John Gwynne: Shadow of the Gods (2021, Orbit)
English language
Published 2021 by Orbit.
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 cross 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.
Viking stories meets fantasy and it is a fun combo to read. And as a Norwegian was there some additional easter eggs to find in the book.
Too much detail about too little - that is the writing style of John Gwynne in this first book of a trilogy set in Norse mythology. I read in reviews that the last hundred pages picks up the plot, but I'll tell you that's relative statement. So little plot occurs in the first 80% of the book that you might be thankful something is finally happening, when honestly I've read better cold opens.
Yet at a superficial glance, The Shadow of the Gods should be an excellent book. It has deep worldbuilding, a massive cast of supporting characters, three mysterious main characters with unclear pasts, and has the grim atmosphere of a Norse tale. What's the problem? The details don't matter. We get a painful amount of detail, such as eye color, accessories like what necklaces they wear, and also how many weapons and on which side of the …
Too much detail about too little - that is the writing style of John Gwynne in this first book of a trilogy set in Norse mythology. I read in reviews that the last hundred pages picks up the plot, but I'll tell you that's relative statement. So little plot occurs in the first 80% of the book that you might be thankful something is finally happening, when honestly I've read better cold opens.
Yet at a superficial glance, The Shadow of the Gods should be an excellent book. It has deep worldbuilding, a massive cast of supporting characters, three mysterious main characters with unclear pasts, and has the grim atmosphere of a Norse tale. What's the problem? The details don't matter. We get a painful amount of detail, such as eye color, accessories like what necklaces they wear, and also how many weapons and on which side of the body it's being carried. This stuff is never plot relevant. And all the time, you're ignorant of the broad strokes: which jarls are fighting over what and why, any sort of politics in the world, and our main characters never discuss their own background (and guard that jealously) so you don't even know much about the people you're following.
Now the world is a harsh one: lives are practically worthless and slavery is rampant. The author's adherence to Norse tales, and maybe modern grimdark practices, mean that characters are dying almost all the time with no fanfare. One moment they're going to sleep, and the next they're being attacked overnight. I can't believe I'm going to say this - but so many people die, that you stop caring. Not only do you stop caring when someone from the first page is offed, but you stop caring to follow new characters because they'll likely die in a few pages anyways! Oh, and you might miss their death because it's just one sentence buried in a massive fight scene about footwork and parrying.
I managed to finish this book because I thought it might be worth the ending, but it really isn't. This author's writing style isn't for me.
Not recommended.
Awesome start to the series.
