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.

I enjoyed this book, however it ended up as the weakest of the trilogy for me. In the end, there was just SO much action that even though the action was brilliantly written it sort of blended together for me. I did also feel that many supporting characters I loved in previous books got short shrift, and I felt like we barely got to see them due to the action taking prominence. I also felt everything about Snaka felt rushed, and was honestly spoiled by the cover. Finally, I was sad to see a character that I thought was killed off previously in a very gut wrenching moment just turn up not dead.

Despite those criticisms there are a lot of things to love about this book, specifically a fantastic moment with Elvar I won't spoil, but that had been really well foreshadowed and written.

This book is good and is worth your time, but I felt a little disappointed due to my high expectations. Full review on my YouTube channel in the links below!

Wow. The Fury of the Gods is a breathtaking ending to a fabulous series. The characters are fabulous and Gwynne is as usual not afraid to murder a couple to keep us on our toes 😭. So emotional and the ending is fabulous. I hope we see more stories in this world because I NEED more ASAP. Lots of unexpected twists and turns and some truly heartbreaking moments. Well worth the wait.

This Bloodsworn trilogy is probably a must for those who enjoy Norse fantasy and intense blood battles. It had been a long time since I read earlier books in the trilogy, so my memory was very hazy, and the read takes off where you left in at the end of the 2nd book .It did take me quite a while to get back into it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I was grateful for the cast info and tips with pronunciation, which adds to the pleasure of the read.

There is a lot packed into this book, which in some ways makes it hard to capture. To be aware the culmination of this story is essentially battle driven, so expect much gore with blood lusty scenes and aural inspiring crushing of bones as part of this. It may seem a bit heavy for some given the volume and intensity of fighting scenes. Indeed there was a time when I could have done with a bigger pause. Such scenes however were engrossing and compelling, overtly described, realistic and subsequently vividly pictured in the minds eye.

Set in the fictional lands of Vigrið, the characters have been well established in the previous books, so much development had happened. as a consequence there was minimal further character development to refer to, albeit Orka and Varg as well as Elva and Guðvarr shine as always.

The ship scene was particularly engrossing, taking the situation into a different sphere, I felt very engaged reading this part of the book and enjoyed the overall ending. it's probably a book you need to commit to reading in a timely manner to keep abreast of it all. I think it would help to read the trilogy on rather quick succession too. Overall a quality read.

October seems to be the month for series finales for me! Right on the heels of Mirrored Heavens (Between Earth and Sky) I wrapped up The Fury of the Gods the much-awaited third and final book in this norse-inspired epic fantasy by fan-favorite John Gwynne, known for having his fabulous big fat epic novels ( Faith and Fallen, and the sequel Blood and Bone )

His new trilogy, the Bloodsworn saga is set in an Viking-sque world, still scarred and reeling from the last war between Gods, all of whom are now fallen or lost. The Shadow of the Gods and The Hunger of the Gods sets up the readers for this absolutely compelling nail biting frenzy of a climax, bringing this brilliant tale to a closure. Written across multiple narratives, the readers follow the fate of the lead characters, damaged and scarred by their life experiences, as their world Vigrid comes under attack yet again with colossal powers rising up again, set to clash with each other.

The third book is where the final showdown happens - as Lik Rifa, the mighty dragon is free and having gathered her powers, is looking to take over the world. And she's bearing down on Snakavik, the fabled city built on top of the deceased Father of Gods, Snaka's skull. Arrayed against her are the mercenary might of the recently crowned Queen/Chief Elvar and all the other warriors who want to be a part of this 'Skald' song, one for the ages. This is the epic we've been waiting for and John Gwynne goes all out - giving us gigantic battle-sequences that run over long chapters, full of bone-crunching, blood-spraying, axe-chopping, shield-splintering violence that leaps off the pages. The fights are bloody, no quarters given and just bloody-well choreographed/written that you are right in the middle of the chaos. That is clearly John Gwynne's strength, to give us battle-scene that are both physically daunting, emotionally draining, crafted to perfection. Fury doesn't disappoint because after maybe half-way point of the book, it is just one long drawn out battle after the other, furious, frenetic and feverish.

