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From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1)

John Gwynne

Start date: June 1, 2025

Finish date: June 30, 2025

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jul 12, 2023 Saar The Book owl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: get-puzzled-23, mmc-23, saar-the-book-owl-s-abc, locked-in-library-2025

We live together, we die together. We are the Bloodsworn. That gave me some Bad Boys - vibes...
2nd review:
What more can I add to my first review by reading it a second time? Not much, but still...
As a reader you get a good view on how warbands work, the weapons and clothing that are used, but also the loyalty and friendship between each member. To every member of them, it's a second family. It's not only blood, gore, killing...but also interesting social aspects: one of them about women taking a We live together, we die together. We are the Bloodsworn. That gave me some Bad Boys - vibes...
2nd review:
What more can I add to my first review by reading it a second time? Not much, but still...
As a reader you get a good view on how warbands work, the weapons and clothing that are used, but also the loyalty and friendship between each member. To every member of them, it's a second family. It's not only blood, gore, killing...but also interesting social aspects: one of them about women taking a central role in a warband and not taking the path that is written for them. The magic that the Galdurmen and Galdurwomen use, is really interesting: they use runes, powered with own blood offering. I would've wanted more monsters, but vaesen and dragons made it up. I'm a fan of Vesli, allthough she sounds like a really bad 'dentist'.
John Gwynne is a Viking - fan and a Viking - re-enactor. He used all his knowledge and research very well to create this first in series.

1st review:
I'm ashamed that it took me so long to finish this book. It wasn't the book's fault, but mine. I've read other books in between, while with this one, you mustn't do that or you loose track of the story.
I've never read a fantasy book based around Norse mythology, but I've got intrigued and there are dragons. What more did I want :)
There are 3 POV's that at first don't have anything to do with each other:
- Orka: living by herself with her son Breca and husband Thorkell, but a terrible thing happens: Thorkell got killed and Breca abducted. Orka swears revenge and sets on a journey to find those responsable.
- Varg: varg is a thrall, lost and confused, in need for some answers and vengeance around his sisters death. He founds himself a new family of brothers and sisters in the Bloodsworn.
- Elvar: Elvar is noble born, but left Snakavik and her father a long time ago. She's part of another warband, called 'the Battle Grim'. They have a fierce reputation and are hired for their services.
All 3 got something to do with the Tainted: descendants of the long ago killed Norse gods at Oskutred.
The story goes slow and seems to take a halt somewhere in the middle, but it's Orka's POV that got me through that moment and then the story picked up the pace, coming to a climax with the rising of the dragon goddess Lif - Rika. Orka and Varg finally meet and I think it won't be long until Elvar comes along.
There are still so many questions after reading this book, but I truly loved the world building around the Norse mythology and every POV is well thought of. And worth to mention: the female characters Orka and Elvar are just bad ass. They are strong and fearless.
The book finished with an ending, maybe abrupt, maybe not, but an ending with an instant need of reading the second book. ...more

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