So, two of my favorite books had a love child and luckily she turned out BEAUTIFUL!

If you enjoyed Circe and/or Norse Mythology, you will love this book. It takes a bunch of quirky and ambiguous Norse myths and turns them into an epic style story that is much more common when reading about the Greeks. Loki is one of my favorite anti-heroes so I was extremely excited to get a story about him with only bits of pieces of Thor. I actually would have loved to get more from Loki's actual POV, but I still enjoyed this nonetheless.

This will be a big hit with anyone who likes epics, mythology/fantasy stories, or wants to learn more about the Norse myths. I will so it's good to go in with some basic knowledge of their gods, etc - but even if you've only watched The Avengers, you'll be good to go :)

Thanks firstly to NetGalley, to Ace, and to Ms. Gornichec for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I was a weird little girl. (You could argue that I stopped being little - ha - but didn't lose the weird.) Anyways. I read Bulfinch's in elementary school, which kicked off an entire mythology reading spree: ancient Egyptian mythology was a favorite, as was a book of Norse mythology I obtained somewhere or other. More recently I read Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman. So the names in The Witch's Heart weren't unfamiliar to me. But just as Hel took her mother's name, Hel Angrbodudottir, because "everyone knows her father; it's her mother who keeps getting forgotten," I too had forgotten all about Angrboda. And Skadi. And Sigyn. And, frankly, most of the other women in the Norse mythological canon who weren't Freyja. (It's easy to the remember the siblings whose names give me my favorite weekday.)

Genevieve Gornichec has written an absolutely heartbreaking story of the woman who was repeatedly abused, left behind, abandoned, mistreated, taken advantage of, and ultimately reviled for mothering (shall we say) unusual children. The scene where the children were taken away, particularly, was incredibly moving. As a mother I found it even more devastating. All of the characters here are complex and fascinating, but the endlessly tolerant, proud, tenacious, resilient Angrboda was a revelation.

Many other reviewers have noted that this book will appeal to the same audience that made Circe so popular. I would agree with that. I might even go so far as to posit that some readers may like The Witch's Heart better! This book has been very strongly hyped in advertising, professional publications and more, but I'm happy to say that in my opinion the hype is deserved.

Beautiful and absorbing. Recommend to readers who loved Circe by Madeline Miller. Great addition to any collection.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! I had high expectations after reading the synopsis and I was not disappoint. This book retells Norse mythology following some of my characters Norse gods, a.k.a Loki. I don't know if everyone who reads this book will agree with this but I definitely imagined Tom Hiddleston as Loki because of the Marvel movies. But Loki was not the main star of this book, Angrboda was and wow, did I just love her.

Angrboda is a witch that used to live and help the gods in Asgard but after some events she is betrayed and killed by the Norse gods. Being a witch though, Angrboda came back to life and went deep into a forest to hide and live a quiet life. But Loki followed her and literally gives her back her heart. From there, we see their friendship and relationship bloom.

Once they have three kids together; Hel the next future ruler, Fenrir a wolf child, and Jormundgard, who is half snake, Angrboda starts having dreams and visions of Ragnarok. At the center of these visions are her children. Will she be able to protect her children and herself from Odin and the Norse gods?

The writing is absolutely beautiful. The characters are compelling and complex. Read this book. You won't be disappointed!

#netgalley #thewitchsheart

4.25 I really loved this book. First off this book is not going to be for everyone there is a lot of character development and world and story building in the first 60% of the book but I found it completely fascinating and it made me adore so many of these characters as they grew and the relationships involving them all changed. The way the ending came full circle was done so well and the story telling was beautiful. I think my only complaint would be a couple parts being a bit drawn out but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec is a book based on Norse mythology, and it's about the witch Angrboda, one of Loki's wives. I don't know a lot about Norse mythology beyond Marvel movies. I've heard of Odin, Loki, and Thor, but I never knew anything about Angrboda and her children or any other gods. The book starts after Angrboda is burned three times by Odin for refusing to show him the future. She flees to isolated woods, where Loki finds her and returns her heart to her. Thus starts a relationship that will have enormous consequences for their word and the Gods. Angrboda and Loki's unusual children will play a role in the destruction of Asgard.

