Fallen Gods draws heavily from Norse mythology, particularly stories surrounding Odin, the Giants (Jötnar), and Ragnarok, the apocalyptic conflict that destroys and remakes the world. In traditional Norse mythology, Odin is the ruler of the Aesir gods and is associated with wisdom, prophecy, war, and sacrifice. The Giants are ancient, powerful beings who exist in a complicated and often hostile relationship with the gods. Many of the novel’s conflicts specifically draw from the mythology surrounding the Frost Giants of Jötunheim, the icy realm traditionally depicted as the homeland of the Giants and a rival domain to the gods of Asgard. The novel adapts these mythological tensions into a modern fantasy setting centered on hidden identities, inherited power, and the lingering consequences of war (Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Germanic religion and mythology”).

The book incorporates recognizable mythological elements such as runes, prophetic visions, magical bloodlines, and references to mythological figures, including Loki and Laufey. Aric’s growing connection to ice, storms, and supernatural strength aligns him with the Giant lineage Odin sought to suppress after Ragnarok. The recurring language of “awakening” reflects a major theme in Norse mythology: the return of buried forces and destinies that cannot remain hidden forever. Rather than treating mythology as distant legend, the novel presents these ancient conflicts as living forces that continue shaping the modern world.

The novel also adapts Norse mythology through the conventions of contemporary fantasy romance. Ancient rivalries and prophecies are filtered through a university setting, emotionally charged relationships, and questions of trust, attraction, and loyalty. By combining mythological archetypes with modern interpersonal conflict, Fallen Gods uses Norse mythology as a framework for exploring identity, inheritance, power, and self-discovery.