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Angrboda's story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A
punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future,
the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest
reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to
be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding
love.
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who
Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin's
all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she
learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond,
Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she's foreseen for her
beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales
this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.
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My Review:
*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley*
Angrboda is a witch who survived being burned alive by Odin for refusing to give him the dangerous knowledge of the future that he sought.
While recovering in a distant forest, Angrboda is visited by the trickster Loki.
Angrboda falls in love with Loki and together they have three unique children. Angrboda is determined to protect her children but knows that she must be careful with how she uses her damaged powers in order to stay hidden from Odin.
Can Angrboda and her family remain concealed in their forest home? Or does fate have other plans?
As a fan of Norse mythology, I was excited to read this book, especially as I didn't know much about Angrboda.
Angrboda was a likeable and relatable protagonist. Despite the hardships that she had been through, Angrboda didn't wallow in self-pity and cared a lot about others. I enjoyed seeing how she interacted in different situations.
Loki was an interesting character, as was Skadi the huntress, who I would like to find out more about.
The plot was interesting and held my attention throughout. I did wonder at one point if the book would drag, because there was still a lot of the book to go, but it didn't, luckily. The emotion really hit me at one point, and I had to fight back tears.
The writing style was easy to follow, and I thought the author did a good job of making the mythology easy to understand, incorporating it well into the story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
Elisa A. Bonnin was born and raised in the Philippines, after which she moved to the United States to study chemistry and later oceanography. After completing her doctorate, she moved to Germany to work as a postdoctoral scientist. A lifelong learner, Elisa is always convinced that she should “maybe take a class in something” and as a result, has amassed an eclectic collection of hobbies. But writing will always be her true love. Publishing a book has been her dream since she was eight years old, and she is thrilled to finally be able to share her stories. Dauntless is her first novel.
