The Witch’s Heart

3.75 stars

Following the story of Angrboda, a witch who becomes the wife of Loki and the mother of Hel, Fenrir and Jorgamund. We follow her throughout her life, in her latest reincarnation, as at the start of the novel Loki returns her heart to her and then from there we follow their relationship. Eventually the story begins to follow events of norse mytholgy (well the whole book is following the events but certian things are more famous than others) culminating in Rangorkok.

I really liked all the Norse mytholgy in this book, it's one of my favourite areas of mytholgy and I love Loki especially (anything for a sexy "villain"). I thought he was really well executed in this novel, the author managed to perfectly capture is wit, charm and trickster nature. I also really loved the banter between him and Angrboda. Additionally I really enjoyed their relationship, while it was quite toxic at times it felt very much like a relationship between a powerful god and witch - it was very entertaining to read.

This is a quiet novel, a lot of it is focused on Angrboda; how she feels, her relationships to the other characters and the sacrifices a mother is willing to make for her children. Later on in the novel there is also a sapphic relationship between Angrboda and Skadi, a huntress - which I wasn't expecting but was a very pleasant surprise!! I would have liked more scenes of them being soft with each other but alas.

The prose is very nice, it very much reads in a similar way to Circe by Madeline Miller - a witch often forgotten in mytholgy retellings gets the story from their POV, with lush lyrical writing. I wouldn't read this book for the plot, it's more of a look at Angrboda as a character in depth and how events going on in the world affect her.

Whenever I hear about a new reimagining of any kind of mythology my whole body YEARNS for it, and this time was no different. I was so very excited to read "The Witch's Heart", and it definitely did not disappoint.
Gornichec writes beautifully, with gorgeous prose that fits the narrative and the world. It is an intimate story that focuses on one woman and her tale, elegantly written and referencing all the heroic deeds and battles of the Eddas while never straying too far from the heart of this particular story: Angrboda herself.
I didn't know anything about Angrboda beyond her being the, well, mother of monsters and Loki's wife (sorry Boda...), so it was super intriguing to read something new about her. I don't mind that most of her story in this novel seems to not be based in the Eddas or that there are certain roles in Norse Mythology that Gornichec gave to Angrboda instead of the respective character it is usually attributed to. This is not a retelling, after all, it's fantasy. The world is rich and filled with intriguing characters, with Angrboda and Loki especially standing out. The story covers so very much of Norse Mythology, telling or referencing it from basically the very beginning to the very end. It really inspires one to learn more about it. Also, personally I really really enjoyed the ending - it was masterfully done and left me feeling hopeful with just that mild bittersweet taste that I adore.

I did have some issues with the book that keep me from giving it a five star rating, though they are super subjective. For one, I found Angrboda - as much as I love her - a very passive character for the longest time. Whenever Loki leaves, she generally just sits around at home with her children and there is nothing much happening that she initiates herself. Her romance with Skadi, another character I really enjoyed, felt kind of... tacked on and I was a little surprised because it features so heavily in the marketing for this book. I expected there to be more. In the end, they got a few pages and there wasn't even remotely as much meat to their love story as there was to Angrboda's relationship with Loki.
I personally didn't like some of the storytelling choices that were made, either. There are many events happening coming straight out of the Edda, but many times they are told only through other characters. Basically, Angrboda asks them what happened to character A, and Loki/Skadi/Gerd tell her the story of how, for example, Loki tied his testicles to a goat to make Skadi laugh. It felt to me like an attempt to incorporate all these stories from the Edda while not having them feature too heavily, and for me it makes them kind of unnecessary and, again, gave them the feeling of being tacked on. Maybe it's also because there's a bit of a disconnect between these stories and the characters as Gornichec writes them - would this, her, Loki really do this? Would this, her, Skadi really laugh about it, or choose a husband for that matter? There is also the big battle towards the end of the book, the big event that overshadows the entire plot, that is the reason for everything Angrboda does in the second half of the book - but because of the referencing style in which it is, in the end, written, it didn't pack the emotional punch I wished it would.

