*Full story spoilers ahead*

The Shadow of the Gods cover by John Gwynne.

Foreword

Welcome to my The Shadow of the Gods summary and recap! I first read Faithful and the Fallen a year ago at the tail end of 2023 and have read all of his books afterward. With The Fury of the Gods coming up shortly before writing this summary, I wanted to go ahead and start my journey through the Bloodsworn Saga. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing a The Hunger of the Gods summary yet or not, due to John Gwynne being awesome and having a story recap and character list at the beginning of The Hunger of the Gods and The Fury of the Gods. I wasn’t aware of it until after I had written this summary; otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have posted this one either. Luckily, this is an in-depth one, so if you need the TL;DR, I highly recommend the one he has at the beginning of the other two books. If you just want everything here then I’ll have a TL;DR portion of the recap at the top, followed by an in-depth summary, and finally, a character index at the bottom. The character index is listed at the bottom due to story spoilers.

TL;DR The Shadow of the Gods Recap

Orka’s Journey

Orka begins her journey in relative peace, hunting with her son, Breca, and husband, Thorkel. However, that peace is shattered when they find their neighbors murdered and their child missing. Orka’s world spirals further when Breca is kidnapped, and her husband is brutally killed. Devastated, Orka embarks on a relentless quest to find her son, seeking vengeance on those responsible. Her pursuit leads her to Drekr, a powerful figure tied to Breca’s kidnapping. Along the way, Orka is forced to confront her own violent nature and her mysterious past, revealing her as one of the most formidable warriors in the land.

Varg’s Journey with the Bloodsworn

Varg, a former thrall, seeks answers about his sister’s murder. His quest for vengeance leads him to the Bloodsworn, a feared band of warriors, where he must prove his worth by fighting Einar, a Half-Troll. After a brutal trial, he is accepted into their ranks. Varg begins to uncover the truth about his own tainted blood, as well as the Bloodsworn’s dark history, which ties them to the ancient gods. As part of the Bloodsworn, Varg faces many challenges, including battling Dragon-Born and uncovering long-buried secrets.

Elvar and the Battle-Grim

Elvar, a warrior with the Battle-Grim, is determined to forge her own path and gain battle fame. The Battle-Grim is a mercenary band hunting berserkirs and other tainted. Elvar’s journey takes her to the heart of ancient power struggles as she wrestles with the legacy of her family and her ambition. Her path crosses with Uspa, a Seiðr-witch who holds the key to the past, the location of Oskutreð, a place tied to the gods and their destruction. Elvar’s growing conflict with her father, Jarl Störr, adds tension as she is pulled between her duty to her bloodline and her desire for independence.

Full Summary

Orka’s Journey: A Life Torn Apart

Orka, a fierce and battle-hardened woman, lives a relatively quiet life with her husband, Thorkel, and son, Breca. Early in the story, Breca, eager to prove himself, hunts with Orka and Thorkel. He throws a spear at a deer, but a wolf scares it off, ruining his shot. The trio trek deeper into the forest, only to stumble upon a gruesome scene—two of their neighbors, Asgrim and Idrun, have been brutally murdered, and their child, Hakon, is missing.

With the bodies in tow, Orka returns to their village to report the murders to the Jarl. However, Jarl Sigrún is away visiting Queen Helka’s court, leaving her nephew, Guðvarr, in charge. Guðvarr, arrogant and spoiled, clashes with Orka during a tense confrontation, but Thorkel manages to calm her down before things escalate. The family returns home, uneasy but seemingly safe.

The next morning, Breca goes missing. Orka and Thorkel search the woods frantically, eventually finding him by a river with a wounded tennúr, a small creature with thin parchment-like wings, sharp claws, two rows of teeth, one sharp and one flat, and ink-dark veins threading through its skin. Vesli is grateful and promises never to harm Breca or his kin. Orka slaps Breca in anger, warning him of the dangers lurking in the forest. Thorkel once again steps in to defuse the situation.

