The Witch's Heart

A surprisingly enjoyable book. The characters were flawed but still likeable, it's a familiar story of ragnarok from an unexpected point of view, and overall I kept reading until well into the night. Nothing really bad to say, the author's writing was very good and I didn't find myself cringing a lot like I've come to expect from fantasy writers.

Probably a 4.5. Fluffy, but satisfying.

Life (and love):
“The ending doesn't matter. What matters is how we get there. To face what's ahead with as much dignity as we can muster and make the most of the time we have left.”

Every mother ever:
“My heart is so much more than it once was, even if it now beats outside my chest.”

why this got a lgbtq tag on it there's like 2% gay in this book, I literally only read cause I was hoping for lgbtq and got fuckin nothing bro. 
Also I didn't like the book lol 

WOW.

I feel like this is going to be the new way for me to start reviews on books that are absolute five stars for me.

I knew that The Witch's Heart was going to be fantastic because the minute I hear any book that contains any type of mythology? I am going to read it and make it my entire personality. This did NOT disappoint.

This book had me hooked from the very first page and the writing style is so different to anything that I've read and I can happily say that I am obsessed.

Loki and Thor have always had a special place in my heart when it came to the Marvel Universe so to read a retelling based on the Norse mythology surrounding them was such a high for me. I got angry at myself for not reading this sooner.

If you looked up the fierce, independent female protagonist I guarantee that Angrboda will be the prime example because that's exactly what she is. She was such a force to read about and I loved every single minute of it. Her character was so fantastic that I don't think there are words to articulately formulate my true thoughts and feelings surrounding her and her story in The Witch's Heart.

The characters, the pacing, the imagery and plot.... everything about this was superb.

If you love fantasy, this is the book for you. I can't recommend it enough. This book ruined my life. It's right up there with The Poppy War Trilogy for me and THAT says something.

Whatever this author writes from now on, I will consume without hesitation.

10/10 for making me cry

This book had everything I love in books. Deep characters who aren't simply black or white in their personalities. A connected story that had me guessing and then fearing the outcome. The cruelness of others.

I was frightened to continue reading as I suspected what the outcome was and told me tell you o was not okay. A bawling mess at work

The characterisation in this book is masterful.

I will be thinking about this book for years to come.

A perfect standalone.

Being a big fan of the Norse legends, I was curious where this novel was going to take me. In the first few chapters, I confess I wasn't sure I was going to keep reading. I felt that the author's portrayal of Loki was fippant and didnt align with what I thought he should be. But, don't give up. Once I settled into the story further, it took a turn into the world of the Aesir that held truer to what I knew.

The relationship between Angrboda and Skadi was complex and heartwarming and I enjoyed the journey the author took us on with the two of them.

Ultimately this is a story of a mother's love for her children and her perseverance to keep them safe and in that, Genevieve succeeds.

It was a nice read that left a mix of pleasant and sad aftertaste.

Some parts were very difficult to read, because the idea of separating kids from parents is rather triggering for me. And I did my best not to invest too much into the story at the very end.

Looking forward to discussing the book in VBC in the end of August.

This book was a roller coaster. I'm not going to pretend like all of my Norse mythology knowledge hasn't come from God of War and the Marvel movies, but this book made me want to look into more of it (from more reputable sources). I love a villain redemption story. I loved and hated Angrboda and Loki. Jormungand and Fenrir deserve their own book with a rewritten happy ending. I loved them the most and they just had the worst time. This book ended on such a high note that I'm willing to overlook some of the dragging moments.

The Trickster Loki


While I've always loved mythology, I wasn't as familiar with tales of the Norse gods and goddesses as I was with the Celtic and Greek myths. I have read Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and I loved it but that is as far as I have explored. What I did know of the Norse myths didn't include the love story of Angrboda and Loki, mostly associating them with evil based on the stories of their children—Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungand—who all play a role in Ragnarok.

However, it's always good to remember that there are two sides to every story, and the stories are often written by the winners or those with the most power, and these stories often favor men. Loki is a trickster. Thor is a bit of a narcissist. And Odin can be quite manipulative and self-absorbed. I had a bit of a hard time because I have seen the Thor movies so trying to picture the characters differently was a stretch.

Angrboda the burned witch and her friend Skadi the huntress are the central figures in this reimagining of the events leading up to and culminating in Ragnarok. Their story is just as important as the stories of the Aesir and much less dramatic. I loved the pacing and the good feelings that I had when reading this book it is worth the time for sure.

A very nicely crafted two part book. The first part has the same rhythms of retelling of Norse Sagas (like Neil Gaiman's) but in the second part the writing elevates to a more lyrical introspection and Angrboda's plight becomes more personal.

The tale of Angrboda and Loki is one of love, strength, and loss, and Genevieve Gornichec shows this beautifully. I really need to do some research on the history of these mythologies. I have quickly become obsessed with the stories of these scary gods.

As with most mythological retellings I read, I went into it not previously knowing the story. I don't think I had ever even heard of Angrboda. But that didn't diminish how much I enjoyed this story. Angrboda's strength and resilience created such a rich backbone to this story. Loki, while annoying and ultimately not great, still had a soft spot in my heart. He genuinely cared for Angrboda and their children. Also, Hel is the best and I love her, that is all.

The pacing of this book never felt off. While definitely a slower paced book, I still feel like I treasured every moment spent with these characters. Angrboda's relationship with Skadi brought me to tears multiple times. The lives her children led were beautiful and poetic. Everything about this book was a success in my eyes. I recommend it to lovers of mythology everywhere.

TW: animal death, blood, bones, death, gore, kidnapping, murder, poisoning, snakes, terminal illness, torture, violence

There's been so many successful Greek myth retellings (sooooooo many) and while I'm a fan, I admit I have been sitting by quite impatiently waiting for Norse myth to get the same treatment. Well here we are.

Gornichec tells the story of the Norse gods from the point of view of Angrboda, the giantess who is known for mothering Loki's children: Hel the ruler of the dead, Fenrir the wolf and Jormungandr the world serpent. She is barely more than a footnote, named in Eddic poetry as a giant and a mother to monsters, and nothing else. Here, Gornichec reimagines Angrboda as having a significant but forgotten role in not only her relationships with Loki and their children, but others amongst the Aesir, with consequences reaching as far as Ragnarök itself.

I deeply enjoyed this debut novel and found it a fairly easy read. While I have a huge love of Norse mythology (I did write my dissertation on it in part after all), I imagine this would also appeal to fans of Madeline Miller and other similar authors. Just maybe, if you have the time, become familiar with Norse myths first as once you do it's so obvious how much time and care Gornichec has put into this story. I really hope she has something else to share with us soon!

Imagine Circe by Madeline Miller crossed with Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology. This is the best retelling of the Norse myths I've ever read.