Still, it's a beautiful read that gives a voice to a mythological character we don't really know anything about and I will never ever not be a fan of this. I will not forget Angrboda, and the portrayal of Loki is simply spectacular. I got an arc of this book but will definitely buy it so it can grace my bookshelves.
It's a 3,5 stars read for me, but I gladly round it up to 4 because of its sheer beauty.

I don’t know much about mythology but it didn’t take away from how much I loved this book. No, seriously, I read it in two chunks of reading that’s how gripped I was. This is a book for women, it’s so beautifully powerful. If you like retellings with gorgeous prose then you must pick up The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec. (And it’s already out in the US, and is coming to the UK on 4th May).

After being burned by Odin for not sharing the future with him, Angrboda flees to a far away forest. There she is discovered by Loki, and love blossoms between them. Together, they have 3 children all who are unique – Hel who has dead legs, Fenrir who is born a wold, and Jormungand who is born a snake. Each have their own roles to play in the future that Angrboda prophesises.

Motherhood is a strong theme as Angrboda raises her unusual children all the while Loki travels back and forth to Asgard where he has another wife and children. Some of the book’s most emotional moments for me involved Angrboda trying to hard to do best by her children while Loki causes nothing but trouble. The children’s’ stories are traumatic with some really dark, hard to read moments. Love and forgiveness also feature in all forms, between family, friends and lovers. Mostly I can say I was captivated by the strength of women in this story, whether it be from characters I liked or characters I disliked but empathised with. Skadi, who befriends Angrboda, is definitely my favourite though!

In terms of writing, one of Genevieve Gornichec’s strengths is in the dialogue. I found the interactions between the characters to be so engaging that the pages just flew by. I also really liked the pacing – the book really took its time to pack emotional punches while progressing the plot. There’s no doubt that this is an impressive piece of work.

Overall I can confidently say this is the best retelling I’ve ever read. It now has a place in my favourite books and I can’t wait to read what Genevieve Gornichec writes next because this one was sheer brilliance on paper.

I would like to thank Titan Books for the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Enthralling and imaginative, The Witch's Heart delivers a rich retelling of one of the Norse Mythology women figure, Angrboda. Mostly known as Loki's wife and the mother of three hideous children, this novel dives deeply into Angrboda's life as she took her role as a wife, a mother, a witch, and as a friend.

After being burned and reborn thrice, Angrboda only wanted to live a quiet peaceful life. However, this changed the moment she fell in love with the trickster god, Loki, who found her in Ironwood to give her heart back. What I liked in this story was how it did not solely focused on the romance between Angrboda and Loki, but rather, it was more about Angrboda's journey on controlling and taking her own path while also protecting her dear ones as well as her own heart and happiness. The story was told in Angrboda's perspective, so it was easy to feel and understand her emotions as she narrated her difficult circumtances and struggles. Also, I found her converstations with Loki funny, even when I ended up having a love-hate feelings to Loki.

The story was beautifully written. I liked how the words flowed smoothly. Also, I was glad that everyone can enjoy this tale even when they were not so familiar with the Norse Mythology. I also appreciate the glossary at the end of the book. On the other hand, the pacing for the first part was fast. I just flew past the pages and could not put it down. However, the second part was quite dragging. Thankfully, the pacing picked up again in the third part.

Angrboda was a reliable narrator and a likeable character. She was no doubt a good mother to her children. She loved them and accepted them what they were. She always tried to communicate them even when it was almost impossible. Angrboda's demeanor might seem timid and passive, but she turned into a different person when her children's safety was involved. The other characters were also interesting. I liked how different the gods and goddesses where portrayed here.

I think it was worth to mention this novel included a good LGBTQ+ rep.

Overall, The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec is an exquisite retelling of Angrboda's life. Readers who love mythology retelling will surely enjoy this novel.

4/5 stars!

I've loved this book. In the first half, nothing much happens but I was still hooked. I loved Angrboda, she was so independent and self-sufficient ! Loki was a great character as well and I liked how their relationship changed. Skadi also was great even though she always wanted to harm "the husband".

There's a little violence in the book, what with Angrboda having been burned three times (plus her heart being torn off her chest), but it was also full of love and friendship.

