This being my first John Gwynne series and me going in without reading reviews, I was pleasantly surprised to find an impeccably-written, Norse-inspired, original high fantasy plot with action-packed storyline.

I will keep this short and sweet, and I don’t even have a choice, I was so engrossed in reading the book that I haven’t taken down much notes and there is nothing that I did not like about this book. Right from the enticing cover art to the way the three storylines come together, I am in absolute awe. I solemnly swear to avoid spoilers for this review. So here we go.

It is not only a godless world that Gwynne first presents to us, it is one where the gods have been killed off by each other and have destroyed/changed much of the world as they knew it. The story has an undertone of betrayal from the get-go, through its world history, the way society works and the in the words of the people. The story takes off from three very different angles, following the protagonists, Orka, Varg and Elvar, as they forge their own paths through the ordeals life throw at them. All of them come from different backgrounds and it would seem for the most part of the book that their stories are completely separate from each other, until they are not. Orka is on a rescue mission, while Varg and Elvar have entwined their fates with groups of people in pursuit of fame and power. Varg is a freed thrall, slave in their world, and Elvar is the rebel daughter of the Jarl, choosing to fight in the shield wall and carve a place for herself in the world rather than be a breeding mare for her father to trade. Gwynne’s mastery over the way the plot comes together has left me wanting to read more of this saga. Vengeful, bloody, and a little complicated, this high fantasy series has pulled off an incredible beginning.

In some ways this book might feel like a long exposition to this epic saga that Gwynne is clearly building up to, but there is not one moment where something major is not happening in the plot. The polished language builds up the anticipation as we come face to face with a long-dead god by the end of the book and clearly, this book becomes the introduction to the main action to follow, people to find and avenge and a god to slay, maybe even resurrect another.

I, honestly, have half a page note for this huge 480-page book and I blame the engaging plot for this. But things that would stand out to you when you first start reading are the obvious Norse setting with cultural, geography, names and gods, this sets the stage for a world where Norse myths converge with the magical world of fantasy. There are warriors, slaves and sea voyages, trust is hard-earned and even then, too easily betrayed. Gwynne does not shy away from descriptions, he is subtle when it comes to the plot, but offers vivid descriptions of the landscape, inner thoughts of the characters and battle scenes. The theme of pursuit of immortality through battle-fame is a recurrent concept, and secrets, there are too many secrets. The characters are all battling with their past lives and maybe the key to finding solace is in accepting who they are, history and all, I am definitely looking forward to the character arcs for this particular reason.

Bloodlines hold a lot of value in this world that hungers for power, money and vengeance. With strange rune-drawn magics ruling the world and shapeshifters roaming among men, the fear and alienation of the out of the ordinary is palpable. In a barbaric turn of events, the Tainted, the different, are hunted down and enslaved. There is this looming sense of a big chunk of the story being withheld which builds up the anticipation for the next book.

This saga is set to be a trilogy and only two books are out (as of July, 2022). I am going to take my time reading the second one, lest I have to read both books again before the third comes out. But this was a riveting read after a while as far as fantasy goes and is definitely recommended. If you do decide to wait for the final installment of the Bloodsworn saga to be released, do check out his other books, I definitely plan to.