Sieðr-witch – seiðr (pronounced say-der) a form of magic relating to the telling and shaping of the future, often viewed as similar to shamanism

Before you read The Shadow of the Gods, you should also know about the characters. The book follows three point-of-view characters, Orka, Varg and Elvar. At the start of the story, Orka is enjoying a quiet life with her family, but she clearly knows how to look after herself. 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. The Shadow of the Gods is a gritty and violent Norse mythology-inspired tale that features monsters, magic, vengeance, warbands, and shield walls. It takes place approximately 300-years after the Gods of Vigrið fought and battled themselves to annihilation and follows three distinct point of view perspectives as they traverse Gwynne’s well-realised dark fantasy world. The first book I have read that managed to make all the main characters grow on me and no one is less lovable or exciting than the other. The book contains three storylines, all told side by side. This has worked well, keeps the tension high and provides enough variety without being long. On the one hand there is Orka, whose family suffers terrible things in the book, and because of this we realise what a strong woman Orka is and who fights for her family and would do anything for them. She is also a woman full of secrets, and we only find out about her past at the end, because it is clear from the beginning that she is more than she seems. I also liked the young Varg. Varg has ventured out of his shell more and more over time. He finds himself in a constant conflict, because on the one hand his own oath weighs on him, which he must fulfil at all costs. On the other hand, as a former slave without friends, he learns more and more about freedom and the sworn community of his mercenary troop, which means more and more to him. Varg is also a brave fighter and has his heart in the right place. The warrior Elvar is ambitious and always in search of fame and glory. She wants to prove herself in many dangerous battles and show the world that she is not the effeminate daughter of a wealthy family. Like Orka, she is a strong woman who will surely develop in the following volumes. In addition, there are a number of other characters who enrich the plot and provide variety. I would love to tell you which character I liked best, but each plot line was extraordinarily interesting and each character showed so much heart and courage that I’m afraid I can’t choose one. As whispers of war echo across the land of Vigrið, fate follows in the footsteps of three warriors: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman pursuing battle fame, and a thrall seeking vengeance among the mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

The Hunger of the gods is the second book in The Bloodsworn Saga and though it pains me to say it, I have to say this book didn’t live up to expectations, it was still a great book though 4/5 stars but I expected more. Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20

Soon, all three of these fighters are faced with new and life-changing challenges. Orka is forced to embark on a bloody mission of vengeance when her peaceful life is shattered and her son is taken from her. Varg attempts to reconcile his responsibilities to the Bloodsworn and his own personal oaths, as the war band march into the wilderness to face a mysterious foe. Elvar and the Battle-Grim embark on a legendary quest to find the final battleground of the gods. However, all three will be unprepared for the revelations, lies and bloodshed about to be unleashed before them. A dangerous conspiracy is forming in Vigrið that will shatter the very land and bring untold chaos to humanity. Not all the gods are dead, and those that survive are very angry! If you’ve got a soft spot for Vikings and fantasy, then The Shadow of the Godsis the book you didn’t know you needed but have been waiting for. Shadow isthe first installment in John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn trilogy, and it starts off the the series with a bang. Imagine if all the creatures from Norse mythology — shapeshifting berserkers, trolls, giants and sea serpents— actually existed alongside Viking-style war bands, and you’ve got a relatively good idea of what you’re walking into here. If words like drengrand holmgang mean anything to you, or the very thought of a shield-wall gets you jittery with excitement, then make no mistake: this book is for you. I also need to talk about Orka. In my review for The Shadow of the Gods, I mentioned that Orka had “the potential to become one of my all-time favourite characters”, and I can firmly say that she has entered my hall of fame! Orka continues to be fierce, compassionate, compelling and complex. Orka’s sheer will and determination to fight for her loved ones is awe-inspiring. Fantasy books need more badass mothers!I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Shadow of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to John Gwynne and Orbit Books. by Daniel Roman 2 years ago The Shadow of the Godsis the first installment of John Gwynne’s new Norse-inspired fantasy saga, and it’s filled to the brim with monsters, blood, and glory. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.