I didn't know a thing about Nordic mythology (apart from what the MCU showed, which was nothing) and I was very glad to read the author's notes about the characters in the mythology, it was very interesting.

I am very curious to see what the author will write next !

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch's Heart will steal yours away, it is an incredibly moving and prescient tale from ancient times brought to life for a modern audience. The central theme of males coveting, and stealing, the powers of women whose compliance is seen as natural and necessary, coming up against a witch who says 'no', is always relevant and timely.

Here, Odin wants the elemental witch, Gullveig, to help him access the darkest secrets of her magic, and using her talents to travel out of her body, he pushes her to places that she doesn't want to go, a darkness which scares even her.

Using the flimsiest of excuses to punish her for not going to where he demands her to, she is burnt three times, stabbed in the heart by spears and assumed to be dead, the ultimate torture of the spoilt gods of Norse myth. However, in this action he has created a space where his arrogance assumes her death, but he has no checked whether she actually is...

Escaping to live out of sight, in a cave, she is approached by a man who identifies himself as Loki, the god of mischief. By mischief, he is a figure who is easily bored and likes to create discord wherever he goes though in reality, he is very dangerous because he plants seeds, sits back, and watches the consequences for his own amusement.

Finding Gullveig who now goes by the name of Angrboda (meaning 'proclaimer of sorrows'), in isolation, he returns to her her heart, which he has rescued from the ashes of her funeral pyre, and in so doing, falls in love as much as he can be said to be able to give his own heart away.

Both these characters are outsiders, considered monstrous because they do not toe the line which Odin has drawn in the sand (whilst constantly breaking his own rules)they find a commonality which is both beautiful and deadly.

Their relationship has consequences, three children, which cause Angrboda to fear for their lives and an unlikely alliance forms between her and the giants of Jottenheim as she tries to protect her offspring from the all Father. The links between prophecies, and being held accountable for your behaviour, is so much a part of Norse myth, yet here, the author manages to make this a very modern story about the elemental power of women and the recasting of them as villains-'witch' is seen in such negative connotations yet her, Genevieve returns the word to Angrboda as boon not a insult.

A love story, a tale of redemption, courage and the love of a mother for her children, this is a dramatic and vivid retelling of a Norse  myth which centers the elemental power of the female in a deeply powerful way. The narrative is superbly immersive, it feels like the best of stories, being told in a way that takes me back to my childhood, yet with a modern sensibility which makes it so accessible. It is a myth rewritten, a tale retold through the fractals of a feminist lens and I loved it, and hope that there will be more stories by this wonderful writer.

I love Nordic Mythology almost as much as Greek Mythology and this really opens up new stories and adventures of the Norse gods that I hadn’t heard before.

Angrboda is an interesting character. She is passive for about half the book - she starts off running away to the ironwood after being burnt alive for the 3rd time by the Aesir, but we know that she resisted giving into Odin and sharing the secrets from the void. It is thus understandable that she is tired of being killed and would do anything to avoid attention. She falls in love with Loki but is willing to let him come and go as he pleases, even as she is aware that he poses a risk to her safety and eventually that of their children.

When everything eventually goes to shit, we start to see her take some agency in her life and make key decisions like remembering her past and regaining her magic. I enjoyed the stories of the other gods - maybe I’ve become used to the marvel depiction of Loki as Thor’s brother but here he’s Odin’s blood brother, and though full of strife and mischief (he causes no end of troubles and does some truly weak and despicable things), he is much more humane and just wants to fit in.

Angrboda isn’t a badass witch by any means and can be seen as complacent or weak in certain regards, but I think she tries her best and for the most part just wants to live in peace. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone interested in Norse Mythology.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review!

When I read the synopsis of this book it went straight to the top of my TBR list, I've enjoyed quite a few mythology based fiction books in the past and I thought the Nordic spin on this would be a nice change of pace from the typical Greek tales that are found.

When I first started the book and was introduced to Angrboda, I was worried that I had misjudged the book and would be disappointed. I found the initial dialogue stiff and difficult to trudge through, and found the characters hard to connect with.

