Review: The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

Blurb:

The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne's bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance.

The final battle for the fate of Vigrid approaches...

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.  

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from without and within. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reigning in the ferocity of a wolf god. 

As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa’s favour and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.

Review:

Epic battles, furious gods, vengeful Vikings—what more could you want? With The Fury of the Gods, John Gwynne has put a tight bow on the fantastic Bloodsworn Saga. It’s a thrilling conclusion that marks a triumphant return for the author, filled with all the hallmarks that have made John Gwynne one of the best writers of modern fantasy.

The Battle-Plain of Vigrið stands in wait as the gods prepare for one last bloody battle. The Bloodsworn have been enlisted by Elvar and the Battle-Grim to join forces to slay the dragon god Lik-Rifa. Within the skeletal remains of the father of the world Snaka, Elvar must earn the trust of the wolf god whom she enthralled in order to stand a chance in the battles to come. Meanwhile, the crimes of the past loom over Biórr and the Raven-Feeders, while the cowardly Guðvarr seeks the favor of the ferocious Lik-Rifa. Their roads are all destined to converge, and the result will be nothing short of a clash that will change the Battle-Plain forever.

There is so much that I can laud The Fury of the Gods for that it’s hard to know where to begin. Grand, epic, and chaotic battles? Check. A story with twists and turns, laughs and tears? Check. Memorable characters with a wonderful Norse mythological twist? Check. Wicked god-magic and powerful and destructive deities? Check, check, check. Gwynne has all of these in spades, and everything that made the first two books of the Bloodsworn Saga so great has returned here.

I’ve long risen Gwynne as the best writer of battles in fantasy, and that remains no different here. Drawing on his real-world experiences as a Viking re-enactor, Gwynne captures the chaos and the fog of war perfectly in his prose. It’s punchy and to the point, claustrophobic as steel clashes against steel and blood spills from each strike. Few authors are able to invoke that same feeling of being down on the ground, seeing and feeling everything from up close, as well as Gwynne does. He hasn’t lost a beat.

The plot remains as strong as ever, striking a hearty balance between the epic and bloody scenes with the softer and more character-driven moments. While this is a series very much rooted in loss and war, it also has a foothold in family (both found and of blood), dedication, duty, and love. It is perhaps in these smaller scenes where Gwynne has evolved most as an author, where reunions and oaths have reached the same emotional pulls as the shocking betrayals have long done.

And all that is, of course, lifted by a stellar cast of powerful warriors, scheming opportunists, and furious gods. Gwynne’s character work is in top form in Fury, and that allows all moments great and small to absolutely fly off the page. The Bloodsworn brethren whom we have gotten to know over three books all get their moments to shine, whether they are major or minor characters, and our villains—the highlights being the conflicted Biórr, the cravenly Guðvarr, and the cunning rat god Rotta—have incredible depth such that you cannot help but love to hate them. This book had me cheering with excitement and gasping in shock and growling with anger, and that is a testament to the sterling work Gwynne has done with his cast.

The Fury of the Gods is nothing short of a triumph in so many ways, and John Gwynne has wrapped up the Bloodsworn Saga masterfully. It’s epic, it’ll make you cheer, it’ll shatter your heart, and, most importantly, it’s gonna stick with you for a while. I have no qualms about calling this series as a modern classic. If you’re an epic fantasy fan, this is one you need to jump on without hesitation.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go blast some Amon Amarth, throw on God of War: Ragnarök, and finally try to beat Gná after two long years—and never mind I already died again.