The Shadow of the Gods
Ratings277
Average rating4.1
THIS BOOK IS STUNNING,Not other thing that a masterpiece I have to say between all mythologies my favorite is the Norse one and this book get to show that to the maximum if I could give it a 10 I would and I get so in the book like no other and that's Soo hard for me so I recommend this with My entire soul an amazing Book with a lot of potential that I'm anxious to keep discovering with the next books of this trilogy
Note:I found this song and I think fits perfectly to the book and is a plus to get into the book although I prefer the cover
Hoist the colours by Malinda cover
”we are Bloodsworn, bound to one another. Stand or fall, we are sworn to each other. That is our strength”
I enjoyed this book so much! The characters, the Norse world, the stories. I've always been fascinated by the Vikings, though I don't know as much about them as I would wish.
And, as a Swedish person it was fascinating to see the words and names that I could trace to Norse languages (not that I'm an expert in any sense of the word), and trying to figure out why it's vaesen, but Sälla, Frøya but Störr.
I will definitely be reading more by John Gwynne.
Lots of detailed action which I liked but the story is just boring to me. Maybe reading it again one day I'll have a different mindset towards it
For more of my reviews, check out my blog.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long, long time. It's not particularly unique or mind-blowing in any way, but it is so engrossing and well-written that I cannot stop raving about it to anyone who asks.
The Shadow of the Gods takes place in a HEAVILY Norse-inspired world where the gods are all dead after battling amongst each other in a Rangarok-style event. These gods had children, and these children are known as the Tainted amongst humans. Tainted people have similar powers to their god parent. The wolf-gods children howl, grow sharp teeth and claws, and are good at hunting. The bear-gods children go berserk, and are known as berserkirs. The fox-gods children are good-looking and cunning, etc. The Tainted are hunted, and treated as second-class citizens. Its not a good thing to be Tainted.
There are three POV characters in this book, and each one was so well-rounded and interesting that I was thoroughly engrossed in all three storylines. My favorite of the bunch, however, was Orka. Orka is a complete badass. She and her husband have a son, Breca, who ends up being stolen towards the beginning of the novel. She spends the rest of the book trying to find him, and kicks some major ass while doing so. I couldn't help but picture her as Lagertha from Vikings the entire book.
John Gwynne's writing is so atmospheric and detailed that you can see the book taking place in your head. This world is bleak, but beautiful. There's no shortage of action, and some serious violence. Each POV character is a fighter, and the violence pretty much doesn't end. However, it doesn't feel gratuitous. It's just a part of the world that this book takes place in. It's a violent, bloody world, and we see the reasons behind it. The book moves along at a decent pace, and at no point was I bored. The ending of this book is phenomenal.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the next book in the Bloodsworn Saga, The Hunger of the Gods. I'll be moving right onto it next, because I cannot wait to find out what happens to these characters.
4.5 stars
I loved this story!
I was rooting for these characters from the first few pages of each of their POVs. JG grabbed my attention and got me emotionally involved in these characters' lives so freaking fast.
Can't wait to read the sequel!
9 de 10
Bastante introductorio, pero tan bien ambientado y con una narrativa tan atrapante que es una obligación de leer. No me espere un libro de fantasía epica vikinga que uniese tan bien todos los elementos sin caer en clichés.
Orka, mejor personaje
A good solid norse-inspired story, albeit with one or two too convenient story twists that don't appear to serve much purpose other than to get the story from A to B (the rescue by a giant raven, which also happens to drop in certain characters was particularly egregious). Despite these misgivings, I am tempted to give the sequel a try.
Firstly, the cover of this book has to be the single best fantasy cover I have ever seen. I really want to get a print version of it! If you judge a book by a cover this one would be one of the greatest! Does the book live up to the cover? For the most part it does a pretty good job.
This is a Norse inspired epic fantasy. We find ourselves following 3 different characters - a retired warrior, an escaped slave and warrior trying to make her name for herself. Through them we explore the world Gwynne has created, where the remains of gods lie where they fell after an epic godswar. A lot of Norse words and titles have been worked into story giving it a very strong nordic flavor. As someone who lives in Norway and speaks some Norwegian it was interesting to pick up on some of these, although some have been utilized better than others (some names do sound a little bit strange when read with a knowledge of what they actually mean!)
The prose itself is very readable, the characters engaging and the story epic. I really look forward to the next book!
Hi! I have a Booktube channel! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/FunFantasyBooks
3 -3,5 stars
Oh no! I came to The Shadow of the Gods really expecting to end the year with a 5 stars read and to add this series as my most anticipated reads for years to come. But... well, no.
This book is great in so many ways: it has a Norse setting, characters that suffer and that evolve through the story, a compelling plot, a great writing style, and overall the beginning of a new epic fantasy story. I can see why this book is so well-loved...
