Review: The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

***Note 12/16/24: I've just noticed something is going absolutely crazy with the formatting on this review and I'll attempt to resolve it as soon as possible–sorry about this!

The Fury of the Gods (The Bloodsworne Saga #3) by John Gwynne

Orbit

Publication Date: October 22nd, 2024

Paperback. 528 pages.

About The Fury of the Gods:

"The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne's bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.

As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa's favour and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods."

Haven't started this series yet? No problem--reviews for the first two books in this trilogy can be found here:
Book #1: The Shadow of the Gods
Book #2: The Hunger of the Gods

Writing a review for the finale of a trilogy can sometimes be a challenge. So much has happened over the course of the series, so much deserves to be said, and spoilers are lurking everywhere. I'll try to keep this review relatively vague in relation to details, but I want to emphasize just how epic this entire story has been from start to finish. Each book in The Bloodsworn Saga has felt monumental, and this final installment is not exception. 

In The Fury of the Gods, we continue to follow all of the characters we've come to know and love (and maybe hate) throughout the series. I've really enjoyed how Gwynne develops his characters over the entire arc of the trilogy and especially in this last book. Their motivations, passions, what they love and stand for, and their struggles feel so tangible that it's easy to connect with them, whether you like them or not. This book really puts the cast in a variety of intense, dire situations, and we really get to see every shade of their personalities and actions--good, bad, and everything in between. 

The Fury of the Gods is packed to the brim with battles of all sizes, so there was plenty of opportunity for Gwynne to flex his action-writing skills. I've mentioned plenty of times in other reviews in the past that action scenes are often one of my least favorite things to read and tend to bore me; I'd usually rather just know who was hurt and what the result of a fight was rather than slog through blow-by-blow description. But that is not so with Gwynne's writing, as I always find his action sequences to be vivid, engaging, and fairly easy to follow--and interesting enough to hold my interest, which is no small feat. 

One of my favorite things about this series that was enormously present in this book is its heart. There's a strong balance of realism and the fantastic, and within this Gwynne never shies away from the bittersweet reality of life. I finished this book feeling very satisfied because there's not necessarily a perfect happy ending for everybody, but neither is it entirely dark and hopeless, either. It's a very realistic and raw reality that I think works excellently for this series. 

All that said, The Fury of the Gods was probably my least favorite of the trilogy. I don't mean that as negatively as it may sound, as this bok is fantastic, it's just that I found the first two books slightly more captivating than the conclusion, and that is likely because I enjoyed getting to know the characters and world so much. Even so, this finale is grand, action-packed, and delivers everything you could want from an epic fantasy steeped in Norse mythology and Viking influences.

Overall, I've given The Fury of the Gods four stars. It combines classic storytelling with Norse mythology and Viking-inspired elements in a way that will appeal to a wide range of readers. If you're someone who loves battles, sweeping journeys, and characters you can't look away from, this trilogy has all of that to offer and more. And while The Fury of the Gods wasn’t my personal favorite of the three, it still delivers a fast-paced, intense, and deeply satisfying conclusion. If you haven’t read any of John Gwynne’s books yet, this trilogy is a great place to start. And if you’re already a fan, you’ll find plenty to love here.

*I received a copy of The Fury of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne, Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews, & The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

    

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

The Fury of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #3) by John Gwynne
Publication: October 22nd, 2024
Orbit
Hardcover. 528 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.

As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa's favour and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods."

The finale to this epic fantasy trilogy is finally coming and I'm really excited to see how Gwynne wraps it all up–although I may need some sort of recap because it's been a minute since I read the previous books, haha. Also, I've been obsessed with how epic all of the covers in this series have been. 

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews
Publication: October 29th, 2024
Feiwel & Friends
Hardcover. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator…"

I have such a good feeling about this book, and I think this premise from CG Drews will be so good.

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
Publication: October 1st, 2024
Tordotcom
Hardcover. 224 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"A demon. An angel. A city that burns at the heart of the world.

The demon Vitrine—immortal, powerful, and capricious—loves the dazzling city of Azril. She has mothered, married, and maddened the city and its people for generations, and built it into a place of joy and desire, revelry and riot.

And then the angels come, and the city falls.

Vitrine is left with nothing but memories and a book containing the names of those she has lost—and an angel, now bound by her mad, grief-stricken curse to haunt the city he burned.

