The Shadow of the Gods

by John Gwynne

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

From the mind of John Gwynne, a mainstay in the epic fantasy series space, comes a Norse-inspired story set in the wake of the extinction of the gods. If that hasn’t hooked you yet, know that there are viking battles, dragons, monsters and all the things that make Norse mythology addictive.

"A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic." —Anthony Ryan, author of The Pariah

THE GREATEST SAGAS ARE WRITTEN IN BLOOD.

A century has passed since the gods fought and drove themselves to extinction. Now only their bones remain, promising great power to those brave enough to seek them out.

As whispers of war echo across the land of Vigrid, fate follows in the footsteps of three warriors: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman pursuing battle fame, and a thrall seeking vengeance among the mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods.

Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic, and vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne. The story continues in book two, The Hunger of the Gods, available now!

For more from John Gwynne, check out:

The Bloodsworn
The Shadow of the Gods
The Hunger of the Gods

Of Blood and Bone
A Time of Dread
A Time of Blood
A Time of Courage

The Faithful and the Fallen
Malice
Valor
Ruin
Wrath

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316539883
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Series:	The Bloodsworn Trilogy , #1
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	2,130
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He’s played double bass in a rock ’n’ roll band and traveled the USA and Canada. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, where he is part of a Viking reenactment group. When not writing, he can often be found standing in a shield wall with his three sons about him. His dogs think he is their slave.

Editorial Reviews

02/08/2021

Three hundred years after the fall of the gods, humans navigate the fjords and tundra of a broken world in the jam-packed Norse-flavored epic of blood oaths and vengeance that launches the Bloodsworn Saga series from Gwynne (A Time of Courage). To protect themselves from the monsters that now roam freely, humans scavenge divine bones and relics and chase rumors of the legendary last battlefield of the gods, where the world-tree guards their divine prison. Some go so far as to plot to use the blood of children to raise the gods. Orka, a newly widowed shieldmaid, pursues the trafficker who stole her son for this very purpose, as do the crew of the dragon-ship Wave-Jarl, whose child prisoner was taken in an attack. Also faring northward are the Bloodsworn, a mercenary company sent by Queen Helka to stop the monsters from killing her people. Blood-soaked battles against trolls and frost-spiders build to a fierce rendezvous at the foot of the shattered world-tree. Gwynne, a Viking reenactor, puts in the work, with fine historical details—especially in descriptions of weaponry—that make the story come to life. The plethora of Viking gangs and Norse kennings require some work to keep straight, but fans of the era will be delighted with the accuracy. This is a duly exciting start to the series. Agent: Julia Crisp, Julia Crisp Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"A satisfying and riveting read. The well-realized characters move against a backdrop of a world stunning in its immensity. It’s everything I’ve come to expect from a John Gwynne book."—Robin Hobb

"The world is wonderfully rendered with attention paid to what makes the Norse sagas entertaining….The many layers provide a lavish feast for any reader. A great companion to Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology."—Booklist (starred review)

"A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic."—Anthony Ryan

"There is not a dull chapter in this fantasy epic. As tension mounts with each passing page, Gwynne delivers exhilarating fights and gruesome battles with such vivid prose the choreography jumps off the page."—Vulture (Best of the Year)

"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

"A masterclass in storytelling . . . epic, gritty fantasy with an uncompromising amount of heart."—FanFiAddict

"Quintessential Gwynne, honed to perfection . . . The Shadow of the Gods is absolutely stunning, one hell of an epic series opener, and a spectacular dose of Viking-flavoured fantasy."—The Tattooed Book Geek

From the Publisher

Notes From Your Bookseller

John Gwynne has written one of the greatest Norse-inspired fantasy novels with Shadow of the Gods. After the gods drove themselves into extinction and monsters now roam the world, humans must find a way to protect themselves.