I have a feeling that I can easily sit here writing about my love for this game and this book, but I don't want to extend this review for that much longer. Still I want to mention some of the characters that make this story memorable and that played a part in it. God of War as a concept was not something I gave attention to. There were games followed by more games at first headline grabbing then declining into convoluted iteration as the series grew older. Most of all, I did not have a Playstation. Okay, I loved the narrator, he was great after I got used to the Scottish accent. At first I couldn't understand half of what he read.

This book will probably be loved by someone who has played the game. For someone who hasn't, maybe not as much. Sometimes it felt as though the author didn’t know the map of the game. The characters were in the Bridge of Yggdrasil, then crossed “a forest” and reached the horn to call for the World Serpent – all those who played the game know that both the World Tree and said horn are within meters away above Tyr’s vault. With. No. Forest. Whatsoever. It’s unprecedented since it’s obvious that the writer had access to the game and to in-depth information about the game, so… what? Kratos, a warrior merely seeking redemption for his horrible misdeeds, is enslaved by the Gods to do their bidding, in the hopes that they would free him from his past, were they satisfied enough by him. Her Grandfather Mr. Mathew had never accepted the birth of this girl child. Father’s disability and the inability of a simple and not so cunning mother gave the other family members an upper hand in colluding and snatching the wealth away.

If I hadn’t played the game, I wouldn’t have understood half of it and the rating would be so much lower right now. Because this book doesn’t stand alone at all. The Witch's dialogue is slightly different when she revealed to Kratos that she knows him as well as warn him of the intolerance of the Norse Gods who ruled the nine realms. Atreus is filled with kindness, which he has from his mother, and he easily befriends everyone that they encounter. He sees the good in everyone and always wants to save as much people or creatures as he can, which Kratos doesn't always understand. This also goes with Kratos when he first encounters, as his warnings were changed. Example are " You do not wish this fight, whoever you are," and " Leave my home now,". To make sure the girl’s life is ruined, her grandfather announces to marry her to a suitable suitor. This suitor is actually going to be the one who makes sure her dislodging from the family’s assets and money. The uncles and grandfather conspire and select an allegedly useless, wandering, and mentally ill husband for her.

All dialogue is removed from the scene where Atreus and Kratos spread Faye's ashes, instead replaced by Atreus thinking about how he shouldn't cry because that wouldn't be godlike and he wants his father to respect him as a fellow god, which turns an emotionally touching scene that's the culmination of their quest and shows how they've actually become closer as individuals into "Toxic masculinity and the kind of mentality that's gotten Kratos where he is...is good, actually." The book starts on the hunting expedition and not Faye's funeral. This was probably for time constraints, but it does kind of remove the somber, contemplative game start that made the GoW opening so emotionally impactful (especially compared to the other games). When Atreus deciphered the message on the half-submerged statue of Týr, he questioned if its from the gods or if they want him and his father to be unarmed in the lake. An Old battered Kratos is in strange lands, ancient Norway in the realm of Midgard, his life has changed, now he lives in seclusion and entirely in charge of a small boy, his son, Atreus, after the death of his wife (the boy's mother). They embark on a journey to spread her ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms. The events that occur in Kratos' Cabin is extremely different in comparison to what occur in the game; Kratos and Atreus had charred badger for supper, after Atreus burned the meat by accident, as he got distracted. That night, as the two slept, Kratos had a nightmare.J. M. Barlog grew up in Chicago before serving in Vietnam with the US Air Force. He has authored numerous novels across many genres. Windows to the Soul, his debut novel, won the Readers’ Choice Award for suspense at a “Love Is Murder” Mystery Conference. Barlog currently lives with his wife in Southern California, where he is busy writing sequels to his popular novels The Heart of the Lion, Minno, and A Connecticut Nightmare. When Faye unexpectedly dies years later Kratos is suddenly left behind with his son, with who he shares a troubled bond. Before Faye died she had told Kratos that she wanted her ashes to be scattered from the highest peak in all of the realms. Kratos thinks that Atreus is inexperienced and young, and not ready to partake such a venture, but he has no other choice than to take him with him. Kratos needs to honor the wishes of his late wife. A few days prior to experiencing this stranger’s kindness, he finds himself impressed by a little girl, who treats him with candy, the only sweet thing in his bitter worthless life.

This act of kindness leaves a long-lasting impression on his mind. The innocent sweet eyes of this little girl are the best part of his memories until destiny gives him a chance to return the favor. In my opinion, you can enjoy this book very well without having played any of the God of War games or being a gamer at all. It is a great fantasy taking place in Norway, including the amazing Norse mythology. It has all sorts of mythical creatures, the Norse gods and the nine realms and all of that is written so well, you don't need any knowledge about it before hand. Everything is explained along the way, so everyone can enjoy it. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a good (fantasy) story, not just to gamers and players of God of War There is a story in God of War. The story has twists, poignant moments, and most of all: creates a framework on which to hang a masterful game. Even the banal video-game-y moments of the game (paddling a canoe to your next location) are made charming by incidental dialogue between the characters. You've never heard a fable until you've heard Kratos mangle it.

As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress... When he had almost given up on life, a little girl ‘Emma’ finds him and offers him a sweet. She prays, as long as he ate this sweet candy, his life would get sweeter and sweeter with each passing moment. But anyway, this is getting long. I did enjoy that we got to see into the head of Kratos and Atreus, specifically Kratos with regards to his son, his emotions about his wife Faye, more of his thought process that you could usually only infer through some motion (or non-motion) he made (or didn't make) in the game.

The story mixes Greek and Norse mythology. While it was fun to begin with, I ended up disliking it towards the end. Think of it this way - you have a song you've grown up with and you know the words and tune of it. Then someone decides to record the song, but while most of the words are the same, they change some, and rearrange the rest, and to top it off, they change the music entirely. It felt like that. While at first I enjoyed hearing about these characters famous in Greek and Norse mythology, the changes to their storylines didn't gel with me. Kratos asks Atreus on how much he knows about Jörmungandr and the boy would tell his father that the World Serpent is so big he is able to warp himself around the world and bite his own tail. With this, the novel version of Jörmungandr is fully connected with his traditional mythology counterpart while the game version only spans Midgard's waters and the Lake of Nine, rather than the entire world itself.All the majesty and mayhem of Greek mythology springs to life once more in the powerful second novel based on the bestselling and critically acclaimed God of War® franchise. Kratos and Atreus' encounter with Brok is nearly to how it occurs in God of War (2018), though some dialogue when they exchange words were changed a little while others were added.