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General
- In this series, we get to see some familiar faces from the old series, like Percy and Annabeth interacting with Magnus.
- The sheer casualness and acceptance Magnus shows towards Alex being genderfluid is wonderful.
- Pretty much all the Norse deities being chill about Sam needing halal food and in one instance, a place to perform one of her daily prayers, and being able to understand Hearth's sign language.
- Magnus mentions a handful of times that he isn't the touchy-feely type. Most of the time, when characters show any aversion to physical contact, it's written off as them having a sensory disorder or some past trauma or even them just being cold and unfriendly; always with the implication that someone who doesn't like physical contact has something 'wrong' with them. None of these seem to apply to Magnus in the least. It's nice to have it acknowledged for once that some people just aren't huggers and that's not wrong.
The Sword of Summer
- When the gang all cement that they are Fire-Forged Friends and claiming they're family. The world may reject them, but they'll always have each other.
- Mallory and Gunderson seem to make a pretty cute couple.
- Sam and Hearth get separated from the others on Yggdrasil. When they meet again, Hearth tackles Blitz in a hug.
- Frey appearing to Magnus and saying that he'll understand if his son holds the years of silence against him... only to be interrupted by Magnus rushing in to give him a bear-hug. Considering how many half-bloods just want attention from their godly parents, being somewhat lucky to get a pat on the shoulder as well as the numerous examples of resentment for those who feel neglected, it's really nice to see a demigod - particularly one who describes himself as 'not a hugger' - just straight-out embrace their godly connection.
- The fact that Sam is The Not-Love Interest. It would have been only too easy to turn her into the Tsundere love interest like Annabeth, but the fact that Magnus and Sam are only Like Brother and Sister makes their relationship more unique. They may not like each other, but they do love each other.
- It also fits with the dynamic of Percy and Annabeth being love interests, Carter and Sadie being siblings, Magnus and Sam are the natural next male and female leads.
- This is considerably YMMV, but the fact that Sam is actually in love with her arranged partner is nice. Magnus calls out the Values Dissonance of it, but Sam makes it clear that she is happy with the arrangement, and that there wouldn't have been one in the first place if neither she nor her fiancé liked each other.
- The end of the book has Halfborn Gunderson put his arm around Mallory without her saying anything mean or trying to kill him.
- Frey telling Magnus to reconnect with Annabeth, and the two of them going to scatter his mom's ashes like she wanted. They agree that they won't let their relationship get messed up like their parents' did. The first chapter preview of The Hammer of Thor confirms that they actually did end up trading stories, with Magnus now knowing the Greek gods hang out in Manhattan.
- Magnus telling Sam that he'll be there for her real wedding.
The Hammer of Thor
- The easy acceptance that Alex gets by most of the characters for being trans is nice, considering just how are hard transgender people have it.
- Amir declaring that he loved Samirah in a video recording she had of her day, much to her embarrassment when the einherjar begin to tease her. Heimdall becomes a Shipper on Deck when he learns of their relationship later.
- Before flying, Sam tells Magnus that she needs a moment to pray and asks if he could stand watch. He happily obliges and thinks the prayers Sam sang were quite beautiful.
- Because Magnus' healing powers do have him prying unintentionally into the minds of the people he's healing, and Alex doesn't appreciate this. As a result, Magnus makes it a point to try and not push into her privacy unless told otherwise.
- Sif dressing up Alex to be Sam's decoy, giving her a golden garrote and asking if she'd do her a favor and use it on Loki. Alex obliges by curtsying.
- Later in the book Alex even works on a piece of pottery for Sif as thanks for the dress, admitting that the goddess wasn't as ditzy as she expected.
- Magnus and Alex's relationship. Despite Alex's somewhat rough attitude, they do become close, and at the end of the book, Magnus realizes that he's started to be able to tell what gender Alex is at the moment.
- Alex being Samirah's and Amir's male family member chaperone.
The Ship of The Dead
- Percy has now officially become an older brother as of Ship of the Dead, with a new baby sister named Estelle, and he and Annabeth are as sweet as ever. Finally.
- Alex being a Shipper on Deck for Percy and Annabeth after Magnus' training sessions with Percy. As the two demigods drove off, Alex noted how cute Annabeth and Percy were together.
- Hearthstone bringing back the ghost of his brother to try and convince their father to give up the ring. When their father is slain, Andrion tells Hearth that the wish he made on the well was to be like his brother, kind and strong.
- Blitzen stands up to Hearth's father and yells, "STAY AWAY FROM MY ELF!"
- During her training with Alex, Sam takes off her hijab because she considers Magnus part of her family, and therefore she doesn't need to be formal around him.
- Alex's memories of her grandfather, and how he used a Two-Faced artistic motif in his pottery to help her embrace her genderfluidity. She later gives her clay warrior the same face.
- While trekking in the snow, Magnus tries to comfort Alex and then Alex kisses Magnus on the lips, admitting she wanted to do that before she died.
- When they arrive at the goddess' palace, Magnus realizes that he didn't want to leave Alex's side, and had to be forced to let go of her by the servants.
- Frigg talking with Mallory and admitting that she wanted to help her children, but because she can see their futures, it has become too unbearable for her.
- In his flyting with Loki, instead of throwing insults at the trickster, Magnus instead compliments the deeds that his friends have accomplished, causing him to slowly win the competition. The Power of Friendship and Heart Is an Awesome Power at their finest.
- Sif is delighted to see Alex and immediately hugs the einherjar, asking if she was wearing a new shirt.
- TJ bonding with his dad is very sweet.
- After returning to his room in Hotel Valhalla, Magnus begins to realize how he feels like he's come home.
- Magnus and Alex getting together at the end of the series, marking Riordan's third canon LGBTQ couple.
- Magnus, Alex, Hearth and Blitzen turning Randolph's mansion into a shelter for the homeless called "Chase Space", providing anyone who came in with whatever they needed for as long as they were staying.
- Hearth teaches the children sign language while Blitzen allows them to help with his clothes.
- Alex comforts a crying kid, and quietly motions Magnus to give her space.
- TJ telling Magnus about his Geas that forces him to accept any personal challenge. While it got him into Valhalla, he's basically telling Magnus his weak point; he trusts Magnus that much.
