Book 1: The Shadow of the Gods
Synopsis
Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.
Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave – or desperate – enough to seek them out.
Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .
Review
I enjoyed Gwynne’s previous series and was impressed with the depth of the worldbuilding, the dynamic cast of characters whose stories were interwoven throughout the series, and the gripping battle sequences rendered in visceral detail and realism. The Bloodsworn Saga, however, takes all those elements to another level. This series has been on my TBR list for an embarrassingly long time and I’d amassed such high levels of expectations that it seemed impossible that the series would deliver – but it did, and it’s for this reason that I’ve chosen to review all three books at once.
In this Norse-inspired world and its compelling characters, we meet Orka, a mother fiercely determined to protect her child; Varg, a former slave on a quest to avenge his sister’s murder; and Elvar, an ambitious young warrior out to make a name for herself.
The world is vividly drawn, and although there’s a lot of unfamiliar terminology introduced concerning the weapons, clothing and other worldbuilding elements, it never felt jarring or detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Rather, it added to the sense of immersion and I felt as if I was there with the characters as I followed their journey and watched their defeats and triumphs.
The story is packed with action, adventure, gods, and magic, as well as the jaw-dropping battle sequences that make John Gwynne’s writing so iconic, but it’s the characters at the heart of the story that truly brought this world to life for me. I’m throughly invested and I’m thrilled to have the next book ready to read right away.
Book 2: The Hunger of the Gods
Synopsis
THE DEAD GODS ARE RISING.
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.
As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own–and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.
Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
Their only hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead…and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.
Review
In the second instalment of John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga, Orka continues her fierce quest to find her missing child, while Elvar struggles to prove herself to the Battle-Grim and Varg adjusts to the reality that he carries the powers of a god inside himself. And we have more POVs introduced from the… less heroic side of the battleground, which add a new dimension to the story.
This series is epic in every sense of the word. Giant gods awaken, quests span the continent, and every detail of the ships, armour, and monstrous creatures serves to make this world more vivid and alive. As with the first volume, I felt as if I was present throughout every painful journey across harsh landscapes, every emotional moment, and every bone-crunching battle sequence.
Overall, this epic saga is just going from strength to strength and I’m sure the finale will be one to remember!
Book 3: The Fury of the Gods
Synopsis
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES
Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.
Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.
As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa’s favour and further his own ambitions.
All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle – a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.
Review
While I hadn’t intended for the series to be complete before I began my journey, I was glad of the chance to jump into Book 3 after that sucker-punch of an ending for the previous instalment.
And I’m delighted to say that the finale more than delivered.
We pick up where the last book left off, with our protagonists in dire peril and the world on the brink of a war between the gods. I was instantly drawn in and once again blown away by how Gwynne’s writing evokes the sheer vastness of this living and breathing world in a seemingly effortless fashion. The pace is never bogged down in infodumping and every detail serves to make the world and the characters feel more alive.
The gods are undeniably compelling, but they never overshadow the very human stories of our main characters. Interspersed amid the jaw-dropping action sequences were some truly heart-wrenching moments that I didn’t see coming. John Gwynne isn’t afraid to deal emotional damage and really hurt your favourite characters, that’s for sure. The battles are brutal and unflinching yet cathartic and have you cheering and punching the air whenever a character triumphs over the odds.
The ending is a satisfying one that brings closure to both the character arcs and the storyline as a whole, while still giving the sense that there’s enough of this vast world left to explore that leaves it open for further instalments.
Without a doubt, this is a series that has joined my list of all-time top fantasy favourites and is one that I’ll be revisiting over and over again.
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