Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
-20% $8.79
FREE delivery Saturday, January 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$8.79 with 20 percent savings
List Price: $10.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, January 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Wednesday, January 8. Order within 17 hrs 44 mins.
Only 17 left in stock (more on the way).
$$8.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$8.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.25
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. See less
FREE delivery Saturday, January 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, January 9. Order within 23 hrs 29 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$8.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$8.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – August 16, 2016

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 58,133 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$8.79","priceAmount":8.79,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"79","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"qfGzvzZKhk7Xc5A4V8qTa9KqfwkGhR9my4ITmVOn0ZJdxKCp8wUno7y8DZbBNvgVYdx8RT%2Fwk%2B5Wdg%2FrJ1L9%2F4KaDfLp6qGr03tbZGkduRABknX41u8Le%2FtD20J78l7GtJl5%2BsaoHonLglySUIlRNw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.25","priceAmount":8.25,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"25","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"qfGzvzZKhk7Xc5A4V8qTa9KqfwkGhR9mhXBM4CRwQtl8ieDMMrKMCwm7Bugq9ttDVVWMmhECdJg3AmTlQGoYckFEbdgnmNWH51AL9YZbW%2B%2FpamE%2B8us3lXefD03c9gEUiw6XdxhV8fAme7MvLkAtTa6dzsajs303%2Bk%2BJYncWWweIdd3O1VADA8jC%2FpCWjex7","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Now a STARZ® Original Series – Season 3 premiere in January 2021

“Pointed, occasionally comic, often scary, consistently moving and provocative….American Gods is strewn with secrets and magical visions.”—USA Today

Newly updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text. A modern masterpiece from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman.

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Washington Post) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is the story of Shadow—released from prison just days after his wife and best friend are killed in an accident—who gets recruited to be bodyguard, driver, and errand boy for the enigmatic trickster, Mr. Wednesday. So begins Shadow’s dark and strange road trip, one that introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. For, beneath the placid surface of everyday life, a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and Shadow is standing squarely in its path.

“Original, engrossing, and endlessly inventive.”—George R. R. Martin

The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Frequently bought together

This item: American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Novel
$8.79
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jan 11
Only 17 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$8.49
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jan 11
Only 16 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$7.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jan 11
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

Discover the brilliance of Neil Gaiman
American Gods American Gods American Gods American Gods
American Gods American Gods: A Novel American Gods: The Official Coloring Book The Annotated American Gods
Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
1,266
4.4 out of 5 stars
58,133
4.7 out of 5 stars
43
4.9 out of 5 stars
588
Price $9.64 $11.20 $11.22 $28.82

Editorial Reviews

Review

American Gods manages to reinvent, and reassert, the enduring importance of fantastic literature itself in this late age of the world. Dark fun, and nourishing to the soul.” — Michael Chabon

“Provocative yet fun . . . Gaiman has applied his vast breadth of knowledge about all things mythological to a truly high concept.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Gaiman returns to the fertile killing ground that nourished The Sandman: that peculiarly American crossroads where pop culture intersects with religion, violence and death.” — Village Voice Literary Supplement

“Immensely rewarding . . . . Suffused with . . . powerful imagery and deftly painted characters . . . . A finely crafted novel of weight and significance [with] poetic descriptions, sharp-eyed criticism, and first-rate storytelling. There is much to enjoy, to admire, and to ponder in this unforgettable tale.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Pointed, occasionally comic, often scary, consistently moving and provocative . . . . American Gods is strewn with secrets and magical visions.” — USA Today

“Mystery, satire, sex, horror, poetic prose-American Gods uses all these to keep the reader turning the pages.” — Washington Post

“Original, engrossing, and endlessly inventive.” — George R. R. Martin

American Gods is sexy, thrilling, dark, funny and poetic." — Teller, of Penn & Teller

"American Gods is like a fast run downhill through a maze -- both exhilarating and twisted." — Jane Lindskold, author of Changer and

