Book Review: Hunger of the Gods
I will not spoil Hunger of the Gods in this review, but this is book #2 in the Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne. Any discussion could “spoil” book #1, Shadow of the Gods, which you should read. It will stick in your thoughtcage. But I wouldn’t worry about spoilers too much. Ask any seer: the future can still surprise you.
The stakes in The Bloodsworn Saga series from Mr. John Gwynne are both small and large. The world changes. But it’s a backdrop to the smaller stories: a mother trying to rescue her son, a slave trying to be free, and a princess (Jarl-ess?) trying to make a name outside her father’s influence. It is set in a fantasy world, heavily Norse-inspired, but firmly in another world. The Gods are dead, but Their children linger on and have been enslaved, called Tainted. The Tainted possess aspects of their Forefather’s power, but they are (mostly) in chains, bound by enchanted collars.
The series features terse, sparse dialog and vivid, highly detailed description of the towns and people (no one justs “puts on” their kit, Gwynne gives the details of exactly how things are worn and cared for) as well as the great language people use to describe things. Some of the terms are Norse-inspired, but the most unforgettable language are phrases like “thoughtcage” (for mind) or “deep-cunning” (as in “a deep-cunning man”). The language really brings you into the place.
In the second book, we also get glimpses outside the Norse-like lands of Vigrið into the southern lands of Iskidan where it is warmer and power is more concentrated.
The three main viewpoint characters return from the first book: Orka, the once-famed warrior, now mother looking for her son; Varg, the once-thralled, now brother looking for his sister — and a place in the free world; and Elvar, the once-daughter of a Jarl, now mercenary looking for her fair-fame. But to them, we also add two new viewpoints. One of the new viewpoints is great: it gives a look at the major new faction that emerges at the end of the first book. The other viewpoint I am not a fan of. I like competent characters for point-of-views unless it’s a comedy, and the character is not competent until nearer to the end of the book (honestly, the sudden competence seems to come out of nowhere given the earlier description of him in the book). This has been the only misstep for me so far this series which is otherwise incredible.
Any review of this book has to mention the action scenes which are the best I’ve read in recent memory. What’s amazing is that Gwynne manages to make these scenes work while including a lot of detail about exactly what’s happening. The detailed descriptions really make the scenes just feel real and raw. Injuries are not uncommon even in fights the characters win. Some of the characters are more than human in terms of fighting skill, but they are constantly in real danger.
The pacing is very fast. There is always a problem and a conflict. The chapters are short and each chapter end switches point-of-view which I think contributes to the sense that things are moving quickly.
Highly recommend it. The world is interesting, and I am a sucker for books where the Gods are highly involved in the central conflicts. When the Gods show up, modern-day fantasy returns to its origins: the old myths, the old skald-songs.