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Brisingamen
Imagine that a shy graduate student has discovered the legendary necklace Brisingamen -- whose wearer bears the powers of the goddess Freyja, mistress of love and war...
Imagine that Freyja's enemy, Loki, has come to San Francisco to steal it back, so that he can release his fiery reign of terror...
Imagine that only Karen Ingold can stop him. Together with her unlikely allies -- a one-eyed biker, a red-bearded carpenter, and a spinsterly Tarot reader -- Karen must follow her enemy to a twilit world of myth and magic...not unlike our own!
Imagine that Freyja's enemy, Loki, has come to San Francisco to steal it back, so that he can release his fiery reign of terror...
Imagine that only Karen Ingold can stop him. Together with her unlikely allies -- a one-eyed biker, a red-bearded carpenter, and a spinsterly Tarot reader -- Karen must follow her enemy to a twilit world of myth and magic...not unlike our own!
261 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
3 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Diana L. Paxson
170 books409 followersDiana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 16, 2010
I have always liked the Norse gods better than I liked the Greek gods. I'm not sure why, but I do.
I am of two minds about this book. Part of me wants to give it two stars, part of me wants to give it three.
We'll take the negative first.
Brisingamen brings the Norse Gods to modern day San Fran and into the life of Karen Ingold.
Basically, this involes her becoming the incarnation of Freya (or something like that) and having sex with three different men over the course of the book. In and of itself that wouldn't bother me, but if Karen is only doing this because she is possessed by Freya then something isn't quite Kosher.
In many ways that part of the book reminded me of Marion Zimmer Bradley's witch novels. While people are rightly split on Bradley's talent as a writer, I like her Darkover novels because I see them as an examination of the rights of society vs. the rights of the person. Bradley's withc novels (ie Heartlight) always followed the smal pattern - young woman goes to old buidling, meets guy, has sudden sex with guy, meet bad guy, has sex and so on. Paxson's book felt a little like this. What is it with books from the 1970s and early 80s having heroines who just suddenly get possessed by something and then have sex?
Worse, despite the fate that Freya is a goddess of war, Karen seems, well, girly.
However. And it is a BIG however.
Paxson does something very cool with the Norse legends and it is an interesting twist. I also really enjoyed her use of Vietnam. In particular, her use of poetry stood out, connecting the reader back to the old sagas. It is a very good juxaposition.
I am of two minds about this book. Part of me wants to give it two stars, part of me wants to give it three.
We'll take the negative first.
Brisingamen brings the Norse Gods to modern day San Fran and into the life of Karen Ingold.
Basically, this involes her becoming the incarnation of Freya (or something like that) and having sex with three different men over the course of the book. In and of itself that wouldn't bother me, but if Karen is only doing this because she is possessed by Freya then something isn't quite Kosher.
In many ways that part of the book reminded me of Marion Zimmer Bradley's witch novels. While people are rightly split on Bradley's talent as a writer, I like her Darkover novels because I see them as an examination of the rights of society vs. the rights of the person. Bradley's withc novels (ie Heartlight) always followed the smal pattern - young woman goes to old buidling, meets guy, has sudden sex with guy, meet bad guy, has sex and so on. Paxson's book felt a little like this. What is it with books from the 1970s and early 80s having heroines who just suddenly get possessed by something and then have sex?
Worse, despite the fate that Freya is a goddess of war, Karen seems, well, girly.
However. And it is a BIG however.
Paxson does something very cool with the Norse legends and it is an interesting twist. I also really enjoyed her use of Vietnam. In particular, her use of poetry stood out, connecting the reader back to the old sagas. It is a very good juxaposition.
August 25, 2016
One of the few books in my life that I just could not gut out to the end. The main character finally drove me to abandon ship and all I can remember about it was equal parts revulsion for the main character and annoyance at its 'soapy-ness'.
January 7, 2011
1970s-ish sex-as-liberation take on Norse fertility myths.
March 12, 2011
Book actually inspired me to check out opera!
December 20, 2017
This was a very enjoyable read.
It's very funny that I found it, because my husband recently told me about "American Gods", and I told him that I loved the idea of the gods of ancient mythology walking around in modern times, but I don't like Gaiman's writing, and it would be even more interesting, to me, if the book revolved only about the gods of the Norse pantheon.
The theme of a girl, finding her personal power, fit perfectly with her finding the goddess Freya's necklace. All the references indicated the author's love for the Norse pantheon very clearly. I liked the fact that Del worked with influenced from other cultures, and that Micheal initially had trouble believing Karen. I loved the fact that the special relationship between Odin and Loki played such a big part in the story.
The only thing I didn't like was the use of children every time the author wanted to depict suffering.