But still... It didn't click for me:
- Although the setting was very enticing, it took me a fair amount of time to understand properly what the characters were seeing because I didn't understand the lingo. I kept confusing the names of some of the side characters (all seemed similar to me!!)
- Although I'm a character-driven reader... I wasn't in love with any of the characters. I feel that the fact that each story advanced separately, plus the fact that the chapters were very short prevented me to be really hooked to them. I wonder if longer characters would have helped me to bond with them
- Also, each chapter kind of ended strongly so I really wanted to continue reading, but at the same time as so much stuff happened before I reached to the same story again (because the book follows mostly the order of presenting in each chapter one PoV).. I just was like “wait what then?”
Anyway, not a read I regret- it was alright! butttt not sure if I would recommend it to my closest friends!
Hi! I have a Booktube channel! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/FunFantasyBooks
3 -3,5 stars
Oh no! I came to The Shadow of the Gods really expecting to end the year with a 5 stars read and to add this series as my most anticipated reads for years to come. But... well, no.
This book is great in so many ways: it has a Norse setting, characters that suffer and that evolve through the story, a compelling plot, a great writing style, and overall the beginning of a new epic fantasy story. I can see why this book is so well-loved...
But still... It didn't click for me:
- Although the setting was very enticing, it took me a fair amount of time to understand properly what the characters were seeing because I didn't understand the lingo. I kept confusing the names of some of the side characters (all seemed similar to me!!)
- Although I'm a character-driven reader... I wasn't in love with any of the characters. I feel that the fact that each story advanced separately, plus the fact that the chapters were very short prevented me to be really hooked to them. I wonder if longer characters would have helped me to bond with them
- Also, each chapter kind of ended strongly so I really wanted to continue reading, but at the same time as so much stuff happened before I reached to the same story again (because the book follows mostly the order of presenting in each chapter one PoV).. I just was like “wait what then?”
Anyway, not a read I regret- it was alright! butttt not sure if I would recommend it to my closest friends!
Amazing start to a new series! Cannot wait to see where this cast of characters end up! Really took me to another world plus I was always going to love Viking inspired fantasy!
Bring on the next instalment!!
The moment I saw a gigantic dragon on the cover, I knew I needed to read this one.
The book has 3 main characters doing 3 different things that somehow end up tied to each other. Orka is a woman living with her husband and their son on an isolated farm, though it's obvious she is hiding something. Varg is an escaped slave trying to find a way to take revenge for the murder of his sister. Elvar is a warrior in a mercenary group, trying to find relics of long dead gods.
In a way, I am a bit disappointed this isn't a 5 star read for me; I was super excited and everyone seems to love this one. I have read one book by the author previously, though I don't remember much, so I have to get on that. My expectations weren't based on being a gigantic fan of his. Now, don't get me wrong, I still liked the book and some things about it were just great.
The action scenes are fluid. Sometimes when authors go too technical or too long-winded, I kind of zone out. There, I said it, action scenes can be a bit much. Not here. There were a lot of physical fights, people using axes and shields, mostly. They worked well.
The world is modelled after Nordic cultures and societies. Again, a good call. Even though it's getting pretty warm here, the descriptions were evocative and I could almost feel the cold and snow. Concepts around the gods worked fine and by the time we actually get to see more of them, it all makes sense and works. Now if you are not into other languages being used in the story, not always translated fully, you will not enjoy that, but that's about it.
Two out of the three main characters were cool. It's always refreshing to finally have a protagonist who is not a child or young adult. Orka is an established wife and mother, she knows where she is going and what she is doing. She and her family are loving and there is no typical “the husband is always abusive” type thing. It was cool to see them being self-sustaining as well.
Varg is also fine. He is interesting because he makes mistakes. Of course a former slave is not all great when it comes to social norms between free people, he also lacks knowledge and skills others have. The development of his character make him sympathetic. The way he bonds with his new group makes him endearing. Where Orka is practical and almost cold, Varg has these very human moments.
Then there is Elvar... The one that kinda sorta flopped for me a bit. Her story is the good ol' “I don't want to be a wife or whatever, I want to be a warrior”. It's one of those go-to motivations and tropes for uninspired female characters that are supposed to make me feel all powerful, but are just one note. Her part of the story is saved by the interesting things her group does. So she isn't too special, but the storyline works out.
Now I will talk about the few things I didn't love about this.
Did we need the very repetitive descriptions of every single character that shows up for two seconds? They had braids and beards, having axes. Cool. I don't remember which black-haired woman with a braid and an axe was which and I doubt it matters. The repeating words were sometimes very noticeable.
