Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne starting December 5, 2021.

Looking forward to it Ginger and Terry!😊

in :3

Awesome Niki! Thanks so much for posting this buddy read.
I can’t wait to read this! 💕💖

Vickie wrote: "Looking forward to it Ginger and Terry!😊"

Me too Vickie and glad you can join!

Andi wrote: "in :3"

Awesome Andi!

Yay!! I just bought this book last week! Haven’t had a chance to start it yet! Can’t wait!!

Awesome Andi and Crystina! Glad more people are joining us.😊

Crystina wrote: "Yay!! I just bought this book last week! Haven’t had a chance to start it yet! Can’t wait!!"

Great Crystina and glad you can join!

I’m really looking forward to this one!

I am ready to join this one. Got the book earlier today and it looks good.

Awesome, Rachel!😊👍

RachelG. wrote: "I am ready to join this one. Got the book earlier today and it looks good."

Great Rachel and glad you can join!

I'm still looking to get started on this on Sunday.
Looking forward to getting back into Gwynne's world building!

Sunday to start for me too.

Sounds good, though who knows how fast I'll read it. Loaded myself up again... as always!🙄🤦🏼‍♀️😉

Vickie wrote: "Sounds good, though who knows how fast I'll read it. Loaded myself up again... as always!🙄🤦🏼‍♀️😉"

Ha! You’ve got my usual problem these days Vickie. 🧐🤣
I’ll likely be reading slow too because the holidays are so dang busy!

Terry wrote: "Sunday to start for me too."

Great Terry!

I got a small start on this today, about 30 pages. Totally intrigued already.

Terry wrote: "I got a small start on this today, about 30 pages. Totally intrigued already."

Same! I got started on this last night and I'm really curious to see how this trilogy will go. I'm already liking the characters of Orka and Varg!

I'm wondering if some of the terminology we're already seeing is Norse related, or if it's all part of the fantasy world. Totally curious to find out.

Terry wrote: "I'm wondering if some of the terminology we're already seeing is Norse related, or if it's all part of the fantasy world. Totally curious to find out."

Yeah, I've been trying to figure out a few words.
I got fjord down!

fjord (also fiord) - a long, narrow deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland.

So beautiful!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I'm wondering if some of the terminology we're already seeing is Norse related, or if it's all part of the fantasy world. Totally curious to find out."

Yeah, I've been trying to figu..."

Definitely beautiful!

If you all will have me, I'd love to join in on this! I can get started a little later tonight. I've heard such great things, I'm excited

Absolutely, Twila! You're more than welcome.

Agree, Ginger, I'm liking those two characters as well.😊

Yes, Terry, it's been... interesting, reading all these different words.😉

I am on Chapter 10 and really enjoying the book except I keep getting characters confused. Instead of worrying about it I am just continuing on the journey. I am glad there is a glossary in the back (Kindle version) to refer to. I have also decided I need to brush up on my viking knowledge so I better understand the terms and plan to watch some videos I got from the library.

You'll have to tell us about the viking terms you learn, Rachel. I was thinking of searching for something like that as well.

Twila wrote: "If you all will have me, I'd love to join in on this! I can get started a little later tonight. I've heard such great things, I'm excited "

Yay!! I’m glad you can join Twila!
I’ve also heard so many great things from this first book in the series. I’m also glad to finally get to this one.

RachelG. wrote: "I am on Chapter 10 and really enjoying the book except I keep getting characters confused. Instead of worrying about it I am just continuing on the journey. I am glad there is a glossary in the bac..."

I feel like that’s a great idea Rachel!

I love the whole Norse world building in this. It feels like an episode of the Vikings show that was on the History channel. I should have watched it now to have a better idea of terms and Viking knowledge. 🤣😂

Starting the book now!!

I only got through 2 chapters tonight, but I am enjoying this! And tbh, all the Norse mythology I know is from what Rick Riordan wrote in his books. Not exactly a reliable source, haha. Pronunciation might be a small problem for me as well.

Malice is the only other book from this author I've read and I can remember being overwhelmed in the beginning of that because of all the different characters we were introduced to in such a short time, but I'm not having that issue here at all. He's taking his time introducing them and I really appreciate that :)

The terms are all new to me as well. O. The 2nd chapter now. Man! That was brutal and to begin the story that way, I am guessing we are in for quite a lot. This is also my first John Gwynne book.

Vocabulary is quite challenging with a lot of new words and having to check them constantly is slowing down my reading. What about you guys?

@Twila: The Magnus Chase books were also my introduction to Norse Mythology but I am wanting to read more.

@ Fazila: This is my first John Gwynne book as well and I might go and read other books he wrote next year. I am glad I am reading this one rather than using audio version because I don't know if I could keep up with the vocab if I was listening.

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[Does anyone know what type of creature Spert is? I know that he is called a tennur, I just don't know what that is. I keep picturing Gollum from the Lord of the Rings but was curious if anyone had more insight. (hide spoiler)]

@ Fazila & RachelG

This was something that I struggled with when I first read Malice. It took me sometime to get down all the characters and the names. It might seem a bit daunting right now, but I would stick in there.
Bloodsworn Saga doesn't seem to have as many characters as the Faithful & Fallen series but who knows, this is the first book!

About 30-40% in when I was reading Malice, it seemed like it all came together with who was who and I was able to follow each POV easily.
In fact, The Faithful and The Fallen is still one of my favorite fantasy series!

RachelG. wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I found a bit of information this morning for anyone that might need some help with info on the world building and characters.
It's got some great information in it and looks to be spoiler free.

So I can't link the site since it's not allowed on here.

If you google "Before You Read: The Shadow of the Gods" you'll find the link and the info is super helpful.

@RachelG. : I have his Faithful and the Fallen series ready to go as well. Listening to an audiobook would have been too challenging for me as well.

@Ginger : I think we will be following 3 POVs according to the synopsis. Thanks for the link! I will be sure to check it out.

@RachelG. : So I found this on an interview with John Gwynne and he said to FanFiAddict -

"I have crafted a few of my own creatures as well, though. In the Shadow of the Gods, you’ll find the tennúr, who are winged, hairless, rat-like creatures that have an obsessive love of human teeth. They are my own invention ☺. "

I hope this helps!

Ginger wrote: "RachelG. wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I found a bit of information this morning for anyone that might need some help with info on the world building and characters.
It's got some great i..."

Very helpful. Thanks for posting that, Ginger!

Fazila wrote: "I hope this helps!"

Definitely helps. Thanks Fazila!

Fazila wrote: "I hope this helps!"

That totally helped! Thanks!

I found this to be interesting in the Fantasy Review Before You Read that Ginger suggested:

The Tainted – descendants of the gods’ children – are kept as slaves in thrall collars, sold to the highest bidder as symbols of status and power.

They each have hidden traits of their ancestor God and the thrall collars help keep these powers under control, to be unleashed only at the direction of their owner.

RachelG. wrote: "I found this to be interesting in the Fantasy Review Before You Read that Ginger suggested:

The Tainted – descendants of the gods’ children – are kept as slaves in thrall collars, sold to the high..."

I really liked that part too RachelG! It made a lot of things click in place with the plot when I read that.

Fazila wrote: "I hope this helps!"

Totally helps Fazila and thanks for finding that!

@RachelG, @Terry : Glad to be of help! I am usually the last person to find things out, so it was a coincidence I found this early on.

Also, if it wasn't for @Ginger's link I wouldn't have found the interview. Lol! So double thank you to Ginger for that.

The whole tainted aspect is intriguing and considering we have POVs coming from them I am guessing we will get more out of that.

Ginger! Super helpful link, thank you! I've been leaning on the kindle's translation and wikipedia features, but they didn't have everything, lol.

I'm through chapter 10 (view spoiler)["... and she was gone, unrecognisable, just a pile of shattered bones in a sack of skin."
SACK OF SKIN! This is so gory, I love it. (hide spoiler)]
Something interesting is that I'm 20% in and it's still not exactly clear what the plot is? We're just following along with their lives so far. I want to see where Okra's storyline goes but I repeatedly find myself getting distracted when reading the other POVs, especially Elvar's. I'm not seeing any real reason to care about her so far but I have hope that is something that will soon change!