To say that Norse mythology is captivating is an understatement. It is filled with drama, theatrics, and vibrant storytelling that will excite kids and adults alike. These stories rarely shy away from darker issues and graphic details about the brave Vikings and other gods, hence their popularity.
With so many Norse mythology books, each capturing a different perspective of the mythology, deciding where to begin or what book to read next can be daunting.
We have prepared a list of the ten books that capture the best of Norse mythology. Whether you are a beginner or have already read a couple of books on the Norsemen, these books will keep you glued to them until their last pages.
- The Saga of the Volsungs: With the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (Hackett Classics)
- Retells a popular 13th-century Old Norse story
- Allows you to gain more profound knowledge about ancient European gods, cultures, values, and myths
- 5/5 average reviews on Amazon
- Norse Mythology
- Has fundamental information to familiarize a person with Norse mythology quickly
- Each chapter covers a different Germanic myth
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
- Truth and Other Lies: The Nine Worlds Rising Book 1
- Book about the Norse trickster god, Loki
- Imaginative and well-written love story
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
- Roles of the Northern Goddess
- Focuses on Norse goddesses and how they were worshipped
- Suggests their prominence was erased by Christianity's rewriting of history
- Draws on literature, oral tradition, archeology, and other sources
- Saga Land: The Island of Stories at the Edge of the World: The Island Stories at the Edge of the World
- Tells the story of a new friendship, a bloody history, and an unforgettable journey
- Exciting retelling of Medieval sojourns to distant lands
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
- The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes (Hackett Classics)
- Collection of Old Norse heroic and mythical poems
- Written in simple language aimed at modern reader
- 5/5 stars on Amazon
- The Prose Edda
- Essential piece of Norse mythology
- Presents a summary of tales about Norse Mythology, cosmology, and deities
- Inspired such works as Lord of the Rings
- Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods
- Book about Loki and his wife, Sigyn
- Captivating story about a complex relationship
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
- The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
- Ideal for kids and adults new to Norse religion and mythology
- Retells 34 captivating Norse mythology tales
- Ultimate introduction to the Viking spirit
- D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
- 160 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for readers ages 5 through 10.
- Perfect for parents seeking to teach their children about Norse mythology
- Will excite your child’s imagination with descriptions of various Norse deities
- 5/5 stars on Amazon
Jackson Crawford’s The Saga of the Volsungs
This book, also known as The Volsunga Saga, retells a popular 13th-century Old Norse story about the Volsung clan’s demise. In addition, the book explores the legendary tales of Brynhild and Sigurd and explains the Burgundians’ destruction.
It also explores the disagreement between the Skaoi and the Sigi, who were mighty conquerors and kings, and how Sinfjot led a war to save Singny from the captivity of evil Siggeir. You will also read about the legendary story of how Sigurd killed Fafnir, the serpent, and took away the cursed Andvaranaut ring that the dragon guarded.
The Volsung Saga allows you to gain more profound knowledge about ancient European gods, cultures, values, and myths. If you are a fan of the famous Lord of the Rings sequel, you will notice how its producers borrowed many ideas from The Volsunga Saga.
- Retells a popular 13th-century Old Norse story
- Allows you to gain more profound knowledge about ancient European gods, cultures, values, and myths
- 5/5 average reviews on Amazon
Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman is a talented storyteller. A reader of any of his books will appreciate his deep knowledge about the subject matter in how he goes into great detail to describe characters and incidences.
Gaiman uses suspense to ignite curiosity in readers and make them want to read to the last page, making it an appropriate book to encourage the reading culture in your kid.
Norse Mythology is arguably his best book and a great read for someone who wants to familiarize themselves with ancient Northern Germanic cultures. Gaiman’s book has all primary Germanic gods, including Loki, Tors, and Odin.
Gaiman likely writes the book with starters in mind because it has fundamental information to familiarize a person with Norse mythology quickly.
The book has 16 chapters, each covering myths such as Loki’s children, immortality apples, and Freya’s wedding. Reading the entire book will familiarize you with the themes of most Norse mythology stories.
- Has fundamental information to familiarize a person with Norse mythology quickly
- Each chapter covers a different Germanic myth
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
Lyra Wolf’s Truth and Other Lies
If you are a fan of Sigyn and Loki, then you will find Lyra Wolf’s book captivating. The book delves into the factors that motivate Loki. The book describes how Loki embraces life’s elements and interacts with women and men equally. In addition, the author’s depiction of Loki’s harmless mischief shows how he earned the title of Asgard’s trickster god.
Loki gets a disturbing vision of ash, blood, and death, signifying a disaster. He knows that the dream came to him so he can save Asgard, even if it means going against the gods’ will. He does not trust the other gods and finds himself in the awkward position of turning to Odin for help, despite their complicated past.
Loki’s meeting with a mortal woman, Sigyn, complicates his rescue plan.
Sigyn is a stubborn and talented fighter who possesses the divinity of a god. Loki falls helplessly in love with Sigyn. However, his relationship places him in a dilemma where he must choose between protecting the love of his life and keeping the terms of his oath with Odin.
The truth alters everything.