Later, Guðvarr visits the family, inviting them to an Althing to discuss the outcome of Jarl Sigrún’s meeting with Queen Helka. The tension grows as Jarl Sigrún returns, announcing that they will now be under Queen Helka’s protection. This decision is met with resistance from the villagers, who question Sigrún’s ability to protect them, especially in light of the recent murders and kidnappings. Despite the protests, Sigrún insists that aligning with Queen Helka is for the greater good, as opposing her would only lead to an invasion from Queen Helka, disposing of Jarl Sigrún and putting her own people in charge. During the Althing, Guðvarr challenges Virk to a holmganga (a one-on-one duel), and Orka agrees to be Virk’s second in the fight.

Guðvarr and Virk fight in the holmganga, and while Virk initially beats him, he is goaded by Guðvarr and ultimately goes too far. Before Virk can bring his axe down, Jarl Sigrún’s Ulfrid thrall, Vafri, kills him. Thorkel pulls her off and Vafri attacks him too, cutting him and then licking his blood. Sigrún and Orka break up the fight, but Orka is left with a bad feeling.

Orka returns home after the Althing and tucks Breca in and tells Thorkel she wants to leave. Thorkel is reluctant since they built everything with their own two hands, but Orka wants to get away from whatever is happening. She goes to see a Froa spirit, the spirit of the forest, but finds it murdered. She hears a scream and runs back, finding their homestead in flames. Their pet vaesen, Spert, lies gravely injured among the bodies of fallen enemies. Thorkel, mortally wounded with two seaxes inside of him, tells Orka that Breca has been taken.

After following the trails of the people who attacked their homestead, she finds a few of them. She tortures them to get the name of the person behind it all, Drekr. After burying Thorkel, Orka digs up a chest of weapons she had hidden long ago. She tells Vesli to look after Spert, and then donning her old armor, she takes up her weapons and sets out, determined to find her son and kill whoever took him.

Varg’s Quest: The Path of the Bloodsworn

Varg, a former slave on the run, is driven by the desire to avenge his sister, Frøya’s murder. Posing as a slave, he wanders through a marketplace, seeking out a Seiðr-witch or Galdurman to perform an akáll, a ritual to see the last moments of the dead.  When Varg finally locates the witch, he is told that to gain her aid, he must first join the Bloodsworn. However, the initiation process is brutal—Varg must defeat Einar Half-Troll in single combat. Many have tried, and none have succeeded.

Varg gets closer to besting Einar than anyone before him but is ultimately knocked out as Varg is biting his calf. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself alone on a beach. Exhausted, he makes camp but is soon found by Leif Kolskeggson, the son of a man Varg had killed. Leif and his men quickly overpower Varg, and as they prepare to exact revenge by chopping off his hand, the Bloodsworn arrives, declaring Varg one of their own and saving him from his fate.

As an apprentice of the Bloodsworn, Varg begins training with weapons he is unfamiliar with, especially the shield. Under the watchful eye of Svik, a veteran Bloodsworn, and Røkia, a fierce warrior, Varg slowly learns the ways of the Bloodsworn. However, his induction is far from complete, and the Bloodsworn’s leader, Glornir, tells Varg that he still needs to prove himself before he is fully accepted into their ranks. Tensions rise when Prince Jaromir arrives, demanding that Glornir hand over a member of the Bloodsworn, Sulich, but Glornir refuses, stating that any disputes will be settled at the next Althing. For now, Varg’s place among the Bloodsworn is secure.

Elvar and the Battle-Grim: Capturing the Berserkir

Elvar is a young woman striving to make a name for herself as a warrior within the Battle-Grim, a mercenary group that hunts down the tainted. Her ambition is driven by a desire for battle-fame and independence from her family’s legacy. The Battle-Grim’s current mission is to capture a berserkir, a warrior who has Berser the Bear god’s blood in his veins.

