THE WITCH’S HEART by Genevieve Gornichec is a brilliant reimagining of Norse mythology told from the perspective of Angrboda, “the mother of monsters.” Filling in the gaps in the source material, Gornichec skillfully weaves together a beautiful tale of love, family, grief, and healing. The book has the long-ranging feel of a Viking epic, and yet it sticks close to home, focusing on the everyday details of relationships and family life and portraying momentous occasions from the Eddas through the lens of the women who were involved. In other words, it’s an epic about the female experience—one that reminds us to treasure the small moments upon which life is built.

The book features representation of queer relationships, gender non-conformity, PTSD, and disability. Content warning for assault, torture, and family separation. You can listen to an in-depth discussion of the book—with the author!—on Episode 5.2 of the witch media podcast, Witches in Britches.

I was totally unable to resist a book where Loki falls in love with a powerful witch named Angrboda. Loki is a mythological figure that just about everyone is familiar with - the trickster god, shapechanger, and mischief maker. Angrboda on the other hand, is mentioned only once in mythology (the Prose Edda) where she is described as the mate of Loki and mother of monsters. 

This particular re-telling or interpretation begins when Angrboda goes by another, older name and falls afoul of Odin because she refuses to teach him any more of her magic. She is burned at the stake three times and her heart is torn from her chest. Because she is an ancient and magical being, she survives this horror and flees to a dead wood. Loki returns her heart to her and she places it back inside her own chest. Thus begins the unusual love story of Angrboda and Loki. While she recovers in her cave, Angrboda befriends the huntress Skadi and they remain close and each a source of comfort for the other. Angrboda bears three children over the course of many years - Hel who is half dead, Fenrir the wolf, and Jormungand the world serpent. They are part of a prophecy that brings about Ragnarok.

Honestly, the book doesn’t focus a great deal on the prophesied Ragnarok until quite late in the book. Up until that point, it’s just Angroboda living her quiet life, waiting on Loki to show up to visit, and each time he leaves another child is on the way. Skadi doesn’t know who this mystery man is for many years, though she holds quite the grudge against both mystery man and Loki. Loki is my least favorite character in the book and it’s not entirely because he’s an absent father figure and not great husband material. He just doesn’t feel quite right in the context of the story even though he is the trickster. Loki just doesn’t seem to mesh with the style and tone of the book (in some instances worse than others) - it almost feels like forced comic relief that utterly fails at being humorous. 

Overall, I found this to be a pretty good story that had surprisingly emotional moments. I actually teared up a bit at one point! The love of a mother is well illustrated even if certain other elements fell a bit flat. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I loved the deep lore and mythology of the book as well. I am entirely a sucker for Norse or Viking inspired fantasy books and it was great to get one where the main character isn’t one of the well known gods or goddesses.

This is a really hard review to write, but I think it’s important to call out potentially problematic portrayals of LGBTQ+ relationships. All representation is not necessarily good representation.

⚠️ CW: transphobia (discussed below), death by fire, traumatic childbirth

This book was teased as a feminist f/f romance woven into an epic retelling of Norse mythology. Simply put, it’s not. The Witch, Angrboda, spends most of the novel as a seemingly stereotypical 50s-esque homemaker, mother, and wife to her husband. There’s no inkling that she might be attracted to anyone else, let alone another woman until suddenly it’s convenient for the plot. Her sexuality seemed shoehorned in, and it’s disappointing that this was then capitalized on for marketing purposes. What made this truly uncomfortable for me was that we didn’t get to read Angrboda’s feelings about her second relationship, and it felt like the f/f relationship was written from a rushed distance not present in the m/f relationship. Coupled with the wholly unnecessary and transphobic scene where several characters stand around commenting on how “weird” it is that a man is wearing a dress, I certainly can’t recommend this. I had additional challenges with the characters, dialogue, and plot structure, and overall I’m really disappointed because I had high hopes going in. Have you read this? What are your thoughts?

The Witch’s Heart will be available next week, and NetGalley and Berkley shared an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The tales of gods, giants, monsters, and legends come to life in this new, brilliant adaptation of Norse mythology. Our story centers around Angrboda, the “witch of the wood”, who finds herself tangled in between the lives and dalliances of the Asgardian gods, one of which being the master trickster and charmer himself, Loki.

