The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec – Review
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Description:
The lives of two women—one desperate only to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway—intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch’s Heart.
Oddny and Gunnhild meet as children in tenth century Norway, and they could not be more different: Oddny hopes for a quiet life, while Gunnhild burns for power and longs to escape her cruel mother. But after a visiting wisewoman makes an ominous prophecy that involves Oddny, her sister Signy, and Gunnhild, the three girls take a blood oath to help one another always.
When Oddny’s farm is destroyed and Signy is kidnapped by Viking raiders, Oddny is set adrift from the life she imagined—but she’s determined to save her sister no matter the cost, even as she finds herself irresistibly drawn to one of the raiders who participated in the attack. And in the far north, Gunnhild, who fled her home years ago to learn the ways of a witch, is surprised to find her destiny seems to be linked with that of the formidable King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway.
But the bonds—both enchanted and emotional—that hold the two women together are strong, and when they find their way back to each other, these bonds will be tested in ways they never could have foreseen in this deeply moving novel of magic, history, and sworn sisterhood.
Review:
The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec is standalone historical fantasy that takes place in the Viking age. We meet three young girls, two sisters (Signy and Oddny) and a best friend (Gunnhild), who are at the start 12 years old. At their young age, the girls have no control over their fate as women, and though the three of them swear an oath to each other, and in a short time, a seer will change their lives. Gunnhild has a terrible relationship with her mean mother, and when she is offered to go with the seer, and learn magic, she leaves her home, not to been again for 12 years.
12 Years later, Oddny and Signy’s family is attacked by Viking Raiders, killing most of the residents of their villiage. Oddny manages to escape, and Signy is captured by the Vikings. With her family dead, Oddny is determined to do anything to find her sister. Gunnhild over these many years, has learned from her seer, how to use her witch magic and powers. She and her mentor seer, try to fight off three other witches; knowing how powerful these others are. Gunnhild and Oddny eventually find each other, and together they are committed to find out why this attack happened, and to rescue Signy.
Gunnhild makes arrangements to go home, offering her services as a witch, protecting King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway. At first Eirik is not enamored with Gunnhild, until he sees she maybe able to help to him. I did enjoy the snarky relationship between Gunnhild and Eirik; as neither one of them liked each other. Time will change things for both Gunnhild and Eirik, as well as Oddny and Halldor. What I loved the most was the wonderful powers that proved women are capable of fighting this war; especially with their magic, powers, and strong bond between them.
What follows is an exciting, intense, emotional, non-stop action in the last half of the book, which had me unable to put the book down. The Weaver and the Witch Queen was a gripping, intensive, adventurous and fascinating mythology; so very well written by Genevieve Gornichec. This was a fantastic read, and I loved the epilogue. If you enjoy fantasy, you need to wholly read this book.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
