus and his friends go to Alfheim to find the Skofnung Stone and to the Giant King to gain info. After, they finally go to Loki’s Chamber and fought giants that were working with Loki. During the fight, Magnus’s team takes the hammer, but Loki was set free by the Skofnung Sword. Right when Loki was about to kill them, Thor, Heimdall and Vidar came to the rescue. Even though Loki escaped, Thor got his hammer back. And Magnus’s team prepared for the next battle against Loki.

The novel is very interesting and filled with Norse mythology and amusing scenes. It relates to characters in the previous Percy Jackson books a little.

Book Review: Original Fake

Title: Original Fake
Author: Kirstin Cron-Mills and E. Eero Johnson
Teen Reviewer: Turner Sykes
Rating: 5/5 Stars

This book is about a boy named Frankie who works for Geno at Pizza Vendetta and does art. Frankie despises his sister Lou because he feels she steals his identity. One day, a girl named Rory sees him paint the Abominable Snowman in the school cafeteria and shows up at his work with her brother David. He helps them do projects for their famous uncle, Uncle Epic. When Frankie catches Lou on tape committing a flash rob, he uses this to his advantage and plots to get back at her.

I really liked this book, as there were many twists and unexpected occurrences. Although the book was confusing at first, by the middle of the book I was drawn into it. Another great read!

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Book Review: Gamescape

Title: Gamescape
Author: Emma Trevayne
Teen Reviewer: Se Choi
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis: Miguel Anderson lives in a technologically advanced world where everyone plays a virtual reality game called Chimera. Miguel and his friends play it day and night to level up and gain rewards. His obsession over the game weakens his heart and a doctor tells him that he will die soon. Shortly after he hears this he is invited a compete in a competition. He joins and plays all sorts of levels with a team of players. After an accident he gets a biomech heart implant. Then one of the gamemakers talks to him that he controls his life because he can stop his biomech heart from working any time he wants. Miguel continues to play the game and he and his teammates learn that the gamemakers are toying with them. The bosses of the gamemakers cause wars to break out across the globe and turn against the gamemakers with the weapons they made. 

 

Review: The author wrote the character's thoughts and actions very well. The book makes you think "What would I do in a situation like this."