Odd and the Frost Giants

I stumbled upon this and thought it might be appropriate for my 10-year-old. As I read it, I was pleased to learn that not only was it a sweet story but it incorporated some of those Avengers characters that she loves and talked about them in a more traditional way (not modern, HD comic-book-hero action story). We both enjoyed it. It's always nice to find good books for kids in the Kindle version and that are inexpensive.

This is a novella about the Norse gods and a little boy named Odd. Odd is a little boy with crippled foot, who stumbles upon some animals in the forest. The animals are really Thor, Odin and Loki, who during a festival got drunk, which allowed the Frost Giants to banish them from Asgard. It's a well written story, but I'm not sure it's really a good book for children.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a very cool story about a Viking boy and his adventure with three gods trapped on Midgard... but really the story is a celebration of the individual, and the potential that we all have but most do not tap into.

A fantastic short story with Neil Gaiman's classically delicious narration. You will be surrounded by a cloud of whimsy and yet profound meaning while reading this tale. Excellent read for all ages.

Fun to read: the good guys all win, and the bad guys aren't too bad to stand. Four stars because the accompanying audiobook has annoying mood music in the background which makes the words difficult to understand.

Magical......................A wonderful story of a poor boy who had been dismissed in Midgard, but not by Asgard. I will reread this myself and get a hard copy to read to my granddaughter. Thank you Mr. Gaiman for a delightful read.

A wonderful novelette by Neil Gaiman. I could call it a children's tale, but Gaiman, as always, has a way of writing that inspires and tickles the mind of any age. This tale in particular has the added device of being written as something of the type of lore which brings it quite believably into the realms of mythological canon. I was brought up in a house that relished in tales from all mythologies, but especially in those from the ancient Norse. This story would fit right in. It is written simply enough to be a bedtime story and yet reverentially enough for the stories of old that one could imagine it slipping quietly into a far more academic and dusty collection of books. It is fabulous and I would recommend to anyone seeking a little wonder.

To me, this is Neil Gaiman off on a tangent. it's an interesting read but got a little windy and boring. I personally would have liked a little more depth to the main character but oh well. Still a good read.

I LOVE genre fiction, but to be honest, I just can't get into Neil Gaiman at all. I read this one out loud to my 5- and 7-year old sons, and they just loved it. It's good for an hour or two of reading aloud. I asked them how many stars I should give it. One said 5 and the other said 4.

I found this to be a very good read, especially the parts featuring the 3 creatures, However parts of the book featuring Odd only became.... a bit boring and contrived. In addition, the book was over far too fast with a conclusion that seemed to negate any effect the book could possible have.

Again, this was a good read, something simple and easy to digest, but nothing to write home about.

I bought this for my Girlfriend who is a huge Neil Gaiman fan and she loves it, great story and the book arrived quickly and in excellent condition. All in all, I am pleased with this purchase and would buy from here again.

I am a BIG Gaiman fan. From American Gods to The Graveyard Book to Coraline, I have read everything he has written. But by the 20 page, I was bored. I quiet by page 72. To create a classic hero tale, the reader must find something intriguing about the hero. For me, that never happened. I never cared enough about the main character - he was not heroic or quirky or intelligent. There was nothing special about him.

This will not turn me off from Gaiman. If you have not read any of his books, please do. He is an interesting Gothic writer.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

I liked Odd from the first moment he first appeared in the plot. Not only was he a brave kid, he was kind and compassionate as well. He’d been through several difficult experiences before his journey began in this tale, but he didn’t allow those memories to overshadow all of the happier times he hoped were on the way for him.

The adventures that Odd had with the Norse gods he met while spending time alone in the woods were fantastic. Their quest was an exciting one. Asgard was full of all sorts of unusual and wonderful things that have never existed here on Earth. One of my favorite parts of their visit to that land happened at a pool of water that Odd and his friends visited right after they arrived there. It set the scene nicely for everything that happened after that point, and it was also a lot of fun to imagine what it would be like to visit that pool myself.

There’s nothing better than witty dialogue, and this book was full of it. The gods all had funny takes on how they should speak to a young boy who was far away from home and a little frightened. They definitely didn’t seem like they were used to spending time with human children at all. This made some of their conversations with Odd sound delightfully strange, especially when they were trying to reassure him but completely missed the point of what was scaring him.

Odd and the Frost Giants is the perfect choice for anyone who loves fairytales or adventure stories.

originally posted at long and short ya reviews

I first fell in love with Norse mythology when I was in middle school. After devouring as much Greek mythology as I could find, I found myself hungry for more stories and naturally turned to Norse mythology. I’ve been happy to see a bit of an uptick of popular interest in Norse mythology recently, no doubt due to the success of the Marvel Thor movies.

Whether you enjoy the actual mythology or the Hollywood Chris Hemsworth version, you’ll likely enjoy Gaiman’s story. Heck, even if you know nothing of Thor and the other Norse gods, you’ll likely enjoy the book. It is only around one hundred pages, and a quick read, but still very satisfying. True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology.

True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology.

Best part: a nine year old boy wants to make a rainbow. He knows rainbows live over the waterfall in the summer, but now it is winter. So he cuts a piece of ice into a triangle and puts it in sunlight ... and spills a rainbow on the ground. Hm, but rainbow bridges are supposed to be in the sky? No, this works too if you just ... jump in.

Welcome to the Northland, where Odin, Thor, Loki, and other gods fight with Frost Giants - and humans just try to stay out of the way.

Spoilers ahoy.

Bad things come in threes: Odd is crippled at 8 years old when he swings his father's big axe at a big tree. He has his father's axe because Father died on the ship. Father died doing a crewmates job, because he died first. That's the first three.

2nd three bad things: Mom remarries, the man and his children are mean to Odd, Odd leaves home in midwinter.

Odd goes to his father's wood-cutter's cottage in the woods. A fox leads him to a bear caught in a honey tree. Above the tree is a huge eagle. Now, should Odd run from the bear (wisdom) or help the bear out of the trap (kindness)? Odd chooses kindness over wisdom, and starts an adventure.

The animals are the gods in disguise, but not by their own choice. Odd will have to find the rainbow bridge, or MAKE a rainbow to be a bridge, and fight the frost giant that tricked the gods. All by his crippled self. Clearly, a trick will work better than a fight.

What trick? It's a good one. Read to find out.

When Odd comes back to Middle Earth, he finds his mother has left her new husband. Odd takes her on an adventure. End.

Neil Gaiman takes on Norse mythology with his tale of a lame young Norse boy named Odd, who encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle in the frozen woods one day, only to discover that they are Thor, Loki, and Odin, on the run after Asgard is overrun by Frost Giants. They need Odd’s help to regain the kingdom and end the forever winter that the Frost Giants have spread throughout Midgard (and possibly, all of the realms). Is Odd smart enough to outwit the Frost Giants?

Gaiman adapts his storytelling voice for this story (as opposed to his dark fantasy voice that you can read in works like Coraline and Graveyard Book). The book is filled with his wry humor, especially in the interactions between Thor, Loki, and Odin – he gives Loki a particularly amusing voice, being the God of Mischief in the guise of a wily fox. Gaiman also excels at writing quiet, mild characters that achieve greatness through intelligence – Odd is yet another quiet Gaiman hero. Quiet kids will love how Odd uses his wits to save the day, rather than charging around Asgard swinging a war hammer and screaming for blood.

Brett Helquist’s art enhances Gaiman’s story with beautiful black and white sketches. The artwork lends a real authenticity to the Norse tale; the work could hail from a hoary, old tome, found in an old castle, it has such a wise old sense of timeliness about it.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

I liked Odd from the first moment he first appeared in the plot. Not only was he a brave kid, he was kind and compassionate as well. He’d been through several difficult experiences before his journey began in this tale, but he didn’t allow those memories to overshadow all of the happier times he hoped were on the way for him.

The adventures that Odd had with the Norse gods he met while spending time alone in the woods were fantastic. Their quest was an exciting one. Asgard was full of all sorts of unusual and wonderful things that have never existed here on Earth. One of my favorite parts of their visit to that land happened at a pool of water that Odd and his friends visited right after they arrived there. It set the scene nicely for everything that happened after that point, and it was also a lot of fun to imagine what it would be like to visit that pool myself.

There’s nothing better than witty dialogue, and this book was full of it. The gods all had funny takes on how they should speak to a young boy who was far away from home and a little frightened. They definitely didn’t seem like they were used to spending time with human children at all. This made some of their conversations with Odd sound delightfully strange, especially when they were trying to reassure him but completely missed the point of what was scaring him.

Odd and the Frost Giants is the perfect choice for anyone who loves fairytales or adventure stories.

originally posted at long and short ya reviews

I first fell in love with Norse mythology when I was in middle school. After devouring as much Greek mythology as I could find, I found myself hungry for more stories and naturally turned to Norse mythology. I’ve been happy to see a bit of an uptick of popular interest in Norse mythology recently, no doubt due to the success of the Marvel Thor movies.

Whether you enjoy the actual mythology or the Hollywood Chris Hemsworth version, you’ll likely enjoy Gaiman’s story. Heck, even if you know nothing of Thor and the other Norse gods, you’ll likely enjoy the book. It is only around one hundred pages, and a quick read, but still very satisfying. True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology.

True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology.

Best part: a nine year old boy wants to make a rainbow. He knows rainbows live over the waterfall in the summer, but now it is winter. So he cuts a piece of ice into a triangle and puts it in sunlight ... and spills a rainbow on the ground. Hm, but rainbow bridges are supposed to be in the sky? No, this works too if you just ... jump in.

Welcome to the Northland, where Odin, Thor, Loki, and other gods fight with Frost Giants - and humans just try to stay out of the way.

Spoilers ahoy.

Bad things come in threes: Odd is crippled at 8 years old when he swings his father's big axe at a big tree. He has his father's axe because Father died on the ship. Father died doing a crewmates job, because he died first. That's the first three.

2nd three bad things: Mom remarries, the man and his children are mean to Odd, Odd leaves home in midwinter.

Odd goes to his father's wood-cutter's cottage in the woods. A fox leads him to a bear caught in a honey tree. Above the tree is a huge eagle. Now, should Odd run from the bear (wisdom) or help the bear out of the trap (kindness)? Odd chooses kindness over wisdom, and starts an adventure.

The animals are the gods in disguise, but not by their own choice. Odd will have to find the rainbow bridge, or MAKE a rainbow to be a bridge, and fight the frost giant that tricked the gods. All by his crippled self. Clearly, a trick will work better than a fight.

What trick? It's a good one. Read to find out.

When Odd comes back to Middle Earth, he finds his mother has left her new husband. Odd takes her on an adventure. End.

Neil Gaiman takes on Norse mythology with his tale of a lame young Norse boy named Odd, who encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle in the frozen woods one day, only to discover that they are Thor, Loki, and Odin, on the run after Asgard is overrun by Frost Giants. They need Odd’s help to regain the kingdom and end the forever winter that the Frost Giants have spread throughout Midgard (and possibly, all of the realms). Is Odd smart enough to outwit the Frost Giants?

Gaiman adapts his storytelling voice for this story (as opposed to his dark fantasy voice that you can read in works like Coraline and Graveyard Book). The book is filled with his wry humor, especially in the interactions between Thor, Loki, and Odin – he gives Loki a particularly amusing voice, being the God of Mischief in the guise of a wily fox. Gaiman also excels at writing quiet, mild characters that achieve greatness through intelligence – Odd is yet another quiet Gaiman hero. Quiet kids will love how Odd uses his wits to save the day, rather than charging around Asgard swinging a war hammer and screaming for blood.

Brett Helquist’s art enhances Gaiman’s story with beautiful black and white sketches. The artwork lends a real authenticity to the Norse tale; the work could hail from a hoary, old tome, found in an old castle, it has such a wise old sense of timeliness about it.

What an 'odd' but wonderful story this was to read. It is embedded in Norse mythology and really focuses on Thor, Loki and Odin in the forms of a bear, a fox and an eagle - respectively. Odd, a Viking kid, with a damaged leg, leaves his mother's home who has remarried after his father's death to live in his father's cabin in an isolated and hard to get to area.

He ends up meeting those creatures, and sets off on an adventure with them to win back Asgard from the Frost Giants. Throughout the journey, they meet with obstacles, mystery and puzzles, and those are usually resolved by Odd, who seems to be quite good at figuring things out.

I particularly loved the ending, and the transformation and character development of Odd. It was nice to read a children's story that wasn't filled with complexity, but quick and straightforward and to the point. And the illustrations by Chris Riddell are absolutely fantastic!

I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's storytelling, so I had very high expectations for this book. I listened to the audiobook and I honestly have no complaints about Neil's narration, he is so easy to listen to and reads excellently. However, the story fell a little short for me. I am an adult reviewing this younger reader's book, but I honestly think that this book would be hard to understand for a younger reader. There were just too many concepts that I think young readers might find hard to grasp. As an adult reader I enjoyed the story, but found it almost too simple. This is one of those books that is stuck between many categories and was written for a specific kind of reader. It was not my favorite Neil Gaiman book, but it was worth the read or listen to for any Gaiman fan.

Review first published on jenasbookreviews.blogspot.com

Odd is an unusual sort for a Viking boy. His father was killed while out on a raid and before his mother remarried he went out to provide for them and a tree fell and crushed one of his legs. Now the winter isn't ending as it should and everyone is getting crankier as a result. Odd decides to escape his house (and his stepfather) and stay in his father's workshop to get away from all of it. While there, he is summoned by a fox to help a trapped bear. The fox is really Loki and the bear is Thor while the raven flying overhead is Odin. They have been trapped in these forms by a Frost Giant that has taken over Asgard and Odd may be just the one person in all the realms who can help them trick the giant and regain their forms.

A lovely tale and I love that it's Odd's cheerfulness and cleverness that wins the day rather than brute strength.

A very short book -- the unabridged audiobook lasts less than two hours at normal speed -- that showcases Neil Gaiman's great storytelling skills and love for Norse mythology. His original tale of a young disabled boy's chance encounter with Thor, Loki, and Odin fits well with the established myths, yet requires no background knowledge in that area to enjoy. Perhaps due to its length the story isn't gripping me the way Gaiman does at his best, but this would be a fine introduction to his style for younger readers.

A boy named Odd lives by himself in a village in Norway. Odd's leg was shattered when a tree fell on it, so he walk rather slowly and deliberately. His father died many years prior and his Mother remarried. Odd's stepfather wants nothing to do with him and sees him as useless. Thus Odd lives on his own, fending for himself at a young age. One day while out in the forest, Odd comes across a fox. He follows the fox through the woods and stumbles across a bear. The bear is stuck with his hand caught in a tree. Odd decides to free the bear, not thinking about what danger the bear could pose to him. It seems the bear understands him when Odd tells that he means no harm and will free him. Once freed, the bear eats the honey from the tree (the reason for him getting stuck). The bear pays no mind to Odd and let's him go. But Odd finds that he is lost and unsure how to get back home, having followed the fox deep into the woods. The fox reappears and it and the bear, and an eagle seem to guide Odd back to his house. Not content to wait outside all night, the three animals follow Odd into the house. They all retire for the night after a hearty dinner. Odd hears talking in the middle of the night and wakes up to discover the animals can speak. It seems they are Odin, Thor, and Loki, all Norse Gods who have been cursed into animal shape and banished from their homeland by a Frost Giant. They need Odd's help to return to their world and defeat the Frost Giant. Odd's wit will be put to the test to free the Gods and banish the Frost Giant.

What a cute little story! Odd is not the strongest or fastest boy, but he is clever. He is able to put his kindheartedness and his willingness to listen to good use in this story. What super powerful Gods and Giants aren't able to accomplish, Odd is able to by listening and helping others see what they really want. Good life lessons wrapped in a fun short story package. Made all the better by listening to Neil Gaiman read it to me.

Opening lines: ‘…There was a boy called Odd, and there was nothing strange or unusual about that, not in that time or place…’

Odd is a twelve-year-old Viking boy, in his language ‘Odd’ doesn’t mean strange it means the tip of a blade, and was considered to be a lucky name. Unfortunately, just recently, Odd has not been so lucky. Firstly his father died during a Viking raid – not heroically in battle but after rescuing a pony that had fallen overboard. Secondly Odd had injured his leg in a tree-felling incident and is now permanently crippled, and finally his mother remarried a loud and noisy man that Odd hates. Odd is a quiet lad, so in a society that is focussed on bravery, adventure stories and physical perfection he doesn’t fit in. When ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS opens winter is lingering and food is short and tempers getting high. Odd decides to move into his father’s old cabin in the woods for some peace and quiet and sets off early one morning, on the way Odd manages to make friends with a bear, a fox and an eagle. As you would expect these creatures are more than they seem. Instead of being normal wild animals; ok, normal wild animals who talk, Odd's new friends are actually the mighty Norse gods Thor, Odin and Loki. When a drunken Loki tried to impress a pretty girl, a Frost Giant was able to take control of Asgard (one of the nine worlds that the Norse gods live in) and exile all three gods. The three gods now need Odd’s help to overthrow the Frost Giant and restore the gods to Asgard and bring spring to the land before the Viking world is changed forever. So starts Odd’s adventure.

Author Neil Gaiman has used some of the popular Norse myths to build this wonderful little story. While Odd is overlooked as a potential hero he is one smart little cookie and the story unfolds as Odd proves that while he may have disabilities he does have brains and that sometimes a brain is all you need. ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS is a great story filled with humour, inspiration, talking animals and adventure. Recommended for older children

Odd and the Frost Giants began life as one of those slim World Book Day volumes (available for £1 or free with a voucher given out at school) designed to encourage children to read and if ever there was a mythical adventure sure to fire the imaginations of reluctant young readers it is this. In fact, the tales of Odd proved so popular that Neil Gaiman has expanded slightly the original story (from 112 to 144 pages) and re-released Odd and the Frost Giants as this smart little illustrated hardback.

Odd is a lonely, introverted young Viking struggling to fit in with his boisterous stepfamily (his mother having married Fat Elfred after Odd's father was killed during a raiding expedition) and to cope with his crippled leg. Not long after his father's death, Odd had attempted to fell a tree with his newly inherited axe only for the tree to fall awkwardly and crush his foot. In a Viking society obsessed with bravery, tall-tales and physical perfection, Odd's personality and disability have marked him out as an oddity (although, interestingly, the name Odd actually means `the tip of a blade').

As the harsh Norwegian winter stretches on and on, Odd decides that he can no longer cope with living in the oppressive environment of the village and so he runs away. Hiding out in an isolated, snow-bound cabin, Odd befriends a bear, a fox and an eagle. Each of these creatures is more than they seem and each has a story to tell. Rather than being regular forest animals, Odd's new friends are actually the mighty Norse gods Thor, Odin and Loki. Loki was tricked into handing over Thor's magical Hammer to one of the Frost Giants and all three gods were then exiled from Asgard and trapped in animal form. It is up to Odd to overthrow the Frost Giants and restore the gods to Asgard before the Viking world is changed forever.

