The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga)

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But enough about Orka, you all know how much I loved her chapters already. Let's talk a bit about Varg and the Bloodsworn before we move on to talking about Elvar. If you've read The Shadow of the Gods, then you will know that the theme of friendship and found family shines the most in Varg's and Elvar's chapters. This is still the same case here. Although his chapters were relatively less intense for the majority of the book, I think Gwynne has successfully nailed the balance of see-saw in the calm and the intense moments in Varg's POV chapters. Remember Svik's cheese story in The Shadow of the Gods, another one regarding how life is not fair made a return here, and it was a great chapter, though less humorous, for sure. All of this does not mean that Varg's chapters were devoid of pulse-pounding battle scenes. It's fewer than Gwynne's usual standard, but the Gwynnado in the middle part of the novel that revolved around his chapters were unputdownable. Hunger of the Gods somehow improves upon Shadow of the Gods which I didn't think would be possible. Some of the fun of fantasy books is exploring a world for the first time, but Gwynne finds a way to keep this world interesting even after it was properly made clear in the first book.

Now that the intro is out of the way, let me get to the subject I really wanted to talk about: Orka. One of the three main voices in the book and one of the greatest fantasy characters of all time (yep, I’m making that call). I am obsessed. She’s earned her place on my favourites list and I can’t see anyone moving her (I’d like to see them try). Anyone who has read Gwynne before will know that his characterisation is superb, his books populated by characters that readers genuinely care about. We love them because they’re an emotional investment that always pays off, even if it sometimes comes in the form of uncontrollable sobbing. But if this was something he did well before, then Orka is another level of brilliance. Something about her grabs you from the start. It’s weird because at first you don’t really know whether you like her or not... but you can’t look away. There’s strength there, no doubt about that, and more than a hint of violence. She’s one of those rare female characters who gets to be a mother, a partner, and a warrior with not a single breath of stereotype or limitation. Even now, even in Gwynne, I still get moments when I think to myself ‘Damn, you’re really going to let her be all that... really?’ Yes, really. She’s complicated, striving to mediate her conflicting roles and all the parts of herself. What’s more, she’s doing it while the world turns to shit around her. Her arc in this book is surprising as hell. In fact, everything about her is indescribably epic and I can’t wait for you all to meet her. Another masterpiece by John Gwynne. Perhaps the best "middle book in a trilogy" released this decade. Indescriptible lo que crea este autor desde personajes, momentos y escenas que hay que leerlo para entender lo difícil que es para mi explicar el nivel de detalle y de precisión de John Gwynne. Mejor ni hablemos de lo que engancha.Nålbinding – a technique for making clothing, similar to knitting or crocheting, the word itself meaning to bind with a needle Unique, captivating and dazzling global history ... Despite its astonishing range and the complexity of its subject, In the Shadow of the Gods is full of enticing human detail ... a sparkling history infused with entertaining reflections. H Kumarasingham, Literary Review Before you read The Shadow of the Gods, you should also know about the characters. The book follows three point-of-view characters, Orka, Varg and Elvar. At the start of the story, Orka is enjoying a quiet life with her family, but she clearly knows how to look after herself. And like most good cover art, it gives a really good idea of the kind of book that lies in store. The Shadow of the Gods is a Norse-inspired book from fight-scene aficionado John Gwynne. It features three main POV characters: Orka, Varg, and Elvar. Orka is a warrior, a mother, and her story is effectively a gender-flipped fantasy version of Liam Neeson’s Taken. Varg has recently lost a loved one, and in the process of seeking revenge instead finds himself a family among a band of brutal mercenaries. Elvar was born to a noble father, but seeks to earn her own fame in the field of battle and among friends of her choosing.

The next storyline follows the amazing Varg, a former thrall who has run away after killing his owners. In desperate need of magic to avenge his dead sister, Varg attempts to join the Bloodsworn, a highly regarded mercenary company, to make use of their seiðr-witch. After impressing the Bloodsworn, Varg travels with them as an apprentice mercenary, unable to use the seiðr-witch until he proves his worth. His first quest with the Bloodsworn takes him to a remote part of Vigrið to investigate missing villagers. As Varg struggles between fulfilling his oath to his sister and starting a new life, he will experience betrayal, despair, and terrible revelations. This is another excellent storyline which has a lot of awesome elements to it. Not only is there a lot of action and intrigue as the Bloodsworn find themselves in the middle of the chaos infecting Vigrið, but it also serves as a fantastic tale of friendship, redemption, and camaraderie. The chapters for this book are very short. For me, this made it even harder to connect to the characters. We rarely got to spend much time with one before switching to another.Brother. How have I had such good fortune to find these people, after so many years of loneliness and pain?” The final character arc featured in The Shadow of the Gods follows the young warrior, Elvar. Elvar is the daughter of a powerful jarl who gave up a life of comfort and forced marriage to join the Battle-Grim, another notorious mercenary warband who specialise in killing monsters and trapping Tainted to sell them for profit. After capturing an unusual family of Tainted, Elvar and the Battle-Grim embark on a quest of epic proportions that will change the world. This was another impressive and captivating storyline which has some very unique differences from the other character arcs. Elvar is an excellent point-of-view character with a complex past, who presents an interesting counterpoint to the other two protagonists. While Orka and Varg and primarily motivated by family and vengeance, Elvar is primarily concerned with proving her worth to her crew, her commander, and her overbearing family, and is determined to win enough battle fame to outshine her father. I also loved the comparisons between the Bloodsworn and the Battle-Grim, and it was interesting to see how the similarities and differences between the warbands, especially as the Battle-Grim are more concerned with wealth and reputation. This storyline is a particularly ambitious and contains some amazing battle sequences, especially one at the start against a troll, and there is much more of a focus on fighting within a shield wall as a unit. This storyline also has one of the best twists in the entire novel, as well as an extremely impressive ending that will have major implications for the rest of the series. A whole lot of plot leads to a fast paced book, which is a advantage for a lot of people. In that same vein, there are a lot of action scenes in this book. They are well crafted, with immersive details and short, snappy sentences. John Gwynne has improved on everything that made The Shadow of the Gods great! The stakes are higher, the characters are more compelling, and the world is fleshed out more! However, this book does feel like a middle book in some ways. There is a lot of travelling in this book which does slow the pace of the story down a bit. However, the conclusion is incredible and heartbreaking! It is worth reading this book just to experience the last chapters of this book! Please note that while many of these words are directly taken from Norse history, The Shadow of the Gods is a work of fiction. The historical meanings may not exactly translate into the world of this book. The brief definitions provided below however do match up with their use in the book as I see them.

The Shadow of the Gods is the first book in John Gwynne’s most recent series its sequel has come out very recently. It’s a book that tells the tales of Orka, Elvar and Varg, three adults navigating a fantastical mytholgy-filled world based on Norse mythology. It’s a fantastic new entry into John Gwynne’s series. The Shadow of the Gods plot – 4.5/5 Gwynne is a master at character development and gory, savage battles that will live on in infamy. He’s just one of the best at the fantasy genre and this book and series resembles that statement. The Shadow of the Gods has dozens of excellent set pieces, standout moments, action segments, skirmishes, and showdowns. So often I finished a chapter with a cheesy grin knowing that something awesome had just happened and imagining how epic a live-action version of these scenes would be. Gwynne is one of the best in the fantasy game at writing thrilling fighting and brutal action moments. I reread The Hunger of the Gods as it was released a few weeks ago, but this time tried it out in an audiobook format. I loved it! I preferred it over The Shadow of the Gods, which was basically perfect! Colin Mace does a really great job narrating this, and he gets across that build of tension to a great crescendo of an ending. Read this if you have not already!

Read The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

Elvar is equally a cool character. She’s determined to be a warrior and gain fame for it, instead of being used as a way for her father to gain more power. The Battle-Grim she’s a part of are mercenaries who seem to mostly care about making money, no matter what they have to do for it. However, they’re still basically a great example of found family. I think it’s important to note that can be said for both the Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn, they’re both predominantly a collection of random people who come together and look after one another no matter what. I think what sets Gwynne’s writing apart (aside from mind blowing world building), would be his incredible way of portraying exceptional characters. How they honor their family, friends, responsibilities, own up to their mistakes, find humor, strength, and love in the darkest times, and how the best people look out for those being mistreated. Ohh and his epic bloody battles, shield walls, and my personal favorite… revenge. Prepare to dive into a dark and powerful Norse-inspired fantasy with the incredible and addictive new novel from superstar fantasy author John Gwynne, The Shadow of the Gods. Gwynne is highly regarded fantasy author who has been making some major waves since his 2012 dark fantasy debut, Malice, the first book in The Faithful and the Fallen series. Gwynne has so far written two major fantasy series, the four-novel long The Faithful and the Fallen, and the sequel Of Blood and Bone series. His latest novel, The Shadow of the Gods, is the first book in The Bloodsworn Saga, which will follow a group of epic protagonists in a bloody and grim Norse-inspired fantasy world.

My man Vard has the best character growth of any one in the books and I am loving his journey and seeing him become a true warrior is thrilling! I am so attached to the Bloodsworn and their found family dynamic. Rokia and Vard need to seal the deal tho, they aren't fooling anyone! While life is always bloody in Vigrið, times are especially bleak now with war looming on the horizon, monsters roaming the wilds and sinister forces gather out of sight. In these dark times, three dangerous people will find the fate of Vigrið resting in their hands. These new heroes include Orka, a hunter and trapper who lives a quiet life in the wilds with her family, attempting to avoid her troubled past while raising her young son. Meanwhile, Varg, an escaped thrall seeking answers, finds unexpected friendship by joining the legendary Bloodsworn mercenary company. Finally, Elvar, a young noblewoman running from her family, seeks glory and battle fame as part of the Battle-Grim, another mercenary band who specialise in capturing Tainted humans. Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. John Gwynne's books are always difficult for me to review because so much happens, the characters are really complex (in a good way) and there's often a rich and detailed history to his tales that are hard to encapsulate in a short review. So I will do my best, although I feel like no matter what I come up with it won't come anywhere near doing this book or series justice.

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Gwynne is best known for his critically acclaimed series The Faithful and the Fallen, but thankfully you don’t need to be familiar with the author’s previous works to enjoy The Shadow of the Gods. Itis a totally new series set in a totally new world, making it accessible to longtime fans and newcomers alike. This is one of those books that long-time readers of the fantasy genre might find “familiar”. There may not be much in the way of breaking new ground, but Gwynne embraces all of those familiar trappings and looks to make them the best they can be. When I read his last series opener, A Time of Dread, I was really blown away by some of his fight scenes. And it was the same here. They feel… grounded. More real than most. There’s a focus on impact, on the struggles involved. John Gwynne’s fight scenes, for the most part, add to his characterisation. Which is refreshing for someone whose pet peeve is a bunch of fighting for the sake of it.