Gwynne’s debut novel, ”Malice”, was released by [[Pan Macmillan]] in 2012. It won the [[David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy|Morningstar Award]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy |website=SFScope |url=https://www.sfscope.com/2013/11/2013-david-gemmell-awards-for-fantasy |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> ”Valour” (2014), ”Ruin” (2015), and ”Wrath” (2016) completed ”The Faithful and the Fallen” sequence.<ref name=”PanMac”/>
Gwynne’s debut novel, ”Malice”, was released by [[Pan Macmillan]] in 2012. It won the [[David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy|Morningstar Award]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy |website=SFScope |url=https://www.sfscope.com/2013/11/2013-david-gemmell-awards-for-fantasy |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> ”Valour” (2014), ”Ruin” (2015), and ”Wrath” (2016) completed ”The Faithful and the Fallen” sequence.<ref name=”PanMac”/>
His next project was the ”Of Blood and Bone” trilogy, set in the same fictional world but taking place roughly a century later.<ref name=”PanMac”/> In 2021 he began ”The Bloodsworn Saga”, a separate setting drawing on [[Norse mythology]], ”[[Beowulf]]”, and the [[Viking]] period.<ref name=”FH2021″>{{cite web |last=Shukla |first=Nils |title=Interview with John Gwynne (SHADOW OF THE GODS) |website=Fantasy Hive |url=https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/05/interview-with-john-gwynne-shadow-of-the-gods |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> He has said that work on this series allowed him to approach the material differently while still writing within similar themes.<ref name=”FH2021″/>
His next project was the ”Of Blood and Bone” trilogy, set in the same fictional world but taking place roughly a century later.<ref name=”PanMac”/> In 2021 he began ”The Bloodsworn Saga”, a separate setting drawing on [[Norse mythology]], ”[[Beowulf]]”, and the [[Viking]] period.<ref name=”FH2021″>{{cite web |last=Shukla |first=Nils |title=Interview with John Gwynne (SHADOW OF THE GODS) |website=Fantasy Hive |url=https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/05/interview-with-john-gwynne-shadow-of-the-gods |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> He has said that work on this series allowed him to the while similar themes.<ref name=”FH2021″/>
Gwynne has long been involved in [[Historical reenactment|Viking reenactment]], and has described how this practical experience informs the way he depicts fighting and equipment.<ref name=”FH2021″/> He has also cited the novels of [[Bernard Cornwell]] and films such as ”[[Braveheart]]” as further influences.<ref name=”FH2021″/>
Gwynne has long been involved in [[Historical reenactment|Viking reenactment]], and has described how this practical experience informs the way he depicts fighting and equipment.<ref name=”FH2021″/> He has also cited the novels of [[Bernard Cornwell]] and films such as ”[[Braveheart]]” as further influences.<ref name=”FH2021″/>
British fantasy author
|
John Gwynne |
|
|---|---|
 John Gwynne at Imaginales, France, 2024 |
|
| Born |
United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Notable works | The Faithful and the Fallen; Of Blood and Bone; The Bloodsworn Saga |
| Notable awards | David Gemmell Morningstar Award |
John Gwynne is a British fantasy writer. He is the author of several series, including The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone, and The Bloodsworn Saga. His first novel, Malice, won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award in 2013.[1]
Early life and background
Gwynne studied and later taught at the University of Brighton before beginning his writing career.[2] Before publishing fiction, he worked in a variety of manual jobs, and at one time played double bass in a band.[3]
Career
Gwynne’s debut novel, Malice, was released by Pan Macmillan in 2012. It won the Morningstar Award the following year.[4] Valour (2014), Ruin (2015), and Wrath (2016) completed The Faithful and the Fallen sequence.[2]
His next project was the Of Blood and Bone trilogy, set in the same fictional world but taking place roughly a century later.[2] In 2021 he began The Bloodsworn Saga, a separate setting drawing on Norse mythology, Beowulf, and the Viking period.[5] He has said that work on this series allowed him to explore the series while maintaining similar themes.[5]
Gwynne has long been involved in Viking reenactment, and has described how this practical experience informs the way he depicts fighting and equipment.[5] He has also cited the novels of Bernard Cornwell and films such as Braveheart as further influences.[5]
Reception
Malice received positive reviews from several trade publications. Publishers Weekly highlighted its world-building and the handling of its action scenes, while Kirkus Reviews noted the pace of the plot and the scope of the cast.[6][7] A review in Booklist also commented on the novel’s large-scale battle sequences.[8]
Later books, including those from Of Blood and Bone and The Bloodsworn Saga, continued to receive attention from reviewers. Publishers Weekly reviewed A Time of Dread, noting its focus on action and its darker tone,[9] while genre sites such as Fantasy Hive and Fantasy Book Review covered the launch of The Shadow of the Gods.[10][11]
The Fury of the Gods reached number five on the New York Times Trade Fiction Paperback list in November 2024.[12]
Awards and honours
Bibliography
The Faithful and the Fallen
- Malice (2012)
- Valour (2014)
- Ruin (2015)
- Wrath (2016)
Of Blood and Bone
- A Time of Dread (2018)
- A Time of Blood (2019)
- A Time of Courage (2020)
The Bloodsworn Saga
- The Shadow of the Gods (2021)
- The Hunger of the Gods (2022)
- The Fury of the Gods (2024)
Personal life
According to his website, Gwynne lives in East Sussex with his family. He keeps a number of animals and takes part in Viking reenactment.[16]
