Michael Barnes
This novel joins the growing collection of feminist retellings of myths from overlooked characters.
The story begins with Gullveig, a witch who teaches the art of seeing the future to both the Aesir (Odin and other Gods) and the Vanir (a rival race of gods). When Odin learns that Gullveig is telling these secrets to both sides, he has her burned to death three times. Each time she is reborn, and the last time she escapes, but leaves her heart behind in the ashes.
After this she takes the prophetic name Angrboda (Bringer of sorrows) her heart is subsequently returned to her by Loki, who whenever I read in a novel or story see in the form and voice of Thomas Hiddleston (thanks a lot Marvel).
I also like that the classic stories of these myths are relayed by Loki when he visits fleas to Angrboda's cave/home. Such as when he cut off all of Sif's hair while she slept, won a bet so the dwarf's sewed his mouth closed, shape shifting into a mare to lure a builder's supernatural stallion away so he could finish Asgard's wall in time to win a wager. As a result Loki having to stay as a horse so he, months later give birth to an eighteen legged colt (yes all Norse tales).
As the story goes on these two become intimate, children are born and chaos ensues, presaging even bigger chaos end of the world chaos, yes I am talking about the Twilight of the Gods -Ragnarok.
The dialog is fun without being unbelievable for these characters. Loki on discovering his baby is coming
"and if you try to sit them up..their heads simply loll over because they are so big. Babies are very inconvenient"
"You're inconvenient".
"I know. I have to work at it sometimes, thought. Babies don't even have to".
The characters in the book are fascinating, and several go through intense and interesting arcs. Almost all of the main characters are women and their relationships are complex and powerful. Angrboda is wounded, resilient, smart, prickly, funny, and tough and ruthless. Her hard edges and her capacity for the kind of tough and clear-sighted love that holds up to adversity. A favourite for me was the fierce hunter Skadi and the sapphic romance with Angrboda .
As with many of the Norse myths there is violence and having grown to care about the characters I was often worried about the characters and felt sad and angry on their behalf. It's Genevieve Gornichec strong clear and beautiful prose which carries the tale
In one passage Angrboda is asked by an hidden shade
“You were a sacrifice, too. What did you learn while you were tied to your tree, Mother Witch? What did you bring back with you that you didn’t have before?”
This novel joins the growing collection of feminist retellings of myths from overlooked characters.
The story begins with Gullveig, a witch who teaches the art of seeing the future to both the Aesir (Odin and other Gods) and the Vanir (a rival race of gods). When Odin learns that Gullveig is telling these secrets to both sides, he has her burned to death three times. Each time she is reborn, and the last time she escapes, but leaves her heart behind in the ashes.
After this she takes the prophetic name Angrboda (Bringer of sorrows) her heart is subsequently returned to her by Loki, who whenever I read in a novel or story see in the form and voice of Thomas Hiddleston (thanks a lot Marvel).
I also like that the classic stories of these myths are relayed by Loki when he visits fleas to Angrboda's cave/home. Such as when he cut off all of Sif's hair while she slept, won a bet so the dwarf's sewed his mouth closed, shape shifting into a mare to lure a builder's supernatural stallion away so he could finish Asgard's wall in time to win a wager. As a result Loki having to stay as a horse so he, months later give birth to an eighteen legged colt (yes all Norse tales).
As the story goes on these two become intimate, children are born and chaos ensues, presaging even bigger chaos end of the world chaos, yes I am talking about the Twilight of the Gods -Ragnarok.
The dialog is fun without being unbelievable for these characters. Loki on discovering his baby is coming
"and if you try to sit them up..their heads simply loll over because they are so big. Babies are very inconvenient"
"You're inconvenient".
"I know. I have to work at it sometimes, thought. Babies don't even have to".
The characters in the book are fascinating, and several go through intense and interesting arcs. Almost all of the main characters are women and their relationships are complex and powerful. Angrboda is wounded, resilient, smart, prickly, funny, and tough and ruthless. Her hard edges and her capacity for the kind of tough and clear-sighted love that holds up to adversity. A favourite for me was the fierce hunter Skadi and the sapphic romance with Angrboda .
As with many of the Norse myths there is violence and having grown to care about the characters I was often worried about the characters and felt sad and angry on their behalf. It's Genevieve Gornichec strong clear and beautiful prose which carries the tale
In one passage Angrboda is asked by an hidden shade
“You were a sacrifice, too. What did you learn while you were tied to your tree, Mother Witch? What did you bring back with you that you didn’t have before?”