Review – The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Narrator: Jayne Entwistle
Published by Berkley Publishing Group on February 9, 2021
Length: 12 hours 4 minutes
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Library, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm

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

Angrboda’s story begins where most witch 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 into 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 help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom 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.

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.

Related Posts