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- Title: Children of Odin
- Author: Padraic Colum
- Narrator: Elizabeth Klett
- Length: 0.266851852
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01-Jan
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Fairy Tales & Folklore
- ISBN13: SABLIB9782582
Picture this: I’m winding my way through the rugged fjords of Norway, the midnight sun casting a golden glow over cliffs that seem to whisper ancient secrets. My rental car’s speakers hum with the rich, musical voice of Elizabeth Klett as she narrates *Children of Odin* by Padraic Colum. It’s an audiobook experience that feels like a fireside saga told by a skald under a sky streaked with the Northern Lights. This isn’t just a book—it’s a journey back to Asgard, a land of gods, giants, and destiny, and I’m here to take you along for the ride.
Padraic Colum, an Irish poet with a knack for breathing life into old tales, first spun *Children of Odin* in 1920, a time when the world was hungry for the magic of folklore. His retelling of Norse mythology—crafted for younger ears but resonant for all ages—captures the grandeur of Odin, the thunderous might of Thor, and the sly mischief of Loki. It’s a tapestry of matchless stories: Odin sacrificing his eye at the Well of Mimir for wisdom, Thor wielding Mjölnir against the frost giants, and the Valkyries soaring over battlefields. The audiobook, available for free through LibriVox, clocks in at just over six hours—short enough to devour in a weekend, yet deep enough to linger in your bones.
Listening to this, I couldn’t help but drift back to a memory from years ago. I was staying with a family in Oaxaca, Mexico, where their abuela would gather us each evening on a creaky porch. Her voice, weathered yet warm, wove tales of tricksters and heroes with a rhythm that held us spellbound. She’d pause just long enough to let the night sounds—crickets, a distant rooster—fill the silence, making every word land like a stone in a still pond. Elizabeth Klett’s narration in *Children of Odin* carries that same intimate magic. Her voice is clear and melodic, with a storyteller’s instinct for pacing. You can almost hear the creak of the Rainbow Bridge as Odin crosses to Midgard or feel the chill of Jotunheim’s icy wastes. It reminds me of those Oaxacan nights—simple, personal, and utterly transporting.
The book itself unfolds like a map of the Norse cosmos. Colum dives into the big themes: fate’s unyielding grip, the dance between order and chaos, and the bittersweet quest for wisdom. Odin’s relentless pursuit of knowledge—hanging on Yggdrasil, trading an eye—speaks to anyone who’s ever chased a truth worth hurting for. Thor’s hammer-swinging heroism is pure adrenaline, while Loki’s treachery adds a shadow that keeps you guessing. And then there’s Ragnarok, the world-ending battle that’s as much about destruction as it is about renewal. Colum doesn’t shy away from the gods’ flaws—Odin’s pride, Loki’s envy—which makes them feel less like distant deities and more like family, messy and real.
Klett’s performance elevates it all. Her tone shifts effortlessly—gruff for Thor, sly for Loki, solemn for Odin—bringing each character to life without overacting. The audio quality, crisp and clean thanks to LibriVox’s volunteer efforts, lets her voice shine. You can almost taste the mead in Valhalla or hear the clash of steel as the giants storm Asgard’s gates. It’s a listening experience that pulls you in, whether you’re a kid hearing these tales for the first time or an adult rediscovering their raw power.
That said, it’s not flawless. Colum simplifies some of the darker corners of Norse lore—understandable, given his audience, but it can leave you wanting more of the sagas’ brutal edge. The audiobook’s brevity is a double-edged sword; it’s accessible, but it skims over details that might deepen the world—like the intricate politics of the Aesir or the full scope of Sigurd’s saga. And while Klett’s narration is spot-on, a touch more dramatic flair in the battle scenes could’ve matched the myths’ thunderous stakes. Still, these are small quibbles in a work that’s stood the test of a century.
How does it stack up? Think of Neil Gaiman’s *Norse Mythology*—grittier, more adult, but less lyrical. Or Roger Lancelyn Green’s *Myths of the Norsemen*, a kindred spirit in its kid-friendly scope. Colum’s version, though, has a poet’s heart, and Klett’s voice makes it sing. It’s not as flashy as Rick Riordan’s *Magnus Chase* series, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s the real deal, distilled and timeless.
Who’s this for? Anyone who loves fairy tales and folklore, sure, but also travelers like me who hear echoes of these stories in every windswept landscape. Parents looking to spark a kid’s imagination with tales of gods and heroes. Or anyone who just wants a free audiobook that feels like a gift from the past. You can grab it from LibriVox—no cost, just curiosity required.
As I finished the last chapter, parked by a fjord with mist curling over the water, I thought about how these myths endure. They’re about transformation—worlds born from chaos, destroyed, reborn. Like the roads I’ve traveled, from the Atacama’s surreal deserts to Oaxaca’s storytelling porches, *Children of Odin* reminds me that every journey carries a tale worth hearing. Klett’s narration made it personal, like a friend recounting a legend over coffee. It’s an audiobook experience that doesn’t just tell a story—it invites you to live it.
Until the next road calls,
Marcus Rivera
