I think that while this is really good so far (25% in), I need to wait a while to finish it. I haven't picked it up for a while, so I forget some of what I've read, but I know I am enjoying it immensely! Eventually I will finish this masterpiece, but not right now.

Once I started this book, I didn't want to put it down. Major "what if the Witcher was a woman" vibes with Kissen, the self-proclaimed godkiller who has made a living accepting coin for taking out lesser gods + Inara, the young girl whom she finds herself an unexpected guardian for. Inara's bound to a god of white lies in Skediceth, but neither of them knows how it happened or how to fix it, so why not seek out a godkiller to help them with their problem? Along their journey, they encounter Elogast, a former soldier-turned-baker who has his own reasons for traveling alone, and unexpectedly forge a found family of sorts as they try to help Inara and ultimately Elo with their respective missions. An incredible fantasy debut with well-developed characters, and the ending had me clawing for more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a first book in a trilogy. It sets things up nicely, the character and world building are well done. It ended in a good spot, an initial quest concluded but obviously more to come. The premise is that this world was once full of gods, old and new. The gods became greedy, wanting more and more from their worshipers and fighting amongst themselves. Humans were so damaged by this that they went to war with the gods. Gods are now outlawed. This leads us to our company of "heros", a godkiller, a former knight and the last living member of a nobel house. Oh and a small god of white lies who is psychically linked to the girl who is the last of her clan. They each have reasons to travel to the destroyed city where gods may yet live.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

2.5/5 Stars

Received as an eARC on NetGalley

I feel as though this was a case of overhyping. I went into this book expecting to be swept away, but ultimately I found it to be extremely average.

Positives:
The representation of this book is off the charts. Major and minor characters are LGBTQ+, disabled, POC, etc. The characters were also fairly interesting. They were really the main reason I didn't DNF this book. The world-building was fine, if a little confusing. I can't say there was anything "wrong" with this book, but I don't think there was anything that really blew me away besides the representation.

Negatives:
It was boring to me. I think, given how much other people have loved it, this may be a case of overhyping and a book just not suiting my personal tastes. I found the world-building intriguing, but ultimately underwhelming. The characters were also underwhelming. The writing felt simple and juvenile. The book was fine.

Overall, I am entirely indifferent to this book and will probably forget it exists by tomorrow. I would recommend this to a younger audience who is interested in seeing representation and enjoy fantasy.

World building felt just right, representation was really great. Some harsher editing could help with sone over explaining but mostly really enjoyed!

This book was released a couple of weeks ago, which is lucky for you because you'll be able to run - not walk - to your local book shop and get this book. And you should, because this one is probably my favorite new author that I've read this year. Considering the fact that I routinely read 75-100 books a year, this means that Godkiller is in the top 2%.

I'll admit that the ingredients in this book is my current recipe for good stuff. Queer representation? Check. Disabled protagonist? Check. Gods and demons? Double check! Found family? Oh, my gosh, really?? YES! Epic traveling quest? Okay, now you've hit all my buttons.

I can't help it, I somehow identify with Kissen. She saw the horrors that fanatic faith can wreak and took control of that horror by killing the cause of it. Gods. Kissen is the titular godkiller here and she's a disabled badass, and if you know anyone who is disabled you will know that is just a requirement and NOT a contradiction. I can't help but identify with the idea that you should take the things that harmed you and murder the shit out of them. You can determine for yourself what that says about me, because I really don't care.

The story encountered here is certainly epic but it is not the sprawling, intricate weaving of most epics. You will not need to keep track of dozens of characters and half-forgotten intrigues across a thousand pages. No, this story is as tightly plotted as a seal's ass is waterproof. Focused only on the characters on the page and the loved ones they've left behind them, this story will literally drag you with it to the forbidden and destroyed city of Blenraden, home of the last wild gods. If the journey doesn't kill you, the inhabitants might.

Do I need to say I loved it? I loved it. I can't wait for more.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
Godkiller is the first book in the series of the same name following an unlikely band as they make their way to the land the gods. Kissen’s entire family was killed as a sacrifice to the gods and she is the only survivor making her way by killing gods that are rising up. Inara is just a child but somehow the God of Lies has been attached to her and they are looking for a way to find a shrine for him to move to. Elogast served in the war against the gods that killed or at least diminished many, he is looking for redemption and a way to save his best friend and king.

This is a strange world where some gods are good and some are crazy evil. We even see Skediceth, our little god of lies, get a taste of power and what he tries to do with it for a short time. We can imagine what a larger god may do for the power of some sacrifices. Blenraden was once the city of the gods and our unlikely band all needs to travel there for all of their own reasons. Kissen wants to help the girl that reminds her so much of herself at that age. Inara wants to help her friend find a way to move the bond they share to a shrine. Elogast wants to save his friend from the sure death he will suffer within a months time. They joined a pilgrimage traveling to the cursed city of Blenraden for their own reasons but each will find a reason to rely on and help each other.

***Even when their shrine is gone, their power can linger. A shrine is like the keel of a ship; it holds them together.
Telle beamed and threw her hands up, Yes, exactly. Impressing Telle – that was a first. The keel keeps them balanced between the things that made them: the water it sails on is the people’s love, holding them up. The wind is the spirit, the energy than makes them, giving them power. Without the keel, they fall apart, roll over, are destroyed.***

I enjoyed this story. It is a bit dark as gods can be cruel, but the worldbuilding is done really well. I liked how we learned more of the past war, the gods and the world as we travel with the pilgrims. Inara is at the heart of a deeper plot, she was hidden her father is unknown and her entire family destroyed. Kissen is the only one who may be able to help her find some answers and be restored to her house. Kissen, well lets just say I totally loved her. She has so much anger towards the gods, for good reason, but she still is the person that is going to walk into hell for the people she cares about. Kissen is someone you want to root for after all she has been though and she is a badass, completely earned the title Godkiller and just a lot of fun as a character. Elogast’s past is a little more secret but as a character I enjoyed him as well. He falls into this group easily and while his reasons for going to Blenraden are his own he will help a little girl and a woman determined to save her for as long as he can.

The twist at the end of this was amazing and I did not see it coming. I like it when an author can do that in a story and really sale it. The pacing is good with monsters to fight and obstacles to overcome, once we got the character introductions we were well on our way. While I definitely agreed to read this mostly based on the cover (it is gorgeous) there is so much inside to enjoy. For those of us who like reluctant heroes and broken characters there is plenty to enjoy in this story. I’m looking forward to continuing on with t he journey.

I am absolutely obsessed with this book! I immediately ran and bought a physical copy because I HAVE TO HAVE THIS on my shelf!! This was so magical and fun! One of my favorite books this year!! Thank you so much for the copy! I could not get enough of this book and cannot wait for my physical special edition of this book to arrive!! Definitely going to be in my next recommendations post!

The prologue of this book absolutely hooked me and I thought I was going to crush through this book in one sitting.

Unfortunately the middle of the book didn't have the same pacing as the beginning and the end, and was a bit of a drag at points. That is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 - I loved the characters, the concept, and the world-building.

I am not always the biggest fantasy reader but I'm glad I checked this one out and am greatly looking forward to the rest of the series!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this title**

I love a bounty hunter story, especially one in a magical world, and especially one that secretly has a heart. The sex scene felt a little out of place for the tone of the rest of the story, but that seems to be expected in most contemporary fantasy stories these days. I am especially interested in learning more about Skediceth in further books in the series.

I adored this!

This was such an interesting and unique premise and a book that truly took my breath away. I found myself feeling all the emotions and I didn’t want the story to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with eARC of this novel, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I remember when this first came out in the U.K. and I saw so many reviewers talking about it and how amazing it was. While, I can affirm that this is a well-written and constructed debut novel, I don't feel like it is the most amazing debut that I have ever read. It didn't do anything that really surprised or shocked me, but it was solid. I found the world-building somewhat interesting. I liked the middle and end 15%, but the middle 70% dragged for me. Also, I saw the ending a mile away and I'm not a reader that gets satisfaction from that.

I enjoyed the characters pretty well, with Elogast and Skediceth's chapters being my favorite. However, I never really felt attached to any of the characters. I think I was supposed to enjoy Kissen more than I did, but I have to admit that I appreciate the amputee representation that she presents. However, while these main characters were all adults, there was something that felt more juvenile about this book to me. I had to confirm that it was listed as an adult book because it feels more Y.A. to me. So, I guess it could be a cross-over the other way. It does have some sexual content, but it is very tame and the actual act is fade to black.

Overall, I think that this is going to get a lot of attention because of its beautiful cover and the fact that it is a solidly written debut with an interesting premise. I'm not sure if I will continue reading this series, mostly because I need to be invested in characters to really care about a series and I'm not especially. We'll see. I would recommend this to fans of found family, "B.A." female characters, soft knights, and gods.

Godkiller is the story of a woman who profits off killing gods coming across a young girl who has a god connected to her. When she is sought out to help separate them she finds her boundaries pushed and her past reawakened. This story had such amazing world building, but the best part was the characters themselves. Kissen, Elogast, Skedi, and Inara grew and developed throughout the story which made me excited to follow each of them on their quests.

Worth the hype! Godkiller was such a sensation in the small BookTok space I occupied and it is well worth that praise and so much more. The magic, the mayhem and the general awesomeness of this book was unmatched.

I finished reading GODKILLER over the weekend and it’s a new favorite of mine now. I was reading a digital arc, but when it released I went to grab it and finish the physical copy because I was enjoying it so much!

It was an amazing read with four POVs about an unexpected group who has to travel to a city of gods in order to help a young girl who is bound to a god of white lies. 👀 Intrigued yet?

This book has it all!
🖤warring gods & godkillers
🖤political intrigue
🖤the perfect dash of romance
🖤a “roadtrip”
🖤found family
🖤queer & disability rep
🖤grumpy warrior adopts child in need

There were so many things to love about Godkiller, I could honestly rave about it all day. The worldbuilding was incredible and the characters stole my heart. Their ragtag group was so memorable and the conflict between gods and humans was so fascinating! I can’t wait for the sequel to come out.

Plus, look at that cover!! 😍

TL;DR REVIEW:

Godkiller is a well-written, well-built start of a new fantasy series with characters you’ll love and worldbuilding you’ll swoon over. I definitely recommend it!

For you if: You love a sword-wielding butch bisexual woman (and fantasy in general, tbh).

FULL REVIEW:

I’d heard plenty of exciting buzz around Godkiller, so when Harper Voyager sent me a review copy (thank you!), it jumped right to the top of my list. Happy to report this is a super-solid fantasy read with a whole new cast of characters to fall in love with!

Godkiller is set in a world where there are many gods, major and minor — all it takes is for people to begin praying to one in order for it to be born. The story takes place several years after a major war between the now-king and the gods, and in order to keep them under control, godkillers like Kissen (your new favorite sword-wielding butch who also, I might add, does it all on her prosthetic leg) are on the king’s payroll and practicing faith is illegal. We have four main characters — Kissen, a high-born girl named Inara, a minor god attached to her lifeforce named Skedi, and a former-war-hero-turned-baker named Elogast.

There is so much to dig about this book, including its robust worldbuilding — the good kind done well, not the overwhelming kind that slows you down. I also love a book that takes place a few years after the big war is over, a sort of “where are they now” feeling that shows that happily ever after is more complicated than we think. And I loved the prosthesis rep, the sapphic rep, all the rep!

My only (small) complaint is that I actually think this could have been longer. There was a little bit of tidiness that felt sort of commercialized to me, but I would have been happy to spend 50-100 more pages with this crew, easily. And so all that to say, I can’t wait for book two!



