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Viking Myths & Sagas: retold from ancient Norse texts
An accessible, meticulously researched introduction to Viking Age oral literature – 34 stories based on the oldest texts, authentically interpreted and retold by a highly acclaimed storyteller.The ONLY book to feature little known Viking Age sagas and heroic legends alongside the Norse myths – and the FIRST major new retellings of the myths for 35 years.
Brings alive all the most significant and interesting Viking Age stories, painting vivid portraits of Viking people, culture and beliefs.
Includes many fascinating tales previously only known within the academic world.
Each story complemented by detailed notes discussing its origins, similar narratives, archaeological evidence etc.
Also features authentic Viking Age proverbs, poems, riddles and spells.
Introduces many iconic Viking real life queens, noblewomen, farmwives and slaves; alongside mythical giantesses, goddesses and valkyries.
Presents the true story of the Vikings’ discovery of North America 500 years before Columbus; legends of the cursed ring that inspired Tolkien, and the Viking story behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet.Written in consultation with leading academics.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
54 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Kerven
91 books58 followers"Rosalind Kerven, connoisseur of myths and folktales" – THE INDEPENDENT (one of the UK's leading online news websites)
I'm the author of over 70 books published in 22 countries, with total world sales of nearly a million.
Specialising in myths, legends, folk tales and fairy tales from all over the world.
Follow me on Twitter @MythsandTales
I'm the author of over 70 books published in 22 countries, with total world sales of nearly a million.
Specialising in myths, legends, folk tales and fairy tales from all over the world.
Follow me on Twitter @MythsandTales
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 15, 2019
More exciting than the 2019 Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal Wimbledon match.
June 10, 2025
Odin and his wife Frey are the most familiar of the Vikings and their Sagas.
These stories have some truths in them.
My favorite was Aud the Deep Minded. For all the misery's she faces in her life she always persevered, giving all her people a chance to prosper.
King Harald of Norway. A group of his people left Norway for a better life in Iceland and had their own plot of land.
All in all, a very interesting book.
These stories have some truths in them.
My favorite was Aud the Deep Minded. For all the misery's she faces in her life she always persevered, giving all her people a chance to prosper.
King Harald of Norway. A group of his people left Norway for a better life in Iceland and had their own plot of land.
All in all, a very interesting book.
January 6, 2019
A really good intro to the myths and sagas, no more, no less. Love the format of the retelling, the sorting into categories, and the chunky set of notes at the back of the book.
October 2, 2017
It is OK...
February 26, 2017
I chose this book as an introduction to the Norse Sagas.
Even though I had made a wish-list of the things I wanted to read, I realized that this book would help me be introduced to them.
And not just the sagas but cosmology and mythology as well!
This is such a well written introduction book.
The editor did a great job showing a glimpse of norse mythology and history from pieces from sagas and old texts.
It's a great way to understand and have a first good idea about these stories without having to dig in deep into history books yourself in order to understand what's going on.
Plus the book provides sources and references to let you into more details.
The story telling skills of Rosalind Kerver are great and she shows a great deal of hard work done to bring us a nice compelling point of view that almost makes you travel back in time and sit in a viking house and hear stories being told around the fire place.
Totally recommended, especially if you want to start from somewhere but you don't know where. This is probably one of the best books to help you make an entrance in this department of mythology and saga reading and studying!
Even though I had made a wish-list of the things I wanted to read, I realized that this book would help me be introduced to them.
And not just the sagas but cosmology and mythology as well!
This is such a well written introduction book.
The editor did a great job showing a glimpse of norse mythology and history from pieces from sagas and old texts.
It's a great way to understand and have a first good idea about these stories without having to dig in deep into history books yourself in order to understand what's going on.
Plus the book provides sources and references to let you into more details.
The story telling skills of Rosalind Kerver are great and she shows a great deal of hard work done to bring us a nice compelling point of view that almost makes you travel back in time and sit in a viking house and hear stories being told around the fire place.
Totally recommended, especially if you want to start from somewhere but you don't know where. This is probably one of the best books to help you make an entrance in this department of mythology and saga reading and studying!
January 28, 2021
If you aren't familiar with Viking sagas and stories then this is a great place to start. It's easy to read and understand.
Familiar stories retold.
Easy to read, basic English used. Personally feel is suited to young readers or those who aren't familiar with Viking stories and sagas. I admit to enjoy rereading some of my favourite viking stories but I was hoping for something more. A balance between these over anglicised stories and "Poetic Edda" would be great. I enjoyed the appendix/notes more than the stories themselves.
