In Search for Senna, Applegate incorporates parts of two ancient mythologies into her tale of adventure. One is that of the ancient Norse, the Vikings, who populated much of the North Atlantic and terrorized Europe and central Asia during the Middle Ages. Although Applegate works significant aspects of the Norse tales into Search for Senna, her purpose is not to explain Norse religious beliefs, but instead to tell a thrilling adventure in which the tales are a part.

Thus, she does not explain much about such figures as the giant wolf, although anyone familiar with Norse mythology will recognize not only the gods and the wolf, but the snake, as well.

Ancient Aztec beliefs receive fuller coverage in Land of Loss, the second novel in the Everworld series. In Search for Senna, the Aztecs first appear to be the victims of a Viking raid intended to...