Okay, I am a bit conflicted on this one. It was a very enjoyable read and I had never read a similar book before. I really liked the characters, I loved the setting and worldbuilding and the stakes were really high. It never felt like the author pulled any punches. People tend to say of this book that it is slow to start and focuses more on setting the world and characters up, but it didn't feel slow to me, I was satisfied with the pacing and I wasn't bored at any part. No scene felt unnecessary. After the ending I am definitely continuing with the series and can't wait to see how it ends.

Now, that being said, I really can't rate it any higher than 4-4.25, as much as I want to, because there are some flaws I cannot overlook. First, I read The Shadow Of The Gods at the same time as I listened to The Lies Of Locke Lamora, and unfortunately I couldn't help but compare the two especially on the writing style. The writing feels at points a bit flat and raw and often fails to convey the emotional weight of some of the scenes. This is especially unfortunate when it comes to character deaths, which personally failed to move me as much as I would like, even though I had come to truly care for the characters themselves.

Repetition is also a huge sin of this book. Gudvarr's nose has been dripping so much I fear there is no drop of liquid left in him and thought-cage was a beautiful word the first time used, but at the hundredth time I am starting to think that Gwynne pressed Ctrl+F on his manuscript and just replaced every instance of mind with it without realizing how often it is used. The belt takes some of the weight off the brynja and everyone is spitting on the ground. I really get it, I don't need to be told in every scene.

Overall, when it comes to epic fantasy, I firmly believe that authors deserve some leeway on the first book of a new series and therefore I would definitely recommend this book, especially knowing that everyone praises the hell out of the next ones.