The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne (The Bloodsworn Saga: Book 1)

It’s difficult to live in the shadow of dead Gods. It takes all of your resources to survive in a world that has been devastated by divine wrath and enmity. and to prosper? That obviously requires a lot more effort. a desire to succeed. the capacity to kill while avoiding death. Additionally, you have a warband of incredibly risky buddies, ensuring that you are never forced to face brutal slaughter and life’s chaos alone. It’s do or die when you’re up against other highly-trained mercenaries who are devoid of everything except greed and morals in the high stakes struggle for artefacts, cash, and power. Now as the competition among the jarls has intensified, certain enigmatic people are hatching schemes to claim an even greater reward. What was previously dangerous has recently became even more dangerous…

Now that the introduction is through, I can talk about Orka, which is what I actually wanted to do. One of the three main characters in the novel and, in my opinion, the best fantasy character of all time. I am fixated. She has earned a spot on my list of favourites, and I don’t see anyone removing her from there (although I’d like to see them try). Anyone who has read Gwynne before will know that his works are filled with people that readers actually care about because to his excellent characterization. Even if it occasionally manifests as hysterical sobbing, they are an emotional investment that always pays off, which is why we adore them. But if he had previously done this brilliantly, Orka would have been even more brilliant. You are immediately drawn to her for some reason. It’s odd because at first you’re not sure if you like her or not, but you can’t take your eyes off of her. There is definitely strength there, as well as more than a sense of violence. She is one of the very few female characters who can simultaneously play the roles of mother, partner, and warrior without encountering any stereotypes or restrictions. I still occasionally had the thought, “Damn, you’re really going to let her be all that… really?” even now, even in Gwynne. Yes, I do. She is complex, trying to balance her various duties and facets of herself. Additionally, she is performing this action as the world around her implodes. Her storyline in this novel is quite unexpected. She is truly beyond magnificent in every way, and I can’t wait for you all to meet her.

She isn’t the only memorable character in the book, of course. The author applies his subtle touch to an entire ensemble of outcasts. In a dog-eat-dog world like this, there are some incredibly fascinating people to meet. The majority of them had attitude issues and were armed with several weapons. In this novel, at least according to the way I read it, there are no true heroes. They are too genuine for that, in both good and bad ways, and in between. Despite that, some people are worse than others. I’m going to have words with Mr. Gwynne if one specific person doesn’t get their comeuppance at some point. The author blends myth, history, and magic to create a universe that is so believable that I never had any doubts about it. It’s the sort of location that makes you feel right at home until you round a corner and find yourself somewhere completely unexpected. a bizarre, monster-filled land composed of bones. Clever focus shifts highlight the effect. The character interactions, types of armour and ships, and the specifics of dress all stay small and intimate for the most part. Then vicious, bloody battles break out. Sometimes the shot is expanded so that we can see the entire scene, including the terrain and the story. It is astounding.

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I’m not referring to the storyline. It shocked me. This hardly ever occurs. That’s all I have to say.

One more thing. Its cover. Have you recently seen a better book jacket than this one? For if so, the same. Making such a radical departure from the norm for the genre was a brave move, and wow, did it really WORK. The typical man with a shield and sword may have easily been the culprit. Instead, it is stunning and lovely and appears amazing in person. I already own the arc, but I’ll also get the special edition. There’s no denying that. Fans of Gwynne don’t need much persuading to buy his new series, so producing this stunning book is like adding a second bow on an already fantastic gift. Bravo to the patron who commissioned Marcus Whinney and to the artist.