Ever since I was young, I adored mythology. I thought the gods were neat characters, and I loved the monsters and beasts that defied logic.
Of the pantheons, Norse mythology has always been a favorite. I loved stories of vikings and the fierce shield maidens. And, as many were depicted with wolves, my love only grew.
I love wolves if you couldn’t already guess.
Druids, witches, warriors, and forest dwellers. My taste in books and video games followed these trends for the most part as I grew up. Give me dragons, give me wolf companions, and give me a quest worthy to be remembered.
Several months back I had money to burn in the form of gift cards, and I saw The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec at my local BN. I was instantly smitten with the premise, and home it went.
I started this book on a Tuesday while on my lunch break. By 3pm the next day, I had finished. The only reason it took me that long was due to needing sleep and having to work. If I’d had my way, I would’ve stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, eyes burning, until I’d finished the journey.
Synopsis
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 to 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 the help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with who 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.
The Witch’s Heart, by Genevieve Gornichec
What I Loved
True to Source Material
What stands out to me about this book, is how I already know this story. In a manner.
I’ve read the story of Ragnarok, many times over at this point. I am very aware of Loki’s shape-shifting, mischief, and subsequent children. So I was amazed at how enraptured I was with this story, despite knowing how things were going to play out. Mostly because I wasn’t sure if they were going to stay true to the old tales, of if I was reading a retelling of sorts.
I’ll let you read to decide which it turned out to be.
Loki is Loki
There have been a ton of Beauty and the Beast retellings, and the same goes for Hades and Persephone…which I guess is kind of the same thing. In the originals of these, The Beast and Hades aren’t really the good guys. The Beast more so as he’s been cursed, but Hades isn’t a great guy if you’re reading straight up textbook mythos.
As I’ve read the retellings–we all know I love them, so sue me–I recognize that his character portrayal has been greatly romanticized.
Loki does not get such a makeover. And I really appreciated that.
Loki is the god of mischief. He is a trickster with a silver tongue. Vain and self-centered to a fault. Yeah he’s Angrboda’s love interest, but since he doesn’t receive the modern romanticization like Hades, we can make some safe assumptions.
I’m not going to lie, I also totally pictured Hiddles (Tom Hiddleston) as Loki, but he’s not described like that in the book. I tried to fight the imagery at first, staying true to the author’s description, but I gave up.
Skadi
I absolutely loved Skadi’s character and that she was in this novel. I’d read about her minimally before, but I will say my first real recognition of her as a character in Norse myth was playing SMITE. However, her relationship with Angrboda is my favorite, and she made me cry on more than one occasion. This story would not have been the same or nearly as good without her.
A Mother’s Love
When all is said and done, this story is one about a woman, a mother, a mother who loves her children unconditionally. Not everyone is so lucky to have such a mother. I feel like I couldn’t help but be drawn to Angrboda and her love for her children, despite how odd the rest of the world saw them. Even how some closest to her saw them.
The Heart
The witch’s heart is not only in the title but featured and referenced throughout the novel. It’s a reoccurring theme, and one that holds multiple meanings. I really loved how the author gave us this symbol in several ways and each one with just as much meaning.
The Style
Lastly, I loved the style in which this novel is written. It gave me the textbook information of those myths I treasured but without sounding like one. As I mentioned above, I was enraptured.
I was reminded of older fantasy novels I have read many many years ago. From Anne McCaffrey and Robin McKinley.
For being her debut novel, Gornichec sounds seasoned. I loved her writing style, and I’m eager to see if it remains in her future novels.
In Conclusion
This was yet another book I simply found no fault in. I’m sure there are those out there who will analyze the crap out of this novel and find something to pick at, but that’s not me. I love stories, and I loved the story I read in The Witch’s Heart. I chuckled, I cried like a blithering idiot, and I got angry. This book made me feel. And if you can get me to cry, forcing me to put down the book while I collect myself? You’ve done good kid.
I gave The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Until Next Time,
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