John continues to ratchet up his character development, book after book. And in Orka Skullsplitter, John's given us one of the greatest female leads of all times. A distraught mother, racing against time and luck, Orka was once even the leader of the famed Bloodsworn. But she walks away, to lead a life of peace and love with her husband. But as we know, from when the events of the Shadow of Gods spiral out of control, Orka has had to give up on this life and is forced back to pick up her axe, when her son, Breca is kidnapped by the cultists worshipping Lik-Rifa. Orka's 'revenge' storyline is unapologetically violent and emotionally the most heart-wrenching. So every time she comes on scene, I get goosebumps anticipating the intense violence and the emotional heft. The quieter tender moments between Orka and her son perfectly balance out this blood-drenched impossible mission she's on. And yes, those thrilling final moments of showdown, those intimate one-on-one duels in the middle of the raging battle all around, doesn't disappoint.

The other major POV is Varg, an erstwhile thrall, who has joined up with the Bloodsworn, signing up to bring down the bloodthirsty power-crazy dragon. Varg is also looking to finally avenge the death of his sister. He is clearly the quintessential 'hero' in the classic John Gwynne mould; thoughtful, caring, courageous to a fault and committed to his found family. His quest for 'revenge' is also not a straightforward one, given the trials and tribulations his comrades in the Bloodsworn go through. But his story also comes around a full circle to a satisfactory ending.

Elvar, the proud, headstrong leader of the BattleGrim and now recently Chief/Queen is possibly the most complex character John has written. And I loved loved her character arc and the evolution. Her moral struggles, her confusion, her moments of self-doubt, her selfless style of leadership, all of which make her real and vulnerable, also made her the most endearing character for me. There are several winning "moments" that I could list that Elvar my favorite, but I will let you as a reader discover them.

The other aspect of John Gwynne's characterisation are his "grey" characters who give us a ringside view into the world of the villains. There's Gudvarr and Biorr who do this effectively for us - frankly. the weakest among all the characters, serving no other purpose other than giving us readers access to the plot-points from the Lik-Rifa camp. Biorr still does have a more of a "redemptive" character arc than Gudvarr, the classic coward blessed with unbelievable luck.

And in this ending, don't expect Gwynne to go easy on the reader. There are several "Oh my God" jaw-dropping moments and twists, some scenes that are just plain heart-stopping gut-wrenching as you watch the fates of some of your favorites unfold.

The world of Vigrid is fascinating and John Gwynne builds it up really well further expanding the same in this third book, giving us readers a view unto previously unexplored parts of this brilliantly set up world. There are newer legends, more interesting backstories and some scary new monsters who come out of the dark woods. Full points on immersing us into this Vikings world.

Now onto some minor quibbles. But mind you, these could just be me. So yes, this is the final showdown and we are expecting earth-shattering battles as the titans/ Gods collide. While the personal character arcs of each of the main protagonists helps keep us grounded in their motivations, even as the world is shattered from under their feet, I for one, thought the ultimate battle-scenes are stretched for too long. True, there are twists and turns galore in the tide of the battle, with some awe-inspiring reveals thrown in between, reading over a hundred pages of just impossibly balanced fight sequences was plain exhausting for me. My eyes glazed over after the umpteenth time, "the shields splintered, the blood geysered and the blades clashed or the axes chopped through the skull"

But in true John Gwynne style, reading The Fury of the Gods is ultimately a rewarding experience. This is yet another shining masterpiece from the man, who is the true inheritor of the title of the master of "heroic fantasy". As we turn the last pages, our hearts are simultaneously broken, soaring, full of hope, pulsing with a sense of glory and triumph. It is a well deserved ride for our heroes, in this brutal unforgiving world and for us readers, alongside them. Recommended, deserving five stars and more!

After a week of finishing it, I still have no idea about it!!

You know I think we all expected this coming, right?! Mind-blowing, dark, tight, and the ending... I just was like no, no, no, NOT YOU... and again... no, no, no, NOT ANYMORE... oh this isn't done yet. Please, please, please, dear John, not him, not him...

And still you didn't read it, how could you?!

Shitty review I know! Sorry Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley

John Gwynne knows how to land a finale! This is, his third series I've completed, and every time I'm astounded, how he wraps all the threads up with the perfect blend of emotion, story writing, and integrity to the characters he's created.

