After reading this, I can see John Gwynne becoming a new favourite fantasy author of mine. I like fantasy books to make me think and challenge me slightly, but not to read like a textbook, and this was the perfect mix of both intrigue and entertainment.

The world building is some of the best that I have ever read. It was abundantly clear that John had put a lot of research in to Norse mythology and it certainly paid off. The book follows three main characters POV and I connected with them all and could easily distinguish between them.

There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and much like George RR Martin, he is not scared to kill off a character when the reader is least expecting it. I think the pace dropped off a little towards the third act, but overall an amazing story of vengeance, love and war, and I can’t wait to continue the journey.