She mourns her dead and rages against the angel she longs to destroy. Made to be each other’s devastation, angel and demon are destined for eternal battle. Instead, they find themselves locked in a devouring fascination that will change them both forever.

Together, they unearth the past of the lost city and begin to shape its future. But when war threatens Azril and everything they have built, Vitrine and her angel must decide whether they will let the city fall again.

The City in Glass is both a brilliantly constructed history and an epic love story, of death and resurrection, memory and transformation, redemption and desire strong enough to burn a world to ashes and build it anew."

The pitch that this is a fantasy city "in the tradition of Calvino, Mieville, and Le Guin" is pretty much all I needed to make me want to read this, but I also  think it sounds like an incredible promising premise! I’ve really enjoyed Nghi Vo’s writing in some of her previous books, so I'm looking forward to checking out her work again. 

The Friday Face-Off: Good vs. Evil

Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe.  You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:

Good vs. Evil

Good vs. evil certainly feels like the ultimate face-off! I felt like there were a lot of big options to go with, such as Lord of the Rings, but since I'm sure those have tons of editions I decided to feature John Gwynne's The Faithful and the Fallen series instead. These ones don't have that many different editions out there, but I still thought they'd be fun to share and take a quick look at. 

Book One:

     

2012 UK Hardcover | 2022 Russian

Book Two:

   

2014 UK Hardover | 2014 US Paperback | 2020 German Audiobook

Book Three:

   

2015 UK Hardcover | 2021 German Audiobook

Book Four:

   

2016 UK Hardcover | 2016 US Paperback | 2016 Audiobook

My choice(s):

There aren't too many options, but I really love the simplicity of the original UK covers. They follow a really nice pattern and have such a fantastic classic fantasy vibe that I really enjoy. It's interesting how some just have a very simple color change, while the audiobooks really get a bigger makeover. What do you think?

What cover(s) do you like the most?

Review: The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #2) by John Gwynne

 

The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #2) by John Gwynne

Orbit

Publication Date: April 12th, 2022

Paperback. 672 pages.

About The Hunger of the Gods:

"The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne’s acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance. 

Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. 

As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. 

Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. 

Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god. 

Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth."

John Gwynne has done it yet again and crafted an incredibly complex, thrilling, and action-packed story of loss, betrayal, family, and honor. There is no sophomore slump to be found here! This sequel is just as gripping as the first book in this trilogy, The Shadow of the Gods, and acts as an excellent contiuation of the story. 

A quick note before diving into the meat of this review: if you, like me, absolutely loved The Shadow of the Gods but have realized that you’re a little fuzzy on some of the finer points of what happened since reading it last year, don’t despair! Gwynne has included a very handy “the story so far” section at the beginning of The Hunger of the Gods to help all of us without having to re-reading the first book (which would be awesome, but time-consuming). Any author that does this automatically gets some bonus points in my book. 

I loved getting to catch up with Orka, Varg, Elvar, and all the additional cast of characters that surround them, including members of the the Bloodsworn and the Battle-Grim–I love them all! We also get a couple new POVs to follow, but I’ll leave them as a surprise for you to discover on your own reading experience. Gwynne truly excel in writing characters that are well-developed and complex, full of strengths, weaknesses, and strong personalities that earn them a memorable place in this series and in my mind. Orka remains my favorite POV to read from, followed by Varg and then Elvar, and this is largely due to Orka's unwavering determination to stop at nothing to find her son. When her mind is set on both finding and avenging her family, there is really nothing that can stop her or cause her fear–other than the fear she holds for her son's safety. I can't get enough of following Orka on this journey and can't wait to see where things go next. 

Varg and Elvar have similarly compelling storylines, though I did feel as though Varg's wasn't quite as gripping as in The Shadow of the Gods and that Elvar's had a bit more to it this time. Still, I loved watching Varg's bond continue to grow with the Bloodsworn and to see him continue to learn how to master his own abilities and really understand who he is while also working slowly but surely towards his goal of finidng his sister. Elvar faces some particularly momentous moments in this book, though I won't give any hints as to what those are. Suffice to say, it was really captivating getting to watch her overcome new obstacles and really start to understand what she is capable of. 

Something that I love about Gwynne’s books is his ability to portray a grim and brutal reality without ever overdoing it or employing it for a sensationalist value. All of his violence has a purpose in that it moves the plot forward and often even showcases something about a specific character’s personality or motivations. It’s not violence for the sake of violence, and I appreciate that a lot. All of the battle scenes are also really well done, and it's always obvious how well Gwynne knows his stuff, from the fine details of clothing and environment to the weapons, armor, and fighting techniques. It adds so much to this book and makes it that much more compelling for me. 

