Book Review: The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne

The Gist: The Hunger of the Gods deftly blends epic battles and rich character development, redefining fantasy tropes while exploring themes of loyalty and revenge.

Series: Bloodsworn Saga, #2

Release Date: April 12, 2022

Format: Paperback

Rating: 5-stars

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Note: This is a review of the second book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first book below.

I put off reading The Hunger of the Gods for two years! I loved the first book in the Bloodsworn Saga so much that I didn’t think The Hunger of the Gods could live up to it. But, of course, I was wrong.

The second book picks up right where the first left off. We see Orka and Varg meet for the first time—two worlds colliding. While we know Orka has a past that made her a capable soldier, it’s revealed that she was once the leader of the Bloodsworn!

Gwynne’s tendency to subvert typical epic fantasy tropes sets him apart from other fantasy authors. For example, though Orka and Varg’s groups meet, they don’t stick together long. Both have separate objectives—Orka is still chasing after her son’s abductors, while Varg and the Bloodsworn pursue the man who betrayed them and kidnapped their leader’s wife. These diverging paths make the story more dynamic and less predictable.

Elvar’s perspective also picks up right where The Shadow of the Gods left off: her lover, Biorr, has betrayed the Battle-Grim by murdering their leader and (of course) revealing he’s, in fact, part of the group abducting Tainted kids (such as Breca!).

Elvar was my least favourite perspective character in The Shadow of the Gods. She’s young, driven by ego and desperate for fame to fix her daddy issues. Which is fair – she’s in her early 20s and is pretty much in the “have fun” time of her life. But, in contrast to Orka’s more experienced and pragmatic perspective, I found Elvar’s motivations incredibly shallow and problematic. Elvar’s “poor-me” routine and idealistic hopes for her future in the mercenary company were overshadowed by her gross ambivalence to the enslavement of the Tainted. Even when her job required her to act as a slave trader, she didn’t dig too deep into why it made her uncomfortable. I get that not all characters need to be likable to be written well or contribute effectively to the story. Still, Elvar’s lack of critical thinking made it hard to sympathize with her.

New Perspectives and Expanded World-building

I was initially hesitant about the new perspectives introduced in The Hunger of the Gods. We get viewpoints from Biorr, the traitor who betrayed the Battle-Grim, and the nephew of the woman Orka mutilated in book one, who is also responsible for killing Lif’s brother, Gudvarr. However, their inclusion significantly expanded the story, giving us insight into the politics and machinations of the gods, as well as the larger forces shaping the world.

Themes of found family and loyalty run deep throughout the series, but Gwynne also subverts these ideas through characters like Biorr, who was raised in a family with looser morals than the Bloodsworn. His found family isn’t satisfied with survival—they seek revenge and power, aiming to reshape the world’s systems of enslavement. This contrast between the Bloodsworn’s more altruistic goals and Biorr’s group’s ambition adds layers to the theme of loyalty.

Also, I found these new perspectives crucial in building momentum for the plot. Without understanding the political motives, alliances, and intentions of the gods, the reader wouldn’t understand how the smaller (but no less meaningful) objectives of the original trio of characters (e.g., Orka finding her son, Varg avenging his sister, and Elvar getting her battle fame and sticking it to her family) fit into the larger picture. While neither of the original three characters are political actors pushing the brewing war along, their personal objectives alter the course of events and, therefore, the balance of power in their world. Therefore, by adding Biorr and Gudvarr’s perspectives, the stakes are raised even further for the reader as we’re exposed to the bigger picture consequences of our heroes failing.

Story Crafting

Gwynne does a fantastic job balancing plot progression with character development. The brutal combat scenes are balanced with moments that help us connect to the characters emotionally. I found it refreshing that by the end of this second book, each character has achieved some of their objectives. Unlike many trilogies where the middle book feels like filler, The Hunger of the Gods gives us a sense of accomplishment, leaving us excited for how the third book will wrap things up.

Finally, I must mention Gwynne’s writing style. He is skilled at immersing the reader in the characters’ perspectives without relying on information dumps. He reveals world-building details organically through scenes that make sense for the characters. For example, since Orka’s family lives in a small village, Gwynne doesn’t force an exposition scene about village politics—they already know what’s happening. Instead, politics comes naturally into their conversations and concerns, making the world feel more lived-in and authentic.

In Conclusion

Like the first book in this series, The Hunger of the Gods also recieved 5 stars from me! It surpassed my high expectations and defeated the filler-book curse plagued by most second books in trilogies. Gwynne deftly balances rich character development with his epic battle scenes. The new perspectives from Biorr and Gudvarr added depth, expanding the political stakes of the story. I loved the introduction of the Gods and the ramifications of what their re-emergence will mean to a world that now abhors their existence.

I also loved seeing Orka and Elvar meet (although I wish Elvar was a bit more scared of her, it could be a product of youth since Grend was appropriately wary). Also, I’m curious if Grend’s reaction to Orka foreshadows events in the finale. I can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy, The Fury of the Gods, which will be released this October!

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