Godkiller was one of my favorite fantasy reads of last year, so my expectations for Sunbringer were sky-high! Once again, Hannah Kaner has delivered a sharp and totally engrossing epic fantasy.

I gotta say: this second installment is a major departure from the first! Where the first book leaned into a found family quest, the journey in this book looks very different. And the romantic subplot of Godkiller is nigh-unrecognizable in Sunbringer! However, these shifts only make this story feel totally fresh and unpredictable.

I can’t write a review and not talk about these characters because they truly have my heart. They are fascinating and flawed, each with their own distinct voice in the multi-POV narration. (Also: I didn’t think it was even possible, but everyone somehow has become even *more* badass???)

Awaiting book 3 will be testing all of my patience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for this review!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper for the ARC! While I loved the worldbuilding in Godkiller and am glad the sequel picked up right where it left off, I do feel like the pacing of this one was overall slower and it made it hard to sustain interest at times. It felt like the group was slow to get back mainly to drag the tension out, and the POVs switched every time things were just getting interesting. That said, the ending was more exciting, which helped make up for the middle book syndrome, so I’m most likely going to read Book 3.

This book was better this time other than the first one. I feel bad for kissen though she reunited with them last minute and was going through it the whole entire time. The chapters had more of elo from how I see it and less of kissen which I wish the author didn’t put her through much.

4.5/5 Stars

What a thrilling second installment to the Fallen Gods trilogy from Kaner! Sunbringer begins right after the events of Godkiller and puts the readers right back into the story. While it still has plenty of action, especially in the second half, this one is a bit slower to start. The slower pace fits as this book includes a lot more history and world building, with some of the story taking place at the archives. We learn a lot more about the gods and about some of our characters pasts as well.

The four main characters spend a large portion of the book separated, but it was necessary for Kissen to go down the path she did, especially for what is setting up in the next book. Once again Skedi and Inara had solid story lines, and we got to find out so much about Inara! Elogast has so much to work through in this installment too, and I really commend Kaner on how well she writes these characters. They all are flawed, imperfect people who experience so much growth and self-discovery.

With that, there is a lot of information that comes at you and you can tell Kaner is setting up for a big finale in book three. I did appreciate that the information we got wasn’t just to set this up as a bridge book for the last book. Some things were laid out and completed within this story, while a few larger plots are set up for the last book. The last quarter of the book was really action packed as well, and I flew through it! The ending sets up very nicely for the last book in the trilogy.

I also really must commend the representation within this book as well, both with the queer normative setting and the differing physical disabilities characters have and how they are able to navigate this world. All of this is included in a way that just is in the world, and we need more of this kind of representation in books.

There was a lot to this book, but I can easily say this is one of the best fantasy series I’ve read in a while, and I still can’t believe it’s a debut series! I can’t wait for the conclusion to this epic story!

R E A D I F Y O U L I K E
Epic fantasies with a quest
Gods, mythology, & rebellions
Multiple POVs
Found family trope
Flawed characters doing their best
Queer normative world
Physical disability rep

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

I love this series. They're quick-read books that are action packed the entire way through. Hannah Kaner does an excellent job at creating an intricate fantasy in books that are under 400 pages. She should teach a masterclass in world-building as we progress through the story. It is a brilliant way to pull you into the story immediately and keeps the narrative flowing, giving you the information you need while bringing you along on the adventure.

This book also does an excellent job (as does Godkiller) of incorporating all types of representation. We see all of the main characters have some type of disability or trauma, making them complex and realistic. She manages to incorporate components of these disabilities into their story, showing how the characters use these aspects to adapt to their situations, but never poses them as something that makes the character less capable. It's wonderfully done.

I find this world and storyline very unique and love that Kaner throws in twists that I never even imagined. I'm having so much fun with this series and am already counting down the days until the next book releases (I don't think we even have a title yet, so I'm sure it'll be a long countdown).

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher HarperVoyager for providing and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What can I say about this book? I remain so enthralled by this series. Godkiller was such a a great intro and this book is an excellent continuation. I love the world, the magic, the characters. Everything.

I really love the way the gods work in this world. Some are wild and dangerous; others are more benevolent. Some are very well known and therefore powerful and some are nearly forgotten. But even the forgotten gods with little power find ways to make an impact. They're all really interesting and I eat up every little bit of information we're given about the gods.

And man I freaking love the cast of characters in this book. Inara is still figuring out who and what she is while struggling with so much grief. Elo is set on avenging himself and protecting Inara and all of Middren. Kissen is just trying to get home and struggling at every turn. I mean she is just getting tortured in this book.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who usually enjoys fantasy. But especially to anyone who enjoys books with gods, quests, and found family.

Thanks to the author Hannah Kaner, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ah! I loved this more than Godkiller. It might have been that I already knew the world and the characters but I felt like this one was much more fast paced. Kissen continues to be my favorite character and while I liked Skedi in the past I really grew to love him in this book.

I really love Hannah Kaner's world that she's built and am so looking forward to the third installment! I cannot wait to see where the characters end up, I'm kind of scared! There were parts in this book that had me literally yelling.

Oh. My. Gods. Hannah Kaner has done it again. After the cliff-hanger at the end of Godkiller, I was so antsy for Sunbringer. Kaner's world building skills continue to amaze me. She is a master of creating deep characters in a developed world.
Kissen, Inara, Skedi, and Elo's stories diverged and crossed again in this book. Just when I though I knew what was happening, Kaner revealed a hidden plot line or surprise character that propelled the story forward and kept me on my toes.
I can't wait to see how book three wraps up the Fallen Gods Trilogy.

I absolutely loved the first novel, Godkiller, and the second was no different. I absolutely loved the change and growth of the characters, which is what I fell in love with in Godkiller. I did miss the FMC, Kissen, for a good part of this book, and also wished the characters were together during the book. However, this book still delivered. The description of the gods and their power sources also was interesting. I loved this book and need more of these characters!

Happy Pub Day! Sunbringer is an excellent sequel to Godkiller. It does suffer from a bit of second-book syndrome, as it is clearly setting up an epic finale to this trilogy, but I didn't even mind that much. The action and tension build nicely throughout the book and I was on the absolute edge of the seat for about the last third of the book when all the various threads come together for a Sanderson-avalanche-esque conclusion.

Our main characters, aka the most lovable and tortured found family ever, are sadly separated for most of this book. While I understood the choice - it certainly opened up more of the world and kept the plot moving - the lack of this dynamic was noticeable. And while this led to some solid character growth for some of our characters, there was also some character regression and Very Questionable Choices made TM.

My only regret is that I will now have to wait for the finale and the EXTREME SPOILER [ absolute fire Kissen/Lessa hate flirting dynamic ] for so long.

Thank you to netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunbringer was a perfect sequel to Godkiller! This is a story of gods, royals, rebellion and much more! Definitely an adventurous fantasy story if that is your thing. I found the plot to be quite unique and it was refreshing to read! I appreciate all the diversity and representation in book and I think it was written very well! Go pick up Sunbringer and Godkiller, you won’t regret it!

Happy to be back in this world. Sunbringer picks right back up, Such a fun and engaging story. Although not as epic as the first book. I’m hoping it picks back up on the third book.

A lovely continuation of one of my favorite fantasy series! (Slight spoiler warning if you have not read Godkiller)

Sunbringer is the continuation of Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller trilogy, and Kissen, Elo and Inara are back. After the cliffhanging events of the first novel, the characters undergo massive personal transformations as a dark truth begins to unravel itself. As the king Arren accumulates his own personal cult as a would-be god, dangers lurk nearby that threaten the sovereignty of the entire continent.

I loved Godkiller and still love the series, however, I feel like Sunbringer suffers slightly from the “Two Towers” syndrome - not much happens in the plot until the very end because you have to build up the context to explain the plot. We have a lot of different POVs which additionally add to this effect. Despite these observations, I loved the book. It wasn’t as action packed as the first book but I really appreciated the deep dive we had into the individual character’s psyche (hot damn they go through some major shit).

I also really appreciated the reflection on the dangers of adoration and blind faith. It might be because I am on a Dune kick (or the fact one of my many interests is in understanding cults), but I felt like that theme is really poignant in this time and day. With elections going on in my country, I feel like understanding the dangers of unrepentant and devoted faith in individuals is more relevant, more now that ever.

The book was everything I loved about Godkiller, with a little less action but more introspection. While this is definitely a Two Towers instance, I’m excited for the next book!

