Order of John Gwynne Books

If fantasy fiction were a battlefield, John Gwynne would be the warlord carving epic sagas into the stone of modern myth. Known for his sweeping, visceral fantasy series like The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone, and The Bloodsworn Saga, Gwynne isn’t just an author—he’s a blacksmith of words, hammering raw emotion, loyalty, and loss into tales that feel like Norse legends brought to life.

The Man Behind the Myth

John Gwynne was born in Singapore on July 24, 1968, into a military family that moved often—a life pattern that would later bleed into the themes of displacement, duty, and identity found in his books. His British roots trace back to the windswept landscapes of England, where he eventually settled. Despite a globe-spanning early life, his heart remained anchored in old-world tales of valor, gods, and monsters.

Gwynne studied at Brighton University in the United Kingdom, where his passion for literature took a decisive turn toward the mythic. But before writing full-time, he was a true jack-of-all-trades: actor, furniture restorer, and even a university lecturer in English. In what feels like the perfect twist for a fantasy author, he has also been known to suit up in Viking garb—yes, literally—and participate in live-action reenactments. When he writes about axe-wielding berserkers, it comes from experience.

He didn’t begin publishing novels until his mid-40s, proving that it's never too late to change your fate—a core theme echoed in the arcs of his tragic heroes and haunted warriors.

A Family Affair in Every Sense

One of the more heartfelt—and ironic—twists in Gwynne’s own saga is that he started writing because his daughter, Harriett, is disabled and uses a wheelchair. To be close to home and family, he turned to writing. What began as a father’s practical solution turned into an entire world populated by flawed heroes, immortal enemies, and betrayals that would make even the gods weep. It’s storytelling born from necessity, shaped by love, and sharpened by real-life grit.

In fact, his whole family is involved in the publishing process. His wife proofreads. His children brainstorm ideas. This is not a man who writes in isolation—it’s a collective mythology forged around the dinner table.

Death? Not Yet.

As of now, John Gwynne is very much alive, continuing to shape realms drenched in snow, steel, and blood. His most recent works, including the Bloodsworn Saga (The Shadow of the Gods, The Hunger of the Gods, and The Blood of the Gods), are Norse-inspired masterworks that blend gritty realism with mythic resonance. If Ragnarok had an author, it would be Gwynne.

The Irony of Hope in a Brutal World

Perhaps the most ironic truth about John Gwynne is this: while his stories are often soaked in sorrow, loss, and the terrible weight of war, they are, at their core, about hope. The hope that outcasts can become heroes. That bonds of brotherhood can defy fate. That even the smallest act of kindness can change the course of kingdoms. His writing punches hard—but it always leaves you with breath in your lungs and fire in your heart.

Why His Legacy Matters

In a time when fantasy sometimes leans too heavily on subversion or cynicism, Gwynne reminds us that the old ways—the epics, the oaths, the blood-bound loyalty—still hold power. His characters don’t just battle dragons; they fight self-doubt, the weight of lineage, and the temptation to abandon what’s right when the path is dark.

To read John Gwynne is to walk through shadow and storm—and come out the other side not unscarred, but unbroken.