Another aspect that I appreciate about the Bloodsworn Saga thus far are the strong themes of honor and fighting for your family and what you believe in. I think the ways in which Gwynne incorporates these ideas are what really give this series that extra boost to make it so epic and easy to become invested in. The Hunger of the Gods was an easy book for me to lose myself in, and a lot of that had to do with the plotting and pacing. You can’t really predict where the story is going to go next or what trouble any of these characters are going to run into, which is always the hallmark of a gripping story for me. 

Lastly, I also really enjoy the Norse-inspired setting because it’s very Viking-based, but maintains very unique and inventive elements that keep things new. There seems to have been a huge influx in Norse-related entertainment in recent years which has honestly made me slightly burned out on it, but something about Gwynne’s writing and how he crafts this story, world, and lore makes it entirely possible and enjoyable for me to jump into this world. There are gods interacting with mortals, various creatures from tennurs to frost spiders, and so much more packed into this vibrant world. 

Overall, I've given The Hunger of the Gods 4.5 stars! I do think I loved The Shadow of the Gods the slightest bit more, but I really can't fauly anything about The Hunger of the Gods and am now dying to read the next book.

*I received a copy of The Hunger of the Gods courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne & Spear by Nicola Griffith

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworne Saga #2) by John Gwynne 

Publication: April 14th, 2022

Orbit

Hardcover. 656 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org 

From Goodreads:

"The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne’s acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance. 

Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. 

As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. 

Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. 

Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god. 

Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth."

Who else is obsessed with this cover?? I really loved The Shadow of the Gods when I read it last and have been very eagerly anticipating its sequel after that super intense ending. Can't wait to read this one!

and...

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Publication: April 19th, 2022

Tordotcom

Hardcover. 192 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org 

From Goodreads:

"The girl knows she has a destiny before she even knows her name. She grows up in the wild, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake come to her on the spring breeze, and when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she knows that her future lies at his court. 

And so, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and, with a broken hunting spear and mended armour, rides on a bony gelding to Caer Leon. On her adventures she will meet great knights and steal the hearts of beautiful women. She will fight warriors and sorcerers. And she will find her love, and the lake, and her fate."

I read Nicola Griffith's Hild back around its release and have been wanting to read more from her ever since. Spear sounds incredible and I am really looking forward to diving into this fantasy/historical fiction-esque book–Griffith's writing is stunning and I can't wait to immerse myself again. 

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

Review: The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne

The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne
Orbit
Publication Date: May 4th, 2021
Paperback. 528 pages.

About The Shadow of the Gods:

"After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.

 

Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.

 

Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

 

All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . ."

This may just be the best thing I've read by John Gwynne yet, and that's saying something considering how much I've enjoyed his other work! The Shadow of the Gods is a Norse-inspired epic fantasy that is packed world-building, compelling characters, and a plot that's bursting with intrigue. The Shadow of the Gods has a strong start that got me hooked, and yet somehow it just got better and better as the story went, and by the end of I found myself utterly shocked at the twists that Gwynne incorporated into the story. 

We follow three main perspectives throughout this book, and the first one we're introduced to is Orka. Orka is a woman on a mission–and she's not someone you should get in the way of, either. I found her focused determination on her family incredibly engaging and because of this and her many other skills she is easily one of the most exceptionally well-crafted characters of this book. I'm not sure how much I should really say about Orka's particular plot narrative since I feel like many of her early plot points can be seen as spoilers, so I'll just simply say that Orka is a captivating character whose interactions with others were always a surprise and yet somehow also very fitting with the character that we were first introduced to. You won't be disappointed with Orka, I promise!

Varg, from whom we get our second main perspective, is a man bent on vengeance. His thirst for revenge and to discover the cause of his sister's deaths leads him into the hands of the Bloodsworn, a band of people he never expected to join, but that end up playing a large part in his journey. Varg has a similar focused determination to Orka's, but his has a certain flexibility within it that, although doesn't waver from his goal, allows him to take whatever steps necessary that will bring him closer to his goal, even if it means deviating from his original plans at times. As long as he ends up in the position he needs to be, he's down for pretty much anything.

