About the Book
The Weaver and the Witch Queen is a Viking Age historical fantasy centred on two women whose lives become intertwined through prophecy, magic, family and fate.
Oddny longs for a quiet life, while Gunnhild is drawn towards power and magic and is destined to become queen of Norway. When a prophecy connects the two women, they make a blood oath to help each other. But when Oddny's sister is kidnapped by Viking raiders, the life she imagined disappears, setting her on a much more dangerous path.
Gunnhild, meanwhile, has left home to learn the ways of a witch and finds her own destiny becoming increasingly connected to the future of Norway.
Their story brings together Norse mythology, Viking history, political upheaval, magic, romance and, at its heart, the bond between two women. The publisher describes it as a Viking Age historical fantasy about magic, history and sworn sisterhood.
What the Story Feels Like
This feels like the kind of fantasy that wants to pull you into an entire historical world rather than simply give you a magical adventure.
There are Viking voyages, witches, prophecy, political ambition, romance and mythology, but the emotional centre seems to be the relationship between Oddny and Gunnhild.
And that is probably what makes this particularly appealing to me.
I love fantasy that uses mythology and history as a foundation but still gives its women room to become complicated, ambitious and deeply human.
Why You Should Read It
If you enjoy Norse mythology, historical fantasy and stories about powerful women, this immediately sounds like a book worth putting on your radar.
But what really makes me want to read it is the combination of the personal and the epic.
There is a missing sister to find. A blood oath between women. A woman learning magic. A kingdom caught in political upheaval. And two lives that keep being pulled back towards each other.
It sounds like the kind of story where the world is huge, but the emotional stakes remain intensely personal.
What Makes It Memorable
The combination of Viking history, Norse mythology, witchcraft and sisterhood already gives this book a distinct atmosphere.
But I think the idea of a story built around the bond between two women — while also giving them completely different ambitions and paths — is what makes it particularly interesting.
It isn't simply about magic or becoming powerful. It is also about loyalty, survival, family and the promises people make to one another.
Reading Experience
I am expecting this to be the kind of fantasy I want to read slowly enough to appreciate the setting.
The Viking Age backdrop, mythology and political elements make me think this will be more atmospheric and immersive than a straightforward action-driven fantasy.
Basically, I want to disappear into tenth-century Norway for a few hundred pages and come back knowing far too much about witches, kings and Viking politics.
Perfect For Readers Who
- Love Norse mythology and Viking-inspired fantasy
- Enjoy historical fantasy
- Love stories centred around women and sisterhood
- Enjoy witches, prophecy and magic
- Like political intrigue and romance alongside fantasy
- Enjoy character-driven mythology retellings and reimaginings