The ending of this really starts from about 60 percent, which means there are 300 or so pages of the final battle. This was like the end of the Avengers (Endgame), where you are comprehensively invested in every single characters outcome. This is a masterful storytelling

I do think there were perhaps too many characters at times, and 1 of the PoV just didn't work for me across book 2 or 3.

But all in all, this is a story of epic proportions, and John Gwynne is the best writer of epic fantasy since Tolkien

This was en incredible end to an incredible series. I can't fathom how everything ties to feather and how expansive the world has become. Incredible, truly. Thank you for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review .

The final installment of the epic trilogy from John Gwynne. I didn’t love the 2nd book, I would say I liked it so I was skeptic so starting this book but wow I was wrong. This was a great conclusion to the book series, especially after the cliffhanger we were faced with. Johns writing is magnificent and he really knows what he’s doing when it comes to fantasy storytelling.
I would highly recommend this series. Not an easy read but a great read.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Review:

As one of my most anticipated reads of the year, Fury of the Gods absolutely delivered! This epic finale to John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn trilogy was everything I wanted and more. I’ve grown to love all the characters—from Glornir to Orka, Varg, and the rest of the Bloodsworn—and seeing them all come together in this final installment was incredible.

Elvar’s arc was a standout for me. I didn’t like her much in the first two books, but in this one, she completely won me over. The way Gwynne ties up so many revenge plots, along with the emotional reunions, made this such a rewarding read.

And, of course, Gwynne remains the master of writing battle scenes. Every fight was intense, brutal, and perfectly executed. The ending was satisfying, yet it left a few open doors for more stories in this world, which I’d love to see!

An epic conclusion to a brilliant series.

A huge thanks to @orbitbooks_uk for the e-arc!

This was such a great final book in this trilogy. The characters had to face many challenges through this book. I didn't want to put the book down as so as I started reading it. I really enjoyed the writing style and the fact that it was multiple POV. The characters developed incredibly throughout the book. And with how the book ended it made the story feel complete

I think we can alle agree thag John Geynne really knows what he is doing, and he really writes only bangers. I thoroughly enjoey this trilogy!

"The Fury of the Gods" was a worthy conclusion to the series and I definitely enjoyed it more than the second installment.
The fight scenes were a little to many and long for my tastes, but I really enjoyed the overall plot and the characters.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in return for an honest review! <3

’Ware the Wolf’

Throughout Shadow of the Gods and Hunger of the Gods, I felt myself disappointed. Whilst I loved all the components of the first and second book in this series, I just didn’t feel myself being drawn into the story like I usually am in Gwynne’s books. It made me sad. Was I the problem? I didn’t think so. Were the books the problem? According to every review ever, that didn’t seem to be the case. So I put it down to my bad mental health, or maybe the off chance that this trilogy just sadly wasn’t for me, despite the high expectations I’d given it.

And then I started Fury of the Gods, and I finally fucking got it.

This book was little more than exceptional. A brutal, awe-inspiring saga of grief, family, vengeance and cheese, that never failed to have me having already fallen off of the edge of my seat. I’ve seen a few people over the past couple of days complain that this had too many battles. To that I say, do you people hate fun? The last thing I was complaining about was the amount of battle sequences this book had, which, for anyone wondering, was a hell of a lot. But when you’re reading a book from one of the most talented battle writers that modern-day fantasy has to offer, I’d take it as a win. Every single conflict that occurred within this instalment was phenomenal. Perfectly gory, detailed and imagined so realistically. I am always blown away by Gwynne’s ability to make me truly feel like I am in the crush of the shield-wall, or life-and-death fray of the holmganga. This book did not have a boring moment, did not have a bad chapter, did not have a lacklustre story beat in sight. It fit together like a puzzle, each plot joining together to reach a climax (not that kind, get your mind out of the gutter) that had me throwing my Kindle across the room. But not literally of course, as it cost me £150 and I’m not made of money.

While I wasn’t ultimately enamoured with every single part of this series, I was with this book which is why it deserves those 5 stars. The Fury of the Gods is a masterclass in just how impactful and complete finales should be. Each characters vengeance was fulfilled in such creative and satisfying ways, and the deaths that did occur absolutely tore my heart in two. The world of Vigrið is one that I know will stick with me, not only due to its Norse-inspired roots and truly sinister and badass Gods, but because of its cast of fantastic characters. Who obviously, I just have to talk about the endings of.

