The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga)

Product Information

She is also a woman full of secrets, and we only find out about her past at the end, because it is clear from the beginning that she is more than she seems. I really loved reading the first part of the Bloodsworn Saga, The Shadow of the Gods, by John Gwynne and I’m already excited for the next instalment! This author is not afraid to take away our joy, he often chooses sadness and betrayal for characters I had grown to love, which is why an even deeper connection to the characters was created.

As whispers of war echo across the land of Vigrið, fate follows in the footsteps of three warriors: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman pursuing battle fame, and a thrall seeking vengeance among the mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.If words like drengrand holmgang mean anything to you, or the very thought of a shield-wall gets you jittery with excitement, then make no mistake: this book is for you.

I will admit that Elvar’s storyline did take me a little longer to get into, but I become extremely hooked on it after a few chapters.I ended up listening to The Shadow of the Gods’ audiobook format, which turned out to be an amazing and captivating production. For new readers enjoy your first time experiencing Gwynne as he is a magnificent storyteller of gritty and grim fantasy that is full of heart. By the end of the book, there’s a sense that the larger story is just getting started, and the shape of how everyone could come together is just beginning to form. Orka's character development was excellent, I enjoyed seeing another side of her and watch her learn more about herself. The dangerous creatures are not penned by him, but are for the most part modelled on creatures from Norse folklore.

In my review for The Shadow of the Gods, I mentioned that Orka had “the potential to become one of my all-time favourite characters”, and I can firmly say that she has entered my hall of fame! The Shadow of the Gods is told from the POV of many different characters with the Titan that created the Man God or at least was the main proponent of creating the Man God being the POV and then his chapter would be followed by the Man God of whom would detail the fall of his life. If you’ve got a soft spot for Vikings and fantasy, then The Shadow of the Godsis the book you didn’t know you needed but have been waiting for. I think this is probably due to Orka’s arc being more precise and classic fantasy than Varg’s and Elvar’s who both find themselves as members of warbands.

The Shadow of the Gods is a fantastic and captivating read that takes the reader on thrilling adventures with some exceptional characters.

While subtle, it does perfectly set up an overarching conspiracy that has major implications for the entire plot and which sets up the next novel perfectly. The three main characters stay confined more or less to their own separate adventures for the duration of the tale, with occasional references sprinkled throughout to tie them together. When I read his last series opener, A Time of Dread, I was really blown away by some of his fight scenes.I loved all the characters, the battles, and the Norse-mythology world plus creatures, but having these traveling sections repeated until the end of the novel did get tiresome at times. At the same time, he produces some rough and damaged voices for the various characters featured within the book which I felt fit each of them perfectly and which helped to highlight their distinctive personalities.