Being that Godkiller was so good I was excited for this one! It did not disappoint!

It has a really strong female lead! Shes strong, gritty and down right to the point. The writing style of this author is so good. That I feel confident at this point I would read anything by them.

I like this authors overall take on gods! The way they portray the gods. Some are good and some are bad like some people are good and some are bad! One of the cool idea the author does is if we kill this one bad guy will something more evil take its place! I really enjoyed that! It grabbed me and I felt compelled to keep reading. I just felt that this was a fresh look one a theme that has been over done.

Bring on book 3! I can’t wait to see where the author takes me!

This is the sequel to Godkiller, which I read last year and ended up on my favorites list for the year! I definitely think that this sequel was just as good as the first book, no middle book slump here! Of course the representation was continued through this book, with deaf characters, LGBTQ+ characters, and of course Kissen having a prosthetic leg. This one picks up right where the first book left off, and we learn a lot more about Inara's past and about the gods themselves. Just like the first book, there's just enough description here with steady pacing, and while this is longer than the first book, it definitely didn't feel like it was much longer! The way we get the reveals towards the end makes me so excited to continue on with the series, I don't know that I would go so far as to call them cliff hangers but definitely some "oh shit" moments are in there! I highly recommend this series, and I'll be anxiously waiting for book 3!

Thank you so much to Harper Voyager for the arc!

4.5/5 Stars

Sunbringer really elevated the Godkiller world with thrilling action, fascinating socio-religious politics and strategy, and more robust and complicated characters.

Godkiller already set up a rich and unique world with an infinite pantheon and strong political tension. Kaner expands and complicates this world, and doesn’t hold back on highly descriptive setting details. If you’re someone who is looking for an immersive experience in a fantasy setting, this will not disappoint.

Two major things were improved upon in Sunbringer: the pacing, and the character development (specially the relationships between characters.)

The action was non-stop and every end of chapter had me desperate to turn the page. The climax was full of twists and turns that had me gasping and exclaiming out loud (my spouse can attest).

As characters grappled with the events of the first book, their own development was well-reflected in their relationships to one another. Every character’s motives, emotions, and actions made sense to their history and their current context. Importantly, no relationship felt perfunctory (as I felt with Elo and Kissen’s romance in Godkiller). As the stakes were raised, every moment and person counted, making the book feel rich and satisfying.

While the characters and relationships were very much improved, they were still secondary to the action-packed plot and strategy/ politics at play, as well as the setting. I am someone who loves the former, but fans of books with a lot of cunning political strategy and high-stakes action and adventure will adore this book.

I also can’t fail to mention how unabashedly queer and disabled these books are. I cannot wait to see how Kaner wraps up this fascinating trilogy!

I could read books based on Kissen and crew forever! Love the cozy and adventurous vibes of this series.

Although the characters were separated through a lot of this, I still enjoyed it and enjoyed the new character POV. I hope book three has more Kissen, just love her so much!

Tysm for the ARC! Looking forward to book 3!!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounding up to 5 for GoodReads. This series isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel but I am having a great time with it. The writing is simple but enrapturing, thrusting the reader into a world of gods and approaching war. The pacing is this books biggest champion. It is longer than the first book and yet for the amount that happens, it still felt much longer than it actually is. And it doesn’t lose any emotion or characterization in doing so. I do think it has a bit of middle book syndrome where I would’ve liked to have seen more of one of the particular POVs as it seems like they were just a side character in this one to get to the next part of the story. This series has amazing representation which carries over from book one and is done in a realistic (for fantasy) and true way. Definitely recommend this series and this second book to fantasy fans especially new fans looking to explore fantasy for the first time.

Sunbringer
by Hannah Kaner

If you liked the first book, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. This one made the world richer and really delved into each of the characters. We learn more about gods and their relationship to humans and each other. And there are some answers to questions brought up in the first book as well. I don’t want to give too much away so just go read it when it comes out!!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I do feel like it fell a bit to middle book syndrome, but with that being said I can hardly wait for the third book! This one picks up right where the first book left off our main characters spend basically the entire book separated, which was fine, but I wish we had more Kissen! I love how unique the story here is. The world is so original. Some of the plot in this second book was a bit slow for me, with some of the rebellion plot specifically being not my favorite. But I think it did set us up in a good spot for the next book!