Familiar stories retold.
Easy to read, basic English used. Personally feel is suited to young readers or those who aren't familiar with Viking stories and sagas. I admit to enjoy rereading some of my favourite viking stories but I was hoping for something more. A balance between these over anglicised stories and "Poetic Edda" would be great. I enjoyed the appendix/notes more than the stories themselves.
January 30, 2022
So, I’m a recent convert to the Norse mythology party so I’m keen to get my hands on as many retellings and collections as I can. So I jumped at the chance to give this one a go.
I really liked the language of these stories, in that they were accessible and easy to read but at the same time retained the lyrical quality that you would expect from a myth or legend.
These stories are becoming more and more familiarity me now so I am able to focus more on things like the language used instead, which is quite nice and I’m enjoying my continued journey into the world of Norse mythology.
I really liked the language of these stories, in that they were accessible and easy to read but at the same time retained the lyrical quality that you would expect from a myth or legend.
These stories are becoming more and more familiarity me now so I am able to focus more on things like the language used instead, which is quite nice and I’m enjoying my continued journey into the world of Norse mythology.
March 19, 2017
This book is difficult to review objectively, but not because you don't know where you stand after you read it.
The book only has one job: To retell myths from a culture that didn't care much for characteristics or descriptions. I was able to set aside my love for characteristics and descriptions for this and judged it purely on flow, language, and its ability to convey the myths. Had this been the only thing this book provided I'd give it three stars. Luckily we're also treated to the section where you can see notes from the author about every story that was written down. These are fun ways to understand more of the viking culture and myth, and how the Christening of Scandinavia probably changed the stories you read.
As I stated: This book is hard to review objectively, and I think that it's because of interest in the subject. Those who are really interested in the culture will love it and those who hate it will still hate it. It doesn't try to convert anyone into loving the stories, just to retell them.
The book only has one job: To retell myths from a culture that didn't care much for characteristics or descriptions. I was able to set aside my love for characteristics and descriptions for this and judged it purely on flow, language, and its ability to convey the myths. Had this been the only thing this book provided I'd give it three stars. Luckily we're also treated to the section where you can see notes from the author about every story that was written down. These are fun ways to understand more of the viking culture and myth, and how the Christening of Scandinavia probably changed the stories you read.
As I stated: This book is hard to review objectively, and I think that it's because of interest in the subject. Those who are really interested in the culture will love it and those who hate it will still hate it. It doesn't try to convert anyone into loving the stories, just to retell them.
January 22, 2020
This is an interesting book and well researched. I enjoyed the stories up to half way but found them quite repetitive after a while . Quite a lot to take in reading it as one would a novel. This book is more a text book on Viking stories. I expect I will go back to it from time to time for and read more of the stories but I have to take a break for now .
March 1, 2020
Was a very entertaining read. Great short stories of old gods, kings, queens, adventurers, sorcery, and haunting campfire stories. Difficult names but great book to read out loud.
Favorite moment is when you pause, re-read a sentence, and say oh Loki!! You will all know this sentence when you read it.
Favorite moment is when you pause, re-read a sentence, and say oh Loki!! You will all know this sentence when you read it.
July 16, 2017
Decent re-telling of the standard mythological fare with a heavy dose of Icelandic historical figures as well. As with most translated stories the language is a little simplistic and repetitive but worth a read.
November 26, 2017
Closer to 3.5 stars, I’ve read far better retelling of Norse Myths, although some of the sagas I haven’t read before and quite enjoyed it. My main complaint is that Kerven mixes in far too modern sayings and feels out of place throughout and is distracting.
August 17, 2019
This book is very well written. I am a huge fan of folk tales, but for whatever reason they tend to be poorly written. This book reads very well, and has very entertaining versions of the Viking Myths.
June 11, 2022
Beautiful made and tells a modern version of old norse tales. I love how it has a dictionary for words that I did not know as well as notes on the stories from there origins. Rosalind did an amazing job with this book and I am excited to read more of her works.
August 21, 2019
A good collection of myths and sagas.
October 2, 2019
This is the book the kid was reading at Wimbledon during the Nedal Federer match. I would have watched the tennis.
October 25, 2020
A good book, a well done retelling of Norse Myths and episodes from Sturlusson's Sagas.
