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The Shadow of the Gods
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins
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The Hunger of the Gods
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 22 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
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Savage and enthralling.
- By D. Schmitt on 2022-09-13
Written by: John Gwynne
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Malice
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle, but now giants are seen, the stones weep blood, and giant wyrms are stirring. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. For if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind's hopes and dreams will fall to dust....
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Great narrator in the fight scenes.
- By David on 2020-04-27
Written by: John Gwynne
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Valor
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Corban flees his homeland searching for peace, but he soon discovers that there is no haven in the west as the agents of Rhin and roaming bands of giants hound his every step. Veradis leaves the battleground and rushes to his King's side. But he has witnessed both combat and betrayal and his duty weighs heavily upon him. Maquin seeks only revenge, but pirate slavers and the brutal world of pit-fighting stand in his way. Nathair becomes embroiled in the wars of the west as Queen Rhin marches against King Owain. The need to find the cauldron of the giants drives him on.
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Good solid storyline
- By Xena on 2023-01-31
Written by: John Gwynne
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Ruin
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 28 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.
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Every bad guy is S teir
- By jml on 2022-06-24
Written by: John Gwynne
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Wrath
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld. Then Asroth and his demon-horde will finally break into the Banished Lands and become flesh.
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Love this series
- By W on 2022-11-25
Written by: John Gwynne
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A Time of Blood
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Drem and his friends are haunted by the horrors they witnessed at the battle at Starstone Lake: the screams of men being warped into beasts and the sight of a demon rising from the dead. But worse than any memory is Fritha, the demons' deadly high priestess. And she is hunting them. Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv knows her very existence as a half-breed is a threat to the Ben-Elim. She represents their most dangerous secret - and if the warrior angels find her, they won't hesitate to silence her.
Written by: John Gwynne
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The Hunger of the Gods
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 22 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
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Savage and enthralling.
- By D. Schmitt on 2022-09-13
Written by: John Gwynne
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Malice
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle, but now giants are seen, the stones weep blood, and giant wyrms are stirring. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. For if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind's hopes and dreams will fall to dust....
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Great narrator in the fight scenes.
- By David on 2020-04-27
Written by: John Gwynne
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Valor
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Corban flees his homeland searching for peace, but he soon discovers that there is no haven in the west as the agents of Rhin and roaming bands of giants hound his every step. Veradis leaves the battleground and rushes to his King's side. But he has witnessed both combat and betrayal and his duty weighs heavily upon him. Maquin seeks only revenge, but pirate slavers and the brutal world of pit-fighting stand in his way. Nathair becomes embroiled in the wars of the west as Queen Rhin marches against King Owain. The need to find the cauldron of the giants drives him on.
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Good solid storyline
- By Xena on 2023-01-31
Written by: John Gwynne
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Ruin
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 28 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.
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Every bad guy is S teir
- By jml on 2022-06-24
Written by: John Gwynne
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Wrath
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld. Then Asroth and his demon-horde will finally break into the Banished Lands and become flesh.
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Love this series
- By W on 2022-11-25
Written by: John Gwynne
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A Time of Blood
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Drem and his friends are haunted by the horrors they witnessed at the battle at Starstone Lake: the screams of men being warped into beasts and the sight of a demon rising from the dead. But worse than any memory is Fritha, the demons' deadly high priestess. And she is hunting them. Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv knows her very existence as a half-breed is a threat to the Ben-Elim. She represents their most dangerous secret - and if the warrior angels find her, they won't hesitate to silence her.
Written by: John Gwynne
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A Time of Courage
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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The demon king Asroth has been freed from his iron prison. Now, alongside his dark bride, Fritha, he plans to conquer the whole of the Banished Lands. In the shadows of Forn Forest, Riv and the surviving Ben-Elim desperately search for a way to unite those who remain against Asroth's vast army. Far in the west, Drem is with the Order of the Bright Star, besieged by a demon horde. Their fragile defenses are on the brink of shattering, but they know that it is better to fight and die than to live without hope.
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Truth and courage
- By Sue Barker on 2022-03-08
Written by: John Gwynne
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A Time of Dread
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The Ben-Elim, a race of warrior angels, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished lands. But their dominion is brutally enforced and their ancient enemy may not be as crushed as they thought. In the snowbound north, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests - a sign of demonic black magic. In the south, Riv, a young, tempestuous soldier, discovers a deadly rift within the Ben-Elim themselves. Two individuals with two world-changing secrets. But where will they lead?
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nice trip back
- By Brian on 2018-04-23
Written by: John Gwynne
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The Pariah
- Written by: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army. Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance.
