Hannah Kaner’s final installment in the Fallen Gods trilogy was exciting and enjoyable. Kissen and Inara are aboard Inara’s mother’s ship, hoping that the legendary Lessa Craier can help them. Elo has joined forces with Arren, who holds a god in his heart. Factions converge in an epic battle to determine the fate of Middren.
Overall I found the action and the overarching plot of this book much less interesting than the character dynamics. Kissen has grown so much, and though I’ve loved her character all along, she has become such a special figure in these stories. Her relationship with Lessa and the subsequent dynamic with Inara was definitely the highlight of the book. Elo and Arren are both in conflict and aligned throughout the story in a way that is fascinating. Though the ultimate plot did fall a little flat for me, the time spent with this fantastic characters did make this an overall enjoyable read.

What a way to end this series! This was an impressive debut trilogy full of the fantasy tropes you love - a lovable bunch of misfits come together and form a found family, overcoming prejudices and preconceived notions to rally and save the country they love.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This trilogy has quickly become one of my top favorites. I love every single character and their stories. The banter is golden throughout the whole series, the action is epic and the love is heartbreaking. I was on edge worried about all of the beloved characters and the ending brought me to tears.

"In the epic finale to the #1 internationally bestselling Fallen Gods trilogy that started with Godkiller, the fate of Middren hangs in the balance as mighty gods and mortal heroes clash in a final battle for supremacy.

War has come. The fire god Hseth is leading an unstoppable army south, consuming everything in her path. Middren's only hope of survival is to unify allies and old foes against a common enemy.

Elo navigates an uneasy alliance with Arren - his friend, his enemy, and his king. Now they each must decide how much they're willing to sacrifice to turn the tides of war.

Meanwhile, Inara joins her mother on their ship, the Silverswift, to seek aid. Still grappling with her powers, Inara must reconcile who she is and where she belongs, while Skediceth has to question if their bond will be enough to keep them safe.

Kissen has no allegiance to the old ways of Middren. But, as she tries to find her family, she is forced to question what, and whose, future she is fighting for.

In Faithbreaker, Hannah Kaner delivers a powerful conclusion to the Fallen Gods trilogy, masterfully weaving together love and sacrifice, loyalty and betrayal, and the true meaning of faith."

If you haven't started this trilogy yet, good news! Unlike the rest of us you don't have to wait for the final volume!

Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner is a dark and gripping continuation of her Godkiller series, filled with morally complex characters, rich world-building, and sharp prose. Kaner deepens the emotional stakes in this installment, exploring themes of faith, sacrifice, and loyalty while expanding the mythology that made the first book so compelling. The relationships between characters, especially Kissen and her companions, grow in intensity and nuance, adding layers to the story. Although some pacing issues and dense world-building moments slow the flow in places, Faithbreaker ultimately delivers a powerful and satisfying narrative. A strong 4-star read for fans of gritty, character-driven fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed the series but this one felt much more slow paced and I had a difficult time getting through it. I could usually finish this in a few days but it took a full two weeks and a lot of effort on my part. I think it was the war that was a bit dull to me because I was invested in the characters and not so much the strategic aspect. I did love the time on the ship. I am happy I took the time to finish it because the ending was perfect.

War has come. The fire god Hseth is leading an unstoppable army south, consuming everything in her path. Middren’s only hope of survival is to unify allies and old foes against a common enemy. After Elo comes to an alliance with Arren, they must decide how the can win the war.

Inara joins her mother on their ship, the Silverswift, to find help in the war. Kissen has no allegiance to the old ways of Middren. But, as she tries to find her family, she is forced to question what, and whose, future she is fighting for.

Ummm wow okay, I absolutely cared more about all of these characters than I thought I did!

Since this is the final book in a trilogy I'm going to keep this all spoiler free (except for the VERY LAST THING), but it's safe to say that I've really enjoyed every book in this series and this finale had me sobbing at 11PM. I loved all the battles and the relationships between all of the characters, and I loved the way they all kind of confronted their own feelings for each other, and even the feelings they had about themselves. As with the rest of this series I loved the casual queerness of everything, and how normalized things like Kissen, Telle and Yatho's disabilities were. Nothing hindered anyone from being totally badass. Faith is a HUGE part of this entire series, how it can be earned and lost, given and broken and this finale really brought all of that home. I also really enjoyed seeing a little more of the other countries and cultures, and the pirates were a pleasant surprise!

By the 70% mark I was thinking that I was going with a 4 or 4.5 star for this, but THAT ENDING. It's pretty rare for a book to make me fully sit there with tears streaming down my face, but this managed to do that and so I HAVE to give this a 5 star.

SPOILER REACTION

My last parting thought is actually a spoiler, but I can't not mention it because then I was snort laughing (and crying). You know that clip of the Twitch streamer reacting to The Last of Us bunny death that's become a meme? Yeah, that was 100% going through my mind after I finished this one.

Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for providing me with an arc to review!

hanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC of Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner.

WOW—what an incredible conclusion to this trilogy! Faithbreaker was easily the best book in the series, delivering an epic and emotional finale that had me in tears by the end. The battles were intense, the heroism was inspiring, and the story was everything I could have hoped for in an epic fantasy. I absolutely loved these characters, every single one of them, and this book gave them the perfect send-off. If you’ve been following this series, you won’t be disappointed. Faithbreaker releases on April 1—don’t miss this unforgettable conclusion!

What a devastatingly beautiful way to end such an amazing trilogy!

Action packed and full of so much character growth.
This will be a series I reread this bet and over again.
GodKiller was the first book my book club read, and from then the book club has become a second home to me, found family, just like Inara, skedi, Kissen, and Elogast. This series will always hold such a special place in my heart for so many reasons!


Thank you Hannah Kaner for creating such an amazing home for me.

Faithbreaker is a mixed but net positive to conclusion to a trilogy that nearly lost me with its weaker sophomore showing. It picks up immediately in the aftermath of Sunbringer's bombastic conclusion, with our heroes brokering an unstable alliance between the god-hearted king Arren and the rebel queen Lessa Craier. One thing Sunbringer and Faithbreaker have in common is that both march the series in an unexpected direction: Sunbringer by driving a wedge between the original protagonist, and Faithbreaker by separating them. This division was unexpectedly refreshing: while I'm fond of the dynamics between Kissen, Elo, and Inara, it was satisfying to see them each evolve in different contexts. Also, love a default bisexual world state: though I enjoyed Elo and Kissen's initial fling, it was SO much fun seeing them each have a unique queer side quest. Kissen and Lessa co-parenting Inara was easily the best part of the book.

However, the novel had a major pacing problem. While Inara and Kissen's plotline moved at a comfortable clip, Elo and Arren's chapters teleported me from the delight of political intrigue on the high seas to grueling, seeming endless scenes of war table plotting. I can abstractly appreciate Kaner's talent for writing tactics, but dear god is it deadening to read. I was also, unfortunately, very let down by the ending. After a novel's worth of build up, the final confrontation goes by in a blur with little to no resolution for anyone involved besides a brief epilogue. Overall, as much as I liked this trilogy, it serves another example of a fantastic first novel that sets an unreachable standard for the rest of the series. I will continue to be an advocate for more action-packed fantasy standalones and less drawn-out trilogies.

This conclusion was everything. Absolutely everything. I'm not sure it I can even articulate how good it truly was. Love, loss, shocking moments abound. Well worth the read.

Kaner's trilogy ends with an intense, emotional, and dramatic conclusion. The story is well paced, jumping readers between perspectives of characters we've grown to love (or hate) over the course of the series, characters that are human, god, demigod, and something in between. Closely following the events of SUNBRINGER, here we see a tentative alliance between King Arren and Lady Craier, uniting to try and protect their land from the reborn and fiery god, Hseth. Kissen, Inara, and Skedi join Lady Craier on her ship journeying south to recruit more nations to their cause, while Elogast rejoins Arren to lend his aid, despite the King's betrayals. Tense chapters build upon each other, leading to tense battles and emotional reunions. Fans of the series will be pleased, and high fantasy readers who have waiting for the conclusion of the trilogy should know they have an exciting ride ahead.

Book Review: Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner (Fallen Gods, 3)

💜💜💜💜 | 🌶️🌶️ Medium

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Faithbreaker delivers a strong conclusion to The Godkiller Trilogy—it was everything it needed to be to close out the series. While it leans into the familiar fantasy trope of a war-driven finale, the emotional depth, compelling character arcs, and satisfying resolutions make it a worthy ending.
This is the last book in a trilogy, so I’ll keep the synopsis spoiler-free for the earlier books. As Middren prepares for war with the Talicians, the fire god Hseth has risen to near invincibility. Inara, Elogast, Kissen, and Skedicath must unite—alongside both friends and enemies—to stop her and bring the war to an end.

One of my biggest issues with the second book was how fragmented the story felt, with characters scattered and believing each other dead. Faithbreaker improves on this significantly—though they are still apart at times, the way they are grouped makes for a more cohesive and engaging read. That said, the middle of the book did feel slow. There was plenty happening, yet I struggled to stay engaged at times, unsure why it wasn’t holding my attention as strongly as it should have.
Elogast’s chapters were, unfortunately, my least favorite again. His POV, now focused on war councils and battlefield strategy, felt like the weakest aspect of the book. Given the trilogy’s rich exploration of gods, faith, and personal struggles, I would have preferred a different direction rather than another large-scale conflict—especially so soon after the previous war that set the stage for Godkiller. Additionally, while I appreciated that Elogast and Arren finally confronted their relationship, I struggled with Arren’s arc. After everything he’s done, I found it difficult to root for him, and Elogast’s continued devotion to him made him feel weaker than the steadfast warrior we met in book one.

Where Faithbreaker truly shines is with Kissen, Inara, and Skedi. Their travels inject adventure—complete with pirate-like escapades—and provide an intriguing look at different cultures. The emotional depth in their arcs was also a highlight, particularly as Inara and her mother reconnected after mourning each other’s supposed deaths. Kissen’s relationship with Lessa was a fantastic addition, and I was especially relieved that her connection with Elogast was quickly clarified as non-romantic. This allowed space for more fitting, well-developed pairings—definitely a win for queer representation in the series.
But the true standout of this book, as always, was Skedi. His growth into his godhood was incredibly rewarding to witness, and seeing people recognize and pray to him added a thoughtful exploration of faith—how it is earned, lost, and reshaped. For a trilogy centered on gods, belief, and power, this was a fitting and well-executed theme to emphasize in the final book. However, the opposing force—the religious zealots supporting Hseth—felt underdeveloped. Their extreme devotion and willingness to sacrifice everything for their god made sense thematically, but I wish we had a human face among them to provide a deeper understanding of their motivations. Without that, they felt more like a faceless force of destruction rather than a nuanced enemy.

The last 100 pages were incredibly impactful, delivering the high-stakes intensity I wanted. However, the falling action was too rushed. The resolution felt crammed into the final moments, leaving some lingering questions that could have been better explored with a longer epilogue.

Overall, though, Faithbreaker delivered a satisfying conclusion to the series. While it wasn’t flawless, and there were aspects I wished had been given more depth, the character work, emotional stakes, and thematic resolution made it a worthy final chapter. It was painful at times, but also hopeful—and that made it perfect.

My favorite of the series. The characters in this story are not perfect people and I appreciate that some receive redemption but that does not mean their past is immediately forgiven (looking at you Arren). Love the focus on friendships instead of romance, especially how Inara, Kissen, and Skedi have evolved from their sheltered perspectives from book 1.

An amazing conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. The lore, characters, and story was as close to perfect as you could get. I'm sobbing from that finale and this is definitely become one of my favorite series of all time. Can't wait to see what comes next from Hannah Kaner!

What a stunning conclusion to an incredibly unique and beautiful story!
Hannah Kaner has created a world and cast of characters that will stick with me long after I've finished this series. The way she writes is so straightforward and descriptive, everything from the battle scenes to the food were so perfectly detailed that I felt like I was there alongside everyone.
The characters somehow creep slowly into your heart, at first I was just enjoying their banter and adventure and by the end I was crying my eyes out in the car rider line waiting to get my kids from school and hoping no one saw me.
I would read a hundred more stories of the people and gods of Middren.

3.5 stars

This was a fitting end to the Fallen Gods trilogy, though I can't say much more than that without spoiling the first two books!

Like the first two books, this one suffered from a pacing issue where the first ninety percent was rather slow, and the last ten percent was filled with action. But it's the endings of Kaner's books, and the wonderful characters she's created, that have kept me reading this trilogy. The emotional payoff at the end made this series worth the read, too.

A masterful ending to the Fallen Gods trilogy - it had everything I wanted after reading Sunbringer.

Everything has led to this moment. The fire god Hseth is on the warpath and unless the forces of Middren figure out how to work together, the world will fall. Kissen, Elo, Inara, Skedi, and Arren may all be fighting for slightly different reasons, but they must put aside differences and doubts if they are to succeed.

My one nit to pick is that I wish we'd been given a longer episode. I wanted more of the after, to see how these characters go on with their lives after all that happens.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

For some reason that I cannot pin down, this book didn’t feel… finished? Especially with how short the epilogue was.

Loved the queer representation with legit all of the pairings! Kissen is amazing and I would follow her anywhere.

Not happy that literally none of the main human characters died, but all of the animal ones did?!?!

Kane has done a good job with this trilogy. This is one of the best books with representstion: disability, LGBTQ, and gender. I like how the characters continued to grow and develop in this finale to the trilogy. Thr world building continued to be phenomenal, and we really get to see the ongoing darker side of spirituality and people's dedication to their faith while ignoring or justifying the cruelty within it. Somehow Kaner has managed to have really good pacing throughout all of the books in this series, and this book is no exception. For fantasy read who love battle scenes, this book is for you. There are lots of well-written battles so the danger feels even more present and the stakes feel even higher,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!