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givemedatangst's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
xta_07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A stunning sequel for an incredible series.
I LOVE this series so far, it has it all: Incredible fight scenes, a weaving of an intricate plot, and heartfelt relationships. I was really glad to get a few more perspectives this time. Especially from the "villains" of this story. That was truly interesting and entertaining. One of the reasons why I liked those perspectives so much was that you get to see the "hero's" in a light that is not so flattering. Especially with Elvar, but I do hope that she comes to the realization that it's not someones ancestry or the blood that flows through somebody's veins that makes up their character, but it's the decisions that they make.
This makes me hungry to read more John Gwynne!
I LOVE this series so far, it has it all: Incredible fight scenes, a weaving of an intricate plot, and heartfelt relationships. I was really glad to get a few more perspectives this time. Especially from the "villains" of this story. That was truly interesting and entertaining. One of the reasons why I liked those perspectives so much was that you get to see the "hero's" in a light that is not so flattering. Especially with Elvar, but I do hope that she comes to the realization that it's not someones ancestry or the blood that flows through somebody's veins that makes up their character, but it's the decisions that they make.
This makes me hungry to read more John Gwynne!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gore and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content
saltycoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Grief, and Death of parent
mikah_wazowski's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Torture, and Cannibalism
abeorning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Blood
green_bone's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Biorr and Gudvarr wee great new povs. Elvar is still my least fav pov.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
cgriffin99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Really really enjoyed this, a solid follow up to Shadow of the Gods. Astounding battle scenes and wonderful growth for the characters following the crazy end to the last book. This books ending also was insane and I'm just mad that the next one isn't already out so I can read it asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
gabriel_r's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Slavery
adancewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway. Because I was a little late I also bought a finished copy and read that along
Last year The Shadow of the Gods was one of my favorite reads and I'm fairly certain that The Hunger of the Gods will be at the top of my list for this year as well. It is a banger.
We move on fairly directly after the previous book with Elvar who has to deal with the aftermath of the rise of Lik-Rifa. The killing of her chief has left an immense gap in the band of mercenararies the Battle-Grim while the oath they gave to Ursa on finding her son might kill her. Orka in the mean time has met the Bloodsworn though as long as she does not have her son, she cannot find peace in any reuniting. Se has to journey on to find Breca. Varg in the mean time is finally finding his true place amongst the Bloodsworn.
Like I said above, it is a banger. Resurrecting Gods, chaining Gods to one self, Gods that have been in hiding popping in. It is not just the hunger of Lik-Rifa the title refers to though hers is the most obvious. And there are so many factions moving through each other and so many people wanting revenge that it is quite an intricate plot.
When it comes to our three main characters I think that Varg gets the least amount of growth in this installment. I think that is because the Bloodsworn are still more to the side of the whole epic battle in comparison to Orka and Elvar. He still is allowed to get somewhat comfortable and bind himself to the Bloodsworn, something you really see him doing. Orka and Elvar have a lot more god crap to deal with. Orka might me completely focused on getting her son back but we all know she has her heart in the right place. Elvar is idealistic in a way, despite the kind of father she had. Young, and the Battle-Grim are inspired by that. You can see it in the way they follow her.
We also follow two more characters this book. Bjorn, the traitor of the Battle-Grim and Elvars former lover, is our look into the following of Lik-Rifa. We get a better idea of why Bjorn did what he did in book 1. I'm not all of a sudden super sympathetic towards him but it does draw him away from just Bjorn the traitor. And then there is Gudvarr, the nephew to Jarl Sigrun and killer of the brother of Lif (the boy who travels with Orka). He gives us an insight into one of the big cities that has a link to Lik-Rifa. I hate Gudvarr but it was good to see some of the political scheming going on.
But most of all I loved the interactions between characters. Orka and Lif. Orka and the Bloodsworn. Orka and Elvar. Orka, Spert and Vesli. Elvar and her Battle-Grim. The Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn. The Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim with just their own. The jesting. The feelings. The learning. A lot of books can fall and stand with its characters and the relationships that are created, and I feel like this book continues doing that outstandingly.
Last year The Shadow of the Gods was one of my favorite reads and I'm fairly certain that The Hunger of the Gods will be at the top of my list for this year as well. It is a banger.
We move on fairly directly after the previous book with Elvar who has to deal with the aftermath of the rise of Lik-Rifa. The killing of her chief has left an immense gap in the band of mercenararies the Battle-Grim while the oath they gave to Ursa on finding her son might kill her. Orka in the mean time has met the Bloodsworn though as long as she does not have her son, she cannot find peace in any reuniting. Se has to journey on to find Breca. Varg in the mean time is finally finding his true place amongst the Bloodsworn.
Like I said above, it is a banger. Resurrecting Gods, chaining Gods to one self, Gods that have been in hiding popping in. It is not just the hunger of Lik-Rifa the title refers to though hers is the most obvious. And there are so many factions moving through each other and so many people wanting revenge that it is quite an intricate plot.
When it comes to our three main characters I think that Varg gets the least amount of growth in this installment. I think that is because the Bloodsworn are still more to the side of the whole epic battle in comparison to Orka and Elvar. He still is allowed to get somewhat comfortable and bind himself to the Bloodsworn, something you really see him doing. Orka and Elvar have a lot more god crap to deal with. Orka might me completely focused on getting her son back but we all know she has her heart in the right place. Elvar is idealistic in a way, despite the kind of father she had. Young, and the Battle-Grim are inspired by that. You can see it in the way they follow her.
We also follow two more characters this book. Bjorn, the traitor of the Battle-Grim and Elvars former lover, is our look into the following of Lik-Rifa. We get a better idea of why Bjorn did what he did in book 1. I'm not all of a sudden super sympathetic towards him but it does draw him away from just Bjorn the traitor. And then there is Gudvarr, the nephew to Jarl Sigrun and killer of the brother of Lif (the boy who travels with Orka). He gives us an insight into one of the big cities that has a link to Lik-Rifa. I hate Gudvarr but it was good to see some of the political scheming going on.
But most of all I loved the interactions between characters. Orka and Lif. Orka and the Bloodsworn. Orka and Elvar. Orka, Spert and Vesli. Elvar and her Battle-Grim. The Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn. The Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim with just their own. The jesting. The feelings. The learning. A lot of books can fall and stand with its characters and the relationships that are created, and I feel like this book continues doing that outstandingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content