Name: Sophia
Grade: 11th
Title: Norse Mythology
Author: Neil Gaiman
Published in: 2018
Pages: 300
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology takes the old myths and makes them into a coherent story. While most Norse myths jump around in time and occasionally contradict one another, this book follows a linear plot line that is easy to understand. This book starts from before the world was created, ends with Ragnarok, also known as the end of the world where good and evil battle to the death. It describes many of the Norse gods such as Thor, the god of thunder, Loki, the god of mischief, Baldur, the god of light, and many more. It also describes the adventures these gods have along the way. This book stays true to the original myths but keeps an air novelty and wonder. The gods, giants, dwarfs, and other mythical creatures give the story life.
I really enjoyed this book. Norse mythology is my favorite set of ancient lore, and this book enhances my love for Vikings and explorers. My favorite part of the story what when Gaiman describes Yggdrasil, the tree of life, because he uses wonderful imagery that makes it feel very real and alive in the pages.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient mythology. I would even suggest this book to people who love fantasy in general. The story is filled with magic and adventure, anyone who likes these topics would find this book wonderful. This book reminds me of The Sea of Trolls trilogy by Nancy Farmer. This series takes place in a time where Vikings are pillaging towns and Norse mythology is riddled throughout life.
AFL Teen Book Reviews 