In a word - COOL - this book was brutally awesome, fast paced, perfectly realized. The Shadows of the Gods follows the story line of three character's points of views. The author describes his story as Beowulf meets the myth of Ragnorok, which is pretty damn accurate of a description. The author even does Viking reenactments, again very noticeable throughout the entirety of the book. The world this book takes place in is so very very vivid and alive and so wonderful. I would love to live in this place and go on quests and adventures if only for a day. The many battles that happen from begin to end are real and come off the page to pummel you right in the face. Between the setting of Vigrid and the battles the story alone is worth your time, but the story itself is great and book two will most likely be just as amazing. I can guess that this will find it's way onto year end lists and be one of the hit summer reads for fans of the fantasy genres.

Another solid book by one of my now favorite fantasy authors, John Gwynne. We follow a unique and interesting cast of characters with the 3 main POV's of Varg, Elvar and Orka.

This book is stuffed full of all the Vikings goodness you could ask for: jarls, violence, bloodeagles, beards and language I can't even begin to read or comprehend. There is absolutely a great foundation here that is beaming with detail and lore.

I'm eager for you all to read this one and I will have a video review up in the near future.

This is the first John Gwynne novel I have read, but I don't think it will be the last. There are just so many good elements to his writing. Well written battle scenes, immerse world building, and enthralling characters.

Gwynne excels at characterization in this novel, and fully fleshed out characters is something I find super important in the books I read. Gwynne's characters are so real, fully formed, and flawed that it makes for such a great reading experience to be able to follow their lives for the duration of the story.

Gwynne also does a really great job in his worldbuilding, so much so that it took a while for me to fully understand how the world works because it is just so complex. Instead of info dumping the world building onto the reader, Gwynne instead layers it piece-meal onto the reader. While this helps from being completely overloaded with the worldbuilding, it was a little too sparse and resulted in me dropping my rating of the novel. I feel like the story could have benefitted from a glossary of world terms, and I hope this is something that might be included in the final published version. Once I understood how the world worked and the history of the world events I was hooked into the story.

I eagerly look forward to seeing where this journey goes next, and the next novel in this series.

Varg, the thrall with a secret. Orka, the mother with a past. Elvar, the princess with a dream. Spread across The Banished Lands, a land near-destroyed by the war, and death, of the gods, they must fight for what they love. In the shadow of the gods lies dark magic, revenge and The Bloodsworn.
John Gwynne already wrote a near-perfect quartet (The Faithful and the Fallen) and trilogy (Of Blood and Bone) in the amazing Banished Lands saga. Can he do it again? If Shadow of the Gods is any indication, the answer is HELL. YES.
The Viking influence is as strong as it gets and fully displays Gwynne’s love for the culture. The lore is rich with detail and homages while adding enough to make it feel wholly original.
Where John Gwynne truly shines though, is in his characterizations. The characters burst from the page with personality. Varg’s journey of revenge and acceptance is touching and relatable, Elvar’s need to stand out from her family is believable and exciting. And Orka’s quest to save her family is brutal, heart-pounding and action-packed. Okra is bound to become a new fan favorite, up there with Maquin of Faithful and the Fallen fame.
Is this John Gwynne’s best book? No. Is it his best book one? Maybe. What I can say is that The Bloodsworn Saga promises a heart-pounding/breaking adventure with the potential for absolute greatness. I eagerly await book two, tentatively titled Dead Gods Rising. TRUTH AND COURAGE!*
*yeah, yeah, wrong series. Sue me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

3.5 rating.

I am all for epic fantasies. Unfortunately, this one just never really connected for me. It was a long time before I have any interest in Elvar. I’d always groan at the start of her chapters. They did gradually get better. I always enjoyed Varg’s chapters best and loved his journey. Orka went from good to meh to back and forth. I am huge on characters and character development, and unfortunately this story just didn’t do it for me. I loved the ending and how everything was coming together. I think the next book will be a lot better.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great start to a new epic fantasy series. This series is heavily influenced by Viking and Norse folklore. The Shadow of the Gods was full of action, fun characters, and lots of unique creatures. The magic system in this book is very interesting; magic-users (known as thralls, Tainted and god-touched) are descendants of ancient animal gods and their magic is based on the animalistic characters of their godly lineage. The god-touched are feared and many are enslaved to different leaders and warrior clans. This book does not follow the same structure as most high fantasy novels as the characters are constantly on the move. What I loved the most about this book is that female characters were put into leadership positions. The main Jarl (leader) in the book was female, the main villain was female, and two out of the three POV characters were badass female warriors. Strong women everywhere and it was awesome! I also loved the ending of this book and it really solidified my desire to read the rest of this series.

