Gunnhild, Oddny, and Signy have been best friends since they were little. After a visit from a wisewoman who makes an ominous prophecy involving the girls, the three take a blood oath to always help one another.

Years after Gunnhild had run away from her cruel mother, Oddny and Signy’s farm gets raided and Signy gets taken. Oddny and Gunnhild are reunited in their journey to stop at nothing to save Signy. Oddny, who was spiraled out of the life she always imagined, finds herself drawn to one of the raiders who participated in the attack. Gunnhild, who fled her childhood home to learn the ways of the witch, is surprised to find her destiny intertwined with King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway.

But the bonds the women have are strong and on the journey to save Signy, these bonds will be tested and stretched in ways they never could have seen.

Just like The Witch’s Heart, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel. I also adored the characters - even with all their flaws. All of the side characters stood strong on their own as well and I always wanted to hear and read about all of them.

Everything about this book was captivating and absorbing for me. Genevieve Gornichec has always done an amazing job at getting me into ancient settings and keeping me there throughout the entire book. I could practically picture myself there.

I didn’t know much about Icelandic and/or Norwegian folklore or sagas before this (some Norse Mythology). I really enjoy when a historical fiction book also teaches me things as well - or gives me something to look up and research myself afterwards.

I would highly recommend this book - especially those who like historical Norwegian fiction. And for those who liked The Witch’s Heart and are wondering if you’ll like this one too - I say give it a shot!

*Thank you Ace and NetGalleyfor an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I simply loved it. Merely trying and writing this review is making me feel self conscious because I know I’m not able to use my words to adequately explain just how beautiful the writing in this book is. I’d be highly recommending this this, especially to all the historical fiction and mythology fans. It is a spectacularly captivating tale, I am incredibly excited to see which tale would Ms. Gornichec would choose to write about!

Editor's note: The following summary review appears in Alabama, N.C. and Miss. papers; magazines Cullman Magazine and Athens Senior Scene

By Tom Mayer

Between 500,000 and 1 million books are published each year (a number that spikes to as much as 4 million when self-published titles are factored in) — and, with no disrespect to Egon Spengler as played by the great Harold Ramis, the majority of those are of the paper variety: Print is far from dead.

Printed books continue to grow as the dominant publishing platform with a reported 789 million paper books sold in 2022 in the United States alone.

But, say that you — a “constant reader” as the king of horror has dubbed us all — just want a good read? With numbers such as that, who has the time to churn through even a fraction of that voluminous literary category?
Well, nobody actually, and that includes the droves of book reviewers who periodically chime in with erudite recommendations panning or promoting in a line or two a body of work that likely took a writer months, if not years, to produce.

But this is the system with have and, barring an AI infiltration of robots scanning, reading and recommending books on their own, what you have below is a curated list of 11 of the best books I’ve come across in the past three months — and a baker’s dozen more that I’m working on for late fall.

And, because we all know that children’s publishing is an exploding force of its own (a $3.3 billion marketing impact in the US in 2022), I’ve added a separate list of children’s titles worthy of trading screen time for book time across a range of ages.

As for the adult titles, a few of these will have breakout, more full reviews — Robert McCammon, Robert Dugoni, John Grisham and Rick DeStefanis among those — as we move deeper into fall, but for everything on this list now, my typical disclaimer: Each of these books was read as an advanced reading copy (ARC), digital or print, and vetted against a final, printed copy except in cases where the publication time of this review didn’t allow for a final copy production, and those are noted as below, “books to watch for.”

The best of the best … for now

“The Better Half” by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Mindy’s Book Studio, 326 pages, $28.99): With an introduction from Mindy Kaling, literary soulmates Frank and Youmans take a comedic look at the second half of Nina Morgan Clarke’s life. When the first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School joins forces with a best friend to celebrate her second act, ethical dilemmas and a slippery slope from the pinnacle of her life ensue.

