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rewriteagain's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the epic feel of this story. The characters are distinct, the banter is fun, the descriptions are vivid, and there are plenty of riddles to keep things interesting. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the sequel to come out!
qualiareedauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this novel for the imagination it stirred within me as I hurried through its pages, unwilling to put it down. The world building was rich and inventive in a way that didn't seem to lean too much on the works that have come before it. The inspiration from ancient tales is palpable and gives it a feeling of being old and brand new at the same time which is, I think, exactly the note one should strive for in genres like this.
My only issue/complaint would be that it seemed a little rushed. I fell in love with it and would have happily read this book at twice the length if it meant that the overall story could have been fleshed out a bit more. As is, I feel like this has just been a taste of this world and I hope we get more in the future.
Thanks to Joshua for writing this enchanting and adventurous tale!
My only issue/complaint would be that it seemed a little rushed. I fell in love with it and would have happily read this book at twice the length if it meant that the overall story could have been fleshed out a bit more. As is, I feel like this has just been a taste of this world and I hope we get more in the future.
Thanks to Joshua for writing this enchanting and adventurous tale!
thelibraryofimagination's review against another edition
5.0
This book was gifted to me by the author, tusen takk @JoshMGillingham.
Joshua is a Canadian author and this is his first full-length novel. He’s a talented writer, teacher, game designer and musician. He’s such a talented guy and I’m honoured to know personally.
The Gatewatch is a book about dwarves and trolls and troll hunters and it's absolutely brilliant! It is inspired by Norse Myths and Icelandic Sagas and has the aura of the Shire and Game of Thrones vibes. It’s an ‘epic fantasy adventure’. Joshua has done a brilliant job of capturing the essence of these wonderful tales.
Torin Ten-Trees and his mates; Bryn and Grimsa embark on a journey to the Realm of Noros to join The Gatewatch and become troll hunters. They are determined to earn the honour of troll hunting. Unfortunately, they find themselves embarking on an unexpected journey through The Wilds and in the Tunnels facing hungry trolls and scheming dwarves.. Their journey challenges their friendship, their courage and their commitment to each other and The Gatewatch.
From the preface, I enjoyed this book. Joshua’s introduction gives an insight into Norse myth which is informative and adds a personal touch. He takes the time to include a pronunciation guide, (very helpful by the way). He even discusses Scandinavian poetry and entertains with a lovely adaptation of skaldic verse. But it doesn’t stop there. Throughout the book you are entertained by ingenious riddles and skaldic poems.
And then you see the maps. They are illustrated by Tiffany Munro. And they are lovely.
Finally, the story starts.
You meet the characters and they are exactly that, characters. They have vibrant personalities and you find yourself liking them instantly. From the very first, beautifully descriptive, lines of the book you are drawn into their world. You are invested. Emotionally. You root for them, you worry for them, you fear for them, you cry for them and you celebrate with them. As their journey unfolds, so do you. You are enraptured.
The vibrant characters in this saga fight tooth and nail for each other and to defend The Gatewatch. They honour friendship, a friendship swarn by code, it’s a “no one gets left behind’ kind of friendship. A pact never to be broken, no matter what.
Josh’s writing is vibrant. His descriptive writing forces you to see Frostridge Falls, the setting sun glistening on the waters, as if you were there standing on the edge of the falls with your own group of friends. You hear the sounds echoing in the dark tunnels and you feel the fear of the unknown, just like Torin and his friends. You delve in the warm waters of the Gatewatch Baths and as the warmth encompasses you can’t help but smile at the friendly banter between friends and you find yourself laughing along with them. You revel in the celebratory atmosphere in the hall as you fill your stein with homemade ale, as if it were a celebration just for you. You are reading a story about these people but you feel as if you are living it with them. You are enraptured.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s available on Amazon and @crowsnestbooks.
Joshua is a Canadian author and this is his first full-length novel. He’s a talented writer, teacher, game designer and musician. He’s such a talented guy and I’m honoured to know personally.
