The Weaver and the Witch Queen
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4.5 • 22 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher 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 Viking Age historical fantasy novel 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
After a shaky start, this sprawling Viking adventure of sisterhood, love, and destiny from Gornichec (The Witch's Heart) finds its footing in its second half. Gunnhild, Oddny, and Signy have been steadfast friends since childhood. Though from a noble family, Gunnhild was unloved by her mother, while sisters Oddny and Signy grew up enduring the hardships of maintaining a farm but surrounded by love. When a seer marks their three futures as bound, "for better or worse," it sets into motion an epic retelling of Viking age history and myth. Gunnhild runs away from home to become a witch, a path that eventually leads her into the company of Eirik, the future ruler of Norway. Meanwhile, Oddny and Signy are separated during a violent raid, leading Oddny and Gunnhild to reunite in search of Signy. The women will do everything in their power to find their blood-sworn sister, and Gornichec carefully weaves multiple story lines full of political upheaval, romance, and self-discovery into their quest. Though the plot occasionally feels rushed and the dialogue will be too modern-feeling for more historically minded readers, there's plenty to enjoy in this lush, Norse mythology–infused world. Fans of Circe and The Book of Gothel will be especially enchanted.