I appreciated reading a mythology retelling from a woman's perspective. I loved Angrboda. I loved her relationship with her three children and her devotion to them, even when everybody else saw them as monsters. But I didn't like Loki. He wasn't a good husband, and he wasn't a particularly good father either. He always seemed to struggle to do the right thing by his family, even when he wanted to. He did redeem himself a little in the second part of the book.

My other favorite character was Skadi, a huntress, and Angrboda friend. She was brave, opinionated, and devoted to Boda and her children. I was shipping Boda and Skadi so hard! The Witch's Heart is a unique story infused with myth, magic, and symbolism. If you want a different take on Norse mythology, I highly recommend this book!

The Witch’s Heart is a story that re-imagines Norse Mythology with a witch named Angrboda. After being abandoned in the woods after being burned at the stake three times and having her heart ripped out by Odin, Angrboda meets a man named Loki, who returns her heart to her. The two become friends and eventually married, producing three children.

This story is rich with Norse mythology and lore. The characters are amazing--Loki is a dirtbag husband which is what I would totally expect from the god of mischief. Adgrboda doesn’t take any of his shenanigans and calls him out on them constantly. Adgrboda starts from nowhere and nothing and it’s amazing to watch her grow and survive over the course of this story. I loved Adgrboda’s children. I don’t want to go into too many details because I love the way they’re introduced to the reader, but they are honestly one of my favorite aspects of this story.

The Witch’s Heart is a story filled with heartbreak, the importance of a mother’s love, and the importance of friendship.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

You don’t have to know me or know my book reading preferences very well to guess why I chose to pick up an arc of The Witch’s Heart by debut author, Genevieve Gornichec. All you really need to know is Circe and Norse Mythology were two of my favorite reads of 2018. And that hook got me.

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


Like any good Celtic knot, The Witch’s Heart doesn’t start in the obvious place and end in the other; no, instead it is woven with care, attention to beauty, and with a complexity that is near divine. The story follows the witch, Angrboda, after Odin has burned and banished her, stripping her of her heart and her powers for the sin of not revealing the future to him.

It is Loki, the trickster god, who aids Angrboda in coming back to life, through the simple task of returning her heart to her chest. In the process, the two forge a connection in the magical woods beyond Odin’s sight. They marry and have three very unconventional children that deepen the mystery and destiny of world the Norse gods have ruled for so long.

The Witch’s Heart is pure magic and momentum. You don’t have to be a Norse mythology scholar to fall deep into the lore. Have you seen Thor? You’re good. You have all the info you need. You’ll be swept away by the powerful sense of herself that Angrboda embodies, and her drive to get what she deserves.

It’s a beautiful fairy tale, told with skill, and was pure pleasure to read.

The Witch’s Heart tales the story that was either never written or was forgotten with time. It is a beautifully crafted tale that brings out so many feelings. The writing is engaging, detailed, and emotional. The character Angrboda, the mother of three of the most noteworthy monsters in Norse Mythology, finally has her told. A reader can tell Genevieve Gornichec did her research for she does not shy away from the heartache or tragedy that we assume is Angrboda tale. I would give this to anyone that enjoys Norse Mythology, retellings, or is looking for a deep emotional tale.

I received a gifted galley of THE WITCH’S HEART by Genevieve Gornichec for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE WITCH’S HEART is a retelling of Norse mythology centering on Angrboda, a witch who doesn’t really remember who she is. What she does know is that she was burned several times by Odin, but survived and she finally leaves the realm of the gods to find a peaceful, quiet existence living in a cave in the middle of nowhere. Her skills as a witch allow her to make a living to get what she needs with the help of a friend who sells her goods and brings her provisions.

She gets few visitors, but trickster Loki is among them and over time they fall in love, marry and have a family which is les than normal. Angrboda tries to stay off the gods’ radar, but her magic tells her she won’t always succeed as she foretells the coming of the ultimate destruction of the gods and the world.

