The Fury of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Trilogy, 3) (2024)

THIS BLEW MY MIND!!!!

I knew I loved this trilogy since the very first chapter but I am still amazed at how fantastic it was to the very last word.
It is clearly one of my favourites of the last decade.
This conclusion is absolutely epic, filled with great battle descriptions and even better characters arcs.
Please do yourself a favour and dive into it!

Bonus: I counted less than ten "thought-cage"!

👀 the cover...

Oh my god this just might be my #1 Papa Gwynne book.

YOU GUYS ARE NOT READY FOR THIS

OMG!!! ✨✨
I just got accepted for the ARC of this and I am so excited to see what happens after how the last one ended!💓

6/5

One of my new all time favourite series.

This is what a conclusion should look like. First half of the book to prepare for the full on war, the second half for incredible battle scenes, lots of revenge duels and closing plot holes.

There was one moment when I doubted Gwynne was going for the cliché mainstream outcome, but no, false alarm, still got me by surprise, the characters were loyal to the personality they've been showing for the past two books and behaved accordingly.

I laughed out loud, cried, got stressed and had to stand up to walk while reading, but in the end, that last chapter, my heart got warmed and I was left staring at the roof.

The battle at sea with the boats was my favourite part of the book.

And the romance HIT like I wanted it.

From the moment I read the first book I knew this would become my whole personality, a series I'd recommend to everyone and I'm happy to inform, my opinion stands.

"John Wick meets Vikings but with monsters" is still my favourite sentence to describe this series.

I just got my ARC the other day! As excited as I am to jump right in, it's been well over a year since I read Hunger of the Gods on release day. Even though there is a very good summary at the beginning of Fury, I feel I've maybe forgotten a little too much. I decided on a quick re read of Hunger before immediately diving into book three. Review to come soon. Truth and Courage!

My thanks to Orbit Books, John Gwynne and Netgalley.
Anyone who's read my previous reviews on this series knows that I have had some serious love for this story. I've actually had many hours of happiness reading about these people. I've even managed to find a soft spot for a few of the "bad guys."
Unfortunately, this last book took me weeks to read. Actual weeks! It was exhausting.
I loved the first 25% and the last 20%. But, man oh man the middle? Too much fighting and revenge.
It became so repetitive that I had to put the book down and read something else.
I'll admit that the ending was the best part. Not just because the book was finally over, but everyone who lived coming together at the ending and their final decisions. The ending was touching and left me with happy tears.
So, I'm a bit torn on my rating. I'm rating this at 3.5 stars. Rounded down. But only because of the final pages. Without them, it would have been a 2.
Also, the ending sounds like it could be more stories coming. It felt like a new beginning. If so? I'm gonna be all over that. I'd love to read more about these people and would willingly follow more of their journey.

i’m getting a little emotional about belonging idk

the whole ladder sequence is just john gwynn reflecting all of us that criticized that one helms deep scene

here for the mother/son murder duo

thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc

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edit: LOOK AT THAT COVER!!! I'M SO HYPED!

WE HAVE A TITLE AND A DATE!!!!

What’s an axe-wielding murderous mother in search of her son gotta do to get some peace around here

I need book three yesterday. Praying Snaka might bless us with it’s release in 2023.

This final entry in John Gwynne's brilliant Norse-inspired Bloodsworn Saga has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. This trilogy is set in such a harsh desolate terrain and unforgiving climate and yet the worldbuilding itself and the characters who inhabit it are some of the most vibrant and full of life that I have ever come across. Starting with the warrior, turned farmer, turned battle tested warrior again, Orka. Her singularity of focus in trying to find her kidnapped son is admirable and at times awe-inspiring. Yet this isn't even close to the most impressive of her qualities. I became so connected with her in particular which made what transpired in this final volume even more high stakes and white knuckle inducing as someone who has lived and died with her every thought and action up to this point. Her POV chapters are interspersed with Elvar, Varg, Biorr and Gudvarr, each a major player in both the "good" and "bad" sides, carrying the plot all the way up to the absolutely heart-stopping climax.

I shouldn't be surprised anymore at John Gwynne's skill as both a masterful storyteller and also a conveyer of thrilling action scenes. There are plenty of moments in THE FURY OF THE GODS where I was actually breathless as some of my favorite characters in this story were put to the test in harrowing scenarios. I've said before that I think the reason Gwynne makes you care about his characters so much is not only the fact that he builds them up through intensely personal dialogue, but then just when you've grown attached he will not hesitate to put them in peril, and in some cases, kill them off. His tales are not for the faint of heart and not for those who constantly crave happy endings. Some endings unfortunately are not happy in the least for some of these people and that's what I really love about Gwynne as an author. You never know when he might pull the rug out from underneath you.

