Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne Proves That It Isn't Just The Banished Lands; This Guy Can Write

Mike talks about the first book in the new John Gwynne series, The Bloodsworn Saga, with Shadow of the Gods.
Purchase Shadow of the Gods here: amzn.to/3eTTTcT (physical) amzn.to/3nM6oLC (digital) amzn.to/3b2ydui (audio)
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#MikesBookReviews #JohnGwynne #ShadowOfTheGods

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hey bookworms! I hope you all will give John Gwynne a try if you have not yet. Since it's the question I get the most, I'll answer it here; YES, you can start with this book without reading anything else by him. It is a completely new universe. Enjoy!

[@juliecrisp1159]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brettwaddingham3296]

Spot on description of Gwynne's writing...he truly does remind me of why I liked fantasy in the first place!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Totally!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m glad you didn’t stab your eye with a fork! This book mesmerized me too, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts on it, Mike. Cover of the year? Definitely. Book of the year? It’s on the shortlist for me! Thanks for the awesome video and the shoutout, my friend!

[@mikesbookreviews]

My pleasure. I really enjoyed your thoughts on it.

[@bmoneybby]

Idk an eye patch might do wonders for the channel growth haha

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@bmoneybby 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@currangill430]

I'd be calling him Shivers Review 😂

[@suburbansadboy9668]

Varg and Orka are everything. Elva is growing on me finally, almost halfway through. But i am in loveeee with this book so far.

[@andreabknight]

Me too- Elvar took longer to bond with than the other two

[@callum7081]

Reading malice for the first time because of this channel and it’s fucking awesome!

[@theoa126]

I'm on Ruin right now, and I'm so invested lol. It keeps getting better! Enjoy.

[@levianderson5744]

Hands down one my fav series I've ever read, enjoy!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to hear it!

[@madscientist2621]

@@theoa126 just so you know, the ending of Ruin, will ruin you. Emotionally. Great book!

[@whatkatyreads8317]

I still haven't read anything by John Gwynne but I will be reading Malice in July.

[@ianandrew1478]

Malice in may you say?

[@fostoria1854]

My copy arrives tomorrow , so excited. Thanks for being the reason i've gotten back into reading again. 🤘

[@mikesbookreviews]

Such an awesome thing to hear. Thanks!

[@MichaelSmith-kw9hz]

Got mine today in the mail, can’t wait to start it ... Thank you for all your time, with the reviews.

[@Griffinater3]

This is the first time one of your reviews had totally sold me on a book I wasn't originally interested in. Looking forward to checking this one out now.

[@Sighience]

I can feel your excitement to talk about this book, that’s awesome haha, hope the start of the weeks good mike an know you made another John gywnne fan!

[@B_Ahmed1234]

When Varg had that stew in Chapter 2, it really made me want to have some bread dipped in stew 🤤

[@mikesbookreviews]

John made me hungry the whole book ha ha

[@winstonchurchill137]

There was a definitely a few times when John Gwynne goes into detail about food. He must’ve been rather hungry at the time lol

[@ianandrew1478]

It’s in the mail. Can’t wait.

[@ZacharyMBower]

Just got mine in the mail!! Super pumped to read it!!

[@yorkshirelasstracey5383]

What a great way to start my day. 6.30 am here in East Yorkshire England. My copy doesn't arrive for 2 more days however the excitement is real and I'm finishing up my 2 currently reading books until then. Great video thank you. 🤓

[@Olliebear38]

The perfect day to stay home ignore the weather and 📚

[@ZamWeazle]

Hope you enjoy! I live just over 1 hour drive from The man, John Gwynne himself, down here in the south! maybe I should pop by for a cup of tea sometime? 🍵 😆

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

Always good to see more people from Yorkshire here

[@lauren_s9037]

Awesome review! Hardcover is on pre-order and audio-book is downloaded, cannot wait to start.

[@animeisthewayhaha]

Can't wait for my book to show up today so I can rip right into it 😂

[@thanosthedarkone3866]

never clicked on a video faster

[@josie-thebubblybookreviewe8663]

A great book for sure. Thanks for your review.

[@narutobullock]

"He is not here." Skull Spliter Hot damn iam in fellas

[@mystoreysofstories]

Great review! My book club chose this book for next month and I was hesitant because I don’t really care about mythology at all, but the way you talked about it has me actually excited now to give it a try! It’ll be my first John Gwynne book. :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy!

[@erikapatterson484]

Another great review! I read this about two months ago when I was approved for the ebook. SO good! The wait for the second book to be released is going to be long. Atleast we have a release in September from Joe Abercrombie to hold us over.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Tis a good year.

[@jakebishop7822]

I need this book.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'm sure you're finished by this point.

[@jakebishop7822]

@@mikesbookreviews i wanted the hardcover, so am probably going to have to wait longer for Book Depository to get it to me

[@annafelka4042]

I was getting excited to read this book and my boyfriend surprised me and ordered it for me! I’ll be starting it Saturday!

[@lucasbertsche3710]

This was my first JG book and it’s definitely got me wanting to read Faithful and the Fallen!

[@sjkrum320]

I really enjoyed book 1 of Faithful and the Fallen. Sadly, the library for the blind doesn't have any of his books which is a shame because reading the first book gave me the sane feelings of love for the material that Wheel of Time did. Maybe some day my budget will allow for an Audible subscription. Until then, I'll just enjoy your reviews and live vicariously through you lol

[@blinkyschannel]

Don’t you have barrd? They have the first three books at least

[@sjkrum320]

@@blinkyschannel they didn't the last time I checked. But I'll look again. I hope they have it 🙏

[@lucasyoung5397]

I put this book on the top of my tbr after this review and reading it currently so good!

[@warhammer_studios]

I just finished this book today and started the next one, good stuff! Bloody and raw.

[@ianandrew1478]

New setup looking real good.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I'm excited for it!!

[@jonathank2796]

Getting my copy tomorrow in the mail may 4th release day. Like I told him it’s an honor for him to release it on my birthday 🎂

[@personmcpersonperson2893]

Great review 👍

[@NamasteBbooktube]

Sounds great! I'm interested.

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

Thank you Mike. That sounds awesome. I will have to get going on starting his books after I finish the WoT. I am having some trouble getting a move on with book 9.

[@mikesbookreviews]

This will definitely be a change of pace.

[@bruceh1660]

I found mine at my local Barnes and noble on Thursday, and I’m almost done it’s so good. John Gwynn doesn’t miss

[@mikesbookreviews]

He's 8 for 8. It's amazing.

[@TrafalgarL4wyer]

I'm only on chapter 4 and I had to stop myself from reading, definitely had the urge for "one more chapter" but I needed to sleep and get rest. Super excited for reading more tonight

[@mikesbookreviews]

Just call in sick to work. PROBLEM SOLVED.

[@TrafalgarL4wyer]

@@mikesbookreviews You're on to something... lol!

[@sleeplessbard2519]

I had to do a double take Mike when you lifted that mug up as my Internet pseudonym shortened is just 'Bard' haha

[@brettmurray2473]

Picking this bad boy up later today... Mainly for the cover. It's going to have to wait until I get through the Banished lands 🔥🔥🔥

[@AmeiWasHere]

Great review! I adore John Gwynne! I need to get to his second series before this one!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's so good!

[@evanbode4660]

I’m just about down with Malice and I’m really loving John Gwynne! I also love God of War so I will definitely be buying this book later this week!

[@rapha_spi]

It's the next one on my TBR!

[@Buchertn]

I'm so excited to read this but my copy won't arrive till late friday but great things come to thoughs who wait!

[@praff5308]

Big John Gwynne fan, thx for the review Michael.

[@BaldBookTuber]

This will be my next read. Can’t wait!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Buckle up, my man.

[@demidrek-heyward]

Thanks Mike!

[@Azrof]

Great job

[@dmick9168]

Because of you John Gwynne is now on my radar and approaching fast!

[@supernorry3847]

Your shirt is awesome btw great freekin Song of Ice and Fire shirt, it looks so cool

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks!!

[@noname3609]

What an amazing book ! Loved it.Best 1st Gwynne book in a series no doubt ! :D

[@JasonReads]

This book was awesome and I am so looking forward to the next one...I love that JG writes as fast as he does. Taking 5+ years to read a trilogy can be annoying, lol. Definitely recommend this one!

[@theoa126]

Read an ARC, still waiting for my copy today so I can throw this beauty on the shelf next to the rest of my Gwynne treasures!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I may be eyeballing the street myself this evening waiting for the post.

[@briangallagher3106]

I just bought the faithful and the fallen series along with Memory sorrow and thorn which I’m reading right now while waiting to get into Memories of Ice. I’ll start MOI tmw.

[@nexishadow]

Great review friend. Fyi, Christopher ruocchio pulls a mike every once in a while by drinking from his mug really funny

[@mikesbookreviews]

Me and Chris are homies now, so I'll allow it.

[@reo7859]

After your glowing review I´m going to give John Gwynn another try. So far I read Malice(which was...fine) and half of Valor but quit that one halfway through because I just...didn´t really care. It just didn´t grip me, I found myself forgetting that I was reading this book and everytime I started reading again I just got bored after a few pages. No harm done not every book has to work for everyone and I´m kinda excitited to give this new series a chance cause usually we align with book opinions haha

[@Ulmo90]

I liked the book a lot, never had the time for more than 2-3 chapters at a time, but I liked it a lot and I'll pick up the next one soon

[@andrewk3693]

I managed to get a copy three days early. Barnes and Noble didn't care about release dates I guess. But damn. This book... impressed the fuck out of me.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

That sounds awesome!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It is!

[@dmick9168]

OK when you compared it to God of War on ps4 and Vikings I am sold. Cant wait to read this!

[@kelseycarter161]

I’m completely blind, so I have to wait for this to come out on audio. I don’t know if it will or not. It’s actually pretty frustrating. But I know it’s really no one’s fault. I just really want to read this book.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It will be coming out on audio. I heard that the recording was done recently. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

[@hammerfaust-bk5mf]

Actually, good news, its already on audible, just looked it up right now

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@hammerfaust-bk5mf Yay! I’m happy to hear that! Enjoy!

[@sjkrum320]

It's a shame the taking book library for the blind hasn't realized how amazing these books are.

[@kelseycarter161]

I don’t see it. At least not on the US audible page.

[@cynthiaholmes5124]

Right now I'm in the middle of wrath book 4 in the faithful and the fallen series it's really great can't wait to read shadow of the gods will be reading it once the library gets it 😃😄😊🙂

[@adamr9739]

The shelves look soooooo good. Can we expect a tour ;)

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'd stay tuned to the channel for a little something soon.

[@jimronnysrlie8601]

I started this year by reading 'Shadow of the gods', 'Illborn' and 'Boy's life'... I don't know if anything can top that. Three different books, but damn they're soooo good!

[@madscientist2621]

Mike, I'm with ya. What keeps me engaged is having to like the characters. It doesn't matter how good any of the other details are; if I don't care about the characters, I'm not going to keep reading.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, he's so good at that.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

Truth and Courage!

[@lucasbertsche3710]

I finally finished! It took me a while to get into this one tbh, but the second half more than made up for the slow start

[@dcarman686]

Very good book. Characters are awesome. Favorite is Varga, and Orka

[@mikesbookreviews]

Orka kicks ass.

[@Big_Stink]

I listened to the audiobook while working, and the only downside i could mention is that the narrator made everything sound so bleak. I get that it's a tough situation, but man, haha, I took a couple weeks and then came back to it, and im glad i did! A great final third part

[@dpeady78]

Let’s go !

[@PsyKotyK]

Lol love how u mention grr martin and food . He made me hungry

[@AngelVelezGreyWolf]

Which is even more crazy he just finished the second book too. Lol I'm looking forward to dive into that world after I finished the Faithful and the Fallen.

[@mikesbookreviews]

His writing speed is insane.

[@wwfix3224]

A rival for Brandon Sanderson

[@epiphoney]

I think this series is a bit slower paced than Faithful and the Fallen with more description. There is a glossary in the back, and Gwynne's sons also did a video on the words. Sword & Laser is reading it now.

[@someweeb4110]

Orka is fucking terrifying. The realization when she grabs that two-handed axe holyyyy shit I was scared before...

[@TheInvincibleArmour]

Bernard Cornwells Arthur trilogy has always been my fav fantasy adventure. Will give Shadow of the Gods a shot

[@AverageJoesLibrary]

I’m sad I didn’t get to this one before it’s release. Unsure if I’ll do a review but I can’t resist a Gwynne book. I also think he just wrapped up on first draft of next book.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, he's a full year ahead of schedule. I do love an author that actually writes.

[@dpeady78]

If you want to read non fiction and learn about Norse culture, I recommend you read Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price

[@TrafalgarL4wyer]

I will go so far as to say it's the best cover I have ever owned... and I own a ton of Sanderson, LOTR, all of the WOT, Harry Potter, etc.

[@Jumpyfoot]

It's been a while since I have watched one of your videos but I have a thought that your average view count is going to skyrocket by the end of 2021.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hmm, we shall see!

