This was 100% one of my faves of 2023. What a way to kick off a trilogy. For a slim book, this certainly packs a punch, which is saying something considering so often character driven books can sometimes feel a little on the slow side. And yet, that was never an issue whilst reading. I want more of this world, I want more of Kissen. And my gosh I want more of Elogast!

This was a DNF for me. Such a shame as I loved the beginning of the book and the main character Kissen. I couldn’t manage with the writing style or the different POV’s but I’m sure others will love it.

Godkiller is a fun and unique read. The worldbuilding and character arcs are so beautifully written that I want to just keep reading about this world and anything to do with it.

shout out to the disability rep that was within this story

Thank you for this e-arc sorry for the delay in reviewing

Gritty epic fantasy, though not 'grimdark' - well, not quite yet anyway, and the prologue came close... I really enjoyed this, it had a good cast of main characters and I do like a bit of creative mythology in my fantasy world building.

A neutral rating, for now.

I have set this title aside for now as I don't think I was in the right headspace for this type of narrative. I love the atmosphere and the world building so far. The characters have depth and personality and I'm pleased to see both disability representation and themes that touch on mental health concerns. Which is all to say the diversity here seems promising!

The writing took me a few pages to settle into, it doesn't always flow smoothly but Kaner is a competent writer and transports you into her scenes with ease.

Really my only difficulty with Godkiller so far has been the pacing, which is too meandering for what my brain needs at this time. I think most readers who are going into this title expecting this style of storytelling are going to have a good time, but for me I think it would be unfair to judge it too critically when I am sure I picked it up at a bad time.

Recommended for fans of older fantasy titles looking for better diversity in their character cast. And for lovers of animal companions, tiny gods, vengeful mortals, and found family. Definitely plan to come back to this one at another time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone--least of all me--that I ended up loving this book as much as I did, so god knows (haha) why it took me so long to finally pick it up. The premise of this novel is fantasy catnip to me, with a killer-for-hire who specialises in hunting a particular kind of creature, a world inhabited by gods both mischievous and deadly (often both), and a precocious but believably well-written child out to uncover some truths she was not expecting.

This is a world in which gods are very real, whether they're almighty gods of fire or tiny gods of broken sandals, and they need belief, worship and tributes to survive. Before the beginning of this novel, young King Arren led an army intent on killing the gods across the land, convinced they'd become so powerful they were doing more harm to people than good--especially after the deaths of the rest of his family. This means godkillers like Kissen, who herself has something of a history with the gods, have fairly steady work, called in to remove gods to obey the new law whether the people around those gods want them dead or not.

After killing a fairly minor god, Kissen meets Inara Craier, only daughter of a local noblewoman, who's in need of a godkiller's help. Not to kill a god, but to separate herself from one, for Inara Craier has been connected to Skediceth, a small god of white lies, for as long as either of them can remember, and they both feel pain if physically separated too far from one another. Inara loves Skedi, but neither of them want to be tied to one another forever and neither of them understands how their bond came to be when all gods need a shrine.

When a series of circumstances force Kissen to take Inara and Skedi under her wing, the two make for an ancient city where many gods still roam, a place that may have answers, and on the way meet Elogast, a former soldier-turned-baker who fought in the god war alongside the young king, and is now on a secret mission after Arren came to his old friend for help. But when it comes to gods and power, nothing is as it seems.

I'm sure there are many people out there who would disagree with me, but to me Godkiller reads like if The Witcher had a baby with The Farseer Trilogy. It had such a classic fantasy feel to it while still feeling fresh because of the characters it centres--this is a world where queerness isn't so much as blinked at, and there are characters of colour and disabled characters galore without it ever feeling like box-ticking. While I absolutely loved Kissen, though - I was never not going to, I love grumpy himbo women who are good at killing things - Inara was the triumph of the novel for me. Probably because she was the pov character I was most nervous about.

Writing children is hard, but Inara felt very real. She has that wonderful mix of vulnerability and stubbornness that's true to so many young girls when they're at that awkward age where they're being told they're too young for some things and too old for others, and constantly deprived of information for their own protection when they can be trusted with the truth despite their youth. I'm so glad Kaner left us with many things unanswered when it comes to Inara, as it's left me all the more keen to pick up Sunbringer as soon as I can and I can't wait to see her grow through the rest of the series and continue to come into her own.

