Book 23: Heathen by Natasha Alterici

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!

Book 25: Heathen Vol. 1 by Natasha Alterici

I have… mixed feelings about marriage.

On one hand, it’s an oppressive institution that creates two classes of citizens under tax and social codes and is part of a history of patriarchal control of women and their assets.

On the other hand, it’s a symbol of commitment for people who fall in love and want to spend their lives together, and that’s beautiful! It’s even more beautiful now that everyone can legally marry their partner regardless of their gender in many countries.

True marriage equality is a long way away, even in countries that have legalized same-sex marriage. Aside from bigots who want to repeal it or who refuse to issue marriage licenses, there are a lot of barriers to marriage for people with disabilities and for low income people, and even when marriage equality is a reality, the economic disparities between married people and unmarried people will need to be addressed.

Also, you know, ~the patriarchy~ and heteronormativity. That part might matter less now, but it’s still baked into how marriage works, both interpersonally and on a societal level, and just because marriage is more about a loving partnership these days doesn’t mean the patriarchy and heteronormativity don’t take their tolls.