It's very funny that I found it, because my husband recently told me about "American Gods", and I told him that I loved the idea of the gods of ancient mythology walking around in modern times, but I don't like Gaiman's writing, and it would be even more interesting, to me, if the book revolved only about the gods of the Norse pantheon.
The theme of a girl, finding her personal power, fit perfectly with her finding the goddess Freya's necklace. All the references indicated the author's love for the Norse pantheon very clearly. I liked the fact that Del worked with influenced from other cultures, and that Micheal initially had trouble believing Karen. I loved the fact that the special relationship between Odin and Loki played such a big part in the story.
The only thing I didn't like was the use of children every time the author wanted to depict suffering.
March 22, 2021
This is a good book. It is about a graduate school comp lit dropout who puts a magic necklace consecrated to a Nordic Goddess back together again and experiences the consequences. She starts out the girlfriend of a really horrible professor who dumps her to go back to his wife, and moves on to being the girlfriend of a Vietnam vet who has issues, but who is basically admirable. She is throughout employed by a professor who is expert in Norse history and mythology, which gives context to the novel. He is very nice. It is a fantasy novel, since in real life Norse archetypes do not ride people, like the Voodoo Loa, but it is still plausible. I don't know much about Norse mythology more than a child's book or two, so I really appreciated the comparative literature professor acting as an intermediary.
March 23, 2021
This was an interesting fantasy novel, as I don't know much about Norse mythology. A compliant 22 year old is dumped by her boyfriend and gets another, a Vietnam vet motorcycle enthusiast and a poet who channels Odin. She channels Freya, as she finds a necklace consecrated to that Goddess. Someone else channels Loki, who is a bad God who wishes to bring about Ragnarok, the end of the world.
One of the central characters of the novel is a pleasant shy comparative literature professor, who employs the heroine, and anchors the mythology of the novel. He knows a lot about the field.
The necklace is called Brisimgamen. It channels Freya, who is a very powerful goddess who has many aspects.
One of the central characters of the novel is a pleasant shy comparative literature professor, who employs the heroine, and anchors the mythology of the novel. He knows a lot about the field.
The necklace is called Brisimgamen. It channels Freya, who is a very powerful goddess who has many aspects.
Read
August 24, 2017Diana Paxson has earned a reputation as a scholar of Northern European paganism. She also has a fantastic reputation for her fantasy and SF. This is an older book, but since the only previous work of hers I'd read was Star Trek novels, I really wanted to read something hers alone. I am so glad I chose this book.
Karen is stuck in a rut of her own making, her work on her doctorate on hold because of an affair gone sour. When she comes into possession of the pieces of an ancient gold necklace, she strings them together and unleashes Freya's necklace Brisingamen on her life. In short order she has a new boyfriend and is doing much better at the University. However, Brisingamen's re-appearance has also caught the attention of Loki, and Karen finds herself an unwilling participant in a battle to prevent Ragnarok coming early.
I have seen some pretty caustic reviews of this book by Norse pagans, and I can sort of see their point. The gods here are boiled down to basic archetypes, without a lot of depth, in the service of the plot. While I appreciate that this is an approach that lacks nuance and isn't fair to the complex and interesting deities, I am relieved that Paxson avoids an infodump. Karen doesn't know a lot. It's OK for the novel to follow her view.
I found the idea of the Norse deities descending on 1970s-80sish San Francisco to be entertaining in and of itself. Paxson clearly knows the area - it would be obvious even if I didn't know she'd lived there. While it doesn't have the depth of exploration of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Inheritor - that book dove into the pagan scene there headfirst - it has a lot of the same feel.
It's a fun, quick read. Don't look for an entirely happy ending, and if you're the pagan version of a Canon Cop it's not for you, but I give it four of five.
(It's worth mentioning that I was reading this at the same time as The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea and was a lot more interested in finishing Brisingamen.)
Karen is stuck in a rut of her own making, her work on her doctorate on hold because of an affair gone sour. When she comes into possession of the pieces of an ancient gold necklace, she strings them together and unleashes Freya's necklace Brisingamen on her life. In short order she has a new boyfriend and is doing much better at the University. However, Brisingamen's re-appearance has also caught the attention of Loki, and Karen finds herself an unwilling participant in a battle to prevent Ragnarok coming early.
I have seen some pretty caustic reviews of this book by Norse pagans, and I can sort of see their point. The gods here are boiled down to basic archetypes, without a lot of depth, in the service of the plot. While I appreciate that this is an approach that lacks nuance and isn't fair to the complex and interesting deities, I am relieved that Paxson avoids an infodump. Karen doesn't know a lot. It's OK for the novel to follow her view.
I found the idea of the Norse deities descending on 1970s-80sish San Francisco to be entertaining in and of itself. Paxson clearly knows the area - it would be obvious even if I didn't know she'd lived there. While it doesn't have the depth of exploration of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Inheritor - that book dove into the pagan scene there headfirst - it has a lot of the same feel.
