menniemenace's review against another edition
4.0
The stories of the Norse gods are unknown compared to the Greek gods, and the movies doesn't begin to cover the myths.
I've known about Norse Mythology first from Vikings and then from reading bits and pieces about in the Magnus Chase series, so this is the first serious reading about the topic for me, and it was really really good.
My favourite chapter was the one about freya's unusual wedding, it was so funny and made me love loki for how fast his mind works.
The chapter about loki's punishment made me uneasy, though I read about it before. I sympathize with him even after what he did, lasting punishments are the most horrefying thing ever.
I've known about Norse Mythology first from Vikings and then from reading bits and pieces about in the Magnus Chase series, so this is the first serious reading about the topic for me, and it was really really good.
My favourite chapter was the one about freya's unusual wedding, it was so funny and made me love loki for how fast his mind works.
The chapter about loki's punishment made me uneasy, though I read about it before. I sympathize with him even after what he did, lasting punishments are the most horrefying thing ever.
friedpeaches's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jesssika's review against another edition
5.0
Gaiman is a talented author and this isn't my first delve into one of his magnificent stories. I love his writing style and world development. He begins the book with an introduction on his research and why he chose this as he did. Norse mythology has been on the rise, but there are few books out there that bring the players to life in a way that adults can be just as immersed as children can in their stories. Gaiman does this and more.
The are fifteen stories after the introduction and then the part on "the players". The beginning forms the world from shapeless mist to a beautiful place. Some stories in between featuring Odin, Thor, and Loki. All pretty popular names, but here they're in more their natural element. The end, Ragnarok, tells you how it will end and begin again. The Ouroboros, as it were. Life always begins again, and I will read this again, in time, because it was so beautifully written.
The are fifteen stories after the introduction and then the part on "the players". The beginning forms the world from shapeless mist to a beautiful place. Some stories in between featuring Odin, Thor, and Loki. All pretty popular names, but here they're in more their natural element. The end, Ragnarok, tells you how it will end and begin again. The Ouroboros, as it were. Life always begins again, and I will read this again, in time, because it was so beautifully written.
sambora's review against another edition
3.0
A fun collection of stories, giving the origins of the Gods, their weapons, trinkets and the evil creatures of Norse myth.
Stories about Thor's hammer, the world serpent, apples of immortality, the wolf who ate the world and adventures into the land of giants. Crossing the bridge of the world tree and trickery played on the other gods by Loki.
I know very little about Norse Mythology as a subject, but I still found this entertaining on a surface level. I say 'surface level' because nothing about the telling of the stories really stands out. Gaiman's prose is exactly what we are used to, which is not a bad thing. It's certainly accessable.
It strikes me as the kind of book that is written for a more "mass appeal" than for pre-existing fans of Norse Mythology or fantasy types, which isn't a criticism, it's just not quite enough substance, depth or complexity for my personal taste.
Stories about Thor's hammer, the world serpent, apples of immortality, the wolf who ate the world and adventures into the land of giants. Crossing the bridge of the world tree and trickery played on the other gods by Loki.
I know very little about Norse Mythology as a subject, but I still found this entertaining on a surface level. I say 'surface level' because nothing about the telling of the stories really stands out. Gaiman's prose is exactly what we are used to, which is not a bad thing. It's certainly accessable.
It strikes me as the kind of book that is written for a more "mass appeal" than for pre-existing fans of Norse Mythology or fantasy types, which isn't a criticism, it's just not quite enough substance, depth or complexity for my personal taste.
nyxoholic666's review against another edition
4.5
honestly felt like i was sitting by a campfire, listening to neil gaiman narrate these incredible, gruesome stories with terrible fascination.
offinherownmind's review against another edition
I'm surprised how much I already knew.
sopheystory's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0