John Gwynne: The Hunger of the Gods

Hi everyone

The Hunger of the Gods is the second book in The Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne. 
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"THE DEAD GODS ARE RISING.
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own–and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god. Their only hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead…and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth." 

This book was amazing.

One of the things I loved was that the book opens with a recap of The Shadow of the Gods, the first book in the series, along with a list of characters and a glossary of terms. I absolutely love when authors do this. I tend to wait until all the books in a series are published before reading them because I forget details about characters and events, so these lists and summaries were incredibly helpful.

The world of The Bloodsworn Saga is absolutely magnificent. It’s a brutal, fully realized world that feels expansive and alive, with different species, countries, and cultures. Gwynne has created something complex, vivid, and completely engrossing.

The story itself is simple; most of the novel follows the characters as they travel from location to location, interrupted by fights or skirmishes. It’s a classic second book in a trilogy, where much of the plot is setup for the final book. While this structure is very obvious, I didn’t mind because it was still so engrossing. There’s so much happening; political maneuvering, character development, and high-stakes tension, that it never felt dull.
As always, John Gwynne’s battle scenes are astounding. The story is brutal, muddy, and bloody, just as I’ve come to expect from his writing. The action is visceral and immersive, making every fight feel real and consequential.

Orka remains my favorite character. I love that she’s a mother and older than the typical protagonist; she has lived, experienced the world, and carries the weight of her past, yet she’s still loyal, strong, and fierce. She feels real in a way that’s rare in fantasy.
Gudvarr’s POV is new to this book, and while I absolutely hate him, reading from his perspective helped me understand him as a character, not just a black-and-white villain, but a nuanced, egotistical figure. It added depth and complexity to the story, making everything feel more gray than black and white.
I also loved the addition of the gods returning and their human and non-human descendants joining the cast. It’s an interesting and exciting dynamic that adds another layer of intrigue to the world.
John Gwynne has a true gift for bringing characters to life. He doesn’t just tell their stories, he lets us understand them, flaws and all. It’s one of the reasons I love his writing so much.

Have you read The Bloodsworn Saga? Did you love The Hunger of the Gods as much as I did?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena