I didn't love this sequel as much as 'Godkiller,' but Kaner still weaves a fantastic tale, and the characters still shine. I appreciated that this volume was longer (though not too long), and I'm definitely locked in for any future volumes in the series.

I loved Godkiller and it was enjoyable to have the next phase of the story, however, in my opinion, Sunbringer was not as strong a book as the first. The final 25%, where everything that was set up in the beginning of this book came together, was interesting and I wanted to see how it was all going to turn out, everything before that was a little slow.

I wanted to start off by saying thank you to Netgally and HC/Avon for allowing me to read this ARC. I thought the books was good, I think that maybe I had some pacing issues around the middle of the book. Overall good book.

In most cases, the second book isn't better than the first, but this one was chef kiss.
Told from multiple views, it gave us a bigger picture into this magical world of gods. Although it was slower paced than GodKiller, it sets us up for what must be an incredible ending.

I struggled here and there with it simply because this book is the filler piece to the complete story, but the ending was quite worth it. I'm so excited for the next one in the series! Don't sleep on this author or series.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I had just as much fun with book 2 as I had with book 1. Getting to find out more about all of the different gods and their abilities is just too much fun, and I have so much fun with these characters. I will say the first 30% or slow dragged a little for me, but once we got going man was it a ride. Beyond that, my other complaint would be the lack of banter between Inara and Kissen for reasons….but Skedi remains GOD tier…get it?

If you like the gods among us trope and quest/adventure stories and haven’t tried this series yet you are missing out.

Thank you to the published for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel to Fallen Gods which follows Kissen and her friends who have to unravel the truth of their worlds. I really enjoyed the first book and was excited to follow up with this one. This book picks up right after Sunbringer and expands on the storyline from before. I really liked the journey that this book had to offer and seeing the characters again. This book is a bit slower-paced than the previous one but there is still action to this book. The story includes a new pov which I believe that readers will enjoy having.

I won’t go into detail of each character as it would take up the entire page but I have to say that I really enjoyed each character and their stories. I do wish we possibly had 1 or 2 less pov because it does get a lot at some points but that’s just a personal thing. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop a bit more in this book but you can see that they still have more to go about. There were quite a few side characters throughout the book who played some amazing roles in this book. I hope to see some more in the future. There was more romance in the first book than this one as it mainly focused on the character’s stories than having a romantic relationship.

The ending was great which was the best part of this entire book. The last 20% of the book was way more action-packed compared to the entirety. I really enjoyed the story but am excited to see a bit more in the future. The first book was wonderful compared to this one but it was still a great read.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

Book 2 was fantastic and I can't wait for more to continue the series. Godkiller took me longer to get into while I was in a reading slump but I was so grateful to receive Sunbringer and it sucked me in immediately!

SUNBRINGER picks up right where we left at the end of GODKILLER. Kaner continues to develop the characters and their relationships as the reader follows them down a path of peril, new gods, and discovery.

What is so great about this series is the pace. It is constantly moving forward propelling Kissen, Inara, Eulogist, and Skedi into the fray. And yet, there is a balance to the action and adventure within these pages. The heartfelt moments and wit laced into the narrative. This gives the overall story a well-balanced feel.

Now, I could sit here and write about the story, but in truth, you should really read it yourself. The nuances and carefully crafted world Kaner has constructed are as complex as they are needed in a book like this. The gods, magic, and battles make this tale rich and wonderfully entertaining.

I don’t know when we will get another book in the series, but I am ready. The way the author left us with that ending, I certainly hope it will be soon.

Series Note: I don’t know how many books will be in this series, but if you haven’t read book one, I would suggest you read these two back to back. I struggled for a minute to get my footing because I had read the first book in September. However, once I acclimated myself to the characters, world, and situations, it was easier to enjoy the journey they were on.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕

I really love the Fallen Gods world and absolutely adored Godkiller. That said, I really struggled through Sunbringer - though I think it may have been this early review copy. There were a lot of typos and odd wording that I'm hoping got addressed in the final version. However, they really affected my reading experience. I think some typos are expected in ARCs (this certainly isn't the first time I've seen them!) but there seemed to be more than usual in Sunbringer.

Outside of that, I felt a little lost throughout the first half of this book. The plot expanded very quickly, a lot of new characters were introduced, and where Godkiller had pretty much a singular plotline to follow, several branching plots in Sunbringer made the story difficult to follow. I found myself often struggling to figure out exactly how the plot escalated to the points that it did - even after re-reading several chapters looking for what I missed.

That said, this book had a ton of parts that I really enjoyed, and I will be back for the next installment of the series. Godkiller was THAT good to me that the missteps in Sunbringer don't deter me from the rest of the series.

Sunbringer
by Hannah Kaner
Fallen Gods #2
Fantasy High Fantasy
NetGalley ARC
Avon/Harper Voyager
Ages: 16+


By the King's decree, Gods are forbidden, and even though there are those sent out into the world to kill the Gods by destroying their shrines, the shrines of one God that was thought dead are being rebuilt.

