The Witch's Heart

Genevieve Gornichec

61 pages 2-hour read

Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch's Heart

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Book Brief

Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch's Heart

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Historical Fiction

Fantasy

Mythology
Setting

Asgard • Ancient Mythology

Theme
Perseverance

Loneliness

Memory
Topic
LGBTQ+
Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec follows the journey of a powerful witch named Angrboda, who is left to rebuild her life in isolation after a betrayal. As she forms new relationships and faces challenges, she becomes entwined in events that shape her destiny within Norse mythology.

Mysterious

Dark

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Genevieve Gornichec's The Witch's Heart captivates with its lush prose and deeply immersive retelling of Norse mythology through the eyes of Angrboda. While praised for its lyrical storytelling and strong characterization, some critics find the pacing slow and the plot predictable. Overall, it’s a mesmerizing read for myth enthusiasts.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Witch's Heart?

Readers who enjoy mythological retellings and strong, complex female protagonists would find The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec captivating. Fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe or Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology will appreciate how Gornichec weaves Norse myths with modern storytelling to create a vivid, emotional tale.

Character List

A seeress with amnesia who is the protagonist of the novel, Angrboda chooses a name meaning "proclaimer of sorrows" and seeks to build a life centering on her family while navigating her identity as a powerful prophet and witch.

A charming yet unreliable trickster figure who serves as the deuteragonist, Loki is the father of Angrboda's children and often finds himself torn between his ambitions in Asgard and his complex relationship with Angrboda.

A self-sufficient giantess and skilled huntress from Jotunheim, Skadi helps Angrboda create a new home and life for herself, providing stability and support while later becoming Angrboda's partner.

The firstborn daughter of Angrboda and Loki, Hel is physically half-dead from birth and later becomes the formidable ruler of the realm of the dead, grappling with her unique nature and her strained relationship with her mother.

These are Angrboda's younger children characterized by their immense strength and wild nature, who are perceived as threats by the Aesir due to their prophesied roles in future events.

The All-father of the Aesir, Odin is a calculating character whose pursuit of forbidden knowledge and control over fate indirectly causes significant conflict for Angrboda and her family.

Loki's loyal and patient Aesir wife, whose confrontation with Angrboda regarding her children sets off pivotal events in the story.

Skadi’s cousin from giant society, initially judgmental but later grows into a helpful ally who accepts Angrboda's children.

Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Historical Fiction

Fantasy

Mythology
Setting

Asgard • Ancient Mythology

Theme
Perseverance

Loneliness

Memory
Topic
LGBTQ+
Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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