Audiobook Review: The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Penguin Audio (February 9, 2021)
Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Jayne Entwistle
In the tradition of Madeline Miller’s Circe comes Genevieve Gornichec’s debut The Witch’s Heart, a creative reimagining the life of the Norse mythological figure Angrboda. The world may know her as the lover of Loki and the mother of monsters, but this novel seeks to present her as something more—a fiercely passionate and driven woman who will do anything to protect her children.
In the beginning is fire and death; Odin the All-Father is angered by a witch who denies him access to any more magic, so he punishes her by tearing out her heart and burning her at the stake. Thanks to her powers though, she was able to survive but just barely. Weakened and wounded, she retreats to the forest at the edge of world where she can be left unbothered and alone.
However, this new life of seclusion was interrupted when the trickster god Loki, having found the witch’s missing heart, decided to seek her out to return it. The two of them end up falling in love, and in time, three children are born from their marriage—Hel, who will later rule over the realm of the dead; Fenrir, the monstrous wolf; and Jormungand, the world serpent. All three of them, in some way, are prophesied to play a part in the coming of Ragnarok, the final destruction of the world, but to Angrboda, her children are her life and happiness. For their protection, she decides to raise them alone in the quiet and peaceful forest, shielding them away from the world of their father, who darts in and out of their lives as he pleases. But soon, the nightmares and visions start to become too much, and it is only a matter of time before prophesy catches up to Angrboda and her children, setting in motion a chain of events that will test her courage and will to overcome insurmountable challenges.
If you enjoy mythological fantasy and beautiful retellings, then you will love The Witch’s Heart. One does not even need to know much about Norse mythology to appreciate this novel, since at its core, the story is really more a character study of Angrboda than a rehash of the events that lead to Ragnarok. We begin with a low-key introduction to the protagonist, who simply wishes to live a quiet life as she recovers from the horrific ordeal of her burning. Still, even then, readers can sense the strength and powerful personality behind the character, which is only more apparent once Loki enters the picture. The dialogue is heavy early on, but it is also sublimely written, especially the banter between the trickster and our girl Angrboda, who is able to match her lover’s wit with a fiery intelligence and punchiness of her own.
Then there are the themes of love, friendship, and motherhood, which made this book an even greater joy to read. Little is written and known about Angrboda compared to her more famous husband and children, so in many ways, this gave the author more freedom and creativity to explore the character. What Angrboda wants is what any loving mother wants—to see her children thrive and be happy. When that is threatened, the results were gut-wrenching and difficult to read. Ultimately, The Witch’s Heart might be retelling of mythological events and figures, but its main character’s motivations and feelings are all human, and the theme of the devoted mother was the one that came through strongest of all. In addition to blending the myth with fiction, Gornichec managed to weave in layers of heartfelt emotion and meaning on top of the narrative, and the result is a very personal and relatable tale.
Overall, I found this novel to be a poignant and magical read. No doubt it’s a must for fans of mythological fantasy and retellings, but I have a feeling it will also speak to anyone who enjoys multilayered and character-focused stories of family and friendships. Crafted with no small amount of dedication and skill, The Witch’s Heart dazzled me, and I will be watching out for the author’s future work with great interest.
Audiobook Comments: My first impression of Jayne Entwistle’s performance was that her voice might have sounded a little too flat and mellow for Angrboda, but as the story went on, I think it became a better match as I gained a deeper appreciation and understanding for the character.
The BiblioSanctum 
A charming cover.
This book seems to ride the Miller wave (Circe etc). I’m always a bit skeptical when similar tropes pop out after a successful book. Can you compare the literary quality to Circe and the likes?
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I think miller’s writing was more “artful”, but The Witch’s Heart was probably more accessible and enjoyable reading, if you know what I mean 🙂 I loved Circe, and I had a great time with this one too.
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Norse mythology is always fascinating and I’m intrigued by the character of Angrboda and what you describe as her fierce protection instincts toward her children – no matter how scary they might look in the description… 😉
Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, that was the most intriguing angle – how might a mother feel when the whole world sees your children as monsters 😯
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Fantastic! This will be in my must read list. I love that she chose a lesser known character for that extra freedom you mention in telling a story we might not already know. Granted, I wouldn’t know this particular story, anyway. 🙂 Can’t wait to try it.
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I didn’t know much about the story of Angrboda either, so this book enlightened me in many ways 😀
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I’m excited to start this soon! I’m glad to hear about the motherhood theme😁
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I was glad too! The mythological figure was defined by her children, so I loved how the author went all the way and made motherhood such a major theme!
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Lovely review! this is one I’ve had on my radar for quite some time and yours is the first in depth review I’ve read. I know nothing of Angrboda which makes this all the more intriguing, happy reading! ❤
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I felt the same way, don’t know much about the character, and I do love learning new myths!
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Adding this one to my pile too Mogsy!
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I am very curious about this one, but Norse myth is hard for me, cos I compare and see if they can get it right
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Ooh I would love to hear your perspective on this then!
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Yep, yep! Def adding this to my TBR. It sounds right up my alley, although I’ve yet to read Madeline Miller’s work, but I just know I’ll love them and this. I love the myth retelling sort of stories, esp if it’s very beautifully written.
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I loved Circe, so when I heard this being compared to it, I had high expectations. The fact that it held its own says a lot 🙂
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This is a book that I definitely want to read. I just love the current trend of taking an old story and telling it from a different angle.
Lynn 😀
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I’ve had this one on my radar for some time and I’m glad to see you thought well of it. It certainly sounds like it’s one worth checking out, which I’m happy for! Hopefully I’ll have time for it later this year.
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Great review, Mogsy! This sounds like one I’d love, given how much I loved Circe, particularly the second half of the book where it’s more about her in mother mode. Thank you for sharing:))
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Ooh! That cover is stunning!!
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