Inara and Elogast are trying to accept the loss of Kissen. Inara and her little god Skedi are searching for information about their bond, and Elogast knows he must be the one to kill his once best friend, who is now harboring a god instead of his heart.


While the blurb sounds really interesting, sadly the story is not. It goes nowhere very slowly. There's hardly any action until the end, and the storytelling is more telling than showing. There is a lot of disjointedness to it, it jumps from here to there without much details of why.

Yeah, sure, it was all leading up to the end, but (the ending wasn't all that either) there wasn't a lot that got it moving at a good speed. I was bored and couldn't wait for the ending, so maybe that's why the ending wasn't that entertaining for me.

What I think is missing is more history of the magic, world, and Gods. There is information stuck in here and there, but not enough to keep my attention.

I still like the characters Inara and Skedi, their story is the most interesting and detailed. Kissen's was in the first book, but in this one, it got boring as did Elogast's. They both started to feel like rambling just to add words to the story. Yes, they lead up to something, but it just took forever to get there.

Will I read the next one? Eh. I don't know. Honestly, it's not high on my got-to-read list.

2 Stars

Title: Sunbringer (Fallen Gods #2)
Author: Hannah Kaner
Source: DRC via NetGalley (Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: March 12, 2024
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Other books in this series: Godkiller (Fallen Gods #1)

Why did I choose to read this book?

Godkiller (Fallen Gods #1) was so compelling that I lined up immediately to get the sequel. Hannah Kaner is an excellent writer.

What is this book about?

When his plan to ally with the fire god backfires (LOL) at the end of Godkiller, King Arren decides to take another path to world domination. Kissen is alive and trying to bring the sea, river, and wind gods messages back to Middren – that there is a looming threat that will take everyone to counter. Elogast, Arren’s former right hand man, and Inara, the guard of the god of white lies (Skediceth), are making efforts of their own in order to aid the resistance against Arren and what he’s up to.

Long story short, this book is about doing your best in the face of the inevitable, and holding on to what you can when it happens.

What is notable about this story?

I liked that Kaner pivoted away from god killing to god appreciation. I said in my review of Godkiller that I wondered about whether any god could be good in this universe, and this question was answered in Sunbringer. I like that the line between appreciation and cultist is clearly drawn at blood sacrifice, so the smaller gods or gods that find strength in other things like learning or trade might just be a part of the fabric of the world without necessitating removal. The use and recruitment of gods into the fight for the world made it feel like the world was fighting for its own survival – it felt like that moment in Avengers: Endgame where EVERYONE shows up, but without all the corny, flashy stuff.

Was anything not so great?

Godkiller left me with unanswered questions about the world building. Sunbringer left me with questions about how a god is born. Without spoiling too much about what’s going on, Arren seems to be trying to make himself into a god, and it’s unclear to me why this is either working or not working – it’s left unclear who is holding the reins in the situation. I’m not the biggest fan of shouldering the weight of belief and trust as the reader, especially in a fantasy series and even more so in a new world with new mechanics. ‘Arren’s just becoming a god, trust me’ didn’t land quite right with me.

The events taking place in Middren didn’t have a lot of depth for me because (1) I don’t understand the politics of the region and (2) I don’t understand what Arren’s role is in the region. The best I could come up with is that it’s like the United Kingdom in that the king shows up once in awhile and is technically the head of state, but all the cities and towns kind of govern themselves? I mean, the characters were interesting and what they were fighting for was obvious but who’s in charge here? What’s the hierarchy? It made for a slight bit of confusion.

What’s the verdict?

A strong 4 stars on Goodreads and I’ll be stalking NetGalley for book 3. This is an amazing series so far and if you are a fan of mythology based fantasy, you should definitely check out this series asap.

I loved Godkiller. The book opened up a unique world where god's were outlawed and hunted. I loved the characters and the found family aspect between Kiissen, Inara and Elo. I loved Skedi, the god of white lies! Godkiller was wonderfully written, and if I am being honest, perhaps too concise for me.

Needless to say I am thrilled to see Sunbringer, the second book of this trilogy out in the world. For me it is even better than the first! In reviewing trilogies, you will find folks that often talk about "Second book syndrom" though what they mean by this may vary.. Sometimes it means introducing a new storyline, or new characters, and suffering from a large amount of exposition to expand the story. Sometimes it means not much happens because the table is being reset for the finale. Sometimes it just means, there wasn't enough new and it felt like a spaceholder until the final book.

Personally- I love second books, and within trilogies I think they are the most vital! While Sunbringer does move slower and the characters we grew to love in the first book together are often separated here, it is the character development that makes me go from loving these characters to feeling as if I know them and love them in spite of their deepest issues and wounds. Here we see Kissen on her own, we see Inara come into her own, and we see the tool war has taken on Elo. Yes- the board is rearranged as the relationship between people and their god's is more complicated than we would like to believe (Kissen most of all!). Even so there is a good deal that happens throughout, but I was riveted at the end.

