I broadly enjoyed this! It takes an interesting and under-examined historical setting and gives it a fantasy flourish that still managed to feel very much a part of the world.

It did feel at times like it slacked the emotional follow-through, though. Something major would be set up, and then the writing didn't *quite* pay off what followed. The whole novel also ends *before* Gunnhild's historical story really takes off, and that allows the author to avoid choosing whether to keep her in "flawed heroine" territory or take her into the realm of full ruthless anti-heroine (as well as leaving an impression of Eirik, aka Erik Bloodaxe, that is... well, less complicated than the historical and saga record would have you think).

But, on the whole, I was very much drawn into the story and enjoyed the read!

I love a fairytale retelling so it's obvious I will also enjoy an Icelandic/Norse saga reimagining. I've never heard of the saga of Gunnhild, Mother of Kings before reading this book. I've skimmed a bit of it, and can't wait to dig in and learn more.

There's so much to unpack here but one of my biggest takeaways is the emotional bond between these young women as they navigate challenging world of Vikings society. Their commitment to each other is continuously challenged as they fight unknown adversaries and are pulled in their own directions in life.

The women portrayed had bold personalities. They were strong and capable of defending themselves, and they didn't rely on the men in their families or relationships. These women supported each other and found strength in their own abilities. The author also includes LGBTQ representation, and I am here for it.

The pacing of the book in the beginning was a bit slow for me, and I found myself having a tough time feeling this book as it got going. There was a lot of setting the stage for the overall story. I found that it was worth the wait, so grab your tea, comfy blanket and dig in.

Overall, anyone who loves fantasy, but also Norse/Iclandic Folklore will love this imaginative retelling.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.

Fantasy and historical fiction are my two most favorite genres, so naturally, when an author blends the two into something suspenseful, engaging, and rich in all kinds of nerdy details that will make fantasy-loving hearts go pitter patter, well... my heart goes pitter patter! I've always been fascinated by Vikings and Norse myths and sagas, but have only really felt myself fully get pulled into them over the course of the past five years or so, a little bit at a time. As such, I am by no means an expert in all things Viking, but I could kinda tell that some of the details were more to play towards the fantasy readers and not so much those that are sticklers for historicity, but not to worry - Gornichec provides a handy little overview in her author's note of what's based in history, what she toyed with a little, and what she invented. Loved getting that little history lesson at the very end.

What didn't blow me away, though, was what I thought to be the somewhat simplistic writing style. It was efficient and did its job satisfactorily, but it didn't have the grand sweep that I was hoping for from a story based in such epic myths. The tone of the writing didn't quite live up to the tone of the story, and that was disappointing.

Also, big tip to any future readers of the story: keep a bookmark in the character list at the back of the book. If you're like me, you'll want to refer to that an awful lot. Here are the characters I could easily keep track of: Gunnhild. Eirik. Halldor. Oddny, but only after she was separated from Signy. Everyone else had names that were very similar to other character's names. I do realize that when you are using Anglicized versions of old Nordic names, you are somewhat limited, but I could get pretty frustrated trying to remember who was whom. That ended up taking me out of the story and ruining the impact of some key moments, mostly because I couldn't remember who the heck we were actually talking about.

Overall, a solid piece that wasn't without its technical problems, but those problems were easy enough to overcome considering how well the story held my interest. I'm excited to dig into more Norse-based historical fiction and fantasy, and I'll be interested to see what else Gornichec produces (still haven't read the copy of her first book, The Witch's Heart, that I bought over a year ago, but alas, buying books and actually reading them are often two separate hobbies).

THE WEAVER AND THE WITCH QUEEN is another gorgeous Nordic retelling by Genevieve Gornichec. Pulling from Icelandic sagas, Gornichec retells the story of Gunnhild, the “Mother of Kings” from tenth century Norway. As with her previous book, THE WITCH’S HEART, the author blends history with fantasy to retell an epic centering on women. Gornichec’s signature ability to bring an ancient culture to life is fully on display, but even more impressive is her ability to give voice to three girls struggling to fit in and turning to each other for strength and support. Young Gunnhild is a disappointment to her mother and her voice most of all rings so true. Those expecting a swashbuckling adventure will not be disappointed – these are Vikings after all. There are swordfights and nail-biting action aplenty. What makes this novel stand out, however, are the beautifully fleshed out characters, Gornichec’s particular skill in honoring women’s work in a period where most historians don’t give them much attention, and the sensitive examination of the inner lives of the young women.

Daughter of a warlord, Gunnhild is worlds away from farmer's daughters Oddny and Signy, yet the three girls are inseparable, as close as sisters. When Gunnhild's cruel mother won't allow her to see the Seer who has come to their hall, Oddny and Signy sneak their friend into the line. But the Seer refuses to give their fortune, stating only that the three girls' lives are bound together. To save her friends from being bound to her fate, Gunnhild runs away, joining the Seer to train as a witch.

Years later, their farm is attacked by raiders and Signy taken by slavers. Oddny will do anything to save her sister, enlisting the help of her old friend Gunnhild, now a powerful witch. Gunnhild has allied herself with the most hated man in Norway- Eirik, son of King Harald. Eirik enlists Gunnhild's help as a witch to protect his men from the witches who follow his every move. Will Oddny and Gunnhild be able to save Signy before it's too late?

The Weaver and the Witch Queen is a stunning mythical fantasy retelling of the life of the witch queen of Norway.

The Weaver and the Witch Queen is at its core a story about female friendships. The three women who make a pact early on experience heartache, violence, and supernatural threats to themselves and their loved ones. While the story is at times slow, it is worth it to keep reading. Each woman's path leads them back to together. The story takes place during the viking era and can be violent at times. If you enjoy books with a focus on historical fiction, vikings, and friendship, check out this book.

Gunnhild lives a quiet life as a child, brightened by the presence of her two best friends, Oddny and Signy. When the three girls receive a prophecy from a respected witch that leaves them reeling, Gunnhild escapes her cruel mother and runs away to become a witch herself. After many years, Gunnhild discovers that Oddny and Signy have been attacked by raiders, and only Oddny has escaped their clutches. Gunnhild sets out to help rescue Signy, forming an unlikely alliance with the foul-tempered King Eirik along the way. Loyalties will be tested and oaths will be broken; can Gunnhild and Oddny beat the odds to save Signy as well as their own destinies?

THIS. BOOK! I loved everything about it. All of the characters are flawlessly developed, especially Gunnhild and Signy. I loved watching their respective romances develop, as well as their own senses of self. Both are admirable in their choices, even when they make mistakes — this is what makes them so relatable.

Obviously, Genevieve Gornichec has done extensive research and her portrayal of the historical Viking Age is exquisite. This is one of my favorite cultures to research and read about, and I positive reveled in the ability to get lost in a fictional version of that world. I will be recommending this story to anyone and everyone!

Thank you to Genevieve Gornichec, Ace/Berkley, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book; however, the first half of the book took me almost a month to get through. I didn't really feel like reading it when I had free time to read. Neither the plot nor the characters grabbed my attention quickly.

Once I hit around 50%, though, I was hooked. The action really ramped up at that point, and I became more invested in both the plot and the characters. I really liked the character of Oddny. I felt like she had a lot more character growth than any other character in the book. I found Gunnhild to be rather unlikable throughout most of the book.

There is one twist in the book, but I guessed it really early on and was not surprised when I was proven correct.

I wanted to love this one more than I did, but overall, if you like books based on Norse myths/legends, I'd recommend trying this one.

Genevieve has done it again! I love that she can take women who are relatively unknown in history or not spoken about much and give them an entire empowering story! Oddny and Gunnhild are absolutely amazing and I love the journey they go on to get back together! The last time I cried this hard was during Ragnarok in The Witch's Heart and damnit Genevieve can make me cry like a baby! I am so excited for everyone to read this story and I can't wait to have my copy arrive!

I received this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing.

Based on the Norse legends of Queen Gunnhild, and adding layers of the Norse gods and a healthy dollop of magic, Gornichec creates a fascinating portrait of life in Viking times. She follows the fates of three girls who become women over the course of the story, and the challenges each of them must face in very difficult times of raiders and curses and the cultural limitations for women. Gunnhild, Signy, and Oddny grew up together but when a seeress partially foretells their braided future together that includes blood and terror, many consider all of them cursed. While the pacing of the story is uneven, starting off slow and with a somewhat rushed ending, there is enough action and detail to make the reader feel they are present with each of the characters as they deal with raiders, kings, witches and the sea.

"The lives of two women - one desperate only to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway - intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch's Heart.

Oddny and Gunnhild meet as children in tenth century Norway, and they could not be more different: Oddny hopes for a quiet life, while Gunnhild burns for power and longs to escape her cruel mother. But after a visiting wisewoman makes an ominous prophecy that involves Oddny, her sister Signy, and Gunnhild, the three girls take a blood oath to help one another always.

When Oddny's farm is destroyed and Signy is kidnapped by Viking raiders, Oddny is set adrift from the life she imagined - but she's determined to save her sister no matter the cost, even as she finds herself irresistibly drawn to one of the raiders who participated in the attack. And in the far north, Gunnhild, who fled her home years ago to learn the ways of a witch, is surprised to find her destiny seems to be linked with that of the formidable King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway.

But the bonds - both enchanted and emotional - that hold the two women together are strong, and when they find their way back to each other, these bonds will be tested in ways they never could have foreseen in this deeply moving novel of magic, history, and sworn sisterhood."

