Once upon a time, in a small village in the woods, there lived a weaver named Jacob. Jacob was known for his exceptional weaving skills and beautiful tapestries. He would spend hours at his loom, creating intricate patterns and designs with colorful threads. One day, as Jacob was walking through the village market, he noticed a peculiar old woman sitting by a stall. She was dressed in raggedy clothes and had a crooked smile on her face. Intrigued, Jacob approached her and struck up a conversation.
Gornichec is adept at mapping her characters’ emotional whereabouts and finding their propulsion points to the next disaster or solution. Their charm is in their flaws and their determination to achieve their goals, which is mostly saving Signy from a life of slavery but also finding their own place in the world in a time when women were largely relegated to the house.
The now young women s journeys come together once again as cross paths with the charismatic if unwieldy Prince Eirik whose destiny also seems to be entangled in the strange vague prophecy that put the girls on their catastrophic path. Intimate and sweeping, richly detailed and propulsive, tragic and uplifting, The Weaver and the Witch Queen proves Genevieve Gornichec really can do it all.
Intrigued, Jacob approached her and struck up a conversation. The old woman introduced herself as Agatha, the village witch. She had heard of Jacob's remarkable weaving skills and wanted to strike a deal with him.
Book Review: Genevieve Gornichec spins a fun yarn with ‘The Weaver and the Witch Queen’
They say your second book is the hardest one to write, but Genevieve Gornichec — leaning on her Norse mythology love yet again as with debut “The Witch’s Heart” – performs a magic hat trick with her sophomore novel.
Historical fantasy “The Weaver and the Witch Queen” finds its footing immediately as tween friends Gunnhild and less well-off sisters Oddny and Signy reunite for a special celebration on their Norwegian fjord, only to be horribly separated by a seeress foretelling that one of them will destroy the other two’s lives without naming the culprit.
As a result, ambitious Gunnhild runs into the night with the witch in order to get away from her cruel mother and forge her own destiny, while the sisters stay at their father’s’ farm with no prospects, until a decade later a violent raid tears them apart as well.
The now young women’s journeys come together once again as cross paths with the charismatic if unwieldy Prince Eirik whose destiny also seems to be entangled in the strange vague prophecy that put the girls on their catastrophic path.
Gornichec is adept at mapping her characters’ emotional whereabouts and finding their propulsion points to the next disaster or solution. Their charm is in their flaws and their determination to achieve their goals, which is mostly saving Signy from a life of slavery but also finding their own place in the world in a time when women were largely relegated to the house.
Is this a romance? Yes and no. Is it a womance? Yes and no. is it a classic enemies-to-lovers story? Yep. The ingredients are there for a heroine’s journey and the result is a delicious Christmas pudding — crunchy, sweet, rich and a little bit hot once you set it on fire.
Historical fantasy “The Weaver and the Witch Queen” finds its footing immediately as tween friends Gunnhild and less well-off sisters Oddny and Signy reunite for a special celebration on their Norwegian fjord, only to be horribly separated by a seeress foretelling that one of them will destroy the other two’s lives without naming the culprit.
Agatha explained that she needed a special tapestry for a ritual that would grant her enormous power. In return for his assistance, Agatha promised to share some of her mystical knowledge with Jacob. Curiosity piqued, Jacob agreed to the deal. He followed Agatha into the depths of the forest, to her enchanting cottage. Jacob set up his loom in Agatha's cottage and started weaving the tapestry she desired. As he wove, Jacob couldn't help but notice the strange sensation that surrounded him. Agatha chanted incantations and added peculiar ingredients to a simmering cauldron. Days turned into weeks, and Jacob's tapestry began to take shape. The intricate patterns seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Agatha was delighted with Jacob's progress and commended his weaving skills. However, as Jacob got closer to finishing the tapestry, he started to question his decision. He noticed a change in Agatha's demeanor. She became manipulative and demanded more from him, claiming that the tapestry needed to be perfect for the ritual. Doubt began to creep into Jacob's mind, but he was determined to see the project through. He continued weaving tirelessly, pouring his heart and soul into the tapestry. Finally, the day came when Jacob completed the tapestry. It was a masterpiece, radiating with a mysterious energy. Agatha was overjoyed and wasted no time in beginning the ritual. As the ritual commenced, Jacob could feel the power in the room intensify. He watched as Agatha absorbed the energy from the tapestry into herself, growing stronger with each passing moment. However, Jacob soon realized that Agatha's lust for power was insatiable. She turned on him, using her newfound strength to trap him in the cottage, unwilling to share the knowledge she had promised. Days turned into months, and Jacob remained imprisoned. He could no longer weave, his hands longing to once again create beautiful tapestries. Agatha had betrayed him, but he was determined to escape and reclaim his freedom. One night, as Agatha slept, exhausted from her newfound abilities, Jacob devised a plan. Using his resourcefulness and knowledge of the forest, he managed to free himself from captivity. With renewed determination, Jacob vowed to never let his weaving skills be used for evil again. He returned to the village, wiser and stronger than before. Jacob shared his tale with the villagers, warning them about the dangers of making deals with witches. From that day forward, he used his weaving skills to bring joy and beauty to the world, never forgetting the lessons he learned from the weaver and the witch..
Reviews for "Tangled Threads: The Weaver's Battle to Break the Witch Queen's Spell"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I really wanted to like "The Weaver and the Witch Queen" but unfortunately it fell short for me. The plot felt disjointed and there were too many characters to keep track of. Additionally, the pacing was off and I found myself getting bored in certain sections. Overall, I felt the book lacked the depth and cohesiveness I was hoping for.
2. Mark - 2/5 - I was disappointed with "The Weaver and the Witch Queen". The story had potential but it seemed like the author tried to cram too much into one book. The world-building was confusing and the magic system was never fully explained. The characters lacked depth and they were difficult to connect with. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book and I would not recommend it.
3. Lisa - 3/5 - While "The Weaver and the Witch Queen" had an interesting premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style was inconsistent and sometimes difficult to follow. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the characters. Despite these flaws, there were moments of brilliance that showed the author's potential. With some editing and refinement, this could have been a much stronger book.
4. Alex - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Weaver and the Witch Queen" but it ultimately left me disappointed. The pacing was incredibly slow and the action scenes were anticlimactic. The main character lacked development and her decisions often felt illogical. The romance subplot also felt forced and unnecessary. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and I would not recommend it to others.