- Book about the Norse trickster god, Loki
- Imaginative and well-written love story
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
Hilda Davison’s Roles of the Northern Goddess
Norse mythology predominantly concentrates on the male gods and rarely mentions the female ones. The spread of Christianity in Europe is likely responsible for the deliberate omission of these female gods from history, given the religion’s patriarchal nature.
Davison sheds light on these gods by providing the findings of her study of Germanic and Celtic religions and ancient Northern European culture.
The reader will notice the influence of her role as a women’s rights advocate in how she stresses the importance of equality between women and men in the book. Her readable book demonstrates how men and women worshiped these goddesses.
She borrows from early literature, archeology, and popular tradition to show the roles of these goddesses during hunting, farming, and other household duties. An emergent theme in the Roles of the Northern Goddesses is the destructive and benevolent characteristic of these goddesses. Nevertheless, the goddesses were critical in determining births, deaths, and the Norsemen’s destinies.
- Focuses on Norse goddesses and how they were worshipped
- Suggests their prominence was erased by Christianity's rewriting of history
- Draws on literature, oral tradition, archeology, and other sources
Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason’s Saga Land
Saga Land tells the story of a new friendship, a bloody history, and an unforgettable journey. The authors, who are both journalists and share a deep attachment to Iceland, describe the way of life of Vikings during the middle ages.
Saga Land describes tales of dangerous women, blood feuds, and people murdering their loved ones. The authors retell many stories whose original authors remain unknown.
You can feel the authors’ passion for Iceland in the respectful language they use to describe the people residing there.
- Tells the story of a new friendship, a bloody history, and an unforgettable journey
- Exciting retelling of Medieval sojourns to distant lands
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
Jackson Crawford’s The Poetic Edda
The book comprises a collection of Old Norse heroic and mythical poems whose original poets remain anonymous.
Most of the poems in the book originate from Scandinavia and Iceland during the Viking era. When combined, these poems provide the richest and most critical source of knowledge concerning Norse religion and mythology.
Although the English translation does not have the philosophical and aesthetic grandeur present in the original Norse writings, it presents the poems in an easily understandable format. Furthermore, their translator has ensured to preserve much of the poems’ original beauty.
- Collection of Old Norse heroic and mythical poems
- Written in simple language aimed at modern reader
- 5/5 stars on Amazon
Snorri Sturluson’s The Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, translated into English by Jesse Byock, is a recount of a story originally written in the thirteenth century. The book is also essential to what most people know about Norse mythology.
The book comprises four sections: a prologue, a question-and-answer section covering different Norse mythology aspects, kennings listings, and a segment depicting traditional skaldic poetry.
The original text was a treatise for other poets who needed to understand the works of earlier poets. The Prose Edda presents a summary of tales about Norse Mythology, cosmology, and deities.
Debates have arisen concerning the accuracy of the information in the book, but many scholars concur that it accurately represents Norse mythology.
- Essential piece of Norse mythology
- Presents a summary of tales about Norse Mythology, cosmology, and deities
- Inspired such works as Lord of the Rings
Lea Svendsen’s Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from The Norse Gods
Mischievous Loki and Sigyn are among the most popular characters in Norse mythology. This Lea Svendsen’s book provides deeper insight into how this couple lived and influenced each other’s actions.
The book depicts Sigyn, the goddess of compassion and loyalty, as the personality behind Loki’s mischief. Meanwhile, the book describes Loki, the mischief god, as a trickster, a creative problem solver, and a loving husband.
Reading this captivating book will help you understand the complicated relationship that these two deities had with other gods. You will also learn about how Norsemen made alters for these gods and the rituals they performed for them.
- Book about Loki and his wife, Sigyn
- Captivating story about a complex relationship
- 4.5/5 stars on Amazon
Daniel McCoy’s The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
The book is ideal for kids and adults new to Norse religion and mythology. The author maintains the scholarly standard, making it a perfect book to study in class. The author’s clear language makes it a pleasurable and entertaining read.
The Viking Spirit retells 34 captivating Norse mythology tales that cover different areas of the Norse religion that encompasses Norse mythology. By the end of the book, you’ll be familiar with all the major Norse gods and goddesses, Viking beliefs about fate, and the afterlife.
The book also explains Vikings’ beliefs concerning how the gods structured the universe, the Norse moral code, and how the ancient Norsemen practiced their religion. The author emphasizes how magic played a vital role in the lives of the ancient Norsemen. This book will give you the ultimate introduction to the Viking spirit.
- Ideal for kids and adults new to Norse religion and mythology
- Retells 34 captivating Norse mythology tales
- Ultimate introduction to the Viking spirit
Ingri d’Aulaire’s and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire’s The D’Aulaires’s Book of Norse Myths
The d’Aulaires’ book is perfect for parents seeking to teach their children about Norse mythology. The language, which is easy to understand, is suitable for children between 5 and 9.
It is an excellent book to read to your children in kindergarten or give your fifth-graders to read and familiarize themselves with their Norse roots.
The book will excite your child’s imagination because it describes the various Norse deities, from Odin to Loki, in a unique style. In addition, the color pictures in the book will make your child glued to the text.
The book excluded graphic elements of Norse mythology, making it family-friendly.
- 160 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for readers ages 5 through 10.
- Perfect for parents seeking to teach their children about Norse mythology
- Will excite your child’s imagination with descriptions of various Norse deities
- 5/5 stars on Amazon
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