The Witch's Heart
-
-
4.4 • 176 Ratings
-
-
- $6.99
Publisher Description
When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive national bestselling debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.
Angrboda’s story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family...or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gornichec reimagines Norse mythology in this heartfelt debut about the power of a mother's love. The witch Angrboda is no stranger to burnings at the stake, having survived three of them. Wounded and defenseless following her third burning, Angrboda flees Asgard, leaving behind her speared heart. She finds refuge in a secluded forest at the edge of the world, content to live a solitary life in a cave. But her isolation is interrupted when she's discovered by Loki, the trickster god, who returns her missing heart. Despite their constant bickering and Loki's hijinks, the pair fall in love and have three children together. But Angrboda's disturbing visions of Ragnarok, or the apocalypse, and the role her children will play in the fall of the gods threaten her family's peaceful life, and Angrboda must choose between accepting fate or working to change her children's future. Gornichec's spellbinding story breathes life into a minor character from Norse myth, delving into the complexities of Angrboda's familial relationships and the lengths to which she'll go for both love and vengeance. This powerful fantasy is sure to win Gornichec many fans.
Customer Reviews
I’m crying-SOBBING
I read this thinking I would be bored of it. But the sample caught me, I bought it out of curiosity. And boy when I tell you I was captivated by the story- I was hooked. It was my drug, I read for two hours straight. I’d also read it in bursts of 5-45 minutes. I don’t want to spoil it but this story pulled my heart strings and tore them to pieces. I loved it, I don’t know if I will read it again, but I have a book hangover now. After this book, please, do some self care.
Wonderful book difficult to put down
The vivid storytelling matched with the gripping details makes this one of my favorite reads to date. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
5 stars, hands down!
“If hope is for fools, then so be it. I am my mother’s daughter, after all.”
Wow! I have always loved learning about different cultures “creation/origin” mythology, with Norse being a top contender to being my favorite to learn about. I completely fell in love with Genevieve Gornichec’s “The Witch’s Heart”!! This book was so much more than just a retelling of Norse mythology, but truly a fantastic story that was beautifully written. I felt she did a wonderful job at capturing the complexities of each of the characters. She wrote in such a way that even if a character wasn’t the greatest, I still fell in love with them. The book does a great job describing the nuances and layers to relationships - from relationships with self to romantic, family dynamics, friendships & ancestral. It was a story of heartbreak, friendship, a mother’s love, and fate. I feel that many different genre lovers would enjoy this book. I cannot wait to read more in Gornichec’s collation of stories.