Norwegian Witch Queen! Now that's something my ancestors probably aspired to.

This Norse Epic contains just enough magic to straddle the line between Historical Fiction and Historical Fantasy with a little mythology thrown in. It starts with three 12 year old girls, Signy and Oddny are sisters who live on a farm across the fjord from Gunnhild whose father is the Hersir, or local lord. Realizing that they will have little control over their own fate as women, the girls swear an oath to one another, but before the night is out their fate will be read by the seer and their lives will change forever. Twelve years later Gunnhild is checking in on the sisters disguised as a sparrow when the farm is attacked, and everyone is killed except Signy who is kidnapped, and Oddny who Gunnhild helps escape the clutches of the raiders. When Gunnhild rushes back home to meet Oddny so they can join forces to free Signy, they take the world into their own hands in a way that is usually reserved for men in medieval epics.
With strong and flawed women, trans representation, and just enough magic to feel fantastic while still grounded in humanity, this was a fantastic read! With old Nordic names, terms and places, I was a little worried that this book would drag, and be a household story, but I was wrong. While matters of relationships are prominent, this is an adventure filled with action and stories of women finding each other to find their own way in the world. I can't wait to tell my patrons to read it, and recommend it to my friends.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley, and the publisher, so that I can recommend this book as a librarian. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I enjoyed reading this one. As I learned a little about Norwegian folklore. Hey you learn something new every time you read something.

In her second book, Genevieve Gornichec introduces a world of Vikings and magic, where alliances mean more than friendship, and where power is nominally in the hands of men. So of course, the main relationship in the Weaver and the Witch is the friendship of three women, two of which are blood sisters and the third a sworn sister.

When Gunnhild’s abusive mother forbids her from hearing her fortune, her friends Signey and Oddny help her in her defiance. Together they stand before the fortune teller and together they are cursed (not literally here) when the Seerer refuses to tell them anything but that one of their futures clouds the other two. They make blood oaths to be there for each other that night, but then don’t see each other for a decade as Gunnhild (presumed/pronounced dead by her family) sneaks off to train with the Seerer and Signey and Oddny return to their home, where they remain unwed because the superstitious menfolk are weary of the fortune that was told. That changes only when three witches attack Signey and Oddny in an attempt to prevent a future they saw. Then Signey is kidnapped, and Gunnhild and Oggny fight to save her and uphold the oath they made to each other.

The plot of the Weaver and the Witch Queen is driven entirely by prophecies. Between the prophecy that is told about Gunnhild when she was a toddler, the lack of prophecy when Gunnhild, Signey, and Oggny are young, and whatever Queen Thora saw convincing her that Gunnhild was a rival who would persevere if helped by her friends, everything in this story is foretold and influenced by the foretelling. On one hand, nothing would happen in this tale if not for the Seerers that visited Gunnhild’s home, but on the other, the fortunes of this setting are the knowledge people act on, so it makes sense for the characters to be driven by them.

The characters of this story all fit the plot and act as they should to further the story, but their individual motivations aren’t clearly felt. Readers might not guess that Halldor’s secret has anything to do with him personally before he reveals it to Oddny, and it’s easy to miss Eirik’s care for Gunnhild until he shouts it at her. Readers might not get pulled into the story without being able to feel the characters more deeply.

Overall, the Weaver and the Witch Queen is a fun story that introduces readers to a setting of magic, friendships, and different types of power.

I absolutely loved Gornichec's previous book, The Witch's Heart, so thank you NetGalley for providing me an advance copy for this one!
This was a beautiful work of historical fantasy replete with adventure, found family, and romance! I loved the story and the pacing was great. I also loved the setting. I need more Viking-inspired novels!

A truly lovely historical fantasy that combines an expert's attention to the lived-in details of everyday life in the Viking Age and a deep understanding of the myths and beliefs that shaped the worldviews of its inhabitants.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genevieve Gornichec is a great writer. I really loved Signy, Oddny, and Gunnhild - they were great characters. I did really like their friendship storyline.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group!
I really enjoyed the witch's Heart, and I am so excited to see their next book! Definitely check the trigger warnings for the story as there are some content warnings that I was not expecting going in. I think the story itself did a great job of depicting the main character is as powerful and strong. There is so much depth to their story. This author always brings fantastic characters that are complicated and detailed. I was also extremely glad to see it not as much romance as I was expecting. I love when stories focus on other types of relationships instead of only romantic ones and I was glad this book focused more on the relationship between the woman.

I loved the viking vibes! As someone who craves big epic fantasies lasting thousands of pages, I wanted more from this book. I wanted a 7-book epic about the Witch Queen and her kids and all of that--but I was fairly warned that this was a standalone, so I cannot hold it against the book itself. It was beautiful, and lovely, and layered. My biggest complaint was that I wanted more, which is really not much of a complaint at all!