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A review by justinpascua
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
Two words... SIX. STARS.
And... I now have a new. favorite. book. HOLY. SHIT.
The Shadow of the Gods has got to be, hands down, the coolest, most action-packed, sickest world building book I have read.. YET. Everyone has THAT book that they remember making them fall in love with a genre or just the act of reading, and this was THE. ONE. Fantasy now might be tied with sci-fi for my fav genres because of this book alone. Vigrith and the Battle-Plain became my world for all 478 pages, and I never wanted to put the book down, because that meant I would have to leave it. I would have to leave the amazing characters and their adventures. All I wanted to do was keeping reading this book, in fact I found myself reading SLOWER just to savor this book. IT IS SO FRICKIN GOOD
Let me just review it this way:
Story: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Side-Characters: 5/5
World-Building: 5/5
Action: 5/5
I sometimes couldn't believe what I was reading because it was so cool. The characters, Orka, Varg, and Elvar all had such insane arcs and different storylines, I couldn't determine which one was my favorite. Their side characters were amazing. They were loveable, hateable, and laughable, all in the best ways. The idea of the "tainted," those being descended from the ACTUAL GODS THEMSELVES, wtf that is so cool. I was so invested in who was tainted or what they were tainted with and man is it exciting. And the story of the Godsfall? Loved hearing it anytime. I was hooked at every tiny mention and hint at the gods. THE WORLD BUILDING. OMFG. I swear idk what John Gwynn puts into his books, but it's like within two sentences, I was already entranced by the scene I was in, and could see, feel, and smell every detail that was there. And holy guacamole.. THE ACTION SEQUENCES!!! It's like every other chapter there was one that blew my mind. And the detail UGH *chefs kiss* you could imagine every sword swung, punch thrown, skull crushed, troll testicle cut off (yes that's very relevant) and everything in between during the fights. John Gwynn, you are a master at writing. You have gained a fan.
LASTLY. THAT ENDING. THE PAY OFF. THE EPICNESS. THE "OMG ITS REAL" MOMENT. It seriously makes me insanely excited to read the next book. And people say that the next books in the trilogy are even better ??? HOW ?!?!?!
Favorite part of the book: LIKE LITERALLY ALL OF IT I LOVE IT SO SO MUCH
Completion emoji: ⭐❤️🔥🗡️🐲💀🩸
And... I now have a new. favorite. book. HOLY. SHIT.
The Shadow of the Gods has got to be, hands down, the coolest, most action-packed, sickest world building book I have read.. YET. Everyone has THAT book that they remember making them fall in love with a genre or just the act of reading, and this was THE. ONE. Fantasy now might be tied with sci-fi for my fav genres because of this book alone. Vigrith and the Battle-Plain became my world for all 478 pages, and I never wanted to put the book down, because that meant I would have to leave it. I would have to leave the amazing characters and their adventures. All I wanted to do was keeping reading this book, in fact I found myself reading SLOWER just to savor this book. IT IS SO FRICKIN GOOD
Let me just review it this way:
Story: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Side-Characters: 5/5
World-Building: 5/5
Action: 5/5
I sometimes couldn't believe what I was reading because it was so cool. The characters, Orka, Varg, and Elvar all had such insane arcs and different storylines, I couldn't determine which one was my favorite. Their side characters were amazing. They were loveable, hateable, and laughable, all in the best ways. The idea of the "tainted," those being descended from the ACTUAL GODS THEMSELVES, wtf that is so cool. I was so invested in who was tainted or what they were tainted with and man is it exciting. And the story of the Godsfall? Loved hearing it anytime. I was hooked at every tiny mention and hint at the gods. THE WORLD BUILDING. OMFG. I swear idk what John Gwynn puts into his books, but it's like within two sentences, I was already entranced by the scene I was in, and could see, feel, and smell every detail that was there. And holy guacamole.. THE ACTION SEQUENCES!!! It's like every other chapter there was one that blew my mind. And the detail UGH *chefs kiss* you could imagine every sword swung, punch thrown, skull crushed, troll testicle cut off (yes that's very relevant) and everything in between during the fights. John Gwynn, you are a master at writing. You have gained a fan.
LASTLY. THAT ENDING. THE PAY OFF. THE EPICNESS. THE "OMG ITS REAL" MOMENT. It seriously makes me insanely excited to read the next book. And people say that the next books in the trilogy are even better ??? HOW ?!?!?!
Favorite part of the book: LIKE LITERALLY ALL OF IT I LOVE IT SO SO MUCH
Completion emoji: ⭐❤️🔥🗡️🐲💀🩸
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Death of parent