The Gatewatch is a book about dwarves and trolls and troll hunters and it's absolutely brilliant! It is inspired by Norse Myths and Icelandic Sagas and has the aura of the Shire and Game of Thrones vibes. It’s an ‘epic fantasy adventure’. Joshua has done a brilliant job of capturing the essence of these wonderful tales.
Torin Ten-Trees and his mates; Bryn and Grimsa embark on a journey to the Realm of Noros to join The Gatewatch and become troll hunters. They are determined to earn the honour of troll hunting. Unfortunately, they find themselves embarking on an unexpected journey through The Wilds and in the Tunnels facing hungry trolls and scheming dwarves.. Their journey challenges their friendship, their courage and their commitment to each other and The Gatewatch.
From the preface, I enjoyed this book. Joshua’s introduction gives an insight into Norse myth which is informative and adds a personal touch. He takes the time to include a pronunciation guide, (very helpful by the way). He even discusses Scandinavian poetry and entertains with a lovely adaptation of skaldic verse. But it doesn’t stop there. Throughout the book you are entertained by ingenious riddles and skaldic poems.
And then you see the maps. They are illustrated by Tiffany Munro. And they are lovely.
Finally, the story starts.
You meet the characters and they are exactly that, characters. They have vibrant personalities and you find yourself liking them instantly. From the very first, beautifully descriptive, lines of the book you are drawn into their world. You are invested. Emotionally. You root for them, you worry for them, you fear for them, you cry for them and you celebrate with them. As their journey unfolds, so do you. You are enraptured.
The vibrant characters in this saga fight tooth and nail for each other and to defend The Gatewatch. They honour friendship, a friendship swarn by code, it’s a “no one gets left behind’ kind of friendship. A pact never to be broken, no matter what.
Josh’s writing is vibrant. His descriptive writing forces you to see Frostridge Falls, the setting sun glistening on the waters, as if you were there standing on the edge of the falls with your own group of friends. You hear the sounds echoing in the dark tunnels and you feel the fear of the unknown, just like Torin and his friends. You delve in the warm waters of the Gatewatch Baths and as the warmth encompasses you can’t help but smile at the friendly banter between friends and you find yourself laughing along with them. You revel in the celebratory atmosphere in the hall as you fill your stein with homemade ale, as if it were a celebration just for you. You are reading a story about these people but you feel as if you are living it with them. You are enraptured.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s available on Amazon and @crowsnestbooks.
mikaylaslibrary's review against another edition
4.75
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. When I say I love books about Vikings, this is what I mean.
The writing is amazing, I loved all of the characters, and the twists were incredibly well done, as well as prominent to the story.
The ending is also incredibly well done, and leaves room for the second novel to build on, without taking anything away. Just don't make the same mistake I did, and read it during class. You might cry.
The writing is amazing, I loved all of the characters, and the twists were incredibly well done, as well as prominent to the story.
The ending is also incredibly well done, and leaves room for the second novel to build on, without taking anything away. Just don't make the same mistake I did, and read it during class. You might cry.
raptorsandprey's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
This book was wellness to the soul. Not only because of all the wellness parts mentioned in it, which were a huge contrast to the adventurous aspects of the story, but also because reading this book left me feeling great!
Norse mythology combined with two of my most beloved and most influential stories in the fantasy genre ended up being a neat mix. The story spreads many “The Lord of the Rings” vibes: on the one hand because “The Gatewatch“ also draws lots of attention to food and on the other hand because of the world building and the complexity of the story. For only 300 pages the reader gets to know a world full of beauty, miracle and dangers all at once.
In addition to that I got many “Harry Potter” vibes from the book as well. A lighthearted group of friends attends a facility to learn an art and stumble into an adventure. The gatewatch feels like the equivalent to Hogwarts, Gavrin resembles Hagrid for me, Fjellhall and the great hall are very much alike and the wilder lands can be compared to the forbidden forest.
In regard to the characters I can say that all of them have their distinct features which make most of them likeable. It’s outstanding it’s not only males who push the plot forward, but also the female characters who contribute to the final victory. However, I absolutely couldn’t stand Wyla from the beginning. It’s coming down to “saving Wyla from getting slaughtered while she is trying to save the world on her own without learning from her mistakes”.
Long story short: the combination of the world building and pace of the story from “The Lord of the Rings” and the heart warming atmosphere of “Harry Potter” coined this book for me and made it a very special read.
amchaffie's review against another edition
5.0
If you enjoy Norse mythology, adventure, or fantasy, then I highly recommend The Gatewatch. This first novel by Joshua Gillingham had me turning page after page in my desire to continue on my journey with Torin and his companions. You'll find these pages filled with dynamic characters, thrilling encounters, and descriptive scenery that will immerse you in this fantastic tale. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel!
etlund's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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
3.5
armedwithabook's review against another edition
4.0
The Gatewatch is an enjoyable tale with magic, friendship, a fantastical world that is old and rooted in Norse mythology. I have been fascinated by Norse mythology for a while and I truly enjoyed that aspect of the story.
Reading experience:
The Gatewatch is an epic tale of friendship, meeting beings who are different from us, and living with them. Torin, Bryn and Grimsa are three friends journey to the city of Gatewatch to become trollhunters. Every two years, a competition decides who the new trollhunters will be, and the three friends are determined to kill a troll. The competition between them is healthy and their friendly banter is one of my favorite parts of this story. Over time, other friendships develop as well with fellow recruits who are going to be troll hunters too. There is wit and cunning in this story and, if you like mind teasers, riddles are abundant.
The world that Josh creates in The Gatewatch is rich in history, culture and magic. There are numerous beings – dwarves, goblins, trolls, giants, and humans. There is magic. There are wars about to be waged. You can check out my all review on Armed with A Book, where I elaborate more on this aspect.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as it seemed like the perfect bedtime story. The cover is beautiful and detailed, and some more illustrations like that would make this a perfect story to tell kids while looking at the pictures. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to the next adventure.
Reading experience:
The Gatewatch is an epic tale of friendship, meeting beings who are different from us, and living with them. Torin, Bryn and Grimsa are three friends journey to the city of Gatewatch to become trollhunters. Every two years, a competition decides who the new trollhunters will be, and the three friends are determined to kill a troll. The competition between them is healthy and their friendly banter is one of my favorite parts of this story. Over time, other friendships develop as well with fellow recruits who are going to be troll hunters too. There is wit and cunning in this story and, if you like mind teasers, riddles are abundant.
The world that Josh creates in The Gatewatch is rich in history, culture and magic. There are numerous beings – dwarves, goblins, trolls, giants, and humans. There is magic. There are wars about to be waged. You can check out my all review on Armed with A Book, where I elaborate more on this aspect.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as it seemed like the perfect bedtime story. The cover is beautiful and detailed, and some more illustrations like that would make this a perfect story to tell kids while looking at the pictures. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to the next adventure.
daisyheadmaesie's review
4.0
3.5 Norse gods out of 5
A promising debut for Canadian author Joshua Gillingham! This was a beautifully imagined folkloric tale, written with such vividness, it’s impossible not to see it play out in your mind. Gillingham is a talented writer that the fantasy genre should be proud to have among its ranks. His choice of adjectives are spot-on; describing the food, the landscape, the textures of clothing or weapons. Like, “you dim-witted mushroom muncher”. Who the heck comes up with an insult like that?! Seriously, it just never gets old. It made me laugh every time!
As far as pacing goes, I can easily compare The Gatewatch to a giant, rolling stone, sitting on the top of a hill. It’s impressive, it will take a bit to get it moving. But once it reaches that tipping point, it’s not going to stop until it reaches the bottom— unless it hits a tree. Or an animal. Or what if the hill’s got platforms mid-way and that slows it down? Listen, just pretend this is a massive, perfectly smoothe hill with absolutely nothing on it, okay? Maybe it’s made of rock. Or ice or some shit. Use your imagination.
By mid-way, the book (let’s just forget about the rock) is moving so fast that I felt as if l were sprinting by certain parts. The story would have benefitted from a less drawn-out beginning and a more robust middle, all the way to the end.