After a relentless chase, the Battle-Grim tracks down the berserkir, Berak, who is accompanied by a woman and a child. Berak is engaged in a desperate battle against a troll, trying to protect his family. The Battle-Grim slay the troll, Elvar getting the killing blow, and captures the berserkir along with his wife, Uspa, and child, Bjarn. However, as they head back to their boat with their captives, a giant sea serpent emerges from the depths and attacks their ship. In a terrifying moment, Bjarn is knocked into the icy waters, and Elvar dives in after him. Just as the serpent is about to devour them, the berserkir’s wife reveals her true power as a Seiðr-witch, using a spell to send the creature back to the depths.

Back on land, Elvar and the Battle-Grim continue their journey with the prisoners in tow. They make camp near an oath stone, where the Seiðr-witch shares ancient knowledge about the gods and the world’s forgotten history. In the night, they are ambushed by night-wyrms, deadly creatures that burrow into the ground and suffocate their prey from within. The berserkir is the first to break free, saving his wife and child in the process. Eventually, the rest of the Battle-Grim escape, setting the wyrms ablaze and returning to their ship.

Orka’s Revenge and Escape from Fellur

Orka arrives in Fellur village searching for Jarl Sigrún’s thrall, Vafri. There, she discovers Mord and Lif, the sons of her friend Virk, tied up and awaiting execution for trying to kill Guðvarr. Knowing they will be killed or outlawed, Orka frees them and orders them to meet her by the river.

Orka sneaks into Sigrún’s quarters, where she finds the Jarl with her lover. Orka kills the lover and knocks Sigrún out with the butt of her seax. She interrogates Vafri, learning that Drekr is the one who took Brecca and is likely in Darl. When Orka hesitates, Vafri attacks, but she quickly regains control, killing several of Sigrún’s warriors and slashing the Jarl’s face. After stabbing Vafri in the stomach, Orka escapes to the river, where Mord and Lif are waiting, and they row away.

On the river, the boys beg Orka to teach them to fight and help them kill Guðvarr. At first, Orka refuses, focused only on finding Breca and killing Drekr. But Mord and Lif remind her that it’s their boat, and without them, she’ll have to walk. Reluctantly, Orka agrees to train them on their journey to Darl.

Elvar’s Arrival

The Battle-Grim arrive at the fortress of Snakavik. Agnar sends most of the crew to find an inn while he, Elvar, and a small group go to meet Jarl Störr, a warlord surrounded by 14 collared berserkirs—warriors infused with godly strength. Agnar offers to sell the berserkir they captured, and Störr eagerly agrees, offering double the price of any other buyer.

To confirm the berserkir’s authenticity, Störr’s Seiðr-witch, Silrið, performs a ritual with the severed head of Hrung, a giant infused with Snaka, the Creator’s magic. Hrung tastes the blood and declares it genuine. After the deal is made, Hrung’s head sniffs the air and detects Elvar in the hall. Forced to step forward, Elvar greets Jarl Störr—her father.

The next morning, Elvar meets with her father and her brothers, Thorun and Broðir. Thorun mocks Elvar for choosing a no-name warrior’s life over marrying one of Queen Helka’s sons. Elvar explains that she joined the Battle-Grim to earn battle-fame on her own terms, rather than living in her family’s shadow. Störr offers Elvar everything she’s ever desired, including command of her own warband. Elvar now has a decision to make.

Later, drunk and frustrated, Elvar visits Hrung’s head. She pours the severed head a gift of mead and asks bluntly what she should do with her life. Hrung responds cryptically: “Silent, thoughtful, and bold in strife, the jarl’s bairn should be. Can the sun be cold, or the sea be dry, or the wolf become the lamb?” His words linger in Elvar’s mind as she narrowly avoids being caught by her father, slipping away just before he enters the room.

Varg and the Bloodsworn: Training, Stories, and the Call to Battle

Varg continues his initiation with the Bloodsworn by participating in the oar-dance—a test of balance and endurance. Each warrior takes a turn balancing on a moving oar, but like everyone else, Varg is thrown off Einar’s oar. Svik wins the contest. Drenched and exhausted, Varg receives a shield and spear from Røkia and resumes his training.

Later, Varg approaches Einar as Svik gives him extra bread for knocking everyone off the oars to apologize for biting his leg during their earlier fight. Though initially hostile, Einar eventually accepts the apology and shares the bread with Varg. The two talk about Skullsplitter, the legendary former chief of the Bloodsworn. Skullsplitter’s battle-fame is told like a saga, inspiring every warrior to live up to their legacy.

Meanwhile, Skalk, a Galdurman in Queen Helka’s service, hires the Bloodsworn to investigate mysterious deaths along the northwestern border near Jarl Störr’s lands. The group prepares to journey to the Boneback Mountains, where Helka’s people have been slaughtered by an unknown force.

That night, the Bloodsworn gather around a campfire. Svik entertains the group with a story about how cheese saved his life. The story draws laughter from the crew, easing the tension as they prepare for their next mission. Glornir strides into the glade as they are telling the story and tells them they need to move. Varg asks Glornir if Vol can perform the akáll now, but Glornir insists that Varg isn’t part of the Bloodsworn yet. Varg notices Skalk and decides to go and ask him instead.

Elvar’s Encounter with Ilska and the Secrets of the Graskinna

Elvar and Grend are awakened by screams—Ilska the Dread and her Raven Feeders are attacking. The Battle-Grim repel the attackers, but Uspa, the Seiðr-witch, is found unconscious, and her son Bjarn has been kidnapped.

When Uspa wakes, she reveals that Ilska’s men were not after Bjarn—they were after her. Uspa explains that she once possessed Graskinna, a book of dangerous magic. She and her husband stole the book from Ilska and later burned it to keep its secrets from being used. Uspa warns that Ilska is hunting her because she knows the way to Oskutreð—the site of the gods-fall battle where Ulfrir, Berser, and many other gods fell and where Lik-Rifa, the dragon, is imprisoned.

Agnar threatens to collar Uspa as a thrall, but she tells Agnar that they have already put a collar on her husband and that she will kill herself before she has a thrall collar on her neck. Eventually, she agrees to guide the Battle-Grim to Oskutreð, but only if the group swears a blood oath to save Bjarn afterward. With no other choice, they take the oath, binding themselves to the dangerous mission ahead.

Orka’s Fight with the Naken and the Confrontation with Drekr

As Orka, Mord, and Lif row toward Darl, their boat rocks violently. Orka spots a Naken lurking beneath the water. Before she can react, the creature drags Mord overboard. The Naken’s slimy arms coil around Mord’s throat. Orka hands the oar to Lif and dives into the water. The creature’s rotting hair floats like reeds, and its jade-like eyes gleam with malice. Orka slashes at it with her seax, speaking Galdur words that bubble from the blade. The spell forces the creature to release Mord, and Orka hauls him to the surface. But the Naken grabs her again, pulling her under. Orka stabs it repeatedly, saying the Galdur words as she does so, eventually freeing herself and dragging Mord to shore.

In Darl, they see Queen Helka’s place, the skeleton of the dead eagle god, Orna, built into the building. She sends Mord and Lif away with a bag of coins, thanking them for their help, and goes after Drekr. After being thrown out of a tavern asking for him, Orka follows a man with a burned face to a boat, where several children are being loaded. Orka frees the children, but Breca is not among them.

Later, Orka finds Breca’s necklace in the tavern and confronts Drekr. They fight viciously, crashing through a window into the street. Drekr gains the upper hand, strangling Orka with his axe handle. As the red mist rises within her, Orka breaks Drekr’s finger and counters furiously. Just as Drekr’s men prepare to intervene, Mord and Lif arrive on horseback, rescuing her in the nick of time.

Varg and the Bloodsworn: Facing the Troll and Dark Secrets

Varg is traveling with the Bloodsworn in the Boneback Mountains. Varg, trying to mend his relationship with Sulich after offending him at the beginning, reflects on his past as a thrall, discussing battle-fame and his struggle to understand the warrior’s way. After Sulich leaves, Varg approaches Skalk, asking for an akáll; Skalk warns him that Glornir won’t be happy and will kick Varg out of the Bloodsworn and tells him to sleep on the decision. As they move forward, they come across a grisly sight: Helka’s warriors, gutted and skinned, trussed up like hogs. This brutal scene reveals Skalk’s lies about not being able to send people this way, and the pain of seeing the mutilated bodies takes a toll on Olvir, one of Skalk’s companions.

Varg and the group prepare for an impending fight. As they press on, they encounter a troll and its companions. Svik calls upon Einar, Varg, and others to follow the troll. They find a cave with a lot of drengrs, and the Bloodsworn go to battle. The troll comes out of the cave, and a mysterious, red-eyed man wielding a bone sword stands in front of the troll. Glornir is the first to try to fight the man, but he is injured. Varg, gripped by the bloodlust that the red mist brings, engages the red-eyed man in a brutal fight. Though wounded, Varg manages to kill the man by driving his cleaver into his skull. Overcome with exhaustion and pain, Varg blacks out.

Varg wakes up in the catacombs under the cave, Rotta’s chambers, to one of his friends in the Bloodsworn, Torvik, next to him. Torvik explains that Varg was hit by a talon of the dead eagle god, Orna. The man he fought was a dragon-born, a child of Lik-Rifa, thought to not exist. Skalk walks in and tricks Vol, knocking her out with his staff, and Yrsa, one of Skalk’s lieutenants, stabs Torvik in the throat. Varg asks why, and Skalk explains Vol and Varg are both too powerful and should be aligned with Queen Helka. Varg bites Olvir’s throat out but ultimately gets knocked out again, and Skalk escapes with Yrsa and Vol.

Orka’s Blood-Debt and the Pursuit of Drekr

Orka’s relentless pursuit of Drekr continues, but she is bound by a blood debt to Lif and Mord after they save her life. Together, they plot revenge against Guðvarr and Jarl Sigrún. The group sets a trap to kill Guðvarr in a busy courtyard, but the plan goes awry when a warband filled with Sigrún and Helka’s warriors arrives. Choosing to retreat instead of facing the overwhelming odds, Orka, Lif, and Mord flee across a bridge, lighting it on fire to prevent Guðvarr’s pursuit. This delay forces Orka to devise a new plan to continue the hunt for Drekr and Breca.

As Orka, Lif, and Mord head toward Grimholt, they encounter frost-spiders—enormous creatures whose venom can paralyze and freeze the blood. They free a giant raven trapped in a spider web and fend off an attack from the spiders. Lif gets paralyzed by the frost-spider’s venom, and Mort stands over him, protecting him. Skalk, Yrsa, and his group stumble upon them and kill the frost spiders. Mort kills one of Skalk’s people, and Skalk captures the three, taking them to Grimholt.

Elvar and the Battle-Grim: The Blood Oath and Betrayal

Elvar and the Battle-Grim make their way to Oskutreð, traveling through a vaesen pit after fighting a bunch of tennúr and over the Isbrún bridge. Biórr saves Elvar and Grend from the vaesen, and Elvar and Biórr become lovers. They travel through the Dark-of-Moon Hills and over Gallows Hill, arriving in Oskutreð.

At Oskutreð, the group encounters Vörn Askasdottir, the Froa sapling and guardian of the great ash tree, Aska. Vörn allows the Battle-Grim to loot the area but warns them to stay away from the locked cellar, where Lik-Rifa, the dragon god, is imprisoned and the dead tree of her mother. Ilska, Drekr, and Skrið soon arrive, revealing that they are dragon-born—children of Lik-Rifa.

