Absolutely loved the conclusion to John Gwynne's amazing trilogy — definitely want to check out his other series!!

The most amazing ending to the most amazing series! I have not had a pleasure with John Gwynne before The Bloodsworn Saga but after it, I am sure it won't be my last work of this author.
One could not expect better last book in the trilogy. The high stakes, the tension, the battle and the gods. Each pages was a feast for the soul. Abolute masterpiece!

The moment is here—another ending from John Gwynne, and it’s a grand one. *The Fury of the Gods* is the action-packed conclusion to *The Bloodsworn Saga*, arguably Gwynne’s most popular series to date. As a long-time admirer of Gwynne’s storytelling, I approached this finale with equal parts excitement and trepidation. It delivered plenty of the epic moments I’ve come to expect, but I also found myself reflecting on areas where it didn’t quite surpass its predecessors.

Starting immediately after the cliffhanger ending of *The Hunger of the Gods*, the third installment thrust me into relentless action. This is, without question, the most action-packed book in the trilogy—for better or worse. Gwynne’s unparalleled ability to craft vivid and immersive battle scenes is on full display here. From large-scale clashes to personal duels, the combat sequences are thrilling, emotionally charged, and choreographed with incredible precision. The maritime battle stands out as one of the most memorable in the genre. However, the constant stream of skirmishes in the first half of the book slightly diminished their overall impact. I found myself wishing for a greater focus on character development during these early chapters to balance the intensity.

Speaking of characters, Gwynne excels at making me care deeply for his protagonists, and this series is no exception. Orka and Varg are the standout characters for me, their arcs brimming with heart, growth, and determination. Orka’s relentless pursuit of her son and Varg’s journey to becoming the most well-developed character in the saga left an indelible impression on me. However, I found myself less invested in some of the other characters, such as Elvar and Biorr. Despite their growth and contributions to the plot, they didn’t grip me as much as I had hoped. This, in turn, affected the stakes and tension in certain moments, especially during the first half of the book.

Thematically, *The Fury of the Gods* dives deeply into leadership, family, loyalty, and vengeance. Gwynne weaves these themes into a story that feels both personal and epic in scope. The camaraderie among the Bloodsworn is beautifully portrayed, and the found family dynamic added layers of emotional resonance for me. The bonds between characters are tested and forged in the heat of battle, creating moments of triumph and heartbreak that stayed with me long after I closed the book.

As a fan of Norse mythology and Viking-inspired fantasy, I found this series to be a feast, and *The Fury of the Gods* didn’t disappoint. Gwynne’s inventiveness shines through in the magic, the mythological creatures, and the titanic clashes between gods, dragons, and men. While the resolution of some plotlines—such as Snakavik—felt underwhelming to me, the final confrontations were nothing short of breathtaking. The second half of the book ramps up the intensity, delivering on every promise made throughout the series. The closing chapters were satisfying, emotional, and left just enough room for further exploration in this world should Gwynne choose to return.

Although I didn’t find *The Fury of the Gods* as epic as *Wrath* or *A Time of Courage*, it’s still a remarkable conclusion to a compelling trilogy. The predictability of certain story beats may stem from my familiarity with Gwynne’s previous works, but I imagine first-time readers of his books will find this series to be their new favorite. And even as a long-time fan, I was captivated by the sheer energy and heart Gwynne poured into this story.

To sum up, *The Fury of the Gods* is a breathtaking conclusion filled with epic battles, jaw-dropping moments, and unforgettable characters. Orka, in particular, has cemented herself as one of my all-time favorite protagonists. Gwynne’s masterful storytelling, combined with his ability to write gripping combat and heartfelt relationships, ensures this series remains one of my top recommendations for epic fantasy fans. If you haven’t yet picked up *The Bloodsworn Saga*, you’re missing out on a truly phenomenal journey. Skol!

What an honor it was getting an ARC for this book, thank you John Gwynne & Netgalley for the opportunity. This book was beautifully written and rounded off the Bloodsworn Saga perfectly. It left no stone unturned with each story line was carefully tied up and concluding. I felt I had a true connection to all characters and am truly sad it is over, what an amazing adventure it's been!

