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xta_07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A stunning sequel for an incredible series.
I LOVE this series so far, it has it all: Incredible fight scenes, a weaving of an intricate plot, and heartfelt relationships. I was really glad to get a few more perspectives this time. Especially from the "villains" of this story. That was truly interesting and entertaining. One of the reasons why I liked those perspectives so much was that you get to see the "hero's" in a light that is not so flattering. Especially with Elvar, but I do hope that she comes to the realization that it's not someones ancestry or the blood that flows through somebody's veins that makes up their character, but it's the decisions that they make.
This makes me hungry to read more John Gwynne!
I LOVE this series so far, it has it all: Incredible fight scenes, a weaving of an intricate plot, and heartfelt relationships. I was really glad to get a few more perspectives this time. Especially from the "villains" of this story. That was truly interesting and entertaining. One of the reasons why I liked those perspectives so much was that you get to see the "hero's" in a light that is not so flattering. Especially with Elvar, but I do hope that she comes to the realization that it's not someones ancestry or the blood that flows through somebody's veins that makes up their character, but it's the decisions that they make.
This makes me hungry to read more John Gwynne!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Slavery and Gore
Minor: Sexual content
saltycoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, and Trafficking
alyanna_dm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Slavery
lenakathryn's review
adventurous
dark
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Murder, Slavery, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: War and Sexual content
britreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Hopefully this isn't too long of a review.
I'm disappointed by this book. I thoroughly enjoyed The Shadow of the Gods and was exciting to see where the story would pick up in the sequel The Hunger of the Gods. Unfortunately, I felt that this book served as a long prelude to the last book and was intended to move characters in place in preparation for the 3rd/final book. I'll briefly go through my likes and dislikes with this book.
Likes:
I'm disappointed by this book. I thoroughly enjoyed The Shadow of the Gods and was exciting to see where the story would pick up in the sequel The Hunger of the Gods. Unfortunately, I felt that this book served as a long prelude to the last book and was intended to move characters in place in preparation for the 3rd/final book. I'll briefly go through my likes and dislikes with this book.
Likes:
- Orka was my favorite character in Shadow and she's my favorite character here. She doesn't change much (or at all really), but I loved following her journey as she continued to search for her son. I also really enjoyed her mentor-mentee bond with Lif and I hope there are more scenes where the two connect in the next book.
I do not for a second believe she is dead at the end of this book. I don't think Gwynne has killed off a single main character in either this book or the first book. I can't imagine him killing off Orka when it's clear she'll have a large role to play in the finale. - Varg was my second favorite character and even though I felt like the Bloodsworn plot line wasn't the strongest here, I still enjoyed being in his head as he navigated being part of this mercenary group and figuring out his magical/supernatural abilities.
I also liked the return of some of the gods like Ulfir and Rotta. Writing about world where the gods once existed, then died, but are now coming back to life is unique. I wish there were more consequences for this happening. It felt like Ulfir and Lik-Rifa returned and some of the Tainted had dreams of their returns, yet it doesn't seem to impact larger society. Something that monumental should cause people to start to act up. I am curious to see if/what other gods will return in the final book. I definitely foresee Snaka coming back to life. - I enjoyed some of the antagonist. I thought Myrk was interesting and fun for a bit.
- While I do have some gripes with Gwynne's writing (which I'll get into soon), I liked the descriptions of the land and battle. The fights here were just as brutal and visceral as in the first book. I imagine we'll get bigger, bloodier, tense battles in the next book.
Dislikes:
- This book is way too long. A lot of actions are repetitive. Characters move from location to location. Maybe a battle is thrown in and there may be some slight character and team development. We're given two new POVs here and while I understand why they're here (
Biorr's characters let us know what's going on with Lik-Rifa and Gudvarr's characters give us insight into Helka, Skalk and Vol for a bit ) I don't think we needed as many side perspectives as we were given - Elvar was my least favorite character in the first book and I DEFINITELY do not like her in this book. She's an enslaver and works with a band of slave catchers. She seems to harbor now conscious towards the mistreatment of thralls.
I also don't believe she's a worthy leader of the Battle-Grim and I definitely rolled my eyes at the end when she became Jarl of her father's realm. Personally, I'm hoping/praying for her downfall in the next book. (I do like Grend though and will be devastated if anything happens to him. Or Uspa!) - This book made me realize there's no clear magic ranking here. I don't see how Galdur-magic compares to Seidr magic. Skalk claims to take Vol because she's powerful and unique, yet Vol's power doesn't seem any different from what Uspa can do.
