Gwynne's epic, Norse-inspired saga tracks three fascinating main protagonists through battles, shifting alliances, strengthened resolve, and revenge journeys. I loved this.
In John Gwynne's Norse-inspired saga The Shadow of the Gods, it's been a century since the gods battled themselves into extinction. Only their bones hold power now--for those brave enough to seek them out.
There is talk of war's return, and three warriors will shape the future of the land of Vigrid: Elvar, a noblewoman searching for fame through battle; Orka, a huntress on a quest filled with danger; and Varg, a servant who joins the mercenaries called the Bloodsworn so that he may seek revenge.
The three stories run along with plenty of steam, centered around violent battles, brutal revenge, extended searches for loved ones, and the carving out of new futures by our main protagonists. The story is always shifting--shaped by betrayals and the flipped script when fate and destiny aren't what the characters thought and they must come into their own.
This is epic but never melodramatic, and I was hooked on the Viking-esque elements, the badass women who find their strength, and the perfect balance of resolution and cliffhanger to build anticipation for book two. Spoiler: a dragon appears at the very end of the book, laying the groundwork for more dragon page time in subsequent books.
I loved this.
I listened to The Shadow of the Gods as an audiobook.
More from John Gwynne:
Gwynne is also the author of book two in this series, The Hunger of the Gods, the series Of Blood and Bone, and The Faithful and the Fallen series.
Gwynne is also a Viking reenactor.
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