The Head of Mimir: A Marvel Legends of Asgard Novel

Marvel Aconyte Novels

by Richard Lee Byers

The young Heimdall must undertake a mighty quest to save Odin – and all of Asgard – in the first heroic fantasy novel set in Marvel’s incredible Legends of Asgard

It is a dark time for Asgard. The All-Father is trapped in a bewitched Odinsleep, inspiring an all-out assault from the Frost Giants. They evade the gods’ defenses with uncommon ease, as if guided by augury. Heimdall, a quick-witted young warrior still finding his place amongst Asgard’s defenders, believes it no coincidence that Odin lies enchanted and that the Giants are so well-informed. Sneaking into Odin’s inner chambers, he discovers that the severed head of Mimir, a great source of wisdom, is missing. Accompanied by his sister, Lady Sif, Heimdall must quest across the Nine Realms to retrieve it, lest mighty Asgard fall.

Genres: Marvel, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Comics

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

A resident of the Tampa Bay area, Richard spends much of his leisure time fencing, playing poker, shooting pool and is a frequent guest at Florida science-fiction conventions. His current projects include new novels set in the Forgotten Realms universe and the eBook post-apocalyptic superhero series The Impostor.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odin still hasn't woken from his Odinsleep with war escalating between Asgard and Jotunheim. A young Heimdall begins to think something is amiss with Odin. Even though it's forbidden, He and his sister Sif, sneak into Odin's chamber to discover the problem where they see the Head of Mimir is missing. They are discovered exiting the chambers and labeled as traders where they go on a quest to find the missing head with mystical powers.

Byers was a good choice for a book about the Norse Gods. He's written a dozen Forgotten Realms books and that type of fantasy plays well in this realm too. It's a good origin and coming of age story for Heimdall and Sif. I think if you are a fan of Norse Mythology or Marvel's Thor (Although Thor only briefly appears.), you will enjoy this book.

Received a review copy from Aconyte Books and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL

[Ascari Vau · Rating 4 out of 5]

In der Vergangenheit kannte ich Cross Cult eigentlich mehr für seine Comic- als seine Buch-Veröffentlichungen, aber es ist mir nicht entgangen, dass der Verlag sich gerade im SF-Bereich in viele Bereiche vorgewagt hat, die früher beispielsweise Heyne innehatte. Dass es nun allerdings auch Bücher aus dem Marvel-Universum (oder zählt es eher zum MCU, ich weiß nicht genau) geben wird, war mir komplett neu.

Aber ich bin ja grundsätzlich spannenden Abenteuer-Geschichten nicht abgeneigt – und genau das habe ich auch bekommen: Eine richtig schönes Abenteuer, in das man ruckzuck hineingesogen wird, nachdem klar wird, dass der Kopf des Mimir verschwunden ist und niemand Heimdall und Sif Glauben schenken will. Der Schreibstil ist relativ leicht und gut zu lesen, weshalb ich mir denke, dass diese Geschichte durchaus schon für jüngere Leser:innen ab zehn oder zwölf Jahren geeignet sein könnte.

Die Geschichte beginnt an einem Punkt in Heimdalls Leben, wo er noch ein junger Krieger ist, der zusammen mit seiner Schwester Sif in Diensten Asgards steht. Beide brennen darauf, sich im Krieg mit den Frostriesen ihre ersten Sporen zu verdienen, wobei Heimdall oft Probleme damit hat, Befehle von ranghöheren Leuten zu akzeptieren bzw. sie in Frage zu stellen.

Dies ist es allerdings auch, was die Geschichte überhaupt in Gang setzt, denn mit Sifs Hilfe findet Heimdall heraus, dass offensichtlich etwas faul ist an dem langen Schlaf Odins. Ehe sich die beiden es versehen, stecken sie mittendrin in ihrem ersten Abenteuer, das sie aus Asgard heraus nach Jotunheim, der Heimat der Riesen, führt, um herauszufinden, was wirklich passiert ist.

Das ermöglicht ihnen dabei nicht nur, neue Gebiete kennenzulernen, sondern auch sich selbst. Sif wird dabei zu einer loyalen Unterstützerin für ihren Bruder, obwohl ihr die Flucht aus Asgard zunächst nicht leicht fällt. Trotzdem hält sie zu ihm und hilft ihm, auch wenn sie nicht immer sofort erkennen kann, welche Pläne Heimdall hat, um ihren Verfolgern und Feinden zu entkommen.

