The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn saga #2)

Title: The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn saga #2)

Author: John Gwynne

Published in: 2022

Date read: 6th June 2025

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Hunger of the Gods," published in 2022, is the second book in John Gwynne's Bloodsworn Saga. It continues the grim and brutal epic fantasy story, expanding the world and deepening the lore as the main characters find their fates drawing ever closer to a new, terrifying conflict.

The story picks up where The Shadow of the Gods left off, with the world of Vigrið on the brink of a new kind of war. The protagonists' individual quests now have larger consequences, as they become pawns in a game far older and more dangerous than they could have imagined.

The three main point-of-view characters return:

Orka: After rescuing her son, Orka's quest for vengeance has turned into a desperate flight from powerful enemies. Her family's tragic past and its connection to the ancient gods are revealed, forcing her to confront a power that she had long kept hidden. She is now on a mission to save her family and prevent a new age of darkness.

Varg: Having found a home among the Bloodsworn, Varg and his new found family are tasked with a new and dangerous mission. They must journey to find an artifact of immense power, a relic of the gods themselves. Varg’s journey leads him to uncover more about his personal quest for revenge and the true nature of the gods' war.

Elvar: Elvar and her companions in the Bloodsworn continue their hunt for god-fragments. She grows as a leader and a warrior, but her path leads her to make dangerous alliances with people who have their own dark agendas. She becomes a key player in the coming war, forced to choose between her own ambition and the fate of the world.

The central conflict escalates with the discovery that one of the old, powerful gods may have been reborn in human form. This "god-in-the-making" is a ruthless and charismatic figure who is gathering followers and building an army. He is on a mission to reclaim his former glory, even if it means plunging the world into another age of chaos and bloodshed. The "hunger" of the title refers not only to the characters' personal quests but also to the reawakened gods' need for power.

"The Hunger of the Gods" is a bigger, more action-packed novel than its predecessor. It sets the stage for a massive confrontation, with all the pieces falling into place for the final book. The characters' personal quests are now intertwined with the fate of Vigrið, as they are drawn into a world-ending war.

Comments:
I was not planning on reading this book straight after finishing the previous one, however, I had to find out what happened next. Well, low and behold, this one has done the same. This book launches into action and answers the questions asked at the end of the last book. I have to admit though, that the cliffhanger that is set up for us readers in this book is far more difficult to ignore. I have finished it and have avoided getting the third Bloodsworn book yet but it is affecting the book that I am currently reading. I find myself drifting and my concentration waining while I try to figure out what happened after the second book finished. I won't be able to leave it too long before I start book 3.

Books that we've read by John Gwynne (3):
The Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn saga #1) (2021), The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn saga #2) (2022), The Fury of the Gods (Bloodsworn saga #3) (2024)