Allowing each of those events in the second half of the book to breathe a little more would have added a lot to our understanding as to why the characters were reacting the way they were. For example, when our wholesome gang of troll hunters gets upset at the nidavels in Myrkheim for having supposedly betrayed them, but there are so many bodies that just hit the floor, and shiny things glistening on the cave walls, you’re just like, ‘Wait.. what? Back up a minute’. Or how little immortality is mentioned in the first half of the book, and you realize Oh shit! This is super important!. Or when Calder suddenly turns into an evil hag and begins to imprison the group upon their return to Gatewatch, and somehow his daughter has no inner-monologue as to how this is affecting her (“UMM DAD, IT’S ME THE BADASS DAUGHTER WTF ARE YOU DOING???”).
Can we just stop for a second and talk about how badass Wyla is? Or really, how badass all the female characters are? Another thing I applaud in this book is its portrayal of both female and male strengths, viking style. This is something the norse mythology (and typically old world mythology in general) excels at, and it’s no wonder we find the balance of both sexes reflected in The Gatewatch. Those women will crush your skull, then finish your mead and not even BLINK. Which is why I was so disappointed to read the tropiest of female tropes, the farewell kiss, as Wyla and Torin stomped their way onto the final battleground. LIKE, WHAAAAAT!? Bring back shit stirring, ass whoopin’ Wyla! Why she gotta be like that?!
All in all, this is an entertaining world that I would happily revisit. I truly look forward to seeing Gillingham’s writing evolve over the course of this series!
Thank you to Crowsnest Books for sending me a copy of this book!
A promising debut for Canadian author Joshua Gillingham! This was a beautifully imagined folkloric tale, written with such vividness, it’s impossible not to see it play out in your mind. Gillingham is a talented writer that the fantasy genre should be proud to have among its ranks. His choice of adjectives are spot-on; describing the food, the landscape, the textures of clothing or weapons. Like, “you dim-witted mushroom muncher”. Who the heck comes up with an insult like that?! Seriously, it just never gets old. It made me laugh every time!
As far as pacing goes, I can easily compare The Gatewatch to a giant, rolling stone, sitting on the top of a hill. It’s impressive, it will take a bit to get it moving. But once it reaches that tipping point, it’s not going to stop until it reaches the bottom— unless it hits a tree. Or an animal. Or what if the hill’s got platforms mid-way and that slows it down? Listen, just pretend this is a massive, perfectly smoothe hill with absolutely nothing on it, okay? Maybe it’s made of rock. Or ice or some shit. Use your imagination.
By mid-way, the book (let’s just forget about the rock) is moving so fast that I felt as if l were sprinting by certain parts. The story would have benefitted from a less drawn-out beginning and a more robust middle, all the way to the end.
Allowing each of those events in the second half of the book to breathe a little more would have added a lot to our understanding as to why the characters were reacting the way they were. For example, when our wholesome gang of troll hunters gets upset at the nidavels in Myrkheim for having supposedly betrayed them, but there are so many bodies that just hit the floor, and shiny things glistening on the cave walls, you’re just like, ‘Wait.. what? Back up a minute’. Or how little immortality is mentioned in the first half of the book, and you realize Oh shit! This is super important!. Or when Calder suddenly turns into an evil hag and begins to imprison the group upon their return to Gatewatch, and somehow his daughter has no inner-monologue as to how this is affecting her (“UMM DAD, IT’S ME THE BADASS DAUGHTER WTF ARE YOU DOING???”).
Can we just stop for a second and talk about how badass Wyla is? Or really, how badass all the female characters are? Another thing I applaud in this book is its portrayal of both female and male strengths, viking style. This is something the norse mythology (and typically old world mythology in general) excels at, and it’s no wonder we find the balance of both sexes reflected in The Gatewatch. Those women will crush your skull, then finish your mead and not even BLINK. Which is why I was so disappointed to read the tropiest of female tropes, the farewell kiss, as Wyla and Torin stomped their way onto the final battleground. LIKE, WHAAAAAT!? Bring back shit stirring, ass whoopin’ Wyla! Why she gotta be like that?!
All in all, this is an entertaining world that I would happily revisit. I truly look forward to seeing Gillingham’s writing evolve over the course of this series!
Thank you to Crowsnest Books for sending me a copy of this book!