The Shadow of the Gods

Orka is one of the point-of-view characters in The Shadow of the Gods. She is tall, strong, and physically imposing from a life spent fighting and surviving. At the beginning of the novel, Orka has settled into a quieter life with her husband, Thorkel, and their young son, Breca, in a steading away from the chaos of the wider world. The family makes a living as trappers, selling pelts to nearby villages.

Orka’s primary concern is raising her son to survive in a world she knows to be merciless. Her stern parenting style is a source of tension between her and Thorkel. While he takes a more patient role with Breca and the boy’s compassionate nature, Orka believes “harsh words are needed for this hard world” (1). Throughout the novel, Gwynne gives glimpses of Orka’s past, which reveals how she came by her harsh and pragmatic view of the world. She and Thorkel are both Tainted. Orka, under her moniker “Skullsplitter,” was the former chief of the Bloodsworn, who are now led by Thorkel’s brother, Glornir. She was a “terrible, merciless warrior” (164) during her time with them. Both Orka and Thorkel were presumed dead after falling over the side of the Sea-Wolf.

In the aftermath, the pair metaphorically buried their past through the literal burial of their armor and weapons. They then attempted to forge a new life. While Thorkel manages to find solace in it, Orka remains haunted, unable to entirely escape the scars of her past. While her awareness of the fragility of life shapes her interactions with her family at the beginning of the novel, her vigilance is not enough to save them. Her steading is one of those attacked by Drekr and the other dragon-born to steal Tainted children for the ritual to free Lik-Rifa. Thorkel dies in the attack, leaving Orka alone to pursue the kidnappers.

The quest to get her son back is the focal point of Orka’s story. Her fury at the injustice inflicted upon her family transforms her into a relentless predator who lives up to her prior reputation as the Skullsplitter. Through a combination of her Tainted blood and experience, Orka is capable of enduring physical and emotional hardships that would break most others. In battle, she is a force of nature, capable of dismantling entire groups of enemies, whether human or vaesen, with terrifying efficiency.

However, Orka is unwilling to trust others and attempts to pursue her vengeance alone, which is why the roster of allied characters surrounding her is lower than that of Varg or Elvar. Only the brothers Mord and Lif accompany her, against her wishes and better judgment. Their brashness and inexperience contrast with her hardened nature. While she initially views them as liabilities, she gradually assumes a mentor-like role with the brothers by teaching them basic combat skills.

Despite her single-minded pursuit of vengeance, Orka occasionally allows moments of humanity to shine through, particularly when mentoring or protecting those less capable than herself, particularly children. While her focus is on Breca, she still takes time to rescue all the other kidnapped children she comes across. At the end of the novel, when the Bloodsworn find her in the ruins of the Grimholt, she is surrounded by the children she rescued.

As a vengeful and fiercely protective mother, Orka channels the archetype present in Norse mythological figures like Frigg or Freyja, goddesses associated with familial bonds and war. In the climactic fight at the Grimholt fortress, her maternal fury and warrior prowess merge into a singular force, as she unleashes her full might against her enemies. Nevertheless, even in victory, she is left hollow and grief-stricken, as Breca remains beyond her reach. The tragedy of her journey is an example of the fragility of hope in the brutal world she lives in.