BALDER AND THE MISTLETOE

From Balder's dream of death to Loki's terrible punishment, this Norse myth is packed with strong images and mighty action. Barth avoids overdramatizing and if her telling is generally less than stirring it is always more than adequate. In the end Loki remains chained in a cave beneath dripping snake venom, and Balder remains in Hel, awaiting the final battle and the world's end--and here Barth rises to the occasion with her stark description of the awesome events to come.