Really good historical story. I really enjoyed the depth of the history, but i liked that it wasnt all pure history, and that you can still really connect to the characters! I made it a game to try and recognise names from my history/latin lessons. I did feel the beginning stretched quite long and was a bit confusing to me, but once i got into it, i had fun.

I recommend

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

You start a book and you’re immerse in a mythical and epic world, a dark age that is the moment when a great empire collapse and some of the western founding myths are born.
There’s an exciting moment at the beginning of the book as you meet characters out of myth and history. They mix the different plant and you could think they’re part of the same story and they were all historical characters
The Dark Age myths are all presents in this novel, a sort of tapestry and you will meet heroes from the well-known sagas like The Nibelungen or The Matter of Britain.
I think this is a novel that should be read listening to Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.
I had to admin I’m not a fan of the Nibelungen, school curricula can cause this, or the Ring, love some parts.
Tim Hodkinson is an excellent storyteller and kept me turning pages and being enthralled by the fast paced and tightly knitted plot.
It was a great travel into the Dark Age as there’s a lot of researched behind the world building and the development of the fleshed-out characters.
An excellent historical fiction, gripping and intriguing. I strongly recommend it and think it will be loved by fantasy aficionados too.
Many thanks to ARIES for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The story traces the fortunes of four young adult friends , members of the Burgundars a Gaulic tribe, who are almost annihilated by the Romans led by Atieus and his allies the Huns.
They become separated after the battle but are re-united years later, when Attila 'The Scourge of God' tries to take the remains of the Roman empire.
If you enjoy historical fiction, you will enjoys this, even though it is loosely based on facts. I especially enjoyed the battle towards the end of the book to decide where the Roman world remains or is swallowed by Atilla and his Huns..

This uses the historical elements perfectly and I was glad that it uses the Norse mythology perfectly. I was hooked from the first page and thought it had that element that I was looking for perfectly. It had that element of battle that I was looking for, it uses the historical adventure element in a way that was different and glad I got to read this. Tim Hodkinson always writes a strong story.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson is an exciting blend of history and legends that makes for a really great story! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and this did not disappoint.

This book is set in the fifth century AD, which I found to be the perfect setting for a pretty epic tale like this one! It's not a time period that I'm extremely familiar with, but that almost amplified the mythological elements in a way that really worked for me. I know some about Norse mythology and I was really impressed about how well stories were brought into this book. Everything was well-done! The pacing is great and I really enjoyed the characters a lot, especially Hagan!

I definitely feel like a lot of people will really enjoy this book! I was hooked right away! This is the first book I've read by Tim Hodkinson, but I'm already looking forward to when I get the chance to read another book by him. If you're already a fan of his work, this is a must-read! I also think you should give this book a try if you're a fan of epic adventures in historical fiction in general or if you like the idea of getting a new, exciting look at legends and mythology!

A clever interweaving of myth and history with the Roman Empire in steep decline and under fierce attack by Attila the Hun. The early part of the story deals with the decimation of the Burgundar by the Roman Legion using Hun warriors. The story moves forward in several stages using dates at regular intervals with a Burgundar warrior now part of Roman forces eventually retired having been injured brought back to Rome from Britain as he is needed to infiltrate a new Burgundar state set up by the Romans but who have cut off all contact with outsiders. There’s a rich hoard of treasure at stake along with a legendary sword that both Rome. and Attila covet. It all builds to a rousing battle scene that is brilliantly long and brutal and a final scene where naturally all is revealed. Lengthy but well worth sticking with.

In a world of war and ruin, men and gods collide.436 AD. The Burgundars are confident of destroying Rome's legions. Their forces are strong and they have beaten the Romans in battle before. But they are annihilated, their king killed, his people scattered. Their fabled treasure is lost. For Rome has new the Huns, whose taste for bloodshed knows no bounds. Many years later, the Huns, led by the fearsome Attila, have become the deadliest enemies of Rome. Attila seeks the Burgundars' treasure, for it includes the legendary Sword of the War God, said to make the bearer unbeatable.No alliance can defeat Attila by conventional means. With Rome desperate for help, a one-eyed old warlord from distant lands and his strange band of warriors may have the answers... but oaths will be broken and the plains of Europe will run with blood before the end.Drawing on Norse mythology and European history, Sword of the War God is an epic historical adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman and Christian Cameron.Reviews for Tim Hodkinson'Will appeal to fans of Bernard Cornwell, George R. R. Martin, and especially Theodore Brun.' Historical Novel Society'An excellently written page-turner.' Historical Writers Association

I am always on the lookout for new upcoming historical fiction stories. When I heard this one was coming out and was norse inspired, I knew I had to pick it up. This was very well written and had me hooked from the first chapter. If you enjoyed the Khan series by Iggulden, or anything by Bernard Cornwell or Giles Kristian, then I highly recommend this read. Solid 4 stars:)

So, when I first saw this book on Netgalley, I thought that it sounded interesting, given my interest in historical fiction, and was eager to give it a try. But, a few pages in, and I was coming to the realization that this book wasn't holding my attention and interest. So, unfortunately, at this time I'll have to leave this book unfinished for the time being, though I look forward to picking it up again sometime in the near future.

4.5 stars

SWORD OF THE WAR GOD is a thrilling historical that draws on real history and legends from the decline of the Roman empire to create a saga of death, betrayal, and war as Attila the Hun clashes with the empire.

I really enjoyed seeing all these legends brought into the tale. The main one is the legend of Brunhild and Sigurd, though seen from Hagan's perspective and leaning into the darker aspects of that tale. It is woven into the history of Rome trying to form an alliance against Attila, so the book doesn't feel like a traditional retelling as there are so many other elements being drawn together.

There are also references to other legends - like Arthur, though that is approached through the lens of the De Excidio rather than the "knights and grail and Monmonth and Mallory" versions that are more common. It is only a brief reference, but I loved that this was the version included.

It's all enfolded into the decline of the (Western) Roman empire, which is a period that is not as well documented as others and so many legends spring up from around then. It's perfect for authors to come in and weave the two sides (records and legends) together. Well known battles sit alongside legendary swords. Suspicions turn friends into allies, fanned by greed and the empire.

It's a fast paced tale that handles the time jumps of years well. I sped through this (rather chonky) book to find out how it would end as it felt like a tragedy was being set up (yay!) I was not disappointed by the epic battle at the end that brought it all to a head.

An amazing and fantastic story that blends myth, legend, and history. Everything is here, Lord of the Rings, the Ring Cycle, King Arthur, and the real story of Attila.

This was pretty well written. I enjoyed quite a few aspects of it and I think the writer is talented. Definitely keen to read more by this author.

Really liked this, and Tim Hodkindson is a promising writing. I was very much enraptured and I'm keen to read more by this author.

Bernard Cornwell had better up his game as this is a challenger for writing for high quality historical fiction, for me it ticked all the right boxes and I will be definitely reading more by Tim Hopkinson