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Rating: 
Summary: a thorough, well-researched, well-taught authority on runes!
Review: A very interesting and in-depth look into the runes of the Elder Futhark, complete with a description and folklore of each of the 24 runes (three to four pages on each rune), a guide to rune divination, a section on rune magic, and even a section on Nordic Deities connected to the rune lore. Freya Aswynn is a real authority on this matter, and has written a brilliant and thorough book. It goes beyond an overview, and if one is serious about learning the runes, it is a dense, but incredibly informative and effective work. The accompanying CD makes it even more worthwhile. And for the amount of information included in the book, the price is very reasonable. This is an excellent buy. Readers new to runework should note, however, that there are quite a few different rune futharks, so doing a little research about which one you choose to study may be of some value if you're looking to "dive right in" to practice.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book on runes
Review: Its a descent book. The interpretations are plausable and Freyja Aswynn's writing style is very readable. However, her Wiccan background does show in this book and her interpretations are on a somewhat "Vanic" level on occasion...which can be problemic considering the fact that the runes are an AEsiric mystery and operate on a level of "consiousness" and relates on a logic based/Self level while the Vanic Mysteries (sorcery, shapeshifting, shamanic arts, ect.) are on a "nature" based level and tends to be based on intuition and feeling. Freyja does seem to add her own "twists" to the interpretations. At any rate it is good reading material and offers alot of insights into the mysteries of the runes. For a more AEsir oreinted look at the runes (as it should be), read Edred Thorsson's/Stephen Flower's works: Runelore, Futhark, At the Well of Wyrd, and Nine Doors of Midgard. I suggest starting with these books to lay a good foundation and other books should be seen through this lense. In the name of Woden, Sigurd, and the Great Wyrmtyr!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the better books on the runes
Review: There is a lot of garbage being printed about the runes and most of these authers do not know what they are talking about eighter. But Freya Aswynn is diffrent she knows her craft well. She does not just give out iformation on how to read the runes or the divination meanings of each rune, she goes deeper than that. She goes into the esoteric meanings of them. She also gives out a bit of information on some of the goddesses and gods of the Nordic pantheon. Her work is orderly and not sloppy.
Rating:
Summary: Decent Book On Runes
Review: This book has a decent amount of information and is very useful for anyone who has trouble delving into heavy scholarly books on the subject of runes. There is a great deal of speculation, personal feelings being presented, and a little too many "I did this" stories. I understand she has led a troubled life, but she should not bring too much of that into a non-fiction work(except for the introduction, I'll allow that). I would recommend this to people who would like to add onto a runic library they have already started. It's very helpful if cross-referenced with a more scholarly work. It's also useful if you're trying to introduce somebody to runic study.
Rating:
Summary: Decent Book On Runes
Review: This book has a decent amount of information and is very useful for anyone who has trouble delving into heavy scholarly books on the subject of runes. There is a great deal of speculation, personal feelings being presented, and a little too many "I did this" stories. I understand she has led a troubled life, but she should not bring too much of that into a non-fiction work(except for the introduction, I'll allow that). I would recommend this to people who would like to add onto a runic library they have already started. It's very helpful if cross-referenced with a more scholarly work. It's also useful if you're trying to introduce somebody to runic study.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my style.....
Review: This book has a few good points, but not enough that I would buy it again. The author has had a rather tumultous life, and I can understand that she would have some anger because of this, but I felt it come through in her writing in many places. I didn't think it was the best frame of mind in which to undertake study of the runes.The CD was a hair-raising one. Not my style, but if you like the erie thing you'll like this. Some invocations are on it, with thunder in the background. I didn't think the quality of the recording was very good as she sounds like she's in an echo chaimber. I'm not sure, but there might be a possibility that she was doing that effect on purpose.