Varg’s Awakening and the Truth About the Bloodsworn

When Varg awakens, he learns the shocking truth: all of the Bloodsworn are tainted. Glornir, their leader, is a berserkir, and the rest of the group, including Varg, carry the blood of the gods. Ulfrir, the wolf god, lives in Varg’s veins, making him part of the lineage of the tainted. Glornir officially invites Varg to join the Bloodsworn, solidifying his place in the group. They begin their hunt of Skalk in search of Glornir’s wife, Vol.

Orka’s Battle at Grimholt

Orka is captured by Skalk, who seeks to extract information about who they are and why they were at Grimholt. Orka initially tells Skalk they’re traders, but after Skalk wakes Mort up and claims they’re fishers, Skalk threatens to poke Lif’s eye out. Orka confesses she’s looking for her son, who was taken by Drekr. She mentions Hakon, Helka’s son, with Drekr, and Skalk is intrigued. Before he can get more information, Guðvarr stabs and kills Mort while he is chained to a wall. Orka feels the wolf in her blood after hearing a child wail and breaks free of her restraints, killing several of Skalk’s men, but soon getting outnumbered before two giant ravens, leading Spert and Vesli, arrive to aid her. Together, they decimate Skalk’s forces, and Orka continues her quest for Breca, fueled by her unrelenting fury.

The Fall of Agnar and the Rise of Lik-Rifa

Agnar challenges Ilska to a holmganga, but Skrið volunteers to fight it, and although Agnar wins, he is gravely wounded. Biórr walks to Agnar as he’s on the ground and stabs him through the mouth. Biórr reveals he’s tainted with the blood of Rotta, the rat. He walks to the Raven-Feeders, freeing the Battle-Grim’s Seiðr-Witch and hunder-thrall, children with the blood of Hunder, the hound.

The two armies fight, and Ilska frees Lik-Rifa, the dragon god, using the blood of collared children to cast a powerful spell. The dragon soars into the sky, killing two of the three sisters who guard the area with the help of Drekr and Ilska. Lik-Rifa and the Raven-Feeders then head east to her hall, Nastrandir. As Ilska and her dragon-born army retreat, Elvar realizes that Uspa was right—they should never have come to Oskutreð.

The Final Confrontation: Orka and the Bloodsworn

The story concludes with Varg and the Bloodsworn arriving at Grimholt to find the aftermath of the battle. Blood and bodies litter the area, and Orka, covered in gore, stands among the dead, surrounded by children and the two vaesen. Glornir recognizes Orka and asks what has happened. She tells him that Breca is missing and tells Glornir that Thorkel, Glornir’s brother, is dead. Glornir refers to Orka as “Orka Skullsplitter,” revealing her identity as one of the most legendary warriors in the world.

Character Index

Orka’s Storyline

  • Orka
    • A fierce warrior with a dark past, hiding her skills to live a peaceful life with her family.
    • Mother to Breca and wife to Thorkel.
    • After her husband is killed and her son is kidnapped, she embarks on a brutal journey seeking Drekr and anyone involved in Breca’s abduction.
  • Thorkel
    • Orka’s husband, a strong and caring man. Though he was a warrior, he now seeks peace with his family.
    • Killed by Drekr during an attack on their homestead.
  • Breca
    • Orka and Thorkel’s young son, who is curious and compassionate. He befriends a wounded tennúr and names it Vesli.
    • Kidnapped by unknown raiders, setting Orka on a path of blood and vengeance.
  • Guðvarr
    • The arrogant and cowardly nephew of Jarl Sigrún.
    • Challenges Orka’s friend Virk to a holmganga (duel) but is saved when a thrall kills Virk during the fight.
    • Lif and Mord harbor a deep hatred for him and are out for revenge.
  • Jarl Sigrún
    • The ruler of the region where Orka lives, and a trusted ally of Queen Helka.
    • Her leadership is questioned after her warriors fail to protect the villagers from murders and kidnappings and align herself under Queen Helka.
  • Mord and Lif
    • Sons of Virk, Orka’s friend, who are bent on avenging their father’s death by killing Guðvarr.
    • They’re rescued by Orka, who then assists Orka on her journey to Darl and begs her to train them in fighting techniques.
  • Vesli
    • A small, injured tennúr found by Breca, resembling a rat-like creature with wings. Breca names it Vesli.
    • Later, Vesli plays a part in Orka’s rescue after she is captured.