“The Beast You Are” by Paul Tremblay (William Morrow, 356 pages, $30): Paul Tremblay’s stories never fail to infiltrate our dreams, and this volume gives us that times 15. Only the title story is original to the collection, but having these polished gems in one place makes the whole thing shine. Extensive notes on story origins are a bonus — and a peek into the master’s mind.

“The Weaver and the Witch Queen” by Genevieve Gornichec (Ace, 432 pages, $27): A heart-wrenching tale about two women who are irrevocably drawn together by the bonds of sword sisterhood and twists of fate, this fantastical novel is a sumptuous blend of Norse mythology and Viking history. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology” will rejoice at having a companion piece.

“The Hunt” by Kelly J. Ford (Thomas & Mercer, 353 pages, $16.99): Serial murders or simply unfortunate accidents? The town of Presley, Ark., is divided on the issue and has been for 17 years. Nell Holcomb, the sister of the man she considers “the Hunter’s” first kill, faces her past, and escalating danger, to find the true answer.
“The Truth About Sex Trafficking” by Melanie Patterson (Forged in Words Books, 200 pages, $14.99): An honest, unsentimental and horrific depiction of sex trafficking telling the true story of Angela, a victim who endured unimaginable abuse as a child as a teen. The story comes from a Cullman County native and former Alabama journalist with two decades of research and writing experience.

"Broadway Butterfly" by Sara Divello (Thomas & Mercer, 432 pages, $28.99): The city is Manhattan, the year is 1923. The story: one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the era. When flapper Dot King is found dead in her Midtown apartment, a phalanx of lovers, parasites and justice seekers descend on the city.

“Rawlins: The Road to Yellowstone (The Rawlins Saga Book 4)” by Rick DeStefanis (247 pages, $24.95): I’ve said it before (well, actually three times before), but Rick DeStefanis is one our most least-sung Western writers. Though the stories are set in the 19th century, the themes echo today. “The Road to Yellowstone” is another example where Rawlins once more slings on his guns to fight for justice — now joined by his son-in-law — against a group of “businessmen” trafficking women for their saloons and bordellos.

“Malibu Burning (Sharpe & Walker Book 1)” by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, 286 pages, $28.99): A master thief with a conscience? Only from the pen of Lee Goldberg, a virtuoso of crime fiction who knows how to keep the pages turning. This fiery tale of revenge against powerful Malibu homeowners is the background of what, if it’s successful, will be the biggest heist in U.S. history.

“The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” by Susan Zurenda (Mercer University Press, 291 pages, $27): An unprocessed take on “Romeo and Juliet,” this achingly beautifully written novel explores the complicated bonds between teenagers and adults. Strongly drawn, confident teenagers are a refreshing departure from the wooden cutouts so prevalent (and scarily popular) in contemporary fiction. This novel comes with high praise from the likes of Ron Rash (“Serena,” “The Caretaker”). Meet the author Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa and Talladega, Ala. Visit susanzurenda.com/events for details on these and other dates.

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“The September House” by Carissa Orlando (Berkley, 352 pages, $27): A woman is determined to stay in her own house even after it becomes haunted. Sounds like you’ve heard it before? Erase those preconceptions and be prepared for dark, funny, fresh tale of secrets and haunted matrimony.

“The Taken Ones: A Novel (Steinbeck and Reed Book 1)" by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, 331 pages, $16.99): In 1980, despite warnings and urban legends, three girls enter a Minnesota forest. Only one comes out, and she’s alone with her memory erased. The local superstition of the Bendy Man who haunts the woods earns nationwide attention. The year 2022: cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck investigate the murder of a woman buried alive — clutching a heart charm necklace that belonged to one of the girls. The search for a killer is now a race against time.

Books to watch for

I’ll expand in future reviews on these titles publishing in October and November, but here’s a head’s up for what I’m reading now.