The last perspective we follow is that of Elvar's, a member of the Battle-Grim who is keen to live a life free from unwanted duties and obligations in order to live a life that she chooses. Evlar's storyline is probably the most "mysterious" of the bunch in the sense that we don't really know all that much about her past or her motivations until quite a ways into the book. We largely get a look at what her current life is before getting some major revelations about her, her past, and her present. 

Although all three of these characters lead drastically different lives and experiences, I was floored by how Gwynne managed to interweave all three of these perspectives and bring them together in such a way that felt both effortless and yet perfectly engineered to fit the plot seamlessly. This review also hasn't even touched on some of the many secondary characters that brought this world to life and made me feel so connected to the story. It's hard not to feel yourself become invested in some of these characters' lives and especially their relationships with the primary perspective characters that we follow.

The world-building was fantastic and I really appreciated how well Gwynne incorporate Norse-inspired elements to create a world that felt both familiar and different at the same time. I think I really enjoyed that although this was very Norse-like, there weren't any references to Norse gods, which I feel has become fairly common so this allowed the book to stand out a bit and also allowed for Gwynne to create more unique elements in his own world. I can tell that there are big things coming in this trilogy–hell, there have already been some pretty big things happening in the first book!–and I can't wait to see what directions Gwynne will steer this narrative to.

The pacing of The Shadow of the Gods was, dare I say, perfect–which is typically how I feel about most of Gwynne's books, anyway. There are plenty of action and fast-paced scenes, but it didn't feel like this book was only action, as there was plenty of plotting and dialogue to keep the plot moving and interesting. I get bored if there's too much action, so that's how I know that Gwynne had a good balance of both. Similarly, this might be partially because Gwynne himself is a Viking re-enactor, but I felt as though his descriptions of battle scenes, gear, and other elements were always so detailed and compelling, which made everything feel real and that much more interesting to follow.

Overall, The Shadow of the Gods is yet another book getting five stars from me! This was so enjoyable and I really have nothing negative to say other than the fact that I'm sad that I now have to wait for the next installment--but I also know that it will be well worth the wait. 

 

 *I received a copy of The Shadow of the Gods courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.* 

 

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne, Black Water Sister by Zen Cho, & The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

 

May is packed with releases, which means we are once again going to be featuring three books each week for Can't-Wait Wednesday because one or two are simply not enough. :)

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
Publication: May 6th, 2021

Orbit

Paperback. 505 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.

 

After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.

 

Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.

 

Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

 

All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . . "

I actually just finished an ARC of this one a couple days and oh man, guys, if the setting/premise at all captures your attention then you must pick it up! It was so riveting and well-written, I plan to have a review up closer to release, but quick spoiler.. it was a five star read for me! Can't wait to see the finalized copy--isn't that cover amazing?

and...

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

Publication: May 11th, 2021

Ace Books

Hardcover. 384 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"A reluctant medium discovers the ties that bind can unleash a dangerous power in this compelling Malaysian-set contemporary fantasy.

 

Jessamyn Teoh is closeted, broke and moving back to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a toddler. So when Jess starts hearing voices, she chalks it up to stress. But there's only one voice in her head, and it claims to be the ghost of her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma. In life Ah Ma was a spirit medium, the avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she's determined to settle a score against a gang boss who has offended the god--and she's decided Jess is going to help her do it.

 

Drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business. As Jess fights for retribution for Ah Ma, she'll also need to regain control of her body and destiny. If she fails, the Black Water Sister may finish her off for good. "

This has such an interesting premise, and something about the phrase "drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets" just makes me really excited. Can't wait to check this one out!

and...

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Publication: May 25th, 2021

Tor Books

Hardcover. 416 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.

 

But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.

 

Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.

 

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva's. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford. "

I've been intrigued by The Blacktongue Thief ever since I saw it a while back, but lately I have just been seeing so many positive reviews and raves for it that I am now really hoping to have a chance to pick it up!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

Review: A Time of Courage by John Gwynne

A Time of Courage by John Gwynne
Orbit

Publication Date: April 7th, 2020

Paperback. 720 pages

About A Time a Courage:

"The demon king Asroth has been freed from his iron prison. Now, alongside his dark bride Fritha, he plans to conquer the whole of the Banished Lands. 

In the shadows of Forn Forest, Riv and the surviving Ben-Elim desperately search for a way to unite those who remain against Asroth's vast army. 

Far in the west, Drem is with the Order of the Bright Star, besieged by a demon horde. Their fragile defenses are on the brink of shattering, but they know that it is better to fight and die than to live without hope. 

