by Scott Oden
Grimnir looked hard at her but said nothing. He rose, walked to the edge of the lake. The dark waters of Skærvík lapped at the shingle. Overhead, stars gleamed like cold lanterns through rips in the clouds. Far to the north, his keen eyes beheld the crackling curtain of green fire—the jötunn-lights. Grimnir reached down and drew a knife from his boot. His lips peeled back in a snarl; he tilted his head back and let loose a deafening howl. “Hear me, Sly One, Father Loki! Bear witness, O Ymir, sire of giants and lord of the frost!” Grimnir sawed the knife across one forearm, then the other. “By this blood, the blood of my kin, I swear! I, Grimnir, son of Bálegyr, will not rest until I’ve brought that wretched dragon to heel! I will not rest until Niðhöggr is under my blade!”
The echo of his oath died away. The ghost-lights crackled; the stars burned. And if the old Gods heard, they gave him no sign.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
WHILE THE WORDS ON THE page are my own, a great many people had a hand in the creation of this book—from reading the manuscript and making suggestions, to volunteering their expertise on language, geography, and warfare, to offering a kind word of encouragement at precisely the right time. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks:
* * *
TO MY WIFE, SHANNON, WHO keeps me grounded, encourages me, and makes sure my castles in the air have a tether to keep them from floating off. A part of her is in every woman I’ve ever written. She is Dísa’s energy, Úlfrún’s convictions, and Halla’s wisdom. And she would not put up with Grimnir’s guff, either.
To my agent, Bob Mecoy, for his years of wise counsel and friendship, and for understanding that working with any writer is like herding cats.
To my editor at St. Martin’s, Pete Wolverton, who gives new meaning to patience—even as I give new meaning to “you’ll have it tomorrow.” And while his emails may be spartan, his editing notes are a master class in how to make a passable novel into a great novel.
To my beta readers this time around: Jeff Bryant, Rusty Burke, Vincent Darlage, Tom Doolan, Darrell Grizzle, Scott Hall, Josh Olive, Stan Wagenaar, and Eric Woods. Thanks for taking time out of your days to keep me honest, to listen to my whines, and to make sure I’m not spinning the dross rather than the gold.
To my friends and colleagues on social media, who answer the weirdest questions I pose without ever batting an eye. The well-thought-out answers to “How far can you chuck a severed human head?” were my personal favorites.
And, last but not least, to you, dear readers. You guys are the best.
To one and all, thank you!
ALSO BY SCOTT ODEN
A Gathering of Ravens
Men of Bronze
Memnon
The Lion of Cairo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SCOTT ODEN WAS BORN IN Indiana, but has spent most of his life shuffling between his home in rural north Alabama, a Hobbit hole in Middle-earth, and some sketchy tavern in the Hyborian Age. He is an avid reader of fantasy and ancient history, a collector of swords, and a player of tabletop role-playing games. His previous books include Men of Bronze, Memnon, and The Lion of Cairo. When not writing, he can be found walking his two dogs or doting over his lovely wife, Shannon. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraphs
Part One: Fimbulvetr
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Part Two: Vígríđr
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Part Three: Ragnarök
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Acknowledgments
Also by Scott Oden
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS. Copyright © 2020 by Scott Oden. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Jimmy Iacobelli
Cover photographs: wolf © westonjd/Shutterstock.com; building © klom/Shutterstock.com; trees © Alberto Grazioli/Shutterstock.com; texture © Olga Yudina/Shutterstock.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Oden, Scott, author.
Title: Twilight of the gods / Scott Oden.
Description: First Edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2020. | Series: Grimnir; 2
Identifiers: LCCN 2019043132 | ISBN 9780312372958 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250022899 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Fantasy fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3615.D465 T85 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019043132
eISBN 9781250022899
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First Edition: February 2020