Why is every second warrior a woman? That was never realistic. No, an average woman still can't keep up with average men when it comes to pure physical strength. There is nothing wrong with admitting that, I am kind of annoyed by the fact we can't say that, because it's supposed to be insulting. It's still not. Some female characters are above average, they have special powers, but you can't claim that when it's literally every second freaking warrior. Don't buy made-up things like how totally every single viking woman was a warrior.
All in all, it was a good read, I will pick up the second book when it's coming out.
i struggled with whether or not to give it 2 or 3 stars but sadly i didn't really like it. it was my first john gwynne, i kept hearing that he is an amazing writer and this book being lauded as a masterpiece so went in with that expectation and kept waiting for it to get incredible....unfortunately it didn't hit those high notes for me. i didn't feel super attached to the characters (imo there was a lot of showing and telling what they were doing versus the characters reflecting and feeling anything other than anger and bloodlust of course), the chapters felt too short (i was constantly left feeling like i wanted to spend more time with a particular character before it switched off) and i kept mixing characters up between stories, which was frustrating.
i would've really appreciated a glossary and a dramatis personae to be able to better tell characters apart and know what the heck was going on. i have been reading other books simultaneously that actually explain what foreign words/phrases were after using them, so it felt kind of obnoxious to me that that wasn't done here, especially when those words are used constantly.
i bought malice before i bought shadow of the gods so i hope i like TFATF better, but we'll see. i think my expectations are better tempered now.
I really enjoyed this first installment of a new fantasy series by John Gwynne. I am new to the author and haven't read any of his other books, but hope to rectify that soon.
This book focuses on three main characters and that is what really pulled me into the story. They are each very unique and it didn't take long for me to feel invested in their lives. The world-building and plot were solid and I look forward to the next installment.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.
This book makes me want to downgrade all my other 5 star reviews to 4 stars. Read it.
An exciting read in the first installment of a new book series, inspired by Norse mythology and history, from reknowned fantasy author John Gwynne.
This was my first John Gwynne (I know, I know, for shame!) and I was not disappointed, especially given the hype around him as an author among fantasy bookish types! I am usually one to avoid hyped books/authors for fear of being let down but I can attest that neither he, nor this book, did that.
The book is well-written and well-researched, which is a boon to any fantasy story. The characters feel real and the prose is easy to read. Yes there are some Nordic words in there but what you can't interpret from context only adds to the flavour.
The story is fairly fast paced but never feels rushed. There's action and violence that is well balanced and doesn't veer into goreporn (thankfully). Some of it is grim but it is never over-described to the point where you'll lose your lunch. Consequences are legit in this world and there are no lazy shortcuts in the story/writing.
Overall, a great book and I can't wait for the next installment to get some more of those ravens!
Let's get this out there before we start, this is my first John Gwynne book. I have been meaning to read his books for quite some time, but unfortunately, commitments usually got in the way and delayed me from starting his books.
When people usually mention John Gwynne, there is always an undertone of reverence whenever his stories are mentioned, so I was eager to read this book, and this seemed the perfect time to become acquainted with John Gwynne's works.
The story is the start of a new storyline that is not based in the same world as his previous books and is set in a Viking world, full of battle-hardened warriors, Jarls and monsters (If there's something that is going to get my attention, it is definitely monsters!).
The Shadow of the Gods revolves around three main characters; Varg, Orka and Elvar. Each with their own separate storylines, running side by side. Each one showing different aspects of the world of Virgid.
With Varg, we follow him as he joins the warband the Bloodsworn (the very same Bloodsworn on the front cover that this saga is all about!). We share his experiences as he initially joins the war band and then his adventures as he travels the land of Virgid.
Independently, of this, there is Elvar's story. Elvar is a member of another warband, the Battle Grim. Elvar's thread opens up the world further, showing us another perspective of the world that the characters reside in. Elvar's story does take time to gain momentum. However, when it does, her part in this saga is gigantic (In fact, my jaw literally dropped and I found myself going Whooooa, like a big kid. Gordon Bennett, I wish I could tell you more, but you need to read it and I don't want to spoil it).
And finally, we have Orka! Upon reading many of the reviews and comments about The Shadow of the Gods, Orka's story is the one that has had the most resonance with readers, and when you read the book, you can see why. Orka is such a brilliant character, she has both warmth and depth, and is a proper badass! She is a woman fueled by vengeance And she will stop at nothing to enact it, she's like a force of nature.
One of the many strengths of this book is the rich and complex characters that populate The Shadow of the Gods. However, besides the main protagonists of the story, there is a dearth of individuals who make up the supporting cast. Each one of these adds to the texture of the book. Characters like Svik, who delights us each time he is on the page, especially when he waxes lyrical about his love of cheese. Which had me in peals of laughter.
