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Review: The Fury of the Gods brings John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn trilogy to a breathtaking but rushed conclusion

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Review: The Fury of the Gods brings John Gwynne's Bloodsworn trilogy to a breathtaking but rushed conclusion

As a seasoned fantasy enthusiast who has traversed the realms of countless epic tales, let me tell you that ‘The Fury of the Gods‘ by John Gwynne is a saga worthy of the Viking halls themselves!

The much-anticipated climactic conflict is upon us in John Gwynne’s Norse-inspired fantasy world, The Bloodsworn. This thrilling journey began with the intriguing first installment, The Shadow of the Gods, and has since escalated with the complexities and treacheries unfolding in The Hunger of the Gods. With The Fury of the Gods, Gwynne brings this series to a close, offering satisfying resolutions for beloved characters such as Orka, Elvar, and Varg.

Given that the third installment in the “Bloodsworn” series is coming up next, expect some major spoilers from books one and two as we delve into them below. We’ll tread lightly when discussing “The Fury of the Gods,” but remember that it’s challenging to discuss this novel without revealing certain details. If you’re all caught up with “Bloodsworn,” feel free to continue reading. Otherwise, you might want to check out my review for “The Shadow of the Gods” to get a sense of what awaits you in this captivating series.

Review: The Fury of the Gods brings John Gwynne's Bloodsworn trilogy to a breathtaking but rushed conclusion

Book review: The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne (The Bloodsworn #3)

In their last encounter in “The Hunger of the Gods”, our beloved drengrs found themselves in a dire situation. Elvar, after cold-bloodedly executing her father and brother, seized power as the Jarl of Snakavik, accompanied by the wolf-god Ulfrir. Varg and his Bloodsworn comrades had managed to free the Seidr-witch Vol, who was abducted and transported across the sea to the foreign land of Iskidan; unintentionally setting free a horde of tainted beings there, the offspring of the foreign land’s emperor. Orka Skullsplitter, after successfully rescuing her son Breca from Lik-Rifa’s dragon-born soldiers, was bitten by a swarm of frost spiders and seemed to be either killed or captured. Lastly, cunning Guðvarr played a deceitful role in Like-Rifa’s scheme, manipulating the Darl leadership into resurrecting the eagle god Orna, only for her to be slaughtered while still weak.

The climactic ending of “The Hunger of the Gods” sets a powerful stage for the culmination of the story in “The Fury of the Gods”. Author Gwynne doesn’t disappoint, plunging readers headfirst into the epic final battle over Vigrið. Known for its rich characters and grand battles, “The Bloodsworn” series continues to impress with the thrilling conclusion, “The Fury of the Gods”. As we near the end of this journey, the pacing is swift, and the action builds steadily towards the heart-pounding finale.

In essence, the book is a captivating read that’s nearly impossible to stop reading. However, what makes these epic battles so engaging is our connection to the characters taking part. Author Gwynne skillfully crafts the characters in “The Bloodsworn” as if they are real individuals. While the action in “The Fury of the Gods” was remarkable, I found myself cherishing the peaceful scenes that allowed us to bond with all the characters before things took a turn for the worse.

In “The Fury of the Gods,” there are numerous loose ends from previous instalments that require resolution. Characters who’ve managed to avoid punishment throughout the entire series eventually face the consequences, while those seeking revenge for ages finally get their chance. Many of these resolutions have been hinted at earlier, but there are also unexpected twists in this book. Given that it is the concluding novel in a Norse-influenced fantasy based on Ragnarök prophecies, it’s no shock that casualties abound. It’s an intense emotional journey, and many characters we’ve come to know (either love or despise) throughout the series don’t survive until the end.

As a movie buff diving into the lore behind “The Fury of the Gods”, let me express my awe at the grand scale of the conflict portrayed here. In the initial tale, gods were mere legends in Vigrið, whispered about in saga-tales; but in this sequel, they are making their presence felt and shaking the very foundations of the land. The epic battle between these deities provides a grand stage for characters like Ulfrir, Lik-Rifa, and Rotta the Rat to truly shine. Interestingly enough, there’s another god whose identity you may recognize from the book cover who graces us with an unforgettable appearance as well. While I had hoped for more from that particular deity, the surprising twists and turns surrounding their entrance left a lasting impression on me – making it one of the most memorable moments in this gripping storyline.

The Fury of the Gods ending left me wanting a bit more

In “The Fury of the Gods,” I encountered two primary concerns. Initially, as this is the concluding installment and there’s a lot of action, the intensity of the battles at times became almost deafening. Granted, battlefield chaos is a constant in Vigrið, but by the end, it made me yearn to mute the experience slightly. This is unfortunate because Gwynne excels at depicting battles. However, with approximately half or more of the book dedicated to such action sequences, they didn’t have the same impact as previous novels for me. In those stories, there was more breathing room between fights and a broader range of scenarios, which allowed the combat scenes to stand out more vividly.

My main issue lies with the resolutions. Although many were exciting, towards the end of the novel it seemed like everyone had a personal vendetta and Gwynne systematically resolved them, leaving a sense that things were too conveniently tied up. The conclusion, specifically the last four chapters, felt particularly neat as they all resolved four ongoing feuds consecutively, which diminished the impact of most. What made it more disappointing was that these were long-standing plotlines from the very first book in the series. This was surprising given a dramatic death that occurred earlier in the book.

In the end, “The Fury of the Gods” effectively wraps up “The Bloodsworn” series, leaving me pondering if we’ll delve back into this Norse fantasy realm again – I certainly hope so, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Any reservations I had about the ending are eclipsed by the thrilling journey to get there. Though “The Hunger of the Gods” might still be my favorite in the series, it’s undeniably a must-read for any fan of Gwynne’s work. “The Bloodsworn” is one of my recent favorites, and the conclusion of Orka Skullsplitter and Varg’s tale brings a mix of sadness and relief.

Verdict

The Fury of the Gods is a resounding ending to The Bloodsworn, and while it has a few minor stumbles, it remains an exceptional fantasy book that finishes out an even more exceptional series. This was my first foray into John Gwynne’s books, and it’s a testament to how good they were that I’ll absolutely be picking up one of his other series like The Faithful and the Fallen or Of Blood and Bone once I’m finished digesting The Bloodsworn.

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2024-11-15 21:41

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