Rating:
Summary: Must have for all Rune Students
Review: This book is a must-have for any serious practioner of the runes, in addition to other notable authors such as Thorsson, Gundarsson, R.I. Page, etc. Freya Aswynn combines scholarly research with instinctual magickal application. Those who dwell too much on the lore details and spellings should find another resource as the entire point to this book is to find the runes within one's own psyche. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on the subject
Review: This is the fourth printing of "Northern Mysteries and Magick" and if you are into runes or Scandinavian mythology and mysteries then it is easy to see why it has been so popular. Starting with a short piece on the northern tradition in perspective, it proceeds quickly into a detailed section on runes. For each rune it gives the Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse names, the phonetic value and the traditional meaning as well as an illustration of the rune. Beneath this there is a detailed analysis of the rune in terms of the culture of the time, it's derivation when known, other words it is associated with, how it was related to specific Norse gods and myths, and various other pieces of information as appropriate. While the information is detailed the writing style is not very technical in nature and so creates a flowing, easy to follow read that anyone can understand. Following this section is an excellent piece on runic divination including the nine worlds of Nordic mythology and how they relate to the conscious. Divination methods discussed include the basic fourfold wheel and the more detailed eightfold wheel techniques. This is followed by a very informative section on runic magic and traditional magic techniques and beliefs. Each of the traditional Scandinavian gods is presented with a detailed profile that includes their name in Norse, English, Dutch, and German, their primary element, secondary element, color, number, totem animals, personal sigils, magical items, the purpose for which they are typically invoked and the runes used for them. The book ends with a chapter on feminine mysteries that includes a short piece on the practice of Seith (mostly the casting spells and enchantments), an examination of Odin and how he related to the feminine mysteries, and detailed profiles of the feminine gods such as Frigga and Freyja. For those who are interested in runes, northern magic beliefs and systems, or just a detailed account of how runes and magic were used historically and what they meant to the people of that time it is a highly recommended read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on the subject
Review: This is the fourth printing of "Northern Mysteries and Magick" and if you are into runes or Scandinavian mythology and mysteries then it is easy to see why it has been so popular. Starting with a short piece on the northern tradition in perspective, it proceeds quickly into a detailed section on runes. For each rune it gives the Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse names, the phonetic value and the traditional meaning as well as an illustration of the rune. Beneath this there is a detailed analysis of the rune in terms of the culture of the time, it's derivation when known, other words it is associated with, how it was related to specific Norse gods and myths, and various other pieces of information as appropriate. While the information is detailed the writing style is not very technical in nature and so creates a flowing, easy to follow read that anyone can understand. Following this section is an excellent piece on runic divination including the nine worlds of Nordic mythology and how they relate to the conscious. Divination methods discussed include the basic fourfold wheel and the more detailed eightfold wheel techniques. This is followed by a very informative section on runic magic and traditional magic techniques and beliefs. Each of the traditional Scandinavian gods is presented with a detailed profile that includes their name in Norse, English, Dutch, and German, their primary element, secondary element, color, number, totem animals, personal sigils, magical items, the purpose for which they are typically invoked and the runes used for them. The book ends with a chapter on feminine mysteries that includes a short piece on the practice of Seith (mostly the casting spells and enchantments), an examination of Odin and how he related to the feminine mysteries, and detailed profiles of the feminine gods such as Frigga and Freyja. For those who are interested in runes, northern magic beliefs and systems, or just a detailed account of how runes and magic were used historically and what they meant to the people of that time it is a highly recommended read.
Rating:
Summary: THE NEGATIVE STUFF JUST DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE
Review: This is the worst book I have ever read on runes. It's so negative it's dank and evil. The information in it is all a repeat of other books, so there's nothing new here. Unfortunately, the author (of questionable integrity in my opinion) even tells you how to kill someone you don't like. Yeah, so much for making the world a better place to live in for our kids. This is just the kind of book and attitude that makes people think that runes, tarot, and other divination systems are evil and the devil's work. If you are interested in learning about runes, consider reading ANY other book on this subject. You will be glad you missed this one, just like you are glad you didn't drink that glass of sour milk. Instead you sniffed it first and realized it was putrid. Best you sniff this book first because it really STINKS.
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