The Hunger of the Gods

As many people know, I had mixed feelings on [b: The Shadow of the Gods 52694527 The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1) John Gwynne https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610375894l/52694527.SY75.jpg 73710031]. I was definitely in the minority of that opinion, but I found that I didn't grow many attachments to characters and the plot wasn't memorable for me. I've always wondered if I just read it at the wrong time, which is very possible. Regardless, I went into this book hesitantly. I really, really wanted to like it, and knew I would be so disappointed if I didn't.Hey! I loved it! I want to start by thanking John Gwynne for all of the recap information at the beginning of the book. Every fantasy novel in a series besides the first should have this. We all read such huge, dense fantasy novels. There's no way to remember everything, especially when a lot of time has passed! This recap really helped remind me what happened in the first book and prep me to dive right back into this story. I grew so fond of the characters in the book this time. I love the camaraderie formed in each band of warriors. I love all of the nuances to their characters, even though many of them have similar motivations. By the end, I was definitely crying and rooting for everything these characters did. The setting was made to feel so immersive and real. It reminded me a lot of AC: Valhalla honestly. The different plot lines were a little confusing for me in the beginning, but as I got reacquainted with everything, I was no longer confused. The plots were all so well thought out and paced. I didn't feel like there were long stretches that dragged or unnecessary plot lines. I love the exploration we are getting of the gods, but I'm especially loving getting to learn about the powers of their descendants. This world is just so cool and I'm so excited to continue on with this series. TW: death, gore and blood, body horror, slavery, war, brief mentions of rape/sexual assault