Overall, I adored this novel. It reads very similarly to how Madeline Miller approached the story of Circe in Greek mythology, centering around a female character who plays a somewhat supporting role in their mythology. In this story, however, our witch shines brightly. Her story from beginning to end came full circle and was so bittersweet.

I also liked that I found myself learning more about Norse myths in this novel. I found the tie ins and inspiration from these stories in other modern-day adaptations fascinating. Like how most mythology is, some parts are a little brutal and a lot of crazy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the storytelling.

My favorite part besides the heartfelt ending was Loki. I felt his character has so much to unpack, and I loved seeing a more empathetic and vulnerable side to his wit and charm.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I have so much love for this cover and premise. I studied mythology in college because I love history, legends, and folklore. Add in Genevieve's superb writing style and this book is one I had to read.
One of the things I appreciate the most is how Genevieve humanizes Loki when the reader meets him. He's often seen as heartless and very much the trickster. Which he still is, of course, but he's light-hearted and - dare I say it? - a little endearing.
Genevieve masterfully plays on the characters' strengths and weaknesses. She definitely gives us a whole different and unexpected picture of these characters the Marvel universe has conditioned us to love (or not, as the case may be). She stays true to the temperaments and what could be seen as outrageousness of Norse god myths. I had to chuckle a few times comparing her descriptions against the Thor films.
I think going into this book with a little foundation of the Norse myths would allow for more enjoyment. Or even Greek or Roman. The gods and demi-gods would never hold to the same "code" we lowly humans do.
This book is filled with side-eye humor and an enjoyable read if you love exploring the fantastical elements of legends.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

First of all, thank you to the publisher for approving me for this eARC!

I received this rather late, so I had to rush to read it. While I enjoyed the idea and the premise, I struggled with some of the writing. I generally lean more towards Greek Mythology, but I've always been a little fascinated with Norse Mythology and was really curious about this one!

What I will say:
-The dialogue was a bit messy, it didn't feel natural.
-While in a similar stlye to Madeline Miller's work, this one just didn't connect with me as much.
-I believe it would make for a better audiobbok.

Certain stories just don't read as well for me, and this is one of them, but I would be curious to try it as an audiobook and see if my opinion changes! Rating it 3.5, but rounding up to 4 for the sake of Net Galley!

I love mythology retellings, and this one did not disappoint. The main character is so interesting and fully formed - in many ways this reminded my of Circe by Madeline Miller. The author did a great job of keeping the many gods, giants, wolves, etc. clear and I loved the glossary in the back. In some parts the book felt a bit choppy or rushed and too detailed in others but overall it didn’t take away from the story for me. This book has also shown me that I know marginally little about Norse mythology and I’m looking forward to learning more.

The Witch's Heart was a wonderful retelling of Norse Mythology following the life of the witch who prophesied and influenced the fulfillment of Ragnarok. The story frequently references well-known figures, such as Thor, Odin, and Loki, but I loved that the focus on the story is on figures of mythology we don't hear as much about. Though initially it felt a bit like Loki fanfiction to me, the story quickly evolved into a deeper exploration of family, sacrifice, love, betrayal, and the role of fate in determining the future.

Violence: Moderate (end of the world, torture, multiple deaths)
Language: None
Sex: Moderate (non-explicit sex scene, bisexual and/or homosexual characters)
Drugs: None

“They say an old witch lived in the east, in Ironwood, and there she bore the wolves who chase the sun and Moon. They say she went to Asgard and was burned three times upon a pyre, and three times was she reborn before she fled.”

Ah, where to start with this gorgeously penned story centered around Angrboda, a giantess in Norse Mythology. Angrboda (Boda) is the most skilled at Seid, a magic that allows her to travel out of her body and divine the future. Odin, the greatest of the Gods had great interest in this knowledge and offered to teach Boda Rune magic in exchange for her knowledge of Seid. Against her better judgement, she agrees, skimming the surface of all the worlds and delving in to the darkest parts where there are things that should never be known. When she refuses to go to this place where the secrets are dark and terrifying, Odin burns her at the pyre, not just once but three times but she survives and seeks shelter in the forest of Ironwood.

It’s in Ironwood where she falls in love with the God, Loki, the handsome trickster with a flair for the foolish and together they bear three children that will play a huge role in Bodas prophecy to end all others, that of Ragnarök, the end of the world. Hel the keeper of the dead, Fenrir, the giant wolf and Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent.

Boda’s story captured my heart and I followed her quest with great anticipation; sometimes I wept with her while other times I shared her joy. Every character brought a richness and depth to the story that added to the complex nature of this Nordic tale. The author captures the complicated nature of Boda’s personality beautifully; her resilience and her quiet strength despite her hardships is both inspiring and heartbreaking. The exploration in to the other Gods and their relationships are equally fascinating as is the world she creates. I found reading about Boda’s life and experiences, especially the day to day to be intriguing and the exploration of her relationships/friendships that led her to each choice is equally compelling.

This is a story of a mother’s love, of betrayal, of heartbreak, of friendship and hardship. It’s also a story that sometimes wrenched my heart right out of my chest. There were times during this story that I cried for Boda but in the end, the skillful narrative had me feeling satisfied with the way things ended.

This is a five-star read for me and I’ll be looking for more by Ms. Gornichec to add to my library. My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and the author for and DRC.

The Witch’s Heart
GENEVIEVE GORNICHEC
Pub. Date: 2/09/21

The Witch’s Heart is a novel based on Norse Mythology. I went into this one without much knowledge in this area and struggled a bit in the first part of the book. There was a lot of googling....but then the chat group told me there was an appendix in the back of the book and GAME CHANGER!!! Then I was soaring through this story.

The Witch’s Heart is a beautiful retelling of mythology from a woman’s perspective. It is original in that aspect and our MC, the witch Angrboda was easily likable. Angrboda was a loving and protective mother and I really enjoyed her relationship with her children in the book. Her relationship with Loki on the other hand.....NO. I didn’t like him, at all. Their relationship and the children they created together could cause significant repercussions for the Gods and their world.

My favorite aspect of this book in many ways was the strong female relationship between Angrboda and her friend Skadi. Skadi is a huntress and trader and Angrboda’s best friend. Skadi remains devoted to protecting Angrboda and her children throughout the book. I always love these relationships in books.

The Witch’s Heart is a magical story, a retelling with heart and strong women and is filled to its brim with mythology and symbolism unlike any other book I have read.

Again I have to thank @beritaudiokilledthebookmark for including me in another #berkleybuddyread for a book I woudn’t have otherwise picked up. Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted digital copy of the book to review. This is another book down for #berkleywritesstrongwomen

DNF at 25%

I was really looking forward to loving this story because I had never read a Norse mythology book.

I REALLY REALLY tried getting through it!

However I really struggled to connect with the story or characters because of the writing style and stilted dialogues. The writing and dialogues felt too contemporary or realistic for the kind of story it was trying to carry making it very difficult for me to immerse and connect.

This was a different kind of read that dealt with a reimagining of the Mother Witch and Loki. I loved the pacing, the storytelling and how easy it was to understand the story. I think too often with these kind of stories people try to complicate the story and this was such an entertaining read from start to finish. It tells the story of how Loki, the trickster, met the Mother Witch and changed the course of Asgard. If you love norse mythology, it's a great read that delves into world building details of how humans and the giants interacted, Asgard, Thor is not all he seems to be and best of all how important time and a mother is.

Angrboda can see the future. Can, but the future is the purview of the Norns, and if she gives Odin knowledge of the future, unexpected consequences might follow. Thus, she refuses him, and is burned for her defiance. Fleeing from his cruel, singular eye, the only place for her is deep in a little-known forest. It is there that she begins to recuperate, her powers sapped by her injuries, and is found by none other than Loki. Loki, cunning and deceptive, earns no immediate trust from Angrboda, but as time wends, their relationship deepens. Three children with fated destinies spring forth from their bond, and Angrboda is determined to keep them safe from Odin. With her powers returning, Angrboda sees a future that could shatter her precious family and rend the fabric of the worlds, and that is something she cannot abide. Allying with the loyal and arresting huntress Skadi, Angrboda rises from the ashes of humiliation and fear to change her vision of the future, and remake it in her own image.

I loved this story about a woman standing up to destiny and the gods to wage war for her life and family! Angrboda is amazing! She is fierce, strong, and every darn positive adjective you can think of to describe her. She is an excellent mother, friend, and wife. She is intelligent, and resourceful. What I most appreciated about her is her strong moral compass. She has the opportunity to tap into great power and see the future, but she doesn't abuse her power. She knows and respects the limitations of what she should and should not do. I admired her for refusing to give into Odin. She also uses her powers when she is in hiding for good, making salves and potions to curb hunger and to heal wounds.

Loki and Angrboda share a lot of witty banter, which was fun. Some aspects of the story have been modernized, which includes dialogue. Their relationship is good for the time we get to spend with them, but it is not the focus. I also liked how Skadi and Angrboda are there for each other, and they share tense and tender moments that made me want to see more of them. My favorite child of Angrboda's is Hel, who recognizes her parent's struggles but has her own ambitions as well. This is a journey about family, defying fate, and being true to yourself in spite of outside, even deified, pressure to yield. Its pace is character-driven, and while there is excitement in the latter half, it is a slow burn that takes some time before it lights on fire. I think it's helpful that an appendix is included for readers to gain deeper understanding of the characters and parallel events from mythology, though it's also not required to enjoy the story. The Witch's Heart is a triumph of blending mythology with modern sensibilities, and I recommend it to anyone who likes Norse mythology, strong women, or people who won't let their fate be decided before they have their say in it.

A beautifully written reimagining of Norse Mythology. Gornichec masters the same vibes as Greek tragedy and dark fairytales. It is a bleak story at times but the author infuses each tragic twist with a bit of hope.

I was gutted a few times reading this book, some of the writing is so vivid and you are stricken by the sacrifices Angrboda makes. It’s a tear jerker, for sure. Bring along your box of tissues!

However, this is only a sad story if you look at it as individual losses the main character of Angrboda suffers, but if you look at it as a whole tapestry of things that needed to happen in order to create “modern” earth then you’ll see it as a tale of the selfless love of a mother and the steadfastness of a powerful witch who used her heart to save humanity. 💕

The Witch's Heart is a Norse mythology story of the banished witch Angrboda who falls in love and has children with the famous trickster, Loki. Full disclosure, my experience with Norse mythology begins and ends with the Marvel movies so I struggled a bit with the first half of the book being introduced to new characters and getting my bearings. I'm glad I powered through because I did become invested with the characters and enjoyed how it all came together. I liked it overall and I think this would make an epic tv series or miniseries. I can just imagine how this would all look on screen, so I hope someone makes that happen.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. #BerkleyBuddyReads #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen

I went into this book knowing very little about Norse Mythology. I found this retelling really interesting and encouraged me do more research on norse mythology.

I thought this book brought the story of Angrboda to life fairly well. I enjoyed the magic in the story and how the witches used it. The magic was my favorite part.

The problems I had was that I just didn't connect with the characters as well as I would have liked. I felt gaps in the world and the timeline that left me a little confused.The writing was a bit straightforward and matter of fact so I think that was why emotionally I could not connect.

Overall, I did enjoy reading the story and there were some beautiful quotes. I would recommend to those who enjoy books like Norse Mythology and Circe.

Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy.

I really don't understand how this book received so many good reviews. The writing was childish, the main character was weak, and the messages about being different, relationships, and love were mixed at best. I couldn't finish this - I tried to power through it and got about half way before I gave it up as a total waste of time. I'm familiar with the Norse myths and had high hopes for this, but was very disappointed. It read more like middle school fanfiction than a creative retelling. Thank you for the arc.

Norse mythology told in a very human way. Heartache, love, determination and characters that are seen in a completely different light as one banished witch falls in love with Loki, ever the trickster in so many ways, yet even more damaged and unsure than the one we have heard of.

THE WITCH’S HEART by Genevieve Gornichec is a boldly written as it tells of a mother’s love for her children as she keeps them hidden from the eyes of Odin as the powers that were stolen from her slowly begin to return. Can Angrboda survive Odin again? Can she keep her heart safe from Loki? What destiny do her children hold in a world of gods and their wrath?

After a rather slow start, once this world has been built, this tale blossoms into a powerfully drawn story that will hold readers’ attention to the very end.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ace Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publisher : Ace (February 9, 2021)
Publication date : February 9, 2021
Genre: Norse Fantasy
Print length : 363 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wow! I absolutely loved this story and the writing. It had a feel of gathering around the fire and being told the heartbreaking tale of Angrboda. I've read a lot of books full of big action recently. This story was a bit on the matter of fact and simpler side, but that is part of its charm. I settled down for the tale and looked forward to every moment I picked up the book.

I know little to none about Norse mythology. Honestly, the majority I know I gathered from watching Thor movies. Feel free to judge me. It's fine. I think that was one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. The mythology is very interesting. Gornichec's handling of the story is spectacular and engaging. From the very beginning I wanted to know more. Of course this led to several hours of online searches to learn about each of the gods/giants/creatures/lore/etc. I felt connected to Angrboda and her story, especially when it involved her children and the devotion she felt. The heartbreak, loss and final acceptance of their fate tore at me. Granted the year has just begun, but I have to say that this will probably end up as one of my top reads this year.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy as well as the opportunity to read and review The Witch's Heart.

The Witch's Heart is a beautiful and emotional gut punch of a story that completely enraptured me and left me unable to put this story down. This is a Norse myth retelling about the witch Angrboda, who is punished and cast out by the gods and eventually, unpredictably and surprisingly, falls in love with the trickster god Loki.

Although this story centers around a lot of events that include Loki or are a result of Angrboda's marriage to Loki, this isn't necessarily a book solely focused on telling a romance about the two. Rather, it is, overall, a story about Angrboda as a woman who must stand up for herself, for her children, and must follow her own heart and her own path to do what she knows is right and what she wants to do. This is about a woman learning to be her own woman and basically not allowing her fear to take control of her life--she is the one in charge. The story is told entirely from Angrboda's perspective, which really allows the reader to get inside her head and experience her struggles and inner conflicts as she also faces them. She's someone that has been through a lot of suffering and tragedy, yet has become determined to restart her life anew, free from the gods, and do things her way.

Then there's Loki, and I can't tell you how much I loved Gornichec's depiction of Loki. He was so spot on with how I feel this trickster god would act. There's such a lack of responsibility or really caring about the things he does or the consequences that come out--he really just sort of acts first and deals later. And it's not that he's this horrible, callous, unfeeling god in an evil way, he just... is how he is. There isn't really any malicious intent in what he does, he just acts. And in very small, subtle ways you can begin to see where he does care about things and how to pick out those acts from others. We also get to meet Norse characters such as Skadi, Thor, Odin, and so many more throughout, all of which sated my curiosity and desire to see how the gods lived their lives during this time.

Angrboda and Loki's relationship was truly a delight to follow, from its unlikely origins to its amazing in-between and all the unpredictable yet undeniable chemistry that exists between them. I loved watching this relationship evolve, including both the good and the many bad moments that exist. They are one of those couples that don't quite make sense, but somehow undeniably work so well together. The dialogue between the two is one of my favorite things in this book and I am so impressed by Gornichec's ability to make it feel so exceptionally natural and realistic--it really felt like I could be reading two partners shooting remarks back and forth at one another. It's messy and frustrating and beautiful all at the same time.

Outside of the characters we also get to explore the world of the Norse gods and the antics that take up much of their time. Gornichec's depiction of this felt fresh yet also classic and full of tradition at the same time. Her characterization of each individual god or goddess depicted felt as if it could be the real story, especially when considering the actions of each god or the situations they are a part of. Angrboda's children, especially, made it abundantly clear that we were living in the realm of the gods and that things that might seem a bit odd to us are accepted as just how the gods are and that they are things that happen.

Lastly, I'd just like to touch on Gornichec's prose and pacing, both of which felt perfectly executed. Her prose is almost lyrical in its beauty in some passages, and elsewhere it still flows effortlessly and made this book difficult to put down and walk away from. Gornichec's writing was light and witty when it suited, but also tragic and heartbreaking where it suited as well, and I applaud her ability to capture such a strong range of emotions in such a realistic and authentic manner. Her pacing, also, felt perfectly plotted and developed and maintained a very steady, thoughtful pace throughout. Nothing felt rushed, nor did anything feel drawn out or overdone. The pacing picks up slightly near the end when everything comes to fruition, but it is a natural and well-crafted step that fits well.

Overall, I've given The Witch's Heart five stars. I don't always make book comparisons, but if you enjoyed Circe at all, you will almost certainly love this book. And even if you didn't like Circe, you should still give this book a chance! It's so beautiful and made me so happy and entertained the entire time I was reading it.