Neil Gaiman

Odd's luck has been bad so far. He lost his father on a Viking expedition, his foot was crushed beneath a tree, and the winter seems to be going on for ever. But when Odd flees to the woods and releases a trapped bear, his luck begins to change. The eagle, bear and fox he encounters reveal they're actually Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giants who have conquered Asgard, the city of the gods … Can a twelve-year-old boy reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods?

Odd and the Frost Giants

In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back. In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined—a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . . Someone just like Odd .

Sarah Sammis

“I’m here to drive the Frost Giants from Asgard,” explained Odd. Then he smiled at the giant, a big, happy, irritating smile.”
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Another wild adventure starring a boy with a strange name, and another story by Gaiman that has absolutely charmed me to my core.

I think it would be safe to say that 2021 has been a rough year for most of us. But the one bright thing it has brought into my life has been Neil Gaiman’s books. I have finally started to pick up his works, and it turns out that I have been missing out on something that has the potential to give me immense reading pleasure.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a fun, witty adventure featuring Nordic mythology that is simultaneously just dark and just wholesome enough to make it a great winter read.
Looking forward to picking up more of Gaiman’s works for sure.

4.5/5

Written by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by UK Laureate Chris Riddell, this new edition of the thrilling, wintry Nordic tale weaves a truly magical story of legend and adventure that will grip and enchant readers from beginning to end. This new edition is heavily illustrated and has an oversize trim, much like the New York Times bestselling The Sleeper and the Spindle. Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid, and in his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear…and then Odd's destiny begins to change. The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods… First published in 2009, Odd and the Frost Giants has been reimagined by acclaimed artist Chris Riddell in the style of his epic black-and-white artwork from The Sleeper and the Spindle, enhanced here with metallic silver ink.

Amina Madadi (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ)

Me when I come across a Neil Gaiman book:



Me when I finished reading his book:



 THERE WAS A BOY called Odd, and there was nothing strange or unusual about that, not in that time or place. Odd meant the tip of a blade, and it was a lucky name. He was odd, though. At least, the other villagers thought so. But if there was one thing that he wasn’t, it was lucky 

Odd's dad was killed on one of the village's raids, his mother remarried, his step-father had children of his own - four sons and three daughters- and had no time to care for a crippeled stepson. (Odd had an accident who left him with a very weak leg and needed a crutch to walk)
Odd couldn't bear life at house anymore so he made it to his father's cabin where he decided to live.
One morning, Odd was woken by something scratching against his hut, when he got out, he found a fox, followed him and met a bear and a one eyed eagle: these animal were respectively: Loki, Thor and Odin, Gods of Ásgard.
Definitely enjoyed it and I highly recommend it!

Sandra Tammaru

A little bit of Gaiman magic and Norse mythology is always good

A thrilling, wintry Nordic epic from the truly magical combination of author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell, weaving a tale of legend, magic and adventure which will grip and enchant readers from beginning to end.Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid and in his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear . and then Odd's destiny begins to change. The eagle, bear and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giants who have conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods .This rich and layered tale of courage is told with humour and in breathtaking style by two creators at the height of their powers: from the author of modern classics such as American Gods, Coraline and The Sleeper and the Spindle, Odd and the Frost Giants will leave you spellbound. Lavishly produced and packed with Chris Riddell's glorious illustration enhanced with metallic ink, this is a spectacular and magical gift.

Clara Moore

Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller and this book was especially charming. The artwork was also incredible and I spent a lot of time getting lost in the drawings. (I read the version with Riddell’s drawings). I would recommend this if you need a fun and quick escape.

Kali Olson

Odd is an unusual boy. He’s the son of a sea-faring Viking way back when in ancient Norway. Unfortunately for Odd, that brave father dies at sea, a tree falls and crushes Odd’s leg, and his mother remarries a less-than-sympathetic step-Viking. But Odd keeps smiling through it all—a great big cheerful smile, the kind of smile that makes you absolutely certain that not only is there more to Odd than meets the eye, but the boy’s got something up his sleeve too. In fact, it’s an absolutely infuriating smile, and it—and the quiet confidence that lurks behind it—is Odd’s greatest weapon. Still, Odd is pretty bowled over when he meets an eagle, a bear, and a fox who are something more than just an eagle, a bear, and a fox. The furred and feathered animal trio are really the Norse gods Thor, Odin, and the trickster Loki. They’ve been fooled out of their heavenly home Asgard by a stubborn Frost Giant and exiled to earth in animal form. You wouldn’t think it to look at him (unless he happens to be smiling), but Odd has a plan to get the gods back where they belong. 
	This is the tale that’s fresh from the imagination of 2008’s Newbery Medal winner (for The Graveyard Book) Neil Gaiman, and it’s hard not to compare Odd to his predecessor Bod. The Graveyard Book was big and bold and even a bit daring. It was a bestseller and a critical hit. It wouldn’t be too surprising if anything that followed had a hard time emerging from its shadow, but there’s little danger of that when Neil Gaiman is at the helm. Sure, the most obvious difference in Odd and the Frost Giants is gods instead of ghosts, but Odd is an instant hero with his calm demeanor, quick thinking, and patient observation of the world he lives in. His story is simple but subtle; a heartfelt adventure in a lovely slim volume (lovingly illustrated, by the way, by Brett Helquist, best known for drawing Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events). With its the Nordic mythology twist, Odd and the Frost Giants is an excellent read-alike for fans young and old of Rick Riordan’s popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin, Bruce Coville’s Magic Shop books, and anyone who ever got a kick out of Greek mythology lessons in school. Gaiman wrote this book for the UK’s World Book Day last year, a day that promotes reading through the publication of complimentary books for schoolchildren. The author and the reading public have become quite attached to the new boy hero, and so this reviewer will take the tantalizing hint that’s dropped in the author biography at the back of the book and officially make this request: Yes, Mr. Gaiman, please do send Odd on as many more adventures as you can imagine.

Barry Hess

Eugenia Andino

Una sorpresa enorme porque no es de los más conocidos del autor. Una imitación maravillosa de los mitos escandinavos, que encajarían perfectamente en Norse Mythology. Cortito, se lee (o escucha) en un rato.

Tiffanie Dang

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!

Lewis John Fisher

Neil Gaiman, Chris Riddell and Norse mythology. What more could a man want?

Marie

Ashling Brown

A tender, humorous and compelling tale of Viking adventure by multi-award-winning author Neil Gaiman.

Odd and the Frost Giants

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