And with Uspa and Skalk both raising and enthralling gods, it's never clear if this has significant cost to the spellcasters. It feels like resurrecting once dead gods would incur serious complications. - Briefly returning to the writing....this book over uses words like 'thought-cage' and 'hump.' I don't know if Norse texts refer to sex by saying 'hump' or 'humping,' but I found the constant use of this word jarring and juvenile. Just say 'sex' or 'fuck.'
Overall, I thought it was a decent fantasy novel. Not as engaging and thrilling as the first book. I hope Gwynne can balance the different storylines without sacrificing pace and length in the third book. I hope we return to three POVs in the next book (though I doubt that will happen and even believe we'll see another couple of perspectives added). I plan on reading the next book when it's released and I may check out Gwynne's other work. (I own a copy of Malice). While I was disappointed with this book, I hope the next book and meet or exceed the expectations established by The Shadow of the Gods.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Slavery and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
ripxw's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Slavery and Kidnapping
pvbobrien's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, War, Torture, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Body horror, Excrement, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
onthesamepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Depending on whether you like the specific tropes this book is going for, you're either going to appreciate how long this book is, or tug at your hair in despair because it isn't done yet. Unfortunately, I was in the latter camp.
This book is a traveling book. We follow the same three characters from the first installment, along with two additional POVs: Biórr and Guðvarr. Four of the characters are travelling for pretty much the entire book, and I've come to realize that is something I don't tend to enjoy, especially not when I get 600+ pages of it.
The other trope prevalent in this book is the one I like to call "oops, you just missed them!" It's when two people are searching for each other, and will be in the same street within seconds of each other, or there at the same time but facing the opposite way so they never see each other. This trope has frustrated me for as long as I can remember, and I lost count of the number of times I wanted to throw something as a character, once again, didn't find who they were looking for.
With regards to the plot, I honestly don't feel like much happens until the 85% mark, except for maybe three or four important plot points that can be summed up in four sentences. But the final 15% is fast-paced and interesting, and I enjoyed it so much more than the rest. I also still really enjoyed both Orka and Varg as characters in general, especially Varg and his exploration of what it means to be Tainted.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is the summary of book one provided by the author at the beginning of this second book. I hope he'll do the same thing for the third one. In that case, if you want to read this series but have similar feelings about travelling stories, my recommendation would be: wait for the summary at the beginning of book 3 (or read one provided by fans if you don't want to wait), and then only read the last 15% of this book.
Depending on whether you like the specific tropes this book is going for, you're either going to appreciate how long this book is, or tug at your hair in despair because it isn't done yet. Unfortunately, I was in the latter camp.
This book is a traveling book. We follow the same three characters from the first installment, along with two additional POVs: Biórr and Guðvarr. Four of the characters are travelling for pretty much the entire book, and I've come to realize that is something I don't tend to enjoy, especially not when I get 600+ pages of it.
The other trope prevalent in this book is the one I like to call "oops, you just missed them!" It's when two people are searching for each other, and will be in the same street within seconds of each other, or there at the same time but facing the opposite way so they never see each other. This trope has frustrated me for as long as I can remember, and I lost count of the number of times I wanted to throw something as a character, once again, didn't find who they were looking for.
With regards to the plot, I honestly don't feel like much happens until the 85% mark, except for maybe three or four important plot points that can be summed up in four sentences. But the final 15% is fast-paced and interesting, and I enjoyed it so much more than the rest. I also still really enjoyed both Orka and Varg as characters in general, especially Varg and his exploration of what it means to be Tainted.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is the summary of book one provided by the author at the beginning of this second book. I hope he'll do the same thing for the third one. In that case, if you want to read this series but have similar feelings about travelling stories, my recommendation would be: wait for the summary at the beginning of book 3 (or read one provided by fans if you don't want to wait), and then only read the last 15% of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Torture
gabriel_r's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Slavery
adancewithbooks's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
5.0
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway. Because I was a little late I also bought a finished copy and read that along
Last year The Shadow of the Gods was one of my favorite reads and I'm fairly certain that The Hunger of the Gods will be at the top of my list for this year as well. It is a banger.
We move on fairly directly after the previous book with Elvar who has to deal with the aftermath of the rise of Lik-Rifa. The killing of her chief has left an immense gap in the band of mercenararies the Battle-Grim while the oath they gave to Ursa on finding her son might kill her. Orka in the mean time has met the Bloodsworn though as long as she does not have her son, she cannot find peace in any reuniting. Se has to journey on to find Breca. Varg in the mean time is finally finding his true place amongst the Bloodsworn.
Like I said above, it is a banger. Resurrecting Gods, chaining Gods to one self, Gods that have been in hiding popping in. It is not just the hunger of Lik-Rifa the title refers to though hers is the most obvious. And there are so many factions moving through each other and so many people wanting revenge that it is quite an intricate plot.
When it comes to our three main characters I think that Varg gets the least amount of growth in this installment. I think that is because the Bloodsworn are still more to the side of the whole epic battle in comparison to Orka and Elvar. He still is allowed to get somewhat comfortable and bind himself to the Bloodsworn, something you really see him doing. Orka and Elvar have a lot more god crap to deal with. Orka might me completely focused on getting her son back but we all know she has her heart in the right place. Elvar is idealistic in a way, despite the kind of father she had. Young, and the Battle-Grim are inspired by that. You can see it in the way they follow her.
We also follow two more characters this book. Bjorn, the traitor of the Battle-Grim and Elvars former lover, is our look into the following of Lik-Rifa. We get a better idea of why Bjorn did what he did in book 1. I'm not all of a sudden super sympathetic towards him but it does draw him away from just Bjorn the traitor. And then there is Gudvarr, the nephew to Jarl Sigrun and killer of the brother of Lif (the boy who travels with Orka). He gives us an insight into one of the big cities that has a link to Lik-Rifa. I hate Gudvarr but it was good to see some of the political scheming going on.
But most of all I loved the interactions between characters. Orka and Lif. Orka and the Bloodsworn. Orka and Elvar. Orka, Spert and Vesli. Elvar and her Battle-Grim. The Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn. The Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim with just their own. The jesting. The feelings. The learning. A lot of books can fall and stand with its characters and the relationships that are created, and I feel like this book continues doing that outstandingly.
Last year The Shadow of the Gods was one of my favorite reads and I'm fairly certain that The Hunger of the Gods will be at the top of my list for this year as well. It is a banger.
We move on fairly directly after the previous book with Elvar who has to deal with the aftermath of the rise of Lik-Rifa. The killing of her chief has left an immense gap in the band of mercenararies the Battle-Grim while the oath they gave to Ursa on finding her son might kill her. Orka in the mean time has met the Bloodsworn though as long as she does not have her son, she cannot find peace in any reuniting. Se has to journey on to find Breca. Varg in the mean time is finally finding his true place amongst the Bloodsworn.
Like I said above, it is a banger. Resurrecting Gods, chaining Gods to one self, Gods that have been in hiding popping in. It is not just the hunger of Lik-Rifa the title refers to though hers is the most obvious. And there are so many factions moving through each other and so many people wanting revenge that it is quite an intricate plot.
When it comes to our three main characters I think that Varg gets the least amount of growth in this installment. I think that is because the Bloodsworn are still more to the side of the whole epic battle in comparison to Orka and Elvar. He still is allowed to get somewhat comfortable and bind himself to the Bloodsworn, something you really see him doing. Orka and Elvar have a lot more god crap to deal with. Orka might me completely focused on getting her son back but we all know she has her heart in the right place. Elvar is idealistic in a way, despite the kind of father she had. Young, and the Battle-Grim are inspired by that. You can see it in the way they follow her.
We also follow two more characters this book. Bjorn, the traitor of the Battle-Grim and Elvars former lover, is our look into the following of Lik-Rifa. We get a better idea of why Bjorn did what he did in book 1. I'm not all of a sudden super sympathetic towards him but it does draw him away from just Bjorn the traitor. And then there is Gudvarr, the nephew to Jarl Sigrun and killer of the brother of Lif (the boy who travels with Orka). He gives us an insight into one of the big cities that has a link to Lik-Rifa. I hate Gudvarr but it was good to see some of the political scheming going on.
But most of all I loved the interactions between characters. Orka and Lif. Orka and the Bloodsworn. Orka and Elvar. Orka, Spert and Vesli. Elvar and her Battle-Grim. The Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn. The Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim with just their own. The jesting. The feelings. The learning. A lot of books can fall and stand with its characters and the relationships that are created, and I feel like this book continues doing that outstandingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Slavery, and Gore
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, and Child abuse