Die Reise führt die beiden in unterschiedlichste Gegenden aus der nordischen Mythologie, ich möchte hier jetzt allerdings nicht ins Detail gehen, um nicht zu spoilern. Es gab aber einige Kapitel, die mir gerade deswegen sehr viel Freude bereitet haben, da der Autor hier sehr geschickt die Marvel-Welten mit den “klassischen” Welten verknüpft hat. Heimdall darf hier mehr als einmal seinen klugen Kopf beweisen, um mit verschiedenen Figuren und Fabelwesen fertig zu werden.

Das Ende kommt hier für meinen Geschmack fast ein bisschen zu abrupt, aber es hat wirklich Spaß gemacht, wieder mal so eine klassische Helden-Geschichte zu lesen, wo es nicht nur um Kämpfe, sondern auch um Klugheit, Freundschaft, Loyalität und Geschick geht, um die gesteckten Ziele zu erreichen. Wer gerne Abenteuer-Geschichten in einer Fantasy-Welt liest, wird sicher mit diesem Buch viel Freude haben!

[Paul Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, well told and highly entertaining, if you like Norse mythology and action then this is definitely the book for you

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I did not really know what to expect, but I had fun reading the Tales of Asgard trilogy and hoped this would be along the same lines as that series of stories. I was not disappointed. It focused on the siblings Heimdall and Sif, which turned out to be a nice surprise. The character development was pretty good as the story focuses on how Heimdall "gets his power" to "see everything" like he does; both characters are developed rather nicely as the story progresses. There is plenty of action and mystery as the two try to solve the riddle behind Asgard's dilemma. It moved at a good pace, and it held my interest throughout the entire story.

I found myself enjoying the story far more than I thought I would, especially as it focuses on Heimdall before he becomes guardian of the Bifrost. We see Heimdall go from a man who is torn because of his desire to use his intelligence more than just relying upon brute strength and skill of sword and what his family expects of him; he wants to be a warrior, but he also wants to learn things and use his wits and intelligence just as much as he wants to be a skilled warrior. Sif is more aggressive than he is and quick to resort to force and weaponry to find a way out of a bad situation. Heimdall would prefer to take a moment and see what is going on around him, to see if there are other alternatives to "just fighting and hoping to survive." He grows as a character as he learns to find that balance before acquiring his enhanced senses. After he is imbued with elements of Mimir's powers and abilities, he has to take a moment to learn how to control his new abilities. His newly developed skills obviously save Asgard from ruin and destruction. I knew very little about Heimdall prior to reading this story, so it was nice to learn a bit more about this character's potential backstory and an important moment in his life on his way to becoming a valued Asgardian warrior and god.

Sif was fun in the story, too. I sometimes remember that Heimdall is her brother; the comics would occasionally remind the reader this was the case. She was quick and an aggressive fighter; she was brave and courageous and bold. She also had the sense to listen to her brother instead of following her first instinct by rushing blindly into battle over the course of their adventure. I felt she grew as a character as well, because she started becoming more aware of their surroundings as the adventure progressed and she had some decent ideas of her own. She also encouraged Heimdall quite a bit as the story progressed, pointing out that each of them had their own giftings, their own talents, their own strengths. Her supporting him like she did helped him gain the confidence he needed to grow over the course of the story. I especially like that she got a few good licks in with Amora at the end, including dislocating one of Amora's arms.

The relationship between Heimdall and Sif felt real and genuine. They were loyal to each other, saving each other's lives more than once. They cared about each other and looked after each other. They had some fun moments of sibling rivalry, too, especially as Sif kept telling Heimdall that she was doing all of the "hard work" in their quest while he took the easier tasks. I enjoyed their conversations, their banter, their working together to figure out the mystery behind why the Odinsleep was taking so long as well as who the traitor was in Asgard. Their relationship grew over the course of the novel as they learned to rely upon each other even more in order to survive.

It as also pretty cool that they were able to ride the Pegasi of the Valkyrie like they did. They had saved a unit of Valkyrie from being ambushed by a group of marauding Frost Giants, but two of the Valkyrie were killed in the accompanying combat. Sif and Heimdall were accused of murder and arrested, but the leader of the Valkyrie provided a means for them to escape, and the Pegasi of the two dead warriors allowed themselves to be ridden by these Asgardian warriors. The time it took for them to learn how to control the Pegasi did make the story drag a little (especially the sections dealing with the World Tree), but it was still fun to read.

Heimdall's playing the Norse version of chess with Nidhogg was fun to read as well. Heimdall ended up using a strategy of distracting Nidhogg to defeat this "elemental being" and thereby win the survival and freedom of himself and his sister. It sounded like an interesting game, the way it was described in the story (and I don't know why, but it temporarily reminded me of The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs).

