Odin is the chief God and the ruler of Asgard in Norse mythology. He is associated with healing, death, royalty, wisdom, battle, sorcery, poetry, and the runic alphabet. Also, he can predict the fate of all humans and see their past. For Vikings, Odin can send people to death or give them an illness. Some people sacrifice Odin and give him good promises and hope by this to gain insight into whether they can win a battle or not.
Evidence shows that a group believed Odin was the Viking God. There are artifacts out there, and the Vikings could have used that belief that religion, that energy to trade, explore, and be warriors. The Vikings were warriors. They were traders, and they were explorers. Many people believe that was God, meaning Odin was the God.
Odin is an important figure in Norse mythology, and his story and character have been the subject of countless works of art, literature, and scholarship over the centuries. Books about Odin cover gods and goddesses, explore the concept of the afterlife and gain insight into the beliefs of the Norse people.
5 Books About Odin
If you are a Vikings lover or Marvel fan, you commonly hear about Odin. However, Vikings and Marvel show Odin in different characters, but both show Odin as a brave and loveable God who fights for a good future. If you watch the Vikings series, you see that the Vikings show heartful respect and sacrifice for God Odin.
They believe that Odin only helps the Vikings and fights for them. But in Thor or Loki-based movies show, Odin is a kindful father and lord of Asgard. Many movies and books are available online and offline about the history of Odin. Now, I’m going to talk about the top 5 books about Odin. Let’s start!
1. The Children of Odin The Book of Northern Myths
The Children of Odin shows Odin as a controversial character between Norse mythology and Viking gods. Odin is the father of the gods. He is the protector of the Nine Realms. In Norse mythology, he is the father of Thor and Loki. Loki has a series out, and he’s depicted as a likable character. That’s how Marvel showcases him, to get people to watch, to get people to like him. But if you know anything about Loki, he is evil, demonic, and sick.
Odin had two wolves that guarded his tower. He also had a bird, an eagle, that gathered information. The eagle is universal. A universal bird that gathered information and brought it back to Odin. So one day, Odin sees the future and what is upon their destruction.
Odin sold out for the wisdom to save a man from his sins. Then he sacrificed his right eye in a well. When you see the horror movies, Odin’s right eye is gone. It’s not because of war is because of a sacrifice. Get this book to learn more about Odin and his sons, daughters, and family story.
Author: Padraic Colum
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
2. Odd and the Frost Giants
Odd and the Frost Giants is about a boy who lives in Norway back in the time of the Vikings. He stumbles on some bad luck and has a bad time with things. But then he goes on a grand adventure with some familiar characters from mythology. Thor is the Norse God of thunder and lightning, who rules the sky with his mighty hammer. He has been turned into a bear. The Frost Giants turned Thor into the furry beast and banished him, along with the gods Odin, from his throne in Asgard.
For once, it seems the gods need a hero to save them. Would you believe that hero is a very odd 12-year-old boy with one broken leg? His name is Odd. It will take an extraordinary 12 years old to outwit the frost giants and restore peace to the city of the gods. The adventures, analogies, and illustrations are excellent. Everything about the mythology is on point and unique. There’s some great storytelling that goes on inside.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Children’s Norse Literature
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
3. Norse Mythology
Norse Mythology by the very famous Neil Gaiman came out in 2017. It is a collection of short stories about Norse mythology. This book, called The Ayda, was written in Icelandic and had poetry and prose versions of these myths. The full text of them is public domain. Neil has made the Norse myths quite a bit funnier, and he’s also made them far more relatable to modern readers.
The book starts with a lengthy 15 pages introduction about Neil Gaiman’s interest in Norse mythology and his writing experience. Then, he goes on, taking his time to set up this book. He provides a list of all of the characters and a brief bio. Also, he takes his time providing a tour of the Norse worlds, including the nine worlds of Ying-Jeou and Odin.
The first story is Treasure of the Gods, and Loki is delightfully mischievous. They’re about pretty exciting things. One of them was the origin of poetry, the origin of earthquakes, and the shape of salmon. The author did something special with how much personality and life he brought to the Norse gods. After going through the era, you see the germ of personality and tendencies for the gods. The gods in Norse mythology are very fickle, fighting each other and throwing parties.
