40 fantasy and science fiction books you should read in 2022

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne (The Bloodsworn #2) — April 12

It hardly seems like we’ve had enough time to recover from John Gwynne’s first novel in his Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, but here we are already getting the sequel. The Hunger of the Gods picks up right where Book 1 left off, with the land of Vigrid, the Battle-Plain, being shaken to its foundations by the release of an ancient power. As bands of warriors go on daring missions to free captives and secure alliances to face the coming storm, it becomes clear that only another equally ancient and dangerous power can stand against the darkness which threatens the land.

There are plenty of stories out there with Norse influences, but very few have the same breadth and attention to detail as John Gwynne’s newest series. The author of The Faithful and the Fallen and Of Blood and Bone outdid himself with this one; it feels like a Ragnarok retelling, but done in a fantasy style that pays homage to all the sorts of Norse-inspired stories that came before it, like Skyrim and God Of War.

There was action, magic, conspiracies, and creatures abound in the first volume of the series, The Shadow of the Gods. There’s no reason to expect that the follow-up won’t be bigger and better.

Pre-order it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million