Frost giants, fire giants, and many different kinds of trolls, ogres, and various other creatures are often grouped in with the giants.
Jarnvidjur—giantesses who reside in Jarnvid
Places
While the cosmology of Norse mythology is sometimes hard to pin down, it is agreed that there are Nine Worlds.
Asgard—the home of the Norse gods (the Aesir)
Valhalla—Odin’s hall of the slain
Yggdrasil—the World Tree, which connects all the worlds
Gladsheim—Odin’s hall, where the gods counsel
Valaskjalf—Odin’s hall where his chair Hlidskjalf is located, where he can sit and see everything in the worlds
Bifrost—the rainbow bridge connecting Asgard and Midgard
Jotunheim—the land of the giants (ON: jötnar)
Jarnvid—“Iron-wood,” a forest in eastern Jotunheim
Utgard—citadel of the giants
Thrymheim—Skadi’s home in the mountains
Midgard—the “middle earth,” the mortal realm. On some maps, Jotunheim is in Midgard.
Niflheim—the realm of ice, in which Hel’s domain is located, although some sources cite Hel/Helheim as its own realm
Vanaheim—home of the Vanir
Alfheim—realm of the elves, ruled by Frey
Muspelheim—the realm of fire, ruled by Surt
Nidavellir—home of the dwarves
Svartalfheim—home of the darkelves. Sometimes grouped in with Nidavellir.
FURTHER READING
The Poetic Edda:
The Poetic Edda. Translated by Carolyne Larrington. Oxford, 1996.
The Poetic Edda. Translated by Lee M. Hollander. University of Texas Press, 1962.
The Poetic Edda: Mythological Poems, Volume II. Translated and with commentary by Ursula Dronke. Oxford, 1997.
The Prose Edda, by Snorri Sturluson:
The Prose Edda. Translated by Anthony Faulkes. Everyman, 1987.
The Prose Edda. Translated by Jesse Byock. Penguin, 2006.
Retellings:
The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Gods of Asgard by Erik Evensen
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, by John Lindow (not a retelling, but an extensive glossary-style resource)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Genevieve Gornichec earned her degree in history from The Ohio State University, but she got as close to majoring in Vikings as she possibly could, and her study of the Norse myths and Icelandic sagas became her writing inspiration. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. The Witch's Heart is her debut novel.
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