After a brief buildup, this final entry really takes off and I was happy that I got to experience all of the major confrontations that I was hoping to see. It felt as if much animosity was building up over the past two books and to see that finally be released in such a n evocative fashion was immensely satisfying. That's another John Gwynne trademark though, he never leaves you walking away disappointed at the end of a book or series. You definitely always get your money's worth. I won't get into any particulars other than to say the ending of this books, as with his previous two series, left me dazzled, heartbroken, uplifted, with a sense of glory and triumph that is tinged slightly with the bittersweet. I wouldn't have it any other way and it made this book such the wonderful conclusion that I expected it would be.
All I can say upon finishing THE FURY OF THE GODS is that John Gwynne has pulled off another stunning epic of a fantasy series. It is filled with Norse folklore and locales, dragons and resurrected gods, and characters who don't just leap off the page, they soar into your consciousness and make you think about them even after you put the book down. If you have been searching for a fantasy series that will move you and make you feel almost every emotion possible, you should pick up the Bloodsworn Saga. And if you haven't had the chance to read any other John Gwynne books, please go and correct that immediately. His back catalog is well worth the time and effort to devote. In all honesty, there's simply not too many authors out there who can tell a story quite like him.

Cover reveal 👀 this artwork is wild! Was not what I was expecting, but so so excited for this. 🥹🖤

WOW. I CANNOT EVEN PUT INTO WORDS HOW AMAZINGLY EXECUTED THIS FINAL BLOODSWORN NOVEL WAS. John Gwynne put his whole entire soul into this and you can tell. I am utterly speechless. I will come back and add my highlights and further my review upon release date to avoid spoilers for now, but know that this is the best book I’ve read this year and probably ever if I’m honest.

I think this is the swan song for my time with John Gwynne's books. For context, Shadow of the Gods was the first ever ARC I requested and started my thinking of reviews in a more critical manner. It was my #4 best book of 2021. Hunger of the Gods I felt was a bit bloated and repetitive, but still mostly really liked it. Then I read Faithful and the Fallen and was mostly confused why people love that series so much. Which made me nervous to read Fury of the Gods. Had I changed, or had I grown weary of Gwynne's books, or would I still love it?

Elements of all three, I think. My tolerance for books with constant fighting has changed. And this book has a LOT of fighting. It got to the point where whenever a faceoff would happen, my eyes would glaze over until they got to the outcome. Hack, slash, insult, parry, slash, dodge, hack, insult. How many times can a book do that? A lot, it turns out.

But I also just think beyond my changing feelings on empty fight scenes, my desire to love this due to the previous ones and also because of liking Gwynne as an author and how hard it was for him to finish, I just...don't think the book is very good.

I gave Wrath, the ending of FATF, two stars, but that was moreso because of my burnout with the series. Wrath was an epic conclusion, with many scenes that I still remember, it had lots of fight scenes but several of them made me feel things or were shocking. Maybe in retrospect it should be three stars. Fury of the Gods is a bunch of angry people being very angry at the person they're angry at, and telling everyone how they can't wait to get revenge, and then those people bump into each other, and extremely predictable things happen. There's also a narrative similarity to the beginning of Wrath that I hated there and I hate here, too.

There's a POV character named Gudvarr that I think is terrible. Some people love this POV but I truly find him awfully written. His inner monologue is inspired by Glokta but it always reminds me of like a cartoon villain in some Disney movie about princesses where they have to make sure the audience understands the evil motivations of the evil character so they just say obvious evil things out loud (except these are in his head). I can't think of examples but most of his thoughts fall into this category for me. Drags down my whole reading experience unfortunately.

The climax of Fury is rote. Every chapter of the climax seemingly ends with two characters finding each other in battle, swearing up and down about how terrible the other is, and then one of them dying. Over and over again. Yet, I will say that my attachment to these characters is higher than in FATF, so when some of them were put in peril, I cared. There are also a couple really good action scenes, and giant dragons, wolves, and snakes fighting is cool. So there were some positives.

I'm sad that this book didn't work for me like I hoped, but I am aware it's closing a chapter of my reading taste and I will probably refrain from reading too much else like it going forward.

5 stars. All the stars. Such a well executed trilogy that's easily going to go down as one of my all-time favorites. John, my man, you did it.

I was so scared for this book after I loved the first one and loved the second one even more. How do you end this story? Perfectly, apparently.

