The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
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Web ID: 1339164712 reviews
A beautiful read!
This is a beautiful book that fills the woman-shaped gaps in Nordic history and mythology. This is so much more than a love story between Loki and Angrboda; it’s a love story between Angrboda and herself. It’s a story in which she finds her own automony against even the gods. Angrboda is a powerful witch who once was coveted by the gods themselves until she refused to give Odin what he demanded. But she isn’t so easy to destroy, and she finds her way back every time. During one of these lives, she crosses paths with Loki, the trickster god who is torn between his love for Angrboda and his family. With him, she finds love and bears three children, each of whom has their own destiny within the history of the world. This was such a vividly created story within a world of mythology and magic. The characters are well developed, compelling and interesting. Angrboda, especially, is a fabulous character, uncompromising in her love and loyalty, strong in the face of any adversity, but also very loving. She has complicated, but deep relationships with Loki and Skadi, as well as with her children. It is those relationships that are really the core of the story. The writing is descriptive and well paced, driving the story forward with every page. My only quibble with the novel is that some of the dialogue feels too modern. Instead of the more formal speech one might expect, there is quite a bit of phrasing and idioms that feel more casual, things we’d use in conversation today. That could be a bit jarring sometimes.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
So Good!
Absolutely loved the story. Already marked my calendar for the author's next book release :)
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I loved this!
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.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Enlarging Norse myth with a new voice
This book is a wonderful view of the Norse myths and the witch who is sometimes peripheral to the telling of them. Angrboda, who is married to Loki for a period of time, is a Seer and prophesies Ragnarok. She is also the Mother of Monsters, her children including Fenrir the Wolf and the Serpent Jormungand who are intimately involved in the end of the world. The narrative moves quickly, is engaging and is a new view on an old story. If you liked Circe, you'll love this one too. It would likely be a good idea to read The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris first, as it will help illuminate events that are referred to but not fully explained in Witch's Heart. You don't have to, but these two books make a great pair. I hope Genevieve Gornichec writes more of this sort of story. Women's mythic voices are sorely missing. I look forward to more!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautiful and Heart Wrenching
This was one of my first reads after awhile of not reading, and this was a great! It was heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking. It touches on motherhood and betrayal
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Interesting novel with Norse myths
This is an interesting re-telling of several Norse myths, from the perspective of a not so well known character: the witch Angrboda. The myths are not much changed from the original ones and the author has definitely done a lot of research. At some point in the story, Angrboda becomes a wife of Loki (yes, he also has another wife) and the mother of three of his children: Hel, the serpent Jormungand and the wolf Fenrir. The myths are elegantly woven into the fabric of this story, often told by other people, for instance the goddess Skadi, who also plays an important role in this novel. Angrboda is a likeable character and I very much enjoyed reading her story. There is also a queer lovestory included as a subplot (and I won’t say more because of spoilers). Parts of the novel are quite fantasy-driven, whereas others are more like »slices of life« of an extraordinary family. I also liked the writing style of the author. My only criticism is complaining at a high level: there are no chapters, which is inconvenient for the structure of the e-book. Instead, the book is divided into three parts and in turn there are blank lines with asterisks every now and then.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Men Die. Gods Die. She Lives On.
The Witch's Heart follows Angrboda, an ancient witch cast out of the world of the Norse Gods after she survives being burned thrice at the stake for displeasing Odin, making her way through life with little memory of her past life. She soon meets Loki, and the two become an unlikely pair, hiding in a cave far beyond the trivial pursuits of the gods. Although her and Loki's union brings Angrboda happiness, she cannot settle down as she, forced by Odin, begins to prophesize the dark future ahead. Pressure begins to mount on Angrboda to protect her family and friends as she battles the unconquerable certainty of Ragnorok. Can Angrboda accept Loki and her children's dark fate, or will she fight for a new future to save her family from disaster? I would highly recommend this book for its unique perspective and deep, hidden meaning. Gornichec's choice to depict Ragnorok, a well-known event in Norse mythology, through the lens of an overlooked figure, was a fresh approach to the story. The story of Ragnorok is often attributed to Loki and his children, who in essence caused Ragonork; however, Gornichec beautifully tells this story through the eyes of someone who loves the antagonists that ended the world, showing how easily the title of hero and villain can be swapped. She adds complexity to characters, such as Loki, who until now has often been shown as a one-dimensional antagonist. Loki's personality and life were shown to be extremely difficult, causing the reader to have empathy for him, something that has not been seen before. While the plot may be slow at times, it adds emphasis to the years of hardships Boda endured while waiting for the end of the world. The Witch's Heart is a story of love, betrayal, and strength. Gornichec teaches the reader that strength is not about the amount of power you hold but rather what you do with that power. Another lesson to be taken from this book is it is impossible to know every aspect of a person's character, so it is impossible to accurately judge a person.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
must read!!
I grabbed this book in a whim before leaving for vacation and I am SO GLAD that I did. I couldn't put the thing down! A phenomenal read with beautiful storytelling.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com