Ragnarok is once again re-imagined. Odin and the whole gamut of Norse mythology returns for the famous final battle but this time it is waged with assault rifles and tanks.
It is the modern age, and one Gideon Coaxal, former solider and a failure of a father is recruited, perhaps chosen even, to join the gods, giants, and man alike in the war where the real world is at stake.
The premise where Gods of myth are somehow among us is something many might find laughable or many would eventually draw comparisons with American Gods. But while American Gods might fit into the dark fantasy genre, Age of Odin on the other hand is more of a beer and pretzel one, a term used for games that are very light on the rules and easy to understand.
Because as such, the novel is just like any action soldier film where we have shows of camaraderie, a bit of sex, fist fights, a lot of gun fights, outrageous bravado, and an anti hero.
Add in Norse Mythology and you have Age of Odin. as such, it is easy to conclude that the fantasy or the lore of the novel, already written becomes of secondary nature, it has become artificial. Only a backdrop to another action novel. I guess, i read the title and expected more of Odin but really, Odin and the rest are just backdrop to the main Protagonist, the former soldier.
Thus Norse Mythologiy afficcionados should give this a pass. But it is a good enough read for anyone wanting to see a skirmish between gods, machines, and men.
With such books, it also seems that anti heroes, usually those who failed in "life", find redemption only in dire situations, in Ragnaroks.
2.5/5
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