It took me a little bit to fall back into the story, but that's more on me. A combination of wishing I had reread books one and two (even though there's a marvelous catchup at the front) and reading an earc on my phone. It's just not for me, honestly, and I need to remember that even though I couldn't wait for this book as soon as I saw others getting theirs. 🤣

Okok, book stuff. Without spoilers. Well... no one writes battles and fighting like Gwynne. Seriously. His experience as a reenactor is so apparent. There's just this extra level of feels to every moment. To the shields locking together, the fatigue setting in, how a fight in those scenarios works. He gets it. One of my other favorite battle writers is also a reenactor. Guess it counts. 🤭

There's also an amazing ship battle I loved.

Man, I did not know how this book was going to end. SO MUCH CHAOS. And then there's this big thing close to the end, and I just thought... no way this is going to end satisfyingly. There's not enough pages left. Yet. It does. Sticks the landing 10/10.

So anyway yea these books are precious to me. I love them so much. Thank you, Mr. Gwynne for writing an epic, amazing, heartfelt Viking fantasy. I'm glad you took the time you needed, and I'm here for whatever you write next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the earc. It had no effect on my jumbled rambling review. This madness is all my own.

Did I finish this trilogy or did it finish me? RTC

Guys..... Hear me out here. I think that I recently figured out the title for the 3rd book of the Bloodsworn Saga Trilogy!!!!! OK..... I think that book three is going to be called: "THE BATTLE OF THE GODS"

The reason I say this is because, *SPOLIERS*!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED HERE... READ THIS SPOILER AT YOUR OWN RISK AND PACE......... SO, FOR THOSE OF WHO WHO HAVE READ BOOK 2 IN THIS SERIES, IN BOOK 2 THEY TALK ALOT ABOUT RESURRECTING MOST OF THE DEAD GODS SINCE THE RAGNAROK STYLE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS TOOK PLACE LONG BEFORE THE HUMANS WERE EVEN BROUGHT/ BORN INTO THE WORLD OF VIGRITH ITSELF...... HOWEVER, NOW THAT SOME OF THE GODS ARE LITERALLY BEING RESURRECTED IN BOOK 2, ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SYNOPSIS FOR BOOK 2 PROPERLY, THERE ARE MENTIONS OF A BATTLE THAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE, MOST LIKELY IN BOOK 3!!!!!! AND IT WILL SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH AS WELL AS VIGRITH ITSELF WHENEVER THAT BATTLE DOES HAPPEN..... THE BATTLE OF THE GODS SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT TITLE FOR BOOK 3 AS WELL, BECAUSE.... I DON'T KNOW IF THIS MIGHT BE A COINCIDENCE, BUT!!!!!!!! IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST WORDS FOR BOOKS 1 & 2, (WITH BOOK 1 BEING: THE SHADOW OF THE GODS)
(AND WITH BOOK 2 BEING: THE HUNGER OF THE GODS), THE WORDS "SHADOW", AND "HUNGER" BOTH HAVE SIX (6) LETTERS IN THOSE WORDS......

AND HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER WORD HAS SIX (6) LETTERS IN IT THAT I THINK FITS WELL FOR THE TITLE OF BOOK 3?????????? THE WORD "BATTLE"......

SO, ONCE AGAIN, THATS WHAT I THINK THE TITLE OF BOOK 3 MIGHT BE CALLED..... I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF I'M CORRECT AT GUESSING THAT TITLE: "THE BATTLE OF THE GODS" FOR THE BLOODSWORN BOOK 3 WHENEVER WE GET AN OFFICIAL TITLE REVEAL....

P.S. SEEING THAT ALL OF THE COVERS FOR THE BLOODSORN SERIES HAS IMAGES OF ANIMAL GODS ON THEM, I'M GOING TO MAKE A FEW GUESSES AND SAY THAT, FOR THE COVER OF BOOK 3, I THINK THAT IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE BETWEEN: ROTTA, ORNA, OR SNAKA, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY MENTION THOSE 3 SPECIFIC ANIMAL GODS ALOT IN THE SECOND BOOK IN THIS SERIES AS WELL....

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW/ HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS...... PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been waiting SO LONG for this and I am so happy to say that the cover does not disappoint

Full review to come.

This series is epic and I need everyone to read it.

What a fantasy trilogy should be.

If you love fantasy, and you haven't experienced this series yet, I am so jealous of you. I hadn't read Gwynne's previous work before starting The Shadow of the Gods. I just saw a cool cover and read the synopsis and thought "this sounds good." AND IT WAS SO GOOD.