Orka Skullsplitter
Orka is the sort of female character I, as a woman myself, need to see more of in fantasy. One who is not only physically strong, as a fierce and intelligent fighter, but one who is loving and infinitely loyal to those she cares for. Whilst vengeance was the key driving factor for most of her actions throughout the series, it’s how her motherhood is represented throughout this book and its predecessors that stuck with me the most. I think Gwynne just did such a fantastic job at showing how powerful a mother’s love is, and how parents will go to the ends of the earth for their children. Her relationship with not only her son Breca, but also the likes of Lif and Svik, showed just how central maternity and protection were to her story. The figure of the ‘mother-wolf’ is one that is personally love, and I feel that Orka was perfection. Her ending was satisfying and emotional, and I won’t be forgetting her anytime soon.

Varg No-Sense
I have nothing but love for Varg coming to the end of this trilogy. From a naive and often senseless thrall to an intelligent, badass and key member of the Bloodsworn, I was completely absorbed into his story from start to finish. Varg played less of a role in this book as usual, although he sort of always did as a kind of self-insert for the reader, but that didn’t mean his impact and ending weren’t eventful. I was cheering out loud when he got his revenge, and when he started his relationship with someone I will not name for spoiler reasons (but know I was hoping for this since book one)! The overall story of the Bloodsworn and the found-family they brought to this series was by far my favourite part of this book and the past two. With some of my favourite characters Gwynne has ever made, Røkia, Einar and Svik of course being the highlights, I know that I’m going to be wishing I too was part of a ragtag band of mercenaries for the rest of the year. I’m just really going to miss this gaggle of cheese-loving, sex-joke-making idiots for a while.

Elvar Chainbreaker
Hey Elvar, Daenerys Targaryen called and she wants her nickname back! On a serious note, anyone that has been keeping up with my reviews should know by now how much I’ve hated Elvar (and most of her story-beats) throughout this series. Mainly due to her being a remorseless slaver, but also due to her mildly boring plot, Mary-Sue survival skills and general ‘my daddy is rich’ mindset. For half of this book, this rhetoric remained. And then it stopped. And then I liked Elvar. And then something else happened which I once again cannot name for spoiler reasons but oh my fucking god how dare you John Gwynne !! We were just starting to be friends !! After finishing this trilogy I have started to appreciate Elvar’s story for what it was and represented. The prejudice and bigotry of the regular person in this world was the crux for all the events that happened in this story, and Elvar was a product of her surroundings and upbringing. It was good that Gwynne created a character that showed this, and she showed it damn well (too well, at points). She ended up being a character I respected by the end of the story, and one that I think may stick with me for a while longer. My feelings about her will remain being mixed, but I can say she was incredibly well-written and developed. Whilst the Battle-Grim stayed lacklustre for me, and I wasn’t that bothered by any particular character (other than Grend), I can definitely say the ending to this arc had my jaw on the floor.

Biórr Rat-Blood
Biórr, truly a poor man’s Icarus. Destined for greatness, doomed to fail. I found his chapters to be the most uninteresting throughout this book, but of course valuable in their insight into the villains of this story. Biórr is a tragic character indeed, who really was affected by the blood he carries inside him and God he was connected to. I thought his relationship with Rotta was fascinating and incredibly manipulative, so much that I almost felt sorry for him…. but not quite. I think there’s a lot that can be said for his choices throughout his story, the childhood that shaped him and the rhetoric he, much like Elvar, was taught. They were two sides of the same coin in the end, and I think they both did a bit of good and bad that equalled them both out to ‘yeah they were alright’. I think Biórr got the ending he deserved, but not without a level of bitter-sweetness. A very engaging and creative character, he added so much understanding into the machinations at play within the minds of the Gods.

Guthvarr the Coward
Oh Guthvarr, you bumbling fool. The allegorical jester in this nonexistent court, Guthvarr added to this book what could only be described as the most pathetic attempts at heroics I’ve ever seen. Other than giving us the truly underrated character that was Jarl Sígrun, Guthvarr really was just the character we readers would actually be in this situation. A whiney, complaining fool, I never wanted him to die but also wanted him to die at every point throughout his sad existence. Hilarious and totally unnecessary, I couldn’t imagine this series without him. He got what was coming to him, but I’m glad I got to spend it with him for nearly a thousand pages. God bless, you snotty little man. Someone get him a fucking tissue already!!!