Elogast also grew on me as the story wore on; he was at his best when he had Kissen, Inara and Skediceth to bounce off, and his own relationship with the gods was interesting and is something I hope gets explored more in the following books.

If there was one thing I didn't love about this book as much it was the romance - not even because I disliked the romance, but because I love me a slow-burn in fantasy and we just don't seem to get them anymore - but I could forgive all that for how cinematic the ending was for me. It's not often that the first book in a high fantasy trilogy can leave me feeling immersed in a whole new world in under 300 pages, but somehow Kaner managed it here. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to continue a new fantasy trilogy.

I love the diverse characters and swing it all come together. The world building and concept for it I found really gripping, but then for it to develop and learn more about the knight, I loved how natural the representation of LGBTQ+ characters felt as well as the disability - I really appreciated this as it's not shared often. Fantastic book

Hannah Kaner’s debut novel Godkiller is an engrossing entry into the dark fantasy genre, brimming with intrigue and adventure. This captivating story draws comparisons to Sapkowski’s The Witcher series with its rich world-building and well-crafted narrative.

The novel unfolds in a world where the majority of gods have been slain under the orders of the King, leaving behind a realm rife with political unrest, rumors of civil war, and a lingering sense of loss among the populace. Against this backdrop, we follow four main characters whose fates intertwine in a quest to the ruined city of Blenraden, driven by a secret request from the King.

The story is told from four distinct perspectives. Kissen, the titular Godkiller, is a mercenary with a disdain for gods who earns her keep by slaying them. Elogast, once a trusted knight of the King, now lives a quieter life as a baker. Inara is a young noblewoman hidden from the public eye, and Skedi is her godly companion, bound to her despite the usual requirements for a god’s survival.

Kaner masterfully presents each character’s backstory and personal struggles, making them compelling and relatable. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, individuals dealing with mental health issues, and disabled characters (including one with a prosthetic leg) enriches the narrative, adding depth and realism to the world. The book seamlessly incorporates these elements into its story, enhancing rather than overshadowing the plot.

While the novel's pacing can be uneven at times—some sections dragging while others race ahead—the overall experience is rewarding. The richly imagined setting, combined with the unfolding drama, romance, and complex character relationships, provides a gripping read. The ending is particularly satisfying, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

Overall, Godkiller is a standout debut, showcasing Kaner's talent for world-building and character development. Though the book could benefit from a slightly more balanced pacing, it remains an impressive and engaging fantasy adventure. Fans of dark fantasy and epic quests will find much to enjoy in this promising new series.

Quality Rating: Five Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Five Stars

Simply put, Godkiller is the most fun I've had with a fantasy adventure in ages. While it started off feeling like a gender-bent Witcher-y story (no harm in that), it quickly fell into its own stride and become unputdownable.

There are compelling characters with solid motivations and unravelling stories; such lush, grim and spectacular worldbuilding; each scene hums with a special little magic. This book envelops you almost instantly and stretches as far as the eye can see. But the one thing that warmed my heart the most was some of the best diverse representation (featuring diversity as normal, beyond a token character trait) I've ever read.

The final twist I did see coming, but even so the ripple effect it had across the ensemble retains its impact. I cannot wait for the second book (I already bought it before turning the last page of this), and hopefully more to come down the line to spin this tale even further for us to enjoy. There's a lot still simmering away and as Kaner puts it in her acknowledgements, this is just the beginning.

I was lucky to hear an excerpt of this at an event and liked what I had heard. Having read the full novel, I did end up enjoying this. I was surprised at how quickly I got through it - the writing style is really readable and made me want to read more.

I have to say, I probably enjoyed Kissen's and Elo's storylines the most, but I am hoping that Skedi's and Inara's are developed a little more in book 2.

Overall, I enjoyed this and will definitely be picking up book 2.

The good:

Different POVs that show an intricate world of gods and the humans they need to survive.

Beautiful writing for a unique fantasy world set up.

The ending! 😭 I want to read the second one right now to know what happens!

The bad:

Most of the book seemed to be characters traveling from point A to point B then to point C.

The book didn't get a hook into me right away. I had to force myself to keep going.