From the Back Cover

Updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text

A modern masterpiece from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction Neil Gaiman

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Washington Post) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is the story of Shadow—released from prison just days after his wife and best friend are killed in an accident—who gets recruited to be bodyguard, driver, and errand boy for the enigmatic trickster Mr. Wednesday. So begins Shadow’s dark and strange road trip, one that introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life, a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and Shadow is standing squarely in its path.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Anniversary edition (August 16, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 784 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062472100
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062472106
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.77 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 58,133 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Neil Gaiman
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
58,133 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers praise the book for its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking ideas. They find the writing style intelligent and literate. Readers appreciate the interesting and likeable characters. The mythology is described as intriguing and original. However, some feel the plot is meandering and disjointed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

2,823 customers mention "Readability"2,653 positive170 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They appreciate the storytelling quality and originality of the story. The premise is great, and the characters are well-developed.

"...In the end, I've been left with a sense of enormity and magnificence, while still not managing to see the whole beast at once...." Read more

"...The characters are interesting and in general likeable but there are plenty of them and it can be confusing if you are not into religions and their..." Read more

"...As such, though the story is interesting on its own, and the character's usually well drawn, this is more a novel about America and its synthesis..." Read more

"...Yet, it is also visionary fiction, horror, adventure, folklore, legend, fantasy, mythology, and postmodernism as its best...." Read more

1,368 customers mention "Thought provoking"1,220 positive148 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and engaging. They appreciate the intricate ideas presented smoothly. The novel is described as imaginative, creative, original, and unique. Readers also mention that the gods in the story provide more world-building and are quirky, funny, and psychotic.

"...It is roughened by age and elements and yet still manages to be intriguing and comforting...." Read more

"...I think that’s the uniqueness and the largest achievement of the writer, how close the “what if” is to “maybe”...." Read more

"...The characters, many of whom are fallen gods, are quirky, funny, and psychotic. They form a glorified carnival of archetypes...." Read more

"...American Gods is a novel of intricate ideas that are presented smoothly and imaginatively...." Read more

923 customers mention "Writing style"675 positive248 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing style. They find it intelligent, literate, and easy to understand. Readers praise the author as a master wordsmith, creative, and original. The book is described as imaginative, wittily written, and visually appealing.

"...in awe and wonderment at being able to read the works of such a master wordsmith. Neil Gaiman is a craftsman when it comes to words...." Read more

"...There is not too much closure but there is just as much as we need. Good writing there. The revelations also play nicely...." Read more

"...It's true that the writing is more subdued than it is in Neverwhere or Anansi Boys, the plot less self aware...." Read more

"...Gaiman breaks all of those rules. He even breaks the basic grammatical rules of writing, such as using active voice whenever possible, and sticking..." Read more

609 customers mention "Character development"494 positive115 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and well-developed. They appreciate the author's observation of American characters and their relationship to the world. The main character is an ex-convict whose physicality and temperament fit the story perfectly. The world and gods are awesomely created by the author. Overall, customers find the book delightful from Neil Gaiman.

"...In the end however it alls fits nicely. The characters are interesting and in general likeable but there are plenty of them and it can be..." Read more

"...such, though the story is interesting on its own, and the character's usually well drawn, this is more a novel about America and its synthesis than..." Read more

"...His characters are interesting and well developed, with few of them being what they appear to be at first glance...." Read more

"...Surprisingly, there�s quite a bit of character development, centered on the conflict between the gods� and goddesses� larger-than-life egos and..." Read more

523 customers mention "Mythology"500 positive23 negative

Customers find the mythology interesting and original. They appreciate the author's command of mythology and religion, as well as strong, believable characters. The book explores religious evolution with an ingenious take on gods born by man's desire and need. It provides historical context and subtext for specific gods in the story as well as a great battle between old and new gods. There are twists and surprises that make parts of the story engaging.

"...There will be a great battle between old and new gods, and that Mr. Wednesday, who is really Odin in disguise, is at the heart of the events..." Read more

"This is a standalone book and a large one. It explores the idea of gods, born by man’s desire and need, gods stranded in a world that is hardly..." Read more

"...is still a Gaiman novel, and it's still filled with the delicious idiosyncrasies of language that characterize all of the man's writing...." Read more

"...American Gods is a commentary on society that urges readers to see America anew and to look into their hearts and wonder if they have chosen their..." Read more

382 customers mention "Pacing"194 positive188 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it satisfactory, with thrilling or intriguing short stories. Others feel the story slows down when the focus shifts from the upcoming war.

"...The pacing is generally good, with thrilling or just intriguing short stories interweaved, though I believe the book could have been considerably..." Read more

"...Shadow is distant and hard to relate to. The plot can slog at times. We're constantly told that a storm is coming as the old and the new clash...." Read more

"...They provide a more personal touch, a send off by something with more of a soul than the mechanical filling of orders provided by a big funeral..." Read more

"...Around half way I did feel like the book was starting to drag and I lost my way a bit with it but then I really enjoyed the last few chapters so it..." Read more

196 customers mention "Humor"132 positive64 negative

Customers have different views on the humor in the book. Some find it satirical, irreverent, and thought-provoking. They find the book enjoyable with plenty of laughs and an offbeat cast of characters. Others feel the story lacks meaning and emotion, with bizarre dream sequences and pointless gore. The beginning of the book is very sad, but it picks up from there quickly.

"...our past shaped us, all told through a cast of characters that's as offbeat and well developed as it is numerous...." Read more

"...Gaiman's style is highly literate. His metaphors are meaningful and often ironic. His dialogue is intelligent, smooth, and natural...." Read more

"...The plot is meandering and dull. The characters are flat and incredibly unsympathetic. The setting is depressing...." Read more

"...American Gods is extremely unique, adult in tone, and really cares about the history and mythology...." Read more

464 customers mention "Plot"139 positive325 negative

Customers find the plot dull and disjointed. They find the characters unlikable and the ending anticlimactic. The story is described as loose, bizarre, and disjointed, with incomprehensible scenes and interludes that interrupt the flow. Some readers feel the book's Jesus story is sacrilegious and cheap.

"...Mysterious scenes and incomprehensible scenes. This is where the 1/5 stars went. The story ends nicely, wrapping up lose ends...." Read more

"...Interludes and flashbacks interrupt the flow, but they do indeed support the premise...." Read more

"...I realize that they're all connected and inter-related, but being able to explain precisely how it all fits is a challenge that seems beyond my..." Read more

"...The plot is meandering and dull. The characters are flat and incredibly unsympathetic. The setting is depressing...." Read more

Had one problem which i just noticed
4 out of 5 stars
Had one problem which i just noticed
I got this book with other books and it was one of the last 4 to read in my list ..so I never really bothered to open it till now ..and noticed it had pages that had the print low and missing some lines, am not sure who to contact regarding this problem, so am juts writing this down here in hopes I get a response about it soon
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2012
    Before I truly get started on my review of American Gods by Neil Gaiman, I should mention a few things. First off, I was struck in awe and wonderment at being able to read the works of such a master wordsmith. Neil Gaiman is a craftsman when it comes to words. His prose, while not overly flowery, has a depth of emotion and poetry that is a joy to read.

    Secondly, I benefitted greatly from a website that compiled and explained the mythology behind various gods and characters. If you decide to read this book, may I highly recommend bookmarking and referencing "Only The Gods Are Real?" [...]

    Trust me when I say you will appreciate the way Gaiman weaves metaphor and mythology so much MORE when you understand the stories he's drawing from. The way he describes the gods and the situations he places them in is nothing short of brilliant.

    American Gods is a really large elephant of a book. It's been a few days since I've finished reading this novel, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of the various concepts and layers. When I focus on one aspect of the book, the others seem to fade out of reach in my mind.

