I have had enormous fun in writing Whetstone and Lotta’s story. The world of Norse Mythology is rich and complex, but it is also incomplete and, in some places, completely bonkers.
The backbone of Norse mythology is a giant tree whose roots and branches support Nine Worlds. This is a fantastic idea, but how would it actually work for the inhabitants? If we are all in the tree, could I, if I had sufficient tree climbing skills, climb from one world to another? But then, if humans can cross between worlds, why not monsters? And what if someone with an eye for mischief saw this as an opportunity to cause trouble and seize power?
Odin, Freyja and the other Gods and Goddesses Whetstone encounters are all real figures within Norse Mythology. Of them, Loki is the most curious. Not technically a God but a shapeshifting Fire Giant. While everyone else is brave and straightforward, Loki is more … complicated. He saves the Gods and endangers them seemingly at random and his actions will ultimately bring about the downfall of the Gods and Giants. Despite this, the Gods wilfully tolerate his behaviour until it is far too late.
Knowledge of the Gods own downfall colours all the stories within Norse mythology. They know from the beginning how everything will end and although this can be delayed, it will still come to pass. Interestingly the Gods are not immortal, they can and do die. It was felt that you cannot be truly heroic if you cannot risk everything. Odin builds his ghostly army in Valhalla not because he believes he can beat the Frost Giants, but simply to go out in a final blaze of glory. Valhalla is the ultimate afterparty, but only those who had done enough to catch Odin’s (one remaining) eye would be invited to join.
As for Odin’s elite warriors, the Valkyries, their origins are unclear. Are they born or made? In some stories they start off as the daughters of noble families, in others they are bloodthirsty spirits luring fighters to their deaths. As well as being the god of Wisdom, Odin was also the God of battle frenzy. My Valkyries are made of this battle frenzy and originate from battles across Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. All places it is known that the Vikings travelled to. Out of great battles, come great Valkyries.
Although the Vikings would have been familiar with lots of different characters and stories from Norse mythology, not many details have survived the last thousand years to reach us today. These remaining stories inspired How to be a Hero, which takes place in the spaces between the myths.