Gaiman has put together a lovely little introduction to Norse mythology in this collection of cleanly written tales. The narrative voice is one that you could imagine belonging to a storyteller, sharing stories. Some of my favorite myths are found in these pages, and several I had not yet read. Overall the selection reads like a continuing story, rather than simply a collection of individual stories. An enjoyable read for both those new to and familiar with Norse mythology.

The much anticipated Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman brings new life to many of the traditional Norse myths, ranging from the creation of the world to the inevitable Ragnarok. Gaiman says in his introduction that he was first introduced to Norse mythology in a way that would be familiar to many today: Marvel comics. The success of the current movies with Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston probably has as much to do with interest in the book as the original Mighty Thor Marvel comics had for Gaiman. Gaiman's introduction gives readers a taste of the research that must have gone into the writing of this book, original sources and theories, connecting the myths to the geography of the people who told them. However, it is done in an approachable way that will not scare off young readers or those not sure about the book.

The book itself is a collection of traditional myths, mostly focusing around some of the most familiar of the Norse gods: Odin, Thor, and Loki. We learn how Thor got his hammer, Mjollnir; how Odin sacrificed himself on the world-tree Yggdrasil to gain knowledge; and how Loki tricked a giant into building the walls of Asgard without being paid. There are stories of dwarfs and giants, monsters and magic, Fenrir the wolf who will eat the sun during the final battle and the Midgard serpent Thor will battle. We learn the Norse explanation for earthquakes and why salmon are shaped as they are. We watch with a sense of inevitable doom as the gods make poor choices and alienate those who could have been their allies but will instead fight against them in Ragnarok. Deception and betrayal, love, greed, intrigue, and complicated family life show us not only the world of Asgard but give us hints of the world of the Norsemen who first told these tales.

The most striking feature of Norse Mythology is Gaiman's beautiful writing. Gaiman surpasses his reputation as a brilliant story-teller with tales that manage to both retain their original, epic, flavor and blend a subtle modern feel that will ensure they appeal to today's readers- young and old. The gentle cadence of each story nearly demands they be read aloud (whether you have an audience or not). Adventure and emotion infuse each tale and by the last stories "The Last Days of Loki" and "Ragnarok: The Final Destiny of the Gods" I was moved to tears by battles both grand and individual. But Gaiman ends on a gentle note of hope- Ragnarok may be an end, but it is also a beginning. You close the book wondering what happens next. The answer Gaiman hints at is that all things are possible and what comes next is what we make of it.

Neil Gaiman brings to life the tales of the ancient Norse sagas with every bit as much talent, wit, and emotion as any of the fictional novels he is so well known for. Fans of any age, of American Gods and Marvel alike, will love the new life Gaiman infuses into these classic stories and be left hoping for more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As expected, Gaiman's retelling of Norse myths is just lovely. Will be adding this to my collection posthaste.

Neil Gaiman does it again! I love his writing! This book takes up where he left off in his children's book, Odd and the Frost Giants and in his adult book, American Gods. His knowledge of Norse Mythology is comprehensive and I appreciated its depth.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
Neil Gaiman, perhaps not at his best, but good enough for 3.5 stars.
This is a collection of Norse myths, not a novel. Each one builds on the ones before which, for me, make for slow reading for the first part of the book. By the end, I was fully engaged and sorry it was over. I was not really familiar with Norse mythology except for the basics. I loved learning more about the gods and goddesses and their interactions and intrigue.

Twitter - First there was Coolidge, then Hamilton & now Gaiman. A new voice of #norsemythology for a new generation. #netgalley @neilhimself

Posted Feb 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/infosuperhero22?lang=en

While I love Gaiman, and always admire the way he is able to craft a sentence, I was going into this collection expecting to see a little more of his interpretation involved in this collection of mythology!

For readers unfamiliar with Norse mythology (I'm a classical myths gal myself) Neil Gaiman presents a solid introduction from the creation myths to the final battle ("Ragnarok"), with plenty of stand-alone tales about gods. giants, and dwarfs in between. He appears to offer fairly traditional re-tellings, but as one might expect of Neil Gaiman, the writing is full of humour and poetry. Some of the details are deeply weird (a trick involving a cross-dressing god, another torturing himself in an unusual way to make someone laugh...), but I can't help feeling that Gaiman's own imagination is capable of outstripping these ancient tales. I eagerly await his next original story.

I thought this book was a retelling of the Norse Myths. Neil Gaiman adds his own voice and language to this engaging and enjoyable recounting. I thought it was great and definitely something I would recommend to anyone interested in Thor, Odin, Loki and all their crazy adventures!!

I'm pretty much always onboard with anything Neil Gaiman and this really wasn't an exception. Though the style isn't quite as Gaiman-ish as usual, he tells these stories with aplomb and humour, subtly highlighting the weirdness that is often contained in mythology. I really enjoyed reading all of these stories and how it sorta complimented my listening to American Gods on audiobook at the same time.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to access this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing collection of Norse mythology. They are organized in an understandable fashion, and are easy to read. This would be good to add to any mythology collection. Readers interested in Norse, or general folklore will enjoy this title. Those who enjoy Neil Gaiman novels might also enjoy his voice in these stories, even though they are not his original ideas.

Amazing and accessible. This is Norse mythology for every reader. Great for both the classroom and for someone just wanting to know more about Norse mythology.

Mythology buffs, rejoice! For in Februrary Neil Gaiman shall bestow upon you this wonderful volume of Norse myths in true Gaiman style. These are stories as old as time, and while I'm not personally as familiar with the Norse myths as I should be, I found this an imminently enjoyable read. While myth can get bogged down in repetitiveness, Gaiman avoids this with astonishing dexterity. I have a new-found love for the gods of Asgard. This is fun, entertaining, and educational. I highly recommend this new work for fans of fantasy and mythology alike! 5/5 extremely enthusiastic stars!

Gaiman and Norse mythology has been a winning combination for over a decade. What I didn't realize about this book is that the language would be so accessible. While some content may be a little gruesome for parents, this would be an easy read for any pre-teen fan of Rick Riordan who is ready to get into the meat of the mythology. I'll be recommending this across departments

Neil Gaiman has long been one of my favourite authors, and he definitely did not disappoint with this little gem. I am fascinated by mythology in general and I haven't read much in the way of Norse mythology so really loved this retelling. I'm not sure how close they come to the traditional tellings, so that might be a point of contention for die-hard Norse lovers, but I didn't know any better going into it so love them.Thanks NetGalley!

I enjoyed this collection but not as much as I'd originally hoped, which I think is a lack of interest in the subject more than the fault of the book. Gaiman delivers a collection of Norse myths in a way that is informative and entertaining, and reading one or a two at a time was more enjoyable for me than devouring the book as a whole.

Gain an presents the Norse mythology in a clear and concise manner without losing the allure of the original Edda. This will have a place on my shel next to my other texts on the Norse tales. Gaiman has served these stories well.

This is such a perfect intro to Norse mythology. Everything Gaiman writes is gold, but this will appeal to a whole new fan base.

In the introduction to Norse Mythology, Neil Gaiman writes that he went straight to the sources for his retellings of these myths, the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda. He interjects his own style of writing into retelling the old myths and brings new life into the stories. Norse Mythology is a great introduction as well as being an invigorating new look into tales for those who are already familiar with them. The stories are also perfect for reading aloud, and you don’t have to read them in order to really get full enjoyment out of them. I’m certainly going to be borrowing the audio book from the library so I can listen to Gaiman read them to me.

I was, however, expecting some kind of Gaiman-esque twist or one of his signature dives into the weird, so if that’s something you’re expecting out of this, be aware that it’s exactly what it says on the tin. It’s Norse mythology told to us by one of our greatest storytellers. The stories themselves are dark and gruesome and at times very funny, and I couldn’t think of a more popular writer to make these tales accessible to everyone.

Reading this was a perfect start to a new year. It feels both old and new at the same time, a talent Gaiman possesses and shows in many of his works. It’s ethereal, dangerous, and so much fun. It was sometimes difficult not to imagine Thor and Loki’s dialogue in their Marvel counterparts and that made me giggle out loud sometimes.

My favorite part was probably the introduction. While reading it, I could thoroughly understand that Neil Gaiman loves Norse mythology (it’s seen in many of his other works like Sandman and American Gods).

Norse mythology, and stories of Vikings and the like, always felt atmospheric to me. Of chilly and foggy springs and autumns, endless and gorgeous summer days, snowy winters; of gatherings of people in long halls with endless feasts and drinking; of stories and songs told and sung around fires, the passing on of knowledge through the rhythm of words. Neil Gaiman brings that to life in Norse Mythology, and I’m hoping he’ll do more like this or even write an extended tale of Norse inspiration like his fairy tale Stardust.