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winglesswarrior's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
decembermagpie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Blood, and Violence
orvillefartenbacher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Child abuse
killianthebard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, War, Violence, and Trafficking
inkwing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
So much potential but then it is just one battle scene after another.
I liked the overall theme and the three main characters' plot lines, each driven by their individual motives.
The book takes a lot of time starting off, about a quarter of the book where not much is happening. And the main story was too foreseeable, and just too much hack and slash.
Not bad in general, but nothing that made me want to read the next book.
I liked the overall theme and the three main characters' plot lines, each driven by their individual motives.
The book takes a lot of time starting off, about a quarter of the book where not much is happening. And the main story was too foreseeable, and just too much hack and slash.
Not bad in general, but nothing that made me want to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Kidnapping, Death, Blood, and Slavery
siomhaw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, Classism, Death, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Body shaming
Minor: Excrement
velsbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
5.0
Wow just wow. The writing, the world building, the story, the characters - this is all perfect.
The book follows three characters who are all on their own mission. There is Orka, a huntress and former warrior, now living a peaceful life with her husband and son. Elvar, a warrior and member of the Battle-Grim who hunt Tainted, those that carry the blood of the gods. Last but not least, Varg, a former thrall on the mission to revenge the death of his sister. I enjoyed all three characters' storylines but I especially enjoyed Orka. She is such a well rounded, strong and relatable character and she definitely has become one of my all time favourite characters.
The Norse inspired world is filled with gods, war, magical creatures, friendship and everything I could have asked for.
This book has almost 500 pages and books like this usually scare me a little but not with this one. I enjoyed every minute of it and I immediately ordered the second book in the series after finishing book one. If you like fantasy get this one right now! This series has my whole heart.
"This is a world of blood. Of tooth and claw and sharp iron. Of short lives and painful deaths."
The book follows three characters who are all on their own mission. There is Orka, a huntress and former warrior, now living a peaceful life with her husband and son. Elvar, a warrior and member of the Battle-Grim who hunt Tainted, those that carry the blood of the gods. Last but not least, Varg, a former thrall on the mission to revenge the death of his sister. I enjoyed all three characters' storylines but I especially enjoyed Orka. She is such a well rounded, strong and relatable character and she definitely has become one of my all time favourite characters.
The Norse inspired world is filled with gods, war, magical creatures, friendship and everything I could have asked for.
This book has almost 500 pages and books like this usually scare me a little but not with this one. I enjoyed every minute of it and I immediately ordered the second book in the series after finishing book one. If you like fantasy get this one right now! This series has my whole heart.
"This is a world of blood. Of tooth and claw and sharp iron. Of short lives and painful deaths."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Kidnapping, Blood, and Violence
kajsaschubeler's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
📖 The Shadow of Gods by John Gwynne
📚 The first installment in the Bloodsworn Saga
👉 Published by orbit, 2021
📑 496 pages
🔖 The Shadow of the Gods are a story weaved from three tales.
That of Elvar, a young woman looking to earn her battle-fame with the Battle-Grim.
That of Varg, a former thrall looking for a way to avenge his dead sister.
And that of Orka, whose husband, Thorkel, and son, Becca, means the world to her.
All three live in a world that bares the wounds left by the fall of the Gods. Each try to make a life for themselves – by seeking fame, revenge, or peace.
But something stirs in the mountains and the woods, and the ships travelling the whale-road aren't always as friendly as they seem.
As the actions of unknown strangers interfere in each of their lives –
Elvar and the Battle-Grim are thrown into the beginning of a saga tale as they hunt down a berserker
Varg is offered the chance of a new life with the Bloodsworn
and Orka and her families life is forever changed as children starts disappearing in the night
– and soon each of them will have to decide what matters, and what is worth fighting for.
🏷️ John Gwynne paints a striking image of a country with great mountains, vast stretches of forrest, and an array of fjords that shape peoples lives.
It's is a cold, dark and dangerous worl to live in, but it is also a place where love has a chance to change the future of the world.
Gwynne is clearly inspired by the Nordic countries, their history and mythology, and it's a pleasure to recognise old saga-tales resting between the pages – resung and retold, shaped into something new.
📚 The first installment in the Bloodsworn Saga
👉 Published by orbit, 2021
📑 496 pages
🔖 The Shadow of the Gods are a story weaved from three tales.
That of Elvar, a young woman looking to earn her battle-fame with the Battle-Grim.
That of Varg, a former thrall looking for a way to avenge his dead sister.
And that of Orka, whose husband, Thorkel, and son, Becca, means the world to her.
All three live in a world that bares the wounds left by the fall of the Gods. Each try to make a life for themselves – by seeking fame, revenge, or peace.
But something stirs in the mountains and the woods, and the ships travelling the whale-road aren't always as friendly as they seem.
As the actions of unknown strangers interfere in each of their lives –
Elvar and the Battle-Grim are thrown into the beginning of a saga tale as they hunt down a berserker
Varg is offered the chance of a new life with the Bloodsworn
and Orka and her families life is forever changed as children starts disappearing in the night
– and soon each of them will have to decide what matters, and what is worth fighting for.
🏷️ John Gwynne paints a striking image of a country with great mountains, vast stretches of forrest, and an array of fjords that shape peoples lives.
It's is a cold, dark and dangerous worl to live in, but it is also a place where love has a chance to change the future of the world.
Gwynne is clearly inspired by the Nordic countries, their history and mythology, and it's a pleasure to recognise old saga-tales resting between the pages – resung and retold, shaped into something new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, Slavery, Blood, Grief, and Violence
dmeda03's review against another edition
Triggers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, War, Vomit, Murder, Violence, and Slavery
_lazyreader_3565's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Violence, Gore, and Murder