Release Date: May 4th 2021
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent provided me with an E-ARC to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

When a banished witch falls in love with the 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 witches’ 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.

Review

The Witch’s Heart is the stunning story of Angrboda. When she refuses to give Odin the knowledge he wants of the future, he has her burned alive. When she flees to the forest, determined to live a quiet existence away from Odin’s all-seeing eye. When she is found by Loki, they soon form a bond and produce three children. As her powers return she soon learns everything she knows and loves is in danger, but will she accept the future she has witnessed, or rise up against it?

This was such a gripping book and I really fell in love with Angrboda as a character. I don’t know all that much about her from the original Norse myths so I was completely fascinated by her story. Her powers were so interesting and she was such a strong and determined protagonist. Gornichec has such a beautiful writing style and it felt like I was reading one of the original stories. It fit so well with the style and feel of a myth and I got completely swept up in this well-executed story.

Gornichec creates some really complex characters and there is so much character depth in this story. The relationship between Angrboda and Loki was well created and I also really liked the relationship that develops between Angrboda and Skadi. This is a magical tale, full of love and loss. The Witch’s Heart is at times really heart wrenching and there were definitely a few moments where I teared up. This is a well-crafted tale, bringing a modern twist to these well-known stories. If you’re a fan of mythology reimaginings this is definitely one to check out.