    They're still there, but slightly out of view. Then, as I shift my attention to another angle of the story, the original thought recedes and goes out of focus. I realize that they're all connected and inter-related, but being able to explain precisely how it all fits is a challenge that seems beyond my scope and ability. In the end, I've been left with a sense of enormity and magnificence, while still not managing to see the whole beast at once.

    So, then, let's look at the components separately, instead.

    +++American Gods is a story about a man named Shadow Moon.+++

    Shadow Moon is a man who was sentenced to six years in jail and is due to be released early for good behavior after only serving three of them. A few days before he's to be freed, his life is shattered when he finds out that his wife has died in a car crash.

    On his way home, to attend his wife's funeral, he meets a man named Mr. Wednesday. Mr. Wednesday wants to hire him on as his bodyguard and all around errand boy. Originally, Shadow declines the offer, but Mr. Wednesday is insistent and eventually Shadow acquiesces- with a few stipulations.

    From the very beginning, Shadow can tell that things are not all as they seem. At first, he's reluctantly sucked into the events that unfold, but as things progress he becomes more willingly engaged. He comes to understand that there is a storm coming. There will be a great battle between old and new gods, and that Mr. Wednesday, who is really Odin in disguise, is at the heart of the events unfolding.

    Much like the skin of an elephant, this is perhaps the easiest aspect of the story to identify. It is roughened by age and elements and yet still manages to be intriguing and comforting. Even if all you wanted to do was read this book on the surface level, it would be an entertaining and pleasant read.

    +++American Gods is a story about the struggle between old and new.+++

    Odin is the greatest Norse God, otherwise known as the All-Father. Immigrants brought the old gods from all over the world to America in their hearts and minds. Gods have come from China, Greece, India, Ireland, Egypt, and anywhere there were people who prayed and kept faith in a higher being.

    Slaves, paupers, peasants all brought them oversea and across land on their backs and then tethered them within America's borders through sacrifice and worship. As the people who believed in them stopped believing, or teaching the new generations, or as they began to die off, the power of the old gods faded.

    The old gods were left to fend for themselves and take what little bit they could from the mythology and stories that remained. They had to resort to lying, cheating, whoring and preying on the people as best they could for their existence.

    Their diminished power made way for new gods. The gods of credit cards and freeways, television and computers, internet and media, modernization and progress.

    What the new gods have not realized (or maybe they suspect and fear it's truth) is that everything is impermanent and their very existence is still inherently based off the belief that people instill in them.

    As time moves forward, they will find themselves in a similar situation as the old gods. The lingo may be different, but the function is the same. The new gods fear that there isn't enough room in the people's hearts and minds for all of them, and so want to kill off the old gods.

    +++American Gods is a story about religion and the role of gods in our society.+++

    Gaiman delves into the roles that religion has played in all cultures around the world. At one point in the book, Mr. Wednesday says, "There's never been a true war that wasn't fought between two sets of people who were certain they were in the right."

    How can anybody say this isn't relevant to today's geopolitical situation? With so much unrest in the Middle East and the blooming of the Arab Spring? With Iran rushing to gain nuclear capabilities and threatening to wipe Israel off the map; Israel threatening to train their weapons on Iran in retaliation. With the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Sudan and the Darfur?

    Hasn't it always been the same throughout our history? These are relatively recent examples, but at any point in mankind's past, there is a religion being used as an excuse to wage war and commit murder on masses of people who are different and equally- fervently- calling themselves "right."

    Throughout humanity, gods have been thought of as, "a dream, a hope, a woman, an ironist, a father, a city, a house of many rooms...a celestial being whose only interest is to make sure your football team, army, business, or marriage thrives, prospers, and triumphs over all opposition."

    The vehicle used to express the idea of God (or gods) is through religion. Religions are, by definition, a metaphor. They are a means to relate the story and concept. At one point in the book religion is described as an operating system.

    However, if you were to boil any religion down to its base, you'd be left with the concept that, in essence, gods are ideas. Ideas are more difficult to kill than people, it's true, but they can be killed and, therefore, it is possible to kill a god.

    +++American Gods is a story about the American identity.+++

    When Gaiman wrote this book, he'd been living in America for a few years and was trying to come to an understanding about our country's sense of identity. In his search, he takes the reader from Chicago to San Francisco to the smallest towns via back roads and kitschy tourist attractions. He addresses his findings and musing throughout the book and makes some very astute observations. Not exactly as a stranger, but not quite as an insider, either.

    At one point Mr. Wednesday mentions, "This is the only country in the world that worries about what it is." Which, in my own limited experience, is exactly true. Throughout our history we've fretted over the influx of a particular demographic. Long ago, it was the Irish, then the Chinese. We've fought ourselves bloody over slavery and civil rights and interned our Japanese. A more modern example may be the laws recently passed in Arizona, primarily focusing on Hispanics.

    Each era, we have questioned ourselves and what it means to be American. The ones who have been here longer wrap themselves in the flag and gorge themselves on apple pie, all the while tucking away their own immigrant ancestors. The fact is, nobody is American. Not originally. And, that is entirely the point.

    One of the things I'm most proud of is my family heritage. My mom is caucasian. Blonde haired and blue eyed, her family has been in America since the 1700s and originated from England (I think there may be a bit of Irish and French in the mix, as well.) My maternal lineage could be considered one of the oldest families in America and has so many branches it's nearly impossible to keep track of them all.

    In contrast, my dad is full blooded Thai and first generation American. It was my grandparents who immigrated back in the 1940s in order to attend university and eventually make lives for themselves. I love the fact that I am a combination of some of the oldest Americans and newest Americans. I feel like I am the true embodiment of what it means to be American because of these two aspects. It's helped me to have a greater appreciation for our immigrant nature and realized that everybody who comes to this country has had a hand in shaping it's heritage AND it's future.

    I consider myself to be very patriotic. I still get a lump in my throat when I hear the national anthem hit that high note of hope and aspiration. I still marvel at the brilliance of the fireworks on the Fourth of July. And I insist on representing my country as best as I can when I go traveling abroad; choosing not to hide behind a Canadian flag simply because I'm afraid people will think less of me because of my country's reputation and propensity for war.

    However, that's not to say that I haven't been critical of our government and foreign policies. That doesn't mean that I haven't marched and protested and written multiple letters to Congress. I think a major part of the American identity is the fact that we DO have a tendency towards self-reflection; of constantly looking in the mirror and asking, "Who are we?"

    Despite our disparate pasts, cultures, languages and religions, how do we manage to make this country (that doesn't seem like it should work) function and persist? Even as we question our heritage, our language, our "American-ness" we have some undefined quality that makes us distinguishable from any other country.

    +++American Gods is a story about an elephant.+++

    Have you ever heard the story of the seven blind men in a room with an elephant? They are all asked to touch some part of the elephant and then to describe what it looks like.

    The first blind man touches the elephant's leg and says, "An elephant is like a pillar."

    The second blind man touches the elephant's tail and says, "No, an elephant is like a snake."

    A third blind man touches the elephant's trunk and says, "No, it's like a tree branch."

    The fourth blind man touches the elephant's ear and says, "An elephant is like a hand fan."

    And so on, down the line, each blind man grabs hold of a part of the elephant and declares what it is.

    In the end, they were all right, and yet...they were all wrong, as well. The fact was, the elephant was too large of a concept for any one man to grasp wholly. Some things are just larger than us and not meant to be fully understood.

    To fight over things we can't possibly know, such as what the exact parameters are in order to be defined as "American," or over the will of God and the rules of higher beings, is an exercise in futility, ignorance and arrogance. Such is the impression I'm left with after reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

    +++Epilogue+++

    At the risk of mixing metaphors, or adding to this already bloated review, I'll leave you with one final quote from the book that I hope will help illuminate what I think is the essence of this book.