The book is set up as a story within a story. Volstagg is having a "teaching moment" with his oldest son (if not an older son), so the first and last chapters of the book involve the two of them interacting with each other. The remaining chapters are about Heimdall and Sif's adventure to save Asgard Sif's comments about how she might try to set aside a few verses in the song praising her regarding her quest for Heimdall were pretty funny. Part of me was a little surprised that Thor really does not feature in this story, but it really should have been no surprise. The story is about Heimdall (and his sister) and not Thor. Thor could be said to have a couple of "cameos" in the story. He is mentioned in passing early on, where it is described how he is able to handily defeat the Frost Giants but cannot be everywhere at once to protect Asgard. The other "appearance" is when he uses his powers to control the storm to combat Skymir's ability to control the weather. Other than those two moments, he does not appear in the story (I forgot; Heimdall does tease Sif a bit about her obvious feelings for the young Odinson; he takes great delight in how nettled she becomes about her feelings for Thor). So even though it was a bit odd to read a story about Asgard in which Thor does not feature prominently, it still works and the story is still a fun story to read. There is no "Asgardian magic is an advanced form of science" in this book; these beings have powers and abilities that defy being defined other than by being magical in nature. It worked for me.

The ending was a bit "anticlimactic." Bjarke, Volstagg's son, asks what happened to Amora the Enchantress after her betraying Asgard like she did by violating Odin's Odinsleep chamber, stealing Mimir's head, and putting Odin under a deep, deep spell to prevent his waking nearly destroyed Asgard at the hand of the Frost Giants. Volstagg shares that Amora's head was not cloven from her body as promised; instead, she paid an enormous sum of money to the soldier she murdered in order to frame Heimdall and was banished by Odin for "only" one hundred years from Asgard. I almost think the author should have gone with a different villain who was Amora's tutor that Amora was maybe aiding. I do not know what was involved in her "punishment by banishment and exile," but it seems pretty paltry compared to what nearly happened to Asgard and what would have happened had the Frost Giants triumphed because of her machinations. I guess it is one of those dilemmas: pick a villain who cannot be executed because he or she appears "later" in the comics or create a villain who will only turn out to be a "Redshirt" at the end, anyway, in order for "some kind of justice to be done." I figured Amora was the traitor long before the book revealed this to be the case, mainly from reading the comics for as long as I had in conjunction with knowing what her character is like and how many times she has been involved in plots to overthrow Asgard or remove Odin from the throne.

It was a fun book to read. I am glad I saw it on the shelf and took a chance on picking it up to read. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading any future books in the series (as the next Legends of Asgard is said to be about the Tyr, the Asgardian god of war).

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of Marvel's Thor is an interesting one, one that manages to mix together super heroics, Norse mythology, and in later years, science fiction. The recent big screen adaptations have very much pushed the sci-fi angle, which I've enjoyed, but the downside of this is that viewers got very little fantasy with their Thor. The Head of Mimir, in contrast, has very much embraced the mythology behind the original comics, and has provided readers with a high fantasy adventure that's sure to thrill.

The story is bookended with Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three, telling his son a story about Heimdall in order to teach him that a warrior is more than a strong sword arm, and that being smart enough to take a step back and think things through is perhaps even more important than martial skill. His story takes readers back through time, to a place long before the events of the Thor comics, where Heimdall and his sister Sif were just regular soldiers in the Asgard army during a war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim.

The war is not going well for the people of Asgard. Odin has been in the Odin-Sleep for weeks, longer than ever before; and without his wisdom and power the forces of Jotunheim have been encroaching further and further into the kingdom of the gods. The Frost Giants have been using more and more cunning tactics than ever before, and are simply overwhelming Asgards forces. Looking at what's happening, Heimdall is convinced that something more must be at work here, that Odin being away for so long must be a sign of something awful going on behind the scenes.

Approaching Queen Frigga, he implores her to enter Odin's chambers and make sure that something awful hasn't been done to the king. Under the advice of court enchantress Amora, the queen dismisses Heimdall's concerns; which prompts the young soldier to take matters into his own hands. Sneaking into the Odin-Sleep chambers, he and his sister must overcome the magical defences and illusions within before coming face to face with their king. Unable to see anything wrong with him, they do notice that someone must have entered before them, as the magical Head of Mimir has been stolen.

Knowing that this magical artefact is able to dispense amazing advice and knowledge Heimdall concludes that a traitor must have sent the head to the Frost Giants, explaining their change of tactics. Unfortunately, entering Odin's chambers is high treason, and when he and Sif are seen leaving they must go on the run from their own people, setting off on a mission to retrieve the head whilst being hunted by Asgard too.

The Head of Mimir is a hell of a story, more in line with the epics of legend than anything I've read in the Thor comics, but it fits so well with the universe and characters that Marvel have adapted over the decades. Richard Lee Byers clearly know not just the world of the comics, but the original myths too, and manages to weave them together in great ways. And one of the things I liked the most, there was never a sense that he was trying to make it feel like science was at work here. Unlike the films, which tried to explain magic away as advanced science, this book embraces its fantasy roots and says 'no, this is magic'. People cast spells, monsters from myth wield powers, and the world tree exists.

I adored this decision. I never like it when writers try to make magic feel less special, when they try to make it feel practical and real. Give me Frost Giants with ice staffs casting spells on battlefields, giant dragons scaling the sides of a magical tree that holds different worlds in its branches, and teleporting Pegasuses over that. Let me feel awed and in wonder, rather than waiting for a scientific explanation for things. It's so nice to have a book that embraces the fantastic and presents them without feeling like it has to give reason or make it understandable. It makes the journey that the two heroes go on feel so much bigger and more amazing.

Heimdall and Sif make for some excellent protagonists too, and their relationship is explored well throughout the book. I have to admit, before reading this I never knew that the two of them were siblings, and to have that relationship not just included, but made central to their story, is great. We see two soldiers who keep fighting for each other, who refuse to give in or leave the other behind because they're not just brother in arms, but family. There are a few occasions in the book where lesser relationships would have really been put to the test, where lesser characters would have broken apart, but the two of them never give up on each other.

The focus on their relationship also gives some stakes to the book. These are characters that we know from the comics, we know that they don't die here, that they go on to bigger positions in Asgardian society. So instead of having to worry if they'll die or not the concern shifts to their relationship. Will the two of them end up falling out? Will events push them to the point of hating each other, even if only temporarily?

The Head of Mimir wasn't what I was expecting going into the book, but it was such a pleasant surprise. In a time where comic heroes revolve around science and realism it's so good to get a story that embraces the fantastical, that doesn't feel the need to be gritty and true to life, but is content to be wondrous and over the top. Comic book fans will love seeing more about the kingdom of Asgard and learning more about some of it's inhabitants, and fantasy fans will feel right at home here too, even if it's their first time trying out the Marvel universe.

[Michael Willems · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really want to read more books with a Norse mythology flavor because I loved this one! I haven't read any books by this author but I just saw he wrote a lot of Forgotten Realms books and that makes sense because this story reminded me of a classic 90's adventure fantasy book with a Marvel Asgard sauce. This would be a 4 star book if I could be a little bit objective but I just had a lot of fun reading this so I will give it 5 stars. There are 2 more books in the Legends of Asgard series at this point but I just know I need more. If anyone is reading this, please give me recommendations.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written piece of officially licensed fanfiction. Byers' interpretation of Heimdall was original and interesting, and his characterizations of other beloved Asgardian characters were spot on. Could've used more Thor and Loki, but I understand that's not the point of this series. Excited to read the second book soon.

[Kalli Feldmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schöne Vorgeschichte analog der Comics zu Heimdall und Lady Sif. Am Schluss zu abrupt fertig. Als MARVEL Fan trotzdem ein MUSS.

[Ilona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Aconyte Books and Marvel Entertainment for providing me with an ARC of The Head of Mimir: A Marvel Legends of Asgard Novel by Richard Lee Byers for an honest review. I've voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Being a very enthusiastic Marvel fan, I was super excited to get my hands on a copy of The Head of Mimir. This is my first time reading a Marvel novel instead of the comics and I was immediately sold when I learned that the main characters in this story would be Heimdall and Lady Sif.

The Head of Mimir is told from Heimdall's POV and starts off when Heimdall and his sister Sif are fighting in the war against Jotunheim. Back in Asgard, Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep but Heimdall suspects that there's more going on than meets the eye. He and Sif break into Odin's chamber and discover that The Head of Mimir is missing. This is where their quest begins, in order to save Odin, Asgard and themselves they must retrieve the Head of Mimir and return it to Asgard.

The Head of Mimir is super well-written, full of action and adventure. You'll learn more about Heimdall and Lady Sif and the various worlds. Also this story also features The Valkyrie, so what more could you want? On their quest Heimdall and Sif encounter many different creatures and find themselves thrown into survival mode. Both Heimdall and Sif are well-layered characters and their banter is one of the highlights of this book. I found this to be a very enjoyable story.

[Michael Botterill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legends of Asgard book The Head of Mimir by Tim Pratt, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.

What is Marvel
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!

The Legends of Asgard novels specially focus on the Norse mythology influenced Asgard with characters like Thor, Odin and Loki.

The Story
This story focuses on a young Heimdal and his sister Sif, as they undertake a quest to save Odin, who has been bewitched to remain in the Odinsleep during a war waged by the Frost Giants of Jotunheim.

But the Frost Giants are winning the war, and Odin is desperately needed, as somehow the natives of Jotunheim have an advantage in the war.

Breaking the rules and slipping into the inner sanctum of the Allfather, they discover a great relic is missing, the Head of Mimir, which gives advice and wisdom, having been preserved by Odin.

This story is about the quest of Heimdal and his sister as they travel through out the nine realms to retrieve the Head of Mimir and awake the Allfather.

Its a book as my friend Michael from Track of Words puts it, isn’t Heimdals origin story, but his first steps to becoming who he is in the comics as we know him.

The story has a lot of action, its very hectic and goes at a very fast pace, reminding me of an RPG adventure, but it does focus on Heimdal being a warrior who thinks about how to solve an issue, rather than simply being Leroy Jenkins.

His sister is the counterpoint the that, a warrior who wants to find the problem and kill it. In one part of the book they encounter a legendary creature, and whilst Sif would like to fight it, knowing she has no chance of beating it, Heimdal challenges it to a game, and instead of just playing the game, which he could never win, he pokes at the creatures ego to throw him off.

Conclusion
This is a great book, its a lot better than I expected, and it doesn’t bog the reader down in exposition, whilst I know the stuff about Asgard, this book would be perfectly approachable for someone without that knowledge.

Its a great blend of Marvel fantasy and Norse mythology with a sprinkle of science fiction. And the character development whilst light, is fantastic, plus the sibling rivalry and ribbing from Sif is utterly delightful.

I am really looking forward to the next Legend of Asgard book, Sword of Surtur.

You can buy the eBook and paperback now!

[mymagicalbookwonderland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rezension

Buchname: Marvel | Legenden von Asgard – Der Kopf des Mimir
Autor: Richard Lee Byers
Seiten: 400 (Print)
Fromat: als Print und Ebook erhältlich
Verlag: ‎ Cross Cult; 1. Edition (24. Juni 2021)
Sterne: 3

Cover:
Der Buchtitel steht in hellen bzw gelbfarbenen Buchstaben im unteren Bereich. Man kann einen Kampf gegen einen Drachen auf dem Cover erkennen.. ..

Klappentext: (aus Amazon übernommen)

Der junge Heimdall begibt sich auf eine Quest, um Odin – und alle aus Asgard – zu retten. Es ist eine düstere Zeit für Asgard. Der Allvater liegt im Odinschlaf gefangen, was die Frostriesen zu einem direkten Angriff bewegt. Sie weichen der Verteidigung der Götter mit ungewöhnlicher Leichtigkeit aus. Heimdall, ein kluger junger Krieger auf der Suche nach seiner Stellung unter den Verteidigern Asgards, hält es nicht für Zufall, dass Odin außer Gefecht ist und die Riesen so gut informiert sind. Er bricht in Odins Gemächer ein und entdeckt, dass der abgetrennte Kopf Mimirs – eine Quelle großer Weisheit – verschwunden ist. Begleitet von seiner Schwester, Lady Sif, muss Heimdall die Zehn Welten durchsuchen, um ihn zurückzuholen, damit Asgard nicht fällt. Marvels Die Legenden von Asgard ist eine neue Fantasyreihe, in der mächtige Helden aufregende Abenteuer voller Ehre und Ruhm erleben. © 2021 MARVEL.
Charaktere:
Die Hauptprotagonistin in Lady Sif
Der Hauptprotagonist ist Heimdall

Ich fande alle Charaktere von Anfang an total sympathisch und liebenswert. Des weiteren gibt es noch ein paar andere Charaktere. . Meiner Meinung nach sind alle Charakter sehr gelungen und haben einen sehr guten Platz im Buch bekommen.
Meinung:
!!!! Achtung !!! Könnte Spoiler erhalten!!!