“One Last Kill: Tracy Crosswhite 10” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni.
“Let Us Descend” (Scribner) by Jesmyn Ward.
“Murder on the Christmas Express” (Poison Press) by Alexandra Benedict.
“Long Past Due” (Berkley) by James J. Butcher (with “Dead Man’s Hand,” first in series).
“The Exchange” (Doubleday) by John Grisham.
“The Spy Coast” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tess Gerritsen.
“The Life and Times of Hannah Craft” (Harper Collins) by Greg Hecimovich.
“American Girl” (Blackstone Publishing) by Wendy Walker.
“The Aeronaut’s Windlass” (Ace) by Jim Butcher.
“The Last Applicant” (Lake Union) by Rebecca Hanover.
“Resurrection Walk” (Little Brown) by Michael Connelly.
“The Olympian Affair” (Roc) by Jim Butcher.
“Good Girls Don’t Die” (Berkley) by Christina Henry.

Childrens’ titles … with strong recommendations

“Clara Poole and the Long Way Round” (Pixel Ink for ages 8-12) by Taylor Tying.
"Buddy and Bea Not Really Buddies" and “Tiny Tornadoes” (both Peachtree, for ages 5-8) by Jan Carr and Kris Mukai .
“The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves: S.O.S.” (Peachtree) by Tom Phillips.
“Forget me not blue” (Holiday House) by Sharelle Byars Moranville.
“In the Tunnel” (Holiday House, for ages 8-12) by Julie Lee.
“The Girl Who Lost a Leopard” (Peachtree, for ages 8-12) by Nizrana Farook.”
“Team Trash: A time Traveler’s Guide to Sustainability” (Holiday House, for ages10-14) by Kate Wheeler and Trent Huntington.
“Bizard, the bear wizard” (Margaret Ferguson Books, for ages 8-10) by Chrissie Krebs.
“The Sinister Secrets of Singe” (Pixel Ink, for ages 10 and older) by Sean Ferrell, illustrated by Graham Carter.

I have enjoyed all of the books that I've read by Genevieve Gornichec. I was so excited to receive this ARC book after reading The Witches Heart.

The pace was a little bit slow, and a little less action-y than The Witches Heart was. It still caught my attention and drug me in. I love anything Norse mythos related so I was instantly excited. I think that this story feels a lot more cozy, and soft compared to TWH.

I'm just excited to keep reading all of her books. They always seem to make my heart happy!

I love a good fantasy based on Norse mythology and was a big fan of the Witch’s Heart, so I was excited to see Genevieve Gornichec release another book. This one focuses on three women, two of whom are sisters and one who is their best friend. I loved the camaraderie in this story and how they are ultimately there for each other. I also loved how trans rep was included and found it well done.

All in all, this story wasn’t quite as good as The Witch’s Heart, but it was still quite solid. I definitely enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed Gornichec's 'The Weaver and the Witch Queen'. I haven't read too many books that take place during the Viking age but now I may have to go out and buy some. 'The Weaver and the Witch Queen' follows three women; Signy, Oddny, and Gunhilde. Each of these women is unique and strong in their own way and I loved following their story. While all three are flawed, I do love the complex relationships they have as it may the story very interesting.

There were parts in the story that did feel a bit slow and that's why this isn't a five-star read for me. The end did pick up for me and I enjoyed it, I just wished that it was faster paced in some areas.

The Weaver and the Witch Queen follows the story of Gunnhild and her two friends who are bound together by prophecy and, for two of them, a blood oath. Gunnhild is a flawed character, protective, obstinate at times, and angry. Her devotion to her friends is wonderfully solid. Oddney, with whom she has a blood oath, is interesting. She is often a voice of reason and has a sensitivity to her that I find appealing. Signy, Oddney's sister, is spirited and a strong character in her own right.

Gornichec's writing is very accessible. She does an amazing job of weaving the story, incorporating the characters, and covering various themes. I really liked the inclusion of diverse characters. The story takes place in the Viking era drawing on myths and legend; however, at times it feels modern day. I think this lends well to creating a story that would appeal to a wide group of readers. The world building is lacking somewhat, but the reader can easily fill in the gaps given the story and what is provided. The book jumps right into the story and has a really good even pacing. It kept me engaged while curious as to the future of the characters and their journeys. There is plenty of mystery and intrigue and just enough hints to keep the reader going. Overall, a great read with interesting likable characters and a solid story.

I loved the story. The cover is beautiful. The characters were well developed, and I loved the trans representation in this story. I was unable to put it down!

"The Weaver and the Witch Queen" follows the lives of three young women, who decide to bind their fates together when a seeress predicts that one of them will overshadow the others' lives with blood and misfortune. This all comes to fruition when an expected raid separates the sisters, Oddny and Signy, and reunites Gunnhild, who has been training as a witch, with Oddny. The two set out to recover Signy, but in the process learn more about each other and the fate promised to them.

There were a lot of things that I enjoyed about this book as Gornichec creates an enthralling and immersive world with characters that easily belong to the time period and creates a compelling narrative. However, the largest issue with this title was that Gornichec, in my opinion, chose the wrong point in Gunnhild, Oddny, and Signy's lives to focus on. As the story came to a close, it really felt as if the epic was beginning and since there doesn't seem to be any plans to make this a series, it just seemed weird to have focused on the preceding events.

This book hooked me from the very first page and I could not put it down. To say I was invested in the story of Oddny and Gunnhild would be an understatement! The author wraps up everything nicely and it felt completed as well as entertaining and well-written. I really hope there is a follow up to this book because I cannot wait to revisit this world and read more!

A Norse historical fantasy...yes, please!!!

With the amount of Scandinavian inspired content in all formats of entertainment choosing to read this novel was easy. I'm a fan of historical fiction and love when fantasy elements are woven in. The magic system is rooted in Norse mythology, folklore, and religion with further information concerning the author's inspiration and word choice at the end of the book.

The main story line was slow to start, but once started this book is hard to put down. The characters are and their interwoven relationships were highlights of reading.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of The Wheel of Time, A Discovery of Witches, anything inspired by the Norse sagas, or would like a change of pace from the usual historical fiction time periods.

This book was a page turner for me from start to finish. I was invested in Oddny's and Gunnhild's story all throughout despite the fact that the author did something I typically don't like with regard to the romance elements of the book. I also really appreciated the fact that the book has a transgender character. I did get to a certain point in the book that I didn't think the author would be able to wrap up everything, but she did. Although it did feel that everything just sort of fell into place for things to wrap up, it didn't feel rushed. I hope that the author plans a sequel for it because I would like to see more of the 3 women in their middle years.

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

I enjoyed this book. I had a little bit of a rough time at the beginning because I was in a reading slump and it starts slow. I would say this book starts to really pick up around the 40 or 50% mark. I do love a good enemies to lovers story and this book has TWO enemies to lovers storylines. This book is mostly about the friendship between three women and how it changes over the course of their lives, but also how it stays the same. There is some lgbtq rep in here. I wish we had more information about what happened with Signey (one of the women in the friendship). I feel like some of the slowness could’ve been mitigated bye, having chapters describing her experiences since they were different from the other two. I liked that the male main characters had just as much depth to them as the female main characters. I would definitely love to know how all of the characters grew up. Each of the characters in the story had a distinct background. I finished this book just wanting to know more about each characters personal experience and early life. Even the villains were interesting to me. I found one of the villains backstory to be understandable. One of the female main characters even said as much that she would have behaved the same had that situation occurred for her. The magic system in this book is very interesting. It’s based on herbal and folk remedies, but also carving runes into things. I love the concept of sending your soul out into the world which reminds me of astral projection, as well as the communing with ancestors and spirits, which is seen in many different cultures. This book had everything: fully fleshed out characters, interesting back stories, intriguing politics, and a believable magical system.

I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

This review is for Genevieve Gornichec’s The Weaver and the Witch Queen. I pounced on the ability to get an arc of this book since I had also selected the arc of this author’s first book, The Witches Heart, and liked it. This book seemed very different than that one. Still enjoyable, just in a different way. I’m wondering if this is book one of a series, since the author left enough plot points unresolved to make me think there will be a book two. If not, then I would probably drop this down to a two star book. The story had its starts and stops. There were batches where the story was very interesting and spots where it just had filler for fillers sake. I liked the descriptions of the Vikings and how life was during that time. There are enough books out there that we have a pretty good grasp of how things were. This book explains life in those times well. You can tell that she did her research.
The magic, on the other hand was interesting. I liked how it could be taught, and what was possible. Our main character, Gunnhild, had a rough upbringing after a seeress divulged a prophecy about her and her two friends. She took advantage of an opportunity and left her hometown to study with another wandering seeress to learn magic. Other than that, I didn’t actually care about her. She was kind of a jerk. I did like how the author made it seem like the two sisters, Signy and Oddny were opposites. One was content to follow her path in life, the other wanted adventure. That magic wasn’t passed through family ties. One could see the threads. One couldn’t. But at the end that didn’t seem to matter. You could do anything if you just put your mind to it. That was one thing I didn’t like. What was the point of studying magic when one could just pick it up like it was nothing? It just seemed like everything magically fixed itself at the end. The end of the story seemed really rushed as well.
Another thing I didn’t like was the nature of Halldor. It was completely unnecessary to include that and the story would have been just fine, imo, better without it. It had no bearing on the story itself and it was unbelievable that everyone was so tolerant. The same with Oddny’s cramps. There was no point. Useless filler that went nowhere. If there is going to be a book two maybe these things would have had a reason to exist, but as of now, nope.
I am glad that there was a glossary at the end. There were so many different people that they were hard to keep track of. Maybe a family tree at the beginning would have been a nice addition. If there is a book two, I’d probably read it just to see if any of the plot holes ever get filled.

I've noticed a recent trend in novels that don't shirk on women's capacity for violence, whether it be for self-defense, for revenge, for income, or anything else. I loved this story. I loved the chosen sisterhood of these women, of the journeys they take and the choices they make to forge their own identities. I love the perspective on a culture we all have an understanding of, but that's full of more nuance and possibility than most people give it credit for. I love the relationship dynamics, the connections the characters have with one another that drive the plot, romance and friendship and enmity. I love their messy lives, and that even though we get a happy ending it's not a clean one - the characters are changed and damaged by what they've been through, and their relationships are fundamentally altered as a result. My only complaint is that I flagged a little about a third into the book, but after pushing through it I've loved the whole thing.

Language: Moderate
Violence: High
Drugs: Mild
Sex: Moderate

I've been a fan of Naomi Novik for awhile and this sounded like it would be right up my alley. I love fantasy with some folklore and mythology mixed in. I did thoroughly enjoy the story but I had a hard time feeling any empathy for Gunnhild. She was just not a very likeable character. She was short tempered and pretty self centered and I found myself really not liking her. On the other hand I really enjoyed Oddny's character, she had real depth and character development throughout the story. Overall a good, fairly quick read for fans of Novik or Katherine Arden.

4.5. I liked this better than Genevieve Gornichec's previous novel, The Witch's Heart, likely because it was less of a straightforward mythology retelling and more of Gornichec's own creation. The dialogue is also stronger and less awkward. One aspect from The Witch's Heart that I was happy to see preserved here, however, is how much agency our women protagonists have--they're incredibly strong, inspiration, smart, and bitingly funny in their wit. There's also a trans character (possible spoiler?) that ends up having a major role in the story.

Genevieve Gornichec weaves magic, history, and sisterhood into The Weaver and the Witch Queen.
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 wise woman 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 and Gunnhild are determined to save Signy no matter the cost
I enjoyed this story steeped in history and loved how the writer didn’t shy away from adding fantasy to the story. The characters are multifaceted even if seems their missions are singular. Gunnhild is both a good should but also ambitious which ends up hurting those she loves. The queer community is also represented reminding readers that these people have existed since people did.
I wasn’t big on her relationship with Gunnhild’s husband. They kept flip-flopping their feelings and relationship status and that got old. But overall I enjoyed this Norse tale.

I received an ARC for review; all opinions are my own.