Book review - Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Odd and the Frost Giants
In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back.
In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy.
Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle-three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined-a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter.
Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . .
Someone just like Odd .
Available on Amazon.com: Odd and the Frost Giants
Rebecca's Review:
This is a fantastic introduction for quite young readers into the world of Vikings and Norse mythology. It's only a little book so makes for easy and quick reading. Begins with the character of Odd who sadly has a slightly crippled leg and so is unable to go on proper raids with his fellow Vikings. But one day when he is out chopping wood he comes across a fox, a raven and a bear who can talk to him! Turns out these three quite funny characters are actually Odin, Thor and Loki in animal form having been kicked out of Asgard by the Frost Giants. They seek Odd's help in reclaiming their home and so begins quite a magical adventure.
About Rebecca
Want to adventure throught the lands of the Vikings? The height of the Vikings is an amazing period of time and there is a lot of great fiction that is based on historical facts from that period and place. Rebecca Wilson has written a guide to the genre and to some of the best works in the genre.If you are fascinated by the subject of Vikings you should check out her blog at: http://www.soulchaserbecky.blogspot.com/
You can follow her on Twitter @soulchaserbecky.
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