[@Jumpyfoot]

@@mikesbookreviews Simply start filming reaction/commentary to individual Wheel of Time TV show episodes when they are finally available. Maybe not one by one but perhaps in groups of 3, depending on how many thoughts you have? There's your views! :-)

[@mvinson8706]

I had to watch this review or maybe I didn’t have to. I really wanna read this!

[@TrailingThePages]

This was my first “Fantasy” book I’ve read in a very long time, and man this was so good! I typically read literature/non-fiction, so at first it was tough to adjust. But what Gwynne lacks in literary prose, he excels in with action-packed plot and developing great lore and characters. Okra is so bad ass, I named my Barbarian in Diablo 4 after her. Can’t wait to read more!

[@trumpetmaster83]

Omg God of war and the last kingdom, currently waiting on my copy to arrive!!!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

You're going to love it.

[@supernorry3847]

I pre ordered it, it is obviously supposed to come out today, but pre orders always go wrong with online shopping, atleast on the website i used to buy it. I am sure it will come in 1 or 2 days but i kinda wanted to read it on release day

[@RiashadHassan]

Dead gods rising wow That's a fantastic name

[@coleton7048]

Knowing you're a Texan and seeing that hand cannon behind you, what other guns do you own? I'm a Texan myself!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Well that one is a prop and non-functional. The others (Colt 380 and Ruger 9mm) are in the gun safe hidden from the kids.

[@monsouranda2822]

That's a huge dragon.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That's the best type of dragon.

[@HanShotFirst2131]

Anyone else picture Brianne of Tarth as Orka while reading?

[@chadeklund9835]

If you love John and his ability to keep the action up while still getting great character development you should really check out The Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan. Absolutely amazing trilogy with amazing characters, action, awesome world, and a phenomenal magic system especially with the powers mages.

[@XenialShotYT]

I felt there was so many characters I had to keep a Google docs of notes, to hear this is a beginners starting point on that aspect is disheartening. But I gotta read more of his work.

[@antonioangeloviii4748]

how long did it take you to read it fully? im finding reading quickly paints the picture much better in my mind when reading books in general.

[@TheJKOLP]

I love this series. Anyone have a recommendation for other books like this?

[@ndb1aydc]

I have a question, does the timing of when you read a certain book play a role in your opinion of it ? Whether that opinion negative or positive. Like mike says he was reading this in between Malazan books, so maybe he treated shadow of the gods more of a pallet cleanser? Which is why maybe he loved it so much. If let’s say he read it for the first time at a different time & within different context. Can your opinion of the same book be different?

[@stuart1346]

Comes out in the U.K. on the 6th. Why do I have to wait?

[@lesleycollins2535]

I got mine I have just started it

[@stillpraisingthesun1612]

I guess I know what book I'm reading after the Crippled god.

[@hampe123]

I havent read anything of Mr. Gwynes earlier works. Is it ok to start with this one or am I missing out on lore , caracters etc. ??

[@mikesbookreviews]

Perfectly safe to start here.

[@AJPzaworld]

Been wanting to give John Gwynne another chance since I didn't dig Faithful and the Fallen all too much--not bad objectively or anything, just never clicked--so I'll definitely have to give it a go.

[@ianandrew1478]

I dnf malice. Was convicted to finish it up.. Valor is 458.5% better. Then it only gets better..

[@MiNick79]

If you are looking for more information on norse history I’d recommend Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price.

[@odiums_taint]

pre-ordered, but doesnt get here til friday :/

[@Milkdaddy248]

This is the first I book I completed

[@mako_reaktor]

the book and audiobook are blocked in my country... can't buy it from amazon or other websites. Big bummer.

[@annarien4333]

Came straight to your review after finishing the book (in less than 2 days, I just couldn't put it down, merely switched to the audiobook when I had things to do) and oh yeah... you're saying what I'm feeling. I think I like this book/saga better than Faithful and the Fallen (and sequels) because there's nothing even remotely young adult in it and no more cookie-cutter do-gooders like Corban&crew. It's a full on adult book with no more growing pains for the characters, story, writing, etc. To my mind, it's also very close to Joe Abercrombie in terms of visceral, evocative writing. I could seriously smell all the stinks and taste all the blood... and the cheese! Also... Orka is The Bloody Nine with tits and I LOVE IT. There's something of a competition in my mind right now, between books that came out this year (and at the end of last year) to see which one I love best: The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne, The God is Not Willing, by Steven Erikson, The Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson and The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie. I know Brandon's book will come in 4th, even though I love the Stormlight Archive. The other three, though... they might have to duel for the top spot.

[@francesconucera2458]

Does Someone know when the 3rd book of this saga Will be released???