The Witch's Heart

Starred review from October 19, 2020
Gornichec reimagines Norse mythology in this heartfelt debut about the power of a mother’s love. The witch Angrboda is no stranger to burnings at the stake, having survived three of them. Wounded and defenseless following her third burning, Angrboda flees Asgard, leaving behind her speared heart. She finds refuge in a secluded forest at the edge of the world, content to live a solitary life in a cave. But her isolation is interrupted when she’s discovered by Loki, the trickster god, who returns her missing heart. Despite their constant bickering and Loki’s hijinks, the pair fall in love and have three children together. But Angrboda’s disturbing visions of Ragnarok, or the apocalypse, and the role her children will play in the fall of the gods threaten her family’s peaceful life, and Angrboda must choose between accepting fate or working to change her children’s future. Gornichec’s spellbinding story breathes life into a minor character from Norse myth, delving into the complexities of Angrboda’s familial relationships and the lengths to which she’ll go for both love and vengeance. This powerful fantasy is sure to win Gornichec many fans. Agent: Rhea Lyons, HG Literary.