If you loved Neil Gaiman’s NORSE MYTHOLOGY and Madeline Miller’s CIRCE (two of my personal favorites), this is a book you simply must add to the top of your reading list.

Thank you to Berkley for the digital ARC via NetGalley!

This is so well done. In the tradition of Grendel by John Gardner, The Witch's Heart thoroughly develops a minor character into a complex, sympathetic narrator. Rather than breaking the conventions of ancient Norse cosmology, this novel brings them to life. After I finish wiping my tears and reflecting in awe on the storytelling, I will probably dust off and dive in to the Eddas and Children of Odin. It's just that good. Prepare to have a lot of feelings about this book.

This was my first introduction to Norse Mythology and I absolutely loved it! The story moved at a great pace, there was never I time where I was bored or just skimming pages. I loved how Loki was portrayed in this, he was by far the most interesting character for me. There is so much in this story to take in, the Norse Mythology, the love story, a mother's love for her children, and betrayals and friendships that last. I enjoyed reading about all of it. It made me want to learn even more about the Norse Gods

I'm not sure how to rate this book. Even though I'm not fond of Norse mythology, I decided to give this book a try. This didn't endear me to Norse mythology.

I liked the beginning when Angrboda finds herself injured and trying to live without the Norse gods discovering her still alive. Loki comes upon her and the two produce three monster children. Angroboa figuring out how to be a single mother (because Loki is no help) to three monsters is interesting. Then the middle happened and my interest waned. Too many things were happening somewhere else. The ending, though, was a pleasant surprise.

Maybe if you love Norse mythology, you'll enjoy it more. I did feel like I was missing out because I'm not familiar with Ragnarok.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

THE WITCH’S HEART is a deeply compelling, personal journey of both discovery and natural revenge following Angrboda, a formidable witch from Norse legend. The story begins when Angrboda has been betrayed and burned by the gods. She refuses to die like a nice little witch, instead building her own life again and ever growing in her power. The cast is tight, most prominently featuring Loki, Angrboda’s husband, and select other figures from Norse mythology. Full of lush feelings--those that come with fear, resilience, sex, motherhood, joy, jealousy, betrayal--THE WITCH’S HEART pulls you close to Angrboda till you can hear her determined whispers in your own ear. The romance is elegant and emotive but not explicit and does feature queer relationships. The prose makes the Norse legends live and breathe, using mythical realism and even sprinkled bits of humor. In the way of content warnings, those who have had traumatic encounters regarding police brutality, custody issues or CPS may want to be aware that similar issues occur in this text.

Those seeking a feminist romance will find it in THE WITCH’S HEART. Angrboda’s identity as a witch is prominent, both in her uses of traditional herbology and also cosmic, spiritual capabilities. There is much more to say on this front and I am eager to delve into it for the February episode of Witches in Britches, the witch media podcast I co-host and represent here on Netgalley.

I quite enjoyed this retelling of Norse mythology in regards to Loki and his/her children. The entire thing from Angrboda's point of view was lovely. She was so sweet and cared so much about her children. Very happy that she had a happy relationship of her own as well. A timeless story.

