One of many issues as a reviewer I attempt to do – I believe all of us do at SFFWorld – is depart our preconceptions behind when beginning a e book. In truth, I might say as a reader one of many biggest emotions is that of the probabilities a brand new e book or a debut writer could probably provide. (The opposite is on the finish of a e book whenever you suppose that the potential has been reached, and even exceeded.)
Nonetheless, there are admittedly instances when that is troublesome – the subsequent e book in a sequence often has a sure diploma of expectation, or maybe the disagreeable particulars of an writer which have come to mild could affect the studying of their work, for instance. (Each subjects mentioned many instances within the SFFWorld Boards.)
Regardless of efforts to not make it so, private preferences generally emerge. Having learn lots of of books for overview, to not point out for pleasure, I discover as of late the point out of sure components are likely to make me – nicely, not maybe wince, however cautious. A type of for me is the usage of gods and faith, notably once they take centre-stage. Nothing towards them, however I simply suppose that I’ve learn too many fantasy books involving them and there’s little else for me to search out authentic about them.
Why is that this necessary? Effectively, Hannah’s debut novel relies round gods and their elimination.
From the writer: “Kissen’s household had been killed by zealots of a fireplace god. Now, she makes a residing killing gods, and enjoys it. That’s till she finds a god she can not kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has one way or the other sure himself to a younger noble, and they’re each on the run from unknown assassins.
Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they have to journey to the ruined metropolis of Blenraden, the place the final of the wild gods reside, to every beg a favour.
Pursued by demons, and within the midst of burgeoning civil struggle, they’ll all face a reckoning – one thing is rotting on the coronary heart of their world, and solely they are often those to cease it.”
Are you able to see my dilemma? This may clarify why it’s taken me some time to get to this one. It has been two years. Since being revealed in 2023, this e book and its sequel have been bestsellers, and the third e book is because of be revealed as this overview goes on-line.
I need to additionally level out the overview by my colleague Rob Bedford which was made out there nearer the time of publication. I’ve nevertheless intentionally averted studying his feedback – a minimum of till my overview is written!
The story centres round 4 major characters, for which totally different chapters are written. Of those essentially the most developed is that of Kissen, a bisexual godkiller with a traumatic background that led to the demise of her household and her dropping a leg to Osidisen, an historic god, when youthful.
She is counterpointed by Elogast (identify usually annoyingly shortened to ‘Elo’, which saved me considering of that almost all British of greetings!) a younger ex-knight who now lives incognito as a baker. Elo is sworn to serving to his buddy King Arren when he requests a boon – to journey to the destroyed metropolis of Blenraden and beg for a favour from the gods – even when Arren is sworn to killing those self same gods.
Kissen then meets Inara, a younger teenage lady whose noble household has additionally been killed, probably while trying to find her. To Kissen’s horror, Inara is sure to a comparatively minor god – Skediceth, aka Skedi, a god of white lies, whose attachment can solely be indifferent by a serious god. Kissen feels some sympathy with Inara’s plight, and so agrees to additionally journey with Elogast to Blenraden the place Inara and Skedi may be disconnected with out both of them dying.
When the characters have been launched, they then start a quest to Blenraden, with our 4 travelling in secret in a pilgrim prepare. They’re adopted and attacked alongside the best way by many shadow monsters.
A lot of this will sound acquainted should you’ve learn fantasy earlier than.
Let’s start with the positives. The characterisation is nice – Kissen is by turns scary and sweary, however whose gruff exterior hides private turmoil. Elo is a reasonably conventional hero kind character, stuffed with remorse and enthusiasm, decided to do the proper factor, however who can be struggling with some type of PTSD. Inara is a younger harmless with a sure diploma of metal in her mettle. Even Skedi, a god in a world the place gods are unwelcome, is usually participating.
The concept of a large number of gods, from main ones just like the gods of fireplace and water to minor ones just like the god of damaged sandals was an uncommon one and one I preferred.
On the draw back, I discovered that the tempo was slightly uneven. The e book begins nicely however I discovered the center a little bit of a slog. The search picked up the tempo slightly, however the ending by comparability appeared to occur in a short time.
As a lot as I appreciated the inclusivity that’s clearly an necessary a part of the e book, the best way it was finished within the story felt slightly clumsy and unsubtle. Equally, the spicy romance close to the top was awkward, and not likely the time or place for it. I additionally discovered that the reappearance of some characters appeared to happen for no actual motive besides to stress that handy coincidences occur.
In abstract, upon ending Godkiller, I used to be happy that I learn this and but was reminded that this was the work of a debut writer. Godkiller exhibits each the keenness and depth of a brand new author with a story to inform, but in addition has the odd second the place issues didn’t fairly appear to work for me. There was loads I preferred, nevertheless it was not the debut achievement I had hoped for.
© 2025 Mark Yon
Hardback | Harper Voyager
GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner
January 2023 | 304 pages
ISBN: 978 000 8521 462
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