REVIEW: The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne
The Fury of the Gods is the third and final book in John Gwynne’s The Bloodsworn Saga, a Norse-inspired epic fantasy set in the fictional lands of Vigrið. Beginning with The Shadow of the Gods, building with The Hunger of the Gods, and now finishing with this battle filled conclusion, this series has hooked thousands of readers and this book is on many a grimdark fan’s TBR for October. And there’s no doubt that those looking for a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy will find it here, with a side helping of distress and death, of course.
The Fury of the Gods is time for the final showdown. Lik-Rifa has gathered her forces and is so close to making the world hers that she can taste it. Desperate to rid herself of her sibling (and enemy) gods as well any pathetic humans still resisting her charms (her charms being brutal violence and an all consuming need for domination), she’s set for Snakavik, where those ranged against her are assembling. After all, it’s going to take more than a few swords to kill a dragon god. Most importantly though, the snivelling, snotty Gudvarr is still alive and kicking, hoping to rise in Lik-Rifa’s favour, hovering in the background, trying to be useful to those in power, hungry for personal gain, while also continuing to be utterly contemptible and unjustifiably lucky. Those who know Gwynne know that he would never let that stand forever – watching Gudvarr escape justice repeatedly has felt like an eternal torture – but I knew it would come to an end at some point. Likewise, for all those wronged over the first two books – they have their time. I’m telling you now that it’s worth the wait, but I also come with a warning: not every character you love will come out of these clashes alive…
As always with Gwynne’s work, his most effective scenes in The Fury of the Gods are also the biggest – the set piece battles where everything is at stake and every move is perfectly choreographed – and the smallest – the intimate moments between two characters, where the slightest word or gesture can resonate through the rest of the story. For all that the epic contests are brutal and bloody here, the scenes that hit harder were those with quiet, emotional exchanges. I’ve had a soft spot for Varg throughout and his storyline never ceased to entertain and move. Something about his voice, his love for his sister and his soul-deep desire to avenge her murder, settled into my core and watching how this played out for him was the most tension filled and emotive aspect of this novel. I loved his friendship with his comrades, the growing relationship with one in particular, and felt it hard when he suffered setbacks. He is the epitome of Gwynne’s hero character – determined, brave, thoughtful, caring. I will add him to my growing list of treasured friends, alongside Corban, Storm, Veradis, Drem, and Orka. In a grim world, characters like these, who rise above the petty selfishness, greed, and all the other ugliness of the human condition, offer the light in the dark and they stay bright in the memory as a result.
Finally, I have to say that for me, The Fury of the Gods did not meet the heights of A Time of Courage, the final book in the Of Blood and Bone series, but then, that’s one of my all time favourite finishers. Even so, The Fury of the Gods offers a fun-filled, rewarding finale that grimdark readers will enjoy.
This review is published in Grimdark Magazine #40.
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