The biggest complaints I have with this book is the lack of a pronunciation guide or translation of the old Norse words that the characters use as well as a lack of a reference guide for the different gods and the powers of their magical children. I don't know if reference guides will be included in the final printing but it would have been extremely helpful for me while reading the ARC. I had to make do with creating notes in the kindle version of the book that I could reference while reading. My other complaint would be that the action felt repetitive at times, especially after the halfway point of the story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book and I am interested in picking up other books by this author.

omg omg omg this book was so good!
The Shadow of the Gods is a high adult fantasy with everything from Political Intrigue to magical creatures!.
I really enjoyed this one and I thought the atmosphere and setting was amazing! Sadly the pacing was extremely slow and I had some issues with it because it sometimes would not keep me engaged with the story but the rest of the story was amazing and very well written and spaced! I enjoyed this one a lot and cannot wait to read more by this author! thank you to orbit books and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow of the Gods is probably one the most anticipated releases in fantasy this year. Is it worth the hype and the attention it's getting? I would say yes. Not a perfect read for me but really a great read and start of a journey into this world. The characters are flawed, while still trying to hold onto what they see is right and honorable to them at times but maybe not succeeding all the time. Orka is one of the most single minded and bloody focused characters in the book. There are glimpses into her mentality but her past is only hinted at but you can guess she has had a hard life. Varg is the other character that stands out to me. A somewhat inexperienced young man despite the harsh life he has already lived. Varg is one the character who will be the one that has the most to learn and grow out of most of the characters in the book I think. Elvar I neither disliked or liked that much but another like Varg with room to grow and improve. I did warm to her more throughout the book though.
The combat was entertaining in its simplicity and the raw savagery of it all. They don't undergo combat training that is that detailed and come close to an art like some. It's more strength and speed and just more of a brawling style. There is skilled involved in knowing how to fight well though as some of them show as well. The magic is not so clearly defined for me really but maybe will be better after another read. The Tainted all appear just to be stronger and faster when they use their gifts. Those that are not Tainted would call them cursed.. Runes seem to the other magic available which needs to be talked about more at some point in detail.
The culture of this world is not one I think I would want to live in. The thrall system is not something that is right about this culture but then every culture seems to have some form of slavery for a time.
There are surprises and twists in this book that I saw and some I truly didn't see coming at all. The ending falls into both of those. I am ready now to see what happens next and how the story will continue for sure. I am looking forward to the reread to see how much I missed and if I think its as good a read on the second time as the first. I fully expect this book to be on people's list of favorite books of the year.

This book was received as an ARC from Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was intense. I have never read a book this invigorating and powerful ever not only in my career as a librarian but ever in my lifetime. I absolutely love the concept. Gods that once ruled over the land of Vigrio have been destroyed but their powers still remain bringing war with them. Now the people must seek out the bones from the dead gods for the power and they must do it before the monsters get to them or the Kingdom and people of Vigrio will perish for good. There were many adventures to the bones from the jarls that some of them were really heart pumping and jaw dropping while reading. The story was so captivating and creative, while at the same time very intense to get through and finish.

We will consider adding this title to our Science Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 4 stars.

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.

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.

The Shadow of the GodsThese characters are Orka, an ex-warrior who lives with her husband and son at a quiet steading, Varg, a thrall who is running to escape his slave masters, and Elvar, a young warrior who is trying to find battle fame with the monster hunting warband the Battle-Grim. They all have deep and interesting pasts of which we are given more details of as the story progresses. Through the eyes of these characters, I was engrossed from the very first chapter and by about the fourth chapter I was chuffed to see that Gwynne had worked his magic again.

Gwynne has crafted a fresh and unique fantasy world and adventure that I’d summarise as a mixture of some of the finest elements from Norse Mythology and Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom novels. (There are a few people who get called “arselings” as homage to Leofric I imagine and warriors in this world wish to die with a weapon in their hand.) It features The Witcher-esque monsters and heartwarming friendships and camaraderie that I also adored in Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen series. It seems like Gwynne went into writing this series with big ambitions and wasn’t going to hold back on his vision. This world is as majestic as it is haunting, as macabre as it is beautiful. An example is that one of Vigrið’s main cities is in the skull of a dead god. The imagery throughout is phenomenal.

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.

For a 500-page novel, there is a huge cast of characters. The three main protagonists are all great to follow but I did find myself most excited when returning to Orka’s storyline. 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. In the warbands, there is a wide mix of players from varying backgrounds, cultures, and skillsets. Einar Half-Troll, Rokia, and Grend were really fine supporting characters and some of the banter and humour is witty and wry. When we returned to one of the warband-focused point of views, I will admit that I sometimes had to refamiliarise myself with the crew of each faction and what they’d been up to during their last chapter as their missions and objectives were similar occasionally. Also worth mentioning, a nice touch that I really enjoyed was when one of the characters would mention another person the reader is familiar with from another story arc, fitting another piece in the puzzle of how the storylines may be interconnected.

So, why am I only giving The Shadow of the Gods four-stars? Without a doubt, The Shadow of the Gods was my most anticipated read of the year and all the reviewers I trust have given it glowing five-star reviews. Gwynne is one of my favourite authors and I think all of the aforementioned are reasons that I overhyped it to myself. It’s an excellent start to what I have no doubt will be a stunning and fresh fantasy saga. I awarded Malice and A Time of Dread four-stars each too and ended up adoring those series. In my mind, I expected the world’s most phenomenal fantasy standalone novel and on that front, it doesn’t quite deliver. That being said, the endings are fantastic, the set-up for the next novel is intriguing, there may be animal or monster companions(!), it’s an addictive read, and, knowing Gwynne’s previous work, I think every book in the series will build on these fine foundations to a conclusion of epic, possibly world-shattering proportions. Gwynne’s a talented wordsmith and the next tale in The Bloodsworn Saga will probably be my most anticipated read of the year when that’s released too. If you haven’t read any of Gwynne’s books yet, The Shadow of the Gods might be the best place to start.

This book has certainly earned its place among my all-time favourites. It's amazing how well the author manages to depict life during the Viking area. If you ever wondered how it would feel like to travel through snow-covered Norway, be part of a shield wall, or man the rudder of a longship this book has you covered.

Filled with hardships, challenges and companionship, the book follows three protagonists on their journey through an unforgiving and brutal world.

The gods went to war among themselves and left the world littered with corpses and in ruin.
I really liked that this happened merely a couple hundred years ago and it's still fresh in everyone's mind from their bedtime stories.
It makes you feel like an adventurer whenever you come across a relic from that time.

If all that has you not convinced to immediately pick up this book, the absolutely gorgeous cover will. A beautiful story for your imagination and one of the best-looking books for your bookshelf.

This is my first John Gwynne novel. IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST.

This book, from start to finish, had me hanging on every word. The world-building, the ease of getting to know the characters, the intensity of their emotions, the vicious battle sequences, formed into a powerful saga of love, violence, loss, betrayal and magic.

SPOILER ALERT

Varg, the thrall on a mission of love and vengeance.

Orka, warrior, mother, one-woman wrecking ball on the path of the monsters who stole her child.

Elvar, mercenary with a secret.

Three brilliantly written characters on separate paths that converge into one world-shaking event.

You'll never see the ending coming!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Gore, Fantasy Battle Violence, self-cutting (blood magic), child kidnapping

Thank you. To Netgalley and Orbit Books for giving me the privilege of reading this amazing book. I eagerly await the sequel.

All opinions are my own.

I was really expecting to enjoy this book more than I did. What started as really promising turned into a giant slog as I found I didn’t really care for any of the characters. The only one I had any semblance of interest in was Orka, a huntswoman out for vengeance.

Despite my lukewarm feelings for the actual story and characters, I do appreciate that Gwynne clearly has done research and has a love for the Viking era. This was probably one of the most authentic Viking-inspired stories I’ve come across.

