The Weaver and the Witch Queen
In tenth-century Norway, young Gunnhild Ozuradottir leaves her abusive mother and the family hall to flee with the elderly seer, Heid. For twelve years she lives in the far North and learns magic. Meanwhile, sisters Oddny and Signy Ketilsdottir, linked with Gunnhild by a blood-oath of mutual protection, remain on their family holding. They are raided by a warrior-filled longship commanded by the vicious Kolfinna and her two witch henchwomen, Thorbjorg and Katla. Gunnhild is able to see what is happening, and shapeshifts into a bird to assist her friends in the battle. Oddny escapes, but Signy is captured to be sold as a slave.
Gunnhild and Oddny grow and mature as they try to discover where Signy has been taken and figure out how they can rescue her. Nordic mayhem ensues in a maelstrom of violence, intrigue, romance, and magic that Gornichec has based on the old sagas. I liked Gunnhild less as the story continued and she became nasty, self-centered, and demanding. This was historically accurate; she was a real person, and eventually became Queen of Norway. The fictional Oddny is more pleasant and relatable—a more conventional woman of her time, who likes weaving, is loyal to the love of her choice, but can still throw a mean ax or do a bit of magic when needed.
Just some minor, personal nit-picking: I’ve lived in Scandinavia, and would have liked a bit more textured detail about the natural world of the sea, the forests, and especially the night sky. Having quibbled about that, I would still recommend this well-researched story to anyone who would like an entertaining, wild ride through Norse history and folklore.
