Hello book friends! It’s time for another review, and this one is WAY overdue. I read The Fury of the Gods in October of last year and this review has been sitting in my drafts ever since. Oops. Anyway, The Fury of the Gods is the conclusion to the Bloodsworn Saga, and what a conclusion it was! Check the content warnings below and I’ll tell you my thoughts.
The Fury of the Gods
By John Gwynne
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★Published 22 October 2024 by Orbit
Fantasy | Viking Inspired | War
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.
I prepared myself to be hurt and yet I was not prepared enough. This book (and the previous two as well, tbh) was such an emotional rollercoaster! We follow our four favorite characters, Orka, Varg, Elvar en Biorr as they all fight in their own way for a better world. It’s incredible how John Gwynne writes characters that are on opposite sides of the conflict and yet you end up rooting for all of them. All of the characters had amazing arcs, but my favorite by far is Elvar’s. She really pulled through in this book and became one of my favorite FMCs of all time, mostly because her character arc was so grand. She did exactly what I hoped she would do, and I was kicking my feet in excitement when it happened (sorry for the vagueness, but spoilers, ya know).
“The sheep follows the farmer blindly and with trust. That does not mean it won’t get eaten.”
There are of course a whole lot of battles in this book. Normally, I tend to zone out while reading battles. It’s very hard to write one and keep me engaged throughout the whole ordeal because at some point I lose track of what is going on. Not in this book. John Gwynne writes some of the best battles I’ve ever read. They are grand in scale, and I ended up flipping pages so fast a little smoke came from my book. There are many scenes during these battles that involve vengeance, and each time it was so satisfying (except for once and I’ll never forgive that).
Then there’s the plot. A book that’s 50% war can’t have a lot of plot, right? Wrong! There was so much still going on, right until the very end. Just when you think you’ve got the story figured out, a twist blindsides you and leaves you on the edge of your seat.
“They broke the world, remember. They did not care for the lives of anyone then, Tainted or not, they used them for their own ends and will do the same again now.”
In short, this was an amazing conclusion to a fantastic series. If you enjoy grand battles, epic world building and a cast of characters you can’t help but love, I highly recommend this series. Also one of said lovable characters is a giant statue head. Enough said.
Interested in my reviews on the previous two books? You can find my review for The Shadow of the Gods here and for The Hunger of the Gods here!
