John Gwynne
John Gwynne is a British epic fantasy author known for The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone, and The Bloodsworn Saga. His fiction blends Norse and Celtic influences, large-scale warfare, and character-driven storytelling, and he has become a prominent contemporary voice in epic fantasy with multiple bestselling series and an international readership.
Biography & Author's Journey
John Gwynne built his writing life after a notably varied apprenticeship. Before becoming known for epic fantasy, he studied and later lectured at Brighton University, played double bass in a rock ’n’ roll band, packed soap in a factory, and dug ditches for a landscaping crew. Those practical, physical experiences sit interestingly beside the scholarly habits that shaped his fiction. His breakout came with Malice in 2012, the opening volume of The Faithful and the Fallen, a debut that went on to win the David Gemmell Morningstar Award and established him as a significant modern writer of heroic fantasy. He lives in East Sussex with his wife, children, and a menagerie of animals, and his long involvement in Viking reenactment has become part of his public author identity. ((https://www.johngwynneauthor.co.uk/about))
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Community Voices
"John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasy"
— Adrian Tchaikovsky ((
"John Gwynne hits all the right spots in his epic tale of good vs evil ... Gwynne is definitely one to watch"
— SFX ((
"John Gwynne writes fantasy with the heart of a hero and the inventiveness of a master mage"
— Sebastien de Castell ((
"With three-dimensional characters, a gripping plot, and a world that became real to me, John Gwynne’s Malice is a great debut"
— Fantasy Book Critic ((
"It’s everything I’ve come to expect from a John Gwynne book"
— Robin Hobb ((
"John Gwynne manages to take what looks like a stereotypical fantasy-trope and build it into something different and new"
— Fantasy Book Review ((
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
