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A review by whimsicalmeerkat
The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
5.0
[b:The Witch's Heart|53438195|The Witch's Heart|Genevieve Gornichec|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593104643l/53438195._SY75_.jpg|83083489] by [a:Genevieve Gornichec|18360585|Genevieve Gornichec|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1589991224p2/18360585.jpg] was one of this year’s first books from [a:Jenny Lawson|16164006|Jenny Lawson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s Fantastic Strangelings Book Club (link behind spoiler tag), and like absolutely every other pick I have read to date, it did not disappoint. It was an extremely long time, think decades instead of years, since I read any Norse mythology that has not been greatly changed for mass contemporary viewing/reading, (I’m looking at you, Marvel). This is not the MCU story. This is definitely not that Loki, but this story isn’t about him so much as it is about Angrboda and her heart. Literally. The story opens with Loki finding her in the woods missing her heart, thanks to Odin having a problem with not getting his own way. They killed her a few times too. Charming folx.
Over the course of the book, we see Angrboda & Loki form a relationship, and have three unusual children. We see Angrboda having to deal with Loki’s regular absences. We see his betrayal. We see her heartbreak, but we also see her strength. This is the story of a singular woman set against the sweeping backdrop of an entire mythology, but the story remains firmly about her. Whether her life was about her or about others could be debated. Ultimately, for me, it was about her.
Spoiler
https://www.nowherebookshop.com/fantastic-strangelings-book-clubOver the course of the book, we see Angrboda & Loki form a relationship, and have three unusual children. We see Angrboda having to deal with Loki’s regular absences. We see his betrayal. We see her heartbreak, but we also see her strength. This is the story of a singular woman set against the sweeping backdrop of an entire mythology, but the story remains firmly about her. Whether her life was about her or about others could be debated. Ultimately, for me, it was about her.