The Fury of the Gods is an absolute masterpiece! From the very first page, I was hooked by the intense dynamics between the Bloodsworn, which made the story feel so raw and real. Each character’s personal growth was beautifully crafted, showing layers of strength, vulnerability, and determination. Orka and Varg remain my favorites! There are some truly heartbreaking moments that hit me right in the feels, but that only made the journey even more impactful. And the ending? It was everything I could have hoped for! It perfectly wrapped up the emotional highs and lows, leaving me both satisfied and wanting more. If you love epic storytelling with deep character development, you’ll be obsessed with this book!

The Fury of the Gods is tipped at one of the most highly anticipated fantasy releases of 2024. The third volume of a trilogy is always under quite a lot of pressure, as any goodwill or benefit of the doubt readers might have had for payoff has to materialise in the finale in a way it does not necessarily need to in a first or a second volume. For me personally, the conclusion to this series was a disappointment, as all of the issues I had with the first two books came home to roost.

The premise of the whole series is that there is a Viking-esque society in which certain people have more powers than others. They are descendent from the (now dead) gods, and due to their special powers they are habitually enslaved by the non-superpowered humans. Everybody and their dog's cousin's hairdresser's mom has done this story in speculative fiction, from the X Men comics and movies to Dragon Age games. In a crowded market, a story with this premise really needs to offer something special. These kinds of stories tend to address the issues of legitimacy of resistance, and the dichotomy between violent and non-violent ways in which superhuman individuals and societies can express their desire for freedom. Putting aside the major issue with the metaphor in question - gay or Black or Muslim people who might want to resist oppression are not oppressed because they can literally rip your head off with their magical blood - these types of stories provide interesting discussions of the limits of power, freedom and resistance. Think Anders blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry, or Magneto's umpteenth shenanigans on behalf of mutants. And here lies my problem with The Bloodsworn Saga - this discussion simply does not exist.

One day I will write an essay if not a thesis on the neoliberalism of the supposed grey morality of grimdark. Many authors, Gwynne included, seem to think that the 'grey morality' comes from questions like 'is it okay to kill your abusive arsehole enslaver of a dad', and the answer they give is always a resounding yes. But the legitimacy of resistance of oppressed and enslaved people? There will be some sort of an incredibly simple answer worthy of a Disney movie. In this case, Lik-Rifa, a dragon god brought back to life by her descendants desperate for societal change resulting in freedom for the Tainted, is represented as unquestionably evil, deranged and duplicitous. The position of her followers is needfully hypocritical - of course they're not fighting for freedom for all, as they would still enslave those Tainted who oppose them. The one POV character from her camp who is not just a pure evil punchbag for one of the heroes' endless vengeance quests gets constantly told that she is not actually fighting for freedom by everyone he meets. We as readers get no sense of why anyone would join her camp, unless they are purely EVIL. The actual centuries-old societal issue of slavery of the Tainted is resolved in about 2 pages by one of the good guys just setting all enslaved Tainted free (whilst not banning slavery per se, mind you), immediately removing any motivation for anyone but pure evil to fight for the dragon (and raising a question of why anyone decent would keep fighting for her after that). This raises the question of why has no jarl done this so far? The author seems so reluctant to actually confront the issues he set up, and create a cast of characters with different viewpoints without bringing everyone to the same easy conclusion and creating a very black and white moral compass.

For a series about the return of the gods, we get surprisingly little god content. I had been looking forward to more Rotta, as he seemed quite interesting in the previous novel, but he does not end up doing anything interesting. In fact, none of them do. The wolf god especially puzzled me. We are constantly told that he is proud and cunning, but he never does anything particularly cunning, and he spends the almost the entire saga enslaved by a human without trying to do ANYTHING to free himself (proud much?).

Every chapter is just a skirmish, fight, battle, duel, fight to the death or some other type of physical violent confrontation involving weapons. The description of the said activities takes up most of the chapter, with a couple of sentences moving the plot forward. I am in no position to judge how well the fight scenes are written, as I find them immensely boring, but they're there if that's your kind of thing. As we know that the POV characters have to make it quite far into the narrative, the battle scenes have basically no stakes. The characters, especially non-POV ones, are paper thin. Most of them are motivated by revenge (honestly, we have like 4 simultaneous vengeance battle scenes in the last couple of chapters). I sort of liked Biorr's and Guthwar's journeys, although they are written in a bit of a MFA way - one changes and the other one does not, but it was slim pickings.