I've mentioned in previous reviews of this series that Gwynne writes exceptional female characters. I'm not saying male authors deserve a special bonus for this, but I just think it's worth noting that while this series never shies away from violence, gore, and extremely high stakes, its female characters are never victimized in the ways I've become accustomed to in some heavily violent series by male authors. At the same time, I've noticed a RISE in what I'm calling "girl boss" female characters in more recent books, as a kind of response to this. The problem with BOTH of these character groups is that they are FLAT. There is nothing more beneath the surface than the image the author gives you. Boring. I am bored with both.

Anyway these women are the opposite. They are fully realized people who fit the story Gwynne has crafted. They are capable of great and terrible things, and they are also vulnerable human beings within a world of gods and monsters. They want great power, but they also want to protect and save themselves and the people they love.

I also like the male characters a lot I swear, just had to have a moment for Orka and Elvar.

I can't say too much in this review about the plot in order to avoid spoilers, but I'm so pleased with how this series has finished. I've complained about stakes in fantasy a lot recently. I want to feel like the story matters, and Gwynne really gets that here. There's no taking things for granted. Every victory is earned and every loss is felt.

If I were ever to write a heavily action-oriented story, I would really study these books, along with Fonda Lee's Green Bone Saga, because both are masterful in moving action along, while still maintaining such an elevated writing style.

I can't say enough good things but I feel like I'm just rambling, so I will just say: Read this series. It is incredible.

Also the acknowledgements...I just. Anyway make this an HBO series. I am so serious.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can officially say now that this is the best series and trilogy I have ever read. Thank you so much to Orbit and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this installment, and thank you, John Gwynne, for sharing your imagination and your words with us. What you have gone through these past few years has been horrific, and nobody would have blamed you if you were unable to finish, but I'm so grateful you pulled it off. In your shoes, I'm not sure many of us could have done the same.

The Shadow of the Gods gripped me from the first page, and then it was an avalanche to the end for me, where I just couldn't put these books down. Even upon reread of the first two, I was completely wrapped up in the story again, and it felt so good to reunite with Varg, Orka, and Elvar.

The Fury of the Gods felt so unique for me, and I think part of it was the anticipation. It was unlike anything I've felt. Reading it sometimes felt surreal in a weird way because the end was here, I was holding it in my hands, the moments I had been waiting for were happening, the battles were finally here. Then Chapter 54 happened, and I can't even think about it without tears springing to my eyes. The character arcs were so well-crafted, moving, and satisfying.

I am not usually one for battle sequences, and there were MANY in this book. Gwynne is a master of description, though, and he kept the battles engaging and always high-stakes. I knew sh*t was going to hit the proverbial fan in this conclusion, and Gwynne pulled no punches. The tension was sometimes almost unbearable in the best way, I just had to know what was going to happen. When I say I have bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, know it's from being unable to tear myself away from this saga.

Good novels have twists and subvert your expectations. Great novels do that, too, no doubt, but they also meet and exceed your expectations, so you're left satisfied and rewarded for paying attention. There are story beats that I've been anticipating for years, rivalries and vengeances that come to a head, and they were handled just perfectly, where you get exactly what you needed from that story arc without even realizing it's what you wanted.

The entire journey through the Bloodsworn Saga has nourished my soul and spirit, and the payoff in this last installment is huge. I can't believe I'll never read one of these for the first time again, but I do feel like I savored every moment. Plus, down the road, I'm sure I'll do another reread. This series means too much to me. Thank you so much, John Gwynne.

I will miss Vigrið very much.

Thank you to Orbit Books US and John Gwynne for access to this eARC!

In a harrowing finale to the Bloodsworn trilogy, the war against Lik-Rifa and her radical followers reaches its peak, seeing the world thrown into chaos and bloodshed. Our heroes fight for vengeance and freedom from the destruction and ruin left by arrogant, vengeful gods.

I could ramble on and on about my love for this book and still, it would feel insufficient. I adore Gwynne’s writing style and how descriptive he is, how well he paints the image in your mind and senses. You can see clearly what the characters are experiencing, feel what they feel. The character development was phenomenal across the board. You fall in love with certain characters, fearing for their wellbeing and rooting for them every step of the way. Orka Skullsplitter will forever be my favorite character of all time, her fierceness and dedication second to none. Vesli was another close favorite. The characters, the storyline, the world-building, all were fantastic. I adored the ending, even though parts of it broke my heart. It was just wonderful.

Some may find the descriptions a bit long, but it was another feature I loved - it brought such vivid imagery and brought the story to life. I honestly cannot find a negative word to say about this book - it was just so wonderful.

The Shadow of the Gods was the catalyst for me both falling in love with the fantasy genre again and discovering my own love of writing, and I could not have been more excited to start reading the final installment of such a fantastic series. Fury of the Gods not only met but exceeded my expectations. I am sad to see the Bloodsworn Saga come to an end, but will be forever grateful for the journey it took me on.

