If you've watched or read American Gods, the Lord of the Rings, Vikings, MCU, the Ring opera, or a million other adaptations in popular culture, then you know these stories too.

These legends were recorded hundreds of years after the Old Norse gods had died and Christianity had taken its firmhold in Scandinavia. An inherent humanity and messiness resides in these deities who are frequently human and always die- at least once. It's fascinating and I listened to both books twice, certain stories more than a few times.

Viking mythology has a reputation for being male-centric, the women referred to but unexplored. Yet I did not find this to be true. Instead the valkyries and goddesses serve as a figurative Yggdradsil around which all action originates. Half of what drives Thor is dealing with Freya's myriad suitors. And can we count how many men die when they get caught between Brunhilde and Gudrun?

These legends are timeless. There's a tale about Fenja and Menja, two enslaved women who demonstrate what happens when the oppressed become enraged enough to blow up the whole machine.

Crawford also narrates the audiobook and the whole experience is quite enrapturing.