173: The Gang Discovers Critical Thinking (HAMMER OF THOR Ch 43-48)

We are here at the climax of this book, and as usual, things get funky. Sam and Alex do a switch-a-roo on Thrym. Erin claims that Rick stole from Animorphs, again. The ceremony is at a secret second venue, Loki's cavern! Nothing says wedding like ominous bubbling liquids and a man being poisoned. Loki frees himself from his chains, and the Aesir gods show up just in time to not be very useful. At least Thor gets his hammer back. Magnus makes a hard case against jigsaw puzzles. Manasa makes a case against Boggle again. Erin comes down hard against... Crocs? Only one more episode to go for Hammer of Thor! SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod⁠

FINALLY, we get to see Otis and Marvin again! But first, Utgard-Loki has to encourage Magnus and friends to do some critical thinking. Sif comes to the rescue and takes them to her home. They meet up with Thor and update him on their progress so far. Otis and Marvin are there and it's very special. Sif gives everyone a makeover. Magnus continues to be down bad for Alex. We pronounce everything really wrong in this episode. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod⁠

We're back with another chunk of classic Riordan fever-dream chapters! Sometime around 2016, Rick started getting silly with his side quests. This is the perfect example. Magnus makes Alex share more about her personal life. Blitz uses the power of fashion to make a magical bag. They arrive at Utgard Lanes and are challenged to a competition by all the giants. Magnus can't stop murdering giants for some reason. Somehow Blitz once again uses the power of fashion to win his competition? Sam faces fear head on. Magnus and Alex sending bowling balls to New Hampshire. Erin wants to send bowling balls to her enemies. We decide this series is actually just Ella Enchanted. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod⁠

Magnus and friends climb up the rainbow (happy pride month) and visit with Heimdall, who loves a selfie. Once again, Rick dates this as solidly 2016 with selfie sticks and Vine (RIP). They are summoned to Jotunheim via a mysterious bowling alley sign, and get roped into trying to carry a giant bowling bag for giants. Apparently Jack can sew, what can’t the sword do! SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod⁠

Magnus and Hearth have a run-in with a fish dwarf (and possibly commits ecoterrorism). We learn about the inspiration for the Ring of Power in Lord of the Rings. Erin talks about dream journaling. Magnus and Hearth bring Mr. Alderman the treasure, and he goes crazy with power and possibly becomes a dragon. The retrieve the stone and leave Alfheim to meet up with Sam and Amir, where Sam nearly breaks Amir's brain exposing him to the world of norse mythology. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod⁠

It may be episode 169 (nice), but the topics of these chapters are distinctively Not Nice! They're actually quite sad! Sam flies a plane (notably, without a license, which stresses Erin out) to drop Hearth, Magnus, and Stone Blitz off in Alfheim, to see a guy about a hot stone. The guy with the hot stone is unfortunately Hearth's abusive father. We hate Mr. Alderman. He would probably be into the Alpha Male culture if he was a human. We get to learn a lot about elf culture and society, and get a glimpse into Hearth's not-so-nice childhood. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

Fresh off an hour-long yap session, we are ready to yap further about Magnus Chase. Magnus and Sam meet up with Hearth and Blitz, and traverse into the Wight's Barrow. The mummies are very democratic. The Skofnung Sword is hot, and also afraid of women, apparently. Can Jack see? How does he know the sword is hot? Also why are the swords gendered? Rick, we have questions. Erin talks about her trip to Iceland multiple times. Magnus battles a bunch of undead mummies and then Loki and Randolph show up. Blitz almost dies and in order to save him, they must go to Hearth's childhood (or, according to Manasa, biological) home and face his trauma. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

It's time to fight a giant worm! And also get to know Alex better! We discuss the merits of being an introvert vs. an extrovert. Is Magnus more extroverted or introverted? What about Percy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Erin thinks lindworms sound kind of cute. They'd definitely get into the Salt Spitoon. Alex murders Magnus (they're off to a fantastic start). Magnus has some weird dreams, and learns about an impending wedding that's about to mess up Sam's life. Jack can fly people around like a broom now (Manasa hates this). We get to see Alex's badass death, which is nothing like Magnus's from last book. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

We're back, baby! Starting off book 2 of the Magnus Chase series with the return, and consequent murder, of our favorite goat, Otis. Manasa brings up Hoodwinked this time. Magnus has a wild chase with a goat killer. Jack is really into pop music now and has had a lot of personality development. Jack is now Manasa's enemy. We get to meet Alex Fierro, a character we have long-anticipated, and see her in weasel form. Magnus is yearning immediately. Erin suggests watching both Hoodwinked and the Spongebob Movie for research purposes. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

We are finally finishing this book! Magnus gets to meet his dad, who sounds hot. We get the big reveal of this book -- X is actually Odin, and was this whole time. Manasa doesn't like this plotline. She also got X confused with Halfborn for half of this book. Erin sees herself in Odin's love for a good PowerPoint. He walks us through the prophecy line by line (probably with crappy PowerPoint animation). Magnus meets up with Annabeth again, and then the book ends on quite the cliffhanger, where we see Randolph and Loki scheming. We discuss our overall thoughts on this book (hint: they're positive!) and wrap up with some final thunder bolt questions for Sword of Summer. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod