Thank you so much, HarperCollins UK and Harper Voyager, for the gifted eARC! I was so ecstatic to receive it!

Now, I just need to get better at remembering that books like Godkiller take me longer to read than most YA books I pick up. We learn and improve for next time! Aka, I won't make the same mistake for The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. [Which, as we all know, I didn't, since that review got shared first.]

ANYWAY, onto Godkiller thoughts!

Godkiller felt very much like an amazing, smooth blend of the high fantasy I grew up reading and modern writing. It felt like going back to the high fantasy books I read as a kid [yes, I was that weird kid reading books like The Wheel of Time while a pre-teen/teenager], but with a more modern feel. And, honestly, I loved the masterful blending of the two. It's almost definitely going to be at the top of my list of books of 2023.

Another way to describe it is inspiring. Godkiller is everything Game of Thrones is, in terms of high fantasy, without being quite so dark, quite so gritty, and quite so sex-filled. It leaves you with the feeling that anything is possible, both in your own life and, if you're so inclined, in the world of writing.

[Not really spoilers, exactly, but just for your knowledge on what I mean by "a more modern feel": one of the main characters reads as bisexual/queer with a limb difference and scarring; another main character is a POC with PTSD; and a side character is deaf. The world is also queer normative.]

Recommendation: If you love high fantasy and want one with a more modern twist/inclusive content, this is the book for you. If that sort of thing bothers you [PTSD content, queer content, disability content], then it, sadly, probably won't be for you.

Kissen is such a fun, original heroine. She's the kind of woman society pushes ladies NOT to be. She's crass, sassy, and speaks her mind. She's also fantastic. Before you know it, you're attached to her and her success, rooting for her in a way you might originally have thought you wouldn't. Also, I love her disability rep - that you can be disabled but still be an absolute, respected bad-ass [even if that respect comes with the judgemental edge most of the time]. Very few people who have seen her in action have resorted to judging her for her disability - but rather her rough personality. But can you really blame her? After everything she's been through?

Elogast and his story act as what I'll call our first twist to the story? His quest from the King is presented fairly on in the story - during our first chunk from his POV, actually - and acts as the timing element to the story. Kissen, Skediceth, and the noble little girl's drive in the story is still central to the story, but there's no real rush to address their part. It can take as long as it takes - but not Elogast's. The King and his quest can't wait.

Skediceth. He's . . . a handful? [Does that count as a pun?] Honestly, though, the range of emotions Skediceth's presence in the story puts you through is part of what makes this book so enjoyable. He's a complicated character who, in turn, complicates the story. His connection to the noble little girl drives a lot of this story, more so, even, than any part of Kissen's part of the story, honestly. He adds so much dynamic to the story [besides the obvious, which is nettling Kissen by her inability to kill him even though she really, really wants to], and he's not quite what I expected when I picked this book up. I don't want to give too much away, because I enjoyed that discovery that I thought was "spoiled" for me, but, if you've read the story or know details about Skediceth, you already know what I'm talking about.

I can't really speak too much to, "the noble little girl" attached to Skediceth, but I'll say that I was really worried she'd read minor, maybe shallow, maybe flat, but she doesn't. She isn't just part of the packaged deal with Skediceth, but rather her own, complex character. I can't go too much more into her without spoilers, though [including even her name!], so I'll save further discussions regarding her for after the spoiler line.

**AS USUAL, SPOILERS LAY AHEAD! STOP NOW IF YOU DON'T WISH TO BE SPOILED. IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU CAN GO READ THE BOOK AND COME BACK, OR JUST STOP HERE. YOUR CHOICE!**

Inara is the little noble girl's name, just to clarify for all future references to her.

Speaking of Inara, how terrible of a start was that? She went from being a frustrated, isolated noble girl who had a secretive mom and a full house of workers to nothing besides a little god who depended on her to survive. That's insane for a little girl to deal with on top of said little god's expectation for her to find a way to free him from that dependency on her. She loses everything and the only "person" she has leFt is essentially telling her they want to leave her? Talk about rough.

I love that, even though Kissen is talked into taking care of Inara, she doesn't immediately take to her, and instead Kissen slowly begins to care for and be protective of Inara as their journey goes on. It doesn't feel forced or too quick, which is lovely.

Also, I absolutely love the disability rep with Kissen. Her disability doesn't stop her from being a badass, and it's so nice to see a rep that not only tells everyone that disabled people can be badasses, it also shows the "behind the scenes" about it, about how she makes being disabled and being a badass work. You can see what she does to not only make herself be a badass, but you also see her without those "aides" - and not be embarrassed or ashamed by her "unaided" state. Because there's nothing for Kissen to be ashamed or embarrassed about with regards to her disability. And the reader can see that in Kissen.

Elogast being a retired-knight-turned-baker isn't a background or "career progression" I would have expected, but it not only works for Elogast, but I really like it! It's such a unique twist that both works as a plausible choice for his upbringing and for dealing with his past trauma. While it is a super useful skill for journeying, it doesn't feel like a "convenient" part of his character, if that makes sense?

I didn't realize how much I missed the sort of journeying you only really find in high fantasy books. The bridge city was so much fun to read about and imagine! I hope it comes up in a future book. [You can peep some art of that city in the picture at the top of my review! It makes for beautiful endpages!] I can't wait to see what comes in book 2!

I don't know if I'm losing my touch at "knowing how a story is going to go" or if it was just really well done, but I didn't see the King's betrayal until it was right there. How did I miss that?? I'm losing my touch! [That means I need to read more, right?]

In that vein, though, I did see the "pairing" of Kissen and Elo from early on. So at least I still have something going for me? . . . We're not going to talk about it.

I love the word-building with the gods and how they and the people work together. It lends well to being believable that they co-exist the way they do - in harmony and in conflict! Neither feels forced or improbably. It's a world I can completely see existing, and while I might not necessarily want to live in it, I don't see why any given character wouldn't want to.

I'm excited to see how Kissen, Elogast, Inara, and Skediceth all meet up later on, and how their journey continues going forward! The twists in Godkiller were done well enough that I'm very much looking forward to the sequel, and everything Hannah Kaner has in store for us. It doesn't beat out Yellowface as my favorite adult read this year, but, unlike Yellowface, I get to look forward to a sequel, so it has that going in its favor!

As always: be kind, stay safe, and read on!

This was like a breath of fresh air! I loved this book, the world, the way of the gods and how Skedi was both a good and a bad influence. I liked the found family element, and the way Elo and Kissen managed to find mutual interests in Ina. I can't wait for the sequel

This was a really interesting and original story with characters that I liked and wanted to succeed. I enjoyed all four of the perspectives we get in the narrative and thought that the interplay between the characters worked really well. The story itself was compelling and the world building was excellent. There was a real sense of menace to the various gods and the ways in which they could influence people for boons and favours, which I appreciated. The relationship between Inara and Skedi was particularly interesting and I thought this developed in a believable and authentic way. All in all, this was an accomplished and exciting debut and I look forward to reading the follow up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So much fun enjoying the ride with the godkiller & co! My only complaint? I wanted more! More pages, more time with the trio & skedi, more everything!

First of all, that cover????? AMAZING!!!
The tiniest details, the design, the art, everything is just perfection 🤌🏼

Coming to the book, read it if you like:
- low stakes cozy fantasy
- great world-building
- marvellous prose
- queer rep
- disability rep

And more!! This novel truly had everything I like! The only complaint I had was that the plot wasn't exciting enough for me. But the rest was absolutely worth it.

Took me a while to get into this and I did download the audio book to help me focus with it but after about 40% I loved it. Really enjoyed the 4 different perspectives and the relationship between Kissen and Inara really reminded me of Geralt and Ciri from the witcher. The world building was fantastic and the ending was chefs kiss. Looking forward to the next book.
4.5⭐️

I think this could be the start of a very strong series! An interesting fantasy about gods and all their power, with well written main characters. Looking forward to seeing where it goes next. Great ending that leaves you needing book two right now!

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner is the first book in the Godkiller Series and the debut of the author.
 
This book is set in a fantasy world with gods and demons. I really liked this setting, and the world was very well crafted. In addition, I wanted to learn as much as possible about the gods because they were just fascinating to me.
 
The protagonist Kissen hates the gods after they killed her family and actively hunts them down. This is also where the book title Godkiller comes from, and it was very fitting for the story. Kissen is a fierce and badass character but at the same time she was very blinded by anger. That made it difficult for me to connect to her.
 
Then there is Skardi, a god of lies whom Kissen can’t kill as he is bound to a mortal body. He was intriguing, but full of lies and mischief and therefore not really trustworthy.
 
The plot is action packed and was what kept me reading the story. I loved seeing more of the world and especially when they got to Blenraden was my favorite part.
 
Overall, Godkiller is a fantasy novel with a great concept and an intriguing world, but the characters lacked depth for me. 3,5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

"The people with the sharpest edges sometimes hid the deepest wounds."

I absolutely adored this book, the world-building and lore was so rich and interesting for such a short book. The concept of the Gods, the way that their offerings work and how they can become corrupt with power was so interesting to learn about, and I loved seeing the development of our little Godling, Skedi, how he grew throughout the book, both in his conviction and love for Inara, and his brief corruption of power when his desire conflicted with his promise. Im also rlly intrigued to learn more about the colours that Inara sees and why as the series continues, and see if my theory about her heritage is true, or if there's something else there. Either way, Im excited to discover more. I also love the queer normative world and the casual disability rep, which we have a severe lack of in fantasy !!!

I felt a strong connection to each of our characters, especially as they grew throughout the book and we learned more about their pasts and what ails them. I loved watching Inara grow from a timid and scared girl into her strength and confidence and determination to not be left behind and lose the little people she has left. I loved seeing Kissen be brash, fierce and unforgiving, but opening up to see the softer and more loving side of her as she grew protective and fond of Inara, Skedi and Elo! I loved learning more about Elo's past and why the war haunts him as much as it does, and why he feels so indebted to Arren and having that betrayal hurt so much when he learns the truth of what is happening. I am very excited for the next installment to see what befalls our cast and see how they grow!!!

There were a few spelling and technical errors innplaces that must have slipped through editing, but not enough for it to be distracting or a problem

You are not welcome here, godkiller

Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing gods, and enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has somehow bound himself to a young noble, and they are both on the run from unknown assassins.

Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favour.

Pursued by demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning – something is rotting at the heart of their world, and only they can be the ones to stop it.

Some fantasy for you all this week, the first book in a new series from a new author. Godkiller by Hannah Kaner is a tale of secrets, lies and troubled souls.

Due to a traumatic childhood event, and the hard years that have followed, Kissen has closed herself off from the outside world. She has crafted a brittle, abrasive exterior. She has been let down so many times before and steadfastly refuses to let anyone in. No one is going to get the chance to hurt Kissen again. Put it this way, if I looked in a dictionary for the textbook definition of stand-offish there is a good chance her picture would be staring back at me. Kissen’s chosen profession? She’s a godkiller, a blade for hire, tasked with dispatching any deity found within the kingdom. She has quite the reputation, and the good news is that she has the skills to back it up. I think it is fair to say she kicks all manner of ass. Kissen is also not one to mince words. I warmed to her matter-of-fact attitude to life immediately.

Elogast is one of those stoic, principled types who believe in duty over all else. He lives a pained existence having walked away from a leader he had pledged his sword to. Every day, the ever-growing sense of his failings gnaw away at him. Given the opportunity to redeem himself, Elogast can’t help but be drawn back into his former life. His strict code of honour demands it.

The final member of this dysfunctional little trifecta is Inara. In a land where gods are killed on sight, having a celestial being hiding out in your pocket probably isn’t the greatest idea. It doesn’t matter that Skedi, the supernatural entity in question, is only the god of white lies, he is still undeniably a god. There is steel in Inara’s character that felt palpable. Circumstance forces her to grow up quickly. I particularly like the moments where we see flashes of the woman she is going to become.

The relationship that evolves between Kissen, Elogast and Inara is what lies at the heart of the story. Each character is trying to find a sense of purpose in their respective lives. Their journey brings them together, but also forces them to confront their fears. Both Elogast and Kissen have been running from their inner demons for so long that there is a whole heap of emotional baggage to unpack. Add some real demons into the mix for good measure, and you just know things are going to get more than a little complicated.

Don’t worry though action fans. Yes, there is plenty of insightful characterisation in Godkiller but there are also some deliciously tense fights. Kissen will happily indulge the base side of her nature and send any godling screaming back to oblivion in a suitably violent fashion. If in addition there is an opportunity to get paid during the process then so much the better. Kaner deftly balances the emotive elements and visceral bloodshed. This is such self-assured writing I had to keep reminding myself this is her debut.

Godkiller delivers exactly what the first book in any series should, it gives us a captivating beginning. I was quickly caught up in the adventure. Where this story excels over some of its contemporaries is by perfectly capturing the human elements of the story. Kissen, Elogast and Inara are each driven by their own grief. The writing explores some complex and intensely personal issues. Kissen does what she thinks is right, Elogast does what he thinks is right and so does Inara. If everyone is right, why are they all at loggerheads with one another? Godkiller is a story ultimately about the cost of the choices we make. In life, we make decisions and whether they are right or wrong we all have to deal with the consequences.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hannah Kaner’s first novel and look forward to more. I’m always pleased when I find a new author whose writing I immediately connect with.

Godkiller is published by Harper Voyager and is available now.

My musical recommendation to accompany Godkiller is the soundtrack to The Wheel of Time by Lorne Balfe. It perfectly captures the novel’s tone by managing to be epic in scope in one moment and then introspective and thoughtful in the next.

A world of gods and people. Of course there will be no war… right?!

Full of sacrifice, gods and turmoil. Four POV and a lot of story for such a small book!

Kissen, a renowned Veiga or Godkiller. Inara and Skedi, a privileged child and a god of white lies. And Elo, a knight who became a baker. A mix of personalities and secrets, banded together on an ever changing adventure with an explosive climax! Why are they working together? What is the purpose of this unlikely alliance?

Favourite Quote “The people with the sharpest edges sometimes hid the deepest wound”

A great adventure rollercoaster in a small book! Gave me God of War vibes in a world post war.

Thank you NetGalley for the earc of this book

This book blew me away, it was even more than I ever expected. The world building was crafted beautifully, creating a world where humans devote themselves to Gods old and new. Until a war breaks out and now Gods are outlawed.

That's where my favourite trope - found family - steps in. We are introduced to Kissen who reminds me of a female version of Geralt of Rivia. Kissen is an awesome kick-ass God hunter.
We meet Elogast, a former knight who found in the God wars, and Inara - a young girl who is bound to a God.

This book is full of adventure, risk, and heart. I loved the story and dynamic. Please release the next one asap

This is my favourite thing I've read this year and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a favourite of 2023. It's a classic fantasy romp with (most of) the old problems fixed. We get a badass hero you want to be and be with, who is also complicated as hell; a Knight who has some depth beyond his 'calling', who you can feel sympathy for; the young noble/child escort mission/quest giver who comes into her own; the animal companion - but he's actually interesting; and a background cast who feel like real people, too, something which is usually just missing from fantasy narratives. Things play out, well-paced, against a setting that I felt I could step into (and that I would love to play D&D in) - just enough information given, and the comforting sense that the author knows everything about everything (but hasn't felt the need to put it all in the text - love this). I'm aware that this is all very superlative but it was just such a joyful read, and I repeat what I said when I first finished - this had better be a trilogy at least, or so help me!

Godkiller
Author: Hannah Kaner
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release date: 19th January 2023
Pages: 304pp
Cover: Absolutely glorious (by Tom Roberts)

Kissen’s father fell in love with a god of the sea sixteen years previously and her family have been favoured by the sea and always had full fishing nets.
Then one night, Kissen and her family are drugged, and taken to become a sacrifice.
The whole village gather at night “to catch the sea god’s favoured family.”
Osidisen’s promise - her father’s sacrifice - still heavy in her heart, adult Kissen is a veiga – godkiller – destroying gods who become too greedy and demand more for sacrifice.
She travels and works at the behest of King Arren, though she earns her own coin, freeing poor villages from the tyranny of small gods.
Inara Craier is twelve year old girl who enters Ennerton, where Kissen last defeated one of the gods. She’s after help for her little “problem”. The one where she sees auras, emotions in colours and oh ...has the most adorable pet ‘god’ called Skedi who seems to be bound to her for no apparent reason. At least, he’s adorable at first. He is after all the god of white lies and cannot always be trusted.
Inara, though she loves Skedi, needs them to be separated as she can’t move more than a few yards from him without the tether snapping them back to each other.
Elo, now a baker and dealing with PTSD from the war, still gets occasional visits from his old friend Arren (you know, the King) and when he does, he knows something is up and Arren wants his advice. He also plans to send him on a mission.
On a pilgrimage to Blenraden of all places, to find a god who can help the king heal his broken heart – and not the mushy sort of broken. It’s literally dying.
All of these stories told from multiple POV, interweave bringing danger, adventure and sacrifice as the group travel the pilgrim route to the old battle site; sort of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales meets a grimdark-ish fantasy with a grizzled heroine/bodyguard, a proud ex knight/baker and a small girl who is more than she seems.
This is a rich, vivid novel dealing with religion, sedition and war. Kissen is one of a few disabled main characters in the book, and it just ‘is’. We see the reality of pain, exhaustion and managing day to day life with disabilities – physical, mental health issues and hearing difficulties as well – which makes the characters rounded and realistic. She’s also, incidentally, a complete badass. And Inara is her badass-in-training.
Elo is dealing with his PTSD and Inara with grief. Each has their own trials to deal with.
Perhaps the most telling line in the book comes at the beginning of the last part;
“‘Little girls grow up fast,’ said Kissen.”
And there’s a whole world of meaning here, not just about Inara. You’ll have to buy or nab this book from a library to find out more!
As a disabled reader it was refreshing to see such representation, as well as LGBTQIA+ characters and POC with Elo and others. It embedded this fantasy world within a reality we can all relate to. And despite being a grouch, Kissen is sort of likable too. If you know romance tropes, she’d be the Grumpy to someone’s Sunshine. She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind and as such, makes for great entertainment as well as a fierce ally.
Elo is also pretty damned handsome, and despite herself, Kissen grows attached to him and the young girl in their care. What we have here is a terrific found family.
It’s great that Kissen is openly bisexual though no labels are ever attached or mentioned. She regularly makes love to women, more so than men. Her flirting with Rose the barmaid at the beginning is great fun.
I loved this book.
At the end I did an actual gasp at a few reveals, my hand held over my mouth, my eyes wide.
I suspect it will appear on many awards lists for 2023 and the hook at the end makes me hope for further adventures.
I expect a lot more exciting stories are yet to come from Hannah Kaner.

