Kaffe · a free reading list
Best books about Norse mythology
Odin, Thor, Loki and Ragnarök, from the sources to modern retellings.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
The core myths retold in short, funny, readable chapters. A great starting point.
+ Limpid, quick-running prose and well-handled humour make the myths accessible to children and adults alike; the stories are told well.
− Chatty, banal gods and a good-natured tone tame the myths, losing their bleak, tragic heart. (summed up from The Guardian (Ursula K. Le Guin))The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The 13th-century source behind most retellings. Worth reading in a modern translation.
The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
The myths seen through Angrboda, Loki's wife. Emotional and fresh.
The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
The whole saga told by Loki himself, sly and unreliable.
+ A lively, faithful retelling of the Norse myths in Loki's dark, rancorous voice.
− More likely to delight fans of the Marvel Loki than admirers of the author's other novels. (summed up from Wikipedia (reception))The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Norse gods in modern Boston, for younger readers or Percy Jackson fans.
+ An epic, page-turning plot with engaging, diverse characters and lots of wisecracking humour.
− Its many pop-culture references may date the book. (summed up from Wikipedia (reception))
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