Neil Gaiman's love of mythology is obvious to those who are familiar with his adult novels such as American Gods and Anansi Boys and, although Odd and the Frost Giants is an original story, it is built on a foundation of popular Norse myths (for example, the tale of Mimir's Well). This use of mythology helps to ensure that Gaiman's story has a rich historical underpinning and a fabulous cast of already well-developed characters. The three main gods a delight and it is both fun and funny to witness their traditional attributes being embodied in their animal personas. Odd himself is a very sympathetic hero; despite the mammoth setbacks that he has experienced and his confirmed outsider status, he remains pleasant, friendly and caring. And, in the best Viking tradition, he is also brave and daring when it is really important to be so. Despite existing in a time and place very different from our Odd, the hardships that Odd endures and the way he determines to overcome them make him a very relatable character. Odd turns out to be a fun and dependable hero of similar style to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Anthony Horowitz's Alex Ryder.

The adventures that Odd must undergo in order to defeat the Frost Giants are exciting and suspenseful and Gaiman does an excellent job of maintain the fast pace and thrilling tone throughout the book. This hardback edition would make a lovely gift as Gaiman's wonderful story is beautifully complemented by Adam Stower's delightful illustrations. Odd and the Frost Giants is a fantastical adventure among Vikings, gods and giants that is sure to both thrill and amaze young readers.

3 adjectives to describe this book: adventurous, fanciful, captivating

This little book was really fun to read. At first glance it looks quite simple with it's large print and glorious illustrations (Brett Helquist), but Neil Gaiman's use of language really kicks it up a notch. Students who enjoy the Percy Jackson series will find a lot to love here, what with a kid saving the gods.

I'm not as familiar with Norse mythology as I'd like to be, but luckily I have seen the movie, Thor. Otherwise I think I would have had a hard time following the story. At only 117 pages, there's simply not enough space to fully develop the world so terms like Asgard and Rainbow Bridge are given just enough berth to allow the plot to unfold.

I really enjoyed the way Odd used logic to defeat the frost giants. This is a nice change from so many recent novels that rely on epic battles (ie Percy Jackson). I found Odd to be a terrific character. I hope that Neil Gaiman will tell more of his story in future installments.

UPDATE 5/7/2013 ~ My 5th graders are passing this book around like hot cakes. They love it! As mentioned above, I'm checking with each student to make sure they've watched Thor or otherwise understand references to Asgard and the Rainbow Bridge. They unanimously find this book "a bit strange," but also "really fun."

Odd is a Viking boy with a lame leg, a clever turn of mind, and a strong sense of self. When one of the harsh Norse winters threatens to continue unendingly, he leaves the safety of his village and sets off into the forest. While Odd isn't necessarily looking for adventure, it comes and finds him anyway, in the shape of a fox, an eagle and a bear. Odd's decision to travel with these three will change his future, and give him a place in legend.

Odd and the Frost Giants was lovely and brief and true. At the same time, it didn't skimp on the sorts of elements that boys and girls love: talking animals, epic adventure, riding bears and conquering giants! At the story's core are themes of transformation, story-telling, and discovering the secret desires of our hearts. There's also a strong dose of mythology and problem solving and several journeys toward home.

What I found most intriguing was Gaiman's use of the Norse gods as characters in the story. Gaiman has done this (weaving deities from many traditions into an original tale) before in his adult works, particularly in American Gods and Anansi Boys. While the gods' inclusion works mostly to highlight Odd's personal transformation, the hints at well-known story sagas and the mention of Thor's hammer (which even the uninitiated will recognize from recent Avengers films) should spark interest in traditional tales and further reading in general. And that is a marvelous thing.

Recommended for: young readers, fans of fantasy and mythology, and anyone looking for a quick read that will find its way into your heart.

(review originally posted at: [...]

An Asgardian fantasy for young people, Odd and the Frost Giants is a fun short read that is perfect for a bedtime read to little ones. I was able to keep the attention of my five year old through the adventures of this little adventurer that Gaiman constructed as a young man hammered into unusual circumstances and joined by a small unusual hunting group of companions.

ODD follows the standard Archetypal Hero’s journey, and is full of archetypes throughout to guide him on his quest. As someone who reads a tremendous amount, there was nothing to this book that was surprising to me, but the method to which Gaiman presented this tale is always the most engaging and fulfilling part of his work. It was whimsical and beautiful, and the straightforward and engaging text was easy to digest for my little boy’s short attention span.

I feel like I am a little bit over the Norse tale, but the new way of telling the story was enough to keep my mind occupied, so I didn’t mind it as much. A pleasure to read with a little one, and a brilliant little tale that any Gaiman fan will appreciate.

Neil Gaiman, <strong>Odd and the Frost Giants</strong> (Harper, 2009)

I have no idea why it has taken me so long to get around to reviewing <em>Odd and the Frost Giants</em>, Neil Gaiman's quirky (I wanted to use the term "odd" there, but, well, you know) little young-adult fantasy. I finished it back in July of 2011, and I'm finally kicking this review off in February of 2012. It's not that I didn't like the book; I did indeed, as much as I've liked the majority of the Gaiman I've read and a bit more than some. And yet I find I've never really had all that much to say about it. Why? I still don't know, but the review-plate needs to be cleared out, and for some reason my head said today's the day to do it.

Based on Norse mythology, our tale here deals with Odd, a young handicapped lad who finds himself tasked with some rather difficult goals by a trio of lackadaisical gods. (If this sounds a bit familiar, it should; Gaiman has trod this ground before in adult novels.) Being not-the-typical-mythological-hero, Odd has to come up with interesting and inventive ways to solve problems for his new pals--as well as weighing a number of difficult choices (some of which, and this should not be a spoiler alert if you know anything about Norse mythology, have no simple, or "right", answers) and puzzling out the path most likely to succeed.

It's nothing you haven't seen before, and the main reason to read it, as usual, is because it's written by Neil Gaiman, who it seems can take any plotline, no matter how well-trod (and how badly-served), and make it into something worth reading thanks to his eye for the off detail and a sense of dialogue that i've been trying to resist describing as "jaunty" for a decade now and have finally failed. And yet a week or so after I'd finished it, I had only the barest outline in my memory, a condition that persists to this day. As a benchmark, I still remember entire scenes from <em>American Gods</em>, which I read in 2004, and <em>Coraline</em>, which I read a couple of years later. None of which is to say you shouldn't read it, of course, but cmpared to some of Gaiman's other work, it feels like empty calories. ***

I did this book as an Audible book simply because Neil Gaiman narrates it. Anything I can listen to read by him is always a treat.

In this book, young Odd is a Viking out of sorts with his people. An injury to his leg prohibits him from going on a long journey - something most male vikings do - and his stepfather doesn't like him very much. As such, Odd decides to run away to his father's old hut out in the woods, but when he gets there, he encounters a bear, an eagle and a fox who have the ability to talk!

Odd soon discovers these creatures are more than what they seem, and he is swept away on a magical journey to Asgard where he must defeat the Frost Giants or leave Midgard to suffer an eternal winter.

This book is a wonderful coming-of-age tale told in Gaiman's unique storytelling. He's able to take Norse mythology and bring it to a modern-day telling without losing any of the magic associated with it and yet making it accessible to all ages.

Master storyteller Neil Gaiman infuses the world with a bit more of that special kind of magic that sparkles from the pages of his musings.

I've been a fan of Neil's since I bought my first issue of Sandman; an actual newly pressed first issue I might add. In all the years I've followed him as a writer, I've rarely found issue with his creative works. He is just one of those writers that I found a connection with from the get go. Hell, I even enjoyed the cheaply made Neverwhere miniseries for BBC. I love the underlying meanings and moral messages of his many stories. He has always struck me as a person "who gets it."

Odd is the son of a deceased Viking warrior, a man who had a majestic affinity for woodcraft. When not engaged in offshore raids, his father would chop wood for the fire pits and carve beautiful ornate statues or detailed figurines. Odd injured his leg trying to emulate his father's trade and, so now, finds himself handicapped--useless by village standards. His mother remarried a man with plenty of children of his own so, at best; the boy's relationship with his stepfather is tepid. To be honest, his relationship with the village as whole is less than stellar. Not by his hand I might add, he just smiles candidly and honestly. People usually find this matter-of-fact type of indomitable spirit unsettling, and well... odd.

Neil Gaiman has always been big on the power of names, and several of his tales, both short and long, make mention of it. Odd is definitely a young boy who lives up to his name's hype.

Odd seems destined to live a droll life of ineptitude, clawing at the fringes of Viking society and graciously accepting whatever scraps are tossed his way--a bleak, uninspiring existence. That is, until the cold frost lingers for far too long. Something is amiss; winter maintains its foothold and will not relent to spring. The village's way of life is threatened but no one will rise to the occasion.

This is where indomitable spirit comes into play. Odd, no longer wanting to be a burden, grabs his walking stick and his father's ax and sets off on a quest to unearth the mystery. From here, our unlikely hero stumbles upon a bear, fox and eagle that just happen to be three incredibly powerful Norse deities who are not very smart. Odd assists the trapped gods: Thor, Loki and Odin, with their task of reclaiming Asgard from a powerful enemy. He handles every trial and tribulation laid before him heroically, with fearlessness, spirit and sharp wits.

"Odd and the Frost Giants" is a coming of age tale; a story about the importance of believing in one's self, about overcoming handicaps with determination, about magic and facing life's obstacles with a grin.

The will to act, and the stumbles that ensue, is a mandatory ingredient for any person who takes that first step towards greatness. I highly recommend this tale about the beauty to be found within the odd.

Neil Gaiman's imagination knows no bounds. With "Odd and the Frost Giants," he somehow manages to make the story of Odd, a young crippled Norse boy dealing with the premature death of his father into a universal story of self-discovery and triumph.

It's not every day a young boy gets to save Asgard.

Odd, son of a Viking woodcarver, suffers an apparent misfortune when he accidentally crushes his own leg in a horrible accident. This misfortune is compounded by the early demise of his father, a heroic Viking who nevertheless preferred to spend his days releasing the inner statues locked inside blocks of wood. And yet Odd's reaction to life's misfortunes is to smile, oddly, at all the most inappropriate times.

