Scan barcode
courtaneyr's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the overarching story told, written to maintain the style and structure of times past. I am quite familiar with some of the tales not mentioned that were referenced during certain chapters that I will have to search out and read in their entirety.
I found the additional information (family tree and glossary) provided to help with language and familial ties.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get a condensed overview of Norse Mythology featuring the main Gods, Giants, and Men of these legends.
I found the additional information (family tree and glossary) provided to help with language and familial ties.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get a condensed overview of Norse Mythology featuring the main Gods, Giants, and Men of these legends.
tamnhauser's review against another edition
4.0
Short, snappy and simple. Retrieving the scarce tales of the Nordic people, here is a wonderful collection and retelling of important mythology. Rife with themes and tales that have shaped Western literature in so many ways, the book itself was an enjoyable and interesting read!
Most definitely worth a look just to see how we, as people, have crafted stories to tell over and over again throughout the centuries.
Most definitely worth a look just to see how we, as people, have crafted stories to tell over and over again throughout the centuries.
jacobo89's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shyster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
arthurbdd's review
3.0
Unlike other Lancelyn Green mythological compilations, which were able to draw on a wide range of sources, this really only had the Eddas to work with - so if you've already read those, it has little to offer, save as an introduction for younger readers. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/approaches-to-asgard/
rowan86's review against another edition
4.0
I read this a few years ago so as to gain some insight into Norse mythology before I started the Magnus Chase series and vaguely remember getting a little emotional over the last part on Ragnarok ahahaha.
re_leyendo's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but maybe not as much as I wanted to. I adored the stories, and found that I was already familiarized with most of them (which surprised me). My problem was mainly with the writing, it felt a bit dry at times and it was hard for me to really get into the story because of that. Although I did feel like I was reading an old poem (translated to modern English) from time to time. I understand that was the purpose of the author, so kudos for it. The pacing was also a little bit off. Some stories went by in a blink but others dragged on a bit. I was happy to realize that Rick Riordan did teach me quite a lot of Norse mythology, enough for me to recognize most of the Gods and the Giants. I really have not much else to say about this book, except that it is quite educational and at the end you finish it with a nice bulk of knowledge of the Norse culture (except some pronunciations, some names are impossible to say; the family tree is quite jumbled as well). If you would like a more chewed out version I definitely recommend Riordan’s series but if you like the myths as they were told you definitely should read this book. 3.5/5
greeniezona's review against another edition
3.0
So here I am, once again, wondering how Roger Lancelyn Green can make these myths so incredibly dry, and yet my child is still interested in them.
This book was the latest of the bedtime story books for Jefferson, and pronouncing all the names was definitely its own form of torture. (A little help? A pronunciation guide somewhere? PLEASE?)
Yet, still, it was interesting (but dry!), adding to the little bit I already knew about Norse mythology. But I was definitely relieved when it was over.
This book was the latest of the bedtime story books for Jefferson, and pronouncing all the names was definitely its own form of torture. (A little help? A pronunciation guide somewhere? PLEASE?)
Yet, still, it was interesting (but dry!), adding to the little bit I already knew about Norse mythology. But I was definitely relieved when it was over.
selenareads's review against another edition
When I was 10 years old and had just finished Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Red Pyramid, and was craving more myths, I read Green’s book of Egyptian myths and a Greek Mythology Encyclopedia cover-to-cover. And finally, I came to this: The Myths Of the Norsemen as told by Roger Lancelyn Green. No collection of myths had ever been so cohesive, so magical. I was enraptured by Yggdrasil, by the Nine Realms, and by Loki’s slow, twisted downfall. As Neil Gaiman said in his introduction to Norse Mythology, Norse mythology had an end and a re-beginning, which made it feel like a story. This book then sent me on a search for retellings in the style of Percy Jackson, and this book is part of the reason I picked up Magnus Chase, and part of the reason I loved it so much. It’s also part of why I picked up Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, and why I still count this mythology as one of my favorites (I still don’t know if it beats Greek).