Thank you to PanMacmillan and Black Crow PR for letting me post as part of the book tour and for the advanced copy to read and review.
Synopsis
When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.
Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop’s owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.
But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo’s help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.
When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.
When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.
Angrboda’s story begins where most witches’ tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.
Review
Thank you to Titan Books for having me on this tour and providing an early e-copy of the book!
The cover and synopsis for The Witch’s Heart really piqued my interest, I’m a big fan of Norse Mythology and absolutely adore reading about Loki, the trickster (I blame Stargate for this). Gornichec has woven an impressive tale as a debut, using well known characters like Odin, Thor and Loki – bringing them back to their roots away from the Marvel universe.
And a far cry from the Marvel universe this is! Unfortunately, I did struggle to get along with the narrative. It is broken into three parts (no chapters) which I found to be quite frustrating although it did add to the air of this being an ancient tale. It read like someone was talking to me which I wasn’t expecting – again, it did fit with the tale itself however did give me the feeling I was being told rather than shown which led to me skim reading a bulk of the book.
I enjoyed the take on Angrboda as her character isn’t one often seen so it was interesting to read about her. As always when dealing with myths, there has to be a suspension of belief and this story is particularly intense which made me want to get to the end. I did root for Boda through the book and I was invested in her relationship with Skadi who was definitely my favourite character of the bunch – she was brutally honest and I appreciated that.
This is my own personal experience and I know readers who will absolutely love this book so please give it a read especially if you enjoy Norse Gods and Mythology.
The Witch’s Heart is out now and really is an impressive debut, its characters are definitely the stand out part for me on this one.
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and Black Crow PR for my gifted finished copy, it’s a stunning book – dressed in warrior blue with gold foiling. I’m excited to receive my Goldsboro edition in a few weeks time!
Synopsis
535 AD. In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, King Cador’s children inherit a fragmented land abandoned by the Romans.
Riva, scarred in a terrible fire, fears she will never heal.
Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, when born a daughter.
And Sinne, the spoiled youngest girl, yearns for romance.
All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold – a last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. But change comes on the day ash falls from the sky, bringing Myrddhin, meddler and magician, and Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear the siblings apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne must take fate into their own hands, or risk being tangled in a story they could never have imagined; one of treachery, love and ultimately, murder. It’s a story that will shape the destiny of Britain.
Published by Wednesday Books (St Martins) – April 2021
May contain spoilers for Fable!!
Synopsis
Trader. Fighter. Survivor.
With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.
As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception, she learns that the secrets her mother took to her grave are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.
Feed Me Fiction 