Two gods battled to decide the fate of the world and humanity. One wanted to remake the world and destroy humanity in the process while the other fought to stop them. Both were seriously wounded and centuries later their battle is little more than a myth in the far north where a mysterious killing mist known as the Fug protects the mountain where the god Tyr rests. The southern continent is ruled by a powerful Empire dedicated to the god Gharl who's armies are supplemented by hybrid creations like the Jackals while his more elaborate failed creations roam the desert killing any they find. The Empire continually attacks the southern coastline of the northern Kingdom in an endless meat grinder of a war, the origins of which only a few remember. The gods have chosen their champions, one who has hidden their allegiance since they were born, and the other an unwanted gallows born bastard. Which will prevail in this action packed epic fantasy series?

The first book starts slowly with the story of Bane, who was born as his mother hung from the gallows. The superstitious villages left him out for the Fug, but the next day the Fug returned him with a mysterious marking. Therefore, by their own law his aunt was allowed to keep him. Bane eventually learns his father was, the Baron's son, making him a bastard. His uncle Glimpse, bastard son of the Baron himself, begins training him in the traditional duty of the family bastards to serve as spies and assassins. This is highly reminiscent of Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, complete with the secret corridors, but in this case the Baron's legitimate children actually treat Glimpse and Bane as family. When the Vikings from Tyr's mountain raid the village, Bane kills the chieftain's son and his sister Alruna vows to kill him. But when an army of Gharl's Jackals attacks the castle, Bane is able to persuade the Vikings to help, which begins the long love to hate you relationship with Alruna. It's during that siege that someone with another mysterious mark is seen, but rather than Bane's protective mark, this one brings death.

From then on the series is largely one crisis after another with lots of battle, monsters, and traitors. One entire book is given to Bane and Alruna attempting to rescue his father, now Baron, from being killed in a gruesome spectacle in the Empire. Naturally, they get separated and battle slavers and literal monsters before they take on one of Gharl's demigods with Bane's father. A river of lava is involved because what's a fight against a monstrous demigod without rivers of lava? 

One key aspect of the worldbuilding is the references to Norse mythology. Alruna's people are called Vikings, but aside from raiding Bane's village occasionally, there isn't much of a resemblance since they don't have ships etc. Tyr is a god in Norse mythology and that forms his backstory in this world and the Draugr that inhabit the Fug act as burial guards, as they did in Norse legend. At one point, characters venture into the spiritual realm where they traverse the World Tree and other mythological figures get involved as minor characters. Even Fenrir makes an appearance and serves as the catalyst for the story that continues past Bane of the North.

Overall, the nearly non-stop action makes for a compelling read. The first book starts slowly, which is deceptive in more ways than one. It makes you think this is more about the bastard trained as an assassin, when it's really about a chosen warrior desperately fighting to save humanity. The romantic relationship choices for Bane are well done. He's attracted to both Alruna, the frenemy warrior princess, and the village girl he grew up, with who develops surprising grit and audacity. The relationship that gets the most emphasis is the fragile connection between Bane and the father he has never met. Both men spend much of their limited downtime wondering about the other, and for a violent fantasy series, the eventual outcome is unusually warm and fuzzy. I have to admit that while I appreciate excellent references to mythology and surprisingly complex character relationships, I kept reading for the many plot twists, various battle scenarios, and the occasional river of lava.

Reviews on Amazon and Audible agree that this series is a winner with good ratings for both the book and the narrator Scott Fleming. The series is included in Kindle Unlimited, on Audible, and as paperbacks. Amazon has also added Gallows Born to their best books of 2026 list.