<i>ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.</i>

The moment is here. Another ending from John Gwynne. The Fury of the Gods is the action-packed concluding volume to Gwynne’s—quite likely—most popular series, The Bloodsworn Saga.

This is a difficult book to review. It’s also probably why it has taken me so long to sit and finally write this down. And let me get this out of the bat. You will hear some relatively negative criticisms from me about this, but I still love The Fury of the Gods. It’s still one of my favorite books of 2024. My review here is more of an elaboration of why I did not give Gwynne’s final book a 5/5 star rating like usual. I am a big fan of John Gwynne’s storytelling. I don’t think that will come as a surprise. I know many fantasy readers who follow my reviews and YouTube channel found me through my adoration of The Banished Lands Saga, which consists of The Faithful and the Fallen and Of Blood and Bone trilogy. Since 2017, I have been a huge advocate of John Gwynne’s heartfelt, action-packed, epic, and compelling novels, and that situation will not change. That being said, there is one thing I always say. When it comes to his series, John Gwynne is at his best when he writes the final book of his series. Wrath and A Time of Courage are both on my list of favorite books of all time. Has the same phenomenon been replicated? There is no doubt that I had a blast reading The Bloodsworn Saga, and I still highly enjoyed The Fury of the Gods, but I must say, The Shadow of the Gods is still my favorite installment of the series. And if I am forced to compare this to Wrath and A Time of Courage, I, unfortunately, have to admit this one is not as epic as the previous two concluding volumes by Gwynne.

The story in The Fury of the Gods continued right after the end of the cliffhanger in The Hunger of the Gods. This is, undoubtedly, the most action-packed book of the trilogy, for better or worse. Before I get to that, I must say… I was surprised by the number of readers who thought a particular pivotal character died at the end of The Hunger of the Gods. The outcome of this one character was immediately decided at the beginning of The Fury of the Gods, and it did not come as a surprise to me at all. This is not flexing. I knew this specific character would survive the ending of The Hunger of the Gods for two reasons. Not only the final battle for Vigrid will feel incomplete without the participation of this character, but I suddenly remembered one thing when I finished The Hunger of the Gods. If you have read The Faithful and the Fallen, then I think you will know why this character would survive the ordeal at The Hunger of the Gods. And at the end of the day, I feel like despite how much I loved The Bloodsworn Saga, there’s the factor of whether this is your first experience with John Gwynne’s books or not to consider. If this is the first time you are reading Gwynne’s books, then this might become your favorite series by him. However, for me, who is a diehard fan of Gwynne’s books, unlike my first time reading The Banished Lands Saga, the story progression of The Bloodsworn Saga felt a tad similar to Gwynne’s previous series. Because of that, very little in this book came as unpredictable to me. And that, in the case of this series, decreased the tension of the narrative.

Unpredictability and investment in the characters matter a lot to me when I’m reading Gwynne’s books. Or most books, really. I consider Gwynne one of the greatest authors in the matter of making readers care about his characters. It was incredibly easy to fall head over heels for the characters in The Banished Lands Saga, even the ones in Of Blood and Bone trilogy. But in The Fury of the Gods, except for Orka and Varg, I sadly did not find all the other characters as gripping as I hoped. This isn’t to say they weren’t well-written. Elvar has come a long way since the beginning of The Shadow of the Gods, Biorr was interesting, and Gudvarr can be oddly fun to read. And more. In this book about leadership, family, hope, and vengeance, ALL the characters have to shine through. As mentioned, I absolutely love Orka and Varg. Varg, in particular, is the most well-developed character of the series, in my opinion. But for the rest, I felt like they were just there to drive the plot. I never felt fully invested or worried about their fates. I know I will be on the unpopular side regarding Elvar, but hey, that’s the beauty of reading. All these factors, additionally, end up decreasing the overall tension of the stakes for me, especially in the first half of the book.