I really wound up enjoying this one! It took me a little bit to settle into the story as I was going in pretty blind and not sure what direction the author was taking us, but I really liked Angrboda and her unusual family. This includes fantasy elements and magic, a bit of romance and some humor as well.

I would say that having some knowledge of Norse mythology from prior reading and from movies may have helped me connect with the characters faster than a reader with no knowledge of who is who. For those with less knowledge, the author has included a fantastic appendix at the end with information about the various characters and places mentioned and the stories surrounding them. This is done in a way that is pretty free from spoilers for the book, only revealing things that are known about the original sources.

For anyone who enjoys mythology or a good retelling, this is a book that I would recommend! THE WITCH’S HEART will be out on 2/9/2021!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for allowing me the chance to review this wonderful book!

I am a pretty big fan of Norse Mythology so when I saw that there was a book being published focusing on the story of the mother of Loki's children, I was very excited. I love reading stories about women, both historical and mythological that were often untold. This particular story focuses on the figure of Gullveig/Angrboda, which although in Norse mythology are often seen as two different women, and merges them together to weave a story of the woman who would become the wife of Loki and the mother of their three children that would bring about Ragnarok (The Norse apocalypse story that resulted in the death of numerous gods of Asgard); fenrir the wolf, jormundgand, the serpent, and Hel, the goddess(?) of the underworld. In most of these stories, all these figures are seen as one-dimensional monsters, but this book actually humanizes them by telling the story of how Angrboda and Loki met, fell in love and birthed these children. It takes the reader through that all the way through when they are taken away and how these actions brings about Ragnarok. I loved how although there were liberties taken with what is in the mythological canon, it was entirely believable and brought a richer meaning to how all these people (and creatures') lives were intertwined together. If you love untold stories and especially if you enjoy the stories in Norse mythology (the author references many of them throughout in very creative ways) this is worth checking out.

What a captivating story! I really adore mythology retellings. Something about the familiarity of the myth but the modernity of the interpretation just works for me 99% of the time. This book is no exception, and I'd venture to say that this is one of the more beautiful retellings that I've read in the last few years.

The Witch's Heart tells the story of Angrboda, a barely mentioned character from Norse mythology, wife of Loki and mother of the creatures that destroy the world in Ragnarok. How is her story barely mentioned in the original Norse myths when those facts alone are so cool! I don't know, but Gornichec is finally doing her story justice.

This retelling follows Angrboda from her barely-survived burning by Odin up until the very end of days in Ragnorok. In Gornichec's retelling, Angrboda is a fierce and smart witch trying to live a life unharmed by the gods who have betrayed her many times before. But fate keeps drawing her into the gods' affairs. Odin covets Angrboda's power of sight, and her marriage to the trickster Loki threatens her safety, even in her hideout at the ends of the earth. With nothing but love for her children and a loyal giantess on her side, Angrboda does everything she can to protect her daughter from the coming end of days.

All in all, I highly recommend this retelling to fans of Circe by Madeline Miller or The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. It matches those two titles in its feminist strength and powerful reinterpretation. Add to that some awesome bisexual representation, and you've got a winning book in my heart.

This is an enchanting book surrounding Norse mythology, but with a different take. My discovery of Angrboda and seeing Loki characterized as more than just a trickster is just the beginning of the knowledge this book brought to me. The description of the setting is beautiful and the plot is diverse from other Norse inspired books that I've read, despite focusing on common stories. Overall I'm highly satisfied with how this book turned out and would recommend it to anyone who loves mythology and magic.

Alright guys, I’m sick as hell but I must speak about this book!

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This book is a full five stars! This is the retelling of the Norse myth of Angrboda, the witch giant who mothered three of Loki’s children all the way through Ragnarok. This story is so beautifully told and executed. It made me go through a roller coaster of emotions and I wouldn’t trade it for a second! This is perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and any grown-up Rick Riodan fans! I will say it’s not kind on Marvel fans though..... it’s the real representation of the gods.