Varg’s Storyline

  • Varg
    • An escaped slave haunted by the death of his sister, Frøya. He joins the Bloodsworn in hopes for Vol to perform an akáll.
    • Slowly finds acceptance among the Bloodsworn despite his initial struggles.
    • Has Ulfrir the Wolf’s blood in his veins.
  • Frøya
    • Varg’s sister, sold into slavery. Her death drives Varg’s desire for vengeance, though he is haunted by the guilt of not being able to save her.
  • Einar Half-Troll
    • A massive warrior in the Bloodsworn, known for his strength.
    • Varg must fight him in one-on-one combat to join the Bloodsworn. Despite coming close to victory, Varg is defeated but later earns Einar’s respect.
    • Has Berser the Bear’s blood in his veins.
  • Svik
    • A sly and charismatic warrior in the Bloodsworn, known for his wit.
    • Shares a humorous story about cheese saving him from a troll, lightening the mood among the Bloodsworn.
    • Has Refur the Fox’s blood in his veins.
  • Røkia
    • A fearsome warrior in the Bloodsworn who helps train Varg. She encourages Varg to grow as a fighter and introduces him to the harsh ways of the warband.
    • Also has Ulfrir the Wolf’s blood in her veins.
  • Glornir
    • The leader of the Bloodsworn, a respected and battle-hardened warrior.
    • Secret husband of Vol, the Seiðr-witch traveling alongside the Bloodsworn.
    • Has Berser the Bear’s blood in his veins.
  • Vol
    • A powerful Seiðr-witch of the Bloodsworn
    • The reason Varg has joined the Bloodsworn, hoping she would perform the akáll for him.
    • Kidnapped by Skalk and held as a prisoner at the end of the book.
  • Skalk
    • A Galdurman in service to Queen Helka. He hires the Bloodsworn to investigate strange killings along the northwestern border.
    • His schemes bring the Bloodsworn deeper into the dangers of ancient forces.
  • Prince Jaromir
    • A royal figure allied with Queen Helka. He demands that Glornir hand over one of the Bloodsworn, but Glornir refuses.

Elvar’s Storyline

  • Elvar
    • A warrior in the Battle-Grim, who left her noble family to forge her own path and earn battle-fame.
    • Eventually earns the trust of Agnar, the leader of the Battle-Grim.
  • Jarl Störr
    • Elvar’s father and a powerful Jarl of Snakavik. He wants Elvar to abandon the Battle-Grim and return to their family, offering her command of her own Warband.
  • Thorun and Broðir
    • Elvar’s brothers, Thorun mocks her for abandoning her family and refusing to marry into Queen Helka’s royal court.
    • Broðir and Elvar were closer, and genuinely misses his sister.
  • Agnar
    • The leader of the Battle-Grim, who trusts Elvar despite his suspicions about her family ties.
    • Leads the group on a mission to Oskutreð.
  • Grend
    • Sworn protector of Elvar in the Battle-Grim. He has sworn a blood oath to protect Elvar after Elvar’s mother died.
  • Uspa
    • A Seiðr-witch with a mysterious past. She is captured by the Battle-Grim after her husband Berak is.
    • Uspa’s son, Bjarn, is kidnapped during an attack by Ilska’s Raven Feeders.
  • Ilska the Dread
    • A deadly warrior leading the Raven Feeders, who seeks Lik-Rifa imprisoned in Oskutreð. She targets Uspa for her knowledge of the gods-fall battle, but ends up following the Battle-Grim and ultimately frees Lik-Rifa.