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.

After reading the first book in the series I was thrilled to get me hands on the sequel. With Kissen presumed dead and Elo and Inara on a warpath, there wasca definite feeling of higher stakes than the first book. I think Kissen's plot line was the most interesting as she had to work with the Gods while dealing with seeing her home country's devotion toward Hseth. Arren's story was also exciting and I want to see more of him in the next book. Inara felt like a moody teenager in this book, and it got old real quick. However, I understood where she was coming from. Skedi's growth was awesome and I love how he was there for Inara.

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner is the sequel to Godkiller and second book in this trilogy.

Our characters are not doing very well - there is war on the horizon, King Arren has shown his true colors, and Kissen is gone. At least that is what Elo, Inara, and Skedi think. If you read Godkiller, you know what actually happened.

While Kissen is back in her hometown, she gets more insight into the upcoming invasion - her character grows and while she remains the brutal warrior we met in Godkiller, we also see other sides to her. Inara experiences a similar growth, she has seen much and knows there is much more to come and that she will play a part in it, and her bond with Skedi becomes strained.

Elo, the knight-turned-baker, realizes he must go back to donning his armor and fight his old friend Arren, whose desire for godhood will spell doom for everyone.

Second books in trilogies are tricky - many times there is a slump and it may feel like filler while the author sets up the final book, but this doesn’t happen with Sunbringer. I loved visiting our old friends and seeing how they grew and readied for the coming battles. And I will admit to some worry about their fates as I await the third and final book.

4.5/5
Hannah Kaner continues to impress with the installment of Sunbringer, the second book in the Fallen Gods trilogy. Second book syndrome, who?? I really enjoyed Godkiller and Sunbringer brings the same, if not more, danger to this world and drastically improves on character development. Elo, Inara, Skedi, and Kissen are such strong characters in their own right, and the addition of a fifth (yes, fifth!) point of view creates even more value to the story. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed following this new point of view, and I hope there is more of it to come in the next installment. As much as I wished that the core four POVs could've stayed together, I think the separation of Kissen going on her own separate journey with the gods allowed for tremendous growth not only for her, but for Elo and Inara as well. I was eager for the reveal after the teases of Inara's background, and after the reveal, I cannot wait for her to explore more of her powers/abilities with the gods. Her relationship with Skedi is so incredibly heartwarming, and I absolutely love their dynamic together. Elo really grew into his role of a protector, and the responsibilities it takes to rally others to stand up and fight for what is right. His relationship with Arren is explored more in this book, and with the ending that Sunbringer had, I am looking forward to how this dynamic influences things in the next book. The characters in this series are so well written, and I absolutely love the representation in this book. It is so incredibly well done!

Compared to Godkiller, this book is a bit more slow paced and can take a little bit for all the chess pieces to be where they need to be for check mate. Although this book is formidable in its own right, it can be seen how it is also used to primarily set up for the third book, especially Kissen's point of view since it goes beyond what is happening in their direct kingdom. It is all so much more than what it seems, and Kaner utilizes this book to move the pieces into nearing their final positions for the resolution of this trilogy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

“He is not a king. He is a god. And we kill gods.”

I am so stupid for thinking this was a duology. Imagine my surprise getting 80% done with this book and realizing, there’s no way this ends in 60 pages.

Anyway, this was great. I loved Godkiller, Sunbringer was just as good, but it did drag in that way that second in a trilogy books tend to do. Which, now that I know what I know. Makes sense. I’m a goose.

Sunbringer picks up right where Godkiller left off and we follow our same beloved cast of characters as they lick their wounds and find ways to cope This was definitely slower than Godkiller, more politics-driven, and less murder. But everything that I liked about the first book was in Sunbringer so I can’t complain. I devoured Godkiller in about 8 hours. It took me around 25 days to get through Sunbringer. Kanner slows down and takes us through more in-depth worldbuilding and politics.

Whatever comes next for these characters was perfectly set up in this book and I am fucking ecstatic.

Sunbringer has the same stunning world building. The same complex characters I found myself genuinely caring about and rooting for them - all of that was there. What wasn’t there, what made Godkiller magical, was any character interaction. The found family aspect was missing and that has a huge impact on my enjoyment.

I really like the premise of this series. A kingdom that shuns gods with a godkiller who hunts them for a living. I love my morally gray women and Kissen is that for me. I like that Kaner uses similar features from most fantasy books involving gods on earth but twists it in her own unique way. The action writing overall was absolutely amazing too.

But I also think Sunbringer needs a little work. The story was too choppy for me and felt like it jumped around too much. I was also disappointed that it seemed to lack the emotions that the first book conveyed so well. Almost like this book was hurriedly written.

I still liked the series well enough though. And can we talk about the wonderful queer and disability representation? Kaner really kills it and I have a huge appreciation for authors who don't stick to the typical main character archetypes.

Also huge shoutout for the cover art. These are GORGEOUS covers that I think would look so beautiful on any bookshelf!