I can't say enough for the wonderful Queer and Disability representation in this story. Both are written with great care and hope. I want to see where this story goes in the final installment,, but for now I will simply appreciate the complexity of this second act the way I can imagine it making the conclusion amazing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for access to an advanced ePub of this book.

Anyone who read Godkiller knows that its ending turned the entire book on its head. Well, Sunbringer did it again, but in a completely different direction. I am stressed for the final book in this trilogy. It takes a good writer to be able to write plot twist after plot twist and have them still be believable (or maybe I just missed some things).

I love our main characters in these books. Inara, Elo, and Kiseen are so fleshed out, each with their own personalities, biases, families, traumas, etc. They are all so tortured and want to do good but are not at all sure about how to do it. It was a shame that there were relatively few scenes with the gang all together (due to all sorts of ~reasons~), since the rapport between them really adds to their character development, but I get why there weren’t any, for silly things like moving the plot forward.

I will say that this is very much the bridge book in the trilogy, and it takes quite a while for things to get going. The first half felt very slow, but it did have a lot of character development for our tortured souls. The world-building is immaculate, and this book expands really well on what was started in Godkiller.

I can find absolutely no information on book 3, so I’ll just be crying until then.

Sunbringer, the second book in the Fallen Gods trilogy, lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor, Godkiller. The story unfolds with gripping twists, exploring the aftermath of sacrifices, complex character dynamics, and the looming threat of war. While the pacing may be a tad slow at times due to multiple viewpoints, the remarkable character development and immersive world-building make Sunbringer a solid 4/5 stars. Fans of epic fantasy will find this installment a captivating read, eagerly awaiting the trilogy's conclusion.

Sunbringer was really great at following through with bringing what Godkiller promised. There were points where things felt a little slow, but there’s so much good here. The characters are wonderful and the story has been done really well. Anyone who’s been waiting for this sequel will not be disappointed by this.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

*must have read the first installment in the series* This book unravels many things from the first book.
I love a multiple log book so this was great. Well paced and i think it ends well, setting up for a third novel. Thank you for the chance to read this.

Sunbringer is the second installment to the Fallen Gods trilogy. In this book we unravel a lot from the first book. Kissen has sacrificed herself to enact vengeance on the god Hseth, Inara and Skedi are still attached to each other with more questions than answers, and Elogast is reeling after his run in with Arren. As the story continues, we are thrown into the mix of a potential war looming over all of our characters heads. Will Inara be ever attached to Skedi? Will Elogast return to knighthood or stand against the crown?

This second book has me SHOOK!! I was eating up every word as we unraveled more of this story. The character growth is astonishing. I LOVE the world and setting of the story. It’s well planned and thought out. The only issue I will likely continue to hold is pacing. With a multi-POV story, it’s difficult when you just want to know what happens with certain characters. Overall, I’ve given this book a 4/5 stars. I cannot wait for the final book in this trilogy and I’m so sad but so happy I received an advanced reader copy!

Overall, I really enjoyed this continuation of the story. The different POVs of each chapter gave the story a slower pacing than I would have liked, but I enjoyed the journey.

It seems we are set up for an epic third installment and I can’t wait to see how my favorite characters fare at war.

Thanks to Harper Voyager for the copy of this book!

I love that there wasn't a huge gap between Godkiller and this book. We're back with multiple POVs just a few weeks later and ready to continue on an adventure. This book did a great job of exploring the world and depth of individual characters, which is perfect for the second book in a trilogy. I'll also reiterate that I love the diverse representation in this series and find it to be a really unique one!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC of Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner in exchange for an honest review!

This story is the second in a trilogy that follows 4 main characters, Inara - a 12-year old girl who is struggling with her grief and feeling abandoned, Kissen - a godkiller who is having to alter her perception of things as she finds herself surrounded by gods, Elogast - a former knight intent on seeking revenge against the king who he thought was his best friend, and Skediceth - a god of white lies who is linked to Inara and unlike other gods - has no shrine.

I loved this book. To me it was so much better (to me) than book 1. I loved the deeper dive into character development, adding King Arren's viewpoints a couple times throughout the book, and Inara's struggle with grief. I also loved how her and Skedi's relationship continued to devolve and evolve as the story goes on. I am so invested in what is happening in the neighboring countries and how it will impact Middren. I am also more intrigued now as to why those lands abandoned their many gods to follow one - who demands nothing but pain as offerings. What makes this one god different? I hope these are explored in the finale book.

Anyway - if you love an interesting perspective on worship culture where gods have firms and can walk and talk to their worshippers - a world on the brink of war for trying to abolish worship of all gods - a country culture where killing gods is a trade - and political intrigue (rebellions, coups, and more) - Sunbringer and the Fallen Gods Trilogy is right up your alley.