ARC from NetGalley

4.5 stars

Okay first, I must get this off my chest because I have just finished the book and come to the "meet the author" page. I am just going to guess that John Gwynne owns a fedora. I mean, kudos to your boldness, sir. In a large pushbutton armchair in the middle of a field betwixt 2 ferocious beasts sits John Gwynne with his leg up on the arm like he owns the place, which I assume he does, holding an ax, donning that pirate shirt from that Seinfeld episode, head polished to a sheen, with a look of such smarm. I tip my hat.

Anyways, this book felt a lot longer than it is. It is very much the first book in a series. It has multiple character points of view, so it takes a while to cycle through them all, get a grip as to who is who, feel the characters out and start to GAF about them. There was just enough to keep my interest piqued in bursts. I would start to get meh and then another interesting thing would keep me reading. It wasn't until the last 25% or less that I was really into it. I am just going to assume that what is coming is so very good that it justified this bit of a slog.

I'm intrigued to see where we go from here. The ending was excellent. Having the characters all start to tie together, learning who is tainted, it was done really well. The pace really picked up at the end and it ended on a high note. One of those pitches that you feel throughout your bones in kind of a squeak of need for what comes next. I would recommend this to anyone who likes ale/swords/wenches/castles kind of fantasy with mystery, found family, Norse shit, and gods, and mild gore (I am a wuss, so take that with a grain). I look forward to the next one.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Unpopular opinion time!  I had previously read the author's malice and thought it was just okay.  The plot of that book is completely gone now.  But I wanted to give the author a second chance.  I got to 63% and abandoned ship.  This author's work is apparently not for me.  I found the world to be somewhat interesting but not exceptional.  The pace was extremely slow and plodding.  However the main problem was the characterization. 

Ye follow three POVs for this one.  One is a slave (thrall) named Varg.  One is a warrior woman and mom named Orka.  The other is a warrior woman who wants fame and money named Elvar.  I liked the set-up for Varg's story but lost interest after his "training" and lack of explanation of his "mysterious" past.  Elvar's story was so mundane that I never cared for her.  I started to hate seeing her name at the top of her chapters. Orka was by far the best but her fighting skills seemed like superpowers and her reactions never varied.  Maybe if it was just her story with more insight into her motivations, I would have liked this book better.  I felt at times that their voices were indistinguishable. There are also two warbands (with Varg and Elvar) and I kept getting them confused because they were so similar that, outside of the leaders, the warriors in them were interchangeable.

I also had a problem with the non-English words.  I don't normally care about this but they seemed a weird combination of real and made-up words.  I kept being annoyed that some would translate online and others didn't.  I don't normally want a glossary but I did for this book.  I also thought the writing had too many awkward similes and repetitive descriptions.  Also the author used the word "thought-cage" for brain 70 times (I counted), as many as 5 per chapter, and for all three POVs. That be approximately once every 7 pages.  It drove me crazy!

Even the promised dragon was not enough to get me to finish this book.  I will not be reading any more of this author's work.  Arrr!

My intro to John Gwynne. This book drew me into the world he has hand crafted. I had heard so much about this author before from friends. After finishing this book I orddered all of his books. I cannot reccomend this book and his works enough. The action was entralling and breathtaking. Loved the different POVs

4.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

Wow. What a fantastic first book in a new, exciting epic fantasy series. It's got everything you want in an epic fantasy; Norse mythology, gods, monsters, dragons, swords, battles, mercenaries, stupid and/or evil rulers, skilled fighters, cowards, plucky former slaves out for vengeance, quests, and much more. The book ends on a great cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what the author will bring us next.

The story centers on three main characters, Orka, Varg and Elvar. Orka is a former warrior. She is married with a young son. She and her family lived on the outskirts of a small village. One day as she and her family are out on their land, they hear screaming from a nearby home. They find the two parents slaughtered and their young son missing. They track the attackers to a nearby river, where the kidnappers have made their escape. Soon thereafter, Orka's family is also attacked, her husband killed and her son kidnapped. Orka sets out on a quest to find her kidnapped son.

Varg is a former slave, called a "thrall" in this book. He escapes his master and tracks down a group of mercenaries called Bloodsworn. They have a magician travelling with them and Varg wants her to conduct a spell that will show him the identity of his sister's murderer. He plans to hunt that person down and kill them. But things aren't quite that easy, and before he knows it, he's made a trial member of the Bloodsworn and they have set out on a mission to fight monsters troubling a nearby border. Varg must prove himself and become a member of the Bloodsworn before he will be allowed to ask the magician for her help.

Lastly, Elvar, is the daughter of a powerful and cruel Jarl. Rather than be forced to marry someone to help strengthen her father's position, she runs away and joins a group of mercenaries called the Battle-Grim, who hunt down people who possess extra powers and are considered "god-touched". The Battle-Grim sell the "god-touched" people to rich and powerful people who make them into thralls. Elvar has hidden who her family is to everyone except her leader, and has worked and fought hard to earn battle-fame of her own. She is a loyal, skilled and capable fighter. Through a series of circumstances the Battle-Grim find themselves on a quest to find the place where the last battle of the gods took place, which has god bones (which give the holder power) and other riches that will not only make them all rich beyond belief, but will also give them much battle-fame, which means their names will last forever. But of course, things don't go according to plan.

The book is told in short chapters, bouncing back and forth between the three main characters' quests. You can see that slowly, and eventually, our three heroes will come together. Their paths there, however, will be much different.

Gwynne does a great job of intertwining the worldbuilding throughout the book, so you don't have to slog through a huge info dump to set the stage. Getting through the worldbuilding is one of the things that makes reading the first book of a fantasy series hard sometimes, and often turns off the casual fantasy reader. Don't get me wrong, worldbuilding is vital to a good fantasy series. It's just that some authors are better than others in winding it throughout the book, without leaving the reader confused or frustrated.

I really like the three main characters. The author does a great job of character building and I felt their highs and lows as they experienced them. There are several other minor characters that help move the stories along and add a bit of humor. These characters are less developed than the main characters, but are flushed out enough to add depth to the stories.

I really enjoyed Gwynne's previous series, so was excited to learn he had started another one. This is set in a different world, but the attention to detail, the great worldbuilding, the interesting characters and in-depth battle scenes are just what we expect from this author. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Orbit Books. All opinions are my own.

Shields clashing, steel stabbing…everywhere was death (the author’s words) and smashing, bloody, painful death! These people fought with spears, swords and axes. Imagine early Vikings, some of whom know magic! This story follows three different people from three different places. Orka and her husband are raising their young son. Elvar, of the Battle-Grim, has worked hard to become a warrior and Varg, who becomes part of the group of warriors known as the Blood Sworn. Those are the three main characters. There are also slavers, who steal and sell men, women and children. There are tennurs, who eat human teeth. There are trolls and there is one big, savage dragon. There’s never a dull moment in this story. Lots and lots of betrayal and bloody gore, though. But what else would you expect from Vikings? I liked this story a lot and will be waiting for the next book in this series. I liked this author’s writing style. He weaves an exciting tale.

This is the first book by John Gwynne that I have read and I really enjoyed the story. Highly recommend for anyone who likes fantasy. I had been having trouble finding a new book to read - picked up several different ones but could not finish them - and then started reading this! Can't wait for the rest of this series to be published. Already put the rest of Gwynne's book on my list of what to read next.

Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for me to review.

Characters 5/5
The characters feel so real in this book. With only three points-of-view, you get to know each of them quite well, and it just made things feel very intimate and, honestly, just made the hurts hurt more. 😭

Plot 5/5
This is such a fun story. Each of the POVs has their own goals and adventures and you get equally invested in all of them. I'm so excited to see where the story goes in the next book.

Storytelling/Writing 5/5
Already being familiar with John Gwynne's writing, this was, as always, a delight, but I think this is the first multiple-POV book I've read where every single chapter I was looking forward to no matter whose POV it was. And the balance between the three POVs felt so great. I was never thinking to myself "Oh man, I wish we were back with (so-and-so)." This book is so well paced and structured that I sometimes I had to force myself to stop reading so I wouldn't stay up all night and binge it all in one sitting.

Enjoyment 5/5
Obviously, I loved this book! I am so excited for this series and to read more by John Gwynne. If you love "A Song of Ice and Fire" and you're looking for something to read while you're waiting for book six 😅, I definitely recommend this book!

Atmosphere 5/5
The world this is set in is so fun! The landscape and terrain! The mythology and lore! The magical creatures!! 🥰I can't wait to see what new things get introduced in the next one!

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the ARC

Wow! First book in the series and I'm already impressed. I was on the fence about even requesting this title as usually I'm more of a light and fluffy fantasy girl- but this was great.

The Shadow of the Gods is a Norse-mythology inspired novel with vikings and violence and bloodshed. What else could you really want? Action packed all the way through. The whole vibe is dark and brutal.

Multiple perspectives so if you don't like that here's your warning.

4.5/5 stars

This book jumps right into the action, and doesn't really let up. I really enjoyed the ride.

There is not a lot of exposition early, the reader is left to try to piece things together on their own or wait until things are made clear later on in the book. Personally I found that to really fit this work well, and keeps the story compelling.

The balance between action and story building was artfully done, and seeing the pieces start to come together was immensely satisfying.

The next one the series will be a must read for me.

Shadow of the Gods is the first book in the new Bloodsworn Saga trilogy by John Gwynne. It loosely follows some Norse Mythology as three different PoVs unfurl the story. They are caught up in something big on the horizon, something that will change the world they live in. They just don’t know how tangled up they are.
This is a world of blood. Of tooth and claw and sharp iron. Of short lives and painful deaths.

Years ago, animal gods walked the land. Dragon, bear, wolf, fox, snake, rat and many more. But there was a struggle for power and a war between them where none are thought to have survived. Life has gone on and the blood of the gods has survived in some humans, diluted over the years, but still present. These people are so feared they are hunted and collared to be trapped as slaves and used for their gifts/curses.
"All is lies" she murmured. "They call this the age of peace, because the ancient war is over and the gods are dead, but if this is peace..." She looked to the skies, clouds low and heavy, snow falling in the sheets now, and back at the blood-soaked corpses. "This is the age of storm and murder..."

Orka, is a mother living with her son teaching him the ways of this magical world. When he is taken, she will become who she was before to find him. Varg grew up a slave and his only goal is to find who is responsible for his sister’s death. He needs a witch for that seeing, the Bloodsworn have one so he joins their warband, if he proves himself and becomes one of them the witch will tell him who killed his only family. And finally, Elvar left her home to build a name and find glory for herself. She is part of the bounty hunter gang the Battle-Grim. They search for the men and women with the blood of the gods left in them to be captured and sold. She just never thought she would search for the last battle ground of the gods until a twist of fate take her down that path.

This is a magical world full of deadly creatures, Fjords and some blood debts owed. It is the beginning of an epic tale of how the gods died and who is looking to try to return them to this world. Each PoV gives insight into how the world works and why some are happy with the new brutal peace that enslaves anyone gifted with gods blood and why others would do horrendous things to bring back the ways of old.

As a first book in such a series, it takes awhile to get going to set up the main characters. I found that time entertaining, but I am a patient reader and know the payoff is worth all the set up most time. The beginning pacing may be a little slow for some. All the main characters were interesting and have some complicated histories. I did like the teasing out of those histories and how they will play into the overall story lines.

Shadow of the Gods ends in a BANG and makes you really excited to see where things go in the next book. Gwynne is not afraid to kill off characters and really rip your heart out in places. He knows in blood and war not everyone makes it out alive and that is what he gives his readers. Fantastic first book to a series.

Now this book is an epic tale worthy of the Vikings. I felt like I was completely transported into the Viking world. It has daring and gruesome battle scenes, some interesting characters, and just the right amount of creatures, witchcraft, gods, and prophecy. I also appreciated how much Viking research went into this book. As far as I know, a lot of the elements in this book are accurate, and it was cool to see them in fiction. It really is an immersive book.

I will say that this book is dense. To me, it read a lot like The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia. John Gwynne has a detailed, adult style that made it hard for me to read a lot in one sitting. Also, his writing style made me feel a bit removed from the characters. It was like watching a movie without being able to go deep into a character's head. That being said, I still cared for the characters and their goals, and I will definitely be picking up the next book. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Orbit Books, for the ARC!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Shadow of the Gods is a Norse-inspired fantasy that centers around three characters; Orsa, Varg, and Elvar. I don't know if it's just me, but I haven't read that many Norse-inspired stories but have been itching for a really good one ever since I started watching Vikings. I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. The three main characters are all on their own journey of vengeance (in a way). Orsa is trying to find her son, Varg wants revenge for his sisters death, and Elvar wants to make her own way in the world and not be tied down by her father's wishes. While Elvar's story did take a while for me to get into, once we get about halfway and learn of her motivations, the book as a whole got a lot more interesting. Orsa and Varg's chapters never dragged in my opinion. It is one thing that Gwynn does extremely well. His characterization is incredibly strong. The side characters even had great personalities. Many times it was them that made me laugh and helped to move the story along when coming to an MC's aid.

The story was really good as well. There was a lot of backstory and worldbuilding throughout, but not once did it feel too info-dumpy or slogged down. Instead, it was woven throughout to give more info to the characters motivation. I am not going to search for more Norse-inspired stories because there is just something about vikings and that culture that I find very intriguing.

Overall this was a really great start to what I know will be a great series. I definitely am planning on reading more of Gwynn's backlog since this was the first of his that I've taken a stab at.

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne is a sweeping adventure ! Characters with great depth and epic Norse mythology lead the reader deep into Viking territory. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens!

The Shadow of the Gods is a Norse inspired epic fantasy. Gwynne has masterfully created a world with complex characters, mythical beings and dangerous creatures. The story follows three main characters and while the pace is slow to start, Gwynne builds the foundation for a rich and imaginative tale with dynamic characters, action-packed battle scenes and beautiful imagery pulling you into the dark and gritty world of the Bloodsworn.

I highly recommend this tale and eagerly await book two. Fans of Nordic tales and gritty action-packed fantasy will enjoy this Bloodsworn Saga.

Special thanks to NetGalley, John Gwynne and the publisher Orbit for the advanced copy of The Shadow of the Gods.

First, thank you to Orbit books, Netgalley, and John Gwynne for a digital ARC of this book.
This is a great story. As much as I loved The Faithful and the Fallen series, I feel like this is John Gwynne in his element and this will be the story and world he becomes known for. The Viking/Old Norse inspired world is so intriguing and different. The story has familiar and comfortable tropes and ideas, but the mythology, history, and magic of this world feels fresh, new, and unique. The descriptions are very vivid and epic, and there is a real raw grittiness to them that you can feel which makes the world and characters feel very real. There are few POV characters and the story moves at a great pace. I never felt that slowdown or lull like you get in many fantasy books. At the end with only a few sentences left in the book, I went from shocked cheering and then to sadness realizing it was over. Book 2 can’t come out soon enough, and I hope we have many more stories coming set in this world. This has potential to become a new favorite series for me. I absolutely recommend buying this book, highly recommended.

All the ingredients of a magical read-allies, creatures, magic, power struggles. It is brilliant and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Wow, John Gwynne does it again! I love anything dealing with Vikings, and this book has a fresh take on it. I love this book so much, even though it took me forever to read, it was worth the journey. I really thought the world building was amazing and all of the characters were perfectly fleshed out. If you love high fantasy full of action and atmosphere, please pick this book up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review - sorry I finished it after publication but on the plus side to those reading my review, this book is out!

Wow...I haven't read an epic fantasy like that in a long time. I love following the 3 story arcs and seeing how they weave together to create this story. In the beginning they all seem so different you wonder how they will all fit together but they do, so well. I also love that 2 of the 3 arcs are women and that in this story just because a jarl or warrior or clan leader is being described you can't assume gender - the women are just as tough as the men and hold just as many positions of authority. I was also surprised quite a few times in this story (which doesn't happen often) and definitely said "Oh shit!" a bit!

I can't believe I had been hesitant about requesting this book at first - I don't think I would have read it at all if I hadn't been granted an ARC. I am so glad I got one, I can't wait for the rest of the series, and I will definitely be looking up this authors other work in the meantime!

I’m just gonna say that I love this book. This is a world I would love to step into.

This is a Norris inspired fantasy series. You follow three main perspectives. The beginning all three perspectives are totally different so throughout the whole book you’re trying to figure out how they connect at the end which is really appealing. You have a slave and a mother and son living in a fishing village and a warrior.

I can’t wait for the next installment to see what Gwynne does next!

Thank you net galley and orbit books for in advance readers copy of this book.
My review is included on a good reads page.

For fans of ACOTAR & Game of Thrones!! A truly wonderful fantasy piece written from multiple POVs. The beginning was a lot for me to take in and it took me a while to get used to reading the detail-filled writing. It definitely puts you in the headspace of the author and into this intricate and monster filled world.

I can’t wait to hear about and read what the next parts of the series will be about.