The diversity is not done well. The only reason for a secondary female character to be bisexual is to create some tension for one of the male leads, who thinks she is a lesbian, but she eventually 'chooses him' to be her man. The POC veeery secondary characters are for some reason from this world's version of Kyiv/Rus, so you have guys named Taras and Sulich who are supposed to be Black (?). Question mark, because their skin colour was news to me about 75% into the third novel of a series, when it is mentioned in one sentence. I will give the author credit for trying at least something, and for creating a Viking world where women are basically equal to men, no one bats an eyelid to women preferring other women sexually and where the racist enslavement system based on naturalisation of difference has nothing to do with skin colour. Grimdark is often associated with toxic masculinity, lots of sexual assault etc, and it is refreshing to see an author try to avoid that.


Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't even know where to start with this review...

Firstly, god bless John Gwynne for including a recap of the previous books at the start of this book 😌

I really enjoy the humour in this series and my favourite source of this is Svik and his love of cheese. It makes me chuckle so much. There are so many great characters and side characters (Spert, Vesli and Hrung). Getting some backstory on Hrung was great. This may have been mentioned in one of the previous books but I read those two years ago and could have forgotten. There are great character pairings e.g. Varg and Røkia, and I loved the scenes with Glornir and Orka, they have such sweet dialogue and with Breca, too 🥹. I went on a bit of journey with my feelings about Elvar. At a point, I was thinking that she held a little too much power, just thralling gods and tainted, but then she redeemed herself.

There are lots of scores settled in this book and that was so satisfying. The rune magic is amazing, I loved this so much, it just enhanced the battle scenes, which already felt like a scene from the Vikings (TV show)! The characters and the atmosphere are just incredible. The fact that this book got me so invested that I felt sad at the loss of characters was a shock to me! In summary, I would love to see this adapted!

NetGalley approval came through the day after I finished Hunger of the Gods, so naturally jumped straight into this.

Incredible and epic conclusion to the Bloodsworn Saga. Such an immersive book, fight scenes and the world building were masterfully written and character arcs were tied up nicely (Elvar's especially).

Perfect ending to the perfect series.

Well. What an emotional journey that trilogy has been! I’m still not over the acknowledgments neither..
The fact that I’ve read this right after The Hunger of the Gods was perfect because I was already so immersed in this world it just felt like binge-watching five seasons of a show.
Honestly I loved how everything is coming together in this third and last book. The ending was brilliantly thought out and we get the closure we hoped for with all the plot-lines and characters. As you can guess from such an epic journey, it isn’t without its ups and downs but that’s what it’s all about, right? Family, loyalty, loss, revenge but also - as Spert would say : friendship!

If you’re a fan of epic tales, of high-fantasy and North Mythology books then this saga is truly a must!

5 stars. All the stars.

Here’s the deal: I’m not able to review this book without mentioning the rest of the trilogy, since it is such an integral part of it and I can only think of all the books together as a whole… Bloodsworn is going to go down as one of my all-time favourites, in a very special place right next to The Faithful and The Fallen (I just have one series left to read by John Gwynne and at this point, I’m already reserving a spot next to these two in my all time favourites).

I will confess: I went in with some worries, as I loved the first one and loved the second one even more. The stakes were pretty high after the HUGE cliffhanger ending on book 2, so, I kept thinking to myself “How do you end such a glorious series? How do you top that?”. Well, I was lucky enough to get my hands on this before publication (for which I will be forever grateful) and answer that with a: Perfectly, John Gwynne finished this one perfectly.

This book picks up right where The Hunger of the Gods left us and finally, finally, we follow our characters (or what’s left of them) in a war of gods that we all knew was coming. It’s hard to rave about this book without spoilers, because there are so many action scenes and feelings involved for every character, for every moment. I’ll say this though: I bow down again to John Gwynne for his memorable battle scenes, I don’t think any other author can compare, and the way he writes female characters. One aspect that I have come to love is the duality present in every character and every action: The world is not black and white, no one is all good or all evil and there’s always more than one perspective.