And so it is that Odd may be the most likely person to stumble across three of the mightiest Norse gods - Odin, Thor, and Loki, trapped in animal bodies during a seemingly endless winter.

What follows in this novella is a brief yet riveting tale of self-discovery and triumph by an original, unlikely hero. This book is quite simply a must-read for any child who can read - a perfect little book for all ages.

The only reason I give this book 4 stars is that I don't think Gaiman has yet written any further stories about Odd. If he decides to write some sequels, further fleshing out this magnificent hero, I reserve the right to go to 5 stars.

This short story for children is basically everything I love about Neil Gaiman broken down into a quick 90 pages. The writing is fun and fluid with a knack for description that leaves just enough up to the imagination. The way he weaves the Norse Gods into his story is fun, exciting, and realistic. It gives just a little taste of what the Norse Gods are like, thus invoking curiosity about them in any reader (and what a better way to learn more about them than to go read Neil Gaimain's other books - American Gods, to be specific!) - which I think is exactly what is needed in a children's book. Any book that makes kids curious and inspires them to learn gets an A+ in my book.
In general, I find that Gaiman does adult novels and comics better than he does children's books. At least, I used to feel that way until the awesomeness of the Graveyard Book. This book aims at a younger audience than that of the graveyard book and still manages to be fantastic for an adult audience.
With Odd and the Frost Giants, Neil Gaiman shows that he is, indeed, able to take the awesomeness of his ideas and make them accessible to children. And yet, through it all, he throws in the occasional reference that children may not understand (and don't need to understand to appreciate the book) but that leave the adult riveted through the entire epic journey.
All in all, this book ends up being the perfect read for a mother or father to read to their child. Or for a child just getting into books. Or for an adult with a quick half hour in the waiting room.
It was just wonderful.
I don't think any more needs to be said. :-)

Odd is a twelve year old boy with a rough life. His father died in a Viking raid; his mother married a man that he hates; he shatter his leg when cutting down a tree; and the people who live in his village constantly ridicule and abuse him. So, in the spring, which actually is a supernaturally extended winter, Odd sets out with some food to his father's cabin to live by himself. He encounters a fox who guides him to a bear, who was seeking honey, trapped with its arm in a tree. Odd frees the bear and discovers that these animals (plus an eagle) can talk. They are actually gods that were duped into these forms by the Frost Giants that have taken over Asgard. The bear is Thor, the one-eyed eagle is Odin, and the fox is Loki. Can Odd get Asgard and if he gets there, can he do anything to help the gods reclaim their home?

Odd and the Frost Giants is a very short, but interesting read. I think of it like Neil Gaiman-light for younger readers. Odd is the lowest of the low in his village. He is constantly ridiculed and is viewed as practically useless because of his handicap, but he takes everything in stride with a smile. This clever and good natured hero is also seen in fairy tales where he solves his problems in unorthodox ways despite being low in the dominance hierarchy. I like that real life problems mix with fantastical ones, like the loss of his parent and the abuse from his stepfather. Anyone can relate to Odd because, whether they are old or young, the reader may have experienced similar misfortunes. The story basically follows Joseph Campbell's hero journey, which I love. This formula is used in many myths throughout history, including The Odyssey and Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth. This form, coupled with the Norse mythological figures, makes the literature nerd in me very happy.

I love Neil Gaiman's style of writing. He writes in seemingly simplistic sentences, but it's full of wit and humor that is instilled in all of his writing. The illustrations by Brett Helquist accompanied the story very well with his own unique style that I grew to love in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. I really liked the story, but I felt it was more like a short story than a novel. I would love to read more of Odd's adventures. Although Odd and the Frost Giants isn't my favorite book, I would still urge both children and adults to read it.

ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS is a wonderfully written tale by the always delightful Neil Gaiman. In this short chapter book based on Norse mythology, Gaiman tells the story of Odd, a young boy who is often dismissed by others due to his crippled leg. Odd's father died in a Viking raid when he was younger, and his mother then married the drunken rabble-rouser Fat Elfred, but she lost much of the joy she had before her husband died. These events shape Odd into the quiet and introspective boy he is, setting him apart from the other villagers who are prone to violence and hatred.

When Odd's story begins, his village is in the midst of a frightful winter. The Norse winters in Odd's village are always harsh, but unfortunately for young Odd and the rest of the community, this one is particularly brutal. The townspeople are trapped inside their homes, waiting for a spring that never seems to get closer. The longer they are confined, the more the men (including Odd's stepfather, Fat Elfred) drink. And the more these men drink, the more they fight. Odd decides to slip out and away from all the ruckus and commotion, and this decision sets him off on a journey that will change not only him, but the order of the known world.

That fateful winter, after leaving Fat Elfred's house, Odd sets out for his father's old woodcutting hut. Odd makes himself at home there as best he can and falls asleep. He isn't sleeping for long before a fox begins scratching at the hut and wakes the young boy. Odd decides to follow the animal out into the snow, and the fox leads him to a huge bear whose paw is trapped in a pine tree. As Odd frees the bear, he notices an eagle soaring overhead. The three animals (fox, eagle and bear) then follow him back to the hut where he feeds them and falls asleep. But he awakes once again, only this time to the sounds of the animals...animals that are deep in conversation with each other! He soon learns that the beasts are not beasts at all but actually the Norse gods Odin, Loki and Thor.

Tricked by a Frost Giant who has taken over the realm of Asgard, home of the gods, and claimed the beautiful goddess Freya as his own, the three deities are stuck in animal form and unable to reclaim their rightful places of power. But the unassuming Odd has an idea to help them reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Odd (with the gods in tow) travels to Asgard in an attempt to oust the Giant and restore the order of the universe. Encouraged by the memory of his father and the love of his mother, Odd displays bravery and cleverness against the Frost Giant, a creature of violence and malice.

There is a sweet and subtle moral to the tale: the "magic" Odd uses against the giant is simply "letting things do what they wanted to do or be what they wanted to be." This idea reflects on Gaiman's hero, who is true to himself and finds safe ways to allow others to be true to themselves as well. This self-honesty plays a vital role in the story, and Gaiman, like any good author, leaves the reader thinking more about his or her own life once the book is finished. In the end, the adventure Odd seeks is one of history, identity, familial loyalty and love. This is in contrast to the world of violence that Odd is all too familiar with.

Gaiman's tale is charming and magical; it has a lively pace and, refreshingly, takes the high road without being preachy. ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS has appeal for readers of all ages.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

Odd and the Frost Giants by: Neil Gaiman is a great book. It's a bit short but the details are really amazing. The book is about a regular boy named Odd. He finds these 3 animals, a fox, a bear, and an eagle. Odd thinks that he's doomed and will be eaten. The animals talk and say they are gods. Their names are Loki, Odin, and Thor. The story is very well plotted. The problem is that the frost giant took over the god's home and changed their forms to animals. Odd and the gods venture out and then Odd confronted the Frost Giant. Odd convinced the frost giant to leave and then Lady Flaya came out. She shaped the gods back to human form. They had a feast and Odd went home. Before He did Odin came up to Odd and presented him with a staff to take with him. He ended up walking with it for a long time.
I think that the purpose and theme of this book is to entertain readers with a short story. I think that the theme is to teach people that even a simple village boy can have a great adventure. I think this because Odd is a ordinary boy. Then he goes on a adventure and that is why I think this. The Arthur might have had this in mind too when he was writing the book.
In my opinion, the book is great. The book is good because the descriptions about different things are very detailed. It really paints a picture in your mind. I think that part of the reason I like it is because I know a lot about myths. This can help because you could understand the book better.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a fairy tale/legend style story of a strong, determined little boy named Odd, who despite being lame, alone and hated (by his new stepfather) finds his way in Norse life. Quiet and, well, odd, Odd is called on to help three gods, trapped in animal form on Earth by a vindictive giant who has seized their home. As the gods Loki, Thor and Odin spent more and more time trapped on earth they lose their selves to the bestial natures of a fox, a bear and an eagle respectively. With their home Asgard under the control of the Frost Giant spring cannot come to earth (Midgard) and the humans are doomed unless the gods resume their thrones, and their more human shapes.

Hard and a little cold himself, Odd, only ten, is who Loki finds to help the trio, and through a series of clever sets of problem solving Odd, a mere human, becomes the one smart enough and reliable enough to save the gods and spring. Besides containing a subtle message that humanity is the core of the deities' strength, Odd and the Frost Giants is also a smart, blood-free tale set in a Viking era that children and adults alike will find compelling, adventurous and easy to follow.

This remains one of books to cause the most anticipation in our family's nightly reading, and to engage the children strongly enough to keep them connected to the story, and to Odd, night after night (even on the nights we missed). Highly recommended for reading aloud and to give kids a taste of a world different from ours, but a little boy with all the same big feelings inside.

"I like this book. I like the part when Odd was happy to go home." ~Amber, 6

"I liked this book. The snow would not melt. The giant took Asgard. That giant was so angry!" ~Leif, 9

Odd and the Frost Giants by: Neil Gaiman is a great book. It's a bit short but the details are really amazing. The book is about a regular boy named Odd. He finds these 3 animals, a fox, a bear, and an eagle. Odd thinks that he's doomed and will be eaten. The animals talk and say they are gods. Their names are Loki, Odin, and Thor. The story is very well plotted. The problem is that the frost giant took over the god's home and changed their forms to animals. Odd and the gods venture out and then Odd confronted the Frost Giant. Odd convinced the frost giant to leave and then Lady Flaya came out. She shaped the gods back to human form. They had a feast and Odd went home. Before He did Odin came up to Odd and presented him with a staff to take with him. He ended up walking with it for a long time.
I think that the purpose and theme of this book is to entertain readers with a short story. I think that the theme is to teach people that even a simple village boy can have a great adventure. I think this because Odd is a ordinary boy. Then he goes on a adventure and that is why I think this. The Arthur might have had this in mind too when he was writing the book.
In my opinion, the book is great. The book is good because the descriptions about different things are very detailed. It really paints a picture in your mind. I think that part of the reason I like it is because I know a lot about myths. This can help because you could understand the book better.

