(I’m not going to do a summary for this one, because GR doesn’t have one and I don’t want to give any spoilers)

This was a strong sequel to Godkiller. The characters were still compelling, and I enjoyed the growth and development that continued for them during this read. My main disappointment was that in book one, I really liked the interactions between Kissen and the other characters; it was one of my favorite aspects. That’s not really present in this one (for good reason), but was still a little disappointing.

The plot of this one begins to take on epic proportions, and of course, book three is set up to be even more epic. However, the characters and the setting didn’t get lost in the rising scale of the plot. I did find there were a few points in this book when the plot lagged a bit, but as I enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding, I mostly didn’t mind. I think this was partially because it’s setting the scene for book three and there was some necessary setup for that.

Overall, this was a compelling sequel that stayed strong. If you like fantasy with approachable characters and unique gods, then this is a must read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for blessing me with a copy of this read. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I just finished reading SUNBRINGER this weekend and absolutely loved it. GODKILLER was a favorite of mine last year and the sequel did not disappoint!! I think the book did a phenomenal job of further developing our main characters, especially emotionally, as they all begin deciding what they truly want and how they’ll go about getting it.

While the first book took Kissen, Inara, Skediceth, and Elogast on an almost road-trip kind of journey, book two had (most) of our heroes in one place, trying to fortify the city of Lesscia before the king arrives. At the same time, we learn about an impending invasion and what it might mean for a broken country on the brink of civil war.

Inara learns a ton more about her abilities and her origin. Kissen delves further into her calling as a (very) reluctant chosen one. And Elo must come face to face with the man he once called brother—who betrayed him.

It was utterly epic from start to finish. This book is fantasy at its best in my opinion. The worldbuilding and magic system was so beautifully executed and the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat! And after that ending?? I can’t wait to read book three. It can’t come soon enough!!

“𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕, 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖, …𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕕𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕖.”

Often the second book in a series falls short and I’m happy to report that Sunbringer did NOT disappoint! I actually really enjoyed the journey with Elo, Inara and Kissen. For most of the book the characters are separated but I think it worked well because it allowed us to see who they are when they are without each other.

Kissen remains my favorite character but Skedi actually was a close second! He’s such a sweet boi. Elo was very noble and determined but he is clearly not very good at considering the people who care about him. Both Arren and Ina needed him at different times in their lives and both times he was so blind. Now Arren is an idiot and he was an adult so I don’t forgive him for shit. But Ina is a kid and she really needed that stability. Elo might be right but what was the cost to Inara?

The ending was bananas in the best way and I can’t wait for the third (and hopefully final) book!

Epic fantasy, brilliant world building. High stakes action with well written and well developed characters. This novel is an immersive page turning read.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up Sunbringer now.

I know I'm going to love this book, but I just have not had time to read it and appreciate it before release day. I'm definitely going to pick it up again, but I want to be in the right headspace to appreciate the new characters we're meeting, the new lands we're exploring, and the new political drama unfolding in just the first 20% I read. I have a feeling this book will surpass Godkiller and be even more action-packed and emotionally heart-wrenching.

Don't miss out on this phenomenal sequel!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for an eCopy of Sunbringer!

Wow! I really enjoyed Sunbringer so much. I did not love it as much as Godkiller, but Sunbringer definitely lived up to my expectations. I loved coming back to this world, these characters, and the adventure. Now gimme the next book 😍

There were some things that really worked in Sunbringer and there were some that unfortunately fell short. The book picks up pretty much where the last one left off, but it took so long for anything to really happen that I contemplated DNF’ing several times. The beginning of the book was incredibly slow and I really struggled with the pacing. Add in that all the main characters were apart for almost the entire novel and I wasn’t sure if I cared enough to continue. Listening to the audiobook helped me keep going and I saw some reviews mention that the end was worth the slow start. For the most part, they were right.

All the threads start to come together in the second half, and it reminded me why I enjoyed Godkiller and cared about these characters in the first place. I really liked that Arren’s POV was added into the mix too. A lot of action happens towards the end and I thought the twists and reveals were exciting and well done. The epilogue sets the stage for an epic conclusion and overall, I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m hopeful that the next book will be better balanced.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3 stars

The audiobook is narrated superbly by Kit Griffiths and I enjoyed her performance so much. It was filled with enthusiasm and emotion and I loved all the different voices she employed to bring the variety of characters to life. I don’t think I would have been able to finish the book had I not listened to the audio.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book and borrowed the audiobook from my library/Libby*

Hannah Kaner’s second installment in the Fallen Gods trilogy did NOT disappoint. With our heroes navigating the fall out of the first novel, Kaner’s distinct writing weaves together a conclusion that further expands the universe and the stakes!!

Like in Godkiller, I loved the casual representation and diversity of the characters — to me, this should be the standard for how authors approach marginalized identities in their stories.

I felt a little disappointed by this one. Felt very middle book syndrome to me. I struggled through the first 60ish% and then finally felt like the story picked up. The big reveal of Inara being a demigods and there being others felt anticlimactic and she really frustrated me with the way she treated skedi. Also didn’t think it made sense that she sees her mom for the first time since thinking she burned alive and she isn’t hysterical? I did still really love kissen and Elo, I love how the author writes these subtle but really sweet romance subplots like between elo and kissen and elo and arren. I am still very invested in this story and am hoping the next one of the series really wows me like the first did

Omg this book is soooo good. I knew they was a reason I couldn’t get the first book out of my head even though I gave it three stars. This book is definitely does NOT feel like a middle book. This is so grand and so many things come together. Now did I see some things coming? Yes. But I still loved them all. Gosh this series would make a great movie franchise. All the different POVs and then when they come all together ugh I love it. The beginning is still definitely slow but oh my gosh the last 50% is so addictive.

After taking a little bit to get reacquainted with the Godkiller world, I think I ended up liking this one even more than the first. I wouldn't say the book starts off slow-it is definitely doing a lot of building up though, having to deal with the aftermath of the last book and where everyone is going to go next. Then it transitions seamlessly into more and more action and information, and I was INVESTED.

I personally love the multiple POVS and the short chapters. It kept everything very engaging and well-paced. I also love how everything is just normal. Disability, gender identity, etc. It feels like a utopia (except for the whole, everything going to pot all around thing.)

This was an excellent second book in a fantasy series. The ending had me super intrigued yet again, and this time, I don't really know what might happen next. Yay! Highly recommend this series if you are burnt out on romantasy and are looking for something more adventure-oriented.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperVoyager for the e-ARC!

“𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The unique and epic sequel to “Godkiller”!

I really enjoyed book 1, and was so excited to start “Sunbringer” and it did not disappoint! The story picks up right where Godkiller left off, and while there is a lot of set up in the first half and a lot of world building going on, the last part of the book was non stop action and I loved it! I really enjoyed the world building and the characters, and just find this series to be so much fun. If you haven’t started this series yet, I totally recommend it!

Thank you so much to @hanfrankan and @harpervoyagerus for my #gifted review copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who was eagerly anticipating the continuation of Kissen's adventures in "Sunbringer," the sequel to Hannah Kaner's gripping debut "Godkiller", I found myself grappling with the familiar symptoms of second book syndrome. While the world of magic, gods, and impending war remains as enchanting as ever, the narrative falls prey to the pitfalls of building up to the third book without accomplishing much in this installment.

The return of professional godkiller Kissen and her companions, young noble Inara and knight Elogast, promised another winding adventure in a world overflowing with potential. However, the majority of the book is spent with our main cast of characters separated, slowly working their way towards the inevitable confrontation with the king who seeks to ascend to godhood.

While we do learn more about Inara and her connection to Skeli, shedding light on intriguing aspects of their pasts, these revelations fail to compensate for the lackluster progression of the overall narrative. The disjointed structure and slow pacing detract from the sense of urgency and excitement that propelled the first book forward.

Despite the glimpses of character development and world-building, "Sunbringer" ultimately feels like a bridge between the beginning and end of the series, rather than a compelling story in its own right. While it sets the stage for a climactic showdown of gods, the journey towards that moment feels drawn-out and unsatisfying.

While there are moments of intrigue and insight, the overall impact of the narrative feels muted, which left me yearning for the excitement and momentum of the first book. Despite its shortcomings, there remains hope that the third installment will deliver the payoff that this sequel lacks.

"She would not die here. Worse things than this had not killed her, worse things had tried."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

You know you're set up for a fantastic fantasy series when each book adds more pieces to the puzzle and the stakes just climb higher and higher.

Sunbringer is the fast-paced second edition in the Fallen Gods series, and does as much justice to the immersive world that Hannah Kaner has created as it's predecessor Godkiller. The more I read, the more fascinated I am with the gods of this world, and the intriguing conversations surrounding faith, religion and loyalty that they bring up.

Though our beloved characters from the first installment spent most of this book separated, I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to see their individual stories play out, and to see how their growth from the first book morphed and strengthened in this second one. They're all so incredibly developed it's amazing to see how well they all work together, while still standing on their own.

As was the same with Godkiller, the representation in Sunbringer is absolutely stunning. It's woven into the very soul of the book, and is given a chance to shine in this just as eloquently.

The Fallen Gods world is full of contradictions — a kingdom that has forbidden gods but needs them desperately. People who worship the king who saved them in the war, and is now brining about their destruction. Lies that lead to truths. All masterfully woven into the colorful background that is the world Hannah Kaner has created. Fallen Gods has the full potential to be an epic fantasy series to rival some of the greats, and I cannot wait to see it all play out.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"No wonder humans made gods: everything they desired and feared just spilled out of them, staining everything they touched."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Sunbringer has been published as of March 12, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I felt pretty much the same about this book as I did about the first one. I'm not entirely sure if it was fantastic - the beginning was not, but gosh did it pick up in the last ~20%.

It's not a spoiler to say that our characters start the book separated and that bogs down the pacing a little bit. I did struggle to see the point of how drawn out one particular character's journey was.

The ideas of the different gods and how they form and continue to live were still fascinating. The gods that showed up were cool to see and the bits of information given on what they are and how they work were nifty.

I will read the third one and hope that the pacing improves. 3.5/5 rounded up.

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner is a solid second offering in the Fallen Gods trilogy. Starting a few weeks after Godkiller, we are reunited with the main characters from the first novel, and given an expansive view of the world, and its politics. Kissen, is traveling alone after her battling the God Hseth. Inara and Skediceth seek information about their unique bond. Elogast continues his struggles with PTSD, and his relationship with King Arren. We see the inevitable resurrection of Hseth by her followers, as well as the rise of the rebellion against King Arren, A deeper exploration of different Gods was one of the highlights of the book for me. The pacing was a bit slow mid-book as the focus was on character development over plot. The ending was face-paced and action packed, with a few surprises and set-ups for the third installment. This series is recommended for readers seeking found family, flawed characters, queer normative stories, disability representation, gods, myths, and great world building.

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.