The Witch's Heart

 The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, 361 pages.

Kara has actually written about this Norse-mythology inspired tale twice, but I'll reference here her first review of this new angle on Ragnarok. The book follows Angrboda, the witch and seer who both predicts Ragnarok and bears many of it's most notable figures (fun detail: they're all in her hair on the cover).

I really enjoyed this book, which feels like it has a firm enough grasp on the original myths to play with them very intelligently. For example, the character of Angrboda herself also fills the role of several other minor witches from Norse mythology (all outlined in the book's appendix). While I occasionally found the pacing a little slow, I was always invested. This is very much an inward-facing novel, and I found Angrboda well-written and compelling. I'll be very interested to see what other reader's thought of this one at Orcs & Aliens on Monday.
 

The Witch's Heart

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, 361 pages

This was my second reading of this feminist retelling of Ragnarok, and I stand by everything I wrote in my original blog post — it's compelling, fascinating, and absolutely heartbreaking in the best possible way. I can't wait to see what the Orcs & Aliens book club makes of it on Feb. 12!

Norse Mythology

 Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017) 301 pages

One of the best storytellers of all time, Neil Gaiman brings Norse myths to life with this stunning retelling. I listened to the audiobook on a road trip after having read the publication sometime last year, and have to say it was great fun listening to Gaiman read. These are classic myths, retold with some humor that Gaiman has given to some of the various characters. I especially love the way he portrays Loki, the notorious god of mischief. An excellent read, whether you're listening to it or reading.

The Witch's Heart

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, 359 pages

Fans of Norse mythology (or of Marvel's Thor movies) are generally familiar with Ragnarok, the prophesied end of rule by the Norse gods. A long winter starts the process, followed by the breaking of all bonds — including the ones holding back a massive wolf and a massive sea snake; keeping the dead in their land; and holding captive the trickster god Loki — and an epic battle. 

The Witch's Heart revisits this old tale from the point of view of Angrboda, a witch who once attempted to teach the gods how to see their own futures but was thrice burned at the stake and had her heart removed after angering Odin. Somehow surviving all of that, Angrboda hides in the forest and becomes irreversibly intertwined with the events and major players of Ragnarok, thanks in part to regular visits from Loki.

This is a fascinating reimaging of the tale, focusing on the woman who saw it coming but was unable to stop it. While it would probably help to have some knowledge of Norse mythology, it's not exactly necessary, as Gornichec weaves a compelling feminist version of Ragnarok. Recommended for fans of Circe.