Odd and the Frost Giants by: Neil Gaiman is a great book. It's a bit short but the details are really amazing. The book is about a regular boy named Odd. He finds these 3 animals, a fox, a bear, and an eagle. Odd thinks that he's doomed and will be eaten. The animals talk and say they are gods. Their names are Loki, Odin, and Thor. The story is very well plotted. The problem is that the frost giant took over the god's home and changed their forms to animals. Odd and the gods venture out and then Odd confronted the Frost Giant. Odd convinced the frost giant to leave and then Lady Flaya came out. She shaped the gods back to human form. They had a feast and Odd went home. Before He did Odin came up to Odd and presented him with a staff to take with him. He ended up walking with it for a long time.
I think that the purpose and theme of this book is to entertain readers with a short story. I think that the theme is to teach people that even a simple village boy can have a great adventure. I think this because Odd is a ordinary boy. Then he goes on a adventure and that is why I think this. The Arthur might have had this in mind too when he was writing the book.
In my opinion, the book is great. The book is good because the descriptions about different things are very detailed. It really paints a picture in your mind. I think that part of the reason I like it is because I know a lot about myths. This can help because you could understand the book better.

When it comes to Neil Gaiman, I find myself drawn to his children’s stories more than his adult fiction. Odd and the Frost Giants doesn’t disappoint. This charming, short tale is the classic underdog story. Only the underdog ends up chumming around with Oden, Loki, and Thor. Having read many of the Icelandic sagas, it was clear to me that Gaiman did his research. This story, although written for children, follows the tone, lore, and story type found in the original Norse sagas, which made it even more intriguing. With so little fiction for little boys, this book is a great read for youngsters. I would recommend reading it out loud to boys from age 7 through 12.

This is a Norse mythology fairy tale told about a boy named Odd who ends up helping a few old Norse Gods gain back their city from a Frost Giant. The mythology is in style and includes the same character Odin: king of the gods, as previously portrayed in American Gods. Gaiman obviously knows his mythology from American Gods, as well as Anansi Boys and he once again puts that valuable knowledge to use in this young adult tale.

Odd the protagonist is somewhat of a cast out from his village in Norway and looked upon as useless because he has a crippled leg and his father has passed away. But Odd soon finds out a way to be useful when he follows a fox that takes him to a bear with his paw caught in a tree, and Odd helps the bear out. While Odd is scared stiff of the bear he still does the right thing by releasing the bear. Odd then finds out that the bear and fox, along with an eagle are talking animals. In fact they are the old Norse gods Odin, Loki, and Thor who have been transformed into animals and cast out of their city Asgard, by a Frost Giant. This tale is how Odd helps the old gods and confronts the huge Frost Giant.

This tale is very fairy tale like and was smoothly written. This is a book that can easily be read in one sitting but still offers up a lot of story. In other words you'll read through it fast as you want to know what happens but the story is long enough to not feel cheated at such a quick read, there is some beef here. This tale obviously is for young adults and they are the ones whose imaginations would appreciate the wonders of this tale the most, but as an adult this was still a very entertaining read and is easily recommended to adults too.

I first heard about this book on Neil Gaiman's blog, when he talked about writing a book for Britain's World Book Day, an event in which writers and publishers donate their time and resources to create budget-priced books to help school age kids discover the joy of reading. I have to admire Neil for offering his time and talent to a wonderful project like this and I caught myself wishing I lived in Britain so I could get my hands on a copy easily. But thanks to the store, I was blessed to obtain this little gem, though not after two or three false starts when someone beat me to a budget-priced copy.

But the false starts were definitely worth it and besides its rarity, I can see why people are jumping to get this book. I think this is one of Neil's best books so far, on a par with his great works like "The Sandman Comics" and "American Gods". The tale itself is a classic Gaiman-esque revamp of a Norse myth, in which a young boy helps Odin, Thor and Loki out of a hairy situation when a Frost Giant steals Thor's hammer and Freya, the goddess of spring, thus plunging Midgard into a winter that just won't end. But this time, the young boy is a fully developed character, a crippled youngster named Odd whose cleverness and cheerfulness balance out his disability and helps him help the gods outwit the Frost Giant. The tone has a definite story-telling quality to it, and while it's clearly aimed for a young audience, older readers will enjoy it for its refreshingly knowing innocence (and one bit where the characters refer to Loki shape-shifting into a mare will get a chuckle out of older readers who know Norse myth).

Odd is a young man who lives with his mother and stepfather. His stepfather isn't what one would call a pleasant man, and one day Odd leaves home to live in his father's old woodcutting hut after things become too much at home.

One day he is awoken by scratches on his door. There was a fox, and it acted as if Odd should follow it, so he did. He sees a bear caught between two trees and helps the bear even though he knows it could mean his own demise. The bear does something out of character at this point and allows Odd to ride on his back all the way to his hut. Once there, the fox, the bear, and the eagle that had been around during the rescue were invited by Odd into his cabin. And that night is when Odd heard their conversation, which in turn sets the group out to defeat the Frost Giants.

I won't say more, but this old take on Norse mythology is a true delight to read. It's short, to the point, and unbelievably fascinating.

Notes on the Cover:
Truly this is one of the more unique book covers I've seen recently. The book is a hardback with a cloth covering over it. The illustration by Brett Helquist for the Cover is in color and accurate, so there's another score for this slim little book! Helquist also has some pencil illustrations in the book which really add to the delight of the story...I especially liked seeing the Frost Giant!

Finding and enjoying books for my daughter isn't always easy. Some books I'm not ready for her to check out yet, especially when she's only 6 years old. But when I saw "Odd and the Frost Giants" in our library, it looked like something that might capture her interest. And knowing that this is the same author of "Coraline," I decided to give it a shot.

The title caught my attention immediately. And my daughter asked with wonder if the big bear happened to be a Frost Giant. Nope, but we found out soon enough about these characters and where their travels would take them.

Odd is a young boy in ancient Norway, and he walks with a limp, with the help of a crutch. And he meets a fox, a bear and an eagle, who used to be gods. And they look to battle the frost giants. If not for the frost giants, there might actually be Spring, and Odd's fellow villagers might be more pleasant.

Being a book for kids, there probably could've been a little more to add. But for my daughter, it kept her attention. And being my first taste of reading Neil Gaiman, I'm interested in seeing what else he has to offer. It looks like he has some solid skills. I guess I'll find out in the future what he's capable of, because he has lots of fans out there. I want to know what they know! Can't wait to find out.

First, a disclaimer - I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman. His American Gods: A Novel was clever and witty; Anansi Boys was quite good, and The Graveyard Book was a brilliant retelling of a childhood favorite. Most of these are a bit beyond my daughter (yet). _Odd and the Frost Giants_, however, is both appropriate (in terms of plot and length) and by way of introducing the author to a younger audience.

The story is set in Scandanavia, presumably in the 8th or 9th century (given the allusions to "going on viking.") In a nutshell, Odd, the young hero, must save Asgard from the Frost Giants and save Wodin, Loki and Thor. The journey is "homeresque" (given how Odd typically uses his wits rather than force to solve most problems), with typical Gaiman wit. For me, it was a morsel as I await my summer reading to arrive - for my daughter, it was a journey that elicited frequent "Hey Dad - check this out!" interruptions as she shared a favorite passage or plot point. Given my taste for Gaiman and my daughter's enthusiasm, highly recommended for the 6 - 8 set.

This is a perfect little book. It welcomes the reader (or listener) into the presence of a master storyteller, sometimes wry but never snarky, who provides just the right level of detail to create specific characters and a specific landscape within the framework of a classic folktale. I can't think of a better introduction to Norse mythology (though I understand Gaiman is coming out with a whole book on that subject later this year).

This made me laugh. The pictures are charming, so it is worth having around just for that (there are different editions. I got the one with black and white drawings by Chris Riddell), and I loved the new take on Norse mythology and the off-kilter young hero who finds a way to solve a conflict between gods and giants.
It is short, but it would make an excellent family read aloud.

This is the second book I’ve read by Neil Gaiman and I really enjoyed it. I read it for VCFA and finished it in about a day. The illustrations are great too, as they are by Brett Helquist, who also illustrated all of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events books. I liked all the characters (they were really fun) and the way he told this Norse myth/tale, as well as the bits of absurdity thrown in there. Can’t wait to read more of his books!

Odd has a rough life -- first his father died, then his mother married the drunken Fat Elfric, and finally he had an accident that crippled his leg.

But the indomitable pleasantness of Neil Gaiman's sunny little Norseman is part of what makes "Odd and the Frost Giants" such a memorable story. Originally writing for the UK's World Book Day, Gaiman smoothly wove together Norse legend with exquisite prose and a quirky sense of humor. It's a glittering, icy story with a warm heart.

The Viking village that Odd lives in is wrapped in a freakishly long winter, which is threatening them with starvation. Since people are treating him even worse than usual, he goes off to live by himself in his father's old woodland cottage -- and after he rescues a bear with a trapped paw, he finds himself with three new animal roommates (the bear, a fox, and an eagle). They also talk.

It turns out that the three animals are not actually animals, but the mighty gods Thor, Odin and Loki. Loki was tricked into giving Thor's magical hammer to one of the Frost Giants, and all three were transformed into animals and banished from Asgard. Now the crippled "odd" boy must help the gods return to Asgard -- and somehow, he must also stop the Frost Giant that has conquered it.

