Book Review: The Weaver and the Witch Queen 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 Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Ace Books (July 25, 2023)

Length: 368 pages

Author Information: Website

A Viking tale of a different sort, The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec is a lovely, lyrical adventure about the bonds of sisterhood and female friendships. Last year, I had the chance to read the author’s debut, The Witch’s Heart, in which she reimagined the story of the jötunn Angrboda by giving readers a personal, intimate look at the life of the mythological giantess who was also a driven woman and a fiercely protective mother. True to form, this time Gornichec has written a magical take on another Old Norse figure, the quasi-historical character known from the Icelandic Sagas as Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir, Mother of Kings.

The story takes what little is known about Gunnhild, as she is called here, painting a picture of her childhood and eventual rise to become a witch and the wife to Prince Eirik, future ruler of Norway. As a young girl, she had two very close friends, sisters Oddny and Signy. Although their family was far less wealthy than her noble one, Gunnhild had always envied the siblings. Their farming life may be a hard one, but the girls were loved by their parents and vice versa. Gunnhild, on the other hand, despised her cold-hearted mother and her father was never around. Spending time with Oddny and Signy was the only joy she had to look forward to, and the three girls ultimately made a blood pact to always be there for one another, no matter what.

Later, finally at her wits’ end with her mother’s cruelty, Gunnhild ends up running away to forge her own destiny and to learn the ways of witchcraft. But then, the unthinkable happens. Back at home on their farm, a Viking raid separates Oddny from Signy, who ends up being kidnapped by their attackers. Devastated by the loss of her family and determined to save her sister, Oddny seeks help from Gunnhild, who has become a talented witch in her own right. Together, the two women are reunited to do everything in their power to bring back the missing member of their blood-sworn trio.

Given the minimal information available about the real Gunnhild, The Weaver and the Witch Queen was an impressive work of historical fantasy in which Gornichec takes limited recorded details and weaves them into a narrative of her own creation. A full-bodied novel which features well-developed characters and a vibrant historical setting, the story explores themes of retribution and sacrifice as well as love and betrayal. While it certainly contains some darker elements, like the brutality of raids or the constant threat of death by violence, on the whole this is very different book from your average Viking tale, dealing more with personal journeys of growth, self-discovery, and connection to others.

Hence, like most works of this kind, the plot is never as simple as it seems. As our characters pursue their quest, they run into Eirik and his traveling party, and readers aware of the significance of their meeting know how in this moment Gunnhild and the future king’s fates will be forever entwined. While the women may be the focus of this novel, the men in their lives play an important role too. The Weaver and the Witch King features romance and plenty of political intrigue, a lot of manipulations and powerplays set in motion while emotions flow deeply and all over the place.

My only criticism would have to be the pacing, which is slow to start but also uneven in places. As a result, I had a hard time getting into the story initially because the intro ran long and the setup was a bit dry. However, as more developments unfolded and the character relationships fell into place, I began to enjoy myself a lot more watching their interpersonal dynamics take center stage. Gunnhild and Eirik’s paring made for some entertaining interactions, sparks of passion and of fury flying as these two strong personalities clashed. But while Oddny’s journey was somewhat less tumultuous, it was also quite fascinating as she finds herself drawn to someone whom she has every reason to hate.

If you enjoy historical fantasy featuring compelling storylines and empowered women, The Weaver and the Witch Queen is definitely one to watch. Fans of Norse mythology and magic will especially be enthralled, and I will be keeping an eye our for Genevieve Gornichec’s future projects.