Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your experience reading the novel’s relentless and often brutal action scenes? Did you find them gripping and immersive, or did the grim tone ever become overwhelming for you?

2. The story draws heavily from epic traditions like Beowulf and the myth of Ragnarök. How did this background influence your reading experience? Did it feel like a modern tribute to ancient legends, or something entirely new?

3. Which of the three main protagonists’ journeys did you find the most compelling to follow, and what about their quest captured your interest the most? Was it Orka’s search for her son, Varg’s transformation from thrall to warrior, or Elvar’s reluctant rise to leadership?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Varg’s journey is defined by his search for belonging, which he eventually finds among the Bloodsworn. Think about a time when you became part of a new group or community. What aspects of Varg’s integration, from learning new skills to forming bonds, felt familiar to you?

2. Elvar is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role and must balance her own goals with the needs of her crew. Have you ever found yourself in a position of responsibility you didn’t plan for? How did you approach making difficult decisions that affected others?

3. Vengeance is a powerful driver for characters like Orka and Glornir. How does the book explore the way grief can reshape a person’s entire purpose? Have you ever had a goal become the central focus of your life, and what did you learn from that experience?

4. Biórr is tormented by his conflicting loyalties to the Raven-Feeders and the guilt he feels over betraying the Battle-Grim. Think about a time you felt pulled in different directions by your duties to different people or ideas. How did you handle that tension?

5. The skáld Svik tells an allegorical story suggesting that “the way of the world” is a choice, a point Uspa also makes to Elvar. When have you felt challenged to question a widely accepted belief or a “that’s just how things are” attitude in your own life?

6. Do you think Orka’s choice to resurrect her violent “Skullsplitter” identity was a necessary evil for her quest? Think about a time when a situation required you to bring back a part of yourself you thought you had moved past. How did that feel?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel’s system of thralldom is based on the historical reality of Norse society. How does the story use the violent subjugation of the Tainted to comment on the ways oppression can fuel revolutionary movements? Where do you see echoes of this dynamic in history or current events?

2. What does Lik-Rifa’s strategy of positioning herself as a liberator for the Tainted children reveal about how leaders can use real grievances to build a loyal following? Can you think of any real-world parallels where a leader has mobilized a group by focusing on their shared trauma or oppression?

3. What does the novel suggest about the difference between true honor, as practiced by some warriors, and the hollow pursuit of a “fair-fame name,” as seen in a character like Guðvarr? How do different cultures or communities today define and uphold the idea of honor?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does John Gwynne use the recurring motif of the shield wall in the narrative? What does this formation come to represent about community, discipline, and survival in such a brutal world?

2. The thrall-collar is a central symbol of subjugation. How does its meaning evolve throughout the story, especially when Elvar uses one to control the resurrected wolf-god Ulfrir? What does this act suggest about her character and the nature of power?

3. What thematic role do the vaesen and the returning dead gods play in the story? How does their re-emergence from a mythic past disrupt the mortal world and reinforce the theme of divine heritage as a burden?

4. In what ways did you feel the influence of the author’s real-life experience with Viking reenactment in the storytelling? Did the detailed descriptions of combat, gear, and warrior life make the fantasy elements feel more grounded and believable?

5. How did the narrative’s shift between multiple points of view, including those of Orka, Varg, Elvar, and Biórr, affect your understanding of the conflict? Did following characters on opposing sides make you question who the true heroes and villains were?

6. For readers who have finished the first book, The Shadow of the Gods, how does this sequel raise the stakes? In what ways do the character arcs of Orka, Varg, and Elvar build upon or diverge from the paths they began in the first installment?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a skáld like Svik, tasked with composing a song about one of the major events in the book, such as the resurrection of Ulfrir or the battle for Valdai. What would be the title of your song, and what moral or message would you want the listeners to take away from it?

2. If you were to design a new type of Tainted for this world, what god would they be descended from? What unique abilities or physical traits would their divine blood grant them, and where would their loyalties lie in the growing war?

3. Elvar’s decision to resurrect and enslave a god has massive consequences. If you could have advised her right before she made that choice, what would you have said? Would you have encouraged her or warned her against it, and why?