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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely obsessed with this book/this world that John Gwynne created. This was my first John Gwynne book and I loved his writing. He is so good at going into depth about the characters, the world, and the battle scenes were so good. I immediately added all of his books to my wishlist, and I will be continuing this series very soon. This is a high fantasy read so there is a lot of information given and you truly have to pay attention but there’s some great themes and set up happening in this book. I loved how he wrote the female characters, they were so strong and were definitely the stand out characters for me. Sometimes male authors don’t always write female characters well but John Gwynne does. If you are a fan of fantasy, this is a must read. I can’t wait to continue the series and his other books!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What an outstanding book. Absolutely flew through this book and loved every minute of it. This book has been on my TBR list for way too long and it is my first John Gwynne book and wow, I can’t get over how good this book was. I’ve read a lot of great books this year and this might be my favorite so far. WOW wow wow! Just can’t get over how much I enjoyed this book! The characters, the writing style, the story, the pacing! Flawless!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the story and world. Only complaint was waaaay to many characters to keep track. Would have helped to have a character bio or family tree to help differentiate characters.
JESUS CHRIST ON A BURNING BIKE!!
Never has there been a more impossible review to write. The Shadow of the Gods, a book that has not only captured my imagination but stolen my heart with the range of differing but equally loveable characters. Some you love to hate and some that carve a big gash across your chest with glistening sharp axe. The storytelling is magical but brutally real, the atmospheric worldbuilding enraptures you, you can feel the raw and biting waves as you travel with these Norse folks on longships, you can feel the ground they trod upon and you can feel the pressure of being a part of their shield wall. Long story short – Gwynne is the master of immersive storytelling.
Gwynne will always tell a story with heart and grit. His of Blood and Bone series is my absolute favourite Fantasy series of all time (he very swiftly took over the position from A Song of Ice and Fire), I was nervous and giddy starting it, but Gwynne knows his readers and knows what they want and need – even if the reader themselves don’t quite know it! The Shadow of the Gods is a brand-new series, with a whole host of new characters but for me anyway, kind of felt like a homecoming. The reader came home once again to the Gwynne firepit, a story that can be told through the times, he is the ultimate Skald.
The Shadow of the Gods is the kind of story that almost must be inhaled…as much as I tried to read slowly…it was virtually impossible. The cogs in my mind span at incredible rate, trying to make connections, look through the wreckage and see past the smoke and ruin, the narrative is sublimely perfect and never have I read a more dominating book such as this.
The Shadow of the Gods takes place in Vigrid in the Shattered Realm. Three hundred long years have passed since the Gods were in a world destroying war against one another. The result being gods falling to the ground and rupturing the plains, creating a rift that spawned Vaesen (all kinds of creatures and monsters.) It is now a land full of brutal and harsh terrain, the weather and life beating down upon the characters in true Gwynne fashion. Be prepared for monsters, bones of fearsome gods and Dragons a plenty.
John Gwynne’s flair to hook the reader and to transport them to another world is outstanding but it’s the way that he gets his readers to fall entirely in love with the characters that always has me coming back for more.
In the Shadow of the Gods the story follows three distinct POV’s, Orka, Elvar and Varg. The different roles, the varying backstories and a generous cast of characters supporting them allowed them all to become a part of me. You can tell which are going to be developed in further books and those that will have enormous parts to play going forward. Children are going missing and each character becomes embroiled in discovering just who, what and when is happening. A brewing storm is coming and the impending arrival of Queen Helka will test the resolve and strength of those that are battle hungry. Will Vigrid become a place of smoke and desolation once again?
The Shadow of the Gods’ plotting is tighter than two coats of paint. On the edge of your seat? No it will have you strapping on the armour and engaging your seax with practised ease…This is the story you have all been waiting for!
Never has there been a more impossible review to write. The Shadow of the Gods, a book that has not only captured my imagination but stolen my heart with the range of differing but equally loveable characters. Some you love to hate and some that carve a big gash across your chest with glistening sharp axe. The storytelling is magical but brutally real, the atmospheric worldbuilding enraptures you, you can feel the raw and biting waves as you travel with these Norse folks on longships, you can feel the ground they trod upon and you can feel the pressure of being a part of their shield wall. Long story short – Gwynne is the master of immersive storytelling.
Gwynne will always tell a story with heart and grit. His of Blood and Bone series is my absolute favourite Fantasy series of all time (he very swiftly took over the position from A Song of Ice and Fire), I was nervous and giddy starting it, but Gwynne knows his readers and knows what they want and need – even if the reader themselves don’t quite know it! The Shadow of the Gods is a brand-new series, with a whole host of new characters but for me anyway, kind of felt like a homecoming. The reader came home once again to the Gwynne firepit, a story that can be told through the times, he is the ultimate Skald.
The Shadow of the Gods is the kind of story that almost must be inhaled…as much as I tried to read slowly…it was virtually impossible. The cogs in my mind span at incredible rate, trying to make connections, look through the wreckage and see past the smoke and ruin, the narrative is sublimely perfect and never have I read a more dominating book such as this.
The Shadow of the Gods takes place in Vigrid in the Shattered Realm. Three hundred long years have passed since the Gods were in a world destroying war against one another. The result being gods falling to the ground and rupturing the plains, creating a rift that spawned Vaesen (all kinds of creatures and monsters.) It is now a land full of brutal and harsh terrain, the weather and life beating down upon the characters in true Gwynne fashion. Be prepared for monsters, bones of fearsome gods and Dragons a plenty.
John Gwynne’s flair to hook the reader and to transport them to another world is outstanding but it’s the way that he gets his readers to fall entirely in love with the characters that always has me coming back for more.
In the Shadow of the Gods the story follows three distinct POV’s, Orka, Elvar and Varg. The different roles, the varying backstories and a generous cast of characters supporting them allowed them all to become a part of me. You can tell which are going to be developed in further books and those that will have enormous parts to play going forward. Children are going missing and each character becomes embroiled in discovering just who, what and when is happening. A brewing storm is coming and the impending arrival of Queen Helka will test the resolve and strength of those that are battle hungry. Will Vigrid become a place of smoke and desolation once again?
The Shadow of the Gods’ plotting is tighter than two coats of paint. On the edge of your seat? No it will have you strapping on the armour and engaging your seax with practised ease…This is the story you have all been waiting for!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ok here’s this thing. It was a good book. I just got bored. I think it’s because the characters weren’t intertwined
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced