Norse Folktales, Myths and Legends (ebook)

by Anika Hussain

Enjoy a rich collection of folktales, myths and legends from Scandinavia, retold for young readers with charm, warmth and gentle humour by Anika Hussain, an author born and raised in Stockholm. This book contains traditional favourites, including the legends of Norse gods Loki and Thor and the fairy tales Little Thumbelina and The Three Billy Goats Gruff, with a host of other Scandinavian stories to discover.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2023

About the author

Anika Hussain was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but currently lives and writes in Bristol. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa MAWYP. Not having seen herself in the books she read as a teenager, Anika writes YA novels with South Asian characters at the heart of the story.

In her free time, Anika rewatches Love Island, listens to too many true crime podcasts, and sings pop-punk songs loudly around her apartment.

Anika is represented by Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary.

Reviews

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

This collection contains better known Norse myths as well as lesser known tales from Scandinavia. I like how it began with well known tales to entice and bring a sense of familiarity before widening the scope to tales from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It was such a gentle way of saying "there's so much more to Scandinavia than Thor and Loki."

Some of the folktales are better known than others - Thumbelina, the Three Billy Goats Gruff - and others are familiar - the Twelve Swans - but I loved discovering new tales. There's the Squire's Bride, a delightful reversal on the typical fairy tale trope where the marriage is the happily ever after because here the woman doesn't want to marry and comes up with a way of avoiding it that doesn't involve marrying someone else.

The little introduction to each tale (with a cute small illustration by Kate Forrester) gives an idea of the tale's origin if it was published, what is within, and also if it is a tale with a moral.

[Undomiel Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely collection to read on a rainy day - I polished the book off in a matter of hours!

These stories are aimed at younger audiences and so the narrative style is very simplistic but charming. I thought it was a shame that the entire Denmark section was nothing but Hans Christian Andersen, it would have been nice to have a wider variety there.

Overall a nice collection of stories, some I was familiar with and others were new to me which is always lovely.

[Hannah O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Norse Myths and fairytales, I just wish there had been more and a little more depth to them.

[Kayleigh Foxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable dip into some folktales. enjoyable light read