The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch's Heart

by Genevieve Gornichec

When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive national bestselling debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.
 
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.
 

Reviewed by Leigha on

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Mother witch Angrboda finds herself at a crossroad when her family and friends cross fate in this adult fantasy novel.

The Witch’s Heart is a reimagining of a very obscure character within Norse mythology, Angrboda. It focuses on her romantic relationship with Loki and their three unusual children – the wolf Fenrir, the Midgard serpent Jörmungand, and the ruler of the dead Hel. The banter between her and Loki immediately captivates, and their tumultuous relationship entices readers along. Don’t be fooled – this is not a romance, it’s a survival story about one woman’s absolute determination to keep the ones she loves safe from a terrible prophecy. Lots of romantic elements and tone, but not an actual romance.

While I can appreciate all of the elements of the story, I found myself completely divorced from the emotions of it. I felt very similar in regards to Madeline Miller’s Circe – emotionally unaffected by the character’s arc and somewhat confused by the lore. Many readers loved Circe, and those readers will probably love this story too. I think it’s time for me to admit mythological retellings are not my thing. Honestly, based on the ending, I think I would have much preferred to have the story told from Hel’s point of view. 

tl;dr Others will most likely fall in love with this interesting reimagining of Norse lore, but it’s not for me.

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Reading updates

  • 23 January, 2021: Started reading
  • 4 February, 2021: Finished reading
  • 20 February, 2021: Reviewed