And across the Banished Lands, armies are heading south, to settle ancient grudges and decide the fate of humanity."

What a truly phenomenal way to wrap up this trilogy! I've been thoroughly enjoying each installment in the Of Blood and Bone series from John Gwynne over the past few years and the fact that it's over is bittersweet, as it was a perfect conclusion, yet I'm still a little sad that's over. I know that Gwynne is already working on something new, though, so I know I won't have to keep my fingers crossed for too long for more fantasy from him!

A Time of Courage is the final, momentous occasion: Asroth has been released and everyone is readying to prepare for the ultimate battle of good vs. evil. As with A Time of Blood, I'm trying to refrain from mentioning any specific, characters, places, or plot so as to avoid spoilers for the previous two books as well as this one, so the only two characters I'll mention by name are Drem and Riv since they are both mentioned in the synopsis at the top.

Drem is easily one of my favorite fantasy characters and POVs to follow. He has some of the best development over the arc of this trilogy, starting out as a boy with limited knowledge of the world and the evils that exist and turning into a strong leader, fighter, and character with great respect for those around him (and who deserve it, of course). It's truly been a pleasure watching him grow, and his actions in this book were just as exciting and well-written as in the previous ones. The other character I'll mention is Riv, a fiery half-breed warrior who has had to jump through a lot of different hoops during her time training and eventually fighting in battles. Riv has also been fascinating to follow and she has easily gone through some of the most dramatic changes and experiences in these books, which helped to make her such an interesting character.

In addition to Drem and Riv, there are three additional POVs that we follow that I enjoyed just about as much as I enjoyed Drem and Riv's. There are a lot of great things about Gwynne's writing, but one of his strengths is in developing really well-rounded and interesting characters that you cant help but become invested in. Even the characters on the 'villain' side tend to have complex motivations that make them captivating characters to follow and learn more about.

Another element of Gwynne's writing that has impressed me since the start are his battle scenes. I've said in many other reviews that I don't tend to enjoy battle and fight scenes all that much because they are usually difficult to follow and, well, I tend to get to bored and just want to know who gets hurt and/or dies so that I can move on to the next scene. This has never been the case in any of Gwynne's books that I've read and it pleases me so much to get such satisfaction and enjoyment out of his battles. I'm not sure if it's just because of how much research he does or simply his passion for writing these and real-life interest, but the way he writes battle scenes are clear, compelling, and genuinely keep me at the edge of my seat following along with the action.

In a time of fantasy where grimdark is gaining in popularity (and look, I love some good grimdark!) it was refreshing to dive into a world that felt epic, classic, and optimistic despite the tragedy that befalls the characters. There's something so warm and welcoming about this trilogy--it's not that it's some light story or anything because it certainly gets extremely dark, but rather that there's something so classic about this that just reminds me why I love epic fantasy so much. It's authentic and full of big characters and big themes, an epic world with a strong magic system, and plenty of magical beasts and creatures, all of which combine to create a book that feels timeless, both  classic and inventive, all rolled into one.

Overall, I've given A Time of Courage five stars!

*I received a copy of A Time of Courage courtesy of Orbit in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Amazon | Book Depository  | IndieBound

Review: A Time of Blood by John Gwynne

A Time of Blood (Of Blood and Bone #2)
by John Gwynne 
Orbit

Publication: April 16th, 2019

Paperback. 512 pages.

About A Time of Blood:

"Defy the darkness. Defend the light. 

Drem and his friends flee the battle at Starstone Lake to warn the Order of the Bright Star. They’ve witnessed horrors they’ll never forget, such as magic warping men into beasts. But worst of all, they’ve seen a demon rise from the dead – making it even more powerful. Now Fritha, the demons’ high priestess, is hunting Drem’s party. 

Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv struggles to understand her half-breed heritage. She represents the warrior angels’ biggest secret, one which could break their society. And when she’s found by the Ben-Elim’s high captain, he swoops in for the kill. 

As demonic forces multiply, they send a mighty war-host to overthrow the angel’s stronghold. This could decimate the fractured Ben-Elim. And their allies in the Order may be too overwhelmed to send aid – with Fritha and her monstrous beasts closing in. Like heroes of old, Drem and the Bright Star’s warriors must battle to save their land. But can the light triumph when the dark is rising?"

