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Olaf is just an ordinary Viking boy-so he hopes the gods will leave him alone now, to build an ordinary life in his ordinary village. After all, what could he possibly have to offer them? But the goddess Freja has a problem-and she needs Olaf just because he is ordinary. Freja has fallen inlove with a mortal man, but she doesn't really understand how to win his heart-she's only used to dealing with other gods, after all. So Olaf must help her-and to make things worse, her beloved has to win a rather tricky contest against his brother to prove that he's the rightful King of Norway.It's time for Olaf, Freja, and the trickster Loki to lend him a hand. But as ever, their mission leads them into some very peculiar adventures indeed...
Olaf, a boy seeking a quiet life, finds his plans disrupted when the goddess Freja recruits him to assist in a mortal romance. Olaf must navigate the complex and often volatile demands of Norse deities who lack understanding of human behavior. His objective is to help Freja’s mortal love interest secure the throne of Norway, a task complicated by the interference of the trickster god Loki. The narrative follows a third-person perspective, focusing on the contrast between Olaf’s desire for normalcy and the chaotic influence of divine intervention.
Readers frequently highlight the lighthearted tone and the humorous portrayal of Norse gods as the primary appeal of this work. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the protagonist as a grounded foil to the erratic behavior of the deities. Critics note that the pacing remains brisk, prioritizing comedic situations over complex world-building or heavy character development. The balance between the historical setting and the mythological fantasy elements is often cited as a key factor in the book's accessibility. Many readers appreciate the focus on the absurdity of the divine intervention rather than traditional epic tropes.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2009-07-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192720880
ISBN-13:
9780192720887
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