Book Review: The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

 

Title: The Witch's Heart
Author: Genevieve Gornichec
Genre: Mythology; Retelling
Publication Date: February 9, 2021
Publisher: Ace Books

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.

Rating

*A Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this. This is my unbiased and honest review*

 

Hello Fellow Readers,

 

The Witch's heart is a very unique love story, one that I honestly was not prepared for. Heavy in Norse Mythology, Gornichec does an amazing job in retelling Ragnarok through the eyes of Angrboda, a witch who escapes death when Odin burned her at the stake, in the process she looses her heart. Loki, which everyone should know about by now, eventually finds it and brings it back to her. This starts the story of a very epic love story.

 

Angrboda was a very cool character, she's very logical and practical (something you don't thing about when it comes to the Norse Gods) and I really enjoyed her POV. Gornichec's writing was so refreshing and interesting, that I forgot this was a retelling as she made the story of Ragnarok her own.

 

Overall, a very creative lovestory