The Witch's Heart

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did experiencing the grand, epic myth of Ragnarok through the intimate, domestic lens of Angrboda’s life change your perception of the story?

2. Angrboda’s identity becomes deeply intertwined with her role as a mother. How did her love for her children resonate with you, and how did it shape your understanding of her choices?

3. How did your feelings about Loki evolve throughout the story, and where did you land by the end?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The cave in Ironwood is a sanctuary that Angrboda builds for herself and her family. Have you ever created a space that felt like a personal refuge, and what elements make a place feel truly safe and sovereign?

2. The novel presents two very different models of partnership in Loki and Skadi. Have you witnessed aspects of these dynamics in your own life or in the relationships of others?

4. Angrboda begins the story by consciously choosing a new name and rebuilding her life after trauma and memory loss. Can you think of a time when you had to redefine yourself after a major life change? What did that process feel like?

5. Angrboda’s choice to withhold the full prophecy of Ragnarok from Loki changes their relationship. Have you ever kept important information from a loved one? What was your motivation for doing so?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Why might retellings of ancient myths from marginalized female perspectives have become so popular in recent years? What do these stories offer that the original source texts do not?

2. The Aesir label Angrboda’s children “monsters.” How does the novel challenge traditional ideas of who or what is considered monstrous?

3. The author’s second novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, also focuses on women from the Viking Age. Based on your reading of The Witch’s Heart, what aspects of this historical and mythological period might the author explore, particularly regarding women’s roles and power?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Angrboda’s heart transcend its status as a physical representation of her trauma?

2. Fire is a recurring symbol. How does Gornichec evolve the significance of fire as Angrboda reclaims her power?

3. The prophecy of Ragnarok hangs over the entire story. How do the characters exercise free will within the constraints of destiny?

4. Skadi acts as a direct foil to Loki. How does her presence highlight his flaws?

5. How did the narrative choice to filter epic events through Angrboda’s perspective create a domestic feel for the novel?

6. How does the setting of Ironwood function as an alternative to the rigid, patriarchal society of Asgard?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You are tasked with designing a physical representation of Angrboda’s charm of concealment that hides her cave. What materials would you use, and what symbols would you incorporate to represent protection, family, and defiance against Odin’s sight?

2. Angrboda chooses not to tell Loki about her pregnancy before wintering at Thrymheim. Describe how their story might have changed if she had told him, and he had become involved earlier.

3. Take on the perspective of one of Angrboda’s children during one of Loki’s long absences. What would a typical day look like through their eyes?