The witch who hears is a tale of a witch who possesses an extraordinary sense of hearing. This particular witch, named Lillian, had always been known for her exceptional abilities. She lived in a small cottage deep in the woods, far away from human settlements. Lillian's hearing was so precise that she could hear even the faintest of sounds from miles away. She could distinguish the fluttering of a bird's wings from the rustling of leaves and the scurrying of tiny creatures. It was said that she could even hear the whispers of the wind and the footsteps of an approaching stranger long before they reached her cottage.
Listen: I could not very well write an entire book about Norse mythology and not include one song by Wardruna. “Helvegen,” translates to “the way to Hel” (Hel being both Angrboda and Loki’s daughter, and the name of her realm of the dead), and that’s literally what the song is about. It’s largely instrumental but so moving, and even ends with a spoken verse from Hávamál (or “The Sayings of the High One,” a poem of Odin’s in the Poetic Edda).
It s largely instrumental but so moving, and even ends with a spoken verse from Hávamál or The Sayings of the High One, a poem of Odin s in the Poetic Edda. Megan proposed bringing in other voices, and looking at the wider picture, bringing her own unique viewpoint as a former fundamentalist who s dedicated her life over the past decade to difficult conversations.
It was said that she could even hear the whispers of the wind and the footsteps of an approaching stranger long before they reached her cottage. The townspeople were both fascinated and fearful of Lillian's abilities. Some believed she used her power for malicious purposes, while others saw her as a protector of the forest and its inhabitants.
What’s in a song? Selections from The Witch’s Heart Playlist
Creating playlists is a pastime for many authors — myself included! While I prefer ambient music while I’m drafting new projects these days, I keep my playlists handy when I get stuck somewhere or have writer’s block. I’ll take them on a walk, or listen to them in the car, to get the creative juices flowing and keep me inspired.
With that said, I wrote the entirety of the first draft of The Witch’s Heart while listening to Florence + The Machine’s album Ceremonials on infinite loop (it had just been released at the time), but over the years I’ve amassed a lengthy playlist to remind me of the feelings that kept me editing and revising the book until it was the best I could make it.
Here are a few of my favorites from that list. (Which you can find on Spotify here!)
1. Drømte Mig en Drøm by the Danish String Quartet (:00 to 3:55)
A rendition of the oldest piece of secular music found in Scandinavia, the first cover I heard of this song was from an album called Viking Tones, which one of my friends in Sweden ordered me from the Danish National Museum. It’s an instrumental version performed by Erik A. Wessberg. Several other covers include vocals, including those by Valravn and Louise Fribo, among many awesome renditions you can find on YouTube.
When I recently rediscovered this song, I stumbled upon the arrangement by the Danish String Quartet, and absolutely fell in love. The way they’ve rendered it is so haunting and lovely, and immediately takes me to Ironwood.
2. I Will Never Die by Delta Rae
Hickory, oak, pine, and weed
Bury my heart underneath these trees
And when a southern wind comes to raise my soul
Spread my spirit like a flock of crows
’Cause I loved you for too long…
Oof, this song has such a powerful beat, and the words make it even more so. One of my best friends clued me into its existence as she worked on a portrait of Angrboda I’d commissioned in celebration of the US release of The Witch’s Heart. The lyrics you can bury my body but I’ll never die absolutely sound like a threat, and one highly appropriate for our old witch.
3. Helvegen by Wardruna
Listen: I could not very well write an entire book about Norse mythology and not include one song by Wardruna. “Helvegen,” translates to “the way to Hel” (Hel being both Angrboda and Loki’s daughter, and the name of her realm of the dead), and that’s literally what the song is about. It’s largely instrumental but so moving, and even ends with a spoken verse from Hávamál (or “The Sayings of the High One,” a poem of Odin’s in the Poetic Edda).
It’s an incredibly powerful song, and I find myself getting goosebumps every time I listen. No spoilers, but a trip to Hel happens in The Witch’s Heart, and this song makes me think of it. (You can find the English translation here!)
4. Wolf by First Aid Kit
I adore First Aid Kit, and have for years. And this song is the most fitting for The Witch’s Heart Song, hands down. When I first listened to it, I was absolutely stunned. It could have been made for this book. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the opening verse:
Wolf-mother, where you been?
You look so worn, so thin
You’re a taker, devils-maker
Let me hear you sing, hey-ya hey-ya
Wolf-father, at the door
You don’t smile anymore
You’re a drifter, shape-shifter
Let me see you run, hey-ya hey-ya
And it only escalates from there. It especially reminds me of the part of The Witch’s Heart where things are beginning to ramp up as we shuffle towards Ragnarok, the doom of the gods: a certain shapeshifter is on the run, and a certain witch comes home to find him waiting for her. It’s just so, so good.
I was also so hyped to learn that someone else had also made a playlist for The Witch’s Heart, which is such an honor and honestly a dream come true. If you come across a song that reminds you of the book when you read it, I’d love to hear from you.
I hope you enjoyed this brief trip into The Witch’s Heart playlist! Thank you so much to Culturefly for hosting me today. It’s been a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy the book if you pick it up!
The Witch’s Heart was published by Titan Books on 4 May 2021
Creating playlists is a pastime for many authors — myself included! While I prefer ambient music while I’m drafting new projects these days, I keep my playlists handy when I get stuck somewhere or have writer’s block. I’ll take them on a walk, or listen to them in the car, to get the creative juices flowing and keep me inspired.
It was said that she would often use her hearing to guide lost travelers back to civilization, ensuring their safety. One day, a young boy named Timothy ventured into the woods on a dare from his friends. He strayed off the path and became hopelessly lost. As the daylight started to fade, fear began to grip him. Just when he thought all hope was lost, he heard a distant voice whispering his name. It was Lillian, guiding him back to safety. Her keen hearing had once again come to the rescue. From that day forward, the townspeople began to see Lillian in a different light. They realized that her hearing ability was not a curse but a gift that should be cherished. Lillian became a cherished member of the community, using her talents to help those in need. The tale of the witch who hears serves as a reminder that our unique qualities and abilities should not be judged or feared but celebrated. It teaches us to appreciate the diversity of talents and find ways to utilize them for the benefit of others. Lillian's story also emphasizes the importance of listening. In a world filled with noise and distractions, we often neglect the power of listening. Lillian shows us that by truly hearing and understanding others, we can offer assistance and support, just as she did for Timothy. So, let us remember the witch who hears and let her story be a constant reminder to embrace our own unique abilities, to listen attentively to others, and to use our gifts for the betterment of our communities..
Reviews for "The Witch Who Hears: How Clairaudience Impacts a Witch's Craft"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The witch who hears". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, making it hard to stay engaged in the story. Additionally, the characters felt flat and uninteresting, making it difficult to form any sort of attachment or investment in their journey. Overall, I found the book lackluster and it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I couldn't even get through "The witch who hears". The writing style was choppy and awkward, and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be unique and clever. The dialogue was forced and unnatural, making it impossible for me to connect with any of the characters. I ended up giving up on the book halfway through as it just wasn't enjoyable for me.
3. Lisa - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The witch who hears" based on the synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing happened for the majority of the book. Additionally, the world-building was confusing and not well-explained, making it hard to fully understand the setting. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and not worth the read.
4. Mark - 2/5 - "The witch who hears" was a letdown for me. The writing style was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, and it felt like the author was trying to impress with their vocabulary rather than telling an engaging story. The characters lacked depth and weren't relatable, making it hard for me to care about their journey. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with this book and I don't think I would recommend it.