This book made me laugh, made me *almost* cry (TWICE, if you know, you know) and I can say that this is one of the most underrated series of all time. I will miss each one of these characters as I would a friend. If that is not enough of a testament to how amazing these books are, I’m not sure what is.

Thank you so much Orbit and NetGallery for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After flying through the first two books and being completely enamored by this world and John's writing, I was anxious to see if the third installment would live up to the rest and deliver a satisfying conclusion and I have to say it didn't disappoint for a single moment.

Firstly, the inclusion of a recap of the story and characters so far, at the beginning of the book, is so helpful when there's been some time since reading the previous book. It helps you remember exactly who everyone is (which is definitely needed for such a big cast) and how they're all connected and plants you firmly back in the Bloodsworn world.

From minute one we're thrust back into the story catching up with the frantic pace and it doesn't stop for a single beat from there. If you love action sequences you love John Gwynne. His ability to make you feel like you're stood in the heat of battle is unmatched and it needs to be special because this book is full of battle scenes from small skirmishes to all out war. Some of the largest scale battles you'll ever come across somehow feel so real because of the vivid description of scenery, movements, thoughts and descriptions of a huge roster of characters.

On the subject of characters it's hard to find a cast this big where they are all given enough time to develop clear personalities and traits, and also develop in character throughout the story. John does this exceptionally well with all the main characters and also with a whole host of side characters. Each crew we've spent time with has a range of characters, which adds up to a lot of names to remember, but they're all given their time to shine and in a way that still feels true to their personalities. It can be hard to keep track of who's where and what's going on when jumping between characters and locations, but not once did I lose track of what was happening or who was involved. John manages to readjust to different points of view to keep the writing fresh and remind you of exactly where you are without it feeling like repitition that drags you out of the world and makes you feel like you're reading. Instead you jump from intense sequence to heated argument to occasional comic relief without ever feeling like the pace has slowed, or losing your place in the story.

If you've ever read a book that focuses on several characters instead of just the one main character, you've probably experienced the feeling of wanting a chapter to end so you can get back to your favourite character. Not in this book. The good thing about having multiple characters is that the story is told from both sides so you know exactly what they're both thinking at all times and it helps understand their motivations. And no, that doesn't mean there are no surprises because I ended up not bothering trying to guess what was about to happen after I realised it was pointless. There are so many twists that I decided to stop guessing and just enjoy the ride.

The locations are epic, the stakes are high, the cast is vast and varied, and the creatures are all unique and interesting. Nothing feels ripped off, nobody has a moment that isn't earned and nobody is invincible. It's exactly what an epic fantasy series should be.

Overall it ends up being an intense, action packed and suspenseful conclusion to a thrilling saga. There's some much needed comic relief inbetween some gut wrenching moments and finally a bittersweet ending.

My only criticism is that there isn't more.

Review posted to goodreads:

SPOILER FREE REVIEW TFOTG
I was beyond lucky enough to be accepted for an advanced readers copy of The Fury of The Gods so to begin I would like to say a massive thank you to The Little Brown Book Group, NetGalley and John Gwynne. I did in fact run out of a shop to get home and start this book as soon as i saw the email!

Now to my first point; I make it no secret that Gwynne is my all time favourite author and sing his praises to absolutely anyone who will listen to me. For some there is Tolkein, others it's GRRM, Hobb Gaiman, Sanderson, SJM and so on... but for me it's Gwynne. Ever since I picked up Malice back in 2021 nobody has come close for me. And although some may read that statement and say I may be bias in my review of his work, I would argue the opposite. I know I would be incapable of hiding my disappointment if any of Gwynne's work did not register on the levels it usually does for me, so this is my official declaration of YES! Gwynne is my favourite author but in no way does this affect my review of his works, nor would I let it.

The Review...Where to begin...in short I believe Gwynne has once again changed the very fibres of my being. In Long:

The Fury of The Gods. This book had a BIG job as the conclusion to the truly epic, norse inspired tales of The Bloodsworn saga and my god did it deliver.
From the very first page we are thrust straight back into the land of Vigrid, Gwynne as always masterfully brings us straight back as though we never left.
Although John claims to be an author part of me believes Wizardry must be afoot because I can't comprehend how one is capable to utterly transport you mind, body and soul into world's made of paper and ink in the way that Gwynne does. This book is arguably his best yet. Not only are his famed hand to hand combat and battle scenes some of the best he has written but the complexity of the characters in this final book is something that will have you loving, hating and feeling every emotion in between for these characters all at once. Each time you think you know one of these characters yet another aspect of them is revealed, it's no wonder that these are some of my favourite characters I have ever met.