I was *sure* that I was going to love this novel. I usually like stories rooted in mythology, and I'm generally fond of witches as main characters. The premise of this is solid - it's basically a fictional account focusing on a giantess (Angrboda) mentioned once in the Poetic Edda and a bit more in the Prose Edda. In these mentions, she is primarily described based on her role as a romantic partner (of Loki) and the mother of monsters: a wolf named Fenrir, a serpent named Jormungand, and a half-dead girl named Hel who becomes the ruler of the dead. I think that the real issue I had with this book is actually not at all a problem with the writing or the characterization (both of which I thought were well done), but with the circumstances of the story. In this telling, Angrboda is the new identity of the witch Gullveig, who was burned alive THREE TIMES by Odin and the other gods. The final time, her heart is cut out of her body. She recovers (due to magic, I guess?) and she can remember some of her past, but she decides to leave the gods alone and live by herself in a cave in the woods. She makes friends with Skadi (who becomes a goddess, but really just starts out as a trader who sells Angrboda's various magical potions for supplies she can use) and her cousin, but her most important relationship is with Loki, who finds her and returns her half burnt heart. Things don't really get much better for Angrboda, who marries Loki but is frequently left alone by him for months at a time. She gives birth to her three children (all by Loki), but the gods get word of the nature of her children, and Loki tricks her into leaving the children alone, at which point they are forcibly taken from her by Odin and company. Then, Thor hits her in the head with Mjolnir and crushes part of her skull in. So she's dead-ish again! Hasn't she been through enough?? Anyway, I just don't think I was in the right place to read a story about a woman who is brutally killed several times (even though she manages to survive) and then has her beloved children taken away from her only to basically decide to save the world in the end, even though the world did her nothing but wrong! I mean, good for fans of Norse mythology, I guess, but it just wasn't for me at that moment.

I am such a fan of myths and legends, of gods and witches. Especially the Nordic tales. This is such a great insight and new way to see things for these mythical beings. I loved, loved loved Angrboda and hers is a mothers story of survival. She is magnificent and this book is so good.

I am terrible with reviews. You would think, as an author, I would have words for how I feel about a book. However, with a novel like The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, I want to make sure I have the right words, so that you go out and get this book. What made me love this book is not that it is a retelling of a myth from the point of view of the nameless (or thrice named in this case) woman. What made me love it is Gornichec’s respect for that character and the small work of women alongside the big work. Angrboda, the Witch in the title, has a role to play in the fate of the Norse gods. At the same time, she is a mother who must wrangle three children, clean the home, cook the meals, and keep it all together while her husband is absent. It doesn’t matter that the absent husband is Loki, and the children are magical beings. Food must still be prepared and toddlers – be they wolves or serpents – need their naps. This is an homage to women of myth who do the work – all the work – to keep the world turning. As a bonus, the writing is exquisite – a true joy to read.

The Witch's Heart is beautifully written and lands with the sort of emotional gut punch that makes you wonder why we've never heard any real takes on this character and her place in mythology before. The novel is full of sly references to other Norse myths and characters and embraces the spirit of the original tales - which is that life is hard, brutal, and often difficult, but that magic can still happen within it.

It feels odd to declare so early in the year that I may have just read the best book of 2021, so I'll say this -  if anything is going to beat The Witch's Heart for me, it's going to have to work really, really hard. A spellbinding, propulsive story that I only wish had gone on longer. (Or that maybe I hadn't read as quickly. Or both.)

Full review coming on Culturess.com in February.

If you enjoy Norse mythology, and tales from the anti-heroe's perspective, you'll enjoy this version of how the giants killed the Gods in Ragnorak, which focuses on Angrboda's story as Loki's wife and mother to three of his children.

I enjoyed this mythical tale. It was not at all what I expected.
The writing is a bit stiff and a little modern in parts, but good. The banter between the Witch Wife and Loki is fun to read and sometimes funny. It kept me reading. I hate lazy writing and editing.
However, there were times I skimmed because there was too much walking around waiting for something to happen for me.
I bet the author's next book will be even better!

What starts out as a small story of a mysterious witch blooms into an epic of gods in 'The Witch's Heart,' but it never loses sight of what it is most interested in: the myths and powers of women. Angrboda, a witch condemned three times over but still alive, spends her life slowly learning to plumb the depths of her own power, but she's far from the only powerful woman whose story is given a new twist. When Angrboda falls in love with the charming trickster god Loki, she inadvertently sets in motion events that will lead to Ragnarok, but her story is about so much more than this prophecy.

Angrboda's story may be one of gods, but it's the women around her who shine brightest. There's Skadi, a huntress out for revenge; Sigyn, a goddess with whom Angrboda shares a grudging and often angry connection; Freyja, a former student turned possible foe; Hel, Angrboda's complicated daughter, and more. The antics of Loki, Thor, and Odin play their role, but the focus in this story is on the ways in which even (or especially) powerful women are restricted, mistrusted, and played against on another.

