Book Review-Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the Allfather by L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller

Book Review

Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the AllFather

By L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller

Publisher: Red Wheel

128 Page Full-Color, Fully-Illustrated Hardcover

Release Date: April 7th, 2025

Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the AllFather is the perfect primer for those looking to learn more about the One-Eyed God; not only is it a mindful guide to learning more about Odin in myth, legend and even modern iterations, but it also gracefully handles the problematic past that American Heathenry and Norse Paganism in America have. The discernment present in so many contemporary Norse Pagan books is a sign of positive change, and that there’s a genuine movement to get away from hate-based ideologies, which is the basis of Odinism, which consequently brought Odin and the Norse deities to America. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, then this book will enlighten you so you can practice Heathenry safely.

Of course, what would a book on the AllFather be without starting off explaining the Norse pagan worldview and cosmology, which is much the same as its brother book in this series, Loki, which I will leave a link to my review of here. After that brief introduction into the Norse mythological world, Odin is discussed-via mythology, modern appearances and trends, and even things he rules over such as the internet, that apply to our everyday lives! Odin is not a stagnant force stuck in some bygone age, and L. Dean Lee shows just how active the AllFather is in our world.

Capricious as Odin is, there’s even a much appreciated section at the end of the book that guides the reader through the basic question we’ve all had when starting out with deity work: is it really them? Lee offers multiple checkpoints as a guide for those newer to deity work, to make sure that it’s not am impostor spirit, or something else such as a mental illness or even what the author calls “mental sock puppets”, i.e., personal delusions/creations. This checklist/guide will come in handy for any deity work anyone may do, but especially for Odin and Loki, as they are both known to be capricious and tricky, to say the least.

The illustrations yet again did not disappoint, adding a story book feeling to the book, and adding to its inherent value. The imagery and design of the book offered by The Saxon Storyteller highlights the need for folks to connect with mythology is a visual way, not just in a literary, mental way, as is so common these days. If nothing else, the illustrations and artwork in this beautiful book will draw in even the most casual of readers. I have no complaints with Odin, much the same as I had none for Loki, and I hope for, and look forward to, reviewing more books in this lovely new series Red Wheel is putting out; 5/5 Pentagrams!

L. Dean Lee is a practicing Norse Heathen with a love for knowledge and a background in teaching. He runs the website Skald’s Keep (www.skaldskeep.com) and has been deeply involved in the pagan and Heathen community since 2017.

The Saxon Storyteller (Matt Greenway) is the illustrator of the Norse Gods series. He is known for his ability to capture the character of artifacts and historical figures. His interests in Anglo Saxon, Celtic and Norse Mythologies and history have inspired his work for many years. He shares his passion for drawing mythology on instagram @thesaxonstoryteller and illustrates content for the Nordic Mythology Podcast.

 

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Author Bio:

The Modern Merlin is a Polytheist, Pagan, Animist, Witch, Sorcerer, Necromancer and Occultist. He embarked on his spiritual and magickal journey over 15 years ago! As such, he has extensive knowledge of The Occult, Ceremonial Magick, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and both modern and ancient world religions and folklore. He is a practicing Sorcerer, blending ceremonial high magick and witchcraft, as well as plant medicine, poisonous plants and entheogens, shamanic techniques, and mysticism. He believes that magick can be as simple or as complex as one needs it to be, and rejects dogma, instead trusting his intuition, and encourages other magickal and spiritual folks to do the same! He venerates and casts magick with a wide array of spirits and deities, and works with both the Left and Right Hand Paths, having experience in both. He is an Astrologer and Tarot reader with 15 years’ experience in both, and actively studies and practices many other forms of divination including Runes, Ogham, Palmistry and Scrying. An animal lover, he sees divinity in nature-the trees, plants, animals and sky.  Also an avid reader, you’re hard pressed to not find him nose deep in a book, most likely on an occult, mystical, religious or magickal subject. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and the author of multiple columns, including The Modern Merlin’s Corner, Entheogens for the New Gen, Stellium, and Scary, Strange and Mythical Encounters. He gives readings and other spiritual services through his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see! You can reach him on Facebook, or e-mail him at [email protected]