Als großer Marvel Fan habe ich mich sehr auf dieses Buch gefreut. Allerdings wurden meine Erwartungen nicht so ganz erfüllt. In dem Buch ging es um Heimdall und um Asgard und um den Kopf des Mimirs. Teilweise fande ich, dass die Geschichte sehr in die Länge gezogen wurde. Gut fande ich aber, dass ich ein bisschen Hintergrundgeschichte erfahren habe. Es sind total viele verschiedene Wesen von Asgard aufgetaucht, er war sehr Actionreich. Teilweise ein bisschen zu viel Übertreibung. Mir hat es gut gefallen, dass sich Heimdall mit seiner Schwester, Lady Sif, ab un zu mal gestritten haben bzw sich gegenseitig geneckt haben. Wie es halt so üblich ist bei Geschwistern.
Mein Fall war das Buch leider nicht so ganz, Deshalb vergebe ich hier auch nur 3 Sterne. Vielleicht gefällt es ja jemand anderen besser als mir.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oggi sono qui per parlarvi di un'altra bellissima opera arrivata nelle nostre librerie.
Come sapete sono una grandissima amante del genere quindi quando mi è stata data l'opportunità di leggere l'opera potevo mai rifiutare? Certo che no!
　　
Per tutti i fan della Marvel e di Thor arriva in libreria la nuovissima serie di romanzi inediti Legends of Asgard.
　
Il primo volume, La Testa di Mimir, vede protagonista un giovanissimo Heimdalll, si, esatto, proprio il guardiano del Bifrost.
Non avendo ancora trovato il suo posto nel mondo ma essendo tanto coraggioso, quando la testa di Mimir - fonte di saggezza - scompare dal Palazzo di Odino, Heimdall parte insieme a sua sorella Sif alla ricerca nei Dieci Regni, dove insidie e pericoli vari di certo non mancano.
Ma se fosse tutta una trappola orchestrata da antichi nemici? Approfittando del sonno si Odino, i Giganti di Ghiaccio sono pronti ad attaccare.
　
D'accordo, lo so che questa non è la storia di Loki e Thor, anche io ci sono rimasta male, però ragazzi credetemi che vale mille volte uguale!
E poi sia Heimdall che Sif sono personaggi stupendi!
Scritto in maniera avvincente, questo romanzo è in grado di accontentare chi è già fan e al tempo stesso di incuriosire chi magari non si è mai neppure avvicinato alla mitologia nordica.
Il modo accattivante della narrazione permette di divorare le pagine velocemente il che nonostante il tema un po' pesante, rende tutto molto più fluido e leggero.
Super consigliato a tutti gli appassionati e a chi si avvicina al mondo per la prima volta.

[George Giotsas · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're in the Marvel Universe, where the gods of Asgard are at war with the Frost Giants, who are steadily gaining ground against the gods. Odin's sleep has lasted much longer than usual and young Heimdall fears that the combination of these two events is no coincidence. There is a traitor in Asgard. Driven by his suspicions, Heimdall will discover that Mimir's head has been stolen. So, along with his sister, Sif, he is called upon to find and retrieve the Head of Mimir before the Frost Giants take over the kingdom of Asgard.

It's a great story, especially for fans of Marvel and Norse mythology. Yeah, I know Marvel doesn't exactly follow the mythology, but it's always nice to see characters like Heimdall and Sif fight off various creatures in order to save Asgard.

The book is very video game-like in the sense that there is a central character and his sidekick, who must go through various stages (or chapters) in order to reach their goal. As the story progresses, the difficulties they face become more difficult, while mini-bosses appear that the protagonists must defeat.

Obviously it doesn't win any literary awards, but like other Marvel or DC books, it offers a very enjoyable and light reading.

It would be a great video game.

[Lysda Smythe · Rating 1 out of 5]

J'ai abandonné à 64% du libre (selon ma liseuse). A la fin, je lisais en accéléré tellement ça me saoulait. Ce roman de l’univers Marvel retrace les aventures des personnages de Thor : Heimdall et sa sœur Sif. Je ne savais plus du tout que Sif était sa soeur, mais bon.
Accusés à tort de meurtre (d'ailleurs la scène est si mal écrite qu'on voit tout de suite que le garde tué à été tué par les méchants, pas par Sif et Heimdall qui l'ont juste assommé, c'est ridicule !!!) ils doivent fuir et trouver la preuve de leur innocence en traversant les mondes magiques. Ni particulièrement épique (comme l’évoque faussement la couverture : déception immense, pas de héros qui se précipite sur un dragon mais bien un gars, Heimdall, qui joue aux échecs avec un dragon), ni fluide (comprendre très chiant), les 380 pages n’apportent rien aux non-initiés ou aux fans.
C'est du fanservice pur pour les initiés à la mythologie nordique, et encore car les mondes sont bien réécrit à la guimauve parce que Marvel a des valeurs, quand même.
C'est écrit avec les pieds, et en conclusion je dirais que je préfère revoir Thor 1 (qui était quand même bien nul) plutôt que de continuer.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meine Meinung:

