The Shadow of the GodsThe Shadow of the Gods
What it's about
In a Norse-inspired world, the gods destroyed themselves in a war long ago, and their bones still lie in the land. Three people set out on their own quests: a huntress whose son has been taken, a slave escaping to find his sister's killer, and a young noblewoman fighting to prove herself among a band of mercenaries, all drawn toward a coming storm.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a brutal, exciting epic fantasy.
You'll love it if you liked
The Eye of the World
The Will of the Many
The DevilsGood to know
It's very violent and the first of a trilogy.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #131 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #198 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #241 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1378 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
More by John Gwynne
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The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
The Everlasting
Cloud Cuckoo Land
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Quick answers
Is The Shadow of the Gods worth reading?
Yes. It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,378 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Shadow of the Gods about?
In a Norse-inspired world, the gods destroyed themselves in a war long ago, and their bones still lie in the land. Three people set out on their own quests: a huntress whose son has been taken, a slave escaping to find his sister's killer, and a young noblewoman fighting to prove herself among a band of mercenaries, all drawn toward a coming storm.
How long does it take to read The Shadow of the Gods?
About 12 hours (496 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Shadow of the Gods?
If you liked it, try The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, The Will of the Many by James Islington or The Devils by Joe Abercrombie.