It's a fun, quick read. Don't look for an entirely happy ending, and if you're the pagan version of a Canon Cop it's not for you, but I give it four of five.
(It's worth mentioning that I was reading this at the same time as The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea and was a lot more interested in finishing Brisingamen.)
March 3, 2021
If you've ever wanted to learn more about the Norse Gods in a modern setting than this is the book for you. It was a fastinating read as are most of Diana's books. She has a way of teaching one new things without you feeling preached to.
September 4, 2020
Woof. This does not hold up in 2020.
March 29, 2025
An absolutely enthralling tale; Norse mythology comes to life in the present day.
Read
October 23, 2025Book by Paxson, Diana L.
February 27, 2013
One of my old faves....better than any of her other stuff. As you can see from my many reviews, anything that takes old mythos and plunks it into our modern reality pleases me. Havent read it in awhile, but I know Norse Gods are involved, a great read. Just read again in 2013. Knowing Paxon is an Asatru priestess and has been since before she wrote this book makes it even better. This is not fantasy; it is one reality blended with another. Shows practicing heathens as good Volk. Scholars, magicians both Seelie and Unseelie, craftsmen, warriors and even cats have their roles to play. Should be shelved under Heathen/Pagan fiction. The christians have whole bookstore chains, we deserve at least a section of fiction that takes our faith seriously. More please!!!
July 2, 2024
Reread almost twenty years later after finding a stray copy at the used bookstore. Reading it as a twenty-something with only basic knowledge of Norse mythology, my main reaction was scandal at Karen sleeping with three different men over the course of the book. Reading it now, I feel less scandalized, and very interested in the choice of setting (post-Vietnam San Francisco) and the way all the characters to some extent are still reacting to the war and its effects on them and the world. Paxson ties the worship of Freyja and other Norse deities to a general worship of a universal mother-goddess encompassing all deities and suchlike. I can't fault her ability to write (and have the gods speak) in gracefully alliterative prose that wouldn't seem too out of place in a saga.
November 14, 2015
Ploughing through a different book, It was such a relief to start on this one and find myself enjoying it immediately. I've read a few books and short stories by Diana L Paxson before and wanted something I knew I'd like, and this worked for me!
Different from the more direct fantasy I'd read, though it started like one, I was surprised to find it moved into today's world. However when our protagonist, Karen Ingold, takes some junky looking oddities from an ancient chest home to clean up, mysterious and strange things begin to happen! I learnt more about the Norse legends, from a literary, archaeological and even operatic viewpoint, (not too dry either), as well as action that rivals a Marvel movie in the thrilling climax, but this story definitely for adults!
Different from the more direct fantasy I'd read, though it started like one, I was surprised to find it moved into today's world. However when our protagonist, Karen Ingold, takes some junky looking oddities from an ancient chest home to clean up, mysterious and strange things begin to happen! I learnt more about the Norse legends, from a literary, archaeological and even operatic viewpoint, (not too dry either), as well as action that rivals a Marvel movie in the thrilling climax, but this story definitely for adults!
October 7, 2016
I have several books by Diana L. Paxson.
I did a search and found this book entitled "Brisingamen."
As I am teaching Pagan religions to students, I know that
"brisingamen" is the magical necklace that belongs to the
Goddess Freyja. So, wanting to journey with the necklace
of Norse mythology, I began to read this book.
I took to this book right away. The characters (mortals &
the Gods & Goddesses) interact because the necklace of the
Goddess has once again has been found.
If you are interested in the Norse Goddess Freyja,
Loki, or mythology, pick up this book & let your mind
believe that the Gods & Goddesses still interact with us
today.
I did a search and found this book entitled "Brisingamen."
As I am teaching Pagan religions to students, I know that
"brisingamen" is the magical necklace that belongs to the
Goddess Freyja. So, wanting to journey with the necklace
of Norse mythology, I began to read this book.
I took to this book right away. The characters (mortals &
the Gods & Goddesses) interact because the necklace of the
Goddess has once again has been found.
If you are interested in the Norse Goddess Freyja,
Loki, or mythology, pick up this book & let your mind
believe that the Gods & Goddesses still interact with us
today.
September 26, 2009
This book, while not the best fantasy fiction I've read, has some very likeable charecters, and I only wish it had been longer, and the charecters more developed.
April 26, 2010
This month's book club selection - somewhat like American Gods - except they are all Norse goddesses & gods.
July 31, 2010
1. The 70s took a while to die.
2. Weird, weird, weird weird weird. Weird weird weird.
3. Um, Viet Nam? Really?
2. Weird, weird, weird weird weird. Weird weird weird.
3. Um, Viet Nam? Really?
February 16, 2016
Better than average story with a good bit of Norse mythology influence. Very recommended
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews