(Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review).

Kissen is a godkiller. Her origin story has taught her that gods are selfish, vindictive and not to be trusted, and now she makes a living slaying them. This lines up nicely with the status quo: an historic civil war fought by the king, which turned into a purge of all the wild gods. Only now, there's a problem. Enter Skedi, god of white lies, and somehow tied to Inara (a petulant noble girl on the run). He is the one god that Kissen can't kill..

Except... Well, spoilers.

I loved the concept, and I'm sure some of my issues were based on this being an eARC, not the finished article. But there were too many loose threads that weren't tied up. Not because they're waiting to come back in a later book, but just because they didn't go anywhere. Too many internal motivations that didn't make sense with what else we knew about the characters. Just lots of little details that grated on me, Some of the diversity felt shoe-horned in, and by the time we had characters running around on broken legs, I was done. Hannah Kaner clearly has the makings of a good world-builder. Give it a few years and a decent editor and I'll be back for a second look, but this was not the one for me.

“What happens to us does not define us, what we do next is what matters”

This book was everything I was hoping for and more
I love the world building, characters, the plot twist, the found family and the romance

I literally could not stop reading it!

Fans of Daniel Abraham or Anthony Ryan will love this fantasy of gods and monsters in a new and exciting way. This is a world where to believe in a god is to bring them into being, and belief is strictly regulated. Bring into that a god-killer, or holy assassin who herself is protected by the blessing of a sea god who once loved her father, and now finds herself the protector of a girl and god who are mysteriously bound together, and you have a quest full of adventure, romance, enchantment and danger. I am really looking forward to book 2.

Kissen is a Godkiller, a job she loves. So when she finds herself harbouring a young girl and the God that follows her, she isn't sure what to do. Elogast was a knight, now a baker on a mission to save his childhood friend who just happens to be the King. They meet on the road and, thought the unlikeliest of travelling companions, end up journeying together. There is no trust, everyone is keeping secrets, but they will need to come together for their tasks are more entwined than they thought, and the fate of the entire Kingdom could be in the balance.

I loved this book so much! It's one of those stories that just drags you in and you find yourself flying through the pages unable and unwilling to put it down. Godkiller is told from 4 POV's. Kissen, the Godkiller who finally finds herself facing a God she cannot kill. She has a hard outer shell, but on the inside she is just someone reeling from a traumatic past event that wants to live their life in relative peace. Elogast, once Knight now Baker. He hung his sword up after the last battle with the Gods, and had no intentions of picking it up again, but he can't resist a request from his king, even if it's one rife with danger. Inara is a noble girl who has lead an incredibly sheltered life, that is until she meets Kissen. And finally, Skediceth, the God of white lies who found himself inextricably tied to a young girl.

The author does a fantastic job of building every single one of our characters up on an individual basis, whilst also showing their growth together as a group. They are an unlikely gang of people, a Godkiller, a Kinght turned baker, a young noble girl and a God, but they have more in common than they know. Alongside our four MC's we do get introduced to a few side characters, the main ones being Arren, the King of Middren who sends Elogast on his journey & Yatho and Telle, Yessen's only family. Kaner keeps our character's to a tight knit group, something I enjoyed because it meant we got to spend more time with, and get a deeper dive into each and every one.

Kaner's world building is truly outstanding. Middren was a country over-run by Gods, their shrines everywhere with people openly worshipping & making them stronger. That is until the war, when King Arren decreed all worship of God's illegal and tried to destroy them all. She shows us both sides of this, Kissen who would quite happily kill any God in her path, to others, pilgrims who travel miles, risking the wrath of the King, to the only shrines left standing hoping for one of the smaller, left over Gods to grant their wish. She shows the Gods, not only as something to fear, but how dangerous the belief in them can be and both Kissen and Elogast's pasts, which I wont mention for spoilers, show just how dangerous blind belief and worship can be. She also builds on the lands outside of Middren, though we never travel there, we learn of their own beliefs and practices through the characters we meet in the story.

One thing I adored about this book was the rep. Not only were there openly queer characters, but the disability rep in this story was outstanding. Kissen has only one leg, Telle is deaf and Elogast has some series PTSD issues that he is just not dealing with, but what really stood out was, in a world filled with magic and Gods, Kaner chose to allow her characters to accept their disabilities instead of trying to fix them. She even goes to far as to have Kissen be offered the chance at a 'fixed' body, and turn it down because she accepts who she is. I thought this was so incredibly well done, our characters were't seen as any less because of their disabilities, instead it was shown as a strength, something that makes them unique.

I adored the writing style, there were plenty of descriptive parts, but Kaner manages to make the story move at a breakneck pace, meaning there were never any good parts to stop reading. There are a few plot twists dotted throughout the story, but the real propulsion came from our characters. A lot of this book is spent on the road, travelling from place to place, but through flashbacks, as well as a few brilliantly placed fight scenes, Kaner manages to ensure there are no lulls in the story, and every single thing you learn, character you meet has some important part to play in the story. For those that like romance in their fantasy, there is one in here that I loved. It was extremely slow and steady. There were no big declarations or acts of love, instead it was two people coming to trust each other through shared trauma. That being said, there were still some big blow up moments between the two, as well as some snarky and humorous scenes. But I enjoyed that it played such a small part in the story, and instead Kaner focused on the found family style bond that was building between them all.

Safe to say I adored this one. In fact, I loved it that much I read it in one sitting, while I was at work! Kaner has created a world and set of characters that I am desperate to return too, especially after that ending. And I can't wait to see where she will take the story with the next book.

WHAT A DEBUT

I adored this. Didn't know what to expect, as always, going into a new fantasy series. But the world building is on point. The world is dark and cold, and mostly unforgiving. Kissen was orphaned by the gods and now will spend her days being a Godkiller. But when her path crosses with the young princess and her attached god, her path changes with them.
This reminds me a bit of Cirilla and Geralt but not enough for me to be questioning the influence of the Witcher on this series. It was fast paced, introduced us to new and cool gods / creatures / characters and most importantly has set us up spectacularly well for the rest of the trilogy.
Also, bonus points for the beautiful cover!

Godkiller was a killer of a debut novel. Fast-paced and action packed, this start to a new fantasy series had absolutely everything you could wish for. The writing was phenomenal and the plot twists were so exquisitely intertwined with the storyline that it left you reeling.

I adored all of the four protagonists and their POV chapters, which is usually quite a feat in a multi-POV book. The found family aspects were top tier, and lovers of this trope will soon be seeking out this novel. I adored seeing the story unfold throughout these POVs and how they grew to trust each other, and thought each of their dynamics was brilliantly done.

Another great feature in this book is the LGBTQ+ and Disability rep, with multiple characters representing both of these communities, one of which is Kissen, our titular bisexual godkiller with a prosthetic leg. If that doesn’t make you want to read the book, I don’t know what will.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a world of gods, where a small shrine, a few offerings, a little belief is enough to form a new god - maybe a god for repairing shoes, protecting a path, or keeping a hearth alight.
Set in the years following a devastating war between old and new gods and between gods and people, this is a land that is still torn between traditional worship of the gods and the new godless world imposed by the new king.
The world and myth building is fantastic, this feels like a place with real depth and history, simultaneously wondrous and terrifying.
Our four main protagonists are thrown together when they all must undertake a journey to the abandoned and forbidden city of the gods. All have their own reasons for going, their own connections to the place and their own secrets.
Each of the characters feels distinct, with differing perspectives and histories - the gradual unveiling of their stories drives the story forward and reveals more of the world.

This is an absolutely fantastic debut and I cannot wait to read more from the author.

I was attracted to this book for the stunning cover which reflects the beautiful story inside - this enchanting and epic dark fantasy adventure is well paced with a plot filled with plenty of twists and turns and a lovable and distinct cast of characters. The character development and character back stories drive the story forward with excellent representation from what we are used to in fantasy books - a MC with a limb difference in a queer positive world. The world building was one of the highlights of the book - a unique world filled with gods and medieval fantasy with deep history and mythology that will capture any fantasy reader.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut and I can't wait to read the next two books in what is sure to be a bestselling trilogy from Kaner.

This cover is BEAUTIFUL. It is absolutely stunning, one of my favorites of this year but the story just didn't live up to that cover for me. It was an interesting and exciting premise in a fascinating world but I struggled to stay interested and I felt like the plot was just a little too meandering at times. I do want to go back and reread this at some point just in case it was one of those situations where I wasn't in the right headspace for this book but as of now, I just didn't like it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

A good book to read over a cold wintery period when I could devote time to immersing myself in a new tale of woe and wonder

What a pageturner! Some fab descriptions and worldbuilding - I felt like I was really there. I really enjoyed this read.