The World Book Day is apparently to encourage children to read, but "Odd and the Frost Giants" is the kind of book that you don't need much encouragement to read. It's a truly enchanting, warm-hearted little fantasy story -- you've got magical animals that bicker relentlessly, a northern land locked in perpetual winter, and a trip to the world of the gods.

Though the story is his own, Gaiman wraps it around some real Norse legends (including the story of Asgard's wall and Mimir's Well). And it's full of exquisitely descriptive prose ("ice ran from the crags down to the basin in twisted ropes and great clear icicles") and dusts it with moments that are pure magic (the uncovering of the rainbow). And despite the eternal winter and the rotten stepfamily, the story is very warm-hearted -- it's nice to see the upbeat Odd fighting against impossible odds,

It's also very funny at times -- it turns out Freya has a sharp tongue and a bunch of scratchy cats, and the Frost Giant can be rather polite ("Would you mind if I picked you up? It would make it easier to talk if we were face to face...").

Odd is a hero that's easy to like -- he's kind, forgiving, pleasant and doesn't even let a crushed leg keep him down. His sunniness is a bit excessive at times (he invited a bear to eat him? Seriously?), but it's enjoyable to see him succeed. And Gaiman gives plenty of character to the bickering gods -- the quiet and stern Odin, the grumpy Thor and the perpetually sarcastic, silver-tongued Loki.

"Odd and the Frost Giants" is a brilliant little sliver of fantasy, and Neil Gaiman leaves you wanting to know what's ahead of his "odd" little hero.

My 4 and 6 year old boys listened to the audio book form (read by Neil Gaiman) on a recent car trip- and they loved it so much they wanted to stay in the car to finish the last 20 minutes. With boys who love all things Thor and Norse mythology- many of the Thor stories are either commercial comic book stories that are either too violent or just not appropriate for little guys- or the mythology stories are often really slow moving and hard for them to follow. I have read Lisa Lunge-Larson's adventures of Thor the Thunder God out loud to them so many times they have large sections of it memorized
[...]
Therefore when we found a Neil Gaiman story with our favorite trio of characters (Thor,Odin, and Loki) they were excited- and I was thrilled it was a wonderful read for even a little one- we just sort of skipped over the beginning part where the father drowns- which was really the only part "scary" for a young child. 5 stars!!!

No doubt some people will be thinking, "I've never heard of this!" which is understandable. Odd and the Frost Giants is a very slim (100 illustrated pages of reasonably big type) book that Neil Gaiman wrote for World Book Day last year. A whole bunch of copies turned up in my local Waterstones' YA department and at just £1 I decided it was worth a look.

The book follows the adventures of young Odd, a Viking boy whose father dies when he is young and he is crippled by a falling tree shortly thereafter. When a devastatingly bad winter afflicts his community, Odd takes refuse in his father's woodcutter hut, and meets an eagle, a bear and a fox. Things then take a very unexpected turn and Odd finds he has a problem to sort out with some very large people with a chilly disposition...

Odd and the Frost Giants is a very fast read, but it's still a lot of fun. This is Gaiman at his most playful and approachable, with none of the real darkness of his adult work (although occasional flashes show that Odd's life is not a happy one), but it works well for that. Those who enjoyed his depiction of Norse mythology in both Sandman and American Gods will also be interested in seeing him revisit the concept here in a much briefer form.

There isn't much more to say - this review is an appreciable percentage of the length of Odd itself - other than that this is a fast, entertaining read where Gaiman grabs the reader's attention and spins a fine yarn indeed

Odd and the Frost Giants (****) is no longer in print, but copies can be found the store.co.uk and the store.com, although copies in the US can be pricey for such a slim tome.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite writers. His fantasy novels are some of the most charming works of fiction you will ever read - NEVERWHERE, STARDUST and CORALINE are some of my favorite books of the past fifteen years.

ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS is a charming novelette by Gaiman, and written in the same whimsical style as the three books I just mentioned. If you liked those books, you should like this one too. I wouldn't rank ODD with Gaiman's best work, due to its very short length (about 14,000 words), but it's a treat to read, especially if you enjoy Norse mythology.

Bottom line: a great book for Gaiman fans, but newcomers should instead read one of his classic novels like NEVERWHERE or STARDUST, or his classic comic book series THE SANDMAN.

Based in Norse mythology, Odd and the Frost Giants is a charming read that reminds one of other children's fables and stories. There is a bit of Grimm's Fairy Tales in it, as well as some generally known Norse story lines. Fun to read as an adult, and my kids liked it too.

The voice is all Gaiman. The story is quirky and full of mixed up bits of Norse mythology. I loved the growth of Odd, the main character. He almost becomes a trickster/Jack descendant. The resolution was fun. Great for summer vacation or long drives...alone or read aloud.

I was really looking forward reading Gaiman's next children's book. It was a great read and a wonderful story.

Odd is a bit different from the rest of the Norse community he lives in. One night he wanders off to his deceased father's cabin to carve some wood and runs into a bear, an eagle, and a fox...and they can talk. Ends up that they are actually the Norse gods Thor, Odin, and Loki trapped in animal shape by a Frost Giant who stole Thor's hammer (with some unintended aid from Loki). Odd, not having much else to do, decides to help them get back to Asgard and get their fortress back from the Frost Giant.

This is a great story and it is told like a fairy tale or a fable, in typical Gaiman style. At times the story is quite funny and it is an inspiring tale about a boy just being who he is to help others. I really enjoyed it. This is a great story for all ages. Kids will enjoy the Nordic gods and their sardonic sense of humor; they will enjoy Odd and how a little boy helps change the world just by being himself. The Norse mythology is interesting and the way things are resolved without violence refreshing and ironic.

I loved this story and will keep it on my shelf to re-read and read to my son when he gets a bit older (he is only 3 right now). Another great Gaiman book. Great illustrations and a quick read. Everyone should give this book a read through.

Awesome quick read about the power of the under dog. Odd (the main character) is weak and small but only he can take on a monumental task that is needed to be done. Neil Gaiman does not disappoint (does he ever???) and delivers fun, action and a memorable book that you'll want to read again and share with others.

The story is short but you get so much out of the characters it doesn't take much time to care about them. I want to feel connected to characters so they come to life in my imagination while reading. At 52 I found this book endearing and well written. My grand daughter who is reads 4 levels higher than her grade loved the book as well and read it in a very short period of time. She can't wait to read more of his books, she is 7! I will be sending them to her because I have almost all of his work. It is amazing to me that most of the stories are so entertaining for such a wide gap of age! Thanks again Neil.

Review for Fiction Addict dot com

In this charming little tale inspired by Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman tells the story of a boy named Odd and his quest to save Asgard, city of the gods. He is accompanied by a bear, a fox, and an eagle--three creatures who are more than their fur and feathers.

The book reads like a fireside story told by an old wise man known for adding a bit of color to his tales. It all seems quite silly, and yet, it is that silliness, that streak of oddness, that gives the book its wonderful charm.

The style is classic Gaiman, with dollops of wit and wonder and the occasional sprinkle of black humor. It is easy reading, and though it is a book designated for a younger audience, adults with an hour to spare will likely find themselves smiling at this fun little escape.

For all that it does right, Odd and the Frost Giants is missing something: more pages! Unlike Gaiman's Newberry award winning novel The Graveyard Book, Odd and the Frost Giants is over faster than you can say, "The giants of Jotunheim have taken Mjollnir!" Still, the little bit of story that we do get is nearly perfect, and hopefully we will see more stories about Odd in the future.

With some wonderful illustrations by Brett Helquist, the storytelling knack of Mr. Gaiman, and a protagonist who may be a little odd but is completely loveable, Odd and the Frost Giants is an evening of reading well spent and a book that can easily be enjoyed time and time again.

Just make sure to read every page; some of the best laughs are hidden in the biography at the very end.

This is a quick read, but there is plenty of complex solid writing as a foundation for the light jaunt across an eternal winter landscape.

Launching the unwitting hero into the tale of a few Norse gods who are down on their luck, this story really grows on you. It is perfect for children and parents alike, and will hold your attention until the very satisfying and thought provoking end.

This is a wonderful, quick read, by one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman.

The story is about a lonely boy named Odd, who lost his Viking father and his mother who was "stolen" by his father from her native Scotland. Odd tries to make it on his own by living up to his father's mythical image only to be crippled in an accident which forces his mother to get re-married.

Needless to say Odd's stature in the new house is not very high.

Odd runs away to his old house, only to encounter Norse gods in the form of a bear (Thor), an eagle (Odin) and a fox (Loki). Turns out they were outsmarted by the frost giants and thrown out of Asgad. On his quest to help the gods and save his people from ultimate starvation in the endless winter Odd learns about himself, his family and how to handle the curve ball thrown at all of us during our lifetime.

A good point to take away from this story

The book is written funny and simply so a pre-teen child can understand it (the recommended age of 9 -12 is perfect), the story telling is masterful, the pace is perfect, and the read is entertaining to young and old alike.

Odd and the Frost Giants was one of those books that you couldn't put down for me. It really got me interested in Norse gods, the aesier. So, I got a book from the library and the name of the main character, Odd, was actually a Norse god.

The book takes place during Viking times, around the 11th century.
The best part was probably the main character Odd, who really drew my attention. One of my other favorite parts is how the author narrates the story. You feel like you're a fly on the wall, and you get so into the book you forget you're even reading.

So, if you like a good adventure story, you should read Odd and the Frost Giants.

Poor Odd. He's had a tough life. His dad died during a Viking expedition, his leg was crushed by a tree leaving him with a permanent limp and his mother has married a man who prefers his own children over Odd. To make matters worse, it seems like the Norwegian winter will never end.