On the topic of characters I would truly like to thank Gwynne for the way he represents girls and women in his books. Not only are there many main characters who are female throughout all of his works but the sheer range of them also. Gwynne never boxes his female characters into a corner, all being as complex and three dimensional as their male counter parts, many of them being some of my all time favourite characters (Orka & Riv i'm looking at you) and this isn't something you always find in books written by a male author unfortunately. But John continuously brings us women and girls so spectacular that they all deserve a skald song written about them.

I dragged reading this book out as long as possible because I couldn't bare the thought of no longer being with these characters in their epic albeit dangerous world once again. I truly envy anyone who is picking up Gwynne and getting to experience these works of art for the first time. This final instalment of The Bloodsworn saga was nothing short of mind blowing, a norse epic fantasy for the ages. An emotional roller coster that left me hanging on every word. The love that went into this book was evident from the sheer love you feel in return for these characters of Vigrid, the bonds of family and friendship so strong I felt as if i'd sworn a blood oath to protect them myself. I laughed, I cried, I seethed in anger and confusion. I was left with my jaw on the floor at some of the most insane and unexpected plot twists and plot points I have ever read. All in all a pretty average reading experience for Gwynne's books😂. However going back to the plot twists and plot points those trult were on another level for this entire series and especially The Fury of The Gods.

I could go on and on about this book but for now I just want to say Thank you.
John has brought so many of us readers a world of happiness and adventure with in this saga, at a time that I can't even begin to imagine how difficult life must be. I know I speak for all of your fans when I say, I would've waited decades for this book. To have it out in the world for us and for it to also be nothing short of perfect in a time of such heartache for the Gwynne family is something we are more grateful for than we can ever begin to express. John and Family you will always have the love and support of your readers. Thank you.

The Fury of the Gods is the highly anticipated conclusion to John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga, and it is everything a fan of epic fantasy could want. It brings together the intricate threads of Gwynne’s Norse-inspired world for a finale filled with heart-pounding action, emotional stakes, and the weight of fate hanging over every decision. From the very first chapter, it’s clear that Gwynne is pulling out all the stops, and for those of us who have followed this series from the beginning, it’s a thrilling, if bittersweet, conclusion.

As with the previous books, The Fury of the Gods is driven by its complex characters, many of whom have been on long, difficult journeys since the start of the series. Varg, Elvar, and Orka each face monumental challenges that force them to confront their pasts and determine what they are willing to sacrifice for victory. Gwynne handles these character arcs with the care and precision that has defined the series, balancing action with introspection to create moments of genuine emotional weight.

Varg, who began his journey seeking vengeance for his sister, now finds himself as a fully integrated member of the Bloodsworn, grappling not only with the loyalty he feels to his newfound family but with the inevitable reckoning that comes with battle. His character growth has been one of the highlights of the series, and in this final book, Gwynne explores how far Varg has come from the uncertain, grief-stricken man we first met. Varg’s relationship with his comrades—particularly with Svik and Rokia—provides some of the most touching moments in the novel, and his story arc culminates in a way that feels earned and satisfying.

Elvar’s path, meanwhile, takes a more political turn. In The Fury of the Gods, she struggles to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where threats from both within and without test her authority. Elvar has had one of the more complicated arcs in the series, and this book sees her grappling with the responsibility of leadership, as well as her desire to forge her own destiny. What sets Elvar’s story apart is how Gwynne weaves her internal struggles with the broader conflict surrounding the gods. She’s tasked with reining in the ferocity of a wolf god, a daunting challenge that speaks to both her strength and the dangers of unchecked power.

Orka remains one of the standout characters of the series. Her journey has been defined by an unrelenting drive for vengeance, but here, Gwynne adds layers to her character that make her arc one of the most compelling. The tension between her desire for revenge and her responsibilities to her son adds a level of complexity that enriches the narrative.