I had to remind myself that this story picks up where most leave off, and this isn't really the beginning of Angrboda's tale. Instead, we are presented with someone who is trying to reclaim their life with a fresh start. Once I stopped trying to understand Angrboda's past so much, and just focus on the plot of the story being told, I noticed a definite shift in the level of investment I felt towards the book. Once I hit the 50% mark, I found it really hard to put the book down and had grown quite attached to quite a number of our main characters.

If you're the kind of person who can power through a slow start and give yourself the chance to warm up to the vast cast of characters (or some of them at least), then I would recommend giving this book a chance. I never fully warmed up to the dialogue or writing style, but in comparison to other mythological fiction it's not world's apart.

While it might be a slow burner, by the end of the book I felt quite fondly about Angrboda and her family and the emotional hit of the final few chapters definitely made this a a 3.75 star read for me.

'The Witch’s Heart’ is a retelling of Norse mythology, chronicling the life of the witch Angrboda from the time of her imprisonment by Odin to the end of the gods at Ragnarok. It’s slow to start, but packs an emotional punch – likely more so for anyone who has experienced motherhood.

When a witch refuses to provide Odin with a prophecy of the future, he casts her into the fire and cuts out her heart. However, she survives. Left injured and powerless, she flees to a cave in the mountains of Jotunheim, renaming herself Angrboda and setting out to rebuild her life. There, she is found by the trickster god Loki, who returns her heart. Gradually, Angrboda falls for her unlikely helper, leading to three highly unusual children. However, their fragile peace is threatened by the return of Angrboda’s prophetic powers – and the greed of Odin and the other Aesir to use them. When the treachery of the gods reaches new heights, Angrboda must decide whether to leave her family to their prophesised fate – or to try and reshape the future.

Angrboda is a fascinating character. At the start of the story she’s a mystery even to herself, remembering only her torture by Odin. The more she discovers, the more it becomes apparent that she’s both ancient and powerful – but she struggles between the dichotomy of her peaceful existence as a wife and mother, and her apparent past as a powerful and feared witch. Angrboda is strong, but the quiet sort of strong not often given widespread appreciation. She doesn’t fight any battles or seek any glory – instead, she maintains her home and raises her children and has strength in living exactly the life she wants to live. When that peace is disrupted, she uses her wits and seeks vengeance in a similarly quiet way -and her actions are all the more meaningful for it.

Angrboda has two main romantic relationships across the course of the book – one with Loki, and one with the giantess Skadi. Her relationship with Loki is innately unbalanced and always feels fragile, but Gornichec does well to weave in enough to show why Angrboda stays with him anyway. In contrast, her relationship to Skadi – a long friendship which eventually becomes something more – feels far more natural, although again it’s always clear it isn’t meant to last.

The more interesting relationships, however, are between Angrboda and her three children – Hel, Fenrir,and Jorgamund. Angrboda is widely known from Norse mythology as the mother of monsters – but from her perspective, she is merely a mother. Angrboda fears for her children as any mother would – especially as she is cursed to know their fates. Her fierce protection and desire to protect them above all with resonate with anyone who has experienced parenthood.

The story is split into three parts. The first, Angrboda’s life in Jotunheim, is the slowest and probably the least interesting, although it lays essential groundwork for the later action. The second is the part of Angrboda’s story I was least familiar with before reading this, and I found it fascinating uncovering the missing part of her mythos. There are also some heartbreaking moments. The third, very short part chronicles Ragnarok. This is the most emotionally hard hitting, and really elevates the story from a basic retelling to something with more depth.

Overall, ‘The Witch’s Heart’ is a solid edition to the growing genre of mythological retellings. It doesn’t quite have the impact of stories like Circe or Ariadne,but its an accomplished debut and a worthy addition to the shelves of any Norse mythology fan. Recommended for fans of retellings and stories of motherhood.

This is a wonderful and powerful reimagining of Norse Mythology and I absolutely loved it. Angrboda’s story is heartbreaking and full of emotion. She is such a strong woman and I loved her growing relationship with Skadi, the fearless hunter. Loki and the Gods are portrayed brilliantly and the writing so descriptive and atmospheric you can almost feel the sorcery.

This book has some of the best prose I’ve read in a while. It begins with the witch, then known as Gullveig, teaching Odin about seid, the magic that allows one to leave one’s body and divine the future. When she refuses Odin’s request to venture down into the darkest future, to know the events that will unfold during the end times, he turns Asgard against her, and they pierce her with spears and burn her three times. This part is told succinctly, and is over before the end of the first page, because Angrboda’s burning is only the beginning of her story, and it truly begins when she finds herself in the Ironwood forest, a place that seems strangely familiar, and the trickster Loki finds her, and returns her heart to her. The conversations between Loki and Angrboda are lovely and witty, and make the pages fly by. The moments between them are heart wrenching, first with pleasure and then with sadness.

Then, the giantess Skadi appears, and I was prepared to dislike her because that’s the way she’s portrayed in most original myths – and, frankly, quite a few retellings. But this butch weapon-wielding frost giant shot her way into my heart just as she did into Angrboda’s. This book is very character-focused and character-driven, and most of the events that take place are in and around the witch’s cave, and a lot of them are quite mundane; Angrboda making her potions to trade, tending to her garden, her and Loki bantering over dinner, Skadi helping her decorate her cave. And yet it is so compelling. The relationships between these characters and the conflict within Angrboda herself are what drive the story.

And Gornichec does such an incredible job with these characters; they are alive. She has taken these women who dance at the edges of myth -Angrboda, Skadi, Gerd, Hel, and even the goddesses who stand in opposition to the witch, such as Freyja, Frigg, and especially Sigyn- and she has made them whole. They have their own lives, feelings, and personalities beyond what is important to the men in their lives, and they are beautiful. Gerd was the one who struck me the most, I think, because though I vaguely remember her from my previous encounters with these stories, she has always been a plot point, a side character that comes in when it is convenient and marries one of the more important people to serve a greater purpose. And yet, in The Witch’s Heart, she also gets developed, and I did not expect to love her as much as I did!

Angrboda’s time as a mother is the central focus of the story, and that too drives the story forward despite also being rooted in the witch’s cave, and in the mundane tasks of parenthood. And yet, once again, it is incredibly compelling, and I could hardly put the book down. I love all three of Angrboda’s children, and the bonds she forms with them are complex, yet rooted in love. The witch’s love is definitely one of the central pieces of her narrative; though she is powerful, and strong-willed, and has moments of great anger, her greatest strength lies in her love and compassion.

I won’t say much more, because this is an emotional journey that I think everyone should go on. Though the stories may be familiar, you have never heard them like this, and you’ve definitely never seen Angrboda in such a clear light. With this incredible novel, Gornichec has pierced my heart, burnt it thrice, and sewn it back together, and I shall treasure it always.

Norse mythology, particularly Ragnarok, has been retold a lot - the complex tangle of myths and stories that contradict each other from so many people retelling it over the centuries is a web that draws many writers in. THE WITCH'S HEART chooses to focus on Angrboda, a seer and witch who also happened to be Loki's wife (one of them) and the mother of monsters who play a crucial part in Ragnarok.

I loved seeing it from the perspective of a woman who's often a footnote in the stories. I'm not usually big into character-centric stories as I really like bit, complex plots and moving parts with lots of action to keep track of, however the tangle of Angrboda's relationship with Loki and her children was so good. While her drive to protect her children was central to her story, she was so much more than just a mother or a wife. She was a woman who had suffered and wanted a simple life (despite her <em>mess</em> of a husband throwing a spanner in the works every time, and often unintentionally because Loki.)

Her life, the day to day living, the fear and determination to protect her children, the conflict of emotions and interests brought on by Loki's frequent arrivals and departures, took centre stage. The large events of myth happen off page, related back to Angrboda by one of her friends, or Loki if he has to hide from the consequences. It actually helped heighten her fear, because talking about the events brought the world a little closer, let the threat of Odin (and frankly, half the gods who get progressively more threatening as pieces of Ragnarok are revealed or Loki annoys them) in but disrupting the peace and calm Angrboda has fought to create.

Now, I'm not a student of Norse mythology, but I know there are a lot variations out there. I don't know if it's part of the myths or not, but Angrboda starts off with a different name, and later on gives a lot of different names to people when asked. It felt like a really fun nod to the fact that, with mythology, often the same events can be attributed to a half dozen people.

