The Hunger of the Gods

John Gwynne's “The Hunger of the Gods” is a truly epic sequel. The world building is beautifully designed, the story is incredibly engaging, and the battle sequences are raw and relentless. The power of the book is in the characters. They are strong individuals that would circle the land to fight for what they believe in, sacrifice themselves to save the ones they love, and prove their worth to the world. It's bleak, but it also has a great sense of wonder. You want to root for the characters, and it's easy to find one or two of their traits in yourself. I was reading this in a receptive state of mind—I was embroiled in the plot, excited about the resurrection of the gods, and yes, fairly emotional in some heart-wrenching moments.

// The story picks up right where The Shadow of The Gods left off. Orka (my fave), Varg, Elvar (a close second), Biorr, and Gudvarr set the tone and will do anything to achieve their goals in Vigrid. //

In my opinion, the best fantasy novels have very little to do with the actual fight scenes and everything to do with the characters' personal journeys. They go above and beyond what their body is capable of and use their strengths to fight off fears as they embark on their voyage. I love how this series focuses on strong and fierce heroines. From Orka to Rokia, to Elvar and Myrk. You do not want to mess with them, but you would be proud (and honored) to hold up a seax and battle right along side them.

// “Grief, it eats away at us, like rust on iron. But it can be a weapon, too.” //

Right off the bat there is a battle sequence that sets the tone of the entire book. You get exactly what you missed out on the last book. The Gods show up and a fierce battle ensues, leaving you in a state of shock and awe, all the while, wanting more. The stars of the book are once again, Orka and Elvar, a seasoned warrior and a warrior who is coming into her own. Two other key characters are Biorr and Gudvarr. We travel with them as they give us some insight into the “bad guys” and what they are planning for the future of Vigrid. I really enjoyed the depth of the connecting stories and how they are all running steadfast into one another. It's done with heart, grimness, strength, and sometimes, loss.

Orka is still hunting for Breca, and she is using every lead, person, spell, and scrap of information she can find to help her. It's incredibly touching because, on the way to fulfilling her vengeance, she takes time to help others in need when she does not have to. These actions set her apart and make me root for her even more! She is so unselfish with her fighting talents and uses every opportunity to push people away who are trying to help her because she does not want them to get hurt, or worse. Elvar, on the other hand, is taking the Battle-Grim across the land to carry out her blood promise, and Varg is helping his team find Vol. It is a fun journey, and I relished every second of it.

// “I would cross the oceans of the world for you.” //

Okay, incredible story and character development aside, let's talk about some of the fun settings and my favorite sequences. Right at the top of the heap would have to be the tongue creatures that Varg and the crew come across on their way across the ocean. I do not want to give too much away here, but these creatures infect your tongue and slowly rot the body and the mind until you become a shell of yourself and a slave to their will. The description is disgusting, and I had to marvel at the innovative idea. The second would have to be something I can't say without spoilers. Let's just say large things are flying that go bump in the night. The third would have to be the infiltration of Galdur Tower. It was brisk, but oh so exciting. The fourth has to do with Vol. I'll just leave it there. Whew, it was insane. Oh, and one more thing. Can we give a round of applause to the description of the weapons and how they are handled? Also, the shield wall tactics were a fun strategy to learn about, both offensively and defensively.

// “If more made that choice, in their head and hearts, to live a peaceful life with those they love and value, and just allow others to do the same.” //

There is only one more bit I would like to cover before I end the review. When does the third book come out? That ending was crazy. I knew something was up when major things were transpiring and I only had like 20 pages left. But seriously, at the end, what are we left with? Misty eyes, marvelous battles, and some surprising twists. It is a glorious and beautiful tale—one that will appeal to a large number of people. I think it will change the minds of those who really do not like to read fantasy or are on the fence. I'm so glad my GR friends recommended it to me and I will keep the praise flowing to everyone I know as well.

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