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Some buzz words are- magic, Norse mythology, Bi- representation, heartbreak, vengeance, and apocalypse, but also joy.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I've heard of Genevieve Gornichec and while I don't believe this is her debut work, I think this is the first time she's been published as a singular novelist and not in an anthology?

I think that Gornichec writes beautifully. She does a very good job at providing the atmosphere of the world that Angrboda is a part of. For most of the book, the setting is only at Ironwood, a forest that Angrboda finds herself at after being burned alive three times by Odin All-Father. When Angrboda arrives, the area is bleak and desolate--just like her. Yet, as the story progresses and the witch finds herself, the woods provides more and more life.

Angrboda herself is responsible for some of that life as she births three children who eventually become a part of Ragnarok, the end of the world as the Norse people know it. However, throughout the book, we see these three as children and become sympathetic towards them. Hel, the first born who died in the womb and Angrboda brings back to life; Fenrir, the wolf who grows so big he eats the sun; and Jormundgard, the sea serpent who encircles the world.

The beginning of the book was rather slow and slightly boring. It was a sort of slice of life tale as Angrboda makes potions and sweeps her cabin. Loki, the trickster god, occasionally drops by with tales associated with Norse Mythology; he gets her pregnant and then leaves again.

As she births more children and hears more tales, it starts to get a bit better in regards to speed and plot. Odin comes to find out about the prophecy regarding Angrboda's children and causes it to come true by forcefully removing them from the witch's care. As we all know, a woman's fury is a potent thing. Angrboda takes it upon herself to claim revenge and set forth Ragnarok.

The ending of the novel was both as I expected (knowing a little about Norse mythology) and slightly surprising. I don't want to give it away, of course, so that's all I'll say about that.

While I say this book is a slow burn, it was a quick read and I did enjoy Gornichec's writing style. The story itself was frustrating, mostly because of Angrboda's quick forgiveness and excuses of Loki's actions. So, the book wasn't really for me, but I can see how other readers fall in love with it.

I look forward to what else Gornichec comes up with in the future.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I love reading about little known historical or mythological characters so obviously I was drawn to this. Angrboda is mentioned just a few times in Norse myths where Loki has become more popular and well know than even Odin. ( May Contain Spoilers) Angrboda is burned to death three times for refusing to give Odin knowledge of the future. She retreats to a cave hoping to live out her days in peace, alone. Then she meets an interesting man who gives her back her heart. It was different to read of Loki falling in love. Still the same mischievous trickster but somehow more real. Angrboda is a powerful witch and the mother of myths and legends but spends most of the book unaware or her true self and power. This book paints an altered view on many classic characters. Thor is a violent jerk for example. Hel is a damaged child. This writing seems a little slow but as you are aware of the conflicts about to come the interest in reading further is still intense. It was beautifully written. Some lines so poignant I had to stop and reread them aloud. Recommend to any who like the Norse mythology and those who enjoy a fresh telling of classic tales.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this one. Such a wonderful historical fiction read filled with mythology, but also just a beautiful story about a woman and her love for her children. It's been a while since I've read a mythology book and I'll be the first to admit that a lot of the terms I was familiar with from the Marvel movies, but I never felt lost. This book was readable, accessible and so enjoyable. Once I got started I kept turning the page. the storytelling and writing were beautifully done. A beautiful debut I can't wait to read more from this author.

Rating: 4
Steam: 1

Wow - The Witch's Heart took me on a full emotional journey through the life of Angrboda and through my own personal subconscious. Genevieve Gornichec provides a powerful allegory of the Sacred Feminine through colorfully rich narrative and deep understanding of Norse Mythology. Reading this book brought up many emotions for me and a type of remembrance that can only be achieved through storytelling. The story of Angrboda highlights on themes of love, trust, betrayal, evolution, life, death, and of course - that which can not die. To me, it was a powerful call to remind me of all I have personally lived through, as well as all women and energies that have come before me.

I appreciate Gornichec's ability to weave Norse Folklore into this captivating, adventurous and deeply spiritual journey of Angrboda, how she finds the strength to tap back into her power. It is a story of healing that many women need today.

