The king of a Northern land, having refused to marry off his beautiful eldest daughter and deed some of his holdings to a nearby chieftain, is now at war. He sends Harald, his youngest child and heir to the throne, along with Asa, the eldest daughter, and his middle daughter, Solveig, to a remote land to keep them safe. The king also sends a handpicked group to accompany them. As the novel opens, they await supplies before winter freezes out any vessel’s passage by water. A ship eventually arrives with the king’s personal guard–20 hearty berserkers wrapped in animal skins, led by Hake, a giant to rival Thor, and the king’s skald, Alric. When someone poisons the berserkers, everyone suddenly becomes a suspect.

Solveig, the only one of the king’s children who feels she has no purpose, narrates the story. At Alric’s urging, she begins to cultivate her gift for weaving a tale–and her narrative holds us in her spell. Her recurring nightmare suggests that she may also have the gift of foresight, in addition to her skills as a keen observer and storyteller. Matthew Kirby’s story peels away like layers of an onion. Two-thirds of the way into the book, Solveig reveals a structure to the novel that serves a dual purpose. Every piece of this puzzle, infused with Norse lore, fits together.

Young adult fiction tied to myths and stories? Yep, that’s me.  And it turned out to be a gripping and imaginative story with great characters and a unique setting. Kirby really explores issues of trust in a community pushed to the brink while at the same telling a powerful coming of age story about a child awkwardly trying to find her identity (in contrast to the beautiful sister and the young brother and heir to the throne).

Three reasons you should read this one:

1) Great characters. Starting with Solveig this story is a mix of great characters. As noted above, Solveig struggles to find her place in the world. She is plain and has no clear place in the hierarchy of her community. Her sister is the beautiful princess who reminds everyone of her beautiful mother and whose beauty brings status to her father the king. Her brother is the young heir to the throne full of youthful energy and already showing signs of strength and courage.  But it turns out she does have gifts and these will play a more important role in the life of the community than anyone would have predicted.

In addition you have Alric the sklad who is mentoring Solveig but who seems to lack any clear allegiances or commitments except his own safety. And Per the warrior Solveig idolized – who she thought was different from all the rest – but who is revealed to be all too human; and like everyone else with suspect motives and desires. Or Hake the frightening berserker who of all people seems worthy of trust. The interaction of these, and a number of interesting side characters as well, makes for fascinating reading.

2) Great setting. The tension starts from the very beginning with the idea that the ice flow will trap this party in place over the course of the winter. As the harsh winter descends Kirby ratchets up the tension with intrigue and violence. Trapped between the fjord and the glacier, and forced to live and eat in one building, the royal family shares space with warriors and servants.  Soon nerves are frayed and friendships are threatened.  This also serves as a great stage for the story elements as Solveig struggles to come to terms with being a skald and her gifts and identity. The sense of being trapped; the picture of a community pushed to the edge; the harsh reality of the Norse world are all captured here.

3) The power of story. Kirby not only weaves a great story himself but artfully explores the power of story in “real” life. He shows how we use stories to find our place in the larger world and to make sense of ideas, emotions, history and relationships.  Stories can alter our mood, change our perspective and unite a community - among other things.   kirby both shows this with his own skillful narrative and highlights it within the story using the Norse myths and the stories Alric and Solveig tell.

As should be clear from the above, Kirby weaves a great tale. There is historical detail, psychological insight, mystery, intrigue and more.  And of course, there is a climatic conclusion.

A great story for readers young and old.

Related articles

• The Big Idea: Matthew J. Kirby (whatever.scalzi.com)

I have explored myths in non-fiction and fiction and have dipped into some young adult versions as well.  When I was looking into Odd and the Frost Giants I stumbled upon The Children of Odin by Padraic Colum.  There was a practically free Kindle edition so I quickly added it to the collection (you can read it for free online).

Here is the publishers description of a recent version (the original was published in 1920:

Before time as we know it began, gods and goddesses lived in the city of Asgard. Odin All Father crossed the Rainbow Bridge to walk among men in Midgard. Thor defended Asgard with his mighty hammer. Mischievous Loki was constantly getting into trouble with the other gods, and dragons and giants walked free. This collection of Norse sagas retold by author Padraic Colum gives us a sense of that magical time when the world was filled with powers and wonders we can hardly imagine.

Unknown to me until I found this book, the author Padraic Colum (1881-1972) was a poet, a playwright, and a leader of the Irish Renaissance, but he is best known for his works for children, including The Children of Odin and The Golden Fleece (a newbery honor book).

Image via Wikipedia

As noted, the work is Colum’s retelling of the Eddas and the Volsung Saga for young adults but I would hesitate to label this a book for “children.” Yes, there is a simplicity and straightforwardness to the stories in Colum’s telling. But that only heightens, for me at least, their mythical quality.

Instead, this struck me as the perfect introductory text for Norse and Teutonic mythology. You get introduced to the characters, personalities, places, and historic events that make up these famous myths. Odin the All Father, Loki the trickster, Thor with his hammer, Asgard, the Great Wall, the Rainbow Bridge, etc.

The book is broken up into four sections:

• The Dwellers in Asgard
• Odin the Wanderer
• The Witch’s Heart
• The Sword of the Volsungs and the Twilight of the Gods

Each section then has seven to ten stories. The stories can be read as stand alone pieces of the mythology but the collection reads well together; like linked stories rather than a traditional novel. And they are filled with the ingredients of good stories.  There are interesting characters and interesting settings; powerful emotions and high stakes; action and intrigue; the birth of the world and its possible destruction.

These stories have lasted for centuries and have influenced untold authors and artists – from JRR Tolkien to Neil Gaiman – and their power to intrigue and entertain is retained even today. In many ways these stories are the building blocks of much of what makes up fantasy fiction and epic adventure. And if you enjoy those genres you will enjoy this book.

So whether you are looking for an accessible introduction to these myths, something interesting for the younger readers you know or if, like me, you just like exploring myths and ancient stories check out the Children of Odin.