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forthesanityof1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, a very good read. It was quick and engaging from the first page, if a little rushed in those initial scenes. I liked the prose a lot. The author's writing is very effective and not too much or too little. The way she wrote the characters was also very engaging and likeable. I loved that the flaws remained constant, especially with Loki. Emotionally, I felt myself mirroring Angrboda and very keyed into her tale. I loved the kids and their different quirks. Even though I don't know a lot about Norse mythology, this was palatable and relatively easy to follow. I think my only downsides were these: plot points that weren't fully fleshed out/created confusion, some stretching in terms of the concept of "gender" (commentary on it from the characters felt too deliberate at times and broke the narrative but other aspects of it were done well), and some rare moments of flatness from the characters, but that's all being very nit-picky. Would definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, and Violence
samusc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Witch's Heart provides agency to an overlooked character of myth, one of Loki's wives Angrboda.
This book revisited some classic tales, including Loki's brutal stitches and the time Thor was poorly disguised as Freya.
This work is undoubtedly well researched, and the scenes as presented got emotional at times (I teared up towards the end!).
I loved the voices given to Fenrir and Hel, and how emotive Jormungand was. I felt as though the beginning of the book was a little slow, but once Boda's children were born, the pace picked up. I was hooked at the end of Part 1 for obvious reasons.
Boda's trauma surrounding her death, forgetting her past, and at times forgetting how to use magic, was a real strength of this story. She's incredibly powerful, but has been through some terrible things and has to access parts of herself that were sealed off. Despite all she's faced, her drive to help people with medicine provided depth to her character.
My favorite character is of course Skadi. Her loyalty and determination was well balanced against Loki's mistakes and punishments from the Aesir. This quote form her will stick with me for awhile:
"I loved you then. I love you now. I will love you until the day I die. And even after, whatever comes then, I will love you still..."
I'd recommend anyone that enjoyed this to keep an eye out for The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector, in October 2021, which focuses on Sigyn, who we caught some glimpses of here as well.
This book revisited some classic tales, including Loki's brutal stitches and the time Thor was poorly disguised as Freya.
This work is undoubtedly well researched, and the scenes as presented got emotional at times (I teared up towards the end!).
I loved the voices given to Fenrir and Hel, and how emotive Jormungand was. I felt as though the beginning of the book was a little slow, but once Boda's children were born, the pace picked up. I was hooked at the end of Part 1 for obvious reasons.
Boda's trauma surrounding her death, forgetting her past, and at times forgetting how to use magic, was a real strength of this story. She's incredibly powerful, but has been through some terrible things and has to access parts of herself that were sealed off. Despite all she's faced, her drive to help people with medicine provided depth to her character.
My favorite character is of course Skadi. Her loyalty and determination was well balanced against Loki's mistakes and punishments from the Aesir. This quote form her will stick with me for awhile:
"I loved you then. I love you now. I will love you until the day I die. And even after, whatever comes then, I will love you still..."
I'd recommend anyone that enjoyed this to keep an eye out for The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector, in October 2021, which focuses on Sigyn, who we caught some glimpses of here as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, and Violence
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