319 reviews for:

Ragnarök

A.S. Byatt

3.46 AVERAGE

an0987's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 24%

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I wanted to love this based on Usrala Le Guin’s praise of it and my general interest in mythology, but sadly it didn’t hold my attention. I feel that it was written in the style of a folktale. However it just didn’t land for me. The prose was beautiful but somehow not captivating. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook, but I can’t be bothered to try and get back into it. 

Rating: 2.5/5 

monsterful_alex's review against another edition

4.0

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Byatt gives justice to the ominous quality of Norse mythology in this very short novella. I found it a good introductory book to get acquainted with the ancient stories of Norse gods, but it is also a compelling piece of literature -it deftly conveys the end of the world by narrating the chaos of Ragnarok, all through the eyes of a young girl who is also experiencing an end of a world - growing up during the Second World War.

mikesqw's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ninjamuse's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death

Moderate: Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

mvanhoeck's review against another edition

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Piqued my interest in Norse mythology. Beautiful moments, unengaging narrative. Thin girl device didn’t work for me.

kristinereads73's review against another edition

5.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

batbones's review against another edition

5.0

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Byatt sounds beautifully eloquent even when using the simplest of words.

eimz's review against another edition

5.0

reflective medium-paced

mkean's review against another edition

4.0

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this could have easily been an amazing book. however, the two storylines were too detached in order to weave the two together. there could have been wonderful parallels between the myth and reality, but unfortunately, it remained separate. the book was certainly well written though, quite beautiful in some places.

ocole10's review against another edition

5.0

informative reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A