I wished upon a star and got en e-arc from Netgalley and @harpervoyager_uk ✨️
Bookreview: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me tell you if you like gods and the evil that comes with them you have to pick up Godkiller!
I am obsessed with the devotion to deities, the prosperity and destruction they can bring and in this book how they can ruin and use people's lives for their own gain.
Kissen our main character is a godkiller🗡 basically our Gerald of Rivia but in a more lush world. I really enjoyed her perspective and character backstory. She was not made to kill monsters like Gerald, but the gods basically turned her into one and she is bringing her vengeance upon them ever since. The other main characters and POVs were a bit less attractive to me, however they made for a great set-up for this series. The journey they make together to each fullfil their quests was very interesting. I cannot wait to see where our characters and stories goe next!
Overall a fabulous debut with a very accesible writing style. I am so grateful I was able to read this before it comes out in January!💖

I don't want to use the word "uninteresting", because there was plenty to be interested in - it just didn't KEEP my interest when I put the book down. Perhaps a better word is "slow". It's a very slow book. I struggled to pick it up to continue reading.
The world-building was good, very detailed. The characters were diverse, well-rounded, with understandable motives and strong backstories. But they weren't likeable.
This story is definitely about the journey, not the result - which is fine, but not what I was expecting.
I think this book will be really enjoyable to the right person, but personally, I was underwhelmed.

Godkiller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Release date: 19th January 2023

I do not know what I was expecting from this book but I can say it was the cover that drew me in but it was the writing that made me stay. What a start to a series and a world I am not desperate to know more about. It was dark, it was rich and it has so much scope in where it can go. The characters are complex and complicated and leave you wanting more from them as well as rooting for them or shouting at them for what they are doing. I sat and read this in one setting and I audibly gasped during the last few chapters and now I am already expectedly waiting for the second book.

In a world where gods are prevalent what more do we need but a Godkiller, I loved how Kissen development and what we learn from her as the story progresses.

If you want demons, action and characters you will both love and hate in equal measures then this is the book for you.

Thank you to @harpercollins and @netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Rounding up a little bit on the stars because honestly I was a bit hot and cold with Kissen.

I loved the idea of book, the world building, wild, old and new, big and small gods, the cute little mouse one we get a glimpse of, it was such a colourful idea. I can't wait to see more of this, and following that abrupt ending, there better be more of this! Also we need to find out this mystery about Ina and Skedi and their bond.

Ina and Skedi were probably my favourites of all the characters. Elo was very holier than thou but grew on me. Kissen, as I said, was very hot and cold for me. Her language and attitude was edgy teen, but then again my family wasn't sacrificed to a god of fire so maybe I shouldn't judge.

The book starts strong, the writing itself is very vivid. I have to highlight characters in their 20s-30s because we need more of that.

If you'd asked me at the start about the book, I'd be all positives. Middle bit? Less positive but still. Ending? I am so mad how abrupt it was, caught me off guard and now I need more, please and thank you.

Unfortunately this book wasn't really for me.

There are parts I really liked. For example, the representation both in regards to disabled characters and queer characters was really great and flawlessly integrated. The underlying plot is also quite interesting.

What led to me not enjoying the book was mainly the writing. It just felt very amateure. Which makes sense, it is a debut novel so to some extent I expected that and am willing to forgive it. Unfortunately it was so noticable that it constantly pulled me out of the story. There are also multiple plotholes that are really annoying and some parts just had me frustrated.

I would rate this book 2.5/5.

Reviews on other sites (including goodreads) will follow, I will update this review with the links once they are up.

This was such a strong starter of a book with a really original premise of having gods great and small all accessible out in the world.

I really enjoyed the godkiller being a woman and one who is disabled by missing a leg at that yet still being fantastic at her job.

There was a lot packed into this book both with the characters story and explaining some of the history of this fantasy world. It was very easy to read and I enjoyed all of it.

‘What happened to us does not define us, what we do next is what matters.’

I want to say thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for the arc of Godkiller by Hannah Keller in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like Godkiller in a long, long time. Hannah Keller delivers a world of Gods, wild Gods, god killers, Kings and Knights that is sumptuously imaginative and atmospheric! I was so shocked that this was a debut, as her voice is mature, rich and conveys such depth of storytelling.

I was immersed in this world immediately, captured by the world, the people, the gods and their stories. The characters are so strong, multi-layered and rich in depth, and both non-able and female characters are plentiful and strong.