Gwynne, to me, writes some of the most vivid and immersive close-quarter combat scenes. I don’t know how many times I repeat that statement, and this notion deserves its repetition again in The Fury of the Gods. There is, however, one thing to remember about The Fury of the Gods. It is the most action-packed novel of the trilogy. And that could lead to good or bad things depending on your reading preference. I never felt bored reading Gwynne’s battle scenes. But I do have to admit the big exposure to what we readers know as inconsequential battles and skirmishes in the first half decreased the value of the action scenes. I personally would’ve preferred the first half to be more focused on deepening the characterizations of the main characters again. Fortunately, the battles in the second half redeem itself.

Although it is true the resolution to Snakavik was underwhelming, I cannot deny the final sequence of confrontations and titanic clashes where magic, weapons, and determinations unfold to devastate was simply breathtaking. At times, the bloodthirsty battles between humans and the gods of Vigrid reminded me clearly why I love reading Gwynne’s battle scenes. And I prefer focusing on that aspect more rather than the resolution to Snakavik and one or two villains of The Bloodsworn Saga. In one section, The Fury of the Gods almost exceeded the epic scope of Wrath and A Time of Courage. It did not land itself there for me, but it was pretty close, and in my definition, that’s awesome. I found the ending satisfying, and as usual, Gwynne left room for explorations should he choose to write more stories in the world of The Bloodsworn Saga. From my view, I am already happy and satisfied with where things ended.

You might wonder why I still end up giving The Fury of the Gods a 4 star rating after reading through my criticisms. The answer is simple. This book was absolutely captivating. I know this could sound like low criteria, but the year 2024 is, by far, my worst reading year ever. To find a book as exhilarating and unputdownable as The Fury of the Gods (despite some of the issues I had) is rare. Mark my words. The Fury of the Gods remains a breathtaking conclusion, as expected of John Gwynne. I don’t even know how he finished writing this book after the insane ordeal he and the Gwynnes faced in the time gap between The Hunger of the Gods and The Fury of the Gods. If you have watched my Best Books of the Year video, you will know The Fury of the Gods has landed its way to my list. I remain a fan, and I have faith that Gwynne’s next series will be an incredible series. Whatever it is, I know I will be reading it. To close this review, if you crave epic Norse mythology and Viking-centered epic fantasy, give The Bloodsworn Saga a try. If you did and you haven’t read The Banished Lands Saga yet, fix that situation ASAP. Skols.

Series Review:

The Shadow of the Gods: 5/5 stars
The Hunger of the Gods: 4/5 stars
The Fury of the Gods: 4/5 stars

The Bloodsworn Saga: 13/15 stars

You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

I also have a Booktube channel

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Fury of the Gods was a satisfying conclusion to the Bloodsworn Saga that most readers will find satisfying. It has the classic action packed battle sequences that Gwynne is well known for, which once again do not disappoint in Fury.

My main critique of the book is that while John Gwynne is known for his fast-paced writing style, this book may have been too fast paced, especially towards the end of the book. While the majority of character arcs ended in a satisfying way, I found that there was so much packed in to the last 150 pages that it almost felt rushed. Potentially the series could have been 4 books in total, or even just a few hundred pages longer. But I still enjoyed the trilogy overall, with The Shadow of the Gods remaining as one of my favourite high fantasy books of all time.

An incredible conclusion to a brilliant fantasy series. This series re-sparked my love for the fantasy genre. The characters were so compelling, the worldbuilding was so vast and intriguing and the pacing moved us along so well. I LOVED this book and John Gwynne has become an auto buy author of mine.

John Gwynne is my king!

I was desperate to read this as soon as I got the arc so I was gutted that the formatting of the file was terrible. I couldn’t read it at all. I therefore had to wait for my physical copy before I was able to review. Because of this, I actually had time to reread the first 2 books in the series, so I was well prepared.

Gwynne never shies away from killing characters you’ve come to love, so this book broke me, and made me cry quite a few times. I will say like most of his final books, there was a LOT more battle than the other two which took away from the personal moments that made you love the characters in book one and two.

It is a rare thing when all three books in a trilogy are 5 star reads. John Gwynne absolutely achieved this with The Bloodsworn Saga.

I wanted to get the absolute most out of The Fury of the Gods and so I re-read the first two books in the trilogy first to refresh my memory and fall in love with the world and it's characters all over again. It's not totally necessary though as the author provides a super useful little recap at the beginning of each book which is such a great little touch. Honestly, it was also partly to put off the inevitable. I just knew that with so many fantastic characters in such a brutal world of war, there's no way that they will all survive this. After spending many hours with these characters I found myself loving and caring about each and every one of them (except perhaps that snot-nosed cowardly pile of troll dung, Guðvarr - though I still love him as a character, just in a different way to the others!). The characters are just so well developed - both the "good guys" and the "bad guys". There are moments of darkness and bad decisions for the "good guys" and moments of hope and redemption for the "bad guys" which creates full realised characters that you can't help but connect with.

When I finally started reading, I just couldn't stop. Everything was totally ramped up, the action, the adventure, the drama, the emotions. The pacing had me utterly breathless. It was so great to see all the individual stories coming together and weaving to their conclusions. The best word for this book is "EPIC".

Very rarely have I felt truly satisfied by the conclusion of a trilogy. This is the book that broke the mold. Without spoiling anything, while not everyone gets a happy ending, there was still a sense of "rightness" about each character's conclusion. Upon finishing the last few words, I was grinning from ear to ear and my heart was full. I just wanted to find John Gwynne, shake his hand and give him a big hug for writing such a wonderful fantastical trilogy.

While everything is wrapped up well, a little door is kept open for this world to be revisited, perhaps we will rejoin this brutal magical world a few years down the line with new characters and new adventures. If so, I will absolutely be here for it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved it. A great ending to a brilliant series. Love the multiple character POVs, the characters and development, the story the everything. Really wonderful stuff.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc!

I have to say, I was a little disappointed with the final instalment of this trilogy... it seemed like 85 of the 92 chapters were just filler, and nothing really happens until right at the end, and then it all felt a little rushed.

That's not to say I won't be reading any more of Gwynne's books, as I do generally enjoy them, it's just this one fell a little flat.

What a finale! It was amazingly paced, riveting and deeply satisfying. Book two felt like a whole lot of set up and a bit tedious at times but I’m really glad to say it paid off. It was really well written and the characters really came to their full potential.

John Gwynne simply does not miss.

This was the perfect end to the trilogy - everything feels resolved fully and the world is so intricate and beautiful. I loved all of our characters too - even at their most frustrating I found myself rooting for them,

I wish we could spend even more time in this series, but I'm so excited to read more of Gwynne's work.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

John Gwynne has another hit on his hands with this one. Brilliant writing style, a captivating plot and characters who you will love, hate and want to protect all at the same time.

Esperaba mucho del final de la Bloodsworn Saga, de John Gwynne, porque sus dos primeras entregas me habían parecido todo un compendio de lo que se puede desear en una fantasía épica nórdica. Y aunque The Fury of the Gods cierra prácticamente todas las tramas e hilos abiertos con anterioridad, el libro en sí me ha parecido demasiado procedimental, en el sentido de que sigue un esquema bastante rígido (viaje, encuentro, batalla, vuelta a comenzar) que no es lo que hubiera deseado para rematar la historia.


Entiendo que Gwynne tenía el destino al que se dirigían sus personajes ya pensado de antemano, pero el camino que siguen para llegar a ese final épico es en lo que no ha brillado tanto. Tenemos un montón de batallas sangrientas, muchísimas y ahí se explaya el autor sin perder un ápice de su crudeza y verosimilitud, pero es en los interludios entre lucha y lucha, donde son más importantes los diálogos y las tramas cuando vemos que el libro se sostiene a duras penas. Una verdadera lástima porque los personajes que hemos visto merecían un final mejor, o al menos, mejor narrado. Da la impresión de que ha cogido un calco y ha aplicado el mismo esquema a todos los desenlaces, en bucle: aquí se pelea, aquí se consigue la venganza y aquí se comen las perdices. Me ha parecido tremendamente repetitivo, la verdad.

