Epic storytelling, action packed and dynamic. John Gwynne delivers on high fantasy with a stunning page turner.

I am torn in many directions, all of which are good, when talking about The Bloodsworn series by John Gwynne. This is an amazing series that sucks you in like a whirlpool, and I have enjoyed both of the installments I have read immensely. However, my only real struggle with the second book, The Hunger of the Gods, is that it took me a little time to get back up to speed as the pacing is fast and all-consuming. I have a strong feeling that this series will be one of my top recommendations for continuous binges in the future, so prospective readers might want to wait until the series is finished. Then again, I couldn’t put the book down once I started it, so who am I to tell you how to live your life?

The Shadow Of The Gods, book one in the series, missed our Best Books of 2021 list by a single slot. I have recently realized that it is probably one of the best introductions to adult fantasy for new readers that I have in my arsenal. It was easy to pick up, set in a well-realized Norse world that’s fun to explore, populated by memorable warriors with clear objectives, and stuffed with more mystery than Odin’s ravens. But in some ways, Shadow is just a prelude to the real meat of the story, which takes off running in The Hunger Of The Gods.

Shadow was all about defining the stakes of the conflict in The Bloodsworn. The book subsided on mystery and hidden agendas. While I can’t really talk about the plot of Hunger without spoiling Shadow, I will say that the meat of its identity is built around preparation. This book is the armament before Ragnarok. It is the sides drawing lines and forming alliances. It is the opening move in a colossal game of chess that is terrifying to behold. And it is a lot of fun.

Our cast of POVs expands in book two from the three protagonists to five. The two additional characters provide fantastic foils to the original trio and were both solid additions. I think Gwynne has one of my favorite depictions of cowardly/weasely characters who are always using their oily cunning to avoid the fallout of their selfish actions. Of the original three protagonists—Orka (an older mother searching for a lost child), Varg (a younger man searching for his sister’s killer), and Elwar (a vain and smug princess trying to prove she has an absolutely gargantuan schween)—I continued to be enamored with Orka and just done with one of the other two. You get one guess as to which one. I really was hoping that Elwar would hit rock bottom in Shadow and start an upward moral trajectory in book two. Her first action in Hunger is to be super pro-slavery. Not a great look. There is of course more context behind her actions; you will have to decide for yourself if you think they are justified (I obviously don’t).

As for the world, Gwynne has done a marvelous job of bringing life and cohesion to a Norse setting. He has found a great balance of myth and reality to make everything feel like a giant bloody clock that grinds up warriors for grease for the cogs. The one area that is starting to get a little overdone is how every faction runs on “the biggest sword rules,” despite numerous characters in several different plotlines all pointing out the “importance of a leader with deep cunning.” I can only watch a clever clog with brains trick a meathead with an arm like a cannon so many times in one book.

One thing I will never get tired of though is the trope of not recognizing someone famous. The Bloodsworn rightly adds a lot of emphasis on the importance of legends, and several characters have reputations that precede them across the land. I will never get tired of watching some idiot saying “who do you think you are, The Buttspanker?” to the Buttspanker. Gets me every time.

The Hunger Of The Gods is a phenomenal bridge book, and it does the specific job it was assigned very well. Hunger is a hypeman for the next act of this bloody story, and I am most definitely very hyped. As with all Gwynne novels, I started a little overwhelmed and ended planning a trip to the UK to heist the next book manuscript from Gwynne’s home.

Rating: The Hunger Of The Gods – 9.0/10
-Andrew

It felt a bit slower than I remember the first book feeling, but it definitely left me wanting more so I'm very excited and hoping to see a third book eventually

I received an eARC of this from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I'll start this by saying that if you loved the first one, you'll love this one too. I, however, have come to the conclusion that John Gwynne's writing is just not for me. I had hoped that, after reading the first, this one might be a bit better...more story, more character development, etc. It didn't get better. It was just more of the same thing.

This sequel picks up exactly where we left off at the end of the first, which I did like. There was no missing time that had to be re-hashed in order to continue with the story.

In the first, I did become interested in Orka's story and Varg, but my interest in them dropped at about halfway through the second. I felt that there was really no development to the characters. They stay the same from beginning to end, perhaps becoming more angry, but that's it.

