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sabrinaleaf's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this gorgeous writing to life.
I find myself enjoying slower pace books better in audiobook format.
I did find Angrboda a bit, passive at the beginning. But she did go through a wonderful character arc.
I find myself enjoying slower pace books better in audiobook format.
I did find Angrboda a bit, passive at the beginning. But she did go through a wonderful character arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement
arual13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My favorite book! I absolutely love Norse mythology so having some of my favorite characters from that culture written into an excellent if somewhat dark and fucked up fantasy/love story was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Torture, and Kidnapping
nat20charisma's review against another edition
5.0
For fans of Circe; a modern retelling of Norse mythology. The author does a great job showing the quick passing of time while also making it feel natural.
Tragedy with a satisfying conclusion.
I don’t love the pregnancy trope usually, but this was done in a way that didn’t feel odd or uncomfortable.
Gotta love the LGBTQ+ representation. And a strong female main character with a found family.
Tragedy with a satisfying conclusion.
I don’t love the pregnancy trope usually, but this was done in a way that didn’t feel odd or uncomfortable.
Gotta love the LGBTQ+ representation. And a strong female main character with a found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
savshanae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is an absolute MASTERPIECE. Hands down one of my favorite standalone books. I tore through it and nearly started it over again as soon as I finished!
As the story continued I felt more and more attached to Angrboda and invested in her story, whatever form she took. The way Gornichec weaves together so many myths (and has notes to back it up at the end!) and draws the characters in a new light is nothing short of stunning. The portrayal of motherhood is raw and heartfelt, all while subtly highlighting the strengths (and weaknesses) of women.
10/10, no notes, just praise for this book!
As the story continued I felt more and more attached to Angrboda and invested in her story, whatever form she took. The way Gornichec weaves together so many myths (and has notes to back it up at the end!) and draws the characters in a new light is nothing short of stunning. The portrayal of motherhood is raw and heartfelt, all while subtly highlighting the strengths (and weaknesses) of women.
10/10, no notes, just praise for this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Alcohol
onthesamepage's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“I would have all of you,” he said quietly, brushing her nose with his. “I would have everything.”
I'm not very familiar with Norse mythology, so I can't say much about what changes the author may have made to the lore. I will say that I thought the pacing of the book was kind of too slow, especially in the first half. The second part of the story, once we get closer to the Ragnarok prophecy, is very interesting, but while the first half had some cute moments between Loki and Angrboda, I wasn't very invested in them as a couple, or even as characters, which isn't great considering Angrboda is the main character. But the way she let everything just happen to her for most of this book grated a bit. I was hoping that she would have more agency in her own story. I did get invested in her children, though, which is probably why the second half worked a lot better for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After being burnt at the stake, not once, but three times, the witch Angrboda is injured and without her powers. She escapes to Ironwood, a forest on the outskirts of Jotunheim, where she decides to stay. There Loki, the trickster god, finds her and declares they should be friends. Angrboda doesn't trust him at first, but soon they’re in a relationship that will change the world.
I do love Norse (and Greek) mythology, so it wasn't really a surprise that this would be a book to my liking. But we all know that high hopes can go wrong, so I'm very pleased that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Angrboda is a character I really love. She's set on her own path, while at the same time she's willing to sacrifice everything to save those she loves. Loki's always been a favorite of mine. Despite his selfishness and quirks he still seems to have his heart in the right place. I also have to mention Skadi, Angrboda's friend, who's always there for her. All the characters in this book feel so alive, as if I actually got to know them throughout the pages. Physically I'm done with The Witch's Heart, but emotionally it will stay with me for a while longer...
I do love Norse (and Greek) mythology, so it wasn't really a surprise that this would be a book to my liking. But we all know that high hopes can go wrong, so I'm very pleased that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Angrboda is a character I really love. She's set on her own path, while at the same time she's willing to sacrifice everything to save those she loves. Loki's always been a favorite of mine. Despite his selfishness and quirks he still seems to have his heart in the right place. I also have to mention Skadi, Angrboda's friend, who's always there for her. All the characters in this book feel so alive, as if I actually got to know them throughout the pages. Physically I'm done with The Witch's Heart, but emotionally it will stay with me for a while longer...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
ruthmoog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.75
I loved this, the eddas and mythology are so strange and bat-shit but quite difficult. This retelling takes all the bizarreness of the mythology and makes it feel real and gives context to the interactions between the realms.
I have especially found Loki a hard one to understand, and Angrboda's perspective made him come to life as a character, it's brilliantly told.
My knowledge of the sagas and eddas isn't enough to know if anything is "creatively authored", but I understand there is Viking age ideas included as well, but from what I was familiar with it all clicked. (I do not know about the Marvel universe portrayals).
I have especially found Loki a hard one to understand, and Angrboda's perspective made him come to life as a character, it's brilliantly told.
My knowledge of the sagas and eddas isn't enough to know if anything is "creatively authored", but I understand there is Viking age ideas included as well, but from what I was familiar with it all clicked. (I do not know about the Marvel universe portrayals).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and War
misty_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage
midnightcomets's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Books that deal with the old religions just have a way of touching your soul in ways that are so profound and painful in the best way possible. This was slow but also so packed with emotion, so full of possibility and as faithful as it could be to many of the stories. This was also extremely feminist, powerful and bright, and made me cry multiple times. If you like Circe, but wish to stray away from Greek mythology, please pick this up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Torture, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury