Angrboda, a witch of the Iron Wood, survives being burned thrice by the Aesir gods for refusing to share her prophetic visions. She flees to the ends of the world, where she meets Loki, the trickster. Their union produces three unconventional children: the wolf Fenrir, the serpent Jormungand, and Hel, ruler of the dead. As Angrboda raises her family in hiding, she recovers her lost memories and magic, ultimately realizing that she cannot prevent the predestined destruction of Ragnarok.
Readers of Norse mythology and feminist retellings pick up this book to see a marginalized figure from the Eddas take center stage. It appeals to those who prioritize character internalities and the domestic realities of mythological figures over epic battle sequences. The audience gains a perspective on motherhood and agency within a rigid fate, walking away with a deep understanding of how a mother protects her outcasts against gods who view them only as monsters.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
