Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a standalone book. This is the telling of some of the stories from Norse mythology written in Neil Gaiman’s style. There are sections that focus on certain gods or on certain topics. I’ve always loved learning about mythology and enjoy reading the stories in different styles and authors. Like always, I will not have any spoilers for Norse Mythology.
SPACE
Plot
Neil Gaiman writes his fiction while being inspired by ancient mythology. Now he presents a collection of Norse stories about the gods from their origins all the way to their end with Ragnarok.
Even though written in his own style, Gaiman keeps true to Norse mythology focusing on the three main gods. First there is Odin, the wise Allfather and king of the gods. Then there is Thor, his son, god of thunder, known for his strength but not his wit. Lastly there is Loki, Odin’s blood brother and trickster god born to a giant.
Neil Gaiman takes these myths and spins them into a chronological story. He begins with the creation of the nine worlds and dives into the journeys of gods, dwarfs, and giants. With witty writing, the gods’ personalities come through as competitive, being tricked but also tricky, and being led by their passions allowing these ancient myths to be renewed with life.
Review
I decided to read Norse Mythology due to my love for mythology, and Norse mythology is among one of my favorite mythologies. Going into Norse Mythology, I was already very familiar with the stories in this book. My background in school and my love for experiencing different retellings of mythology made Norse Mythology a very easy, but enjoyable read.
Neil Gaiman’s writing style really did justice to these classic myths. The banter between all the characters was superb. Gaiman really captured the unique personalities of each of the gods without allowing modern portrayals influence his writing. That is my favorite aspect of this book, staying true to the original myths but also being written in a unique writing style. It also may not come as much of a surprise, but Loki is my favorite of the gods. Loki is not inherently bad, but he is almost always part of anything that goes wrong. It is in Loki’s nature to cause mayhem, but he was also done so wrong by the rest of the gods. Gaiman does a great job with Loki’s character and portraying his dual nature. I will always love the dark morally gray characters, and Loki fits that bill.
Favorite Quotes
“Loki was not evil, although he was certainly not a force for good. Loki was . . . complicated.”
“There is no end. It is simply the end of the old times, Loki, and the beginning of the new times. Rebirth always follows death.”
“Each insult is woven with just enough truth to make it wound.”
“He said nothing: seldom do those who are silent make mistakes.”
“I will wait until the end of all things, and I will eat the sun and I will eat the moon.”
Star Rating: 
/5
Spice Rating: 0
/5
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Snag a Copy: I will always suggest getting the hard cover, but buy in any format on Amazon
Interested in other books that I’ve read? Check out my other book reviews here!