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Absolutely fantastic
- By HW on 2022-07-23
Written by: Anthony Ryan
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The Rage of Dragons
- Written by: Evan Winter
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable fight for almost 200 years. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every 2,000 women has the power to call down dragons. One in every 100 men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine. Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Young, giftless Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He's going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land. Only, he doesn't get the chance. Those closest to him are murdered....
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Rage of meh
- By James on 2019-08-23
Written by: Evan Winter
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The Martyr
- Written by: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Times have changed for Alwyn Scribe. Once an outlaw, he’s now a spymaster and sworn protector of Lady Evadine Courlain, whose visions of a demonic apocalypse have earned her the fanatical devotion of the faithful. Yet Evadine’s growing fame has put her at odds with both Crown and Covenant. As trouble brews in the kingdom, both seek to exploit her position for their own ends.
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Oh $&@€ this was good
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-11-09
Written by: Anthony Ryan
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Jade Legacy
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 28 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. As the struggle over the control of jade grows ever larger and more deadly, the Kaul family, and the ancient ways of the Kekonese Green Bones, will never be the same.
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Perfect
- By matthew king on 2023-01-26
Written by: Fonda Lee
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The Wisdom of Crowds
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: The Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption.
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Unforgivable
- By Anonymous User on 2021-09-26
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Jade City
- The Green Bone Saga, Book 1
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for - and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion. Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city.
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Interesting take on modern fantasy, I'd recommend!
- By Chris Conrod on 2020-09-19
Written by: Fonda Lee
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The Fires of Vengeance
- Written by: Evan Winter
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Tau and his Queen, desperate to delay the impending attack on the capital by the indigenous people of Xidda, craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the Queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the "true" Queen of the Omehi.
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A Fierce Sequel
- By Amy Braun on 2022-08-05
Written by: Evan Winter
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Jade War
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 24 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years. Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.
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Absolutely Brilliant In Every Conceivable Way
- By Anonymous User on 2021-04-22
Written by: Fonda Lee
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A Little Hatred
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
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found my new favorite author
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-28
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Written by: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves.
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Twists and Turns.
- By Enn on 2019-01-28
Written by: Scott Lynch
Publisher's Summary
From acclaimed fantasy author John Gwynne comes the first in the Bloodsworn trilogy, an epic of wild lands and wilder magic, where not all monsters fight with tooth and claw...and the treasures of the gods come at a price.
This is the age of storm and murder.
After the old gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrio.
Now, power-hungry jarls carve out petty kingdoms, and monsters stalk the shadow-haunted woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power, promising fame, and fortune for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.
As whispers of war echo over the plains and across the fjords, fate follows the footsteps of three people: a huntress searching for her missing son, a jarl's daughter who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who has cast off his chains and now fights alongside the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
All three will shape the fate of the world, as it once more teeters on the edge of chaos.
For more from John Gwynne, check out:
Of Blood and Bone series: A Time of Dread, A Time of Blood, and A Time of Courage
The Faithful and the Fallen series: Malice, Valor, Ruin, and Wrath
What the critics say
"Gwynne, a Viking reenactor, puts in the work, with fine historical details that make the story come to life. Fans of the era will be delighted with the accuracy. This is a duly exciting start to the series." (Publishers Weekly)
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What listeners say about The Shadow of the Gods
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kenneth Revoy
- 2021-05-19
Gwynne is Gold
John Gwynne never disappoints, and this introduction to his latest series confirms it. Gripping from the first chapters, beautiful world building, with a great pace and a thrilling ending. When you add in a the voice talents of Mr. Mace for this audiobook, it's a home run.
Only listen if you're interested in: fantasy, vikings, exceptional story telling and violence.
4 people found this helpful
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- Shay Bergunder
- 2021-10-10
Addicting and captivating
I could not put it down. The author has created a thrilling story. The voice actor holds your attention and paints the story for you. Amazing pairing.
1 person found this helpful
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- Langer
- 2023-01-30
The Very Definition Of "Dark" Fantasy
This tale is subdued, gritty, brutal, and loaded with viscerally-affecting gory imagery. John Gwynne paints a vivid picture of a Norse Myth-inspired grim reality - following three plot threads to establish his imaginative world: 'Orka' - a hardscrabble hunter-scavenger trying to avenge a murdered husband & rescue a kidnapped son; 'Jarl' - a thrall (~peasant-slave) training to join the legendary "Bloodsworn" mercenaries; and 'Elvar' - daughter of a "Jarl" (feudal lord) abandoning her birthright to seek glory. Each plotline is delivered capably - if a little overburdened with violent encounter after violent encounter - and does a nice job of exploring interesting characters with interesting motivations.
