Legends of Norse Mythology
Enter a world of gods, giants, monsters, and heroes
by Tom Birkett
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Pub Date 3 Oct 2023 | Archive Date 12 Sep 2023
Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions | Wide Eyed Editions
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Description
Featuring beautiful and otherworldly portraits of mythological characters from Isabella Mazzanti and enchanting text from Old English scholar and Norse mythology expert Dr Thomas Birkett, this collection of timeless tales is the perfect gift for lovers of Viking myths as well as readers looking for an introduction to this epic world ofmystical power, battles, quests and intrigue.
With this book, readers can take an adventure through time to a realm of ice and fire, magic and mischief. They’ll meet a cast of characters from Norse folklore and be swept up in their epic deeds and fates.
Inside, there are more than 30 profiles of Norse figures – from gods and goddesses, to giants, elves, monsters and other mythical beings. Each profile introduces the figure, including their defining attributes and a new retelling of their story, along with sidelights of extra facts and details. Figures include familiar gods like Thor to lesser-known legends such as giant sisters Gjálp and Greip.
A captivating visual portrayal of each figure helps crystallize these beings in readers’ imaginations. Isabella Mazzanti’s evocative artwork perfectly express the fantastic traits and powers of the mythical figures within.
Interspersed with the profiles are summaries of four famous Norse tales and events:
- The story of Ymir and the Nine Worlds
- How Thor’s Hammer Was Made
- The Mead of Poetry
- The Tale of Ragnarök
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780711260795 |
PRICE | US$24.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 80 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
From the origin of the gods to Ragnorok, the Legends of Norse Mythology will introduce you to all the gods you’ve famously heard and seen on the big screen before (Thor, Loki, Odin..) and regale you of tales of other gods that you may not have heard of (Baldur, Surt, The Norns).
It’s a beautifully laid out and illustrated book which makes it a delight to read. Each page focusing on a certain element, be it a god, a tale or a creature and is accompanied by stunning drawings and designs. I can imagine this would be a lovely book to physically flick through but it was still easy to appreciate the gorgeous detail and designs of the ebook.
It was succinct yet held all the detail and sum up stories and myths of the gods. Wonder no more about how Thor got his hammer, read about the sly escapades of the trickster Loki and even the tale of the time Thor disguised himself as a girl to fool a giant.
It was super entertaining and I finished it effortlessly in one sitting. It’d be suitable for all those interested in Norse mythology, children and adults alike.
This is a really great introduction to Norse mythology, their gods, godesses, other mythical beings, and creation/ end of world stories, coupled with amazing illustrations and great short quips about each being.
This is definitely a book that can be read by all ages, although with the short stories is more aimed at the younger audience.
This book could give a run for their money to some artbooks out there! That's how gorgeous the illustrations are, pitch-perfect for creating a magical first impression of the Norse pantheon for younger readers. It is definitely not a very detailed review of stories: I think the emphasis was on making it accessible for children, so that they are later interested in picking up more books about the Norse gods. I think it would make a very luxurious gift for a child interested in mythology, I can imagine those illustrations looks downright magical on paper.
My thanks for receiving an arc of #LegendsofNorseMythology from #NetGalley go to the publisher.
Beautiful book with stunning illustrations. Really informative but not dry., my only criticism would be the lack of pronunciation guides or hints. Will definitely be purchasing a physical copy
The book offers a wonderful overview of Norse mythology. In short chapters you get an insight into the life and work of the most important gods and beings. The information is summarized in a child-friendly way. But adults will also be fascinated by the mystical stories. Definitely worth mentioning are the gorgeous illustrations. The style fits in perfectly with the Nordic sagas and there are many details to discover. Some of the illustrations might seem creepy for sensitive children, but nothing is overdone in my opinion. All in all, a great children's book that invites you to read it aloud and also to browse for yourself.
The beautiful cover first caught my eye and made me want to look inside. I wasn't disappointed! A gorgeous book, well laid out, beautifully illustrated and a fresh new take on ancient tales. I will definitely be buying at least one copy when it publishes - and no doubt more for friends,
This book of Norse mythology begins with explaining the nine worlds and introducing gods that take part in the following tales.
The Norse folklore offers the elements of magic and mischief, with some serious characters and some tricksters. The traits of each figure are well-expressed in illustrations.
The tales vary in subject, are short, and accompanied by stunning illustrations, which all together is a good combination for an engaging read for children and adults alike.
Presenting mythology of any kind might be a challenge to make it relatable or to engage a reader. With this fresh retelling, the legends involve and entertain.
I can think of so many young patrons who come to our library who would love this book! Legends of Norse Mythology describes the gods, mythical beings, and 4 prominent stories within Norse myths. Dr. Tom Birkett is a university professor and researcher who specializes in this field, and I think his expertise shows in the concise but informative and interesting descriptions. Each god and being is given a full page write up and story accompanied by a beautiful full page illustration. Isabella Mazzanti did a wonderful job with the artwork, the illustrations are beautiful and just a little spooky, evoking the personality of each being. There is a glossary in the backmatter. I reviewed this book electronically and I can't wait to read it again in print!
#LegendsofNorseMythology #NetGalley
With thanks to Netgalley, the author Tom Birkett and the artist Isabella Mazzanti for allowing me to review this book.
First off, the art work in this book is so stunning, Isabella's art work is just so wonderful, but also spooky and mythical.
Legends of Norse Mythology is designed as a children's book to introduction them to the Norse Myths and legends. There a chapter each on the main God and Goddesses of the Norse Mythology, but also tells us about the lesser known ones.
Even thought this is supposed to be a children's book, I think most adults would enjoy this book. I'm 43 and loved it
Legends of Norse Mythology would make a brilliant gift for children and adults alike.
I will be buying a physical copy of this when it is published
Thank you to Quatro Publishing Group and Netgalley for this e-arc!
I thoroughly enjoyed these short retellings of Norse Stories. I loved the art, the small notes, and the simplistic explanation of Norse Stories. As a Norse Pagan; I'd definitely buy this for my kids. If you are interested in a beginner book for Norse Mythology I would recommend this book.
This is a book packed with information. The text and the illustration style makes it more suitable for UKS2 or even KS3 students. I love how it includes a page on the cosmos in Norse mythology as some books tend to focus only on the gods.
This book is so beautiful, the illustrations are stunning and even the decoration on the text pages is well thought out. It's really informative on Norse Mythology and sets it out in a easy to access way for children. I wish I'd read a book like this when I was a child as I love Mythology.
First off, the illustrations and design of this book are incredible!!! They are immersive and inspire wonder and a bit of playfulness as well. I also love that you could spend a couple hours pouring over this book, or skim it more quickly with little kids just reading a paragraph or two from each section. They way the stories are organized by character (or setting) makes it very easy to read and flip through. It's filled with so many detailed stories from norse mythology!
I’m always a sucker for classics, folklore, and mythology!
First off, the illustrations are gorgeous I love that they are hand drawn!
Great explanations and stories of how they came to be, with their stories at times interwoven. This is the perfect book to have on hand with reading fantasy (related to the mythology) and watching movies to understand the characters involved! This is total go-to for a picture perfect idea to form of the characters of stories in your head!
This is going to be my go to book when people ask about Norse Mythology as a fun and enjoyable read!
I just reviewed Legends of Norse Mythology by Tom Birkett thanks to Netgalley for this amazing opportunity to give an honest review!
