Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

17 reviews

toastyghosty13's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was great to listen to because I love Neil Gaiman's writing and voice. The audiobook was narrated by him. I do not know much about norse mythology other than what I have seen in the Thor movies, but I think I liked this book more. It shows how Thor also kind of sucks as a major character in the myths, and it also explains how the gods came to be from Odin. The stories were many that I have not heard before, and are all somewhat cohesive in that they each provide context that helps with the last story of Ragnarok. This was cool to listen to, and I think more captivating to listen to rather than read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, War, Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, and Death of parent

izzykai's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A fun & easy read, great for mythology beginners, broken up into easy to digest short stories

Warning: it is pretty violent so don't read if you're not ok with that 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Murder, Torture, Violence, and War

lottebluebird's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child death, War, Animal death, and Death

riverofhorton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I went into this book with the assumption that it is at least somewhat accurate to the myths, and while there are elements that are, this is very much a Christianised Loki-Bad-Odin-Good portrayal of those myths.

Taken in isolation, it is as well written and mildly comical as Gaiman's other works, but within the context of it being a retelling of the Norse myths, it just missed the mark on so many points for me.

As example:

the legions of Hel are described as being "the evil dead", which to my knowledge is not only a Christian concept, but also unjust. Those dead are simply people that didn't die in battle, so while there will be "evil" among them, they're not intrinsically so. Such phrasing also implies that Odin's warriors are equivalent to the angels of Christianity, something made ironic when you realise it's possible for "evil" people to die in battle.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Torture, Alcohol, Suicide, Violence, Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Murder, Genocide, Grief, Abandonment, War, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, and Blood

hannahkirkby's review against another edition

adventurous funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A wonderful collection of stories from Norse mythology. I enjoyed some more than others, but overall Gaiman’s writing was humorous and entertaining. This book has definitely inspired me to read more into Norse mythology.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Minor: Animal death

hue's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative

5.0

Neil Gaiman's writing is so ripe with fantastical elements and intriguing storytelling, it's easy to fall into the story and forget all of everything. He writes of the Norse gods which such simplicity yet detail it'll stay with me for life.

I had heard the audio book before, read by none other than Neil Gaiman himself, but the physical copy was just as wonderful to get through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Murder, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, War, Animal death, Torture, and Violence

kaaaaaaaa's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, War, Grief, Excrement, Child death, Animal death, Alcohol, Ableism, and Confinement

redheadorganist's review

adventurous informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Torture, War, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this retelling of Norse Mythology. The beginning was a bit slow and dense for me but it picked up very quickly, and I can't believe how fast I devoured it! Neil Gaiman's narration definitely made it ten times more enjoyable than if I had read it as a text. Pleaae read the content warnings before reading/listening if you are sensitive to descriptions of torture and gore, they are behind the spoiler tag.

CW: eye trauma, intestines/entrail, genital mutilation/torture, graphic descriptions of death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Excrement, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual content

charliekjg86's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Death, Excrement, Sexual content, Cursing, Blood, and Alcohol