Beneath Yggdrasil's Shadow

by Amber M. Simpson (Editor), Madeline L. Stout (Editor), Christine Morgan

Norse mythology has a fascinating take on the universe and a pantheon of amazing gods and goddesses. Although there are many stories that have survived the ages, there are several tales that were lost to time. This anthology focuses on stories about Norse goddesses that have been mostly forgotten. There are many goddesses that we now know very little about, their origins erased from history. Who are these barely mentioned goddesses? Where did they come from? These are the stories that history did not remember.

Featuring 23 stories about Norse goddesses such as Sigyn, Ran, Idun, Nott, Eir, Angrboda, and many more!

With stories by Cindar Harrell, Victor H. Rodriguez, Christine Morgan, Jade Black, Amelia Sirina, Jane Dougherty, R.A. Goli, Eddie D. Moore, Lisa M. Landreth, Tony Daly, Cassandra Schoeber, Aaron Hwang, Genevieve Gornichec, Matthew Wilson, Nicki J. Markus, Tahni J. Nikitins, DJ Tyrer, Kari Holloway, Claire Davon, Gerri Leen, Antonius M. Hogebrandt, David W. Landrum, and S. Locke.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Anthologies

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2018

About the author

Amber M. Simpson is a dark speculative fiction writer from Northern Kentucky with a penchant for horror and fantasy. Her fiction has been featured in multiple themed anthologies as well as online. She has acted as Assistant Editor for Fantasia Divinity Magazine since 2017, where she's gotten to work with many talented authors from all over the world.

While she loves to create dark worlds and diverse characters, her greatest creations of all are her sons, Maxamus and Liam, who keep her feet on the ground even while her head is in the clouds.

To learn more, visit: https://ambermsimpson.com.

Reviews

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a quick disclaimer, I have to say that I have a story in this collection. However, my review only pertains to the other tales included.


On the whole, this is an interesting and varied collection. I loved seeing how the other authors each interpreted the theme. As with any anthology, I liked some stories more than others, but I should think that means there is something here for everyone. One or two pieces could have done with another round of edits. (One confused the verbs to lay and to lie every single time, which I found irritating.) However, overall it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. If you enjoy stories inspired by Norse myth, you'll want to take a look at this.

[R.A. Goli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this anthology. Every story was well written and kept my interest, but a few had unsatisfying endings, so I’m giving it 4 ⭐️

*Disclaimer: I have a short story in this anthology.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anthology of short stories about the goddesses of Norse mythology. As with most anthologies, the stories are not all equal in craft. Some are 4 stars, some 3 stars...I don’t think any of them were as bad as a 2. The goddesses of Norse mythology are the great mystery when it comes to that collection of work. Very little is known, and what is known is often unclear or distorted by hundreds of years of patriarchal Christian influence. So I was delighted when I picked up this work, hoping it contain stories-granted new stories, but still!-to fill in some of the missing sections of Norse mythology. Some of these stories go just that, others unfortunately go a different route. With so much of this mythology unknown one would think writers would concentrate on that rather than rewriting what is known, but, whether through hubris or ignorance, a lot of these stories do just that, changing what we do know. This to me was frustrating. I far preferred the works that concentrated on one of Snori’s listed but enegmatic goddesses rather than ones that ruined the ones we do know about. Now I do realize that fiction does this all the time, reimagining old tales and giving them a new spin, it’s just here that was particularly disheartening as there were so many goddesses that were ignored, there stories and mythologies once more cursed to remain buried. For example, Saga, near the top of Snori’s list, and one of the goddesses that most resonates being named after stories and all, was virtually ignored. In any event, these stories can be probably classified in three types 1-retellings of existent material with little spin. 2-a story about a goddess that had been only briefly mentioned in the eddas, given a story to add to their mythos 3-a reimagine on existent materials. 1 and 2 I am all for, 3 not so much. Now to very briefly give some highlights. The work opens strong with Echoes. While probably a type 3 story it is so well written and sets the tone of Norse mythology and its people so well it deserves much prause. Really, the godly spin at the end was the only part that felt flat. Dreams of fire was very creative. Different than I think all but one other work in this collection it is set in the modern day and is naturally allegorical, burning with strong symbolism on the strife woman must endure despite the gifts they bring. So, a very strong feminist piece that fits well in a book about forgotten women. It is followed by oath breaker, another possibly modern story, that is a type 2 story, telling a new tale about Var, the goddess of oaths. Irreplaceable was a type 2 story about freyja’s twin daughters, and in my opinion one of the stronger stories in this collection. This story talks not only about yet another dimension of feminist ideology but also about bring a goddess. It is also heavy in symbolism, at least in my opinion, and a very strong story about two sisters, care taking, and an impossible situation. Rindr’s bane is also a strong type 2 story dealing with what us unfortunately an unfounded issue in the world. It is a bit of a meta story, discussing the protagonists plight that thus will be all she dill be known for, and her ethical struggle as a mother is well encapsulated. Clash of goddesses was interesting type 2 work that was a bit to type 3 for me. I.e. baldur remains in helheim until ragnirak, no heroic goddess risks everything to save her. And also, I don’t know that balder was known for his infertility-perhaps one of the few gods that wasn’t? In any event, it starts strong, adding new mythos to Gna and then takes both itself and Norse mythology a bit off the rails, in my opinion. Simply in renowned was short but I don’t know that I have to much critiscm here other than that Idun certainly has the stories in this collection. I actually really loved the story Ran, and it added the naval element that was almost lacking from a Norse mythology work. While it’s true that Norse mythology is more than Vikings, they were the last large torch barers of this mythology, so they deserve their cultural tonal say, which herein was so provided as far as the naval element. I do think this would have been symbolically a stronger work if his *spoiler* giving ran the ring would have somehow sacrificed his wife.*end spoiler* the birth of a goddess was a good type 2 work. Freyjas descriptions were well done and I was delighted that Eir got her moment to shine here.hidden in the shadow of a god was a good bad piece. Heavily 3 it also was strongly symbolic and at last gave brief mention of the larger monstrology of the larger mythos. Sigyn suns gift was another hood bad work. Despite this it was beautifully written, like poetry. Bright one is a brief sojourn into the larger work by this author. Beasts of the beautiful moon was problematic. It centered around one of my favorite goddesses, sol/sunna the sun, but it completely morphs her mythology being heavily type 3. And it doesnt really work. Day and night are to be due to the great chase of wolf and sun and moon. Here, though they must already exist, the chase hasn’t begun? And how can Fenrir be bound away by the gods with gleipnir and also chase the sun? Wrong wolf! So yeah, to 3 for me. A hand maids purpose was heavily type 2 and wonderful, giving a cool origin story to Lofin that fits in the larger mythology perfectly. What remains was prose poetry, and enjoyable. The Riddle of Vor is a tale about probably my favorite enigmatic goddess, Vor, the careful one. While the writer makes a bit of a different cut of her than I do in my own WIP overall this story fits well and was a fun little adventure that would have fit in well with the prose Edda. Don’t go chasing water drops didn’t work for me, being very type 3. To type 3. I shan’t say more. Idun’d golden apples is another good idun story, fitting well again. To love Loki was decent. Eir was a good bad tale. I guess the author was aiming for a sort of fable town or once upon a time hinting for the gods? I’ll admit it was a touch confusing and didn’t quite do it for me. Nots shadow was alright. I think. Let it burn was one of the better works and a strong finisher for this collection, especially as it hints at Ragnarök on the horizon. Probably one of the best depictions of Sigyn I’ve seen. It really goes to show all the good and the bad in this story cycle and is a strong feminist piece in its own right as Sigyn suffers and endures and is a forgotten victim in the cruelties the gods do upon Loki. In conclusion, if you like Norse mythology I’d recommend this work.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating: 3.5

As with all anthologies there are some stories here that I enjoyed, some that I was bored by, and some that I thought were just okay. I do think it's a really great idea for an anthology though and there were actually several goddesses here that I hadn't heard of before, which is impressive since I read so much Norse mythology stuff. Definitely a good book to check out if you like Norse myth retellings or feminist fairytale style stories.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous collection of stories from figures, spirits, deities and creatures across the Norse pantheon, mythology and legends. Definitely recommend if you like Norse Mythology.

[Jaana Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of stories inspired by Norse mythology, reimaginings if you will.. A couple tell the original story, or stay very close to.. Rindr's Bane actually tones down the original. It's full on in itself but the original is just woah.. just like any collection some are better than others but there is nothing under a 3 star here. And most of those are only because they were too short, I wanted more. A great collection with some really cool stories

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[Kacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

collection of short stories. some were good, some not.