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Fire/fire injury; Death of a parent and grief; Violence, war, and death

A big thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC and advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

A new fantasy that I will forever be suggesting and obsessing over.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner is a fantasy book set in the kingdom of Middren, where Gods are forbidden. Formed by human desires and fed by their worship, there are countless gods in the world—but after a great war, the new king outlawed them and now pays “godkillers” to destroy any who try to rise from the shadows.0
As a child, Kissen saw her family murdered by a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing them and enjoys it. But all this changes when Kissen is tasked with helping a young noble girl with a god problem. The child’s soul is bonded to a tiny god of white lies, and Kissen can’t kill it without ending the girl’s life too.Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, the unlikely group must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favor. Pursued by assassins and 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 they are the only ones who can stop it.

I absolutely loved and devoured this book, and I will forever be recommending it to whoever wishes to listen. READ THIS BOOK!

As of the beginning of writing this I'm still not sure what rating I want to give, so maybe I'll figure it out by the end. I wanted to love Godkiller (look at that cover!) but I have very mixed feelings about it. Pitched as perfect for fans of Witcher and Gideon the Ninth... I have questions. Witcher I kind of get as a comp title, though I think think that might set up the wrong expectations. There are some loose similarities. As for Gideon, I think it's a terrible comparison. The only similarity is that both books have queer women with swords.

This ended up being a journey story, which can be a hard sell for me. A knight turned baker, a lady Godkiller, and a little girl attached to a small god end up thrown together on a dangerous journey to a forbidden city. The prologue grabbed my attention immediately and there were elements of the story that liked. The complexities of gods and faith as something with great potential for both good and evil is interesting.

I liked the characters well enough, but I wanted more from them. I was never invested enough to really care about this romantic subplot, and we never get enough information to really get why Elo is so loyal to his childhood BFF.

The world-building is interesting, but the book is SO SLOW for being less than 300 pages! We frequently interrupt the action for random asides giving world info or backstory that may be relevant or not to what's happening. (this is similar to Witcher, but it's also one of the most frustrating things about the series so I'm not sure that's a positive) As much as there were questions I wanted answers to and I was interested to see where things went, I struggled to remain attentive and this book too me way longer to read than it should have given the length. I definitely would not call it a page-turner. And the ending is interesting, but not as satisfying as I was hoping given how plodding the journey to get there could be. We're left with some big questions that have been there throughout the book and I'm not sure I have the patience to see if we finally get answers in book 2 if it's going to be as slow as this was.

But for all that, this isn't a BAD book. The world is reasonably interesting, so is the plot. The characters are fine for a debut, the prose is also perfectly fine if nothing to write home about. There are the bones of something here that could have really captured my imagination and there are moments in the book that rise to the occasion, but I think that potential just makes it feel all the more painfully mediocre. I had very high hopes, and so maybe that's on me. But it was fine. I think some people will really enjoy it. It's also worth saying that there is disability rep in this book, which I think is great to see. Again- elements of this I wanted to love so I'm rounding up but it just wasn't quite what I hoped. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Godkiller delivers an impressive fantasy world, the way the gods are presented is unique, and, as previously mentioned, the fact that the mythology and history are delivered at a steady pace hints that this series has a lot more of its secrets yet to reveal. Kaner's debut reads similar to one of Sapkowski's short stories or the stand-alone Season of Storms in that it's self-contained, follows a few main characters on an adventure, and that it feels like we're only witnessing a small yet exciting part of what's going on in a massive, vivid world.

At around 300 pages, it's quite a short read for epic fantasy and I truly hope that Kaner builds on this credible platform that showcases great potential. My only minor complaint is that due to Godkiller's short length, some of the exchanges and events seem a bit too neat and coincidental. In light of this point, I'd personally like the series' next entry to expand, include more point-of-view characters. 4.5 stars