As usual quite annoyed to have thought based on the title and cover that it would be a trilogy.
BUT
It was a fantastic read, quite original in its worldbuilding, characters and representations. Even though it's relativly short I felt the pacing mid book was off, after a great start, and the end felt slightly rushed compared to the middle of the book. But not enough to make me stop reading. I shall pick up book 2 and will keep a close eye on the author!

Godkiller is a fresh and authentic fantasy debut, taking the genre by storm in 2023. Led by an unlikely band of misfit characters, and boasting a strong, female heroine, Kaner’s debut will immerse you in an ancient and unpredictable world, the story gripping from the very start.

A godkiller, a child, a god of white lies and a retired knight. Their journey to Blenraden, the land of outlawed gods, is a captivating and unforgiving quest - their individual motives woven together to create an august story of faith, survival, friendship and greed.

Godkiller is the first instalment in what is set to be a promising and gripping fantasy series. Whilst paying homage to traditional fantasy, Kaner has created an original and thrilling epic. You won’t be disappointed.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC to review this wonderful book.

Hannah Kaner debut novel Godkiller is impressively complex.

We first meet our protagonist Kissen in an opening chapter that made me need to put down the book for a second and take a breather. Dark, intense and thrilling, this story gets off on the right foot.

We also meet Inara, a girl with attachment issues with a God, and Elo - a handsome baker knight who carries a heavy burden.

I really enjoyed this debut from Kaner - dark and thrilling, it's the perfect build up to some epic storytelling.

This had the potential to be an lavish, epic fantasy - one of those beautiful, heavy books you can pour yourself into and get lost in.


I understand a sequel is inevitable, and always leave your audience wanting more - but at 290 pages, I found myself purposefully slowing down my reading so I could just stay in the story a little bit longer. It feels like this book has only just begun as you turn the final page.

Because then it just ... Stops.

These publishers undoubtedly have the next Robin Hobb and Samantha Shannon in the midst.

I hope the sequel is coming soon, and I pray the abrupt ending was a poor decision by the publisher's - because I am ready to dive into 700+ pages of this beautiful story.

This is a debut novel??? Seriously?
Godkiller is an absolutely stunning fantasy novel. Gritty and dark, set in a world where gods and people used to live alongside each other before a terrifying war where Arren destroyed the gods. Now King, Arren is determined to rid the land of all the gods and their shrines.
Kissen is a blistering explosion of a protagonist. Godkiller of the king, she goes from village to town, killing destroying any gods for coin. She's a true warrior, rough and coarse, but we desperately root for her throughout the book.
Inara is the daughter of a noble, hidden away with a devasting secret of her own. Young, scared yet brave, she's a fantastic and original character.
Elo is an ex knight who has turned his back on his king to become a baker in a small town. He was possibly my favourite character from the book.
The world building is the book just took my breath away at times. So clever and fascinating. I felt I was walking with the pilgrims on their way to the place of the final battle.
This book was a fantastic dark piece of fantasy and I simply can't wait for the second book.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Fierce, no-nonsense taking Kissen makes her living killing gods & relishes in it. But when she stumbles across young Inara she begrudgingly has to change her ways.

With the god of white lies and a former knight commander for company they embark on a ferociously dangerous journey to Blenraden, a ruined city where the last of the wild gods reside. With shadow demons at their back & a civil war in front of them, will they even make it to their destination ?

Well I can’t say I didn’t have high hopes for this book as soon as I saw the cover- I mean how unbelievably gorgeous ?! But somehow @hanfrankan managed to far surpass my expectations.

An absolutely stunning dark fantasy debut which was action packed & fast-paced from start to finish. The world building was so atmospheric & I loved the relationship dynamics between each of the characters - the banter between Kissen & Elo was perfection

The wait for the sequel has already been far too long in my opinion.

A huge thank you to @instabooktours, @hanfrankan and @harpervoyager_uk for gifting me this copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and to HarperVoyager for this eARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review

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’He looks scared,' whispered Inara.
’So he is,' said Kissen, taking her bow down from her shoulders, slowly, so as not to startle the animal. 'He knows this is a moment in the game of life we play.'

-

Godkiller follows four characters - Kissen, a godkiller with a rock-solid guard; Elogast, a former knight haunted by his past; Inara, a child who has lost everything, and Skedi, a little god of white lies who is attached to Inara. Each of them get caught up in events that lead them on a quest to Blenraden, the site of their people’s last great battle against the gods. Their paths intertwine as they move closer and closer to Blenraden, while forces beyond their control try to destroy them and everything they hold dear.

Godkiller is a very strong debut. It has everything that I love in a fantasy novel - interesting characters, mythological elements, magic, badass fight scenes… I could go on. There was much to like. I also liked that the sexual fluidity of the characters was just accepted as a normal thing within their society. It’s not something that I have seen before in this genre, though I will admit that until recently I hadn’t read fantasy in a while. It was cool to read either way.

We switched between all four POVs on a regular basis, which flowed naturally and gave insights into the right character’s mindset at the right moments. I will admit that Skedi annoyed me at points but I don’t think he’s a character that you’re necessarily meant to like, so that was okay with me.

My only complaint is that the middle - when they are travelling alone - did drag a little bit for me. However I felt it only dragged in comparison to the rest of the book, it still read a lot better than some fantasy journey sequences I have read in the past.

This ended on a cliffhanger, so I am very much looking forward to the next instalment!

A fantastic and refreshingly inclusive read.
Godkiller has amazing representation, with openly queer characters, a deaf character that uses sign language, a character missing a limb and a character who has quite serious ptsd.
What’s better is the character who lost their leg is offered the opportunity to gain it back and she finds herself content with her body as it is.
I found myself flying through the pages, I just couldn’t get enough!

What I was looking for: The cover is outstanding – both picture and colour scheme remind me of hurt and major drama. And then a plot about killing gods, that is not something I come across very often.

What I liked: The book is full of hurt characters – hurt both physically and mentally. It clearly shows what consequences violence has and also how some people still try to exploit even that. There are so many people with disabilities. As I have no first-hand experience with any of the disabilities depicted, I can only say that to me, the depiction seemed genuine. And I loved to see people in a fantasy setting prior to the steam engine dealing with physical disabilities like an amputated leg, that they had wheelchairs and prostheses (and it was believable). A main character who fights (successfully) despite her prosthetic leg – that is something I want to see more of.

What I did not like: I nearly put the book down during the prologue. To me, it was too long and drawn out. And it took me a few chapters to find myself really invested in the story. The pacing is not as smooth as it could be.

Conclusion: I like stories about revenge if they are well done. The characters are complex and not easy to love but it makes for a very captivating and real story. It is a bit frustrating that there is still so much information and backstory missing, and I do prefer standalones – yet now that I am hooked, I am very excited for the next instalment.

Mythology like you've never seen it before. This book is a brutal savage fantasy that doesn't shy away from packing a punch!

Kissen is a godkiller, a lethal woman hired to kill gods and, she enjoys it. However, her path is quickly intercepted by a young noble girl Inara who is bound to the god of white lies, Skediceth. Kissen cannot kill this god without also killing Inara in the process. They embark on a secret quest to the destroyed and dangerous city of Blenraden, joined by a disillusioned knight and stalked by dangerous creatures. It is during this quest they realise something is destroying their world – are they the only ones who can stop it?

Godkiller is set in a fantasy world full of brutality and danger. In this world faith and worship is illegal and gods are killed so humans can be free of the hold they have over them. It is here we meet Kissen, a strong yet blunt and sarcastic heroine whose job is to kill gods. Kissen is a very well developed and complex character. Hannah Kaner makes sure to stay true to Kissen’s character throughout. It is quite common within fantasy novels for the characters to shift dramatically and in a way that is untrue to their development. This is not the case with this novel.

Throughout the novel Inara, a young noble girl, has the biggest character development. She is forced to grow up quickly, in a harsh and unforgiving world. However, she is brave and her kindness continues from beginning to end. Inara is my favourite of the group, and, the slight unpredictability of her character is flawlessly written.

It is hard to believe that Godkiller is a debut novel for Hannah Kaner. Kaner’s writing ability is truly captivating and she has created a world you can envision within each turn of the page. It is true its genre and inclusive of everyone.

If you are a lover of Terry Pratchett and Brandon Sanderson then definitely take a look at this novel. It has everything you could wish for in a fantasy novel and is one of my favourite reads of the year so far! I highly, highly recommend it and cannot wait for the second instalment in the series!

I loved the style, being written from multiple perspectives, each character flawed and human (even the gods), was inspired. Such different characters as well, bringing different skills and values to the story and the missions. I'm often hesitant to start new series, even if they're duologies or trilogies, but I will be waiting with bated breath for the next one.

So many books with queer or disabled rep feel performative, even when they're speaking from experience. Hannah deftly bypasses that with natural characters living their lives. The varieties of love and disabilities almost outweigh the gods themselves, certainly they will if Kissen has anything to do with it.

Godkiller was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2023 (mainly because of the stunning cover but also the premise really intrigued me) and it definitely didn't disappoint! The book is fairly short (just over 300 pages) but there is a lot going on and it's clear it is setting up the series. The best thing about this book in my opinion is the characters. They are extremely likable and each have different motivations. We follow 4 different perspectives which could be a little jarring however this was done really well. I found the story pretty unique and some of the twists were unexpected. It definitely gave me God of War vibes - a gruff Godkiller who actually has a heart hidden underneath. There is also an adorable companion and parts of the story that make you question where loyalties lie. I thought this was a great first book in the series. I can't believe this is Hannah Kaner's debut novel! I'm really excited and intrigued to continue this series!

It took me a couple of attempts to get into this book, but upon reflection this was down to me and my moods, not the book itself (I'm a mood reader). The pacing of the book wasn't great, but I think that's because it's getting up the series and therefore is easy to move past. Godkiller is the start of what I think will be fantastic series. I love books that actually contain the gods, going above and beyond by giving us the difference pov, it is well done and gives the reader a great set of characters to connect with. I cannot wait to see where Hannah takes this series!

Gripping prologue and eventful enough conclusion, but the middle plods along cumbersomely for most portion.

Many thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperVoyager, and the author, for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Godkiller follows the storyof 4 characters, Elogast, a former knight and best friend of the king, Kissenna, o godkiller, Inara, an heiress of one of the noble houses and Skedikat, a small god who is in search of his shrine. In this world, the Gods are as suggested by the title killable and they have been outlawed by the king because they grew in number and became more power hungry leading to a huge war that led to loss of too many lives.

The story takes shape as Inara and skedi finds Kissen and convinced her to help them which would mean them taking a tour to the old city which was previously battleground between the Gods and the humans. All while Elo is on a mission from his king and sworn brother. As travelling to this city is illegal as its considered pilgrimage, they join a small band of people taking this journey for their own reasons. However, soon they are attacked by shadow demons and Elo, Kissen, Ina and skedi are left to their own devices realising each others true identities and deciding to help each other. What follows is as dramatic as you would expect!

This story has a piece of heart, first reason being representation, there's not only colour and LGBTQIA+ rep, but also disability rep and they have all been written so beautifully. The world building is detailed and magical. The characters steal the show. The trauma, the grief, the loss, the friendship, the love, the hate, the fear and the kinship is all beautifully potrayed in the prose. I cannot wait for book 2.

TW: Death specifically by burning, injuries, blood, betrayal, gaslighting, grief, loss, violence.

‘You are not welcome here, godkiller.’ - Ennerast, a river god.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. HarperVoyager for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Godkiller’ by Hannah Kaner. This debut fantasy novel is Book 1 in the Godkiller trilogy.

Fifteen years ago Kissen’s family, who had the favour of a god of the sea, were killed by the zealots of a fire god. Now grown she is a veiga, someone who makes their living exterminating gods.

In this fantasy world gods have been declared illegal, their shrines banned. Yet gods keep coming into being, spirits that then grow stronger fed by people’s love and fear. That’s when someone like Kissen is called in to deal with the problem.

Kissen is very good at her work though she wears a prosthetic lower leg after surviving the attack on her family when she was eleven. Then she encounters Skedi, a god of white lies, who has bound himself to Inara, a young noble. Kissen is persuaded by Inara not to kill Skedi and before long they are all on the run from unknown assassins.

They are joined by Elogast, a disillusioned knight turned baker, with his own secret quest. As they travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, the group is pursued by demons. They are seeking out the last of the wild gods. No further details to avoid spoilers.

The chapters cycle between the points of view of Kissen, Inara, and Elogast, with the occasional chapter by the small god, Skediceth.

The description of Skedi was appealing: “whatever the godkiller was expecting, it was not the harelike face and antlers of the squirrel-sized god that poked its nose out of Inara’s cuff, his feathered wings tucked tightly against his back. Skedi looked like a cross between a hare, a deer, and a bird.” I know so adorable- I would have been upset if Kissen had slain him.

That Skedi is bound to Inara and they both hurt if separated by more than a short distance was reminiscent of Pullman’s daemons and the concept of the multitude of small gods, fed by worship has echoes of Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. While not my perception of gods, I could appreciate Hannah Kaner’s premise.

Obviously as this is the first in a trilogy it is hard to comment on the plot as a whole. I certainly felt that it was a promising beginning with a good balance between action and characterisation, and strong world-building. I do plan on continuing with the trilogy when published.

I thoroughly enjoyed this highly immersive fantasy debut from Kaner.

I thought the world building was fantastic, the characters were well thought out and loveable and there was a brilliant twist at the end.

This is a very character driven book and it had the potential to feel quite slow in places because of that, but I didn’t actually find that myself because I was enjoying it so much.

This is such a lovely, heartfelt adventure of a book. I loved the idea of the gods and their shrines, I loved the inclusivity of a disabled main character and I loved the subtle humour we got from our characters too.

I’d definitely recommend to fans of slow, more subtle fantasy that has you hooked from the first chapter.

I love fantasy and this is why - a well written, engaging story which lives long before we meet it and will carry on after we've left it. We visit a snapshot of the world and have to just get on with what we find, eking out the history as the characters reveal themselves.

We meet the characters in a collection of lands, originating from different parts, ending up in a melting pot of cultures, colours, traditions and allegiances. And gods. Gods that have existed for ages, gods that are new, gods that are civilised, gods that are wild, some with multi-national followings, some followed by a handful of individuals. All created by people with needs that the gods meet. Except, they are banned under King Arren, but how do you ban a deity?

Fabulous novel, highly recommended if you like fantasy; a fine example and I look forward to reading more from this author.

What a stunning new voice to join the fantasy world, so exciting too as so many more books to look forward to in the future for me, because I’ll be preordering them all based on my love for this story. Amazing world building, well rounded and developed characters, fantastic mythology, great rep disability and LGBTQ+, it’s just got everything and that ending, I can’t wait for more

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest opinion

An intriguing new voice in fantasy. Excellent world-building, some great fantastical elements, originally applied and devised. Sometimes the prose didn't quite work for me, but that could just have been my mood.

If you're looking for a fantasy with a bit of a difference, then give this a try. I'm looking forward to reading what Kaner writes next.