8/10

What a follow up to the fantastic debut that was Godkiller . Sunbringer does start off a bit slow but when it picks up, it picks up. The political maneuverings, the action scenes, and the mystery and wonder behind the gods and their powers always kept me wondering what was coming next. Many times I found myself saying "maybe just one more chapter".

Sunbringer Includes the cast of characters you would expect it to coming off the ending of Godkiller as well as a couple new additions (though not as POV characters). This book also explores a bit deeper into a lot of the characters to really flush out who they are and what motivates them, as well as the pain they feel. There were many times where I found myself really emphasizing with the characters and wished I could reach through the pages to help them, or scream at them to do/not do something.

The plot of this entry, for most of the book, seems a bit more muted than in the first book. This allows for a more character driven narrative, like I mentioned above. That being said the new plot directions that are brought up during this book range from fascinating to dread inspiring for what is to come. I also really love the way that the gods work in this world. I love that they get power from being loved, from receiving offerings and gifts, and can dwindle and die when they are forgotten or go without love/worship from humans. It is such a great dynamic, like yes a well loved god is immensely powerful and can do great and/or terrible things to humans, but without love and worship from those same humans it can cease to exist.

By the time I finished reading I couldn't decide if I was happy to have received an ARC of this, because it was a joy to read, or mad because it means I have to wait longer between this and book 3 without the answers I desperately crave.

Also I once again have to give props for the amazing cover art.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this arc which will be available 3/12/24!


This book was magical. The whole experience of it breathed magic into my soul. This series to me will go down as a favorite fantasy read. It is an odyssey of epic proportions and that I feel is a feat. It seamlessly carried on from book one. Honestly I am speechless. I cannot wait to buy this book.

Sunbringer was one of my first books of 2024, and I could not have gotten off to a better start. Godkiller was my #1 Fantasy read of 2023 (and if you ask anyone who knows me I WOULD NOT shut up about it,) and I can see the sequel following in its footsteps for this year (yes even though it is so early in the year!)
This is a perfect blend of high fantasy, political fantasy, and mythology elements combined with tons of disability and lgbt+ representation and complex, realistic characters who like us humans HAVE FAULTS (gasp a not perfect lead character?!?!? YES thank goodness!!!)

We pick up right where we left each of our beloved characters at the end of Godkiller: in a state of anguish and alarm. Each of our beloved characters has to figure out how to pick up and keep going after everything they’ve been through. It is here we really see the essence of each person as they navigate new trials. Inara in specific stands out in this book; she gets some truly quality, almost painful to read character development. Her thoughts and feelings are so realistic for a child who crashed into a terrible situation and is trying so hard to grow up and make a difference. Meanwhile, the adults around her want nothing more than to protect her from suffering any more harm. I think this is a big part of what makes this series so compelling: each character has such heart-wrenchingly understandable inspirations.

This installment really raises the stakes in preparation for the final book in the trilogy, but it does take some time to get momentum going. The last 30-40% are incredibly action-packed, and the first half is tense and a bit slow-paced. However, I think Sunbringer does a good job of not falling into the second book lull that so many trilogies suffer from. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of this incredible story. 4.8/5 stars, thus I am rounding to 5.
Thank you to Netgalley, Edelweiss+, and Haper Collins for the copies of digital and physicals ARCs that allowed me to read practically anywhere I wanted.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book for an honest review.

I went straight from reading the first book to reading the sequel; I totally recommend that, I had zero cliffhanger anxiety... That is until the end of this book.

While the first book left us with a few situations that in other books would be cut and dry, this book throws it on it's head. The group needs to kill the king, well there's going to be a problem with that. Kissen needs to get back to the group, there's a problem with that. Inara needs to find out why she can command gods, there's a problem with that. This book adds to the issues that are going on in the world and builds it out little by little.

I think the only annoyance I got was the total pause on the romance. I know it wasn't a big deal in the first book, but I loved Kissen and Elo's dynamic. I'm also excited for the next book to see what happens next.

Honestly, I can't give spoilers... but like the first book, things are going to be put into perspective. New allies are going to be added and some of them are shocking for me. I now need to live with the fact there's another great cliffhanger and I don't have the next book to run to yet.

I will say the book does drag a bit in the beginning as things get on track, but that clears up and the ending is totally worth it. I love the fact Inara is a YA protagonist who's hanging with a bunch of adults who are war-worn and ready to throw hands.

This was a great end to the duology that I really enjoyed! I was a little confused at some parts but overall I got the plot and I really loved the main characters. So epic!

The way I absolutely SCREAMED when I got approved for this 😭😮‍💨

I devoured Godkiller and I’m happy to say I enjoyed the second installment just as much. While it was a bit predictable, it did not take away from my enjoyment. We get multiple POV from the characters we love.

The representation was AMAZING throughout the entire book. 🤌🏻

The author does such an incredible job writing. If you’re anything like me, you struggle with high fantasy due to length and confusion. This is not the case with this series and I’m fully obsessed, I’’m gonna need the next book as soon as possible 🙃