The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

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

Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave – or desperate – enough to seek them out.

Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed 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 . . .

This week’s review is The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne. I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this book has a cocking great big dragon on it. In my experience that is always a good sign. Onwards then to a tale of villainous treachery, revenge, and, in one unexpected moment, an extremely inventive use for a wheel of cheese*¹.

Elvar lives for her life on the road. As part of a mercenary company called The Battle Grim, she is always on the move. She craves nothing more than the opportunity to prove herself through heroic deeds. There is a contemplative side to Elvar that I really liked. Death is a warrior’s constant companion and I found learning the reasons why Elvar made her choice fascinating. There is a level of depth and introspection to the character I don’t think I was expecting, but I welcome it.

Varg’s journey is somewhat different to Elvar’s. Escaping his life as a lowly farmhand, Varg falls in with another mercenary band known as The Bloodsworn. New to the warrior life, Varg is initially uncertain he has made a wise decision but begins to find a kinship amidst the group of rowdy warriors. There is something about this group that speaks to him.

I think though that it is Orka who is the standout character for me. When we first meet her, she is living a peaceful existence with her husband and son. They keep themselves to themselves as they work the land on their lonely farmstead. A traumatic event changes all their lives, and forces Orka to revisit a part of herself that had long been buried.  There is a darkness within Orka that has lain dormant for many years. In order to save her family, she needs to unleash that pent up rage. The grim determination that exudes from Orka’s character feels palpable. She is so focused, so driven she will let nothing stand in her way. Orka is like a force of nature. You get that sense of the barely contained violence, just bubbling under, that is fuelling her need for action. The moments when she finally catches up with her quarry are some of the best in the book. They are bone-crunchingly bloody and satisfying. Orka is brilliant. I think I might be a little bit in love and more than a little bit in awe.

Chapters alternate between these three characters and I enjoyed the approach. Especially when a chapter would end on a cliff hanger. The author deftly takes these seemingly disparate lives and weaves them together into an epic tale. I’ve not read any of his other novels, but based on the evidence at hand Gwynne is a first-class storyteller. The world he has created is so vivid and well-described I was immediately caught up in the narrative. I’m always impressed when an author manages to capture my attention so fully.

As an aside, in his author photograph, Mr Gywnne displays a mighty beard. As an owner of a mighty beard myself, I respect his commitment to the hirsute arts of facial topiary. Well played, sir. Well played.

You can probably already tell, but I’ll say it anyway for clarity’s sake, I really enjoyed The Shadow of the Gods. The author has taken elements from existing mythologies and reworked them into something new and exciting. I loved it. I’m all about berserkers and bear gods, dragons and the red mist of battle. Events end on a suitably climactic note and I was left wanting more. I can’t wait to see where this goes next. I’m always happy when I read an author’s work for the first time and everything just instantly clicks. I will be reading more of John Gwynne work. Of that, you can have no doubt.

The Shadow of the Gods is published by Orbit and is available now. The good news is that this won’t be the last we see of these characters as The Bloodsworn Saga is set to continue. Hell Yeah!

Regular readers of my review know this is the point where I like to pair some choice sounds with the book I’ve just read. The easy option, in this case, would be to suggest Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin on a constant loop but I went a different way. My music recommendation to accompany this novel is the soundtrack to Valhalla Rising*² by Peter Hughes and Peter Kyed. It has an ethereal, ambient quality that fits the tone of the novel perfectly. Lots of evocative Norse type imagery. Works for me.

*¹ I’m a big fan of cheese so this was a big tick in the positive column for me.

*² I can also heartily recommend checking out the movie Valhalla Rising. The highly visual film tells the story of One Eye (Mads Mikkelsen), a mute warrior of supernatural strength, who, in the year 1000 AD, travels with the help of a boy slave a journey into the heart of darkness. Splendid stuff.