The Shadow of the Gods

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What to expect

'A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic' Anthony Ryan

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 Vigrið, 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 bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.

Further praise for The Shadow of the Gods

'Visceral, heart-breaking and unputdownable' Jay Kristoff

'A satisfying and riveting read. The well-realised 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

'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

'Reminds me of all that I love in the fantasy genre. The Shadow of the Gods is an action-packed cinematic read' Fantasy Hive

Critics Review

A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic
Anthony Ryan
A satisfying and riveting read. The well-realised 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
Visceral, heart-breaking and unputdownable
Jay Kristoff, NYT bestselling author of Empire of the Vampire
A duly exciting start to the series
Publishers Weekly
A masterclass in storytelling. It is epic, gritty fantasy with an uncompromising amount of heart. A near-perfect combination of Vikings and Cornwell's The Last Kingdom, but with a fantastical flare that Gwynne executes flawlessly
FanFiAddict
Quintessential Gwynne honed to perfection, sharpened to a deadly edge and it does NOT disappoint. For new readers enjoy your first time experiencing Gwynne as he is a magnificent storyteller of gritty and grim fantasy that is full of heart. For old and new readers alike, simply, you are in for a treat as 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
Reminds me of all that I love in the fantasy genre. The Shadow of the Gods is an action packed cinematic read. It feels historically authentic, Viking-esque, yet wonderfully fantastical too. A tale of monsters and magic, Gods and legends, friendship and oaths, blood and vengeance - Gwynne has certainly done it again, if not raised the bar even higher
Fantasy Hive
John Gwynne has written another classic and easily one of the best books of the year
Under the Radar SFF Books
A brilliant Norse-influenced fantasy that grabs you from the first page and never lets go. Another dazzling epic story from a true master
Out of This World SFF Reviews
This engaging tale is full of battles, blood, friendship, and epic fame to be sung for ages. I can't rave about it enough. After finishing this, you will be left breathless, hungering for more. I will immediately be reading every book ever written by John Gwynne
BookNest
The world is wonderfully rendered with attention paid to what makes the Norse sagas entertaining . . . The three characters are swept up in this larger plot in different ways, which just makes the story richer. The many layers provide a lavish feast for any reader. A great companion to Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology
Booklist
A merciless and brutal series filled with graphic action, impeccable world-building and an ever-growing ensemble of characters who straddle the lines of morality
Polygon
John Gwynne writes some of the most blood-pumping battle scenes that I have ever read
Fantasy Book Nerd
Wonderfully atmospheric, and readers looking for a Nordic flavored fantasy adventure will find plenty to love
Fantasy Book Critic
John Gwynne is the closest we have to an inheritor of David Gemmell's mantle as master of heroic fantasy with grit and heart
Mark Lawrence
The best book I've read this year
Miles Cameron

User Reviews

Book 4.0
Narration 4.5
3.0
4.0
zaharya 09/02/2025
5.0
5.0
Excellent! Masterful narration! I can’t wait to get into book 2.
AndyRuss 10/10/2024

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