The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism

by Ryan Smith

A Radical New Take On Norse Paganism The Way of Fire and Ice reimagines Norse Paganism with mystical practices and rituals for today's world as well as tips for building community and resisting fascism. This approach to working with Norse deities and beliefs is a living, adaptable tradition, representing a strong alternative to the reconstructionist perspectives of Asatru and Heathenry. In these pages, the old ways come alive in a radically inclusive form. You will explore the secrets of the World Tree and the mysteries of the gods, work with the many spirits around us, and feel the deep rhythms that drive all life while creating new songs of power. You will also discover how to make these practices part of your every waking moment, developing your own personal spirituality and building healthy, sustainable communities along the way.

Genres: Paganism, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Spirituality, Mythology, Religion, History

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Mark Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I read some of the other reviews, where they said it was anti-fa trash masquerading as heathenism. Being, myself, anti-fa and a sometime heathen, I, of course, had to check it out. And, well, it is unabashedly anti-fascist heathenism, or, rather, Norse Paganism, as Smith terms it.

While chapters two through nine are a fairly basic primer on paganism in a Nordic context, the first chapter lays out the difference between The Way of Fire and Ice and mainstream Asatru... namely, The Way of Fire and Ice is concerned with being a living tradition in the modern world, rather than being a strict reconstruction of the beliefs and lifeways of medieval Scandinavians. When presented with a problem or social issue, a reconstructionist will say "What would Uncle Einar the Viking have done", while someone involved in a living tradition will ask "What should I do, in a modern context, learning from the lore and the examples of the Powers."

The intent is to establish Norse Paganism as a modern faith, with something to offer to modern people, rather than a conservative throwback. It's also avowedly anti-folkish, which is a pernicious strain of racism that terns to be common (though not universal) among more reconstructionist heathens... the idea that, since our image of Vikings is white men with blonde hair, that those who are not white are not allowed and should "seek their own gods, not ours"... funnily, that never seems to apply to anyone white enough, regardless of their actual ancestry. And, so, Smith lays out the reasons why faith in the Aesir, Vanir, or the assorted wights and spirits must move beyond reconstruction and into modernity.

This is an excellent book. I have been involved in heathenry for more than twenty years, including some time, as a young man, when I was on the fringes of folkishness, myself. But Smith lays out the whys and wherefores of a moral and ethical heathenry that can address the modern world, looking forward, while drawing strength from the past; reaching outward, while drawing strength from within.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5, the one point taken off because the book could have done with a little more careful editing.

Useful resources for Norse pagans with leftist leanings, both in a spiritual manner and when it comes to how to find or build community, and how to recognise and keep out the fash (a must for any person, be they Norse pagans or not).

Another important thing to note is that whereas a lot of Norse paganism is very reconstructionist, this focuses more on how to apply the mythology and the like to a modern day situation, which may upset the fash playing at being Norse, because they like to mutilate history.

So thank you to all the fash fake pagans for your one star reviews, it led me to a good and useful book. For the record, y'all calling two whole pages about antifa "propaganda"... Man, must be difficult living in your little world.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative book about Norse Paganism tradition. Very informative and very anti white-supremacists. I highly recommend this for beginners or those looking to understand this path.

[Marci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pop Asatru bullshit, now with bonus overblown liberal politics. (Says the liberal.) Author should have fact-checked his manuscript before publishing.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was as far from Asatru thought as one can get.

Take everything that is fluff bunny Wicca and cross it with a hipster who thinks AntiFa is actually a grassroots organization against fasicms.

[Viktor Pigion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginner information but if you've ever read a book that talks of the fundamentals of Norse Paganism then this book really just reiterates everything you already know. A good reference and good for beginners. Don't take what butt-hurt right-wingers say about this book so seriously, if you're so offended that this book dare says racism is bad then you're the problem, not the book.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at Norse paganism. I especially enjoyed the beginning chapters about the Norse worldview, the nine worlds, the gods and how these elements can be adapted to suit the needs of modern people, rather than trying to replicate the past.

I also kept myself awake last night thinking about how the author assigned Loki they/them pronouns and whether that fits with the legends or how the ancient Norse would have understood his nature. (Literally laid in bed for over an hour pondering this. Welcome to my brain.) It does make sense, considering that Loki not only shape shifted into a mare, but also got pregnant in that form! On the other hand, if you look at Odin’s stories, it’s clear he didn’t adhere to strict gender stereotypes either. Honestly one of the reasons I feel drawn to these legends is because of their ambiguity. I finally decided that regardless, I don’t think Loki would mind either way, so it’s all good. (If anyone has a thought or opinion on this, feel free to leave a comment. I’m honestly quite interested in what you think.)

I deducted a star because of a huge amount of this book is dedicated to finding and creating good Norse pagan groups and identifying and rejecting potential fascists. Yes, these are important topics! However, since I am the self appointed Queen of the Introverts and my own spiritual practice will be solitary for life, these chapters just didn’t meet my needs as a reader.

I listened to the audio book form of this, which made the chapter on runes pretty much a waste of time. I’m assuming the book shows the image of each rune? Without the images, to me that chapter was very confusing.

But on the plus side, I really liked the narrator! He has a great voice that’s really suited to the subject matter.

[Kathleen Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's important to note that as the titled says, this is a *Living Tradition*, be aware this is an intersectional work.
The information provided is not confined to documented lore without exploration of living and evolutionary understanding of both lore and practices.
I didn't note any misappropriation or misattribution of actual lore, but I was glad to see a really thorough and clear discussion of how what has become known as the Nine Noble Virtues permeates the Path and building a community and life without this solid foundation is a bastardization of what has come down to us as the Lore. Throughout the book there are exercises to help facilitate learning the material.
Chapters are;
What is the Way of Fire & Ice?
The Norse Pagan World
The Norse Gods
Developing Spiritual Practice
Core Values
Runelore
The Art of Seiðr
Finding Community
Building Community
Afterword
Appendix I: Further Reading
Appendix II: The Origins of the Pagan Revival
Although this is an exploration of Northern Paganism, I would recommend this to anyone wishing to learn more about walking a Pagan Path of any flavour... unless it's an abuse-directed trad, in which case you're probably not going to like the very strong threads of respect and integrity woven therein.
It should be noted that the author has dedicated really meticulous care in focusing on the threat of fascism to Norther Pagans and offers insight and tools on how to root them out and keep our communities clear of subversions.
Fascists and White Nationalists aren't likely to like this... and they're definitely not going to like the modern history.

[Roxy]

Radical leftist propaganda in the form of a religious book.

The book description a radical new take on Norse paganism and labels itself a "reimagining" of Norse practices. This strikes me as some SJW "play"-gan who fancies themself as a Norse practitioner after watching History Channel's Vikings on repeat while sipping Stella Artoir and stuffing their faces with gluten free cakes.

But I'm guessing that is the book's target demographic.

The fact that the author is flat-out endorsing Antifa's violence rather than condemning it, along with promoting an organization who ideals are antithetical to Norse pagan teachings, proves he has no idea what he's talking about. He's attempting to appropriate yet another pagan belief system that his ilk view as "problematic" so they can reshape its structure and by extension the entire pagan landscape, to fit their narrow ideological worldview. (How very fascist!)

Llewellyn has put out absolute crap the past decade. Looks like they're not changing anytime soon.

[Nurse Bo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely leftists composition of paganism. Advocates for political violence and antifa membership. This is radically unpagan and disgraceful. Just another fruit cake liberal from California that wants you to think Loki is transgender, and that you should hate your countrymen if you disagree with each other. Very divisive author. The book is not worth your time.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was curious about Norse mythology and Norse paganism and heard this was a good introduction to the topic. I also chose this specific book because it openly positions itself against neo-Volkisch/Neonazi/white supremacist appropriation of the tradition and educates on how to spot said groups. Everything is supported by good academic sources. Overall, this is a nice broad introduction that doesn't weigh too heavily on any topic. It includes recommendations for further reading if you want to learn more about a certain topic. I have no idea whether I will actually go further into this in the future but it was very interesting nonetheless.

[Istoria Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic text for novices to paganism. I would recommend this for those beginning to explore this subject for study or for curiousity. A great foundation for your Norse pagan education.

[Pidge ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆ ☾ ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an… okay beginner book on norse paganism. Fair warning I, myself, am a beginner, but honestly it made some of the problems I was able to identify that much more ridiculous.
I appreciated that the book seemed to be clear when it was detailing things that were specific to “the way of fire and ice” or “radical norse paganism” as the author calls it.
The emphasis on identifying and condemning fascist/neo-nazis within the religion was appreciated. It was highly detailed, and honestly is the one part of the book i would highly recommend.
The citations at the bottom of each page was also nice, but there were a number of sentences I wished had a citation, and this only made it more noticeable that they weren’t backed up with any. One such case on page 113 was “Since time immemorial, people have used the runes to read the patterns of fate and create potent magical workings”. Okay… do you have evidence to back that bold claim up?
This book was also unfortunately riddled with misconceptions about norse mythology, as well as parts where the whole story didn’t seem to be shown to the reader. An example of the former was referring to aegishalmar and vegsvisir as bindrunes. And of the latter, the author describes the earliest form of runecasting was recorded by Tacitus in 2nd century CE as people who drew lots with pieces of cut wood, almost implying these pieces of wood had runic carvings (which they did not).
All of these examples are from the chapter on runes but I feel that most chapters were similar. The descriptions of the myths at the start of the book were riddled with misconceptions, assumptions, or simply failed to detail the nuances within the myths.
If you are interested in norse paganism, I would recommend listening to the podcast Norse Mythology: The Unofficial Guide by Wælhræfn before touching this book (if you should read it at all) to help you easily identify where this book may not be telling you the full picture. However, chapter 8 and 9 I would recommend, the author should have written a book purely on identifying fascism in norse pagan spaces, how to dismantle it, etc.

[Willemijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars (rounded up to four stars). Disclaimer: I have read a couple of other sources on Norse Paganism, Norse Mythology and I've been working with runes for a while now. I am fairly confident in my basic knowledge of these topics, but I am nowhere near an expert. So, if you are looking for a 100% trustworthy review, I am not the right person. I can, however, provide some insight for those who are looking to get started in Norse Paganism or have just started to look into it. I bought this book at Labyrinth Books in Glastonbury, UK when I was on holiday last year. On my last day, I spotted this book and felt the need to take it home with me. I'm happy that I did!

This book feels like a very solid base for anyone interested in Norse Paganism, who has just started or who has been practising for a little longer. This book covers topics such as the Norse Pagan world, the Norse Gods, runelore and different spiritual paths within Norse Paganism. Each chapter gave me just enough information to feel like I had learned something new, and would be able to work with it without feeling overwhelmed. The author provides structured and clear information about the topics which are discussed but also provides simple tools and accessible exercises to start practising what you just read. The text is easy to read and it continues to draw your attention.

There's also a lot of information about the dangers of fascism, which is incredibly important in Norse Paganism. There are a lot of harmful people out there and it is easy to get tied up in their nets. The author shares information about what fascism is, how it works and what it can look like. But most importantly, they also speak about how to handle it when you come across it in a safe and thought-out way. Another big topic which is discussed is inclusivity. This is also extremely important because inclusivity should be at the very core of us humans.

At the end of the book, there's an appendix which provides the titles of books, articles and other resources on a variety of topics such as anti-fascism, folklore, mythology, history, inclusivity, runes, Sagas etc. I will be looking into these sources. The author has also added a bibliography and has multiple references to this bibliography throughout the book, which gives me the impression that they truly know what they're talking about.

What I didn't like was the amount of pages dedicated to creating a community. Yes, it is important that you are aware of what a healthy community looks like. Yes, it is important to know what you need to take into account if you decide to start your own community. But this much information on how to start your own community felt a bit out of place to me. The vibe that I got from this book was that it was meant for beginners and to explain the basics of Norse Paganism. Building a community is the last thing beginners should think about! Finding a community, however, makes more sense to me.

Another thing that's weird about this book is the amount of empty pages at the end of the book. I suppose this was a publisher's choice? Also, the book counts 288 pages, but in reality, there are 213 pages due to the index, the bibliography and the empty pages.

Overall, it was a very informative book which was also fun to read! I realized after having finished it, that I know more about Norse Paganism than I originally thought. That was a really nice feeling!

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book on Norse Paganism and it was quite fascinating. I didn't know there were so many different groups of Norse Pagans or Heathens, or that it was interchangeable, sometimes. This books was a great starting point for learning about Norse paganism.

I did have one issue with this book. Mainly that it wasn't consistent with how to pronunciation of Norse words. There would be pronunciation for words that came up frequently like Yggdrasil, but then the next few Norse words did not have pronunciation. This was not helpful for someone like me who doesn't know a lot about Norse culture.

Overall, this was an interesting and informative book. I recommend it for anyone interested in Norse paganism.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.*

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice introduction to Norse Paganism and I liked that the author pointed out/called out the racism-part that one sometimes can find within the community.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book on Norse Paganism especially this particular sect of the religion. The Way Of Fire and Ice is not just inclusive of their traditions and denouncing the alt-right but how to tackle it and push it out of the communities. But also how to build your own and seek out the right one and pinpointing any red flags.

I would recommend this book for any beginners or those are interested in Norse Paganism in general. Not only it give information about blots or traditional ways to worship the gods but Seidr, runes and the different types of rune sets like the Elder, Younger Futhark and Anglo-Saxon runes which is really great because Elder Futhark is what all people assume to be just the runes I like how Ryan really explains and let the reader see they have options. He goes into different magic systems like Seidr which I appreciate because i myself want to learn but as well as developing a spiritual practice I think his runes and magic were great and simple enough for a beginner to learn and understand. I really like how he included holidays that aren’t Wiccan inspired but more associated with the Norse concept of seasons and if you really want to incorporate Norse Paganism as a religion Ryan writes very well thought out Core Values of how the Way of Fire and Ice believes in which is very much adapting to what the ancient Germanic people value like hospitality, wisdom, and honor these were developed from the Havamal a sacred text that resembles the Bible’s proverbs but Norse Pagans usually don’t take the Eddas as the Bible whether a text that might help one’s spiritual journey.

I really enjoy it and there isn’t much to criticize because it’s a short book on what it talks about which is perfectly well done. I will most definitely read his other book whilst reading this book helped me understand from another perspective and learned new things from this that I’m really glad that I learned and most importantly that recognizing any problematic groups and whom they recommend. If you’re looking for a really good beginner’s book especially on Norse Paganism and don’t want to buy one from a fascist this book is completely safe. Even in the back where he does for further reading lists good books on topics like Seidh, history of Vikings and their way of life and such. I absolutely how much expression to avoid yet to understand and exterminate any fascist or Neo-Volkish influence within Norse Paganism because I’ve many Norse pagan books but nowhere the authors addressed or went so hard on this topic which needs to be addressed to many Norse pagans even if you disagree with the premise of Way of Fire and Ice I still think it’s a good idea to read this in order to understand how fascists can easily slip into or even someone innocently be blinded by these groups.

[The Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay, a bit too much time spent on fascism considering this book is aimed at newcomers, which brings me to the question of why would you have a huge ass chapter all about forming a group inside a book for newcomers

[MariaIsoldde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way of Ice and Fire is a refreshing new take on Norse Paganism. This groundbreaking re-imagination of Norse Paganism opens the doors for people to build communities and their own personal practice of Norse magic and tradition. It goes into the different types of Norse paganism such as Asatru and into Seidr Magick. Among other things that are important to know if you are walking this path.

The book has good information but a lot of it is short and packed in. It would have been better if it was cut in half and made into two separate books that way the author could have gone into more detail. It's good for beginners but if you already know a good amount of Norse Paganism they don't really go into anything out of the ordinary in the book. The last two chapters are specifically about finding groups to work with or creating your own community. Which is good if you're interested in working with other people but if you're not these last two chapters might be unnecessary for you to read.

It goes into detail about the basics of Norse magic and mysticism while still encouraging your individual self to explore your own style. It helps to build your own magical practice while still sticking true to the Norse traditions and mystical ways. There is no gatekeeping in this book. So you don't have to feel as if somebody's talking down to you. It's good for beginners because the chapters are short, comprehensive, and to the point. It has this refreshing take about opening yourself up to other Norse pagans and building communities that help each other to thrive and progress forward. If you're into meditation, at the end of each chapter there is a different meditation exercise that is simple yet effective to commune with the Gods.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. For its refreshing new look on Norse paganism and giving its readers the freedom to develop their own style and opening up the world of Norse paganism in a friendly and healthy way. And gives you Norse paganism in a non-scary, open-minded environment for you to learn and not be judged.

My closing thoughts: This is an excellent book for new beginners in Norse paganism that are familiar with basic Traditions such as Wicca and other modern-day pagan religions. That are not married to strict beliefs on how to practice and to different ideas and our open to finding their own individuality when it comes to Magic and spirituality

[Dorthe · Rating 1 out of 5]

A basic introduction to Norse paganism; useful, I suppose, if you know nothing whatsoever about Norse mythology, history, runes, or the modern reinterpretations.

Speaking of which: obviously, sadly, one has to differentiate the various paths and distance oneself from, well, Nazis and their ilk. Somehow, though, this author manages to make the 'right' way sound naïve and cute and hippy-dippy, at some point claiming (I'm quoting from memory here, so bear with me) that only the fascist interpretations of the Norse way accept slavery. Erm, you do know why the Slavs are called Slavs, right? The old Norse folks were in no way averse to capturing and enslaving others, let's not forget that.

Also, the three families among the gods - well, yes, they did interact and interbreed and haven't always fought, but they are no less dysfunctional than other families, mortal or immortal.

All in all, as much as I enjoy a positive view of polytheistic paganism in genral and Norse paganism in particular, this is a tad too sweet and light for me.

So, for history and mythology, go to
Neil Price: The Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings;
for the history of ideas, go to
Christopher McIntosh: Beyond the North Wind: The Fall and Rise of the Mystic North.

A final note on the audio version: HOW can you people bring yourself to produce a narrative without teaching the voice actor to bloody well PRONOUNCE the bloody terms?! I mean, he doesn't have to be fluent in Old Norse, but placing the stresses correctly in words that crop up on every single page should be a minimum requirement.

[KatsCauldron R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a much needed book about the Nordic religion[s] and practice. The author is concise and easily explains many aspects and well as goes indepth into some issues that have surfaced. The idea of racial purity in the US is kind of a farce as well as being ridiculous imo. I was always interested in Norse myths and legends from my own family because of my mothers father [his father was German and mother was Danish.I believe they were first generation],. he was a rotter like his father but was also considered a war hero that won practically every medal given in WW1 because he was a sociopath and lunatic, he could go behind lines and the Germans thought he was one of them both in villages and I think around soldiers because of his German as well as his looks [the stereo type ice blue eyes and white blond hair] that did not make him a great person at all but a great warrior I think war and peace started out describing a man that was great in times of war but worthless in times of peace or normal life]. These seem to be ideals that have been adopted by various groups that is a disservice to the Deities and peoples f the past and what they practiced imo. I brought up my grandmother to one group [confrontationally] when I got an invite to something as a reason I wouldn't be attending anything of theirs while remarking on their hypocrisy. Something is horribly wrong when you try to fall back on specific ethnicity over whether or not you have a right to practice a particular religion I believe more in purity of intent on the individuals part. This book has some great history, stories ideas and beliefs and anyone can see how any practice needs to be aligned with the present to work as everything evolves and grows or withers and dies

[Jerad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, but definitely focuses a lot on distinguishing between how modern adaptations, like this path, are different from the generalized “Folk” versions since historically the folk paths have radicalized on the political extreme right towards Fascism & how Neo-Nazism, White Supremacy, White Nationalism have disguised themselves & distorted these same folk paths. There is mentioning of Reconstructionist paths, but these have a fairly to heavy hand in exclusionary behaviors which at times has facilitated the before mentioned folk path extremism to infiltrate their paths. They also tend to think in times past & are too rigid for contemporary times, meaning their practices isolate them &, again, are exclusionary in a variety of ways.

I will say that there is a fairly large section that focuses on trying to explain the magical nature of the runes & how to complete rituals or readings.

For the Audiobook version:
Be ready if you know anything about pronunciation of Scandinavian words, especially in Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon, etc. In the Audio book read by Roger Clark, he does not pronounce anything relatively correctly. Roger Clark took no time & afforded no effort in trying to correctly pronounce anything other than his English script. He butchers every single rune name & the majority of the gods & goddesses. While he was easy to listen to, I found it completely annoying to hear an ignorant pronunciation frequently.

The content for what it was intended for, I give the book a 4/5 since this was pretty generalized & is an entry level book when researching what path may fit you.

I give Roger Clark’s narration a fat 2/5 for consistent annoyance.

[Sas UrbaneHexe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way of Fire and Ice is one of the best books on Paganism I've ever read and it's the best book about Norse Paganism I know. I love this book.

I'm a witch for more than 25 years now and Norse Pagan for about 15 years. This is the book that I wish I had when I started my path with Norse Paganism. This is my way. These are my beliefs, my principles, my practice or at least a very big part of it. I'm speechless to find a book that reflects this part of my path so well.

Ryan Smiths book is the perfect starting point, when you're interested in Norse Paganism. It gives you a lot of well researched information and practical advise. It is great for beginners but I'm sure that longtime practitioners like me will find it interesting too.
The Appendix with “The Origins of the Pagan Revival” is the best history chapter I've ever read in a pagan, witchy, or similar book, its quality is unparalleled.

What I also love about the Way of Fire and Ice is that it's not only very well written, modern and down to earth, it's also inclusive and explicitly anti-racist and anti-fascist. It's radical in the best sense of the word.

I can not recommend this book enough. In my opinion it's a must-read for everyone interested in Norse Paganism or Ásatrú.

[Brett D. McGraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great melding of beliefs.

Though aimed more firmly at those new to Heathenry and general worship of the gods I was recommended to read this by a close friend and fellow Heathen.

Both him and I are longtime antifascist organizers and bonded over our beliefs, both political and spiritual. We have both been practicing Heathens since before we even graduated middle school so I knew that if he was telling me to read what is, ostensibly, a "beginner" book then it must have been special.

Here I am at the tail end of the book and I must say that he was absolutely correct.

Ryan Smith has wrote a treatise that I could almost believe that we had crafted in a trance (though much better written!).

It's a new Heathenry for a new world, but at the same time something old and true. I can not recommend it enough, because as said in the work, we MUST work to drive fascists from our faith and give them no platform to further corrupt this work the Gods have given us.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading books on Norse spirituality is always enlightening. Learning about my children’s heritage and past helps me to connect them to those who have passed and allows me to pass on traditions and rituals that are part of their history and future. This is a well written book on the Nordic tradition. It has been hard to find anything new lately so this is just what I needed.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

#read #reader #book #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookreview #greatreads #alwaysreading #reading #ilovebooks #currentreads #bookaddict #booknerd #bookish #bibliophile #goodreads #readerlife #booklife #readandreview

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I have always been a believer in the old ways and the paths that they have lead me down. I have read a few books in the past that follow the Norse path. It has truly spread worldwide. This gave me another look in the World Tree, druids, pagan and the gods that we call on to aid us and give thanks for the guidance that we have received. There were time while reading this I got flashes of things and could almost hear music. There was something that just drew me to read this and I am glad I did. I will be going back to from time to time. 

[Lisandra Linde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed positive modern interpretation of Norse paganism. Smith gives the reader a good introduction to Norse mythology, then shows how the values of the ancients can be adapted to suit modern practitioners' needs. He takes a strong anti-fascist stance and discusses the importance of detecting and calling out fascist behaviour within Norse pagan communities. He emphasises the importance of inclusive practice and the ability to read and interpret texts critically.

Highly accessible, easy to follow and a great introduction to Norse paganism for those looking for a more inclusive practice.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had more time to really delve into this book. I will definitely come back to it for further reference. Ryan Smith does an excellent job of explaining the background, the rituals, and how to work with the dieties. Wonderful reference for those ready to take the step towards the Norse Paganism revival. Thank you NetGalley for an exchange for an honest review.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative book about Norse paganism. I learn a lot, liked the clarity of the explenations and the style of writing.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice introduction for those who want to be more focused on the Norse tradition. To understand the different areas and introduced to them. To me, there is more information then to personal opinion/information, even with a bit of it in there.