#LegendsofNorseMythology #NetGalley
Legends of Norse Mythology is a beautifully illustrated book aimed at a younger audience (but it would be perfectly suitable for an older reader too!) which highlights each of the main Norse gods, their worlds, key events, and all sorts of stories. I loved the illustrations throughout as I felt they really added depth to the book and I was so interested to read all about the gods and their strange antics! I liked how the section on Loki used gender neutral pronouns as a nod to Loki’s shape-shifting/gender fluid identity, and felt this was a nice, subtle touch. Whilst I was vaguely familiar with stories from Norse mythology, it was nice and refreshing to read the stories broken down to their key parts without lots of extra words thrown in! The text was easy to understand and fun to read, and I would definitely recommend this to any Norse mythology fans or parents/guardians looking for educational but fun books with beautiful pictures throughout.
I loved the illustrations and the easy-to-follow guide. Something that stuck out to me was the use of pronouns for the trickster Loki; it was respectful and explained in just a few words. I'll be buying this book in the future to have on my shelf and to gift to others.
Review to come in October to blog/goodreads.
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
I just LOVE LOVE mythology stories so when I saw this stunning book up on Netgalley? I just had to go for it! I just wanted to read more Norse mythology + I was hoping the illustrations inside would be just as pretty as the cover!
In this gorgeous book we get to meet gods, goddesses, and mythical beings/monsters/giants. From Loki to Gullveig to Fenrir and Surt. And in between we get 4 stories about other topics, of course all related to Norse Mythology! I really loved seeing what we could expect and I was hoping there were some new things to learn/new things to read about! I always love it when a book about a topic I read more books about surprises me!
And boy, it was stunning! Each two pages is one page with the story/information about that specific god/other and then on the other page was an absolutely stunning illustration. Really, I definitely want some of these on my wall! Like Loki, hello, Loki. Normally prefer short hair, but um, hi! 🙈 I loved how the information was given. First an introduction, then some more information along with where you can find gods/beings and lastly we get some quick pointers/facts to complete the portrait of that person/being. It was a lot of fun to read, and yes, I learned a couple of new things along the way~ Which is definitely always a plus in my book! The information that we get is well-written and I enjoyed the style (and it even made me laugh at times).
The only thing was that the font was a bit tiny, I am sure that this is no issue when one gets a real copy of the book, but for the ebook it was at times a bit squinty even with my glasses, haha.
But in overall, HIGHLY recommended if you are a fan of Norse Mythology and love some gorgeous art along with it.
This is such a gorgeously illustrated book that starts with the Norse gods and goes through each individual’s story and anecdotes about their life. Each gets a fully illustrated double spread and we even have the inclusion of the monsters and creatures that are also present in Norse Mythology. My daughter and I had so much fun reading each story and section together and surprisingly learned so much! We can’t wait to add the finished copy to our home library!
What a delightful primer to the Norse pantheon. I love the illustrations and the stories selected for this book.
Norse mythology always confuses me with who is who and what they have done and I think it doesn't help that so much of it is fantastical. I know the main gods of Odin, Thir and Loki and some of their exploits but this book gave me so much more information about them and lots more about gods I hadn't heard of. As well it has retellings of some of the stories and tells you more about different giants, the dwarves and elves. A brilliant read and beautifully illustrated. I will be using this for my Vikings topic.
As a fervent enthusiast of Bengali mythologies, I found myself utterly captivated by this book. My adoration for mythologies from around the world has always been a driving force behind my love for reading, and this book proved to be an unparalleled addition to my collection. Every page was a gateway to a world brimming with deities, heroes, and celestial beings, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a cultural narrative that is both exotic and enlightening. The enchantment of "Legends of Norse Mythology" was further heightened by its breathtaking illustrations. Each image was a masterpiece in itself, capturing the nuances of the tales and bringing the characters to life in ways words alone could not. The intricate details, vibrant colours, and evocative imagery added a whole new dimension to my reading experience. For anyone with a penchant for mythology, an eagerness to explore different cultures, this book is an absolute must-read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.
The art of this book is absolutely stunning to look at. Around half of this book is about the Norse Gods where there are some facts, their origins and where they would be found then there are a few stories and more profiles on mythical beings. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about Norse Mythology.
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