The Shadow of the Gods is an epic story set in a Norse inspired world during a time when myths become real, blood oaths are sworn and vengeance is sought. A cold world filled with many fantastical creatures, witches, Berserker warriors, bloodthirsty battles and strongly protected customs and traditions.

There are three main characters with alternating chapters told from each of their points of view: Orka, Varg and Elvar. They each have a separate story, but as the narrative progresses it becomes clear that their story arcs must eventually converge.

It is clear Orka was once a warrior who has now settled down with her Beserker husband, Thorkel and son, Breca, hoping for a quiet life. However in the words of Orka: “This is a world of blood. Of tooth and claw and sharp iron. Of short lives and painful deaths.” A quiet life does not last for long and she can only hope to have taught her son enough that he can survive such a cruel world after she and Thorkel are no longer there to protect him.
In one scene, Orka is teaching Mord and Lif warcraft so that they can avenge their father’s death. It is done in quite a maternal way. This natural instinct of a mother was partly what led to her freeing these brothers. Her rage and determination to find her son is relatable by all mothers. As a mother of a thirteen year old boy I know that no one comes near your child to harm them, or you turn into a raging Berserker! This instinct gives her the superhuman strength and stamina she needs to beat a whole group of warriors, in order to find out where her son Breca has been taken. Hell hath no fury like a woman whose husband has been brutally slain and child has been taken from her.

Elvar is a member of a warband named The Battle Grim. They are mercenaries - their leader Agnar’s priority is to earn enough gold through trading people, as well as goods, to keep his warrior band happy and loyal to him. Despite being a ruthless warrior, Elvar has a caring nature. She saved Uspa’s son from a sea monster with no thought for her own safety. She looks after her fellow warriors when they are injured and shows them respectful kindness. She is, however, a brutal killing machine and a cold hearted warrior when faced with a rival warband. Elvar could almost be a young version of Orka, before marriage and child birth.

Varg was a thrall, but he escaped from slavery and fled after committing murder. Now an accidental member of a warband, the Bloodsworn, he is learning how to become a warrior. His haphazard bravery provides a certain amount of comic relief and knows no bounds. He is a loyal and likeable character determined to avenge his sister’s death.

The level of detail of this Norse inspired world is astonishing and makes for an extremely rich reading experience. There is a scene where Orka is drinking mead from a horn while Lif is sewing up the wound in her back using a curved bone fishhook. The occasional use of Old Icelandic words throughout the novel, the description of the mechanics of a thrall collar, the knowledge of warcraft and specifically, how to wear a heavy maille shirt by tying a weapons’ belt around it in such a way that its weight is partially taken away from the shoulders; all of this reeks of a ton of research and detailed knowledge of the life of a Viking warrior on the part of the author.

The Shadow of the Gods is a truly amazing book. One of the best I have read in a very long time. It will pull on your heartstrings, boil your blood, leave you with your mouth hanging open and have you chuckling to yourself. I highly recommend it!

his eARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Even though John Gwynne has become an extremely well known fantasy author over the last year or so with his Banished Lands books getting so much spin by reviewers on YouTube and elsewhere I was yet to read any of his work due to being in the midst of several other long series. As I finished some of those series early in 2021 I slotted all of his work on TBR for late Spring/early Summer. My original plan was to read The Faithful and The Fallen and then either Of Blood and Bone or The Shadow of The Gods when it was released in May. However, when I got the opportunity to read an eARC of Shadow 2 months early I jumped at the chance. Since it's not connected to his other series there were no pre-requisites in any case, and holy hell did you see that cover and the ginormous dragon??

I was extremely glad I got the opportunity to read it early because it was as entertaining a fantasy book I have read in quite some time. There are several reasons why that is. First and foremost let me mention the pacing and the action. I'd say it's perfectly paced where it's not so fast as to be frenetic, and not so slow where it feels like characters are constantly traveling and nothing is happening. There is absolutely no fluff in this book. Every scene in every page matters and drives the story. Now for the action, there is plenty. The Battle Plain, which is the Viking-inspired setting of this book, is a hard violent place that is home to both multiple mercenary war bands, any number of deadly creatures, and beings that are the descendants of dead gods. When those things get into conflict things get bloody and no one is safe. It's both exciting, and written in a way that is easy to picture. I suspect the latter has to do with the fact that the author is a Viking-reenactor and his knowledge of their history and battle tactics brings this to life on the page. Also, I enjoyed the magic here. I'm a soft magic system guy so this was right up my alley. The magic has a lot to do with blood magic and the dead gods themselves and is utilized in a cool way but never really fully explained. That's fine with me because it's kept somewhat mysterious, but nothing feels out of left field or hard to understand. The action and magic is not what makes the book though.

What really made this a great book was what usually makes a great book. The characters. You follow a small rotation of 3 POV characters throughout this story. Orka, Varg, and Elvar. Each one has their own unique perspective on what is happening in the events in the book (which I won't spoil), but what I found so fantastic is being able to see the parallels in each of their individual stories. It's those parallels surrounding theme of family, loss, and brotherhood that made me so invested in each and every one. And even though there are no lackluster POVs here Orka may be my new favorite female character in all of fantasy.

As far as the plot and the story goes it is really hard to talk about at length without spoilers, but I will say that I think it ended up being really strong if slightly less grabbing than the action and character work. I think this was only because it was hard to see at first what was happening, but when the book gets rolling and you start to see the plot lines converge you probably won't be able to stop reading. The last 100 pages are really something. That being said this is truly a part 1 of a multi part (I think 3 part) story so while I wouldn't say it ends on a cliff hanger you will be left wanting the next book asap.

As for criticisms I have very few. I think the hardest thing for me early on the book was getting immersed because the book freely and liberally throws a lot of Viking or Old-Norse words and terminology at you without explaining what they mean. A lot of times you can pick it up from the context, but not always. A glossary would have gone a long way to help with this. The only other minor thing I would say is that the story takes a little bit to get going in terms of seeing how things are going to play out and what is important and where it's going. That resolves itself quickly though, and you're so on board with the characters it almost doesn't matter.

I give this the highest of recommends, and I'm excited to get to the rest of John Gwynne's work.

The Shadow of the Gods is the best book I've read this year. It has also been added to my list of favorite fantasies of all time.

To start off, the world of The Shadow of the Gods is Norse-inspired (think Viking fantasy). The scenery and imagery are so deliciously vivid as we travel from town to town and through forests and mountains.
The twist (or absence) on all of the classic gods is beautiful. There is no Odin or Loki, but fresh new gods that take on the image of a wolf, bear, eagle, dragon, etc.
After a fierce battle between the deities, the world is littered with the bones of the gods. There is a specific town in the book that lays beneath the skull of the deceased snake god while another is encased in the skeleton of the hawk god's skeleton. While the gods may have died, their presence still exists within the world through humans that possess the blood of the gods. The Tainted.

For example, Tainted that have the blood of the bear god Berser in them are considered Berserkir (instead of the classic Berserker). Each Tainted are unique depending on their parental deity. This was such a cool twist on Norse mythology that had me hooked from the beginning.
And that isn't the end of the mythology drenched world! There are beasts called the vaesen that are grotesque and horrifying twists on mythology and folklore.

Next, the characters. The characters you guys. The story follows the perspective of three very different individuals that have their own quests and that were so well written and so uniquely interesting that I never cared when one chapter ended and another started. I was excited to swap perspectives, which is rare. The cast of supporting characters are just as fresh and vibrant as the main cast, making dialogue and banter so refreshing and enjoyable. While I thoroughly loved all three main characters, Orka will forever be my personal hero. She is seriously badass. Like...get to chapter 53 and tell me she isn't the one and only.

The only critiques I have are the following.
First, several supporting characters have very similar names. For example, Elvar, Edel, and Einar. Or Svik and Sighvat. This can make flipping between chapters a little confusing at times.
Second, the new and old Norse thermology could be overwhelming at times when you're devouring the book at the speed I did.
With a fantasy this thick and rich in world-building, I think a few pages at the beginning or ending of the novel for characters bios/affiliations and a list of terminology would be fantastic. I received an eARC so there is a possibility this will be included in the physical version!

At the end of it all, this book was freakin' fantastic. I already preordered my physical copy because I need this baddie on my shelf ASAP.

Someone says a new series, Norse-inspired, epic in scope and written by John Gwynne, I am in!! And this book does not fail to live up the hype, everything you expect from one of his novels is here. I don't know how he gets me to love these characters so quickly and become so immersed in this world from page one, but he does it again!! The story blends all the elements from Norse mythology you are longing to read, from Gods who have destroyed each other and left their descendants to be hunted, magic, ancient texts, plus hideous creatures that come after you in the night.
The story is set in Vigrid, the Battle-Plain, a country that has been physically shaped by the long ago battle of the gods and follows three points of view, Orka, Elvar and Varg. Orka, along with her husband Thorkel and son Breca try to live a simple life, but when a neighbor is attacked and their son stolen, their life spins out of control. Elvar is a member of the Battle-Grim, a band of sea-faring warriors for hire who hunt the Tainted, descendants of the gods with unique powers. Varg is a thrall, a slave who kills his master and is on the run as he tries to hunt down whoever killed his sister. His journey brings him to the Bloodsworn, another band of sea-faring warriors for hire, where he finds unexpected friends and the truth about himself. As you journey through each of these points of view and get to know the characters, you are so quickly drawn to each of them, their friends and know that the events will bring them together in unexpected and potentially tragic ways.
I loved how the three storylines are woven together with the mythology, history and magic that is present in the world, the ways of the ships, the different types of weapons, and the different powers of the Tainted. The vaesen, the otherworldly creatures released after the battle of the gods are truly frightening and the stuff of nightmares. Orka and Elvar are phenomenal characters and I loved how women warriors are just a part of how this world works and not the exception. You will come to love these women, and their fighting skills a put them on another level and that level is badass!! I loved Varg's journey from slave to someone who begins to find his worth and friends who care about him. Of course, it's not a John Gwynne novel without epic battles and this book gives you those, along with all the twists that make you gasp and say WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!! Seriously, the number of times I said that in the last 75 pages!! I am just so excited to see where the story goes from here, I am fully invested in all of these characters and oh my, all the feels. If you love epic fantasy then this is a series you will absolutely want to read!!!!

I started this thinking, well, I've not read anything by John Gwynne, who knows, maybe it will be good. Around halfway through I was looking up all his other books and ordering them. Three quarters of the way through I was going, "How have I never heard of this guy? How have I never been recommended his books?!"

It is not easy to get into - I will say that. But if you persevere, it is well worth it. The terminology had me utterly confused at times (drakkars and so on) and the multiple characters had such well fleshed out plotlines I didn't understand how they would all come together. Which is a thing of beauty, really. I was so invested in Orka, and I teared up when tragedy hit her, and rooted for her and Breca. Then I found myself carried away with Vorg, and his oath to his sister, and I loved the Bloodsworn. Elvar! Elvar, with the battle-grim, with her ferocity and Grend, sworn to her. I found myself aching to get back to reading more, wanting to know, regardless of how they all connected, what would happen to each.

The end? Ouch. Gives some and leaves you wanting more. I'm afraid now to read Gwynne's other stories until I can get more on this one, but argh, I will end up doing just that. Because I am hooked. HOOKED, I tell you. Such fierce female characters - that alone makes it worth reading. Not a common thing to find.

Gwynne is a little bit Abercrombie, but less dry. It is rollicking and fun, and amusing, and heartbreaking, and has enough battle (and what well done battle writing! Even I was rapt, and I normally get a bit glazed on the actual battle scenes) that my husband might read it too. So perhaps two fans were made with this. Thank you, Netgalley!

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

All the stars!

Sometimes, fate lines up and you receive an advanced reader copy of a novel that is one of your most anticipated books of the year. And sometimes, fate has it, that you realize as you read the words that form sentences and paragraphs that transform into an unforgettable story, that the book you hold in your hands is one of the best ones ever written.

John Gwynne’s new novel, The Shadow of The Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) is an epic fantasy set in a Norse-inspired world filled with myths and tales of gods, magic, and unforgettable characters. A tale that ravishes with beauty, family bonds, friendships, and selflessness, but also throbs with dark, relentless violence and a tune of vengeance that’s gritty and stark.

Vigrid, the setting of this saga is a land that is divided by the old battle plains to the north, above The Brokeback Mountains, and the inhabited settlements, towns, villages, and fjords to the south. It’s been three hundred years since the gods warred each other on the battle plains and one of the fallen gods released the vaesen creatures from below the ground through a horizontal chasm that splits the entirety of the land above the divide. It is said, that the relics of the gods and their bones still hold powers that roaming warbands are after. Innocent citizens are torn in the power struggles of Jarls, the protection of their lands, and the support for Queen Helka, who all vie for the ultimate dominion of Vigrid. In a constant change of loyalties, the story navigates between three main protagonists and a cast of supporting characters to tell their tale and Gwynne does an amazing job building their story arcs and meshing them with the overall saga of the gods.

The Year is 297 – The age of Peace

Orka, her husband Thorkel and their son Breca are trappers and traders in a small community. Orka has left a life of bloodshed behind to raise her family and live a peaceful life in the rural countryside. They teach their son how to hunt and fish and all those essentials to make a living through valuable hands-on lessons. Their family bond is strong and endearing. When they hear of children disappearing and local political loyalties are changing, Orka becomes very concerned and involuntarily involved by following the right thing to do. The last thing she wants is to lose her own son to whoever is taking these children.

Elvar is a young warrior who has fled her father’s house one day to escape marriage as a pawn for political gain. She now is part of the Battle Grim Warband desperately seeking her place among the ranks, chiseling away at her own destiny.

Varg has lost his sister. The two of them were extremely close and sold to a farm when very young. When his sister is murdered, Varg’s world collapses. With hatred inside and a thirst for revenge, he escapes the farm and becomes part of the Bloodsworn mercenaries. His stay with them depends on his worthiness in battle as he soon finds out.

All of these characters have a backstory that slowly unfolds. Their next move is always a bit shrouded by circumstance but their motives are admirable and for a cause that is easily identifiable as a reader. As the chapters rotate to tell from each protagonist's pov, one is constantly in need to turn pages to find out what happens next. There is something very organic and down to earth in Gwynne’s way of characterization. It feels real, it’s relatable, and never pushed beyond believable. When the characters are hurt, or when they are happy, it feels as if you are right next to them going along in their endeavors.

As the story continues, we take different paths through treacherous journeys, filled with battle practices, intrigue, and vengeance but there are also tender moments of friendship, love, and loss. What adds to Gwynne’s brilliant way to tell the story are also the amazing landscape settings from the lush countryside to foggy fjords and mysterious structures and creatures in the sea, on land, and in the sky. Seldom have I read of such vivid imagery of mysterious places and felt the breeze in my hair or smelled a pot of stew on the campfires simmer as when Gwynne makes everything come alive for the senses. There was a particular scene I found so vivid and eerie, where a boat entered the Brokeback Mountains, and it was simply grant and chilling!

To love were many hidden gems and visceral moments in this novel. Lots of attention was paid to the detail of artifacts, weaponry, Nordic terminology, and everyday life. Crews playing games on oars of the ships, or traditional tabletop games, and Gwynne’s endearing term of the “thought box” for the character’s minds all added to the atmosphere of the novel. Sudden unexpected turn of events and juxtapositions added thrills throughout, making this such a well-rounded read.

I absolutely loved The Shadow of The Gods and everything about it. From the animal companions to the engrossing venture and twists that took place. But there is one thing that absolutely stands out to me and that is Orka’s character. She is an amazing woman! The kind that reminds you of your best friend, your mother, aunt, or sister and she is badass!!!!! A natural in life, a wonderful, nurturing mother, and a good partner, but you don’t want to mess with her! If she wasn’t amazing enough, her vengeance for her family brings out her incredible strength and moral integrity while she can unleash doom on anyone who does her wrong before they know it.

I just can’t say enough good things about this read. I wasn’t wrong by putting my life on hold and wait for this particular book to reach me, even if the wait was excruciating. My cup is full and my inner shield maiden highly satisfied. The Shadow of the Gods is one of the best books I have enjoyed in my life.

If you have loved Gwynne’s previous works, and you are a fan of Nordic tales, you will enjoy this epic fantasy, guaranteed. It’s absolutely brilliant!

I’ll be sharpening my weapons with the whetstone till the second book in The Bloodsworn Saga comes forth. I will be good and ready!

Skal, and Happy Reading!