August 10, 2022
I liked it. It was a nice easy retelling of the sagas of the old norse. I had previously read some of the gods legends and I was excited to find a source that told the other stories as well.
June 13, 2023
Easy to read and entertaining stories made historically interesting due to the notes accompanying each tale.
July 21, 2025
Good book, nice to goon to. 10/10 MPreg
March 7, 2017
This is a hard book to review. The stories are mostly very simple; almost like children's stories in many cases, but they are entertaining and I liked almost all of them.
Whether they the stories interesting or dull isn't necessarily a reflection on the author being as they are a modern re-telling of stories from the dark/middle ages. The author has however made decisions on which parts to trim out of the stories, which parts to modify in order to accentuate a narrative flow, and which version- or which parts from different versions of a story to include. Whether the writer has made wise selections is beyond the average reader to discern, requiring I think, an authority on the Viking sagas to discern- however the author does note and explain many of their choices in the notes section.
The notes on each story I found to be very interesting, and in many cases more revealing than the stories themselves. I'm very glad I picked up this book, and feel that it has educated me as it entertained me. Definitely one of the better books I've read in the last couple years.
Whether they the stories interesting or dull isn't necessarily a reflection on the author being as they are a modern re-telling of stories from the dark/middle ages. The author has however made decisions on which parts to trim out of the stories, which parts to modify in order to accentuate a narrative flow, and which version- or which parts from different versions of a story to include. Whether the writer has made wise selections is beyond the average reader to discern, requiring I think, an authority on the Viking sagas to discern- however the author does note and explain many of their choices in the notes section.
The notes on each story I found to be very interesting, and in many cases more revealing than the stories themselves. I'm very glad I picked up this book, and feel that it has educated me as it entertained me. Definitely one of the better books I've read in the last couple years.
April 15, 2017
I am new to learning about the Viking sagas, so to me this was a very well written translation and compilation, with accompanying notes for each story at the end to explain the various origins and how the characters appeared in other stories.
May 26, 2015
I came across this book in an independent book store so had seen no recommendations or reviews to sway my judgement and I must say it wouldn’t have been a book I would have naturally browse for online. However for those that do come across this book, you are in for a real treat.
This is an excellent and informative book surrounding all the Viking myths and legends. The authors writing style is so excellent and at a perfect pace so that it truly feels like you are sitting round a fire at camp being told a story. I can also imagine this novel as a great inspiration source for writers in the same way Grimm tales are, being adapted and re-told into modern stories.
The range covered in this book is also exceptional, from all the places the Vikings travelled to, to the number of mythical creatures; gods, dragons, trees, trolls, all sorts.
All in all, an excellent, insightful and informative book that I am very pleased to have discovered.
This is an excellent and informative book surrounding all the Viking myths and legends. The authors writing style is so excellent and at a perfect pace so that it truly feels like you are sitting round a fire at camp being told a story. I can also imagine this novel as a great inspiration source for writers in the same way Grimm tales are, being adapted and re-told into modern stories.
The range covered in this book is also exceptional, from all the places the Vikings travelled to, to the number of mythical creatures; gods, dragons, trees, trolls, all sorts.
All in all, an excellent, insightful and informative book that I am very pleased to have discovered.
May 28, 2016
I've given the book three stars, because I feel that that is where it stands against literature in general; but bearing in mind how ancient and how fascinating are these tales it may be rather harsh of me. I really enjoyed the whole book. It has been well put together in that it contains comprehensive notes on the background to each story and each story is written in common English. The Viking names, though, are a bit of a trial!
My favourite tale is the one credited by some archaeologists as evidence of the discovery of America: The Wineland, so called because its discoverers found wild vines in abundance that made good wine.
Altogether a fascinating book. If you're thinking of getting a copy don't pay too much attention to my rating. It will certainly stay on my shelf.
My favourite tale is the one credited by some archaeologists as evidence of the discovery of America: The Wineland, so called because its discoverers found wild vines in abundance that made good wine.
Altogether a fascinating book. If you're thinking of getting a copy don't pay too much attention to my rating. It will certainly stay on my shelf.
January 9, 2016
Very witty and refreshing interpretation of classic Norse myths and sagas. Also wonderfully laid out in clear categories with very interesting yet simple notes to accompany each story.
August 8, 2016
Fantastic book. I absolutely loved reading it. I am definitely going to read this again.
May 15, 2018
The cover made it look a bit boring but it was anything but though as a Stargate fan it's impossible to take Thor and Loki seriously anyway.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews