A continuation of the excellent first book, with enough back and forth to keep the story interesting even when we're in the weeds of details of dead gods and power.
The book has a rotating group of narrators who all overlap in the plot. We follow the leader of a warband, a nephew of a queen trying to gain political power, an ex-slave turned mercenary, and an ex-mercenary turned revenging mother. Their stories overlap (in one chapter a narrator tries to kill another) enough that we see things coming that they can't, giving the story more edge and suspense than each character feels.
The stakes of the story vary between "what are the consequences if I'm rude to this person?" all the way up to "who will win between a battle between these two gods?", and the answer to both questions is "everyone dies, they just die all the damn time". I'm impressed by how often someone gets stabbed in the face, a main character gets maimed twice, somebody is being killed in every chapter (I'm confident that is correct but didn't verify), and the story keeps moving along.
Similar in feel to the first book, I appreciate more time is spent with each character as a person instead of an archetype. The characters feel more fleshed out and real, without losing the storytelling that made the first book attractive. Still an epic story, now with realer people.
**I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley courtesy of Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing second book in a series. I truly enjoyed the characters, the plot and the world we were immersed in. The story picks up where the first book left off, and we are immediately thrown into fast moving narrative that weaves incredibly well. The best part is finally seeing more main characters interacting with each other. I can not wait to read what happens next to these characters.

An incredible follow-up to Shadow of the gods. Gwynne shows us more of his incredible worlds along with action scenes and glorious landscapes.
The full cast of characters is back and we continue on from their often 'blood spurting' journey
This is my most anticipated book of the year and it didn't disappoint. I particularly like the inclusion of the pronunciation guide, cast of characters and a 'what has gone before' recap. More fantasy books should do this!

Thank you to Orbit books for the ARC copy and thank you to John Gwynne for writing another book that makes me want to go out and learn how to fight with an axe.

Let me start by saying this Bloodsworn trilogy uses a lot of unique works and offers a big supporting cast of characters, and even some words have a certain pronunciation. Gwynne actually included a glossary, pronunciation guide, character descriptions, and even a section in the beginning to catch you up on events. All books in these massive fantasy sagas should include that and it was great that Gwynne did.

Hunger is exactly what I wanted it to be as a follow up to Shadow of the Gods. Varg and his Bloodsworn friends continue on their journey to rescue their companion, Okra's past comes to the forefront as she continues her search for her son, and Elvar and the BattleGrim realize the best way to kill a dragon god is to resurrect a wolf god.

Gwynne created a fantastic world, with characters you feel like you actually know, and background supportive characters that you really start to feel for. The universe that Gwynne has manifested for this series feels so lived in, between the different nations, the religions, the animals, everything feels like he poured a lot of effort into creating a real place. I can't wait for the next book to come out and the Bloodsworn books have turned me into a Gwynn fan for life.

My one complaint, which has mild spoilers, comes about 90% through the book.
A character goes to visit her father and brothers after leaving them for battlefame and they are only too quick to want her killed. She then says wait, I brought *mild spoiler* who is a giant animal god in human form. Her father and brothers say, you didnt bring *mild spoiler* he's a giant animal God, not this guy. Kill them both. *Mild spoiler* transforms into a giant animal God, and the father still says eh just kill them both anyways.
It just didnt feel like a genuine interaction that would have happened if her father was presented with this giant animal God, and in any other book it wouldn't have been a complaint, only that Gwynne for 2 books and about 1300 pages was at such a high level this scene felt like a dip.

4.75

My first ARC and it was for my most anticipated book of the year. Thanks Netgalley!

The plotline continues straight from the first book (and it includes a summary of what has happened in case it has been a while). You continue the POVs of Elvarr, Varg, and my fav warrior-mum Orka as well as two new POVs. The addition of the two new voices was a really wise choice imo and allowed for the reader to see a lot more of the world and have some insight into the 'baddies' of the world. And in a world of dead gods rising, blood feuds, slavery, and saga-tales of mercenary exploits, is anyone truly good?

