Norse Myths

The gods of the Vikings come to life as never before in this extraordinary illustrated anthology by Carnegie Medal-winning author Kevin Crossley-Holland and artist Jeffrey Alan Love. Fast-moving and ice-bright, these dramatic, enthralling and atmospheric tales are based on the Scandinavian myth cycle – one of the greatest and most culturally significant stories in the world. The stories of dazzling magic and thrilling journeys tell of the creation of the nine worlds and follow Odin with his one eye, Thor with his mighty hammer and Loki the shape-shifting trickster on their adventures until the final great battle of Ragnarok. In this stunning collection of myths, the strange world of ancient magic, gods, giants and dwarfs is unforgettably imagined.

“The gods of the Vikings come to life as never before in this extraordinary illustrated anthology by Carnegie Medal-winning author Kevin Crossley-Holland and astonishing artist Jeffrey Alan Love. […]In this stunning illustrated anthology of myths, the strange world of ancient magic, giants, dwarfs and monsters is unforgettably imagined.” Bags of Books
“The writing is crisp and lively, and the illustrations sublime: foreboding, cleverly scaled and incisively expressive. As well as providing exhilarating entertainment when curled up in a favourite armchair, this is also ideal for reading aloud. These tales, after all, were created to be told, and this collection is destined to become a classic." Joanne Owen, LoveReading
“[…] beautifully illustrated doorstopper of an anthology” Oldie
“Complemented by Jeffrey Alan Love’s powerful illustrations […] they’re thrilling and marvellously retold.” East Anglian Daily Times/Eastern Daily Press
“[…] a masterly version, which is also a splendid object […] It is powerfully illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love […] It is spectacular and enjoyable, as well as essential cultural bedrock.” The Sunday Times
“Kevin Crossley Holland’s and Jeffrey Alan Love’s rendition of Norse Myths is the best of many recent versions for children aged nine and above. With fiery, lyrical prose and shadowy, sinewy illustrations, this is a wintry marvel of doom, hope, cruelty and imagination. A serious gift, which will be reread many times over.” New Statesman
This book is a masterpiece. Gorgeous dark illustrations. Jackie Morris, illustrator of 'The Lost Words'
“[…] this is an ideal book to share at bedtime or storytime, or to read very gradually. If your children loved the recent Marvel movies featuring Thor but haven’t heard the original Norse legends before, this compendium of new retellings by Kevin Crossley-Holland would be an excellent place to start. Jeffrey Alan Love’s lavish, atmospheric illustration is absolutely stunning and captures the darkness and magic of many of these stories, while remaining modern and full of impact. Fantastic.” BookTrust
“This beautifully illustrated anthology of dramatic, enthralling and atmospheric tales […]” Just Imagine Newsletter
“A sumptuous hardback […] bringing to life the nine Norse worlds” Eastern Daily Press
“Dramatically re-told by Norse expert Crossley-Holland and stunningly illustrated with dark, brooding figures on every page, this is a book to be treasured for generations” Daily Mail
“It’s very good” Evening Standard
“His book with its dark, ominous monochromatic images by Jeffrey Alan Love, is a keeper – one for the coffee table, or pride of place on the book shelf A heroic creation.” The Herald
“Stunning artwork and vivid, gory storytelling combine in this collection” Wall Street Journal
“adored!” Of Beauty and Nothingness blog
“[…] magnificent anthology [...] a perfect Christmas present for little warriors everywhere […] It’s impossible not to be captivated by these extraordinary characters, aided by Jeffrey Alan Love’s tremendous pictures of gods and goddesses, dwarfs and giants. Crossley-Holland, who has translated Beowulf and is an expert in Norse mythology, is a natural storyteller who wears his learning lightly. He writes beautifully, dramatically and accessibly […] At the end of the book the three mysterious wise kings – High-One, Just-as-High and Third – speak: “Tell these stories yourself and for as long as our world last, people will retell them. Make what use of them you can.” If they were still around to give dust-jacket quotes, they would effuse about these revived versions. Instead, the writer must make do with a modern literary deity, Neil Gaiman (“Kevin Crossley-Holland is the master”). He’s not wrong.” The Times, Children’s Book of the Week
“Norse Myths […] will delight both the newcomer and the Norse aficionado, instantly immersing its reader in the tragedy and treachery synonymous with the Scandinavian pantheon. Crossley-Holland’s well-forged words, which feel as right in the mind as a swords hilt in the hand, are the perfect medium for these bloody, compelling tales, with their rich poetry […]interleaved with Jeffrey Alan Love’s iron-dark, silhouetted images.” The Guardian
“What a page-turner!” Families Vale of York, and Families Warwickshire
“The combination of Kevin Crossley-Holland’s text and Jeffrey Alan Love’s art make this a real treasure of a book. It is an excellent rendering of the Norse myths, and one which will certainly draw in children’s interest […] truly an object for families to treasure.” Bookwitty blog
“A master storyteller [...] Love’s craggy black silhouettes stamp a graphic power, mystery and dynamism on every page” Amanda Craig, Times Literary Supplement
“it is useful as a work of reference and should be in every school, library and hence in every home, where 'we are all someone'.” The School Librarian
“Truly stunning.” WRD Magazine

KEVIN CROSSLEY-HOLLAND is a Carnegie Medal-winning author and a well-known poet. The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal and the Tir na n-Og Award. His Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim, sold well over one million copies and been translated into twenty-five languages. He has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon, and his retellings of traditional tale include The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales. He lives on the north Norfolk coast in East Anglia. Jeffrey Alan Love is an award-winning artist and writer. Nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the Chesley Award, the British Science Fiction Award, The British Fantasy Award and the Spectrum Fantastic Art Award, he has also won a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators and two Academy of British Cover Design Awards. He lives in the USA.

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