I previously reviewed Heathen Vol. 1 by Natasha Alterici, after which Alterici went on hiatus due to medical issues. But now Heathen is complete and collected together in one grand trade book—and it’s time at last to address the entire series.
Heathen by Natasha Alterici is the story of Aydis, a young lesbian viking who sets off to rescue the Valkyrie Brynhild from Odin’s curse and to take Odin down once and for all. Along the way she makes friends with Ruadan the trickster god, a trio of mermaids, and a ship of women who free slaves from slave traders. Heathen reads like an old Norse myth, with a central theme of taking down the patriarchy in all of its forms.
Sparked Joy: 4/5 The art and coloring is gorgeous. The ending came too quickly—I wish there had been more! But what we got is lovely.
Anticapitalist: 5/5 Or at least explicitly anti-patriarchy.
Queerness: 5/5 Aydis and Liv are lesbians, and Brynhild and Sigurd come across a young gay man in their travels. At Freya’s castle, polyamory and pan/bisexuality abounds.
Similarity to Previous Book: 2/5 Heathen criticizes the spread of Christianity, which brings along with it the spread of fear of difference. The Forgiving features a deadly Christian cult.
Amount of Animals: 5/5 Many horses, with the most important horse of all, Saga. Plus wolves, ravens, and Ruadan in various animal forms.
Heathen was published in 2022. It originally ran from 2016–2020. Here is Natasha Alterici’s website. Heathen is available for purchase, and Tamers is available to purchase on Gumroad. Support your local bookstore if you can, or visit your local library!
El's Reading Journal 