Norse Mythology is not something I know a lot about to be honest, so when I was invited to take part in a #Buddyreads of ‘The Witches Heart’ by Genevieve Gornichec I was intrigued . I knew I’d have to dismiss the Marvel version of Thor, Loki and all Asgard’s finest, while very entertaining are not very akin to the real mythology.

Angrboda is not the only name she’s ever had but it’s the name she gives herself when she finds herself alone and without her memory. She shared her prophetic magic with Odin, ruler of Asgard, but held back from him something that he desired. He burnt her flesh three times over and removed her heart as punishment but somehow she lived and fled. She starts her life again on the edge of the world, with Loki the trickster, who she comes to love deeply. She hides from the All Father who hungers for her power and tries to understand the doom laden visions that haunt her. However, she can’t hide forever, as her love for Loki triggers a series of events that threaten to destroy the entire world. Can she protect the children she loves so dearly? And re-discover who she is and the power that burns within her?

To begin with I found the short paragraphs and uncomplicated writing style a little off putting. It read like a list of facts, characters and events that didn’t give the kind of depth I needed to become completely invested. However, as the story went on and I got to know the characters, that feeling dissipated. I did become very invested in Angrboda’s story and many of the other characters were well rounded and nuanced. The balance of the emotional storylines alongside the ‘action’ was very well done, in parts, my heart broke and in others, I laughed aloud. The ‘oddness’ of some of the storylines was absolutely in line with the myths themselves, so they fit nicely…although one particular one made my stomach churn a little…you’ll know which when you read it! All in all a good book that sparked my interest in Norse Mythology.

I love love love Norse mythology, and a few of my favorite parts of it are both Loki being ridiculous (see: Sleipnir) and the lead up (and actual… like event) of Ragnarok. Loki, as it happens, has a lot to do with that as well. So does Angrboda, in a way.

This is a retelling of Norse mythology (obviously), and is the story of Angrboda, who was a jötunn (giantess), and the mother of three of Loki’s children: Hel, Fenrir, and Jörmungand. In this retelling, Angrboda was also Gullveig, a witch-woman who the Aesir stabbed the heart out of and then burned three times. Our story starts just after that, when she takes up residence in the Ironwood and takes on the name Angrboda, which means ‘bringer of sorrow’. While living in a remote cave in the Ironwood, she receives two visitors fairly often, one is Skadi, the huntress, who trades her potions for provisions and who she becomes fast friends with, and the other is Loki, who returns her heart to her. She has three children with Loki, and then begins have prophetic dreams. Horrible dreams which appear to show the end of all things. Then the shenanigans really start.

I really enjoyed this book. The language is largely more modern than the story it tells, and is anglicized, but I thought this was really fitting for the story itself. The prose was lovely and very easy to sit down and read for hours and hours at a time. It doesn’t hold back on the sheer ridiculousness of some of the mischief Loki gets himself into, and the magnitude of suffering, death, and destruction that Norse mythology tends to get into. But, despite those things, it tells a sweet, and sometimes bittersweet story. It tells mythology how it is, while still weaving this wonderful story of sorrow and love around it.

I was expecting to absolutely hate the relationship between Angrboda and Loki (and cheer for the blurb’s hinted relationship between Angrboda and Skadi – queue Sapphic Longing) but I did not at all, at least, not until it was clear that I should absolutely not cheer for the continuation of that relationship. I wasn’t expecting some of the dialog to be so hilarious, but I have so much stuff in this book highlighted because it made me chuckle. I suppose I should have expected the trickster god to be a little funny.

The story caught me in the feels a couple of times too, when things that were anywhere from plain ol’ sad to actually a bit horrifying would happen. Angrboda is a character who was easy to cheer for. I wanted her to survive, and thrive, and find her happily ever after, even as her world changed, and life went on. Having a fondness for mythology, I do already (mostly) know what happens, and so you would assume that I would have some feels shields up, but no. Oof, my feels.

Again, I absolutely loved this one, and if you like Norse Mythology, or mythological retellings, you will very likely like it too. It was a fantastic read. I might just get this one in audio too because I can imagine it would be a wonderful listen as well!