The Shadow of the Gods

By: John Gwynne

Narrated by: Colin Mace

From acclaimed fantasy author John Gwynne comes the first in the Bloodsworn trilogy, an epic of wild lands and wilder magic, where not all monsters fight with tooth and claw...and the treasures of the gods come at a price.

This is the age of storm and murder.

After the old gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrio.

Now, power-hungry jarls carve out petty kingdoms, and monsters stalk the shadow-haunted woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power, promising fame, and fortune for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.

As whispers of war echo over the plains and across the fjords, fate follows the footsteps of three people: a huntress searching for her missing son, a jarl's daughter who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who has cast off his chains and now fights alongside the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

All three will shape the fate of the world, as it once more teeters on the edge of chaos.

For more from John Gwynne, check out:

Of Blood and Bone series: A Time of Dread, A Time of Blood, and A Time of Courage

The Faithful and the Fallen series: Malice, Valor, Ruin, and Wrath

©2021 John Gwynne (P)2021 Orbit

Critic reviews

"Gwynne, a Viking reenactor, puts in the work, with fine historical details that make the story come to life. Fans of the era will be delighted with the accuracy. This is a duly exciting start to the series." (Publishers Weekly)

Nordic Fantasy

The Shadow of the Gods is a Nordic fantasy and book #1 in the Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne. The book was outstanding. I listened to the audio version and the narration by Colin Mace was very good. A solid 4.5 stars and I have been debating as to whether I should round up or round down.

The story follows three main characters and subplots; Varg, a thrall, and while seeking vengeance for the murder of his sister, joins the infamous mercenary group, the Blood sworn. Orka, is a wife and mother, trying to live a quiet life with her family, and Elvar a young woman who set out to build and grow her Battle Fame.

While the audio version was enjoyable, this book might be better read than listened to due to the complexity. There are a lot of supporting characters and the names can get confusing, especially in the audio version with the plot jumping back and forth between characters. The author slowly develops each main character, gradually revealing their backstories and history, and world-building along the way.

This is the first book I have read by John Gwynne, but it will not be my last. The Nordic world that the author has created is full of magic, the remains of past gods, and mythical beasts. The book contains outstanding action with lots of well-described and realistic combat scenes. The book ends just as the author is providing the reader with a glimpse of what is to come and the meaning behind the three subplots. I am very glad I found this book but even happier that I found it just as the second book in the series is about to be published. In the end, 5 Stars.

Fantastic!

I loved every second of this book, some good plot twists, and a real joy to listen to. The narrator, which can make or break, had great intonation and a wide range of voices.

Definitely recommended! Can’t wait for the next ones.

great story

monotone narrator. it wasn't a terrible reading but compared to other narrators he's on the lower end of the spectrum.

Epic storytelling!

A quick moving, inventive and action packed book 1 for a new series. Gwynne says so much in a seamless, straight ahead but detailed storytelling style. I can't wait for book 2!

Simply Amazing

This story will capture you in a way most books will never be able to. The pacing, the magnitude, the details to make you feel as if you are there, and the build of the characters is captivating. Not enough can be said of the narrator and his talent to draw you in with his voicing of each character, in a unique way to bring life to them.

I liked the narration

Overall, the story is very solid and I think most fantasy fans will enjoy this. I am mainly writing this review for the narration. I think it is quite good. The narrator has a very good voice/accent and fits the story well. Sometimes characters sound the similar, but I think that it is a minor issue.

Pleasantly surprised

a chore it felt like at first to keep up with the multitude of characters, once I fell into sync with it I couldn't put it down. look forward to more from this author.

Epic

What an amazing adventure
Superb, love it.
Great characters
Fascinating world
Very cool magic

Enjoy!

Best narration

This book was incredibly well written. The narrator however tops the writing. Colin Mace truly makes me feel like I am in each scene, his pacing quickens when the action is moving along inducing the feeling of the battle scenes. Which are all very well written.

I will be anxiously awaiting the follow up.

The Modern Master of Saga and Battle-Song

John Gwynne has done it once again.

Leaving The Banished Lands behind was an arduous task for me, Corban and his descendants took part in a grand, sweeping epic that took hold of me from the very first page of The Faithful and the Fallen. But The Battle-Plain is exactly the sort of fantasy setting I never knew I craved. Geynne’s research and understanding of the cultures and customs he draws inspiration from are clearly evident in every scene, and yet he tells the tale with such color and wild, bloody vibrancy that I feel as though I’m reading a book that could easily have taken place in the worlds of The Elder Scrolls or, more appropriately, Elden Ring.

The lore is so perfectly established, not so little that I have no idea what this world is offering me but just enough that I want to read the author’s notes about the gods, and their exploits in the centuries before the beginning of this tale.

Once again, Gwynne’s characters are unique, human, varied from one another and each in their own way utterly relatable. Like the books that preceded this one it was difficult to get invested in new protagonists, as the pacing is slow to start, as it was with the first few chapters of TF&TF. But once John Gwynne sets the pieces in motion it is almost impossible to stop reading or listening, and the choice in Narrator is perfectly suited for the tone of his writing.

If you are a lover of intriguing fantastical worlds, enjoy works of fiction like The Last Kingdom that focus on the Viking Age: if you love parallel plot-lines that twist and turn and interweave in unexpected ways, if you thirst for a story that paints battle and bloodshed as vividly raw and savage as its portrayed in works like Braveheart or GOT’s Battle of the Bastards (but better) then this story is one for you.

I have thankfully finished this book immediately upon the tail end of Book II’s release and I am beyond excited to continue Bloodsworn.

Special thanks to the Author who, in the process of writing the saga he’s always wanted to has shouldered the burden of heavy loss and perseveres through its thick fog to realize his dream. John, for those of us who have followed your work as fans and knew what little you shared about the tragedy of the past few months, we regard you as father, brother and friend and we thank you for all the work you’ve poured into us in the midst of this time, and we hope and pray for peace and healing to the house of Gwynne.

Listen to this book, and all the others. Buy them, read them, and read them again. John Gwynne is the war-skald of his generation, a ferocious battle-chief worthy of fame, feasts and fortune. John, if you find yourself reading this: know that for as long as I have eyes to read and ears to listen, you have my oath.

From an aspiring writer to my greatest source of living inspiration: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do.