Lo Wang will punch a chunk of flesh out of a demon, yank out their bone like a chicken drumstick, and then swing their disconnected limb like a giant mallet. That name doesn’t really do it full justice. If you collect enough to fill a meter, you can brutally dismember your assailants through an animation, instantly killing them, and then watch as Lo Wang converts their insides into a limited-use Gore Weapon. Located around the game, as well as dropped by most demons, is a new consumable called a Finisher Orb. My favourite addition has to be the Finisher moves. The revolver, for example, can go from being a pinpoint sharpshooter to an AOE weapon that sets enemies on fire. Lo Wang has a simple skill tree now, and every weapon also comes with its own tiny tree that develops slight nuances to them. The devs have also brought the total gun count down to six, but whether it’s a revolver you can fan bullets from or a superpowered sniper rifle, all of them stand out quite cleanly from each other. You always have both your katana and a gun equipped, so you can switch between either at a moment’s notice. In direct contrast to Shadow Warrior 2 (a game described in Adam Smith's review as "part Borderlands, part interactive chainsaw massacre"), everything’s been streamlined. In theory, it’s all about constantly moving, and weaving in and out of danger in order to survive. There’s a high level of precision to the controls as you platform between arenas, and they manage to balance keeping Lo Wang feeling super light with being really responsive. These enemies are a group of variously-sized and variably outlandish monsters with glowing red eyes and, e.g., accordion bodies that spit saw blades. Shadow Warrior 3 lets you wall-run, slide, double jump, dash, and use a grappling hook to either swing between areas or jump towards an unsuspecting demon. I gave the book 5 solid stars and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us in the upcoming books.To further shake things up this time round, Flying Wild Hog have tossed in some new movement options. It’s the most satisfying first book you are going to read and is guaranteed to leave you hanging, and wanting for more. Overall, this is a strong start to a brand new series, and I highly recommend reading this if you love epic fantasies. It leaves a distinctive impression, and I love when a story could be outstanding like that. I had a blast reading this book, and I am still thinking about things from this book. The bloody carnage, unflinching brutality, and savagery along with the tumultuous emotions this story evokes, leave readers wanting for more and eagerly waiting for the next installment. ![]() The ending was epic as it was the point of convergence for a couple of storylines. The descriptions and details were fascinating to see and explore, as I am not familiar with Norse-inspired settings. The world-building, the lore, and monsters all add another layer of brilliance to the story. With rumors of a looming war spreading throughout the lands of Vigrið, three people will shape the fates of the world. The world is in chaos once again, with new dangers lurking ahead. They wreak havoc on regular folks, threatening their existence. Monsters and other creatures prowl the lands and the woods. A new world rose, with power-hungry and ruthless jarls feuding with one another and expanding their territories. After the Gods battled with each other and fell in a bloody and gruesome battle the catastrophe of their fall resulted in a land that was ravaged to its bare bones. The story is set in a Norse-inspired world called Vigrið. It was just a minor bump on a long road to an intense, bloody, and savage journey. ![]() I blitzed through this book despite the initial struggle with some of the words and their meaning. ![]() It was an absolute page-turner by all counts!! When I say I devoured this book, I mean it. The book blew me away with the epicness of the story and was highly riveting with constant edge-of-the-seat-action throughout the book. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I picked this up, other than the general idea I had after reading the synopsis. Buddy reading is a unique and fun experience on its own, but to read a book that’s unanimously raved about by the entire book (fantasy) community is another thing. I have heard so much about John Gwynne and his books that I was delighted to get my hands on this one and participate in Goodreads Buddy Reads. The Shadow Of The Gods by John Gwynne is the first book in The Bloodsworn Saga. Disclaimer : Thank you, Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group, and Orbit for providing me with an arc of this book.
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