Gornichec's writing is lovely, walking the fine line between the formal, fable-like tones of ancient myth and a wry, modern wit. The world she creates feels like something you've seen before, but in a good way - those familiar touchstones are just familiar enough that the new twists on the story are satisfying and even surprising.

Gornichec weaves together a story of myth and love in The Witch's Heart. Angrboda is a character I knew next to nothing about before reading this book. Perfect for fans of Madaline Miller.

Nothing felt truly magical for most of the book. It was a great idea to further develop this story, but it needed more depth to make it truly fantastic. The first half of the book was slow moving and did not have enough fantasy elements. Luckily the last half got better and involved the mythology more.

Angrboda was not interesting enough to be the main character. She was far too passive. She never tried to take control of her own fate; things happened to her. Loki was boring too. The man did not have a way with words despite how often Angrboda said he did. The relationship between the two of them did not feel romantic. Skadi was nice and a warrior. It was great that she was such a good friend to Angrboda. I wish all of the characters had more depth. I didn't connect to them or their plights although most of what they went through was horrible.

The end was bittersweet and satisfying.

Norse mythological fantasy done right. Angrboda is a witch who wakes up with little memory except a burning, knowing she has great powers but fear of the old gods' wrath holds her back. She sets up her home again in a magic forest where the charming demi-god Loki finds her and falls in love with her. She bears Loki three children who set the stage for Angrboda to revive her memory--her ability to prophesy doom and gloom brings the fear and memories flooding back. The end of the world may be nearer than anyone will have wished for.
I freaking loved this story. I stayed up with Angrboda's powerful story night after night, her weirdness and fears somehow resonating with me and creating a harrowing and hauntingly beautiful narrative. I loved everything about it--Loki and his ability to charm his way out of almost every problem (he is mostly male, after all), Angrboda's three children, especially her daughter Hel, and her dearest friend and warrior, Skadi. It's clearly for fans of Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, but I found hints of Madeline Miller's Circe thrown in here too. A harrowing and beautiful book. Read it!!

I absolutely love myth retellings, especially if they are about a lesser know female character or retold from a feminist perspective. The Witch's Heart ticked all the boxes and I readily enjoyed. I don't know Norse mythology as well as some other kinds so I was excited to learn all about Angrboda. I really enjoyed the author's narrative style - it felt so soft you could almost "hear" the author spinning her tale aloud and lulling the audience. I will happily recommend to my customers and look forward to reading more from Gornichec

A gorgeous and moving retelling of the witch Angrboda, a lesser-known character from Norse mythology mostly recognized in the canon as the mother of Loki's children. I was captivated the entire way through, and almost in tears by the ending. Gornichec brings each ancient figure to life and portrays them with such heart and complexity, and she did a magical thing for an author: she got me to really care. This is a beautiful story about the power of love, specifically a mother's love, and about coming home to one's true self. For anyone who loved Madeline Miller's Circe and stories based on mythology and legend, this is for you.

I enjoyed the writing style of The Witch's Heart - a contemporary voice suited to a fun romance story with vaguely myth-inspired characters - but the genre and the story wasn't for me. This to me read more like fanfiction - taking characters from other worlds and setting them in a new story - and while I have nothing against fanfiction, I DNF'ed because this is not the kind of genre/story I usually enjoy. This one seems to have gotten great reviews and I can definitely see fans of this genre enjoying the book, as I think Gornichec has found an interesting premise. (Also, I won a copy of the e-ARC in a giveaway as opposed to requesting it and it was not entirely clear to me that the story would be so genre-specific.)

This book was a gorgeous endeavor. I was spellbound by the magnificent weaving of this wonderful tale. This is the first I've read by GG, but I will certainly seek out others.

Fans of Juliet Marillier, or historical fantasy in general will most certainly love this book.