What do a god killer, a retired knight, a noble’s daughter, and a tiny god have in common in a world where god worship has been forbidden? If you guessed a clandestine quest you would be correct!
Kaner’s fantasy world is one where Gods become powerful because humans make shrines to them and offer up prayers and sacrifices for favors. They have just survived a civil war that has all but wiped out the older more powerful Gods, making worship illegal. The history and lush mythology naturally unfolds along with the plot and I thought the timing was wonderful. I loved the characters: Kissen, Elogast, Inara, and Skedi. They each brought the story to life with their mismatched personalities. I enjoyed listening/reading the alternating POVs and the sarcastic and witty banter. This is story about strong wills, believing in yourself, acceptance, and resilience. Kaner gives us a good representation of differing abilities, both mental and physical which made the story even better in my opinion.
This was originally released in the UK in January of this year and the cover was so beautiful with such an interesting premise that I knew I needed it on my shelves. It will debut here in the US in September and you will not be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for this advanced listeners copy.

I am not much of an audiobook listener, but I found myself enthralled with this one. The story is imaginative, engaging, and beautifully written, all of which are enhanced by the narrator. While I very much enjoyed the fantastical world, my favorite aspect of this story was really they characters. They were believable, flawed, nuanced, infuriating, loveable, and overall memorable. Will highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers!

Such a good book. I was hooked fast. Its about gods, god killers (obviously), adventure, demons, and mystery. The world building was good too because it's one of those where the background isn't given to you all at once. Makes it easier to pay attention. But there is a lot of it! I mean, it's a big, complicated world so it's expected. I'm a sucker for good world building. Also, I really enjoyed the characters and seeing how their relationships evolved and played out throughout the story. The narrator was really good too. Mellow tone and great inflexion choices. Great book. Well written.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to based on the forgettable cover. The book is a leisurely-paced fantasy adventure with many of the same elements of the Witcher series but none of the misogyny and way more queer, disabled rep. I felt like it was good representation, too. None of the disabled characters are objects of pity or put up on a pedestal, and the narrative doesn't let us forget how it changes how those characters have to navigate the world around them. Many of the supporting characters are casually queer or have queer family members--there's no homophobia depicted in this world. I also enjoyed that, when characters did pursue romantic interests, they were self-assured and communicative, which made them feel like equal participants. There's also a major Black character, but his race doesn't play much of a role in the world or the story except for occasional reminders of what he looks like.

The twists and turns felt earned, too. Nothing felt out of left field but it also managed to avoid feeling so obvious that the characters seemed stupid for not realizing what was happening sooner. The twists felt inevitable and in-line with the world but still fresh and interesting.

I listened to the audiobook, which I found engaging. The narrator gave a good performance.

Looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing early access to the audiobook in exchange for a review.

We are introduced to three important characters right at the start.
Inara, a noble child who is inexplicably tied to a minor god of white lies.
Krissen, the god killer of the title. She kills gods for bounty and for joy, as her family was killed by gods.
Elo, retired knight and baker, who has been convinced to quest to a region he thought to never return to by his friend, a king.
The three wind up travelling together on a pilgrim train, that of course winds up attacked repeatedly. Predictable, and not especially engaging.
This was a neatly created world, in which gods, especially the wild gods, have been mostly outlawed due to their capricious and greedy nature.
I enjoyed Inara and her little god, Skediceth, and would have liked to learn more about their relationship.
However, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and didn't really find myself caring that deeply about what happened to them. While they were traveling across a dangerous country, cursed and in danger, I never really felt that they truly were in any peril. There were so many different characters to follow, none really stood out and grabbed my heart.
Interesting idea, but fell short for me. I do understand how some have really enjoyed this one though.

I loved the plot but I'm now very frustrated by the fact that book 2's release date isn't announced. The cliff-hanger at the end is stuff of nightmares!

I was however very intrigued by the new take on gods being a very present part of society. It was very engaging to see that balanced with the idea of power and how the hunt for power makes everything else worthless. It's easy to lose yourself and the things you value if they're just in the way.

There's also some fun little themes of fire v water and the different types of love along with the sacrifices we make for it.

I want to say that the prologue gripped me and pulled me in like no other book has done before.

Godkiller is an artistically crafted medieval fantasy story with strong characters and a captivating story.
The book moved at a moderate pace, lots of action with a little bit of slower world building elements. However there are a couple of surprise twists that I never would have guess and kept me engaged!

I personally loved that the different POVs were all useful to the plot and gave more insight to the characters.
I also enjoyed that the story included characters with disabilities but made it relevant and not just something to throw into a book just for the sake of it.

Overall this was a fresh and immersive fantasy read, and I enjoyed my time listening to it!

So so good! I loved the world that Kaner built here. It's an impressive feat to be able to build such a strong world with so few pages, and she nailed it. The characters are vibrant, the story is compelling, and I want more stories told in this world (maybe the story of the war?). Just so beautifully done. This book is a winner!

A fresh and confident debut, Godkiller will have you in its grasp from the first pages. Led by a cast of spirited characters, it leaps and bounds to the beat of its own golden heart, building to an epic clash of wills.

Hannah Kaner has taken her first great strides in what is sure to be an extraordinary journey.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced listening copy of godkiller. I loved this book, listened to it and read it. Fantastic. Fantasy, monster fights, unlikely companions, revenge, character growth, and a slow burn romance.

3.5 stars
The narrator has an excellent voice & dedication to the story & characters.
They made this book so much more than I thought, and their narration benefited the book, in my personal opinion.

While this is wholly creative & has everything that I adore and love... I felt a little disconnected from it.
The world-building is 10/10, the characters are good, and I can understand their motive & choices, but they didn't capture my interest enough.
I would recommend this book, but it wasn't a top book for me. (I think the over-hype may have put my standards too high.)