LOOK WHAT WE HAVE... COVEEERR

October never seems so far far away...

We finally have a date omgg

Thank you Orbit for allowing me to read and review an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was an epic and final instillation to the Bloodsworn saga. As soon as I started reading the first page I had a nostalgic feeling of being at home. It might sound strange that a book with such violence and danger could give me that feeling, but the characters and relationships in this story are so heartwarming and special. The battle descriptions and character arcs blew me away. This was so fast paced and I couldn’t get enough. I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for this series and Fury of the Gods takes the first place spot.

I have to start by saying... Viking-style fantasy books have never really been my thing. That being said, this is EASILY the best saga I've read in the past years (and I have read MANY). I sadly thought that it was only going to be two books, and so, when I was approaching the end of the second book and found it weird that there was so much left unsolved, I checked again and now I am devastated to have to wait for the third and final, but honestly completely worth it for these! Can't wait!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

This is the ending I never knew I needed! John Gwynne has a way to pull you in and make you care about the characters, while also packing in the action and battles galore! This book is not without the blood and guts from all Gwynne books, and it is brutal in the best way.

The book started off getting you reset into the world, but the author is just setting you up for the Gwynne-alanche (I'm making this a thing) that comes in the last half of the book. I loved the ending and I also shed a little tear. I hate saying goodbye to this series. I hope the author will continue this story in the future like he did with the Of Blood and Bone series in The Banished Lands.

I'll be patiently waiting for your next installment, Mr. Gwynne. I will read anything you write.

Me waiting for this series finale

Thank you to Orbit for sending me an ARC of The Fury of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity.

This book is incredible. Super easy 5 stars and a new addition to my favorites list. I could not put this down. An action-packed epic conclusion to The Bloodsworn Saga. It features fantastic storytelling with beautiful character arcs. There are surprises, betrayals, and redemptions that elevate the entire series in my eyes. In The Fury of the Gods, John Gwynne has crafted an unforgettable finale. The battles are intense and thrilling. The stakes are higher than ever. The characters are rich and deeply human. Gwynne weaves a tale of honor, love, loyalty, and sacrifice, all while delivering his trademark perfectly-written action scenes.

My only tiny complaints are that the world and prose feel utilitarian. The world feels small compared to other epic fantasy I like to read. Gwynne’s prose does exactly what it needs to do, but as a result never blew me away. But I also don’t think someone should read Gwynne for jaw-dropping prose. It’s the other amazing aspects of his writing we’re here for. So, if you’re looking for a massive fantasy landscape with super deep immersion and stunning prose, this probably will not scratch that itch. Having said that, not every fantasy world needs to be a sprawling universe crafted with poetic word-smithing. What Gwynne offers us makes sense for this well-contained, fulfilling trilogy. The unique Norse-inspired world of Vigrið provides Gwynne a perfect playground, his ideal canvas. He excels in plot, pacing, characters, fantasy elements, and, of course, action.

This story is wonderful. Then after the final chapter I was swept away, drawn back down to reality with Gwynne’s acknowledgments. Oh wow, the acknowledgments. Having dealt with tragic loss in my life recently, Gwynne’s personal notes and thank you’s at the end had me sobbing. I cannot imagine writing with such skill while overwhelmed with this grief. Gwynne is an exceptional fantasy author, one of the best in the genre. I hope he continues gifting us with his amazing talent. My level of respect for this author could not be higher. Please support him and his family by buying up all his books. I’ve cherished every one of them. The Bloodsworn Saga adds another incredible series to his list of outstanding achievements. I love his work and hope you do too.

The Fury of the Gods is the EPIC CONCLUSION of The Bloodsworn Saga that will shake the foundations of your inner being. The story picks up right from where the Hunger of the Gods left off and progresses fast as our favorite battle hardened warriors continue on the road to fulfill their oaths and convictions. Sides must be chosen and that leads to the Gods, however the Gods are not to be trusted and our faithful companions know that but their choices are limited, thralled or free. Hard choices have to be made. Secrets will be revealed. Truths will be told. Backs will be stabbed. Some of our favorite companions will die. You will definitely cry, laugh, and scream at characters not to do what they are about to do and possibly throw the book across the room just to go pick it up again to continue reading late into the night until your eyes bleed because battle scenes are glorious, gruesome and beautiful! The characters you love and the characters you love to hate all play a major role in the conclusion of the series. 
I was completely immersed in the story and amazed with how well John Gwynne Wrapped up the Trilogy! You will not be disappointed with the ending of the Bloodsworn Saga. This is his best work!

Five Seaxes held high!

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