The story hinges on three characters. It hinges on Odin, Thor, and Loki. Odin sacrificed himself to gain wisdom. It’s not omnipotent wisdom, but he’s very wise. If you watch many Marvel movies, you’ll be familiar with the characters of Thor and Loki.
Loki was the most exciting character. He’s a villain but not like the cackling supervillain you see in the Marvel movies for most of the book. The book starts very light and comical. Then, as time goes on, as you go through the different stories, things become a bit darker, culminating in Ragnarok, the final destiny of the gods.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Science Fiction & Fantasy (Editors’ pick)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
4. The Sword of Summer: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
The Sword of Summer is the first book and the Gods of Asgard series in 2015. Disney Hyperion published this book, which comes in at under 500 pages. It follows a character named Magnus Chase, living in Boston. He’s homeless at the beginning of the book. On his 16th birthday, he discovers that he is somehow related to the Norse gods like Odin and has to deal with all their drama and the world ending and saving the world. That’s a Marvel characterization of Thor.
It was fantastic to see how the gods were portrayed and these gods’ different powers. So this book will get many more people reading Norse myths and learning about that stuff. Magnus differs slightly from how Percy and Carter appear in The Kane Chronicles. Initially, it is confusing because most of us have not heard about Norse gods. The epilogue of this book is crazy good. If you love mythology, you love reading about dwarves, elves and giants, and all these fantasy creatures. I highly recommend this book.
Author: Rick Riordan
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Norse Fairy Tales, Mythology
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
5. Runemarks
Runemarks delves more into the mythology in high fantasy instead of urban. So it would be in a medieval-type time frame. Runemarks is considering you already know a lot about Odin, Thor, and Loki. It leads to basically what you would see the gods do. This is the bigger argument made evil plots and twists destress one of them, and another may conflict. It’s so funny throughout the book.
You see, it comes to the point of such chaos that they come together and become a family of their own. It’s brilliantly done this way and intimately woven with this clever plot with a surprising twist that will not reveal. It’s funny because Odin is mentioned as one eye.
Author: Joanne M Harris
Average Rating: 4.2/5
Category: Norse & Viking Myth & Legend
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover
6. Odin: The Origins, History and Evolution of the Norse God
This book provides an excellent introduction to the Norse god Odin. It covers his historical origins, evolution, and role in Norse mythology. Harasta traces Odin’s roots back to the Proto-Indo-European religion and discusses how Odin evolved to become the chief god of the Vikings. He also examines Odin’s different roles in Norse mythology, such as his role as a warrior god, a god of wisdom and magic, and a god of death and the afterlife.
Author: Jesse Harasta
7. The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature
This scholarly book explores the Norse concept of the afterlife, with a particular focus on the role of Odin in guiding the souls of the dead. Davidson examines many Old Norse literature, including the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and the sagas.
These build a complete understanding of the Norse view of the afterlife. She discusses the different realms of the afterlife, such as Valhalla and Hel, and explains how Odin was believed to be key in guiding warriors to Valhalla.
Author: Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson
8. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe
This classic book provides an in-depth exploration of the mythology and religion of the Vikings, including the role of Odin as the chief god. Davidson draws on many sources, including the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and the sagas, to provide a detailed understanding of the Norse pantheon. She examines the different roles that the gods played in Norse mythology, such as their roles in creation, war, and the afterlife. This is a must-read for anyone interested in Norse mythology.
Author: H.R. Ellis Davidson
9. The Poetic Edda
This collection of Old Norse poems is a primary source for Norse mythology, and it includes many tales of Odin and the other gods. Many translations are available, but some of the most popular are those by Carolyne Larrington and Jackson Crawford.
Larrington’s translation is highly readable, including helpful notes and commentary to provide context for the poems. Crawford’s translation is more literal and poetic, aimed at readers who want a more authentic experience of reading Old Norse poetry. Both translations are excellent and provide a great introduction to the world of Norse mythology.
10. The Prose Edda
This collection of Norse myths and legends was written in the 13th century by the Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson. It includes many stories featuring Odin, including the famous tale of his sacrifice on the World Tree, Yggdrasil.
The Prose Edda is an essential source for understanding Norse mythology. It provides a detailed account of the gods and their roles in the pantheon. Many translations are available, but the most popular are those by Jesse Byock and Anthony Faulkes.
Author: Snorri Sturluson
Reading books about this fascinating god can satisfy this curiosity and provide information and insights into his character, myths, and ongoing cultural significance.
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