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.