Rating: 5/5
What It’s About:
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.
Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave – or desperate – enough to seek them out.
Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .
Goodreads
The Review
The Shadow of the Gods is the second book I’ve read by John Gwynne. I had a great experience reading the first book in his other series, A Time of Dread, and finally got to read this one. This book is an epic adventure that had everything readers love about high fantasy stories.
- Norse inspired world
- Characters with magic elements and magical creatures
- clashing of political parties and warbands
- lots of action and fighting scenes
The story is told from the point of view from three different characters, which I loved. They all had interesting backstories and had journeys that were engaging until the end. The Shadow of the Gods has many gory and bloody parts, so if you don’t like reading about bones splitting and limbs severing, this book is probably not for you.
I normally don’t read books this long, Gwynne’s writing style goes at a steady and sometimes fast pace. There was lots of gasping, exclamations, and expletives from me as I read it! Which always tells me that it was a good story haha! The ending was jaw dropping and I’m so excited to read the second book to see what happens next. If you are a fan of Skyrim, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, Vikings, or The Last Kingdom, there is a high chance that you will enjoy The Shadow of the Gods.