A review by tessa_talks_books
Runes of Battle by G. N. Gudgion

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 

What's it about (in a nutshell):

Runes of Battle is the second book in The Rune Song trilogy by G.N. Gudgion, an epic fantasy story steeped in rune magic and Norse mythology.

My Reading Experience:

The second book in trilogies is often a transition book, where the main character travels from their starting point to their end destination. And Runes of Battle is that, but it is also much more. I loved that Adelais' journey is enhanced by taking time to learn fighting skills and rune magic. This should have been a slow time in the story. Yet, Gudgion keeps it as fast-paced as the rest of the trilogy by switching to scenes with the enemy, so the reader knows at any given moment, Adelais might be found.

I also enjoyed learning, in detail, how rune magic works. As much as I love all types of magic, rune magic is often shrouded in mystery. 

But this story defines and describes it in such a way that I have a good understanding of its base and use.

I especially love that the book ends with a soft conclusion, as did the first book. I get annoyed by cliffhangers, so I was thrilled to again get a soft conclusion - one that stops the book at a natural stopping point but leaves you with some threads to look forward to. Adelais was at a pause point in the story, and I loved that it's recognized and utilized. It makes me even more eager to read the next book than I would have been if it had ended on a cliffhanger.

I also enjoyed the emotionally powerful themes of misogyny, transition, and power. I was pulled into the development of these themes because the story is just so immersive. The heightened stakes provided an emotional struggle that enveloped me and kept me reading. Adelais' journey is so authentic that I genuinely care about her and her success.

Characters:

Adelais is a wonderful Chosen One character. She is innocent and good, struggling when she has to kill to defend herself even though the bad guys would not hesitate to end her life. I love watching her grow and learn about life, love, heritage, and magical abilities. And her growth is so authentically portrayed. She is complex and layered from the many challenges she has had to face.

I also loved the introduction of new characters and how minor characters from Book 1 come to the forefront in this book. It helps keep the story fresh.

Narration & Pacing:

The story is told in third person limited and switches POVs from a few different characters, some good and some bad. I enjoy the different POVs as they give me a complete picture of the story. I don't often see the bad guy's thoughts and world, and it just heightens the suspense even more than focusing on the main character.

World-Building:

The world-building is exceptional. Enough of our actual world is used as a base, making it easy to understand this fantasy world in this story. I love the Norse gods' representation and the inclusion of rune magic, which I don't see enough of in fantasy stories. I even discovered that a lot of the native words from Adelais' home country are actually Icelandic, which I love because it still keeps the reader in that area which is comparable to the fantasy country.

Read if you're in the mood for:

• An epic fantasy story that's truly epic
• A main character you can love and root for
• An adventurous journey that is fast-paced