THE SHADOW OF THE GODS by John Gwynne - No Spoiler Review 

I apologize for the random subscribed text in the middle of the screen, looks like i made a mistake in Final Cut haha

So glad you enjoyed! The Battle Plains are a dangerous but intriguing place.

Yesssss! Wonderful review! Now we both wait for the next Gwynne's novel! Orka, though.... AND YES, let's do a spoiler chat!!!

I completely agree that the cover art is absolutely stunning and probably the best cover of the year. I liked how you described elements of the story feeling alive. I feel like the last person around who has not read anything by Gwynne. I'll get there eventually. Great review!

Most definitely Pre-ordering! You've been singing his praises from day one and we are most certainly on the bandwagon now! "Best Book One he's ever wrote! 😮"

This was a wonderful video. I have so much to read already, but you're making me want to read these John Gwynne books. Peace!

I loved this one too. Definitely a 5 star easy to read book. Loved the cover too. My thing was how many times he mentioned the belt helps take some of the weight of the mail from the shoulders. I’m guessing John really feels that weight when role playing!! 😂

I loved your review. I can't wait for book 2. First time reading his books. I also got elvra/varg mixed up and orka is the best!!

Nice review! Can't wait to get to this! I'm still on Wrath! Yes to the collab as well! 👍

I’m so curious about this book, both because of the Norse inspirations and high praise for the women in the novel. Great review as always!

I adore that stunning cover! Great review. Thanks for sharing 😃

The Nut Man strikes again. I'm 71% into this one and NEED TO FINISH. Let's definitely get some spoiler chats going when the book releases!

I've moved John Gwynne to my 'maybe' reading list. As I've added more fantasy and SF to my reading diet, I find myself wanting more of it. Thanks Jimmy!

I know I'm late to the party but I finished this book today. I agree that Svik's story was so much fun, mostly because Gwynne clearly wrote it with the Norwegian folktale about Askeladden in mind! Great review :)

I just finished this and was blown away!!! Definitely unique plot and concept. And I also got a bit confused with Elvar and Varg’s POVs - I sometimes mixed them up and had to remind myself where in the map they were traveling and their storyline lol I thought it was just me! But overall 5 solid stars, definitely a masterpiece. Can’t wait for book 2!!

Just got through The Faithful and the Fallen and John Gwynne definitely deserves my attention, so I'll just add this one to my backlog. Good review!

I'm only halfway through banished lands but I'm already hyped for this book! Definitely a new auto-buy author

I loved "The Banished Lands saga" as well as God of War (PS4), so I can't wait for my pre-order to arrive 🤪 I found your channel through Petrik's latest video today and just binge watched a bunch of your reviews. Good stuff! I subscribed and hit the bell 😎

This is my first John Gwynne novel and so far I'm loving it! Now I definitely need to read his other series if his writing is that good and atmospheric.

Great review Jimmy! Got me hyped for this one. Having not read it but knowing this is influenced by norse mythology, the thing about everything being urine stained made me think maybe there's some type of Fenrir beast in this world roaming about and marking its territory or something

Great review. Can’t wait to read it

I finished this book about a month ago and can't stop thinking about it. It was so good! I think I'm in the minority but Varg was my favorite with Orka (definitely the most badass) in close second. This was my first book by John Gwynne and got me really pumped to read his other books. Really good review.

As if I could be anymore excited about this one... You just did that. 🤓 It's been pre ordered for month. I've just read all of The Faithful and the Fallen this month and finding it difficult to move on from it. I have all the Of Blood and Bone trilogy for April then May 4th Yiphee! Great review video, thank you.

This book, along with The Wisdom of Crowds by Abercrombie, is my most anticipated release of 2021. Loved TFatF and really liked Of Blood and Bone. Great review!

This is probably the first book that gets my full attention this year. Just the title itself, it already sounds intriguing.

There was no plumbings back in the days. so the bigger cities and settlements did smell like piss. they pissed in a bucket and tossed it out the window :P The story Svik tells about the cheese, is actually a Norwegian fairy tale. It's called 'Ashlad and the hungry troll' :)

look forward to reading this

Well finished a time of courage sometime in August. Finished reading Anthony Ryan’s Blood song series and now about to start the shadow of the gods. Looking forward to it.

I am very excited for this

Can't wait to read this, i'm reading Ruin not now and it's sooooo good

Love the Norse inspiration, and this is probably my favorite fantasy cover of all time. And remember Norse mythology has been part of main-stream fantasy since Grandpa Tolkien.

Thanks for the review

Great review, I can't wait for it to release, but I know how John's books ends on a cliffhanger and makes me go crazy to wait for next book, but I'll this book soon as it releases 😀

Agreed on all accounts. His style in this book is somewhat reminiscent to me of a little known writer named Bill Downey and his book Black Viking (the best book on Viking's I've ever read). Gwynne's ability to say so much in so little time is unique. Robert E. Howard had a similar style. I agree the narrative in this story seems to have so much more weight to it vs his previous writing. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

I'm way too excited for this

Finished A Time of Courage yesterday and just can't wait till this one ... will buy one day 1. While reading the Banished lands books, one thing kept coming to mind: there a plenty of chances for us all in this life to practice truth & courage, even though most of us will not be in any kind of violent encounter. Will you stand up for what is right, or go with the current, fearful of what you may lose if you take a more noble course? I think it was in a Time for Blood; " There are some things more important than your own safety." (or something like that) This is so important when so many people seem to be just looking after their own a$$es, and that's it. SO ... I hope Gwynne takes his time and offers more of these little gems.

Another great video. In return, I'm going to offer you an advice you didn't really ask for: Lord of the Silver Bow. We are even now.

I so can't wait to read this book when the library gets it will read wrath soon so excited 😀😉☺️😻😸

Tbr has been ruined this month lol. Got a surprise copy of Shadows of the gods send to me. It's 1 am right now. Your review is pushing me to read it today . Might be a long day tomorrow lol. Also my first John Gwynne book ever.

I want to feel happy for you but I can’t quite manage it 😮 I’m waiting patiently for me preordered copy.

I will buy anything Gwynne or Abercrombie puts out. My two favorite authors in fantasy.

Can I read this book without reading any of his other books Jimmy? 🤔

Always carry cheese with you! Especially if it's shaped like a rock. x)

I feel like im the only one who couldn't get "into the vibe" with Orka. it made the middle part of the book a the lower point of the book but still, it wasn't a bad book. Story setting was the best part

You need to read The Bone Ships and Call of The Bone Ships by R J Barker.

I gave up about 15 chapters in, I got fed up with the amount of times axes were mentioned. The clincher was when a thrall licked blood of her axe. Had no interest in the characters at all.

Anybody read the whole Bloodsworn trilogy? I'm in the middle of the second part and it gets kind of boring.

I so want the dramatic reading of the cheese story. Waiting waiting editing for me pre-ordered copy. Perhaps not so much waiting for the much repeated urine thing.

Honestly my only complaint is the idea of female Viking warriors being the norm. This trope is overused in my opinion.

John Gwynne's books have easy vocabulary for someone whose English is a second language?

I so can’t wait to get my hands on this book, Tensions can kill a book reader just by waiting. 🤘🤪

It’s basically just Skyrim.