I have a bit of mixed feelings about this book. There were sections and aspects that I really enjoyed, but I also really struggled to stay engaged with the story at times. Sometimes I just stood there focused on the story for an hour or two straight, absolutely absorbed, and other times I couldn’t focus on it at all or struggled to pick it back up.

I loved how the author wove together various myths to form this story and enjoyed how she talked about this at the end of the book as well. I’m not very well versed with Norse mythology but was excited whenever I recognized bits and pieces. Loki is my favorite Norse god so of course I was excited to read this book and Angrboda was an interesting and well developed character to follow.

I think my biggest struggle was how it went back and forth with a super close up of parts of her story but then would gloss over years and years passing by suddenly. This book spans quite a lot of years and while I understand not being able to go into detail about every bit of Angrboda’s life (and to be honest, that probably wouldn’t have been a good choice either), I still missed the depth of emotions during those jumps. That’s probably where the story lost me most of the time.

I did enjoy being able to laugh and cry over this story, how it had me in suspense at some points and shocked at others. I also frequently got annoyed though with how much everyone seems to be willing to put up with in regards to the gods, though I’m not sure how much of that was done in order to stick closely to some of the myths. It still didn’t keep me from wanting to smack these characters upside the head sometimes. Hah.

So there’s positives and negatives for me here. I’m glad I finally got to read this and it has me wanting to read more Norse mythology based books again so that’s fun too.

I ended up really enjoying this though it took me an embarrassingly long time to get around to it. I'm not super familiar with Norse mythology or Ragnarok so it was a lot of fun to learn about some of the traditional stories. I loved the feminist twist on the whole thing.

This was such a great story. I couldn't put it down. I have read it twice now because I really enjoyed it the first time and wanted to get back in this world again. The first time I read it was when it first came out in 2021 and had so much going on I didn’t realize I never reviewed it. The writing is beautiful and really pulls you in. If you love retellings of fairytale’s and old Mythology then you should definitely get this book.

The Witch's Heart wasn’t exactly my usual type of read, but I ended up really enjoying it!

What I loved most was the way the author brought depth to the mythological figures, especially Angrboda. She’s such a strong, resilient character, and her personal journey of love, loss, and survival really pulled me in. The pacing was a little slow for my taste and I wasn’t as invested in some of the mythological aspects, but I appreciated the emotional depth and character-driven focus. Overall, The Witch's Heart surprised me in the best way!

Gornichec's writing is both lyrical and accessible, blending rich descriptions with a deep emotional resonance. The themes of destiny, motherhood, and personal agency are central to the story. Angerboda’s struggle against the limitations imposed on her by prophecy and fate highlights her strength and determination. The novel is also notable for its exploration of the roles women play in myth and history, giving a nuanced perspective on a character who is often marginalized.

This book was amazing, the author draws you in from the very first line and you are transported to a completely new world. I loved the growth of Angrboda through the story. It is definitely a difficult book to put down!!

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec is a captivating read for fans of fantasy and mythology who crave a richly imagined, emotionally charged tale of love, identity, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of Norse mythology and featuring a strong, complex female protagonist and a tender, queer romance.

Love how much the author expanded on the myth of Angrboda and the events leading up to Ragnarok! The kids and Skadi were really cool too. The first half was a bit slow, and I was a bit frustrated with Loki's behavior and how Angrboda put up with it, but luckily he eventually did something bad enough that she dropped him and then the story REALLY got going. Very fun Norse mythology retelling about an overlooked character!

A really beautiful, heartfelt, terribly sad interpretation of Norse mythology. It should be placed alongside Madeline Miller's Circe for 'the ways mythological men have screwed women in fiction'.

**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I came to this book unfamiliar with Norse mythology but quickly became enamored with Gornichec‘s telling of Angrboda. Beautifully written, Gornichec powerfully expresses the sorrows felt by Angrboda. I was entranced and moved by this book, so wonderfully done...loved the narrative and the writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and ACE Books for this free ARC.

UGH I cried at the end. This book takes on the myth of Loki's other wife Angrboda. Not much is known about her but Genevieve did an amazing job bringing her to life. I know need to brush up on my Norse mythology after reading this.

This has been on my TBR for YEARS. And I highly regret waiting so long to read this.

The Witch’s Heart is great for lovers of Circe. It highlights an often looked over woman in Norse mythology, Angrboda. The writing is stunning. The characters have remarkable depth and personality. I was hooked. I read it all in less than a day.

If mythology and powerful women are your thing, this is a great choice. But be warned, this book will destroy you. Bring tissues.

“They say a witch used to live in these woods a long long time ago.”

“We’re odd. She’s odd. She fits right in. Does she not?”

Fabulous read for fans of mythological retellings. This is an epic tale of Norse mythology, the story of Angrboda, Mother Witch, wife of Loki, and “mother of both the ruler of the dead and the two creatures of chaos destined to bring about the doom of the very beings who ruined our lives.”

At the soul of the story, Angrboda is a mother who deeply loves her children Hel (her part dead deeply intelligent daughter) Fenrir (her wolf son), and Jormundgard (her serpent son). While she sees them as her children, the arrogant gods consider them monsters and hold them captive so as to prevent unleashing their powers and bringing about their end time. But a mothers love is all-consuming and brings Angrboda in touch with HER power to reach her true potential, which she fears and needs to free her children.

Get lost in the fantastical world of gods and giants and find the familiar tales of love, sacrifice, acceptance, fear, friendship, and strong powerful women. I especially enjoyed the banter and subtle sarcasm sprinkled throughout. And it’s hard not to picture Tom Hiddleston as Loki here.

“My child, I’m sorry for what’s befallen you but when you awaken, it will be in a better world than this one. I have seen it.”

Gosh, I adored this! While I'm not a fan of Loki or his modern appearances in media, I was enthralled by this retelling. Our heroine was fierce, clever, and strong while being vulnerable in the best way.

I don't tend to seek out stories based on Norse Mythology, but when I do, I really enjoy them. I did not know about Loki's wife, Angrboda, I had only ever heard of Sigyn. I loved following Angrboda's journey in retrieving her memories and rediscovering who she is. I appreciated the way she wouldn't put up with Loki's nonsense (to a point) and was surprised by the gender fluidity and bi-representation. I read Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology a few years ago, but besides some of the stories about Loki's gender fluidity, I don't remember how open the Norse myths are. I may need to reinvestigate that because I'm curious. Anyway, I loved this story about the strength of a mother's love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting get to preview this book before it went out. This was such an amazing book! It has been mine and several other librarian's favorite book of 2021. We always get to see books about Loki and his point of view, it was really awesome to focus on one of the women for a change. Gornichec has done an amazing job with the mythology and storytelling of these gods, their lives, their loves, and what comes next. I - and many of my coworkers- hope that she writes more books like this one in the future!

I absolutely loved this incredible book. I am generally a fan of mythology re-tellings, and this one particularly touched me deeply. Gornichec's world-building and character development were truly spectacular, and as the story developed, I found myself becoming so attached to not only Angrboda and her children, but to Loki as well. The Witch's Heart tells a gorgeous story of love, motherhood, and sacrifice. I will absolutely recommend this to everyone.

Oh, how I loved this book! I was hooked by the story pretty quickly and admit that I am a little mad at myself for waiting so long to read this story. I don’t feel like I know a lot about mythology. I remember learning about it in school but I haven’t retained any of that knowledge. Some mythology pops up in the other books I read but a book completely focused on the subject is a bit out of my comfort zone. Or so I thought. Turns out this kind of book is exactly the kind of thing that I enjoy reading.

This is Angrboda’s story. She is a witch that has been killed, burned, and had her heart cut out three times but yet she still lives. When Loki gives her her heart back, they begin a relationship that will have a long-lasting impact on many. Angrboda becomes one of Loki’s wives and they have three very unique children. Angrboda works hard to keep her family safe by keeping them close to the cave they call home. Besides Loki, she is often visited by Skadi and Gerd who also become important individuals in her life.

The second half of the book had a bit of a different feel but it was equally entertaining. I was impressed by Angrboda’s determination to do whatever was necessary to help her children. I also thought that she was pretty forgiving and didn’t seem to hold grudges. All she really wanted was a simple life that kept those she loved safe. I did enjoy the twists that the story took and my lack of knowledge of mythology led to quite a few surprises.

Jayne Entwistle did a wonderful job with the narration of this audiobook. I thought that the character voices that she used really helped to bring the story to life. I felt like she was able to add a lot of emotion and excitement to her reading. I do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this unforgettable story.

I would recommend this book to others. This was a very entertaining story about a unique cast of characters. I found this book to be almost impossible to set aside. I was very impressed by this author’s debut novel and plan to read more of her work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

A reimagining surrounding Norse mythology, the gods, and Loki, this story follows a witch and her determination to protect and save her family. Unfortunately, I DNFed this about 30% in. There just wasn't anything that really grabbed me about it or pulled me in at the end of the day and it felt really slow overall.

Man, this one was difficult for me to rate. I loved the writing and the storytelling but I was right there with Skaldi when it comes to wanting to castrate Loki for his treatment of Boda. It took me forever to finish because I kept getting so upset and couldn't understand why the MC was such a doormat for Loki for so long. Overall, I have to give it three stars because of such mixed feelings.