The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec

[Crystal]

The Weaver and the Witch Queen is a reimagined tale centering on characters of the Norse and Icelandic sagas.  In Genevieve Gornichec’s first book, the New York Times bestselling, The Witch’s Heart she explored the story of Loki’s wife, the witch, Angrboda.  In this tale, she centers her story once again on the women, focusing mostly on Gunhild, ‘The Mother of Kings.”  Gunhild’s father is a local noble, and she  comes of age in the time of King Harald, the first leader to unite Norway as a country.  During a festival when she is twelve, she seals a life-long blood pact with her best friends, sisters Oddny and Signy. They vow to  always be there for each other, no matter what.  This occurs after Gunhild disobeys her mother and seeks her and her friend’s future from the traveling Seer; and it is revealed how closely and darkly their fates are entwined.  What follows is a story about sisterhood, honor, and fate.  Gornichec is a historian in Norse mythology and history, and her detailed descriptions truly capture the essence of the Viking age, with its violence, blood debts, revenge, and the vying for power between King Harald’s many sons.  The story mostly centers on Oddny and Gunhild, with a strong focus on the early exploits of King Eirk, otherwise known as Eric Bloodaxe.  I would classify this book as Historical Fantasy, though the fantasy elements are small.  This is a great read for anyone interested in the sagas, vikings, and the women who helped change the political landscape of Scandinavia.