OLD Elementor Sida #818

Discover the epic story of The Old Norse Saga, a Norse mythology fantasy adventure where gods, giants, and mortal heroes collide. Uncover how an ominous prophecy binds rival realms together to avert a war that could reshape their world.

The first book, Birds of Ásgarðr, was published in 2025 by the Swedish writer duo C. Beskow & E.P.W. Tell. The authors began their journey in 2019.

The second volume, Iron Nights, is currently in progress. The series is planned to span a total of four novels.

The world in Old Norse Saga consists of nine realms located on three horizontal levels, all three with their own empyreans.

• • Undirheimr, the underworld

• • Jǫrð, the middle world

• • Ásgarðr, the upper realm of the gods

Each plane is connected to the one above and/or below by the all-encompassing bridge of Bifrǫst. Furthermore, a seemingly endless pit known as Úlfgap leads directly from Jǫrð down to Undirheimr, supporting direct transportation between the world’s lower levels.

UNDIRHEIMR

As well as being the largest of the Norse world’s three levels, Undirheimr is also the oldest. It was inhabited long before Æsir gods roamed Ásgarðr or human feet touched the earthly grounds of Miðgarðr. Here, time flows at a pace ninefold slower than on Jǫrð, and the seasons remain unchanging. In Undirheimr, meaning ‘netherworld’ or ‘home below,’ six out of nine realms reside: Niflheimr and Múspellsheimr to the north, and Mímir’s Ríki, Urðr’s Ríki, Vanaheimr, and Ljósálfheimr to the south.

On Undirheimr’s northern hemisphere, above the steep Niðafjǫll fell belt, two contrasting lands collide. From Hvergelmir, the Well of Agony, hot and cold waters stream in two divergent paths, draping Niflheimr in everlasting frost to the west and Múspellsheimr in volcanic geysers to the east.

Niflheimr

Within sharp borders of black mountain walls lies a cavernous maze of inescapable darkness known as Niflheimr. Living off of the icy waters of Hvergelmir,this foul land holds a stench of death and carries a promise of suffering. Born from the angst of man and strengthened by her ever-increasing madness, Niflheimr’s disembodied inhabitants are accompanied only by those destined for eternal damnation.

Múspellsheimr

Silently awaiting their time of eruption, Múspellsheimr’s ominous pools of puttering lava are destined to be released if, and only if, the world above ever reaches a state of irredeemable imbalance. But fire is an unpredictable element, and so the hot-blooded giants of Múspellsheimr were derived from the heart of gleaming coals to guard this unruly land of smoke and geysers until time comes to let it wreak its havoc.

Undirheimr’s southern hemisphere consists of four realms. In direct contrast to the foulness above, the ancient lands of Southern Undirheimr exuberate life and splendour, standing home to those who make up the very foundation of Norse world order.

Mímir’s Ríki

In the homeland of ancient artisans, luscious groves cushion the remainder of Undirheimr from the harsh North. Amongst fields blooming in soft hues of pink and yellow, untouched by frost or winter, Mímir and his children dwell. From Mímisbrunnr, the Well of Wisdom, his sons and daughters extract unearthly minerals, transforming them into the material world above with help from the strong fists of nearby mountain dwarves.

Urðr’s Ríki

To the Southeast lies Urðrs Ríki, where vigorous waters spring from yet another essential well. Nestled beneath the veiling roots of Yggdrasill, the Tree of Life, sits Urðarbrunnr, the Well of Fate, whose silver waters give life to the worlds above. But where there is life, there is also death. Here, where beginning and end meet, departed souls come to meet the three nornir, Urðr and her two sisters, who shall pass upon them their final judgement.

Vanaheimr

The salty air and clear water of Vanaheimr’s cliffy seascape mirror the undeniable purity of those abiding there. Led by Hœnir, valiant brother of Óðinn, the stark Vanir gods are tasked to maintain the natural cycle of creation, ensuring that lunar orbits, life cycles, and seasons elapse in harmony. Next to their passionate Æsir counterparts, the Vanir appear mild in temper and diplomatic in their eternal pursuit of worldly balance.

Ljósálfheimr 

Across the waters from Vanaheimr lies the hazy woodlands of Ljósálfheimr, where slim white trees rise from mossy floors, their wispy vegetation swaying ethereally through air heavy with wet mist. Here, within the herbal aroma of edible foliage, Ívalda’s proud elven species extracts their remarkable endurance from the tranquillity of nature. Where the opposing giants below rely on strength of fist, the elves look instead toward swiftness.

JǪRÐ

Consisting of two realms, the giant land Jǫtunheimr to the North and humanity’s Miðgarðr to the South, the middle level Jǫrð is perhaps the least remarkable, home to neither god nor ancient artisan. Without the splendour ofÁsgarðr above or the raw power of Undirheimr below, the humbler species live their lives here seemingly without influence over any other.

Jǫtunheimr

At home with all which is cold and hard, the Jǫtun giants breathe along with the sighs of ageless mountains. Glistening minerals gild their ice-covered homes and deep forests, leaving only the rare life form able to survive. In these grim and barren landscapes where winter never eases its grip, each giant feels the weight of rock salts flowing through their veins, and senses, as would a spider in her web, the presence of unwelcome visitors.

Miðgarðr

In Miðgarðr, the life of man does not centre around great marvels or remarkable impact, but around the smaller aspects of living. The beings residing here know not of divine conflict and dream not of unworldly glory, but strive instead toward shared connection and personal achievement. Curious, unpredictable, and contradictory in their nature, the humans of Miðgarðr must live each day in a battle for survival and comfort.

ÁSGARÐR

The world’s top level holds only one realm, Ásgarðr itself. To get here, one must travel the empyreans across the great bridge of Bifrǫst.

Ásgarðr

In Ásgarðr, mountains stretch taller and wind blows fiercer than in any other land. Here dwell Óðinn and his kindred, playing their part in all that goes by below. Where storming oceans meet earthly rocks, there are the Æsir. Where beast fights beast in hunt for prey and continued life, Æsir hands roll the die, and when sense quarrels courage, Æsir tongue leaves the final verdict.

In this esteemed realm of gods, time races nine times swifter than upon Jǫrð, causing Óðinn’s Æsir to age at quicker rate than the humans below. Therefore, the inhabitants of Ásgarðr enjoy their pork alongside apples grown from the waters of Hvergelmir, offering them eternal youth.

gasgagsgas