One aspect that sets The Fury of the Gods apart is the scale of the conflict. This is a world on the brink of destruction, and Gwynne spares no detail in showing the enormity of the stakes. Lik-Rifa, the dragon god, looms large over the narrative, her presence casting a long shadow over every decision the characters make. The gods are not distant, abstract forces—they are active participants in the war, and their involvement heightens the tension throughout. Lik-Rifa’s ambition and cruelty create an overwhelming sense of dread, and it becomes clear that the final battle will be nothing short of cataclysmic.

The battle scenes, as always with Gwynne’s work, are a highlight of the book. Gwynne’s ability to craft vivid, dynamic combat sequences is unparalleled, and The Fury of the Gods delivers some of the most intense and memorable battles in the series. What makes these scenes stand out, though, is the way they are interwoven with the characters’ personal stakes. These are not just fights for survival—they are battles fought for vengeance, loyalty, and the very future of the world. Gwynne’s detailed descriptions immerse the reader in the chaos of battle, and the stakes feel incredibly real.

Despite the epic scale of the conflict, Gwynne never loses sight of the personal. The relationships between the characters—whether allies or enemies—are the emotional core of the story, and their development across the series comes to a satisfying conclusion here. But as much as the novel offers moments of closure, it also leaves room for reflection. The consequences of the characters’ actions are profound, and Gwynne does not shy away from showing the cost of their choices.

Of course, not every character’s journey resonated equally for me. Guthvarr’s chapters, for instance, were harder to invest in (probably because I hate him). As a character, Guthvarr is loathsome, driven by selfish ambition and cowardice, and while his role in the plot is important, I found myself less engaged with his perspective. His manipulations and schemes grated on me, and his arc lacked the emotional depth that others had. By contrast, Biorr—a character I suspect we are meant to dislike—held my interest far more. Despite his past actions and questionable morality, there’s a complexity to Biorr that makes him compelling. His motivations are clear, even if not entirely noble, and I found myself appreciating his role in the broader narrative.

In terms of world-building, Gwynne continues to impress. The mythological elements of the story, particularly the influence of the gods and their power over the mortal world, add a layer of richness that elevates the stakes. The lore of the gods, their resurrection, and the ancient magic that permeates Vigrið all come together in this final book to create a sense of history and consequence. The world feels both vast and intimate, with every location, battle, and conversation contributing to the epic scope of the narrative.

It’s hard to discuss The Fury of the Gods without diving into spoilers, but suffice to say that Gwynne delivers an ending that feels earned, both in terms of plot and character. The final chapters bring together all the themes of vengeance, loyalty, and sacrifice that have run through the series, and while not every character emerges unscathed, the conclusion is deeply satisfying.

It's rare to find a book series where every installment is flawless. So often, a series falls victim to a disappointing ending or that dreaded middle-book syndrome. Not this one. Fury of the Gods is the perfect conclusion to an already perfect saga, and I can confidently say that the Bloodsworn Saga has become one of my all-time favorite reads.

Let’s dive into what made this book so special. First off, the character work is absolutely sublime. There are characters you’ll love, characters you’ll hate, and characters that will make you feel everything in between. Every chapter kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. I think what really struck me throughout the series—and especially in this final book—was the theme of revenge. Having followed these characters for so long, I desperately wanted their revenge to succeed. I can't even tell you how many times I groaned because a certain character still hadn’t died (no spoilers, but you’ll know who I mean if you’ve read it!).

Speaking of characters, I have to say Elvar completely stole the show for me this time. I wasn’t her biggest fan in the first two books, but here, she absolutely shined and stepped into her role perfectly. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but it’s worth noting how well Gwynne handled her arc.

As for the world-building? Just as phenomenal as the previous two books. Gwynne breathes life into this northern mythology-inspired world, full of weird, wonderful, and at times horrifying elements (seriously, the teeth eaters… ew!). I still can't decide if I’d want to live there (probably not, but still tempting).

The writing itself is also a standout. Normally, I tend to zone out during long battle scenes, but not here. Gwynne’s writing pulls you in, and you feel the tension, adrenaline, and raw emotion right alongside the characters. It’s like being in the heart of the battle. Truly masterful.

Every expectation I had for this conclusion was not only met but surpassed. I’ll be honest—my theories were blown to bits (but to be fair, I’m terrible at guessing!). The pacing never let up either. It just kept going and going, barely giving me a moment to breathe with how much was happening.

Honestly, I can’t find a single bad thing to say about this book or the series as a whole. It’s perfect. I’ll be recommending it to anyone who will listen, and it’s solidified John Gwynne as one of my favorite authors ever. I’ll be first in line for anything else he writes.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!

After the ending of book two, I couldn't wait to dive into The Fury of the Gods. And it didn't disappoint!

This is a stunning saga, with mythical creatures and egotistical gods, adventure and battles, magic and death. The story pulls you in and breaks your heart, but you still don't want it to end.

The perfect finale to a fantastic series, I highly recommend all three books!

"The Fury of Gods" by John Gwynne is an exhilarating continuation of the epic saga that fans have come to love. Gwynne's storytelling prowess shines through as he weaves a tale filled with rich mythology, intense battles, and deeply flawed characters. The world-building is exceptional, immersing readers in a landscape that feels both vast and intimate, with its own history and lore that adds layers to the narrative.

The character development in this installment is particularly noteworthy. Gwynne delves into the inner struggles of his protagonists, exploring themes of vengeance, loyalty, and sacrifice. Each character is faced with moral dilemmas that challenge their beliefs and relationships, making their journeys compelling and relatable. The pacing is brisk, with action-packed sequences that keep the adrenaline high, while quieter moments allow for reflection and growth.

Overall, "The Fury of Gods" is a thrilling read that combines heart-pounding action with profound themes. It's a must-read for fans of the genre, and it solidifies Gwynne's reputation as a master storyteller. Whether you're new to his work or a returning reader, this book offers an unforgettable experience that will leave you eagerly anticipating what comes next.

Book Review - The Fury of the Gods

Rating 10/10 ⭐️

The Fury of the Gods, the third and final book in the Bloodsworn Saga has to be my most anticipated book since reading the first two book of this series in 2022.

To receive an arc of the final book is a huge privilege, thank you netgalley and Little Brown Books, you made a huge John Gwynne fan very happy.

In preparation for reading this arc I reread Shadow/Hunger of the Gods, both were as good as the first time, better even.

Rereading these books made me even more excited to start this final book. Especially after the ending of Hunger of the Gods.

After reading The Fury of the Gods, I can confidently say this is what an ending is meant to look like.

I knew from reading John’s other series The Faithful and the Fallen & Of Blood and Bone that John is a master of delivering final books.
The Fury of the Gods was no exception, John just know how to deliver everything I want in an ending.

From Good vs evil triumphs, bloody battles, revenge arc, this book was simply magnificent.

I love how John will continue to develop his characters, even to the last page.

John has an incredible ability to make the reader love a character, start to hate them and then draw you back to loving them again, it’s just mind boggling how good he is.

He even manages to make you feel things for the “bad guy” and not just hate, which is very difficult to do.

You will not have a John Gwynne book without marvellous battles and plethora of deaths. Safe to say this book has it by the bucket load.

Another thing I love about John is he doesn’t do gore and death for the sake of it. Everything is perfectly planned out and deaths when they come add another layer to the story.

You need to know going into a John Gwynne series that no one is safe…main POV to side characters, no one is safe with John around.

I have said this on many a review, John is number one when it comes to battle scenes, he has in my opinion, god level ability to capture the rawness of the battle. Draw you in as if you’re standing in the shield wall in the thick of the action. I just do not know anytime that comes close to matching John in this.

No word of a lie it felt like this whole book was one big battle, but let me tell you that didn’t drag or hinder the development of the story.

What it did do was make this a fast pace awesome reading experience.

It’s difficult to add further details without spoiling the book, I will just say, if you haven’t read this series, what are you waiting for.

This series has just reaffirmed John Gwynne as my favourite author and this series will be finding it way into my top 10 all time favourite series.

OMFG. Sorry for the language but my word. This book has everything and I mean everything you'd want. The wait was long but completely understandable given what the author has been through. I was lucky that I read books 2 and 3 in succession but the author does give a good synopsis at the beginning of each which is very helpful. Book 3 picks up right where book two finishes off and one of the characters who you may be wondering about may or may not make an appearance very soon! The pace then picks up even further and just keeps going. The pacing is excellent and keeps you wanting to read into the night. The books as the others focuses on a few main characters but honestly you love/hate them all. If you like battle scenes boy does this book deliver. It has magic/wolves/dragons and a whole host of myriad creatures some good some not so good. Honestly it's a beautiful book. It edges you to the most satisfactory conclusion I've read in a long time and even possibly hints at more books to be potentially written in this world. I cannot and I can't stress this enough recommend this book more. It's beautiful and in so pleased that John found the strength through heartache to write it. Which in a way makes it even more special. Go read this book and if you haven't read the previous two what are you waiting for. And if you haven't read t read any of his other books go ahead and read those too. You honestly won't regret it.

An epic conclusion, cementing Gwynne's reputation as a master storyteller.

Fury of the Gods is one of the most hotly anticipated books of 2024, concluding the Bloodsworn Saga trilogy. With such high expectations, I confess to being worried it may not be everything I was hoping - but Wow. I just... guys, it is spectacular.

Those familiar with Gwynne's work will know that he excels in memorable characters that stay with you, with the mutiple pov chapters allowing you to delve into both the heroes and villains thought-cages. ForG delivered satisfying endings for these characters - with some shockers along the way and I may have shed a tear or two (both happy and terribly sad tears). But the real gem is Gwynne's ability to write battle scenes. They are visceral and immersive, nail biting and page turning and form the bulk of FotG. He brings his Viking inspired tale to life in a way that very few others could.

Sometimes when you become somewhat heavily invested in a series, it's easy to find yourself disappointed with the ending but this ending is as perfect as it could be in my humble opinion.

Supremely rereadable, I would recommend this trilogy to just about anybody with even a smidging of an interest in fantasy / viking lore.

My favourite read of the year, with Gwynne my favourite author of the moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Brown Group for providing me with a review copy of 'The Fury of the Gods' in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What an ending to an amazing trilogy of books! 'The Fury of the Gods' takes place after the events of 'The Hunger of the Gods' with Orla finally being reunited with Breca and Lik-Rifa and Rotta trying to find their brother Ulfrir in an attempt to rule a world full of tainted.

One of my favourite things about this book are the characters. They've been amazing since book one and continue to grow in this finale. Orka and Varg are just amazing and their journey has been long, but culminates in an exciting and breath-taking ending!

Also Gudvarr's fate, I won't spoil, is just the absolute most satisfying thing!

The last 100 pages of this book are madness! So much so that I literally had to read them all in one go! It's honestly breath-taking!

Overall this series of books has been an amazing ride to follow. John Gwynne has crested a masterpiece with these books and I could not recommend them anymore higher than I have!

Rating: 5/5

Once again thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with this copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, it was an absolute pleasure!

This is the fantastic conclusion to the Bloodsworn saga. The character development was fantastic in this book and the plot was compelling throughout. The world building continues to be so well done. If you haven't started this trilogy yet, I highly recommend you do.

The Fury of the Gods is the third and final book in John Gwynne’s The Bloodsworn Saga, a Norse-inspired epic fantasy set in the fictional lands of Vigrið. Beginning with The Shadow of the Gods, building with The Hunger of the Gods, and now finishing with this battle filled conclusion, this series has hooked thousands of readers and this book is on many a TBR for October. And there’s no doubt that those looking for a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy will find it here, with a side helping of distress and death, of course.

It’s time for the final showdown. Lik-Rifa has gathered her forces and is so close to making the world hers that she can taste it. Desperate to rid herself of her sibling (and enemy) gods as well any pathetic humans still resisting her charms (her charms being brutal violence and an all consuming need for domination), she’s set for Snakavik, where those ranged against her are assembling. After all, it’s going to take more than a few swords to kill a dragon god. Most importantly though, the snivelling, snotty Gudvarr is still alive and kicking, hoping to rise in Lik-Rifa’s favour, hovering in the background, trying to be useful to those in power, hungry for personal gain, while also continuing to be utterly contemptible and unjustifiably lucky. Those who know Gwynne know that he would never let that stand forever - watching Gudvarr escape justice repeatedly has felt like an eternal torture - but I knew it would come to an end at some point. Likewise, for all those wronged over the first two books - they have their time. I’m telling you now that it’s worth the wait, but I also come with a warning: not every character you love will come out of these clashes alive…