Unfortunately, the societal myth aspects of the overall story arc (involving ancient battles among the now-absent Gods) are unclear - we have no idea *why* this is all happening; invented languages (too frequently quoted) feed the magic system - nonsense phrases get tiresome pretty quickly; virtually *every* chapter includes a bloody death or a fight with a horrible monster dripping saliva and black ichor - it's unrelenting; and I was frustratingly never captivated by the story - frequently finding my mind wander.
Likewise unfortunate, the narration from Colin Mace contributes to the "droning" impression that I frequently got from the book (noticing it "playing in the background").
Don't get me wrong.. Mace's performance is actually spot-on: pacing, diction, timbre, cadence, and voice-acting are all exemplary (in fact quite a bit above-average) - but he picks up on Gwynne's dark tone a little bit too well. He reads with such seriousness & severity that the narration comes across as almost monotonously gloomy. I furthermore couldn't immerse myself in the fantasy.. actually unable to maintain concentration.
If you are enamored with GrimDark Fantasy dialed up to 11, 'The Shadow Of The Gods' is well-worth your time. I am not (not really). As it stands, I rate the book 7.5 stars out of 10: good enough to make it an enjoyable distraction for a couple of quiet afternoons, but not good enough to get me to invest in reading further in Gwynne's series.
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- Reuben Van Beek
- 2022-12-23
Wow
One of the best books I’ve read and listening to it was incredible. Just do it
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- Keely Hall
- 2022-12-21
A great fantasy adventure.
I loved it. Could barely stop listening, it evoked emotions in me, I will continue this Saga. I highly recommend.
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- JcH
- 2022-11-29
Phenomenal
First book from John Gwynne I've listened to, after this one I'll be listening/reading many more
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- W
- 2022-10-13
What a book.
A great book that gets you into the story straight away. Great narration too. On to book two
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-08-11
A must buy!
A thrilling journey from start to finish. Action packed all the way through! I highly recommend this title and Skyrim fans will feel nostalgic.
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- D. Schmitt
- 2022-08-02
Nearly flawless.
In depth world-building, meticulous character development, thrilling battles and a plot that never stops gripping you. This is your new favorite fantasy. Post-Ragnarok epic done right. Great narrative too.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2022-07-17
A thrill from start to finish
Never before has a book intrigued me start to finish and leaving me wanting more immediately.
while is may have had a slow start, when it picks it, it's non stop til the last chapter. All the characters were very interesting and I cared deeply for each one.
If you like reading about battles, dark fantasy, viking and Norse mythology, this book is a must read!
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- John
- 2021-05-31
Not for me
I have heard nothing but gushing reviews for this book, things like "If you like Brandon Sanderson you'll love this book!" but I see zero comparison. Everything I love about Sanderson was missing in this book, especially interesting characters and a protagonist to root for. The three POV characters were all interchangeably boring from a perpetually unhappy mother who became murderously angry searching for her son (understandable but still not interesting) to Varg, a former slave sad-sack who could have been a great POV but just lacked any qualities to be able to empathize for him to finally a another character I have hardly any memory of or care for (nothing happened to her that I can recall).
I'm happy others liked this book, and perhaps the narrator just made the characters sound sad and uninteresting but I could barely finish this book (I hate to DNF) and ultimately I will not continue. Also, I hope to never hear the term "thought cage" again!
32 people found this helpful
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- George Palm
- 2021-05-10
Amazing book with an unamazing narrator
The book is amazing, the story is enthralling, and the narrator was the only thing detracting from the book.
Seriously, his voice wasn't great, he constantly mispronounced words, and his characters weren't distinguished from one another even if the writing was. I'd pay to have someone else read this book tbh.
28 people found this helpful
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- Virate190
- 2021-07-07
Excellent Hidden Gem
Ive become a bit conservative with my book choices recently, cause when i take a chance on a book without a large preexisting fan base i usually regret it. This time I don't.
The worldbuilding is excellent and original, with a cool blend of high magic and gritty historical realism that work together surprisingly well. The story is interesting, and each of the characters has a few secrets that we get to tease out as we go. The narrator was excellent, although be warned that hed sometimes skip right over natural pauses in both internal and external dialogue--a habit which could be jarring--and his character voices could blend together sometimes. All in all, really impressive work.
If i have a criticism for the story, its that at times the MCs feel a little one dimensional and predictable. Id like to see them grow a bit more as people over the course of the book, maybe have a few more moments of inner conflict where the inevitable choice isnt so clearly obvious. Otherwise it was an absolute gem, and im probably going to reread it more than once. When all is said and done thats really the highest compliment i can give.