A Time of Blood is truly a phenomenal followup to A Time of Dread that only makes this world and storyline more exciting. In much the same way as when I read A Time of Dread, I can't quite put my finger on what it is that makes the Of Blood and Bone books so compelling and stand out so much. Of course I'm aware that the characters are wonderfully crafted and multidimensional, the world-building is effortless yet fully developed, and the plot itself is compelling, but there's still just something special about the way Gwynne writes these things that makes it impossible to put this book down. I read it in just two and a half days because I couldn't manage to stop turning the pages, and for a book of this size, that's pretty good for me.

The story picks up pretty much right where A Time of Dread ended so there's no real struggle with getting reacquainted or determining where things are located. My memory was a little fuzzy on the minor details after the intense end of the first book (although there were certain things I absolutely could not forget), but within the first few pages everything came back to me and I was right back in the world, fully invested in the characters and the conflicts. The world-building also came right back, and I liked that a lot of the settings continued to be explored in this book as well.

When I was getting ready to discuss the characters, it occurred to me that by mentioning or not mentioning characters I could easily give away some spoilers for the first book, so for that reason I think I am going to refrain from being too detailed when it comes to the characters. I will, however, remark upon how much I love Drem and how much I have truly enjoyed watching him grow over these two books. I actually think one of my favorite parts of A Time of Blood is the character development. I love the honor and respect that so many of these characters hold and value, as they really give this story a grounding and very classic feel that I don't see a lot in fantasy lately. The fact that many of these characters and groups of people are not strictly "good" or "bad" is also something that I really appreciated, as I particularly like when characters have a bit more of some grey elements to them. It's not that most of the characters are morally grey, but there's a lot to each person and/or group, such as the Ben-Elim, that really adds some depth and adds a layer of authenticity. Additionally, fantasy that focuses on battles or has a lot of battle/fighting elements can sometimes lack when it comes to the development of characters and their personal stakes, feelings, thoughts, etc. Not so with Gwynne--he dives deep into the minds of his characters and leaves every thought available to the reader. It's nice to read about the struggles of the characters and understand how human and real they are.

The pacing is also remarkably steady, with an even balance of fast-paced fighting scenarios and steadier scenes focusing on characters and plot developments. I believe I mentioned in my review for A Time of Dread how well-written Gwynne's action scenes are, and that hasn't changed a bit in this book. I tire easily of action and battle scenes in books--often times they are drawn out, uninteresting, and I end up either skimming them or wishing I were skimming them. That, however, is not the case with this book! I hardly even realize I'm so engrossed in an action scene until I pull myself out of the story and realize how lost I was in it. The creepy creatures and monsters from the first book are bigger and even worse this time around and added an intense level of darkness and inventiveness to this book.

Overall, I've given A Time of Blood 4.5 stars! If you love a good fantasy with epic stakes and compelling characters, the Of Blood and Bone series is for you. 

*I received a copy of A Time of Blood in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Time of Blood by John Gwynne & The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

A Time of Blood by John Gwynne 
(Of Blood and Bone #2)
Publication Date: April 16th, 2019

Orbit
512 pages

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound 

From Goodreads: 

"Defy the darkness. Defend the light. 

Drem and his friends flee the battle at Starstone Lake to warn the Order of the Bright Star. They’ve witnessed horrors they’ll never forget, such as magic warping men into beasts. But worst of all, they’ve seen a demon rise from the dead – making it even more powerful. Now Fritha, the demons’ high priestess, is hunting Drem’s party. 

Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv struggles to understand her half-breed heritage. She represents the warrior angels’ biggest secret, one which could break their society. And when she’s found by the Ben-Elim’s high captain, he swoops in for the kill. 

As demonic forces multiply, they send a mighty war-host to overthrow the angel’s stronghold. This could decimate the fractured Ben-Elim. And their allies in the Order may be too overwhelmed to send aid – with Fritha and her monstrous beasts closing in. Like heroes of old, Drem and the Bright Star’s warriors must battle to save their land. But can the light triumph when the dark is rising?"

I just received a copy of this one from Orbit and I cannot wait to read it! A Time of Dread was epic and such an engaging fantasy, I've been really excited to read more from Gwynne. Also, this cover is a really nice take on the 'weapon cover' style, I love all the red.

and...

The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters
Publication Date: April 16th, 2019

Amulet Books
368 pages

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads: 

"Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”"

I've been secretly wishing for stories inspired by Poe's work for so long, and since I can't write them myself, I'm beyond thrilled to read The Raven's Tale. I really can't wait until this one is finally out and I can (hopefully) have a chance to read it!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?