The key protagonists Kissen - a god killer, Inara- a noble’s young daughter, Elogast - an ex-knight and of corse Skediceth (Skedi) are beautifully written, each having their own unique voice and purpose are an amazing group, and as they progress through the world Keller has created, their multi faceted characters gleam like gems in sunlight!

I absolutely adored this book and I really NEED the next book now! If you see Godkiller on the shelves grab it with both hands and run away to find a hiding place to read it undisturbed! You will not want to put this book down!

4.75/5

I absolutely adored everything about this book, it was phenomenal! The world was so vibrant and alive, teeming with history and ancient beings; the characters were so real and human, always flawed and always interesting; the prose was beautiful and evocative. I simply cannot fault it!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This review has been postponed in support of the HarperCollins Union Strike.

The world was so rich, flooded with possibilities, unique faiths and conflicting ideals that stirred intrigue and seeded mysteries throughout the story. From the very first page, I was completely immersed within it and felt its life as it lived and breathed all around me. Kaner’s prose was so mesmerising and emotional, it enthralled my every thought and I never wanted to put this book down. I’m astounded that this was a debut, it’s easily one of my favourite books I’ve read this year.

The characters were, to sum them up very plainly, incredible. They each were so fleshed out, with their own intriguing motivations and journeys, their own complicated and ensnaring relationships, their own beliefs and fears and treacheries. They were created so flawlessly that they felt less like creations, less like characters on a page, and more akin to humans. And I loved each and every one of them!

Kissen is a perfect main character, a perfect driving force throughout this story. She’s a veiga, a godkiller, in a world brimming with gods of old and new. She has ghosts that haunt her, the flames of her past contending with the brightness of the future under the ever-watching eye of the sun. She has a purpose in her life that directs her across this wide world, but all that changes when she meets Inara.

Inara is a young girl with mysterious powers and a magical friend (who, I would say, definitely counts as an animal companion). She wants answers to the secrets she has had to keep for years, she wants to understand her place in the world and perhaps create a new one. She goes to Kissen for answers and discovers more than she ever would have guessed.

Inara and Kissen’s relationship is so beautiful to behold and watch as it grows and contorts, fitting around old wounds and scars, shifting amongst their newfound care and shared resilience. It’s a relationship that parallels and reminds me of Geralt and Ciri in the Witcher, a bond of family that refuses to break.
Kissen and Inara are also similar characters to Geralt and Ciri respectively, and this story holds the same comfort that the world of the Witcher does—a warmth of familiarity that makes it feel like coming home to a place you never wanted to leave.

Another of our main characters is a retired knight named Elogast. I love the ‘retired warrior must pick up his sword one final time’ trope and so I also loved seeing it here. He’s a disillusioned ex-knight, wearing the scars of his battles on his skin. But his worst scars are the ones that lie deep within, on the shards of his memories. He makes an unlikely traveller on the roads and an even more unlikely companion to Kissen and Inara as they travel to the ruins of a city—each with their own compelling motivations.

The plot takes us on a winding adventure rooted in a world overflowing with magic. It’s unputdownable and so much fun to read. I cannot wait for the next book and I will fight anyone I must to get my hands on it!

This review will be posted on the following links when the union strike has reached a conclusion.

From the very first chapter Godkiller by Hannah Kaner demands your attention and sends you on an epic quest in a broken world inhabited by shadow demons, fire gods and vengeful mercenaries.

When young Kissen witnesses her family being tied to a pyre and burned alive as a sacrifice to the fire god, Hseth, it changes the course of her life forever. Now, in a world on the brink of civil war, she is forever haunted and scarred by the memories of that tragic night. Kissen now makes a living slaying Gods, destroying their shrines, totems and offerings. Thus preventing their influence from spreading and stopping them from poisoning the minds of their followers and manipulating them into doing their bidding; all whilst lining her pockets, of course.

That is until she meets one God she cannot kill. A shape-shifting god of white lies that has bound itself to a child. Together, with a disillusioned knight on a secret mission of his own, Kissen must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, the home of wild gods, to beg a favour from that she has devoted her life to destroying.

Kaner takes us on an extraordinary journey alongside a cast of endearing, slightly broken, band of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Kissen is especially rough around the edges and I adore her brutal honesty and tenacious spirit. She’s a warrior with a heart of gold that really carries the whole story.

Godkiller is a spectacular debut. The world-building is incredibly immersive and intricate without becoming too overwhelming. I can already tell that Godkiller will be the fantasy series EVERYONE will be talking about next month.