Die Geschichte von Heimdall und Sif, die sich auf den Weg machen, um Mimirs Kopf zurück zu holen, ist eine klassiche Abenteuergeschichte. Und eine sehr gute. Wie die beiden mit Kampfgeist, Geschick und Humor immer wieder neue Gefahren meistern und schwierige Situationen überstehen, wird mitreißend und actionreich erzählt. Trotz der Begegnungen mit grausamen Riesen und anderen Kreaturen der nordischen Mythenwelt ist der Erzählstil aber nie gewollt blutig oder übertrieben grausig. Für mich ein echter Pluspunkt, denn ich lese solche Geschichten wegen der Spannung und der Freude darüber, wie der Held die Situation meistert und nicht, weil ich das Gefühl mag, dass Blut aus den Seiten trieft. Da sich die Geschichte um Heimdall dreht, wird eher mit Köpfchen und List gearbeitet, auch wenn er und Sif sich immer wieder auch als fähige und mächtige Kämpfer*in beweisen.

Die Charaktere sind sympathisch, die Szenen spannend und die Geschichte geradlinig. Richtig gutes Lesefutter.

Den fünften Stern bekommt das Buch nur wegen der Längen bei der Erzählung um Yggdrasil nicht.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich fand Der Kopf des Mimir unglaublich spannend. Ich mochte Heimdall in den Filmen schon sehr und war umso neugieriger was in dieser Geschichte wohl geschrieben steht. Es hat sich wirklich gelohnt, es war spannend erzählt und auch einige witzige Momente waren dabei. Ich mochte die Kombination zwischen Sif und Heimdall, sie haben sich zwar oft geschwisterlich geneckt, aber man wusste immer sie würden sich gegenseitig niemals im Stich lassen. Obwohl es oft genug die Situation da war um den anderen zurück zu lassen.
Ich fand es auch sehr schön das es eine Geschichte in einer Geschichte war und wir noch mehr von Asgard kennen lernen konnten.
Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm, leicht verständlich und sehr flüssig zu lesen. Ich kann Der Kopf des Mimir jeden Marvel und auch Thor Fan empfehlen, es ist definitiv eine Geschichte die man gelesen haben muss.

[Kristen (belles_bookshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Reflections can't exist in the absence of light."

Young Heimdal and Sif (who are siblings, I guess in the comics? Or in Norse mythology? I have no idea - but they're siblings here), come to realize that the Odinsleep is maybe more of an Odinspell this time around. That, combined with the theft of the Head of Mimir (who gives Odin prophecies and knowledge) send them on adventures through many of the lands of Yggdrasil.

There's winged Valkyrie steeds and dragons and an large plot centered around Lady Amora, who I only know from Loki: Where Mischief Lies, so that was definitely helpful having read that before.

[Dragonreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die nordischen Göttersagen einmal anders aufbereitet. Das Buch war schon sehr interessant geschrieben und bietet einen Blick in die Vorgeschichte der Götter, hier speziell Heimdall. Es lässt sich gut lesen und ist etwas, was ich so nicht erwartet hatte. Die Charaktere sind nett ausgearbeitet und man kann sich in sie gut hineinversetzen. Ich fand es recht kurzweilig und wenn man nicht so sehr viel Wert auf die korrekte Darstellung der altgermanischen Götter legt und an die Filme um Thor denkt, macht es Spaß das Buch zu lesen. Für mich war es dann ein wenig zu actionlastig, doch für zwischendurch nett.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Marvel story. A story taking place while Odin is still sleeping his Odinsleep. The chapters are short and hence the story moves along at a nice pace. Yet, the characters are rather shallow and I wish there had been a bit more depth to them.

A solid story for fans of the Marvel franchise.

[Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lectura muy entretenida llena de tensión y momentos épicos. La dinámica entre Sif y Heimdall está muy lograda, y cada capítulo tiene algo interesante. Además que la mitología nórdica está muy bien explicada. Sí es verdad que el giro final es un poco predecible, pero fuera de eso, es un libro que he disfrutado bastante.

[Paulo Jorge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more from this title. It's a good story but i got the feeling that it could be told in half the pages. And it's not so epic as advertised.

[A_davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rip roaring adventure with a great moral for teens and adults.

[Tobias Lindqvist · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have loved this when I was 15 years old.

