The Hammer of Thor: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2

Everyone residing in Valhalla has died once, and they often talk about how. A new person arrives after fighting wolves. Some gore described, including a weapon that burns away a zombie's head, an arm stuck in a zombie's abs, and a sword that comes out of a gut with "a couple of pink things that looked like fingers." Plenty of weapons in play here that often kill opponents: axes, swords, a garrote, spears, guns. Loki's imprisonment described in detail -- a snake shoots venom at his face, and he's chained to boulders with ropes made from his dead sons. Some characters have lost family through violent means -- killed by animals, run over by a truck, lost in a shipwreck.

Talk of a gift given the morning after a wedding with some innuendo about why.

"Helheim" said instead of "hell," and plenty of mentions that swearing is going on in sign language, in brogue, and so on without any of the words used.

Mead is consumed by most of Valhalla at dinner (Magnus describes it as more like espresso than alcohol), and the god Aegir brews it. Giants drink stronger stuff.

Parents need to know that The Hammer of Thor is the second book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series from Rick Riordan, the author of the ultra-popular Percy Jackson series. While Percy Jackson lives half in the world of the Greek gods, Magnus Chase follows Norse mythology. As in all his series, Riordan sticks to his signature humor in the face of dire circumstances, so nothing gets too dark -- not even the idea that Magnus is already dead and living in Valhalla. Some gore is described, including a sword that comes out of a gut with "a couple of pink things that looked like fingers." Plus the god Loki's imprisonment is described in detail: A snake shoots venom at his face, and he's chained to boulders with ropes made from his dead sons. Magnus continues to be a brave character who feels much empathy for others -- especially the loners and the homeless he used to live among. He tries hard both to understand his friends -- including a new gender-fluid friend named Alex -- and to help his friends face difficult problems -- such as his hijab-wearing friend Sam, who struggles to find a way to tell her betrothed about her second life as a Valkyrie. Expect a little mead drinking among all ages in Valhalla. Magnus describes the drink as more like espresso than alcohol.