TLDR: This book is excellent and i do not at all regret spending my credit.
15 people found this helpful
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- stephen
- 2021-05-27
Nordic Inspired Fantasy
John Gwynne is one of my favorite authors. John writes Epic Fantasy that will remind you of David Eddings, Robert Jordan and Robin Hobb. Colin Mace is brilliant performing this novel which uses 3 POVs to spin the tale. I could listen to Colin Mace performance for hours at a time. Definitely one of my favorite narrator as this is the third series I have listed to that Colin has been the performer. If you want to experience one of the best marriage between author and narrator check out this new series.
14 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2021-07-31
Great story, odd performance
This was a great story 10/10! And very excited for the next one! It was a refreshing new world that felt alien and exciting compared to a lot of fantasy I have read. Great work! My only criticism is I would have liked a little more exhibition and a few more slow moments for the reader to get their bearings in this violent world.
The reader made odd pauses in strange places in sentences. While I felt like the pronunciation on was on point, the voice was so monotone that it made it hard to tell who was speaking and from what perspective. It honestly made the book a lot harder to understand.
I plan to buy a version I can read to myself because I feel like I would enjoy it much much more! I recommend this if you don’t mind a performance that feels a little rushed. Otherwise read it with your eyes at some point.
8 people found this helpful
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- Kevin W.
- 2021-11-12
Boring, Doesn’t Seem to Really Go Anywhere
None of the POV storylines are very interesting or compelling. To say this story is slow paced is an overwhelming understatement. The author seems to want to portray things in gritty realism, which is usually good in a novel. However, he then fells the need to inject SJW politics into this realism, which denuded it. The strongest warrior who became Jarl of course is a woman. The best warrior in the war band is again a woman. And there are other examples. It is perfectly fine to have women in leadership roles, but not through masculine traits, especially masculine warrior traits. When good authors portray women in leadership roles, their power is derived through lineage or magic or some other source that is realistic— with respect to the story at least—to their roles. I will agree with other reviewers who stated that because of the numerous names and terms the story may be better read than listen to; however, reading it will not remove the boring slow pace aspect of the story. And if I had read this book instead of listening to it I would have more than likely given up after the fourth or fifth chapter instead of making it to chapter 11. I have to disagree with other reviewers who have complained about the narrator. I find him to be above average, not as good as Roy Dotrice or Steven Band, but better than many others.
7 people found this helpful
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- Perry Taliaferro
- 2021-09-06
My first, but not my last, John Gwynne book
I had never read John Gwynne prior to this title ... hell I had honestly never heard of him (to my shame), but wow, I am certainly glad I took a chance on this book. Sure, the main reason I did "take that chance" was due to the amount of positive reviews, but come on ... the cover? that fantastic cover is what originally piqued my interest, pulled me in and virtually forced me to listen to the 5 minute "sample". Yeah, hooked me from there.
But hey, an exciting cover rarely means an exciting read/listen, but trust me, this puppy is just as intriguing on the inside as it is on the outside. What you have here is not only a captivating story, but a captivating story with great narration as well. Really fits the tone of this book.
Well, that's all I have really, so I will close by quickly adding that I am now off to spend more Audible credits on more John Gwynne books!
5 people found this helpful
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- Revelle Shedrick
- 2022-05-18
Slow to start and whispering narrator
The story is painfully slow to start. There’s lots of terminology that no one would know that’s never explained, or explained very late in the book. Eventually it picks up and the end makes you want to know what happens next. The narrator is okay. Greg voice but there is 0 excitement or animation to it, and anytime a character is speaking he whispers. People don’t talk like that. Overall I don’t think it was a waist of time, but it could have been better with a different narrator and more explanations of unknown terminology.
3 people found this helpful
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- David Sprouse
- 2022-05-14
absolutely amazing
John Gwynne is my new favorite author, by a long shot. I highly recommend his other 2 series as well
3 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 2022-01-28
Non-stop Norse themed Jason Bourne murder fest
Absolutely exhausting book. I was intrigued at first but ultimately never hooked because there wasnt a chance to empathize or build a relationship with anyone.
This story centers on 3 uber fighter POVs on quests to avenge loved ones or something. Everyone around them is only there to kill or die, with more than enough gore to numb the reader quickly.
Everyone has a name but there's no characterization so it's an endless stream of surprise murders and and expected killing to the point I was completely numb and ultimately quite confused because theres no distinction between anything or anyone. Just dying.
The world is kind of cool but so brutal I'm confused how humans could actually survive in such a place.
I'm disappointed. Cool premise, but ultimately that sick book cover was the best part.
3 people found this helpful