The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga)

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Un propósito como una partida de ajedrez en el sentido de que Gwynne avanza la trama como quiere y a menudo no ves a donde va, o lo ves pero no aciertas. Solo tiene un fallo este libro y es que se termina. I also need to talk about Orka. 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! Orka continues to be fierce, compassionate, compelling and complex. Orka’s sheer will and determination to fight for her loved ones is awe-inspiring. Fantasy books need more badass mothers! We recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Orbit Books for the review copy!

The world-building is absolutely awesome, you can really see the Viking-influence and Gwynne finds a way to perfectly bring things like frost spiders to life and make you genuinely fear for the characters’ lives throughout. His extensive research is apparent from the use of lots of Norse terms throughout. This was the first John Gwynne book I’ve ever read, but I’m so glad. I’ve watched a few events with the author in too now and found out things such as he’s an avid Viking reenactor and it’s just so cool that he’s thrown himself into the world so much – it really shows in his writing. Drakkar – a type of longship, often referred to as dragon ships, the stereotypical Viking longboat with a dragon carved at the prow If more made that choice, in their head and hearts, to live a peaceful life with those they love and value, and just allow others to do the same.” // The element of slavery or “thralls” instantly fills me with rage, and from the first book I’ve been hoping for an uprising or revolution. I had no idea where that plot line would go but I’m so excited to see it pan out.

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The plot progression was slow, the book felt like a preparation to the final book, almost everything that happened here felt like a prelude to what will happen in the next and final book in the series. 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! Elvar is a warrior in one of the warbands – the Battle-Grim – and Varg is just about to get involved with another, the Bloodsworn. The three narratives are generally kept very separate right up until the end with only a minimal amount of crossover. This means that the readers end up getting three distinct stories with a unique group of characters set within the same book. I think that this was a pretty cool way to start the wider series off, especially as it let the reader see more of the universe, while also expertly establishing the main protagonists and their storylines. At the same time, limiting the narrative to only three major characters (I understand that Gwynne usually uses more), also ensures that the story does not get too fractured, and that the reader has time to get properly invested in each storyline. I had a wonderful time reading each of the three storylines, and I honestly enjoyed each of them pretty much equally. This is pretty rare for novels that use multiple POV characters, as there is usually one narrator or storyline that the reader enjoys more than others. 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. If I had to choose an absolute favourite storyline, I would say that the Varg chapters were really appealing to me, and I enjoyed seeing his cool story of redemption, as well as his fun companions. While the stories were primarily kept separate, a few overarching plotlines and a couple of supporting characters are shared between the three arcs. 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. This makes for a pretty epic novel, and it is one that no fantasy fan will be able to easily put down.

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Shadow of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to John Gwynne and Orbit Books. After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Hundreds of years ago, the gods fought in a brutal and fatal war in the lands of Vigrið for power, vengeance, and pride. When the fighting stopped all the gods lay dead, the land was shattered, and hordes of monsters and demons were unleashed upon the world. Now, after barely surviving the carnage of the god’s war, humans dominate Vigrið, with powerful jarls fighting for control of the towns while mercenary war bands quest after monsters and the most feared inhabitants of Vigrið, the Tainted. The Tainted are human descendants of the gods who bear small remnants of their savage power, and who are now hunted out of fear and a desire to harness their power for the wars to come. Como un maestro herrero va forjando con cuidado cada detalle, con fuerza cuando se requiere a fuego y agua, nos muestra desde los detalles de la ropa o del entorno, las armas y técnicas de lucha cuerpo a cuerpo, la tensión y lo que se siente en esos momentos. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial.

Men die, Women die, all creatures of flesh and blood die, but battle-fame survives. To become a song, a saga-tale told from generation to generation. That way we will live forever. That is what I want, what all of us want.” A multi-layered and very detailed world is conjured up here, which seems so vivid with John Gwynne’s figurative language that you sink into this story. The characters have their rough edges and the character relationships are emotional and deep, so that you can also empathize with them. 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. In addition, I have to credit the author for bringing in a cheese-loving character named Svik, and his story about his love for cheese is just hilarious and melts-in-your-mouth. For in him I have found my dream man. The tension in each story is tugging at your heartstrings and is complemented by strong protagonists that just make for brilliantly written storylines. At so many points I felt like I was in the video game Skyrim, which gave me an incredible atmosphere – just like this book. I am addicted to this book, to this world, to the characters and to the story and I really need the next book to satisfy my addiction. This is a spoiler-free review, so read on without fear. The Shadow of the Godshas some fantastic plot twists. We would sooner disgrace ourselves on the field of battle than ruin them for you.

If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for 65 € per month.Anyway they were selling signed copies of The Shadow of the Gods, and eventually I caved. By that point I was loving the book too much to resist a signed copy for my collection! Then there’s also the next main character: Varg. Varg seeks vengeance for his sister’s death, and he wants to know what caused her death. To achieve this objective, Varg has his fate intertwined with The Bloodsworn. Immediately from his first two chapters where he battled Einar the Half-Troll, my attention and investment in his story were sparked already. Considering that camaraderie in a hard world and found family are some of the main themes in The Shadow of the Gods, I do believe that Gwynne has portrayed them effectively through Varg’s chapters. It was immensely heartwarming seeing Varg, who has been alone all his life, gradually develop friendships with the members of the Bloodsworn. Remember, the series is named The Bloodsworn Saga, so obviously, The Bloodsworn is an important group of people within the book/series. Also, Varg’s chapters were filled with humor due to the character Svik. I can’t even begin to say how much I enjoyed reading Svik's cheese and porridge story; I can’t wait for you all to read it. There’s also this gem that may be linked to The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Gods is a gritty and violent Norse mythology-inspired tale that features monsters, magic, vengeance, warbands, and shield walls. It takes place approximately 300-years after the Gods of Vigrið fought and battled themselves to annihilation and follows three distinct point of view perspectives as they traverse Gwynne’s well-realised dark fantasy world. Brother. How have I had such good fortune to find these people, after so many years of loneliness and pain?”

The writing was great and it is not really a surprise because Gwynne has that atmospheric prose that makes you dive into the story and enjoy it. I think what makes this book stand up are the characters. The story is told through multiple POVs like the first book and the author makes them all intriguing and intertwined in a way that made me think a bit too much about his writing process. I also wish that I had a big map of the world with statues of he characters that I could move along the map and see how everything come together because that’s simply how much I was submerged in the story. 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. John Gwynne’s "The Hunger of the Gods" is a truly epic sequel. The world building is beautifully designed, the story is incredibly engaging, and the battle sequences are raw and relentless. The power of the book is in the characters. They are strong individuals that would circle the land to fight for what they believe in, sacrifice themselves to save the ones they love, and prove their worth to the world. It's bleak, but it also has a great sense of wonder. You want to root for the characters, and it’s easy to find one or two of their traits in yourself. I was reading this in a receptive state of mind—I was embroiled in the plot, excited about the resurrection of the gods, and yes, fairly emotional in some heart-wrenching moments. 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. I’ve not enjoyed characters this much in a book, let alone a fantasy book, since I read Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself. The Shadow of the Gods summary – 5/5

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And also, the character interaction especially the conversation between the main characters were handled wonderfully and I would love to read more of other characters reaction when they find out Orka is the Skullsplitter. You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many user’s needs. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here.