Reviews - The Witch's Heart

5.78k reviews for:

The Witch's Heart

Genevieve Gornichec

4.05 AVERAGE

mjcogh01's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

starfruit09's review

3.75

challenging mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I didn’t not like the witches choices very frustrating.
It constantly grabs my attention and loses it. I also did not like the romance with the witches first lover.

bekahpaige's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

junebrary's review

5.0

“There is a difference between understanding and forgiveness. It’s possible to have one without the other.”

I have no proper words to utterly describe this amazing book.

This is my first ever Norse mythology retelling that I've read and it is hilarious, heartfelt, and enchanting. Loki, like the God of Mischief he is, is so so SO mischievous. He is so so funny in this book. The way he's talking to Angrboda, the way he talks about his kids. ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS TOM HIDDLESTON LIKE HE'S LOKI ALRIGHT. HE'S THE LOKI.

Angrboda is singlehandedly one of the most badass female character I have read about this year. Being burned at stake by Odin THREE TIMES and still live through it, the way she does anything and EVERYTHING to protect her kids. She's special. She truly is. I love her. I wanna read more about her. ANGRBODA YOU POWERFUL LADY.

Overall, what an amazing read. Highly recommending this to everyone. One of the most amazing retellings I have read so far.

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seshat59's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Witch’s Heart absolutely nails the mythological retelling trope. I loved it. It is Norse mythology, and whether you’re familiar with these myths or not, the author really humanizes and breathes fresh life into the stories.

Angrboda is a seid witch, who has been killed thrice by the Norse gods for failing to use her powers to reveal the details of Ragnarok to Odin. Left for dead, heart carved out and discarded, she has fled Asgard for Jotunheim to hide and repair from her trauma, her memory faulty and only aware of her (un)fortunate(?) survival. Loki arrives, forgotten heart in hand, and returns it to her, forming a friendship that ultimately blossoms into more. Angrboda eventually bears him his three most infamous children, Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungandr.

The story follows the basic tenets of the myth but absolutely shines in bringing life and relevance and depth to these characters. I enjoyed all of the various gods and giants: Angrboda of course, Skadi the Huntress, and of course Loki in his full mythological (not Marvel) trickster glory. I really liked how Gornichec explores his motivations for his many, infamous acts of mischief, as even he yearns to feel like he actually belongs as one of the Aesir, to feel worthy and equal with his blood-brother’s kin. But still keep his full motivations murky until the very end.

We all know how terrible these gods are, but the author also really hammers in the horror of their deeds, all while they frame themselves as the heroes of their own stories. I liked this treatment of power and portrayal of an unjust system: especially as we learn Angrboda’s true, whole identity. Especially as anthropologists really look at the matrilineal roots of humanity and how patriarchy corrupted us all. Whether intentionally or otherwise, the author adds that layer as well.

With all the above-mentioned nuance and more, Gornichec really brings this myth to life, humanizing these gods. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in a day, proving my attention span is not dead—just hampered by mediocre books, of which this is not one, thank the gods (and those who came before them).

whatcheyennesreading's review

4.0

I was completely unfamiliar with almost all Norse mythology prior to The Witch’s Heart. It reminded me a bit of other mythologies in that if you don’t have some knowledge of the mythology, characters and history, it can be a bit of a struggle to dive in. Since I had no prior knowledge, I went in blind! However, that allowed me to have no prior ideas or impressions of the characters which made everything feel a bit more ✨magical✨

This story follows Angrboda (Angrboða), a giantess, witch, seer, and elusive woman who’s lived (and died) generations over. As she lives out in this version of eternity (the one in which Ragnarök takes place) within her cave deep in the forest, she marries the infamous god Loki and together they have 3 monstrous children. At least, the world will remember them that way.

To me, the cozy moments with Angrboda, Loki, their monster children— Hel, their half-dead daughter, Fenrir, their wild wolf son and Jörmungandr, their giant snake son— were spellbinding prose. I could feel the warmth of the cave, the tickle of Loki’s mischief, the buzz of electricity in the air as beings of all kind found a home together. But if you’re at all aware of Norse mythology and the Poetic Edda, you know things don’t stay that way.

Through time, change, betrayal, violence and war, we see Angrboda’s family and life (past and present) burnt to the ground. And yet you get to live through those moments in the flame that are sweet and alive, and that was a special adventure for me.

This book is a slow burn, with no chapters and no linear time, and lots of fantasy themes! It’s meant for a cozy long weekend, a rainy fall afternoon, a hot cup of tea. Maybe not for a fast read or to get you out of a reading slump, but to transport you to another realm instead. I loved being under its spell and look forward to learning more about Norse mythology!

ghostlibrarian's review against another edition

3.0

Ehh. Everything I disliked about Circe x4. Something about the narrative voice irked me, coupled with the //pining// and the emotional distance the author accidentally created by (my assumption) trying to make the characters sound wise. I didn't hate it, and I liked the refresher on the story of Ragnarok, but here's another one with too much of a modern voice set in an ancient world. Some of the banter was funny though.

"Your father is by no means innocent--"
"Don't help me."

I found Angrboda boring and immature, always making the wrong decision and when she finally makes the right decisions, she takes the long way.