As for Loki, imagine if Marvel/Tom Hiddlestone's Loki was let loose to do all the chaotic mess he creates in myth - both charming and infuriating (yet still in a charming way most of the time) all at once. It was so obvious why Angrboda fell in love with him, and also why her friend Skadi was constantly threatening to chop off his balls. The tragedy was inevitable, but there was still this hope that he wouldn't break her heart.

Punished by Odin for refusing to show him the future, Angrboda's story begins with being burned on a pyre... three times.

Although my knowledge of Norse mythology is limited I was intrigrued by the concept of this story and honestly blown away by the beautiful execution.
The story starts in media res and quickly sets the scene and establishes the world. The writing style naturally immerses you in the world with a brief history as Angrboda remembers it, which also gives a feel for the central character going forward. As she seeks refuge in Ironwood, she forms unlikely bonds-with trickster god Loki and huntress Skadi-can Angrboda protect her already damaged heart?

It's a story of love, sacrifice, loyalty, betrayal... and I couldn't put it down. The characters were well-developed, the world and 'politics' relatively easy to grasp and the narrative almost poetic in its ultimate cyclical nature-a highly satisfying read.
Really only loses a star on my account of having minimal prior knowledge of Norse gods, so a lot of names went over my head resulting in some confusion at times. Would still highly recommend.

A powerful re-imagining of Norse mhythology, this has a modern and more feminist take which was refreshing to read. I really enjoyed the flirtatious banter between our key character and Loki, and was quickly swept into their woodland world of magic. Well worth a read if you enjoyed Circe, Ariadne etc.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

A stunning Norse mythology book! If you enjoyed “Circe” by Madeline Miller give this a shot!

**Thank you to Netgalley for kindly providing this Arc**

This was a such a beautiful read, This Norse Mythology retelling told in Angrboda's POV (Loki's giantess wife) and their infamous children captured my heart in a way i did not expect it too. This book will give you all the feeling and I have not stopped thinking about it since i finished it, leading me to dive into some research.

There is nothing but one or two mentions of Angrboda in Norse Mythology and Genevieve Gornichec - while yes this is fiction - brought her to life while blending in and sticking to Norse mythology stories. I am definitely not an expert in this subject however I do love Norse Mythology and very aware of Ragnarok, Loki's children and the gods mentioned.

Yes, The Witch's Heart has a slow start but once you get into this story you will not be able to put it down, I loved that there were no chapters just parts, the pacing was great as I was able to get through it in one sitting. The relationships felt modern which I was not expecting but I enjoy a bantery romance that Loki & Angrboda had, I honestly could not stop smiling while reading their interactions from the start. Honestly the relationships in general from them to the Angrboda's love for her children and for her friends are written so beautifully.

This book will pull at your heart in a way you wont expect it to.

The Witch’s Heart is the stunning story of Angrboda. When she refuses to give Odin the knowledge he wants of the future, he has her burned alive. When she flees to the forest, determined to live a quiet existence away from Odin’s all-seeing eye. When she is found by Loki, they soon form a bond and produce three children. As her powers return she soon learns everything she knows and loves is in danger, but will she accept the future she has witnessed, or rise up against it?

This was such a gripping book and I really fell in love with Angrboda as a character. I don’t know all that much about her from the original Norse myths so I was completely fascinated by her story. Her powers were so interesting and she was such a strong and determined protagonist. Gornichec has such a beautiful writing style and it felt like I was reading one of the original stories. It fit so well with the style and feel of a myth and I got completely swept up in this well-executed story.

Gornichec creates some really complex characters and there is so much character depth in this story. The relationship between Angrboda and Loki was well created and I also really liked the relationship that develops between Angrboda and Skadi. This is a magical tale, full of love and loss. The Witch’s Heart is at times really heart wrenching and there were definitely a few moments where I teared up. This is a well-crafted tale, bringing a modern twist to these well-known stories. If you’re a fan of mythology reimaginings this is definitely one to check out.

Eerie and thrilling, Witch's Heart is sure to appeal to fans of Madeline Miller & Melinda Salisbury. I found myself reading way past bedtime!