This book worked on so many levels. Gwynne's world-building is so gorgeously crafted and immersive. In ‘The Shadow of the Gods', John Gwynne throws the reader into an expansive world made up of monsters and cities built on the skeletons of God's. It is a brutal world, ‘a world of tooth and claw, where life is battle',
However, not only that, but John Gwynne keeps you enthralled even in the quiet moments. For instance, when Svik tells the story of a time he was captured by a troll and engaged him in an eating contest. I was as engrossed at this story as much as the Bloodsworn sat at the campfire.
It's amazing how he interjects the furious battle scenes with moments of humour and comradeship, that grip you just as much as the massive, bloody fight scenes.
Let's talk about the battle scenes! Oh my goodness, John Gwynne writes some of the most blood-pumping battle scenes that I have ever read. When he writes a battle scene, you can almost hear the clash of steel reverberating around you, smell the perspiration of warriors next to you and feel the jolt of metal as sword hits shield.
I constantly marvelled at John Gwynne's masterful storytelling, I found myself unable to lift my head from the page. It's books like this that show the wealth, depth and scope of stories written in the fantasy genre and keep me begging for more.
With his new book The Shadow of the Gods, John Gwynne shows us that the pen is indeed mightier than the seax, as he swathes his way to the top of everyone's to be read list in this must-read fantasy book of the year.
Right off the bat here- I think using “thought-cage” as a word for “head” is genius. This should become more of a thing. I'm curious if Gwynne just thought of this himself or if it's a documented thing people have used.
But regarding the book itself, wow. People have been telling me about John Gwynne books for years, and although I own a copy of Malice, I haven't taken the plunge. But the cover of this book was gorgeous, a lot of reviewers I follow gave it a very high rating, and it's the first of a Norse inspired fantasy. What's not to love?
We follow three characters who are all very interesting. Orka is a mother who has also spent a lot of time in shield walls and wants to protect her family. Varg is an idiot who joins up with the Bloodsworn, a group of badass mercenary Vikings. Okay, maybe ‘idiot' isn't in Varg's official character description, but the man is one. But yet, you feel for him and understand his goals. He is an entry into this new world in a way that Orka is not. He just also always makes dumb decisions. He is called Varg No-Sense for a reason!
Elvar was a bit of a longer play here. Her first chapters were kinda listless and I just wanted to get back to Varg and Orka. Elvar is a member of a different group of badass mercenary vikings, and she's trying to earn her battle-fame. But once you learn more about her backstory, everything here clicks. Her character and relationships are such a big part of this book.
Another thing I want to point out here that I haven't seen other people do. There are a LOT of supporting/minor characters, and almost every single one's character description is “badass warrior” or “mysterious witch”. This seems like a criticism, and I do hope that Gwynne takes the opportunity to include different types of characters going forward, but what I want to highlight here is how much this doesn't matter. Gwynne displays a Martin-esque tendancy to flavor smaller characters with just enough personality that even though their page count is low, you still have a sense of who they are. The camaraderie in the Bloodsworn and the Battlegrim are the backbone of this series. The Shadow of the Gods is about loyalty and brotherhood and about choosing your own family. This wouldn't work nearly as well if every member of the badass viking groups just seemed similiar. But there were many whose fates I cared about -Svik, Einar, Rokia, Agnar, Glornir, Soren, Torvik, Sulich, Biorr. GREND. Why has nobody mentioned how fantastic Grend is!?
There's not too much else I can say here except this book is fantastic, and like everyone tells me, the battle scenes are gripping and intense. My only real criticism is that I definitely want more than a trilogy from this world. Is that a criticism, Mr. Gwynne? You decide.
First off, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've been meaning to read “Malice” by John Gwynne, but haven't gotten around to it, so this is my first foray into one of his fantasy worlds. I was thoroughly impressed. This Norse-inspired story follows 3 characters from different backgrounds, all seeking different goals. This world was once run by now-dead gods that were brutal and dangerous. There are offspring scattered throughout the world from these gods that have special powers. However, the rest of the population has enslaved all of these offspring and mad them do their bidding. The 3 main characters are battling their way through this harsh world in their own ways.
For the majority of this book, I felt like I had no idea what was going on. Gwynne really doesn't explain anything for the reader. For the most part, this was ok, because the payoff when you understood what was going on was great. However, I do think at times it detracted from the story because I was just so confused that I wasn't fully engaging.
My favorite part about Gwynne's writing in this book is that he really doesn't pull any punches. This book is very battle-heavy, and his characters are not immune from injury and death. He makes these battles seem realistic, brutal, and chaotic, like they would be in real life. I appreciated this a lot.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy fans. It is full of magic and fighting and mythology, and is an intense read.
TW: gore, death, slavery