    "One describes a tale best by telling the tale. You see? The way one describes a story, to oneself or the world, is by telling the story. It is a balancing act and it is a dream. The more accurate the map, the more it resembles the territory. The most accurate map possible would be the territory, and thus would be perfectly accurate and perfectly useless. The tale is the map that is the territory. You must remember this." - The Notebooks of Mr. Ibis.

    This is my version of a map. I've tried to make it as accurate as possible, but in the end it is incomplete and inaccurate- as all maps must be- in describing this book. The best that anyone can do would be to just read the novel and find themselves as enchanted as I was with the landscape of Gaiman's novel.
    122 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
    This is a standalone book and a large one. It explores the idea of gods, born by man’s desire and need, gods stranded in a world that is hardly loyal to them anymore.

    The story is full of twists and revelations and keeps you on your toes for the most part. It’s uniqueness of story and characters you might heard of make it a compelling read.

    Our main man protagonist struggles to find his place, struggles to find a reason to be alive. It’s a journey of self discovery, while caught in events he can hardly grasp.
    We feel for him and he is likable however his lack of concrete goals and direction limits our levels of engagement. It’s understandable because it’s tied to the story itself, he is not meant to understand what is going on and he is meant to struggle to find a meaning in life, but still everything is short stories one after the other with fairly limited actual continuation.
    In the end however it alls fits nicely.

    The characters are interesting and in general likeable but there are plenty of them and it can be confusing if you are not into religions and their gods.
    There are a few more characters that follow our protagonist and can be considered leads, but I would say that based on the premise of the story all the gods suffer from the same fate and we are set to sympathize. It’s funny because it’s pictured not to be far fetched. You can loosen your grip to reality and actually believe it true.
    I think that’s the uniqueness and the largest achievement of the writer, how close the “what if” is to “maybe”.

    The pacing is generally good, with thrilling or just intriguing short stories interweaved, though I believe the book could have been considerably shorter. I can’t vow that it wouldn’t lose its glory, but I’m pretty sure it lost me and my interest multiple times. It’s a thin line, world building and too much world building. Mysterious scenes and incomprehensible scenes.
    This is where the 1/5 stars went.

    The story ends nicely, wrapping up lose ends. There is not too much closure but there is just as much as we need. Good writing there. The revelations also play nicely. I got to admit however that in most of his journey our protagonist is almost a passenger and there is little choice you can actually attribute to himself. The “everything is predetermined” steals a little bit if the glory.

    In conclusion, this is a book you ought to read. You need to be able to say “oh, I have read this one” and you won’t regret it. I’m also tempted to watch the series after I forget a bit about this, though it’s hard to really forget about it.
    If you are looking for a protagonist who is gonna learn magic and evolve and battle with it, well you won’t find that. That doesn’t mean you won’t like what you’ll read. It’s one of those books that represent what you don’t know you want to read!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully entertaining
    Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2024
    What a pleasure to read. I have just finished and will reread after I have digested this wonderful tale for a week or two.
    Exciting, well crafted, and with as many twists as there are characters in the book.
  • Kay
    5.0 out of 5 stars splendido
    Reviewed in Italy on November 25, 2024
    Ne avevo la versione italiana, che già mi era piaciuta.
    Ma questa l'ho apprezzata anche di più. La conservo come uno splendido mondo nel quale rifugiarmi.
  • David Navarro
    5.0 out of 5 stars No me defraudó
    Reviewed in Spain on February 23, 2024
    Hacia mucho tiempo que quería leer este libro. Soy fan de Neil Gaiman y mis expectativas eran altas, y no me ha defraudado. Consigue mantener tu interés del principio hasta el final con una historia apasionante y giros inesperados. Estoy deseando leer otra novela de este autor.
  • Vijay Menon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Stuff
    Reviewed in India on September 24, 2023
    This book is worth every minute I spent reading it, Gailman is a magician when it comes to weaving words that stays in the readers minds for ever. He had created the best heroes and anti heroes of out times , while weaving mysticism and ancient folklore into a magical story that can be enjoyed by the modern generation.
  • Stewe Lundin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Sweden on August 8, 2022
    A great book.