I am a very atmospheric reader. I've seen many reviews talking about the atmosphere of this series, but I don't see it at all. If battlefield after battlefield is all the atmosphere you like, then sure, but there's no real description of the world or anything beyond the stench of battle and blood and fire.

The plot did develop enough that I kept reading until the end. I do feel like it could've been half as long and would've been better. Most of the scenes just felt pointless.

Again, the worst thing for me was the constant mention of weapons (just randomly...I'm not talking about during battle because that makes sense or when Orka talks about the specific weapons she is using to find the man who took her son). I don't care about how many weapons everyone is carrying... Also, I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes as much as I have with this series...phrases and words that just get old after so many times. "Thought-cage" "Saga-tale" "Saga-song" "Voided Bowels" "Stench of Urine and Shite" How many times does the author have to mention these things?

“The world is cruel and full of pain and dark deeds.”

I’m still not quite sure how it was possible for Gwynne to add even more depth, or build on to his already fantastic realm of Vigrid, and amazing group of characters… but he did. I’ve never been so instantly connected to such a large group of characters in a book or series. Everyone loves Orka & Brecca, she’s honestly one of my all time favorite characters. But I found myself waiting for Elvar, and Varg’s POV chapters. I adored the dynamic between Røkia, Svik (my favorite), and Varg! Their humor and camaraderie brought so much light into this rather dark world. If Varg & Røkia don’t end up together I will riot. Also notable mention to the creepy, yet adorable Vesli and Spert. Never would’ve thought I’d enjoy a tooth crunching little flying monster or a water scorpion??? But here we are.

“And the lamb is not made to rule the wolf.”

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.

“Real courage is to feel fear, but to stand and face it, not run from it.”

I think what sets Gwynne’s writing apart (aside from mind blowing world building), would be his incredible way of portraying exceptional characters. How they honor their family, friends, responsibilities, own up to their mistakes, find humor, strength, and love in the darkest times, and how the best people look out for those being mistreated. Ohh and his epic bloody battles, shield walls, and my personal favorite… revenge.

“Harm her and your screams will fill the world.”

Even though I’d prefer to have the next installment of The Bloodsworn Saga in my hands right now, I have a new favorite author, and I plan on reading his ENTIRE backlist while waiting for the next book.

Thank you to John Gwynne and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a chunky read. I did not clue into that fact until the brick arrived on my doorstep this week. And it kind of makes sense since the book was on the dense side. Now, I am still all here for the waking up of the big baddies (but like the big baddies, I'd also be pissed), and I do think that the people doing the waking are being a little dilusional, but I appreciate what they're trying to do. But it was a lot of going from point A to B with people and setting up the final book. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but it was a much more linear plot than what he's written in the past. Still had fun though, because John Gwynne never ever ever disappoints with action scenes. Also Orka is still my favorite and I want to be like her when I grow up.

I am once again a very happy reader after finishing this book. This was as good or even better than Shadow of the Gods. I felt more in tune in the characters and story in some ways. I have clearer idea of who I don't like and who I do like. Orka and Varg are my two favorites and Guovarr is the most disliked character of them all. I still don't like Elvar as much but she seems capable of change and growth. Prefer the Battlesworn over the Battle Grim as well. Didn't really find to much time to sit down and read for hours with this one but when I did time went by and just didn't feel like I was reading for hours. This story is so enjoyable and just get absorbed into this world despite how cold and brutal it can be. There are some surprises to come and that's something I leave to others to find out about. Truly looking forward to seeing how the story continues as always. Also how this stand up on the reread I am wondering. Well thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the chance to again read a great book. John Gwynne does it again.

Wow. That is truly the first word that comes to mind when I think of summing up this book. It has easily become one of my favorite fantasy sequels I've ever read. It was very much a second book, with lots of traveling and setting the stage for what I assume will be the climactic final battle to come, but there was so much good stuff happening that I enjoyed the story very much. Each of the characters went on a journey, and each arc felt relatively resolved by the end of the book while leaving other hanging threads to tease where their stories might go next. The plot, pacing, characterizations, and world-building were all a masterclass, and the book was as close to perfect as one could get, in my opinion.

I really liked the first book in this series, but I didn't love it as much as some others did. The characterizations and action scenes were fantastic, but the plot didn't feel like it stood on its own enough for me while also containing much less world-building of the history/myth than I wanted. Things were just starting to get really interesting when that book ended. Well... This book hit the ground running and did not let up. It felt like a complete, and epic, chapter of the story while also delivering a TON of world-building about the gods, the tainted, and the world at large. The plot was intricate and mapped out very well, and I was amazed at all the connections between different events in this book and to some things from the first book, as well. There were plenty of surprises, and the action scenes were as gritty and brutal here as they were in The Shadow of the Gods. All in all, this book had everything going for it and didn't repeat the misgivings I had about the first one.

The characters and their arcs had me in my feelings multiple times. Orka continued her search for Breca and also had to deal with the consequences of some of her past choices. Varg learned more about how to become a warrior while also figuring out what it means to work in a group. I loved his story because of the strong found family vibes to it. I enjoyed Elvar's story much more here than in the first novel. She had quite the time dealing with the aftermath of the Battle-Grim's decisions from the last book, and I found her struggle with leadership to be a compelling arc for her. There were also two new POVs in this book, Biorr and Gudvarr, which added a considerable amount of depth to the storytelling. Their chapters provided great insight into the plans and thinking of the 'enemy,' which made the overall struggle feel much more nuanced. I was struck by the similarities in the motivations and actions of the protagonists and antagonists, which all revolved around violence and the need for vengeance. This allowed for some commentary on how to end the subjugation of people without resorting to perpetuating the 'might makes right' cycle in which they found themselves, which I hope gets expounded on further in the next novel. I particularly enjoyed going inside Gudvarr's thought cage because he was quite witty and focused on self-preservation at the cost of all else, which was pretty humorous at times. Overall, the characterizations were incredibly strong and added just as much to the story as the intense plot.

A few more things and then I'll stop rambling... The writing was beautiful and once again completely sucked me into this world and the characters' struggles. I also really appreciated the recap at the beginning of the book. It helped to orient me back into this world without needing to reread the first book, which was a lifesaver given how intricate the plot ended up being. Finally, the ending destroyed me. There's no way to sugarcoat it. I was gasping and wanting to scream at the book. It was a huge cliffhanger that left me needing the third book RIGHT NOW!

If you haven't started reading this series yet, do yourself a favor and get to it. I loved this book so much I've decided to create a new rating that goes beyond five stars. So, I rate this book as an instant favorite alongside its 5 out of 5 stars.

To start off with it is clear that John Gwynne cares about his readers and their understanding of his work. At the start of the book he lays out a recap of what happened in the first book The Shadow of the Gods. As a reader I find this incredibly helpful since going into multiple book fantasy series after not reading them for a while it can be challenging to remember important information. Having pronunciation guides and terminologies at the front of the book also made for an easier reading experience. In the second book there are added POVs of characters which I really enjoyed since it allowed me to follow multiple important events in the books. This book has a more plot setting and build up for the next book in the series which is often seen with second books however I didn’t find it boring or hard to read which was fantastic. There is a lot of travelling in this book so readers need to be prepared since that may not be their cup of tea however I thought it was well done and essential for the buildup of the next book in the series. Overall I enjoyed the writing style and the characters. The descriptive world is continued in this book and imagery remains one of the focuses in the writing style. Orka remains one of my favourite characters and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. I do however wish we got to experience more of the characters emotions and conflict but overall I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the next one!

Rating: Absolutely Loved It/All-Time Favorite, 5 stars

This book was among my most anticipated for the year. It is by my favorite author, and I was really excited to get back to the world of the Bloodsworn. This is book 2, and while I really loved the first book, it was difficult for me to get through. This is mostly because it came out during one of the busiest months for my job (same for this one), and I was in a massive slump. However, I had a MUCH better reading experience with The Hunger of the Gods than with Shadow. While second books can sometimes feel like they suffer from middle-book syndrome, this one did not, and I really enjoyed it.

First thing's first: John Gwynne included a fantastic "the story so far" type section, which was really helpful, and every fantasy series should include these. We pick up pretty much immediately after the events of Shadow. That was a pretty intense place to pick up, but I felt like this book did an excellent job of easing off the throttle but still keeping everything going. Something that really bothers me in multi-POV stories is when the POVs don't seem like they're really connected or will intersect. We got an intersection right at the end of Shadow, and this continues into Hunger. Something that I actually really appreciated was the way that POVs came together and separated as they went through the story. But you can see how it will all eventually come together in a very epic way.

