In the story’s mythos, a war between the Gods took place several hundred years ago, and much of the magic stems from them. Instead, the magic manifests in a variety of ways inspired by Norse myth. There is a lot of magic in The Shadow of the Gods, but there is no magic system per se. Each of them also has their own cast of supporting characters and enemies, many of whom are a blast to read about. Gwynne does a great job of pacing the action between Orka, Elvar and Varg, allowing each to spend plenty of time at the forefront as well as in the background, usually while they’re traversing the waters of Vigrid. All three characters are extremely well developed, and the story is balanced very evenly between them. The Shadow of the Gods follows three main characters: Orka, a huntress who has a closet overflowing with skeletons (just kidding, Orka would never be that careless - the skeletons have all been hacked to bits and disposed of accordingly) Varg, an escaped thrall who finds his path intertwined with the legendary Bloodsworn mercenary war band and Elvar, a young warrior out to prove herself as part of another war band, called the Battle-Grim. We would sooner disgrace ourselves on the field of battle than ruin them for you. The Shadow of the Gods has some fantastic plot twists. This is a spoiler-free review, so read on without fear. It is a totally new series set in a totally new world, making it accessible to longtime fans and newcomers alike. Gwynne is best known for his critically acclaimed series The Faithful and the Fallen, but thankfully you don’t need to be familiar with the author’s previous works to enjoy The Shadow of the Gods. If words like drengr and 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. 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. Shadow is the first installment in John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn trilogy, and it starts off the the series with a bang. If you’ve got a soft spot for Vikings and fantasy, then The Shadow of the Gods is the book you didn’t know you needed but have been waiting for.
By Daniel Roman 2 years ago The Shadow of the Gods is the first installment of John Gwynne’s new Norse-inspired fantasy saga, and it’s filled to the brim with monsters, blood, and glory.
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