by MK French
In Norse myth, Sigyn married Loki and spent eternity keeping venom from falling onto him when he was punished. Most stories put Sigyn into a passive role, relegating her to a victim that the gods around her abuse. The Goddess of Nothing At All is now her story retold.
Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.
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| October 2021; Tychis Media; 978-1988931104 ebook, print (458 pages); Norse mythology |
Sigyn is Odin's daughter, and he rarely has kind things to say to her and won't give her a formal title or goddess dominion. Because of this, she seeks out Loki to work on a plan to become a goddess. This isn't an MCU rendition, but one following Norse tradition; Loki is flame-haired, knife thin, a trickster, and master of magic in a culture that usually holds it to be women's work. He was Odin's blood brother, but wouldn't bow down to his wishes, leading to his banishment from Asgard. It's not exactly a romantic meet-cute, more of an opening salvo for a bargain. Sigyn is no tenderhearted waif here. She can be naive and not a manipulator, but she is determined to get what she wants and is willing to work hard to get it.
If you're familiar with Norse mythology, then you'll recognize many of the escapades that occur over the course of the novel. Loki is hardly innocent of the crimes he's accused of, but there is another side of the story to explain his actions. Sigyn is accused of being an idiot when she falls for him, but the two have a connection and mutual respect that the other Asgardian gods don't ever have for him. They're content to use his skills when they need him, then put him down for those same abilities. Their culture is very rigid and stilted with gender roles and sexuality, so Loki's fluidity troubles them and fuels part of their particularly hateful taunts. Sigyn, on the other hand, accepts Loki in whatever gender presented; she had a serious relationship with a Valkyrie girlfriend that Odin had forcibly ended decades before the book opens.
While I know how some of the Norse myths end, I kept hoping that Cat wasn't going to go down that path. We have a happy period of time with this queer family, but Loki's self-destructive, and eventually Sigyn can't forgive his actions. Trying to escape fate actually brings it closer. Knowing the direction the story goes in doesn't keep me from hurting along with Sigyn, or hoping that she can somehow pull a miracle with her magic. I don't have much sympathy for the Aesir, who are just as much to blame for everything going wrong. We get Sigyn's side of the story, and a glimpse of her future after all the pain her family put her through. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the retelling of Norse mythology that gives agency back to the victims of fate.
Buy The Goddess of Nothing At All at Amazon
Prize: A hardcover copy of The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector – International
Starts: September 29th, 2021 at 12:00am EST
Ends: October 6th, 2021 at 11:59pm EST
Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.
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