Feeling a little disgruntled, Odd decides to head out to a cabin his father kept in the woods. When he gets there, he encounters a fox, a bear and an eagle that are more than they seem at first glance. Odd ends up following the animals on a remarkable journey to another world.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman is a middle grade book that is probably technically classified as fantasy, but to me it had a little folk tale feel to it. I think middle grade students who enjoy fantasy will love this book! There's not a lot of character development, but the plot kept me interested and I read the book very quickly. I did find Odd and his cheerful disposition endearing and I rooted for him on his journey. This is only my second Neil Gaiman book, but I'm anxious to read more.

I try to get my hands on anything Gaiman writes. Sometimes it is hit or miss but most of the time it's a hit. I like this short and easy read. It is definitely for young readers and must be taken that way. It a very simple take on Norse mythology. It's about a boy named Odd who is crippled but that has never got him down. He always smiles no matter what happens. When he runs away from home because of his stepfather he makes friends with some animals by helping them out. He ends up finding out that these animals are more than meets the eye. Odd sets out on a quest to help his friends and this book is about his quest. A quick and enjoyable read.

This is an extremely short children's book inspired by Norse mythology. Not being especially familiar with Norse mythology, I can't say how closely it follows a particular myth, but the well-known gods and settings are there.

It's a cute story, but just too short for my liking. I didn't have enough time to really start caring about the characters, and I would have liked to get a bit deeper into the mythological background. For example, the title character encounters a pool of water with various magical properties, and there's reference to a great cost that one of the gods had to pay to drink from the pool at some point, but we never get more than this vague allusion to its history. Maybe someone more familiar with Norse myth would have appreciated this as a sort of inside joke, but I was just left with the feeling that I had missed something. Also, there were occasional very modern-sounding phrases that I found a bit jarring.

So overall, while I don't regret the short time spent reading this, I can't say I was very impressed. I enjoyed Gaiman's other children's books more.

Odd and the Frost Giants comes from Neil Gaiman, who is quickly climbing into my list of all-time favorite authors. I think he's great because it seems like he can write effectively for any audience, and this latest book seems to show that.

Odd is a small boy with a tough life. His father is gone, drowned, and all the vikings in the village he lives with are upset, having been beset with what seems a never-ending winter. Odd runs into a bear, an eagle and a fox, who are much more than they seem. Soon he's off on a quest to help the animals return to their home, the city of Asgard.

Make no mistake, this a very small book for younger children. That said, I loved every page. It's simple, wonderful writing that drew me in and gave me the chuckles at several points. There are a few jokes thrown into the book that are clearly of the Spongebob variety (jokes that seem to be pandering more to the adults in the room than the children watching the program) and I loved them all. The book was incredibly short, and clearly written for a different audience, so I'm having a hard time giving it a really in-depth review. I was surprised by the higher than usual level of vocabulary in the book, but maybe I just assume that little kids can't read at as high a level as they really do. Someone let me know, I'm not a teacher and don't have a child this age, so I'm only guessing.

Gaiman impressed me with The Graveyard Book last year, and has done it again this time, with a much smaller book for an even younger audience. I'm more and more impressed that the guy can write so well for just about any age group, and though I still haven't jumped into American Gods, it's definitely on the list. I hear I should also check out his Sandman graphic novels, so I'll be looking into those sometime next year.

Odd and the Frost Giants (9/10) is a fun and quick adventure for a young audience. I'd guess that ages 8-10 should really enjoy this book, though I'm 25 and had a great time. If you're an adult and have about 45 minutes to kill, pick this one up. Gaiman wrote this book for World Book Day, to promote reading, and has stated that he would perhaps eventually return to the world to write more books about Odd. I'd certainly return to read them.

Fabulous, fun, totally Gaiman take on Norse mythology. Odd leaves home and is befriended by a fox, a bear and an eagle, who are of course, Norse gods who have been turned into those animals by a Frost Giant and it is up to Odd to convince the giant to leave so that winter can leave his town and spring can come. I just loved this story and I think that others will too!

"Odd And The Frost Giants" was an illustrated book written by Neil Gaiman (from Sandman, The Graveyard Book) for England's "World Book Day", when children can buy book for a penny. After some time, this book is released in the US with new illustrations by Brett Helquist.

This book is classic Gaiman, although in short format (limited by the rules of the mentioned "World Book Day"). A boy named Odd journeys to the Norse Gods city of Asgard to end a long winter season that seems to never end at his village. On his quest he is helped by a curious set of special animals: a bear, a fox and an eagle. The story reads wonderfully, even if you are not a "young reader". And I think the younger ones will find it very satisfying as well. It's a fine blend of fantasy and myth, as presented in the best of Gaiman novels. High recommended!

PS: In the final author's biography, Neil says that he has more Odd stories to tell, so I guess if a lot of people buy this book, he will be more eager to tell them. ;-)

I'm a big fan of Gaiman's Sandman comics, and so I've branched off into his other works. I enjoyed The Graveyard Book, even though it's a 'kids' novel, so I thought I would try this one too.

It's great! Takes you back to chidhood, and its fun to imagine walking amongst the Scandinavian gods. If someone claims this isn't good for adults, they've just forgotten what it was like to be a kid.

If you have kids, get this book. Read it to them at bedtime, then reread it yourself.

Aside from two sentences about lust (it's a story about gods after all) this book is very kid friendly. It has about seven chapters and it reads very easily. None of the characters are terribly mean and there are no scary or violent parts.

Like many of Gaiman's books the main character, Odd, is unique and likable, and a little bit damaged. He deals with loss and a disability with a matter of fact, positive attitude. In the end his kindness and his cleverness are rewarded, but not to the point that all of his troubles are removed.

Gaiman has said he wants to write more stories about Odd. I really hope he does.

This is a cute, fun book and a quick read that seems to give a shout out to some of the past children's books that were popular half a century ago. It's simple, but a highly enjoyable story that expands a generally unknown Norse Myth and truly pulls the reader into the history and the fantasy of the Scandinavian countries. In my opinion, even though it's definitely more of a children's book than something that would be considered middle reader or young adult, the text transcends age boundaries because of some of the larger tensions that are created and Odd being such a clever main character. I recommend this book to all readers who love fantasy or Gaiman, but it's definitely for readers 8-10 years old.

[....]

I am a fan of Neil Gaiman going back to his Sandman days. I loved this tale based on Norse mythology with its charming new hero, Odd. The story is beautifully crafted and the illustrations are delightful. Easy to read in one sitting, or could be savored over several evenings read aloud in front of the hearth.

_Odd and the Frost Giants_ is a delightful, light fantasy based greatly on Viking mythology. It has a nice balance of cheery optimism and adventure...which makes it engaging but not scary for young readers. The quirky and perky main character is charming, and the characters are convincing despite their fantastic setting. The writing is full of warmth and humor. The illustrations are fun and appealing, as well.

What can I say? It's got to be good. I really have grown to enjoy his books with pictures now that I'm accumulating grandkids. I sure hope they enjoy Neil Gaiman as much as I do, because they are going to keep hearing me read his books to them.

Great book! I got it for my 7-yr old son but also enjoyed it myself. I thought it was nice that it includes characters (Loki and others) and places (Asgard and Midgard) from Marvel that kids recognize and are interested in but is a unique storyline, more what I'd consider literature, and not your usual Marvel comic type of story.

I love this book. I have just finished reading it to my 6 yr old son. It is difficult to read as a bedtime story because we found it so hard to put it down! He enjoyed it immensely, the story and the beautiful illustrations. I am looking forward to reading more.

Oddly Intriguing

My loving husband bought this book for me. He knows that I love Neil's works. I've read the Absolute Sandman Series and loved every page of it.

Odd and the Frost Giants is short, sweet, and a must read for anyone. You don't have to have kids to enjoy this book, but you will want to share it with every child you know. I have fond memories of reading this book.

I love that the book is set in a Nordic environment! Odd and the Frost Giants is currently one of my all time favorite children's books. Matilda is another of my favorites.

I hope this gives a little insight into what type of readers will enjoy this book.

Just as the story is short and sweet, so too is my review.

I loved this retelling of the rescue of spring. I read it on my kindle but think it would be even better and more magical holding the book in my hand. Gaiman makes wonderful work of odd and the norse gods. A very quick read, I bet you'll love reading it to your favorite child.

A long time ago,a boy named Odd lived with his mother in a village where the long winters made the villagers grumpy. Odd's father died 2 years before while returning from an expedition at sea.

One day in the woods Odd met a bear,a fox,and an eagle. Then he embarked on a journey to save Asgard from the Frost Giants who had invaded it. I enjoyed this book because it is about Asgard and the Norse gods. Brett Helquist did an amazing job putting so many interesting adventures into this rather small book,and I think it is quite good.

This is a short children's novel by Neil Gaiman (if an eight chapter book can be called a "novel"). It occurs back in the days of the Vikings, and stars a misfit boy named Odd. He runs away from home, and encounters three animals who turn out to be Norse gods. I could say more, but I don't want to spoil it. This is an ejoyable, quick read.

Odd, a boy with a bum leg and an odd personality, runs away from home after his father dies and his mother remarries. In the forest, he finds a fox, a bear, and an eagle, whom he befriends. With these new pals, Odd recaptures Asgard from the Frost Giants. A short and sweet fairy-tale like story.

Very slight -- it barely has enough meat for a short story, let alone a novella -- but Gaiman infuses it with such warmth and just enough wonder to make it an enjoyable read nonetheless.

An excellent read for any kid, ages 7 (or so) to 107.

A review by Hank Wagner, co-author (with Christopher Golden and Stephen R. Bissette) of the upcoming Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman, due out from St. Martins in October 2008:

Gaiman wrote Odd and the Frost Giants as his personal contribution to World Book Day in the United Kingdom, which exists purely to inspire children to read. It's an annual event where a group of authors write books for nothing and publishers publish them for nothing. These books are then sold for £1 each to children who have been given £1 Book Tokens. On its website, the World Book Day organization ([...]) describes it as "the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading."