[Maris Krivtezs · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is 6 out of 10. This is an interesting fairy tale, but it has dumb characters 🙂

[Jordan Meuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to learn why Heimdall is the way he is? Want to see yggdrasil like never before. So many unique moments in this feel good adventure

[Zoe Narccissa Malfoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

el libro está bien solo no es de mi estilo

[Claudia Harauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tja hier steht Marvel drauf aber es ist irgendwie nicht drin.
Marvel steht für Comic, aber das ist hier nicht der Fall, hier bekommt man die Geschichte von Heimdall und Sif wie sie eine Verschwörung aufdecken und zu Göttern werden. Mehr verrat ich nicht, es ist quasi eine Reise durch die Welten auf der Suche nach Mimirs Kopf.

Nordische Götter muss man mögen, ihre Geschichten zu lesen ist etwas ganz anderes als Filme darüber zu lesen. Die Hirachie und Geschichte sind wesentlch komplexer und umfangreicher als bei den Griechen und Römern und eben auch nicht so geläufig, deswegen ist das Lesen finde ich auch komplizierter, weil man meistens gar nichts weiß über die Götter.

Wer sich für die nordische Mythologie interessiert ist hier richtig, inwieweit sich das ganze aber mit der Edda usw deckt, weiß ich aber nicht.

Viel Spaß beim Lesen!

[Kerstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mit »Marvel | Legenden von Asgard – der Kopf des Mimir« ist nun ein neuer Band auf dem Markt, in dem das vielfältige bisher bekannte Universum der Filme um eine weitere Hintergrundgeschichte bereichert wird.
In Anlehnung an klassische nordische Sagen (von denen er sich allerdings teilweise weit entfernt) erzählt Richard Lee Byers hier vom jungen Heimdall, der eine Verschwörung gegen Odin wittert und sich über diverse Hindernisse hinwegsetzt und nicht nur sein Leben, sondern auch das seiner Schwester Sif aufs Spiel setzt, weil er der Sache hartnäckig auf den Grund gehen muss.
Die Geschichte ist dabei nett und eher in Jugendromanformat erzählt und liest sich ganz flott, wenngleich eher unspektakulär. Heimdall und Sif erleben allerlei Abenteuer, besuchen mehrere der Welten, die an Yggdrasil, dem Weltenbaum, hängen, und auch dessen Quellen, und begegnen diversen wundersamen und sagenhaften Kreaturen. Im Großen und Ganzen macht das durchaus Spaß, gleicht jedoch eher dem Anschauen eines Films, bei dem man auch mal den Kopf abschaltet, haut einen jetzt aber auch nicht von den Socken. Wer ein bisschen nette Unterhaltung sucht, sollte mal einen Blick wagen.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieses Buch ist definitiv ein Muss für jeden Marvel- Fan. Wir erfahren hier die Vorgeschichte von Heimdall und wie er zu dem Mann wurde der er jetzt ist. Man bekommt neue Einblicke und Geschichten rund um Asgard, den Weltenbaum und dessen Welten, die sehr interessant sind und die meisten Marvel-Fans sicher noch nicht wussten. Es ist sehr spannend zu verfolgen wie die Geschwister sich auf das Abenteuer ihres Lebens machen. Der Schreibstil ist einfach und flüssig, weshalb es einem schwer fällt mit dem Lesen aufzuhören. Die Charaktere sind sympathisch wurden gut herausgearbeitet. Auch wenn es ein sehr gelungenes Buch für Fans der Thor Filme ist, ist es auch für Einsteiger in dieses Universum geeignet, weil hier kein Vorwissen benötigt wird. Eine sehr gelungen und humorvolle Abenteuergeschichte.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Asgard under siege by armies of Frost Giants, and Odin trapped in an unusually long Odinsleep, the thoughtful young warrior Hemidall worries that his fellow Asgardians are underestimating their enemies. Speculating that something supernatural is affecting his king’s sleep, Heimdall and his sister Sif slip into Odin’s inner sanctum and find that the Head of Mimir, a powerful relic said to possess great wisdom, has been stolen. Despite the evidence of an intruder, and the suggestion of a traitor in Asgard’s court, Heimdall and Sif soon find themselves on the path to Jotunheim alone, desperate to recover the relic, foil the Jotuns’ plans, and redeem themselves in the eyes of Asgard.

Drawing from both the original Norse myths and the high fantasy stylings of the Marvel stories, this nicely blends together its influences to create something enjoyably different. For readers familiar with one or more of the comics/movies/myths this offers a fresh perspective and its own unique take on these characters, while finding a satisfying balance between fantasy and mythology. It’s more tell than show – it doesn’t truly get inside its characters heads – but that’s an intentional choice, and what this style lacks in deep character studies it gains in energy and momentum.

Read the full review here: https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/10/...