The length of the book. I am not sure how many books are going to be in this series but I felt like a lot of time was wasted just moving characters to where they needed to be. Pacing could have been better.

Overall:

I liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

This was actually pretty nice, and I liked the story. It opens with a powerful scenario that is shrouded in fire, bone, flesh, blood, sacrifices, and radically altered pledges.
The book's atmosphere is perfect, drawing you into a thoroughly well-developed world.

The writing is very excellent; I believe that the reason for my difficulties was the erratic pacing in the middle section, as it took me a long time to finish this relatively short book—at least by fantasy standards. The cover perfectly complements the plot and is a true piece of art.
Expect an LGBTQ+ lead, main characters grappling with mental illness, a prosthetic-limb point of view character, several significant disabled characters, and a form of sign language unique to this planet in Godkiller. These elements all work together beautifully to improve the plot and the characters in it. Amazing set pieces, romance, betrayals, showdowns, curses, heartbreaking loss, demons, and a fantastic climax are all included. Godkiller is unquestionably a rewarding book for those who pay attention because small details and seemingly insignificant statements later on turn out to be crucial.

Each member faces unique challenges, which makes for a charming found family cliché.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one at 37%. After a super promising prologue which really drew me in and which I felt like set up such and interesting world, the story fell flat. The main characters all felt pretty stereotypical and frustrating and predictable, and I just didn’t feel like the interesting ‘Godkiller’ bits were keeping me entertained as they were so few and far between. I really wanted to enjoy this as the cover is great and the book sounded good, but the writing just wasn’t for me on this occasion. DNF.

I've seen so much goodness about this book, but despite my best efforts, kept finding it hard to stick with. I will likely return to it in future, but for now it's a DNF. It's not you, it's me!

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish! Godkiller was a true adventure novel, with a fun and sympathetic cast, each on their own quests but coming together to form a family. The ending left me thirsting for more, and I can’t wait to dive right into Sunbringer!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Following a godkiller, Kissen, who has an ongoing vendetta against the Gods who killed her parents, she must embark on a quest with people she meets along the way to split a bond formed between a young child and a God which joins their lives. This is a thrilling fantasy packed full of action and assassins - they are quite literally being chased their entire journey.

I really enjoyed the premise and plot of this book, but at times I felt like the plot was slightly flat. It very much did remind me of the journey that is in Tolkien's universe if that makes sense. Would I read the sequel? Probably not, this book didn’t stand out for me as much as I’d hoped. Regardless, some people really loved this book, so take this review with a pinch of salt :)

This book!! This boooook! I barely have words for how I feel about this one. I listened to the audiobook, which was spectacularly performed, and I was completely enchanted by it. I felt so deeply embedded in Kissen's story that it was almost jarring in those moments where I turned the audiobook off to return to banal real life. Kaner's prose is pure perfection, and I can't wait to read the follow up because I just know it's going to ruin me as deeply as Godkiller did.

Aaaah, I really wanted to love this and sadly it didn't do it for me. I got about half way through this and just wasn't kept hooked. One day, I might pick it back up and retry it, but at the moment, I'm not rushing back. I can see why people love it though, so I think it is just personal to me.

Ah, this book wasn't for me. I'm really disappointed that I didn't enjoy it- I wasn't thinking this would be a new favourite, but I thought that I would at least enjoy it.
I didn't really connect to any of the characters, that then meant that I didn't care about their motivations. I felt like the quest and travel went on for far too long without any plot development.
I felt like there were lots of gaps in logic, I didn't understand the magic or gods in this world.
For a book with less than 300 pages, it shouldn't have taken me over three weeks to read. I'm a fast reader, I should have been able to finish this in a day or two, but it just didn't draw me in.
The part that really annoyed me, to the extent of making me want to DNF 30 pages from the end, was SPOILER the sex scene. It felt really unnecessary, almost fan service-y, and like it had been added in to tick a romantasy box rather than developing the plot.

This book was not for me, however I can see that fans of YA, slow paced, character driven stories might enjoy it. It reminded me of Truthwitch.

It has taken me sometime to start this and I am so glad I finally took the jump. What an incredible story! I loved all of the characters and it was such a refreshing read with disabled characters being heavily featured in a fantasy setting. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series (and I can start the second one right now…)

4.5 stars