En este punto ya he comprobado que Gwynne tiene la costumbre de darme de lo mejorcito en batallas que he leído. Sangre y aceros se cruzan.Of course, it helps that author John Gwynne is a legit Viking re-enactor. When he’s describing a warrior’s kit of gear, there is zero suspension of disbelief required. It is thoroughly obvious that the man knows what he’s talking about when it comes to weapons and the innumerable Viking/Norse elements that he’s layered into the story. There is a sense of authenticity to Gwynne’s world that makes it so easy to immerse yourself in it, and sets it apart from other Norse-inspired stories. No, this is my home”, Orka said, placing her palm over Thorkel’s chest. “You and Breca are my home. Wherever we are together, that is my home to me.” Okay, incredible story and character development aside, let's talk about some of the fun settings and my favorite sequences. Right at the top of the heap would have to be the tongue creatures that Varg and the crew come across on their way across the ocean. I do not want to give too much away here, but these creatures infect your tongue and slowly rot the body and the mind until you become a shell of yourself and a slave to their will. The description is disgusting, and I had to marvel at the innovative idea. The second would have to be something I can’t say without spoilers. Let’s just say large things are flying that go bump in the night. The third would have to be the infiltration of Galdur Tower. It was brisk, but oh so exciting. The fourth has to do with Vol. I’ll just leave it there. Whew, it was insane. Oh, and one more thing. Can we give a round of applause to the description of the weapons and how they are handled? Also, the shield wall tactics were a fun strategy to learn about, both offensively and defensively. The POVs in this book are slightly expanded. In book one the focus was pretty much on three main characters, however we get a little bit of a wider scope in THE HUNGER OF THE GODS and this makes sense given that the story is expanding considerably as well. That being said, I didn't mind the fact that we experience some other characters' journeys and it wasn't confusing as their stories intersect with the main characters much of the time. So Gwynne has definitely given us a broader view of the players in book two and the results are spectacular. Okay so as soon as I saw Witcher x Vikings I was all for this book, and I’m so glad because it’s actually pretty accurate!

The Hunger of the Gods is one of my most anticipated releases of 2022. I loved The Shadow of the Gods and gave it 4.5 stars, and was therefore excited when I received an e-arc of this book. Moreover, the cover art for this series is incredible. The final character arc featured in The Shadow of the Gods follows the young warrior, Elvar. Elvar is the daughter of a powerful jarl who gave up a life of comfort and forced marriage to join the Battle-Grim, another notorious mercenary warband who specialise in killing monsters and trapping Tainted to sell them for profit. After capturing an unusual family of Tainted, Elvar and the Battle-Grim embark on a quest of epic proportions that will change the world. This was another impressive and captivating storyline which has some very unique differences from the other character arcs. Elvar is an excellent point-of-view character with a complex past, who presents an interesting counterpoint to the other two protagonists. While Orka and Varg and primarily motivated by family and vengeance, Elvar is primarily concerned with proving her worth to her crew, her commander, and her overbearing family, and is determined to win enough battle fame to outshine her father. I also loved the comparisons between the Bloodsworn and the Battle-Grim, and it was interesting to see how the similarities and differences between the warbands, especially as the Battle-Grim are more concerned with wealth and reputation. This storyline is a particularly ambitious and contains some amazing battle sequences, especially one at the start against a troll, and there is much more of a focus on fighting within a shield wall as a unit. This storyline also has one of the best twists in the entire novel, as well as an extremely impressive ending that will have major implications for the rest of the series. And also, the character interaction especially the conversation between the main characters were handled wonderfully and I would love to read more of other characters reaction when they find out Orka is the Skullsplitter. Please note that while many of these words are directly taken from Norse history, The Shadow of the Gods is a work of fiction. The historical meanings may not exactly translate into the world of this book. The brief definitions provided below however do match up with their use in the book as I see them.You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. What happens at the end of my trial? Men die, Women die, all creatures of flesh and blood die, but battle-fame survives. To become a song, a saga-tale told from generation to generation. That way we will live forever. That is what I want, what all of us want.” Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!