Are you ready for a story of gods and betrayal?
How is everyone doing? I’m doing pretty well. This past weekend was my birthday. I spent time with my friends and went out to eat, now I’m thoroughly ready to settle into fall. Though I finished this book last month I needed time to collect my thought about it. Mostly because I was so impressed.
Unlike a lot of the New Adult fantasy books, I didn’t find this to be slow to start. It dives us right into the action, with the origins of one of our main characters Kissen. Kissen is a godkiller by trade, destroying shrines of gods before they get too powerful. Gods are outlawed in the kingdom of Middren. They are forbidden because so many people were lost in a war over who to worship. The gods of Middren used their followers as cannon fodder. Now King Arren, who lost his family and part of himself to the gods has outlawed them,
But things aren’t as simple as they seem. King Arren now needs something from a god he allied with during the war. And he sends his best friend and former knight Elogast on the road to get it.
Kissen meanwhile has found a young girl and a god connected to the girl in a burned out manor. Inara and Skedi, a mysterious girl and a god of white lies come under Kissen’s protection. Kissen and company are now headed to the same city as Elogast. They start out with a larger group but along the way are beset upon by shadow monsters. After the one of the members of the party is killed. The group breaks up, leaving Kissen, Inara and Elogast to face the city alone.
This story is told through the alternating perspectives of Kissen, Elogast, Inara and Skedi. While that is a good number of narrators, he book still manages to flesh out each of their stories. I think my favorite parts are the ones through Elogast’s perspective. While his relationship with Arren can certainly be read in a knight/lord sense. I can read some homoerotic tones into the book. There is a romance at the end, but it feels a little like the narrator simply wanted to have it. Or felt like they had to have a romance element and so it’s not as natural. I did like though how this book dealt with disability. Kissen is an amputee and Elgoast seems to have PTSD from the war. Both were dealt in a respecful and seemingly realistic manner.
While I love the series of twists at the end,. Some bits of the plot, specifically a surprise betrayal, weren’t surprising. Overall though I really liked the piece and particularly liked the way it ended. I can’t wait to pick up with our characters in the next book Sunbringer. Interesting to note a third book is also in the planning, so I’ll read that too.
I’d give this book four stars, mostly based on the interactions between the characters. I love me a found family trope, and the rich worldbuilding. Kaner is also a strong plotter. She mentions details the first part coming up throughout in a satisfying way. I was a little surprised to learn that this was her debut.
Have you read Godkiller or Sunbringer? Do you like epic fantasies that are a medium length? I’d give this one a shot if you have space in your TBR.
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