I really struggled with this book, I thought I would love it but the pacing really threw me off in the middle so I found myself bored throughout that section. I enjoyed the writing of this and the characters were interesting, unfortunately the book fell a little flat in the middle, although the ending was really good.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. The general description of the world intrigued me and I was very curious for it.

The book did not disappoint at all. The story follows Elogast (a knight who fought in the God War), Kissen (a God killer) and a little girl and a littler god. All these characters have interesting complex backgrounds that we continuously discover during the story and it kept me intrigued all the way. Also, the story is going at a steady pace, not to fast but not to slow - just right. I really enjoyed the take it took by the end of the book.

My favourite by far is the world building. I really like how the Gods are connected in this world. There are some unique aspects in terms of how Gods have been changing the world and their impact on the kingdom. It really made me want to read more and I am curious for what comes next.

A surprise for me in this book were the food descriptions. It's very rare for me to want to actually eat the food described in a book, but this one has some incredible descriptions. It really made me hungry in some parts. It is an unexpected great thing about the writing.

I highly recommend this book and I am curious for the next volume! ^_^

An excellent debut!

There has been a lot of excitement around this book and it certainly disappoint. Unique, imaginative and with the makings of a superb epic like LOTR. Certainly not one to miss!

In this world, previously common gods have been outlawed, and veiga such as our MC Kissen hunt down remaining gods and kill them. Along the way Kissen meets a group of people, each running from their own pasts, and together they make their way through this world.
This was a fantastic new fantasy, taking inspiration from what feels like hundreds of cultures. The idea of gods being commonplace, and favoured among both the highborn and regular people was an intriguing concept. I also loved the idea of gods being born from peoples feelings, as this allowed for multiple gods of the same thing but in different areas. it was also interesting to see the aftereffects of the God war in relatively recent terms, and to see how the changing political landscape affected characters both big and small.
The characters all felt well fleshed out, and particularly Elo, with his backstory being engaging, and his morals and beliefs being hard held and well explained.
The story worked well, with each character having their own reasonings for venturing out into the world, and this worked well as a way to explore each of their feelings and motivations.
The romance did feel slightly forced at times, however I am a sucker for some good light natured grilling in a relationship, and did feel that they worked well together.
The ending was fantastic, with a big showdown, while still focusing on the characters feelings and showcasing how the characters relationships with each other had grown.
Possibly my favourite book so far this year, I cannot wait to see more from this world, and to explore more of the rebellion hinted at!

We follow four unlikely characters as they go on a journey to find different things in a world broken after a war between old and new gods.

The King has banned all gods - which is easier said then done. In the aftermath people are still divided and rebel fractions are forming threatening the hold the king has on the people, but the king has a secret and visits his old friend and retired knight for help by sending him on a quest.

A young girl has a secret of her own and after hearing rumour of a Godkiller in town seeks her out for help...

They all think the answers to to their problems lie in the abandoned city left to the gods.

Really enjoyed it! The characters are great and the world is also amazing.

It ends on a cliffhanger and doesn't function as a standalone story - lots of questions left unanswered.

Which happens a lot in the series I read, I miss the days of books of a series standing alone as a full story. But it's not the book or the authors fault - it's the way publishers do it these days.

Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me access to this title.
The Witcher meets American Gods is an interesting promise, and there's a lot to praise about this debut: the representation (queer, disabled), discussions of PTSD, a spiky protagonist with a heart of gold. The book starts and ends with a bang but for a short book, the middle drags a little during the quest/journey section of the book. The romance didn't work for me, though I was interested in finding out more about Elo.