Esto no quiere desmerecer la serie, ni quiere decir que el libro no tenga momentos cautivadores, como la decisión que toma Elvar y que le dará su sobrenombre para la eternidad, cambiando totalmente el balance de fuerzas y el futuro de todos. Es solo que las ideas tan buenas con las que contaba desde el principio se ven lastradas por una ejecución no sé si torpe, pero sí bastante mejorable. No estoy diciendo que toda la fantasía tenga que hablar necesariamente de la lucha de clases y de sistemas políticos y organizativos, pero si el punto sobre el que pivota la novela es esta decisión de Elvar… a lo mejor un poquito más de controversia o de diálogo o de confrontación hubiera sido adecuado. ¿Es que a nadie se le había pasado antes por la cabeza que la forma de ganar poderosos seguidores era esa?

Una novela que, por desgracia, hace que baje mi apreciación general de la saga, que hasta esta entrega era altísima.

Wow, what a phenomenal ending to the most intensely thrilling trilogy.

This one hurt in the best way. I absolutely adore the way John Gwynne writes about grief and family. The emotions are incredibly real and there are so many powerful scenes throughout this fantastic book.

The characterisations, the world building, and the fight scenes were all crafted masterfully. I think I have found my favourite read of 2024!

I have a deep love for Elvar and her character arc, but Orka fully has my heart. I have annotated so much of this book and highlighted various scenes from Orka, and this scene in particular solidified my love for her:
““Do you remember the serpents on the Sea-Wolf. The mother serpent and her young?”
“Aye, Mama, I do,” Breca said.
“You remember how she taught them to hunt, to kill?”
“Yes.”
“I will teach you now.””

She is fierce and vicious and completely feral in her desire to protect her child. All of the Bloodsworn stole my heart and I never wanted to leave this world. I even enjoyed the comedic relief of Guðvarr; he was the worst, but his inner dialogue got me everytime.

Leaving a piece of me in Vigrið and can’t wait to explore more of John Gwynne’s back catalogue!

Easiest five stars I have ever given. I would recommend this so highly to lovers of truly epic fantasy with deep roots in Nordic mythology!

The final installment... As with all good things, this adventure has come to an end far too quickly. Gwynne simply never disappoints—since The Faithful and the Fallen, I haven’t come across a single weaker book from this author. He just knows how to create something unique in what seems to be an already fully explored fantasy genre. I don’t want to spoil anything; for me, the final part of this saga is pure beauty, and I sincerely hope that one day John Gwynne will return to this world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Plot: The Gods are brought back from dead. Elvar has to fulfill her oath, Varg has to avenge her sister and Orka has to save her son but Bloodsworn, Battlegrim and Orka are all scattered around. The war is taking them to Snakavik and it is time for God war.
Thoughts: A complete end to the trilogy giving everybody the justice they deserve. This is action packed fast paced full of vengeance and bloodshed. About 40% of the 2nd half is only war and slightly felt rushed with chapter after chapter resolving vengeance after vengeance in succession. But otherwise everything was just perfect and I highly recommend this series for high fantasy lovers.

WOW! I can't even think to explain how much I loved this book. The Fury of the Gods was one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and I was completely and utterly blown away by it. The author wrote the battle scenes with such skill that they are unforgettable. I had to hold my breath a few times while reading them.
The emotional scenes were heart-wrenching, but the comedic moments were on par, as always. The book's pacing is great, balancing epic battles with quieter character moments. John Gwynne's prose is both lyrical and powerful, making every page a joy to read.

The characters in Fury of the Gods are complex and compelling. Each character is well-developed, making you root for every single one. I absolutely 100% recommend this trilogy to anyone who is a fan of the fantasy genre or for those who are just fans of Vikings.


I want to give NetGalley a huge thank you for giving me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The epic conclusion to the Bloodsworn saga.

This book had gods, warriors, all sorts of creatures, and non-stop action. Loved the world building and happy to be back with that characters.

I really enjoy the way Gwynne describes the landscape and vegetation in this book, and the parts with food were so well depicted my stomach rumbled.

My main gripe was that the fight scenes took up a lot of pages and I did find I was suffering from battle fatigue at times. I would have preferred more character work as when things happened to certain characters I didn't feel as emotionally affected as I might have expected.

Overall a great read and a fitting end to the trilogy.