I grew up reading books about Greek mythology. My mother was a librarian and so those books were more available for me than they were for a kid who would have had to buy them. I loved Greek mythology. I still do. But in recent years I have found myself liking and respecting the Norse gods more than their Mediterranean brothers. That feeling became a confirmed fact after reading Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the Aesir Gods by Glenn Searfoss. The Norse gods are much more interesting than the Greek gods in my opinion, but their stories are a lot harder to find. My first contact with Norse mythology was The Mighty Thor comic book published by Marvel Comics. That is a great place to start but Glenn Searfoss has taken me to a whole new level with Cycles of Norse Mythology.

What I like about Cycles of Norse Mythology most is that it is well-written and well-researched. I knew more about Norse mythology than the average reader when I sat down to read this book, but to my surprise and delight, there were stories here that I had no idea existed. That was a big plus for me. Then there is all the extra information and lore about the gods, their children and everything else in the Norse realm. This book is a treasure trove, and Glenn Searfoss deserves a seat in Valhalla next to Odin himself for putting together this magnificent book. I loved it and I’m sure many of you will too.

Transporting, exciting, and utterly entertaining, Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the Æsir Gods by Glenn Searfoss plunges the reader into the world of mythology and puts them into the company of powerful characters, gods, and heroes. The narrative features relevant themes, including creation, the conflict between gods and men, and the centrality of war in the affairs of men, the place of the sacred in the economy of life, and a lot more. The stories are unique, each standing out in style and plot, but with a culture and a belief system that permeates the entire collection. These stories are divided into different Cycles, including the Prophecy with hints of the myth of creation, the Victory of Gods (with divine characters like Thor, Geri and Freki, Ender, Baldur and Hodd, Ivalde, Loki, and many others), Battle with the Gods, and others.

The first thing that struck me as I started reading this book is the author’s unique phraseology, the suggestion of a time and setting that is uncommon to modern man. The lyricism in the writing creates a unique beauty in the narrative. The imagery is strong, and it creates vivid images in the minds of readers, like the whirls of drifting snow scattered before driving hooves as horse and rider scrambled along crests of desolate ridges “where screaming winds trailed the rumble of collapsing cornices of snow. The ghosts of what will be, haunted the air as the pair crashed their way through the white drifts, straining for each length, while the rider’s breath puffed a stream of soft curses…” The beauty of the prose, the elegance of style, and the seduction in the narrative voice; powerful elements that make readers feel as though these stories were taking place inside their souls. Glenn Searfoss takes readers to a mythical place and leaves them at the end feeling as though they awoke from beautiful dreams.