And I'll continue what I wrote in my review of Shadow of the Gods as to why this series is so special to me: a 'retired from academia' medievalist who specialized in the Viking Age and modern medievalisms depicting Norse mythology, history, etc. I used to eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff. Until bureaucracy, debt, and bad choices drained my passion and I walked away. I haven't watched more than 3 episodes of Vikings (though the show Norsemen is great), I haven't played any Viking-related video games, I haven't read any books-either fiction or nonfiction, and barely skimmed articles fellow medievalists posted about new developments or findings- basically I lost my interest in all "Norse/Viking" related stuff right as it hit its peak and they were everywhere. But Gwynne's bringing me back in. His appreciation and inspiration leak from these pages but he makes it his own in creative ways that thrill my soul. This is new and fresh but harkening from something old. I find myself regularly explaining what kennings are to people thrown by the regular use of 'thought cage' and referencing literature I haven't thought about in years. It may be frustrating to some to see the repetition of someone settling their maille over their shoulders and securing their weapons belt but anyone who has worn a maille shirt knows how damned heavy they are. And the thoroughly ungraceful procedure of getting out of one. And how, unless you want to lose your hair, hearing, and brain cells , yes you damned well want a cap on your head before a helmet. Gwynne knows his shit. He plays with history and myth to create his own vivid world that I love to be in.

There were so many amazing moments of friendship, camaraderie, and found family. Also of grief and loss. There was a perfect amount of humour sprinkled in. And can I just say that Gwynne knows how to write a man that will do ANYTHING for love. (view spoiler)

The women in these books are just so truly epic. And in so many different ways.

I do feel like I did this book a disservice by taking so long to read it. I had planned on booking the day off for the release as I did for Shadow of the Gods and reading it all in a day but when I unexpectedly got approved for the ARC during a very busy time I read it when I could. This did somehow effect my immersion into the story and lead to some minor confusion remembered side-characters or where each group was in the world but that was entirely my fault. I do strongly recommend blocking out concrete time to finish the last 20% of any John Gwynne book as once the (aptly Petrik-named) 'Gwynnado" hits you won't want to put this book down. It's like every chapter has a mini-cliffhanger that made me want to scream in frustration at having to leave that story line but every single story line was just as explosive and interesting. It's not like a Martin novel where I felt like skipping half the chapters because I didn't care for that character or the plot was boring- each and every one of the POVs is excellent. There was one POV in TSotG that I think I heard several people say was less interesting but I doubt they will still think that in this book.

And then the ending. John Gwynne, you evil man, how dare you leave it like that? I cannot wait for the next book. Thank you, truly.

The Hunger of the Gods picks up after the events of The Shadow of the Gods. I had very high hopes and expectations for this second book as I loved the first. I am overjoyed to report that the expectations were surpassed and I found myself enjoying this book even more than the first - which is not an easy task. The first book was masterful at setting a solid foundation to build upon as revealed throughout the second book.

We got two new perspectives in this story and they were both filled with rich, complex characters that I got to understand better throughout the journey. I was pleased that these two additions were added and think it helped make the pacing of the novel even more enticing.

I am so amazed at Gwynne’s world-building and as a reader of this story started to see how vast and expanse the world truly is. So many new intriguing and horrifying places, creatures, and tales to dive into.

My heart is captured by these characters and their triumphs and losses. I cannot wait to continue forward when book three arrives. I can only hope that we may see more of this world as time passes. The Bloodsworn is easily one of my favorite series I’ve ever read.

Gwynne is brilliant at writing the battle scenes, character development, and world building. He is a master of his craft and his passion for this series bleeds through the page; much like the characters. The humor is genuine and feels realistic; I found myself full of emotions as I devoured this new installment.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for allowing me to receive an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you greatly to John Gwynne who I will gladly follow as a loyal, devoted reader into future battles and saga tales. I look forward to joyfully continuing to watch you flourish as an author.

The Hunger of the Gods is the epic sequel to John Gwynne's The Shadow of the Gods and let me tell you it DID NOT DISAPPOINT HOLY FREAKING CRAP I AM STILL REELING FROM THAT ENDING.

Not only does book two start off quite literally where book one ended (Wow, I loved that we lost no time on page), but also Gwynne was gracious enough to give us a little book one recap at the beginning. I wish to know why all fantasy authors don't do this because it was so insanely helpful. As someone who reads a good amount of books each year, it's certainly nice to have a refresher to shake out the details from my thought-cage.

We see new character POVs along with the original characters, and it was so interesting and fun to read how they all interconnected. Gwynne does a great job of writing both likeable and unlikeable characters and it really brought so much more to the world and the book.

There was nothing even close to a second book slump here. It was action packed and filled with some incredible scenes and characters and adventures and twists. I loved The Shadow of the Gods and I have been eagerly awaiting The Hunger of the Gods since I finished it. I can confidently say the wait was worth it. This was a pleasure to read and I cannot wait for it's release into the world. While I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an advanced reader copy, I will be buying a copy of this book for my bookshelf as well as a copy of the audiobook. It's that good.

Last year I read Shadow of The Gods which is book 1 in the Bloodsworn Saga, and it was my introduction to John Gwynne as an author. I liked it so much I went out and bought and read the rest of his blacklist bibliography. Needless to say when Hunger was announced I was immediately on board.

Hunger pretty much starts immediately where Shadow left off. That is exactly what I was looking for because the ending of Shadow of The Gods is pretty mindblowing and I wanted more. I was not disappointed. When reading this you definitely get more of everything. More creatures. More magic (which seems to be more prevalent than in any Gwynne book to date). More battles. More gods. And yes most definitely more Orka Skullsplitter. These are all really good things. The action and pacing does not let up. I especially liked the introduction of more of the gods and tainted with more insight to there and how it all works. However, it does suffer from middle book syndrome. The plot and worldbuilding felt repetitive at times, and I was unsure of where the story and characters were going. It seemed like Gwynne sacrificed character development for violent action scenes. 4.5 stars

So. I just finished Hunger of The Gods. I LOVED Shadow of The Gods, and I was pretty sure that this was going to be just as good. I was wrong.



It was SO MUCH BETTER. There's something about a sequel to a book you really enjoy. You're already acquainted with the main characters, their attitudes, their struggles, their best and worst moments. You feel like part of the story, like you're fighting alongside the Battle-Grim and the Bloodsworn. Reveling in their victories (take THAT, Jaromir) and trying to keep your eyes dry at their losses (Sorry, Ingmar. You'll be missed).

From the "Goodguys" (Orka, Varg, Elvar) to the "Badguys" (Biorr, you traitorous bastard, and sniveling arseling Gudvarr), I can't get enough of this bloody, heart-wrenching, epic saga that sweeps across entire kingdoms.

I'm waiting for number 3, Jarl Gwynne. Please don't make me wait too long.

I was allowed the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley, Orbit books and of course the indomitable John Gwynne. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Before the story starts, we’re greeted with the “Story So Far”, a quick recap of The Shadow of the Gods. There’s also a pronunciation guide, along with character and Norse term glossaries. This is a big help, as it lets readers dive right into the book without needing to reread The Shadow of the Gods and gives you something to reference, while reading.

The Hunger of the Gods is gritty, immersive, and captivating. This Norse-inspired, epic fantasy picks up right where The Shadow of the Gods left off and we get two new POV’s in addition to Orka, Elvar and Varg.

The two new POV’s that we’re introduced to, gives us some insight into the villain’s perspectives. Seeing these new perspectives adds more depth to the story and characters who made appearances in The Shadow of the Gods. With the original POV’s, Orka, Elvar and Varg making more of an impact this time around. Orka continues to be one of my favourite characters in fantasy, with Elvar and Varg getting more character development.

John Gwynne excels at immersing you in this Norse-inspired world, and I found myself more invested in the characters, compared to The Shadow of the Gods. The character and story development balanced well, with lots of epic battle scenes, revenge, and heartbreaking moments.

There’s more exploration of the lore, creatures, and the world, as our characters travel more. While I can see how the travel scenes can slow the pace for some readers, there is still so many things happening, that I never felt bored. The story itself continues to develop, setting up for book 3, and kept a steady pace. I found myself lost in the urgency of the characters situations and found myself needing to take small breaks to process what had happened in some areas.

John Gwynne’s passion for the world, the time and care put into this, is evident.

There was one aspect that didn’t work for me, but it was minor. I won’t go into detail due to potential spoilers.

Overall, this is a phenomenal sequel with bloody battle scenes, captivating characters, an immersive world, and a high stakes story. I’m looking forward to book 3!

This second book in the series picks up immediately where Shadow Of The Gods ended and continues with the same adventure and characters. If you liked the first book, you'll love this one too. There are a few added POV's and it's interesting to see how the different parties we followed in the first book are becoming more entwined. The stakes in the story continue to escalate, and the ending was amazing. You can feel the story is moving to a big huge conclusion. The final book is going to be awesome, I can't wait for it to come out. Quite simply, this was a great book, highly recommended.

Thank you, Orbit and Netgalley for this free e-ARC. Following is my honest and un-coerced opinion.

I loved this book! I read it and the preceding book, Shadow of the Gods, back-to-back. First of all, I really appreciate having a cast of characters, terms glossary and recap of the first book. I hope they do the same for the 3rd book since I expect it be at least a year before it comes out.

In this book, there are 5 POV characters. Even though the 2 new ones are antagonists, seeing things from their POV was definitely interesting and even left me feeling a bit of empathy where I wouldn't have expected it. As with the first book, there was plenty of gritty action, humor, and SO many teeth being knocked out. The pacing worked well for me; despite the book's length, it moved quickly and I was never bored, especially during the final third of the book. My only criticism is that sometimes it was difficult to keep track of the numerous side characters.

Overall, I was glad to have read it and my only regret is that I can't read the final book right away. I strongly recommend this book.

Wow.. The Shadow of the Gods was easily book of the year when it came out, but somehow Gwynne tops it here with Hunger.

I thought this was a fun middle book. I was skeptical about the additional POV characters but they were both fine, if frustrating at times.

There is some closure for unresolved things from the first book, which is great because at times you really feel like you're being messed with, like things are being dragged out just a little too much.

<spoiler>
The gods don't seem all that powerful given how easy it is to handle them. It's kind of funny how unimpressed everyone is by them.

They keep calling themselves Tainted. In the last book they referred to themselves as god-touched, so why not use the more positive name? Why stick with Tainted?

The all-caps for shouting is…a choice. I think it's kind of tacky, and pointless since the speech tags always say "screamed" or "shrieked" or "yelled" right after. We don't need both.

"Thought-cage," "deep-cunning" etc. A few times is fine, but these terms are used frequently.

The pop culture references. Like, any amount is too much. Star Wars, LOTR, 300, and God of War for some reason?

Lots of untranslated Icelandic. It's close enough to English that you can pick out a word here and there, but not enough to get the gist of it. It's a pain in the ass to stop and translate it.

There is so much fighting and gore that it's no longer shocking. It's just kind of, like, whatever.

Some out of character behavior, particularly <spoiler>Breca</spoiler>

</spoiler>

I enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next one. I do wish I was more emotionally attached to the characters.

Thanks to both the author and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an e-ARC via NetGalley.

4.5 Stars

Hunger of the Gods did amazing job expanding on all the things that made Shadow of the Gods great. The history and the lore of this world continues to shine in this book. I really enjoyed both of the new POVs and I believe they made this book feel fresh. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

4.5 Stars 🌟

I was absolutely THRILLED to learn that I was able to read this ARC before its release date. I had recently finished the first book and was eagerly anticipating the next. It was even better to me that the characters and circumstances were fairly fresh in my mind.