As always with Gwynne’s work, his most effective scenes are the biggest - the set piece battles where everything is at stake and every move is perfectly choreographed - and the smallest - the intimate moments between two characters, where the slightest word or gesture can resonate through the rest of the story. For all that the epic contests are brutal and bloody here, the scenes that hit harder were those with quiet, emotional exchanges. I’ve had a soft spot for Varg throughout and his storyline never ceased to entertain and move. Something about his voice, his love for his sister and his soul-deep desire to avenge her murder, settled into my core and watching how this played out for him was the most tension filled and emotive aspect of this novel. I loved his friendship with his comrades, the growing relationship with one in particular, and felt it hard when he suffered setbacks. He is the epitome of Gwynne’s hero character - determined, brave, thoughtful, caring. I will add him to my growing list of treasured friends, alongside Corban, Storm, Veradis, Drem, and Orka. In a grim world, characters like these, who rise above the petty selfishness, greed, and all the other ugliness of the human condition, offer the light in the dark and they stay bright in the memory as a result.

Finally, I have to say that for me, this did not meet the heights of A Time of Courage, the final book in the Of Blood and Bone series, but then, that’s one of my all time favourite finishers. Even so, the novel offers a fun filled, rewarding finale that readers will enjoy.

ARC via Netgalley

Time to dust off your Brynja and Nalbinding, grab a shield and axe and prepare to rejoin the shield wall with the Blood Sworn once again - the wait is almost over!

The Fury of the Gods was my most anticipated release of 2024 and the characters and events from the first two books in this epic trilogy have often occupied my thought cage over the past couple of years since Hunger of the Gods was released. Despite the time between releases and having read over 200 books in between, it was surprisingly easy to dive right back into this world and John Gwynne kindly provides a very useful re-cap of events, cast of characters, pronunciation guide and glossary of terms at the beginning to help you get refreshed beforehand - I wish more authors would do this!

This might be the most action heavy book that I have read of this size and once it starts it does not let up until the very end. I often enjoy long, slow burn fantasy epics which take time with world building and exploring extended themes and philosophical thoughts but I also appreciate series such as this that just get down to business and let the steel do the talking instead. Gwynne's reenactment experience once again translates to the page wonderfully, adding authenticity and detail to the description of the battle dress, weapons and techniques, making his close quarters combat scenes feel so immersive and intense. Again, this may not be for everyone but there are also some great character moments and a focus on the importance of the bonds of family throughout.

I really enjoyed the Norse inspired storytelling in this trilogy, blending the style of traditional sagas with epic fantasy - a viking like world with the addition of giant resurrected gods and magic. Knowing that Gwynne is not afraid to kill off main characters or beloved side characters meant that the stakes were always high and that tension remained with every page. The ending was satisfying and bittersweet, but left some room in case the author ever chooses to revisit this world one day (I hope he does!).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review. So happy to have had the opportunity to get early access to this concluding story and looking forward to my pre-ordered and signed hardback arriving on release date, expected 24th October 2024.

What a finale. Gwynne has delivered an epic, heart-pounding conclusion to the Bloodsworn trilogy.

We pick up right where we left off at the end of book 2 and we start running right away. The plot builds and builds through the first parts, tensions, plotting and characters choosing where their loyalties lie setting the scene for what is to come.
The pace of this book is relentless - every time you think you might get to catch a breath or that surely nothing else could possibly pop up now, you will be shown how wrong you are!

That doesn't mean there isn't room for the characters to shine and show their thoughts and emotions though. Between all the action we get moments of introspection, of sorrow, hope and of joy. I teared up more than once reading this book. The characters feel so real, and you grow to understand them so well over this series that you can't help but feel for them as they navigate the brutal world they live in.

John Gwynne is a master at writing battle scenes, of which there are plenty here. They are all carefully composed, fights and clashes feel real and gritty. Everything feels realistic and nobody gets off lightly, there are no chosen ones, no saviours. A personal favourite was a fight on a ship (I never thought I would be someone who has a favourite battle, I can tell you!).

As we approached the end, something momentous happened and I snuck a look at the percentage of my e-book. I thought there would be no way it would wrap up satisfyingly in such a short amount of book left, but I needn't have worried! I don't think I could have hoped for a better conclusion to this epic series, and I know I will be reading it all over again soon.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!