Overall, The Fury of the Gods gets 5/5 stars and the Bloodsworn Saga series gets 4.25/5 stars. I will forever be utterly grateful and completely mind-blown that my first ever arc was this, a book I loved, in a series I enjoyed, by one of my favourite authors. Some dreams really do come true.

Not Guthvarr’s though…..

Thank you to Orbit books and Netgalley for providing an ARC, all opinions are my own.

The Fury of Gods brilliantly completes John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga, delivering a gripping and heartfelt conclusion to an unforgettable trilogy. This final instalment was nothing short of sensational, and I’m so grateful to Gwynne for crafting such an immersive, powerful story.

The plot was engaging from start to finish; there wasn’t a single moment when I wasn’t entirely absorbed in the story. What I love so much in this series is it’s incredible character dynamics. Feeling the Bloodsworn's bond from Varg’s perspective- where he gradually discovers his found family- was amazing to see, in comparison to the Varg in the first book. In this book, we see a newfound confidence in him, reflected in his budding romance with Rokia, which finally begins to blossom.

Orka, however, remains the standout character of the trilogy. She’s without a doubt one of the most complex and fascinating characters I’ve encountered. Her relentless determination and strong will to find Breca, even resisting the powerful influence of Ulfrir, showcase her strength and resolve. The lore surrounding her is mindblowing- former leader of the Bloodsworn, with a husband who was one of them- and it would be amazing if Gwynne explored a prequel featuring Breca as the protagonist. I can only imagine what a warrior he would become.

Though Elvar isn’t my favorite character, her development across the series deserves recognition. In The Fury of Gods, we see her finally take charge and make choices that reflect her own sense of fairness. Her growth as a leader and person, is both admirable and satisfying, it was long overdue and I’m so glad it happened in the finale.

This book is packed with betrayal, love, grief, and fury- everything that makes the Bloodsworn Saga such an intense and emotional journey. It’s the most action-packed of the trilogy, and Gwynne manages to bring it all to a spectacular finish. The Fury of Gods is a must read- for anyone seeking a fantasy series that’s raw, visceral, and deeply moving.

I cannot even put into words how good this was! A fantastic final instalment in the series! I felt that the main characters’ storylines were wrapped up nicely with no disappointment that sometimes arises at the ending of a series! The only negative I could say is that I did not want this to end! Even now that it’s finished I still feel like I need to know more!!!
Let’s hope there’s maybe the possibility of revisiting this setting and characters in the future 😊

Looking at the series as a whole it is a really good fantasy series with some great Nordic influence that I found really interesting.
This is a good series if you like blood and gory action but not if you enjoy a more character or plot driven tale.
I have a lot of issues with this final book. As much as the action was thrilling and engaging there was just too many of them. There was so much fighting in this book it became insufferable. The story and characters on the other hand felt very lacking in comparison.
This book is far too black and white, good vs bad. I really wanted some more interesting morality explored that you should expect from an epic fantasy story and there was just none.
The characters themselves I felt did not have enough growth considering this was the culmination of their stories. I always felt like I wanted more from them to be able connect better to them and their stories.
There was also a big feeling of repetition to me. Gwynne seems to have a habit of repeating certain phrases. I felt myself getting frustrated hearing a character say almost exactly the same thing again and again. The also almost constant use of a simile when describing something became really annoying. I never want to have to read "thought cage" again.
Where I think the book fell the most short was the pacing. The pacing in this never felt balanced there would be sections of high tempo and then so much of nothing and then a spike of tempo again.There was too much meandering and chapters that just felt pointless and should have been left on the editing floor. The POV of Gudvarr I think really let the book down. His character is just terribly written and his constant inner monologues so hard to get through. The decision to add his pov to this series still makes no sense to me. The book just really dragged through this middle section which took a lot of enjoyment out of the main story.

Overall this book and series as a whole just did not live up to the hype for me. I feel John Gwynne is a good writer of action but he really needs work on his plots and characters. Both feel lacking and bogged down by repetition and fills in the space where he could be creating more depth.