So, what did I think about the book? Well, that is something that I am trying to figure out how to put into words. First of all, I liked it. A lot. I want that out there right away.

But.....well, something happened during the middle of the book that very rarely happens to me. Somewhere around the 45% to 60% of the book, I had a hard time wanting to pick the book back up and continue on. Part of that was probably due to the fact that I only had the print version and didn't have an audio version available (I've found that I love to be able to continue a book and switch between formats as I go about my daily life) So, there was that. I found that I only really had time to read during the late night hours - but that does not usually stop me. When I thought about it...really thought about it...I realized that there is a lot of action in the beginning of the book. There is some absolutely CRAZY action during the last - say - 25% percent of the book. But, during the middle, it felt like all anyone did was travel. Travel from here to there and then back. Travel. Travel. Travel. By boat, by horse, by foot. I actually had moments that I was confused between the Battle-Grim and the Bloodsworn, trying to remember who was where....was Upsa with Elvar or with Glornir? Where was Bjorn? Who had Vol? Moments like that. I spent a lot of time looking at the map trying to acclimate myself with WHERE everyone was and where they were going. So, when I really think about it, that was the reason that it became hard to pick it back up once I got to the middle portion.

Okay. Now that that is out of the way - that was the not so great part. The rest of it was wonderful. I was already hooked after book 1. The POV's and characters (Elvar, Varg, and Orka ) that we got to meet were so amazing. During the entire book, we didn't know how these people's lives were going to intersect, we just knew that they were. At the end of book 1, I was speechless when we finally got to see HOW everyone was connected.

With the start of book 2 - it jumps right in from where we left off. Again, one of the characters that I was so moved by was Orka. Her story is so impactful. She's lost so much. Then we find out what she had already given up to have the life that she just lost. Yet, she is one determined warrior. She is so strong, but she has moments where we can see the impacts of characters like Lif and Breca....softer moments.

Then Varg. Boy, it seems like his name was being said quite a lot - that many, many people decided that he had to be killed. For a person who has only been free a little while - it felt like EVERYONE was putting a target on his back. It was hard not to feel bad for the guy.....

Without going into spoilers, let me just say that it started with the return of one god, then another and then.....well things are getting interesting. Personally, I HATE the thrall collars and what they allow someone to do to another - whether it is on a person or on a god. They are just WRONG. There are so many of these existing behaviors that make you think about all of the things that are wrong in this land. Persecution of certain people because of ignorance. Tainted. And now we are going to have a revolution to "make things right?" Seriously? It is only going to change who gets persecuted now. Who are really the good guys in this fight? This was never more apparent than in that last fight in the very last chapter.

I guess that is why we have to continue on with the story to find out how this is going to turn out.

I will say this.....the last paragraph just KILLED me. Seriously. Tore my heart into pieces.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

John Gwynne has done it again. I didn’t think it was possible but this book was WAY MORE EPIC than The Shadow of the Gods. Gwynne has crafted such a spellbinding story in a rich world with excellent, multi-dimensional characters. It is faster paced and has a lot more action as we see the world expanding and the heart of the story unfolding. The mythology takes shape as we witness the gods in action, playing pivotal roles. I enjoyed learning more about the Tainted, seeing them transform physically and reflect the different powers inherited from the dead gods. The battle scenes have Gwynne’s characteristic play-by-play sequences that are cinematic, vivid and engrossing.

As with Gwynne’s other books, both main and side characters are top-notch, memorable and thoroughly fleshed out. Varg’s POV is still my favorite - I loved the camaraderie and humor among the Bloodsworn. Orka is still one of the most badass characters in fantasy, and proves it even more in this book with her grim determination and relentless pursuit of her son. Her ruthless fighting scenes are unmatched. Elvar’s arc vastly improved and I loved seeing her taking on new challenges and rising in power. The women in this book are just fantastic, a lot of them taking leadership roles.

Apart from the 3 original POVs, the 2 new ones have actually become my favorite as they added more depth, complication, and even a bit of comic relief in the story. Both are morally grey - my favorite type of character - and are just so entertaining to read. I even found myself rooting for them at times. Apart from them, I’ve also developed a fondness for Spert and Vesli 🥰

The recap and glossary at the beginning were a tremendous help - I would have needed to reread book 1 if these weren’t included! And with that explosive finale and heartbreaking cliffhanger, I don’t know how I can wait another year or so for book 3!! 😭😭😭

Once again, my thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the opportunity to read this fantastic installment early ❤️

Okay, so back in the day when I read The Shadow of the Gods I kind of complained that there is no character guide or terminology thingie. So, imagine my delight when I started reading and found both those things in the very front. Not only that, there’s also a recap!! *cries happy forgetful tears* So that was definitely a huge plus for me, even before I started the story.

The story itself picks up right after the events in The Shadow of the Gods ended. We again follow Orka, Elvar and Varg as they try to complete their various quests. But now, we have two extra character POVs. Both Bíorr and Guðvarr make an appearance, which considering they were part of the villains in book 1, added a lot of depth for me. It immediately makes the story a lot less black and white, because honestly, Bíorr and the dragonborn are not wrong.

Guðvarr’s an ass, though.

Anyway, I loved the various character arcs, and especially Elvar’s. I am most excited for her storyline to be picked up again in book 3. Which I need like, yesterday.

One of the things the Gwynne does very well is world building. There will always be that initial confusion when you step into a new world, especially in high fantasy. Most of the time, the world will be fully established by the end of the first book in a series. However, this can also make the world feel a little stagnant during the rest of the series. Gwynne both expanded the borders of the world, and created more lore about Vigrið; both by showing this in the story, and telling us through dialogue. And I absolutely love world building through dialogue.

The pacing is great, too. The Shadow of the Gods tended to be slow at times, with quite mellow chapters in between the action. But this book seriously has something going on in each chapter. The stakes are so much higher, and the book concluded with enough of an open end for me to still have questions, but also be satisfied with everything that has happened.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read one of my most anticipated books of the year early.

HOLY SHIT. I don't even know what to say about this book. I just finished it less than five minutes ago. That last chapter?! How DARE you, John Gwynn, end on such a damn cliffhanger. My mind cannot even begin to comprehend what to do with my life now that I am left to wait and wonder how this amazing trilogy is going to end. I NEED book three immediately.

Secondly, can I just say that never before have I read a book that starts off just summarizing what happened in the previous book, but wow. I could really get used to that refresher and I really appreciated it in this book. Even though I did just read the first one weeks ago and most of the details were still fresh in my mind, but I know that is not the case for everyone as some did read the first book immediately following its release last year. It was just nice to have such a thorough recap of book one before jumping into this chunky baby.

I also really enjoyed both of the new POVs that we got in this book. While neither of them can begin to compare to my love of Orka, both perspectives added so much to the story and weren't something I thought I wanted until they were given to me in this book.

This book was wonderful. While the middle was a tiny bit slow at times, I was never bored. I was invested in every single character and the fight scenes were immaculate. I am honestly just shook. I can't wait to pick up more books by John Gwynn and I am so glad that I preordered this masterpiece already because I NEED to see this beauty on my bookshelf.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, what an incredible follow up to The Shadow of the Gods. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it lived up to all of my expectations. The book picks up right were the last book left off and we continue to follow Orka, Elvar and Varg on their personal journeys... except everything is more complicated and there are more players in the story. We get too new POV characters who we start out hating but grow to understand and somehow root for. This book is so well written and layered. One of the key things I look for in a fantasy novel is to actually feel like I'm reading a story that exists as a small part of a vast world with history, rather than something that feels artificially crafter--and Hunger accomplished that feeling with every ritual, monster, lore-detail, and god. I loved this book and I'll be chomping at the bit for the next one.