Author Allen M Werner

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne is the first book in The Bloodsworn Trilogy and it is an amazing first book. In fact, this is the first fantasy fiction novel I’ve read in a while that I didn’t want to put down. It’s a page turner.

There are only three chapter titles and all three are the names of a main character. Varg. Orka. Elvar.

All three of their stories are occurring at the same time in different parts of Vigrio, an Icelandic world of Viking-type warriors braving a cold and dangerous environment full of jarls, swords, merchants, slavers, farms, villages, forts and ships. The wilderness beyond the rune protected portions of society are teeming with marvelous legends of fallen gods, tales of ancient enormous creatures, as well as very real trolls, giant ice spiders, and magic users. There’s plenty of magic just when the story needs a spark of fire, wonder and surprise.

Varg, Orka and Elvar are three uniquely different types of characters. Their stories are masterfully fleshed out and interesting.

There’s not a lot of emotion, not that they don’t have emotions, and connections, and loves, and losses, and desires. It’s just the characters know it is a hard rugged world they live in and they all must manage to suppress their emotions as needed to survive – and get revenge.

This is a story about vengeance, about people who don’t back down from a fight often despite the odds to get back at someone who wronged them. And there is a code of honor and brotherhood amongst the tribes and clans. The book has it all.

If I were to offer one piece of criticism it would be the author’s fascination with the attire. Everyone’s attire. Don’t get me wrong, I love the descriptiveness of their attire, everything from helmets to boots, to swords in their hands and axes on their belts – but sometimes it felt unnecessary for the action at the moment and slowed the pace slightly down when it didn’t need to be. But that is a very minor criticism.

Otherwise, I’m sold on this book and I’m ready to move onto the next book. But… I have other books already waiting to be read. It might not be fair but I’m sure I’ll find a way to bump the next book in The Bloodsworn Trilogy up a few slots so I can get back into author John Gwynne’s world again very soon. 5 stars!

Remember – I have a new novella recently released. Greek mythology. Ares in Chains. There is also free giveaway you can enter on Goodreads for the book that ends on January 29, 2026.

Allen M Werner is the author of the epic dark fantasy series
THE CRYSTAL CRUX