Regrettably, at least for US residents, there are no current plans to publish this charming, 14,500 word novelette in America. Happily, the book is available through the store.uk and it's only £1, a bargain even with current exchange rates. Be warned, however, the shipping charge will make the final cost seem relatively steep.

The good news is that it's worth the cost: the story, enhanced by several illustrations from frequent Gaiman collaborator Mark Buckingham, is delightful.

As you may have guessed from the title, the novelette deals with characters from Norse myth, a subject Gaiman became entranced with at a very young age. It tells the story of the crippled Viking boy Odd, who, running away from home, is befriended by a group of forest animals--a fox, a bear, and an eagle--who are far more than they seem. In truth, they are the Norse gods Loki, Thor, and Odin, respectively. Hoodwinked by a crafty and vengeful Frost Giant, they have been transformed into animals and exiled from Asgard. Odd offers his help, and travels with the gods from Midgard to their homeland of Asgard, where the plucky lad plans to bargain with the Frost Giant in attempt to save the day.

No more about the story, you'll have to discover its significant pleasures on your own. Be assured though that this is vintage Gaiman, a lively, memorable tale that, although modern in its sensibilities, treats its source material in a respectful, affectionate, and humorous manner, making that material more accessible for modern readers, many of whom are likely encountering these characters and settings for the first time.

This is a remarkable little book. A fairy tale of Norse adventure with the charming 'Odd' a young crippled boy with an attitude of the best boy in the world. This gentle story of coming of age is marked for greatness! It will not matter what your age you must read this book.

I picked this book up at Walmart on sale a couple years ago. As with all his books, I loved it. It was wonderfully inventive, and the main character ended up out smarting all the gods and monsters. Fantastic.

Odd is a clever, companiable hero, and it was fun to read about his adventure. The story is based on Norse myths, but the gods talk with modern slang, kind of like smartass Disney sidekicks. A very pleasant read for any commute or airport.

This book was originally only available in the UK -- when I ordered it I think I paid more in shipping than I did for the book, but it was worth it. It's a quick read, but a nice Tween book with that distinctive Neil Gaiman feel to it. And at $1.99, you really have no excuse not to grab it.

Love Gaiman, but this one suffers from an absolute lack of drama. Sure, it's for kids, but at no point do we think Odd won't complete his quest. That said, the writing is comfortably brilliant as always, and the characters feel like old friends (as they are from his other novels).

This book was really fun. I loved Odd's attitude he's so matter a fact about everything.Neil Gaiman can't seem to fail this book left me wanting to hear more of Odd's adventures!I hope there will be more.

Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants was fun, and had numerous good moments... but (and you knew there was a 'but' coming)... it felt surprisingly thin, compared to, say, 'Coraline.' The storytelling itself was fine, the mythological spin was fresh, and it certainly wasn't boring, but the emotional impact, for me, was light.

A quick read, but no less enjoyable for it's brevity. If you read Gaiman for the dark and creepy factor, you will miss it in this book; however, my daughters (who after "Blueberry Girl" and "Crazy Hair" are fans) finally have a more-mature Gaiman they can sink their teeth into (without their pants being scared off! Seriously - after reading his short story "The Price" I'm still having trouble sleeping.)

I can't say I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman. When I read the first two chapters of Odd and the Frost Giant I thought I was going to be. But I'm not. The first two chapters of this book made me slap down the $9.99 for the 51 page e-book---I never pay that much for an e-book let alone a 51 page one. That's how great the first two chapters were. And here I must say a hearty... BUT...

From that point on it did nothing. Nothing, but frustrate me. The character of Odd, though intriguing in the first two chapters, proved to be more one-dimensional than most characters in the Sunday funny's. That's not to say Odd and the Frost Giant is an awful book. There were moments I enjoyed, but largely I kept reading only because I had paid so much for it. The story is not really children's story (IMHO). It's about a child, and there's some mildly comical dialogue, but there's where the similarity ends. There's one moment where a brief but visceral explanation was given of what a hand ax was used for (severing flesh from bone for sacrifices to the Norse god Loki) that just felt incredibly out of place for a novel for youngsters. When the story had ended (no I won't spoil the ending for you if you still want to read it, but) something happens that left me feeling Odd had lost his childhood far too quickly. Mr. Gaiman is obviously a frequently read author, but if I had been his editor, I'd have taken him back to the beginning of chapter three and told him he needed to change almost everything after that point.

That's my mostly-humble opinion. I mean no disrespect. But my advice... Save the money, save the time, buy something that is enjoyable all the way through. I would recommend something by C.S. Lewis, or even Windblowne by Stephen Messer (which I highly recommend). Although currently that is the only book of Messer's that I can recommend. I hope this review helps.

May all your Dreams be Dreams,

Geno (Tracy's husband)

This book is not really a book - it is a short story. Make sure you understand that before buying it. It is NOT like "The Graveyard Book", which had a similar price, but which was a full, and compelling story. Instead, it is small idea flushed out over the course of a week or two.

When I bought the book, I knew it was short, but was hoping for illustrations. Don't expect those either. Like "The Graveyard Book", there is generally one illustration per chapter... Not really enough to keep a kid interested if they don't enjoy being read to in the first place.

Even giving these considerations, I would say that "Odd and the Frost Giants" was a decent little story... and, although it probably could have been flushed out a little more, it was best left in a short format instead of being pushed as a full book. Nevertheless, I can't help but see the greed of the publishers in releasing this book as an expensive hardcover. With a well known author, they felt like they could sell the public anything, and in my case, I'm rather sorry that they did.

This is a slim fantasy novelette, marketed to kids in the 9-12 range, consisting of slightly over 100 generously-formatted pages, with occasional illustrations. It tells the tale of Odd, a viking boy, and his adventures involving various supernatural entities from Norse legend that take him as far as Asgard, the home of the gods.

Despite seeming to have all the elements of an effective and intriguing fantasy setup, the story ultimately falls flat on its face. I see at least three major problems, all interrelated: An excessively narcissistic focus on the protagonist, a hugely anticlimactic resolution, and serious moral issues.

(1) Focus on Protagonist: When I read fantasy fiction, I want to feel that the fantasy elements of the story are real and dynamic, with a hero who is at least occasionally willing to assume the humble role of one who stares in awe at marvels. Here, unfortunately, the main character, Odd, is a smug little know-it-all before whom all obstacles seem to magically dissolve. None of the other characters, be they humans, gods or giants, seem to have any real will of their own, nor any meaningful influence on the story. Thus, any sense of wonder that Gaiman might succeed in creating is quickly destroyed.

(2) Anti-Climax: Not much can be said about this without giving away SPOILERS, which I will save for the end of this review. I won't say yet whether Odd ever meets the fearsome Frost Giants or not, but it is certainly not worth the build-up.

(3) Moral Issues: Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that if one is going to suggest the theme of rape in a children's book, one ought to make it quite clear that one stands firmly against it. This story does the former without doing the latter. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to avoid SPOILERS while discussing this issue, so be warned.

The theme is first introduced in a discussion about Odd's family background. We are told that when Odd's mom was a young girl in Ireland tending her father's sheep, Odd's dad abducted her during a viking raid, and brought her back with him to Norway. In what seems an attempt to make the reader feel better about this outrage, the reader is assured that dad did not "touch" mom until she had gotten used to her new home and learned the local language. Since mom obviously did not hop into dad's longboat on her own accord, "touch" is clearly a euphemism for sex. I suppose it's nice that dad did not immediately and violently rape his traumatized captive, but there is no indication she had the option of returning home, so it still seems like rape to me. Despite this, the dad (who has died before the start of the tale) is portrayed sympathetically, as a beloved husband and father, sorely missed by his son and widow.

The theme of abduction as a method of gaining a bride is again touched on in the main tale, where Odd's task is to somehow foil the Frost Giant who has conquered Asgard. The Giant has many reasons for wanting to conquer Asgard, but first among them is his desire for the beautiful goddess Freya. So far, this is not a problem. The Giants are often traditionally portrayed as villainous adversaries of the gods, and desire for the lovely Freya is one of their traditional motivations (as in the story of the marriage of Freya to the frost giant Thrym)

I now provide a second SPOILER warning. I am about to discuss the ending.

Sadly, this tale does not end like the "marriage of Freya" with the wicked giants being deservedly smashed by Thor's hammer. Instead we get the dreaded anti-climax. Odd just walks up the chief Giant, gives him a silly grin, and has a dumb conversation with him. When the dumb conversation is over, the Giant realizes he does not REALLY want the beautiful Freya after all. He does not REALLY want any of the things he conquered Asgard for. He REALLY just wants to leave Asgard, and go back to Jotunheim (giant-land), where it is nice and cold, and as for wanting Freya, it decides he will be just as happy with a carved wooden statuette of Odd's pretty mom.

Real "magic", we are told, means "letting things be what they want to be". There is no need for traditional notions of good versus evil, since enlightened self-indulgence is the ultimate answer to all problems. This is essentially the same message as in "Good Omens", a previous Gaiman work.

The message that I got was that it was wrong of the Giant to try to gain Freya for his bride by force because, and only because, he did not REALLY want her. By contrast, the abduction of Odd's mom apparently must have been OK because, by all indications, Odd's dad really DID want her. What do you think of that?

But, if you do not care about morality, perhaps you might care about boredom. Here, all the colorful myths about wars between gods and monsters are permitted to dissolve in a puff of smoke. Poor Thor (who makes an appearance) does not even get to wave his hammer in a Giant's general direction. I cannot wait for the sequel, where young Odd will no doubt avert Ragnarok by convincing Fenrir that what he REALLY wants to do is spend eternity chasing his own tail.