Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner is an epic fantasy and the second of a trilogy that continues the adventures of godkiller, Kissen; orphaned noble, Inara, and her little god, Skediceth; and Elogast, former knight of the king. I adored the first book, Godkiller, and was so excited to read this next book.

It absolutely met every expectation and more. My e-reader said it would take me over 6 hours to get through, and it did, but hours slipped by as I had a hard time putting the book down. I was always itching to turn the next page, to find out what happened next. The author did a phenomenal job weaving in parts of the first story that had impact on this second one, and I appreciated having the information to connect pieces myself.

I love the depth of the world Kaner built with Middren and the surrounding countries. This book, more than the first, gives the sense of how large the world is and how small the characters in it. It felt like true epic fantasy in that sense, even if we’re just looking into these individual lives and people doing their best to survive. The characterization is phenomenal and the characters continue to be deep, interesting and flawed. Even the secondary characters, such as Yatho, Telle, Canovan, and some new faces, pulled at my heartstrings.

I cannot express how much I loved reading this book and am so looking forward to the final book next year. With Sunbringer, Kaner has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds for Middren and all these characters I’ve come to love.

Favorite quote:
"She had never understood it, why humans chose, again and again, gods who abused their love, who demanded their pain."

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC so I could give an honest review.

The book is starts off a little slow but really enjoyed the development of the other characters of the party
I love Skedi and Inara as a pair and can't wait for them to be the ultimate power! Kissen is a badass and thought how she is kind of off on her own side quest was a good idea to help tie in later. I also thought the ending to this book was really well done and I am stoked to get more from this series.

Another excellent story from Kaner! I really enjoy the world she has created as well as the characters that seem so real because they aren't all perfect. I'm looking forward to the next book.

I dropped everything to read this and it did not disappoint. Sunbringer was just as propulsive as Godkiller and successfully develops our characters to make them all the more dynamic. Skedi and Ina’s relationship was particularly endearing as they challenge their limits and quite literally grow up. Like with many trilogy middle books this is clearly a building and stage setting story. While it remains engaging in its own right, I did find myself anxious to “get the band back together” and cannot wait for the final installment.

Thank you to HarperVoyager and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for this honest review.

I enjoyed Sunbringer a lot more than I did Godkiller. The second installment in the Fallen Gods triology was a fast paced read that hooked me in from the beginning! I typically don’t enjoy multi POV books, but I liked this one as all the characters were separated and experiencing different things. I also really enjoyed that the author added in the POV of Arren in this book. I also enjoyed seeing Inara really come into her own this book.
Sunbringer picks off right where Godkiller ends-Elo, Inara, Skedi, Kissen, and even Legs are all trying to return to life and figure out the next steps after the god Hsetra was killed by Kissen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper voyager for the ARC.

I will admit, this book is a whole lot of not much. You can see everything ramping up and the world expanding, but I feel like this book suffers from second-book syndrome. It wasn't as action-packed and fast-paced as Godkiller was.

Maybe because my favorite character, Kissen, basically gets side-lined the entire plot, I can't say that this was the best sequel to the wonder of Godkiller.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It is always so much harder to write a review for a book that I adored than for one I had feedback on— just because I have so much less to say, but I feel like the work still deserves to have its praises sung. As with “Godkiller,” “Sunbringer,” was a masterpiece— of storytelling, of world building, of writing, all of it. I wish I had read it faster, and enjoyed this wild ride all in one sitting (like I probably will when I reread it) and I wish I had read it slower, because now the wait for the final installment will be torturous. I know I will be thinking about these characters and their story long after it comes to a close. Kissen, Inara, Skedi, and Elogast (and Kelt) all have a special place in my heart, and their story is not one to be missed.

"Return to the world of Godkiller in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut.

When Middren falls to the gods, your kind will be the first to die.

Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middren - but now they are stirring, whispering of war. Godkiller Kissen sacrificed herself to vanquish the fire god Hseth, who murdered her family and endangered her friends. But gods cannot be destroyed so easily, and Hseth's power threatens to reform with even greater strength and a thirst for vengeance. As tensions rise throughout the land, the kingdom needs its Godkiller more than ever.

Still reeling from the loss of Kissen, young noble Inara and her little god of white lies, Skedi, have set out to discover more about the true nature of their bond. As the divide between gods and humans widens, Inara and Skedi will uncover secrets that could determine the fate of the war to come.

Meanwhile, Elogast, no longer a loyal knight of King Arren, has been tasked with killing the man he once called friend. The king vowed to eradicate all gods throughout the land, but has now entered into an unholy pact with the most dangerous of them all. And where his heart once beat, a god now burns..."

Seriously, I have such cover lust for this series.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Godkiller was one of my favorite books of last year and I was SO EXCITED when I got the approval email from NetGalley for Sunbringer!!!

Sunbringer picks up where the events in Godkiller left off and we follow our ragtag group of heroes in separate narrative chapters as they embark on their respective journeys. I loved getting to interact with individual characters more and the author did an amazing job with the world building. We learn so much more about gods big and small which I found to be fascinating. I love the magic system in this series and how intertwined magic and gods are and how one man is willing to fight a war to bring one back. It gave me major Game of Thrones vibes when a certain faction of the Faith of the Seven is given a ridiculous amount of power.

The middle part of the book was a little too slow for me, but the last 30% FLEW!! There are TWISTS, unlikely alliances, and a great setup for the final book in the trilogy. I physically gasped, jaw dropped, and sat up ramrod straight at one point (no spoilers here but IT’S WILD!!!!)

If you enjoyed Godkiller, you will absolutely enjoy Sunbringer!!

4.5 rounded about to 5!

You’ve heard of second book syndrome right? Well the second book in the fallen gods trilogy certainly didn’t suffer from that. I must admit it has been awhile since I read the first book, Godkiller, so it was a little slow for me to get into. After about 15 percent in it really started to pick up and just kept going from there. Hannah Kaner writes her characters so well. While the book contains 5 perspectives, it never feels too much. Each character has their own voice and you truly feel for them. You ache when they ache. You laugh when they laugh. The found family in this is wonderful as well as the character development. Inara and Skedi’s story arc is my favorite and they both have grown so much since the first book. I love them both so dearly. Kissen was put through the wringer once again but by now we know how stubborn our girl is and that she will always persevere. Elo and Arren’s story is so complex and I’m anxious to see what becomes of them. The world has gotten bigger and at times more confusing but that did not deter me from the enjoyment of the book. I can’t wait for the finale!

This book was such a fun and amazing read I loved every second of it and couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved the first book so much and I've been so excited to read this it did not disappoint at all

This book is the sequel to Godkiller, a book that I really enjoyed. It is an excellent sequel. The story is evolving nicely. The characters continue to be memorable and complex. The twist at the end is especially good. I do think it would be wise to read Godkiller first.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

A wonderful second installment in this trilogy!

Sunbringer begins immediately following the events of Godkiller, and I appreciate the seamless storytelling. The read is definitely slower than Godkiller, though that is understandable since many of the main characters whose pov’s we follow were separated, which naturally slows down pacing. The characters continue to grow in believable and interesting ways, and when everything comes back together at the end, it’s just beautiful.

There was more depth in some of the worldbuilding and background in this book 2, and there were some unexpected turns that had my jaw dropping in the second half. I’m very curious to know where Kaner goes from here.

If you enjoyed Godkiller you should definitely make time for this second book. Stick through the slower start, and I promise it’s worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc of this title to review. All opinions contained are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I loved Godkiller and was so excited to be given an early copy of its sequel! Unlike some series, this sequel doesn’t suffer from sophomore slump at all! It built on the character building and world building from the first and allowed for newer and deeper relationships and insights into both, the ending left me wanting book 3 yesterday!

Godkiller was my favorite book of 2023, so hopes were high for Sunbringer--and Kaner delivered! It's incredible to watch a robust cast of characters who all experienced full arcs in the first book go on a new journey that builds upon the established foundation. Inara and Skediceth, navigating their new relationship both searching for answers about their identity, was especially endearing while the external tension steadily ramped up. Much like the first, Sunbringer kept my attention until the very last page and I cannot bear to wait for the third installment.

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner is a Stunning Sequel for GodKiller that had me hooked from page one.

What I loved
1. The slower pace of book two allowed a deeper focus on the growing conflict
2. dialogue lines were glorious to the point of making me gasp
3. The ending has me already longing for book three before book two has even released

What didn't work for me as well
1. The main characters being separate for most of the story made for some mid point inconsistency in the pacing.
2.Kissen is my favorite character but I wanted more time with her specifically

who I recommend this title for

Sunbringer as a sequel and set up for the finale of a trilogy will be best enjoyed by readers who have already enjoyed book one in this world.

*Special note*
I didn't realizes initially that this was a trilogy and was very concerned when there were only 60 pages left to the book with so much left to Finnish up.

My thanks to Harper and Avon Voyager, Hannah Kaner and Netgalley.
I was somehow lucky enough to read this book just a very short time after reading Godkiller.
No, this was no where near as good as the first. It was however just about wonderful!
There's a special something about these people and their world that I love.
My one and only gripe is that my main characters were separated for most of this book. Eh. Middle book syndrome?
In the end it didn't matter.
I love these books!

I LOVED Godkiller, so I was super excited to receive an ARC of this one. I felt like it met the fate of so many book 2s out there. It was much slower paced and focused so much on the exposition of the story arc that it lost some of its appear for me. Do I still love the characters and the world that Kaner is building? Absolutely. Will I continue to read this series? 100%. I just wish that this one had been as gripping as Godkiller.

I had high expectations here after loving Godkiller so much. Sunbringer did not disappoint! It was definitely slower-paced than the first, with a little bit of second-book syndrome where we spent A LOT of time setting up the pieces for the grand finale in book 3. But once I got past the pacing I really enjoyed the deep-dive into our characters growth and evolution. I would have liked to spend more time in Kissen's head and a lot less in Arren's but I know we will get lots of Kissen soon. As in the first book, the real star was the incredible world-building Kaner does. The god characters stay with me long after the book has ended.

Sunbringer, Hannah Kaner's sequel to her thrilling debut Godkiller, stumbles at the start but manages to pick up speed and dazzle in a mad, heart-pounding dash to finish line. The novel picks up right where its predecessor left off: a bedraggled Kissen, thought dead by her friends, on a quest to return to them, Eloghast reeling from the shock of betrayal, and Inara Craier seeking to understand her strange origins and unfathomable power.

While Kissen shined as the undisputed protagonist of Godkiller, her light is disappointingly dimmed in Sunbrigner. Not only is her story the most tedious, she fails to fall into a satisfying character arc, plateauing rather than growing. Elo and Inara have a better time: Elo begins to rediscover his worth as a warrior & strategist, this time fighting against the king rather than with him. Inara plays the starring role in the sequel: her fiery strength and tender, empathetic nature war for dominance in a city under siege as she struggles to learn more about her & Skedi's origins. The conflict between her and Elo is the most authentic of the novel: we see the perspective of a traumatized young woman wanting to contribute to the fight that took her home and her mother, and the perspective of a caretaker struggling to prevent a child from carrying a burden beyond her years.

The romance takes a backset in this story, which is well-warranted given the focus on growing conflict, but their are emotional seeds planted hinting at interesting future romantic avenues that will upset some and excite others (I surprised myself by falling into the latter category). Overall, I found this sequel hampered by a very slow start and uneven pacing, but strong in its examination of knowledge and scholarship as a first casualty of imperialism.