7.17k reviews for:

The Shadow of the Gods

John Gwynne

4.16 AVERAGE

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

Friendship ended with Sanderson...now Gwynne is my best friend.

For real though, I loved this book and can't wait for the sequel. I started fantasy in 2017 and have been catching up all these years, so to now be reading a book that doesn't have an already published sequel is stressing because I would be reading book 2 tomorrow if it were available.

I haven't read Gwynne's other books, so I guess onto those instead.
adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Complicated
adventurous dark tense 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: No
adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
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monicadee's review

4.0
adventurous slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Although the pacing is excruciatingly slow for most of the book, Gwynne's writing is compelling and immersive. And although the three main characters are emotionally dull and distant, the story as a whole is fantastic. I wasn't swept off my feet with this one, but I have a healthy optimism for the rest of the trilogy!
adventurous dark 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: No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It's pretty slow paced, but wraps up nicely in the last 3rd of the book or so 

skyisonfire's review

4.5
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: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Fucking stunning. Best fantasy I read in 2024 EASILY