We continue with our three main POVs from Shadow in Hunger. We also get two new ones. I think Varg is still my favorite because I like the cast of characters with him the best. However, Elvar was not one that I particularly enjoyed in Shadow, and she got much better in Hunger. Orka is still Orka and still pursuing her goal with the single-mindedness of Liam Neeson in Taken, and I love that. The two new ones that we get are pretty interesting. We have Gudvar, easily my least favorite perspective. He actually reminds me a tiny bit of Glokta from the First Law with the way his inner monologue is written, and I wasn't the biggest fan of First Law. We also Biorr, who I actually really loved and who goes with the Raven Feeders. These give us insights into the goings on in other parts of the world, but they still have the intersections with the other POVs that just give me joy.

A lot of this book consisted of traveling here and there as the various characters searched for someone, sought vengeance, or went to war. Usually I'm not a huge fan of road trip sections in books, but despite that being the majority of this book, I really didn't mind it. I think that the multiple POVs were really helpful in this aspect. When one was getting rather slow and full of traveling and training, the next chapter put us right back in the thick of the action. I would say that the first 10% and the last 10% were probably the most compulsively readable, but I still really enjoyed the middle.

I think that this is a really dark world, but a really interesting one. I love the Tainted, and while I don't really understand the magic of the world, I LOVE the gods of the world and all the lore behind them. The Tainted in this series, did what I was really hoping that The Tiger and the Wolf would do for me, and it scratched that Redwall itch (even though it didn't quite fill that hole, it's the closest any series has really come in forever!).

I love the themes of family, comraderie, loyalty, and grief that are explored in this. Even though it is a dark and rather disgustingly brutal world at times, it never crosses the line into feeling crass and gross. My only complaint about this book is the continued use of the term "thought-cage." I don't know why but that phrase just makes me so uncomfortable. I have weird phrases or things that I just cannot stand and physically shy away from, and that just happens to be one of them. That is a me=problem though, so really I have no complaints about this book. I do think that the original working title of Dead Gods Rising would have been so incredibly epic. I see that they are trying to keep the pattern going though, but I do think that would have been an excellent alternative title.

We end on quite the cliffhanger for several of our POV characters, and I"m so looking forward to continuing on in this world whenever we are able to experience that.

At this point, I am just rambling, but I loved this book and enjoyed it even more than the first. Thank you to Orbit and to NetGalley for early access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Hunger of the Gods releases on 4/12/22.

I am in love with this story. After finishing it, it’s all I can think about. The creatures are so fascinating and the characters are so real. This is the one book you can judge by it’s cover, because the cover art is absolutely amazing. I will jump on anything John Gwynne writes. The hardest thing about this book is trying to put it down.

I wanted to stay forever in this world that John Gwynne has created.

The Hunger of the Gods is the amazing sequel to The Shadow of the Gods in a trilogy of Norse Mythology. This book follows the 3 main characters established in the first book while adding in what I’d like to call 2 “villain” perspectives. Honestly, the lines of who is on the right side are starting to get a bit blurry for me after this book.

Orka is on a quest to find and rescue her son and will destroy anyone who tries to stop her. Varg is a slave who was rescued by the Bloodsworn and is learning to become an amazing badass while on a quest to avenge the man who killed his sister. Elvar is the daughter of a Jarl who runs away and through her own path and labor becomes Chief of the Battle-Grim and much more. Their paths begin to cross in this book and it’s so exciting to watch them engage with each other!

These quests take place in a world of creatures you can’t imagine, gods re-emerging to fight old wars and being dragged into the conflict, magical beings (both born and learned), and DRAGONS? Descendants of gods with inhuman powers that have been enslaved by mortals are fighting back in a world of chaos. Legends and bard songs that provide the backstory to build this insane world are added in for understanding. Friendships, family bonds, love lost and won. Ahhhhhh.

I’m ready for book three because this was the most amazing experience.

Thank you NetGalley and OrbitBooks for this amazing ARC! I can’t wait to dive into more John Gwynne books.

What a ride! What artwork!

I read these two books back to back and rather than just write a review for book two, which comes out today, I wanted to give some space to both. Please don’t skip to the second book, the first is essential to the series.

Note: I’m going to be very careful not to put in spoilers since this review is really for the first two books in the series.

This series is very hardcore. I’m generally not a big fan of Norse/Viking tv shows or books as a general rule. That’s probably because I have so little knowledge of their mythology (I mean besides Thor as represented in Marvel movies … I know that means I have next to none right!) This type of book also tends to be more heavy handed with violence and brutality, which I’m not a huge fan of, but when a story is as well written as this then none of that seems to matter to me.

The series follows three characters closely, and what I like about the way the structure of the novel is that these characters are very distinctly from different social spheres and their life experiences helped me as a readier to easily acclimate into a VERY unfamiliar setting. I admit, I did have some trouble following along at times, trying to remember which group was involved in which location. I don’t think that’s a problem with the book as much as a problem with me being able to follow along. My concentration is not at it’s best.

With that it mind, one thing I absolutely loved about book two is that it came with an introductory recap for the first book. That is a LIFESAVER for a reader like me. I was fortunate enough to read these two back to back, but if there had been a gap between book 1 and 2 I’d have been hard pressed to remember what was going on. I wish more writers would include those. That being said, I’m sure they are not the easiest thing to make and so I understand why they don’t.

Apart from the technical aspects of these books, the story itself is brutal, visceral, adventurous and compelling. I liked reading about all three of the main characters, and I have to admit my little feminist heart enjoyed that two of them are such badass women. They are not the only two either! There are tons of shield-maidens (shout out Eowyn!) in this book, as well as women who are in very high political positions and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed the heck out of these two books, and am eagerly awaiting book three.

ARC acquired by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

1.)The Shadow of the Gods ★★★★★

“Real courage is to feel fear, but to stand and face it, not run from it.”

WOW! John Gwynne has done it again. This man deserves all the hype. And that ending …. I’m really curious to see which god is chosen for the cover of the third book. I was going with Orna for the longest time, but now I’m thinking it might be Rotta or even Snaka. This second book did NOT disappoint. It starts off right where the first book ends, and I am still processing the whole thing. So much happens. My only complaints are the amount of time that seems to take place in this book and the pacing. I think the ending was a little rushed with the last battle scene, but I still loved it. I just wanted more pages. We follow our original three main POVs with the addition of two more. Along with Orka, Varg, and Elvar we get Biorr and Gu∂var: two of the villainous characters. John Gwynne has a way of making me sympathize with his morally grey characters. I don’t want to understand why Gu∂carr is literally a sniveling turd but I get it now after being in his POV in this book. And Biorr, the traitorous bastard, actually isn’t so bad, but he is at the same time. UGH!! I’m so curious to see where the story goes in book three.

“Make a stone of your heart.”

Orka Is still my favorite female character in all of fantasy. She starts out with the Bloodsworn and quickly separates from them to continue her search for Breca. She is now blood oath sworn to free Uspa’s son, Bjarn, as well. One thing I admire about her is that she doesn’t feel the need to shout to everyone she meets that she’s the Skullsplitter. She interacts with Elvar and the Battle-Grim at one point and a couple members are accusing her of thinking she’s the Skullsplitter. She doesn’t boast that that’s who she actually is and neither do the Bloodsworn members who are with her. She’s just a mother who has had her son taken from her and sowrn vengeance on the ones who took him


Varg Is coming to terms with his Tainted blood and figuring out how to control his beast. He still hasn’t found closure for his sister, but he does find out who bought her and after a while, he stops fixating on her and becomes a vital member of the Bloodsworn. Svik’s love of cheese continues in this story and he even uses a wheel of cheese as a weapon. He is my favorite side-character is this whole series.

“I have become accustomed to living in a saga.”

Elvar Irritated me in this book. She’s so focused on making a name for herself that she comes across as selfish and I didn’t like where her arc was going. She’s on the cusp of being one of the morally grey villain characters that I just don’t know how to feel about anymore. Sighvat made her chapters more bearable because he’s hilarious and I want to read from his POV in the next book.

Biorr The betrayer. I love that we got his POV in this book. Reading his inner turmoil about the things he’s done and how he feels about them, make his character real and transparent. He might still be weasel-turd, but I get it. He was following orders and caught some feelings he can’t quite shack. I don’t think he will have a redemption arc but I’m curious to see where his storyline goes.

“All his life he had known he was special, that he was destined for greatness.”

Gu∂varr I hate this sniveling turd! The amount of snot that pours from his nose really gives his character life. I can picture him when I’m reading about him and from his POV. Going from absolutely hating him in Orka POV chapters in the first book, to kind of understanding him from his POV chapters in this book just doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t want to sympathize or understand him!! Gwynne does a fantastic job making me care about character’s motivations, even when their actions are horrible. He’s still not as bad as Lykos from the Banished Lands though.

I am so thankful that I got to read an ARC of this book and am looking forward to the nest instalment. I know John Gwynne suffered a heavy loss recently and I continue to pray for his family. With this loss, he hasn’t been writing and that means the release for book three might get pushed back and I’m okay with that. I can’t imagine the pain he must be going through. Regardless of when the book will be released, I will devour it like I have every other book by John Gwynne.

“It is the way of the world.”

The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne
The Bloodsworn Saga, #2

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Hunger of the Gods gave me everything I was hoping for as the sequel of one of my favorite reads last year. I can now safely say that the Bloodsworn Saga is one of my favorite ongoing series. This book picks up right after the thrilling conclusion of the last so I won't say much about the plot to keep this review spoiler free.

As I said in my review of The Shadow of the Gods, Gwynne's passion for the Norse elements of this story oozes off the page. The vaesen, creatures, gods, lore, and magic of this world never stop being interesting to me. We're shown a world ravaged by long-dead gods whose powerful kin have been thralled. We're shown a lot of factions with conflicting goals. We're shown terrifying creatures and powerful magic that is intriguing to no end.

A brutal and unforgiving world like this requires brutal action and Gwynne delivers on that front once again. The fight sequences are complex yet easy to follow and visualize. I felt like anything could happen and anyone could die during each fight due to the high-stakes atmosphere created.

There are five POVs in this story whose journeys take them all over Gwynne's world, oftentimes geographically very far away from each other. That being said, Gwynne masterfully weaves the stories of these POVs together. The fates of these characters are intertwined in a way that they don't always understand but we, as the readers, do. It's very satisfying to watch those interactions between characters play out. With this many POV characters it could have been really easy to get lost or confused by what's going on in each POV but that never happens with each character's unique voice.

I love how the characters in this book often operate in a moral grey area. We see motives and goals ranging from finding a lost loved one, to attaining battle-fame, to finding their place in the world, to vengeance, to the liberation of slaves, to killing a god. All of which are compelling reasons to follow characters but the means by which these characters pursue their goals varies. I didn't agree with every action of these characters and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I can't recommend this series enough. If you read The Shadow of the Gods, don't hesitate to pick this one up. If you haven't read the Bloodsworn Saga, go ahead and pick up Shadow of the Gods. This series has some great moments, superb action, high stakes, and amazing characters.

5/5

The Hunger of the Gods, by John Gwynne. Out today! See YouTube booktube review here:

https://youtu.be/gl1poCNiYx8

The very first thing I want to talk about was the recap! Honestly, I wish everyone would do this. It was very informative and gives great recaps of each of the characters’ journeys from book one. There’s also a glossary and character list. It was brilliant and VERY appreciated! Honestly, it just put me in such a good mood starting out this book!

Now, I’m giving you a fair warning, this is going to be a hot mess of a review. I loved this book so much and it made me feel so many things that I’m still wrapping my head around it. I will admit, this was a bit intimidating for me. I can get overwhelmed when it’s lengthy and the second book in a series. There’s always that fear of the “second book syndrome.” My friends, this book does not suffer from this. There’s so much action and I never had an issue with the pacing. I enjoyed this book more than the first book!

The characters in this series are just so rich, deep, and memorable. I went to Twitter stating, Orka is becoming one of my favorite characters of all time. I do not say this lightly. She is such a force. Her POV and journey is the one that I’m the most invested in. She’s such a complex character and just brilliantly written. Her inner thoughts add an extra layer to a scene and her character. I have impatiently waited a whole year for this book because I wanted to see where she ended up next. Towards the end, it was so gripping that I could barely stand it. My poor broken heart. I was having physical reactions to her chapters, and I can’t say anymore. I’m just glad my child was asleep, and my husband was at work. He would have thought something was wrong with me. lol

“Real courage is to feel fear, but to stand and face it, not run from it.”

There are additional POV’s in this book that I enjoyed. We get to see the side of some of the not so “good” characters and it was fascinating. I remember not liking a couple of characters as much in the first book, but they have become much more interesting in this book. There are so many different characters, but they all seem to stand out. I’m in love with so many of the smaller supporting characters that I have to hold my breath during each action scene. Svik and his cheese!! haha, I loved this book as much as Svik loves his cheese!

Along with the fascinating world are the amazing action/battle scenes. They are really intense, but the vivid detail is great. There is a lot of plot in this book and I really don’t know what to say without giving things away. Gwynne manages to have heartfelt and even funny bits throughout to help with the intensity. There’s a lot more of the gods language in this book and I just glazed over them. I don’t think it really gives or takes anything away.

There are a few things that happen in this book that are really triggering if you do not like bugs. Also, if you are creeped out by anything related to parasites. I had to stop for the night when I got to one scene because I was so grossed out. I do not like bugs. I get why it’s in there and how it came full circle was great, but I wish I could forget that scene.

Overall, this was one of best second books (in a series) I’ve read in a long time. I loved it more than the first book and I’m pretty much shattered at that ending. I will now be jumping into his backlist books to get me through the next year. I cannot wait to see where these characters end up. I’m not sure why the books I love are the hardest to write reviews for. If you get anything from this, just know that it was a brilliant continuation to Shadow of the Gods!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinions! 🙂

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne continues where the first book left off. Orka is searching for her son, Varg is hunting down his sister’s murderer, and Glornir is trying to rescue his lover. To top it all off, Lik-Rifa is now free and resurrecting the wolf god Ulfrir may be the only key to defeating her.

I admit, I was a little cautious coming into this book because sometimes middle books feel like a slog before the big final battle. However, this book does not relent. There is axe cleaving and throat slitting aplenty here.

Also, I know I’m biased as a horror aficionado, but I adore this series’ grotesque monsters and the sheer amount of body horror incorporated into the story. In this book, we’re introduced to tongue-eaters—parasitic monsters that slowly devour its hosts’ tongue, until they grow large enough to burst from their hosts’ skull. In essence, they remind me of the chestbursters from Alien in the best possible way.

All in all, this book was everything I wanted in a sequel and more. It's a bloody tale about love and vengeance—filled with complex, compelling characters who continue to grow on me and a whole lot of deep cunning and backstabbing.

Honestly, I haven’t been this hyped for an epic fantasy series in ages. Gwynne simultaneously borrows from Norse mythology while crafting a well-wrought world that is uniquely his own, and it reminds me of why I fell in love with the genre in the first place.

Going into this book, I had extremely high expectations considering the first book was my favourite book of last year and this one was my most anticipated book of this year. It did not disappoint.

This series is told in multi-POV format. In the first instalment, we have 3 perspectives, 2 of which I found slightly more captivating than the other. In The Hunger of the Gods, we have two new perspectives. I found myself equally interested in each of them, whether the characters were on a quest for revenge, trying to save the ones they love, being riddled with guilt or just trying to survive. John Gwynne has a way of writing characters that draw me in. I would catch myself getting invested in people I had previously hated and root them on.

This book was as action packed as the first one if not more. One of my favourite things in the first book was how the action/combat scenes were written. It was very clear to visualize and they flowed well. This remains true for this one and I was enjoying these scenes a lot.

The story goes at a breakneck pace. I felt like there were no wasted chapters. Some things that I thought would happen towards the middle or end of the story happened quite early on. This propelled me to keep on reading. Something always seemed to be happening which kept me invested in the story from start to explosive finish.

P.S. I love that a plot and character summary of the previous book was included at the start of this book as well as a glossary for some of the Norse terminology. I wish more fantasy books has these.

P.P.S. After reading a certain chapter, John Gwynne has given me an irrational fear. I have been eyeing my drinks ever since. If you know, you know.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

The gods have returned! Book II of the Bloodsworn Saga and it is as amazing as the first. Each chapter told in a different point of view. This time we still have out heroes Orka, Varg, and Elvar but they are joined by narratives of traitor Biorr and cowardly Gudvarr. This story continues to flesh out each character and the world they now live in. Again monsters and magic, gods and battles. Glorious epic battles and that ending! Anxiously awaiting the next installment. Thank you John Gwynne, Orbit publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.