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booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favorite things in GODKILLER is that all of the characters change in very significant ways, prompted by their interactions with each other, but no one changes into any other character's ideal. They bend without breaking, they fit in with each other on the road without wholly molding to one another. Inara is a little girl with a god, Skediceth, living inside her. She seeks out a godkiller to try and find a way to free Skediceth from her, to let them both live separately, no longer intertwined. Kissen, a godkiller, seems to have already changed enough by not killing Skediceth when she meets him, but as they journey together it becomes apparent that being a godkiller doesn't actually mean that she kills every god she meets. Instead, Kissen kills the ones who are making life worse for people, the ones she's paid to kill. Elogast is on a mission from his best friend and king, Arren, to go to a city whose gods he tried to kill, to get one of them to become the king's new heart. Publicly, the king wants all the gods dead, or at least no longer worshipped, so Elogast must keep this mission secret, for the sake of the king. All four of them and up in the same pilgrimage caravan, traveling together with a few others, braving the dangers of the road and the patrolling knights. Skediceth is a god of white lies, untruths that are meant to mitigate harm and make things feel better, even if reality doesn't change because of them. Because he's a god, he's able to affect how lies are perceived, how readily they are believed. This makes things much easier as they travel, deflecting questions and averting gazes, making some trouble never manifest at all.
There's a narrative focus on the way all of the characters have been marked by the gods, changed by them, for good or ill. Kissen has a prosthetic leg fashioned from leather and metal, replacing the flesh leg she lost as a child when the other villagers tried to sacrifice her family to a fire god. She uses the prosthesis when the situation calls for two legs (as travelling and fighting tend to do). Most discussion of her legs is logistical, such as when she's cut in the leg while fighting and just needs to repair or replace the prosthesis, instead of having been injured in her flesh. I like the matter-of-fact handling of it. While there was someone in her past who exploited her and other children like her, the narrative only briefly discusses that time of her life. Now, she has two legs, it's just that the lower part of one of them can detach from the rest of her.
As the first book in the series, Godkiller feels very complete, able to stand alone. It invites a sequel with the way that it changes the situations of the main characters by the end, and I want to know what they do next. It's more open than a standalone without giving me a cliffhanger, which is perfect. The main characters are all very different with competing motivations that have all placed them together for now, but they don't know if they can trust each other. The worldbuilding and characterization work together seamlessly to make an engaging story that isn't afraid to have a slow burn in the middle. Most of it takes place during this pilgrimage, complemented by a much slower story pace. It helps to create a sense of time, that this journey really does take a while, one measured in days or perhaps weeks though not months.
There's a narrative focus on the way all of the characters have been marked by the gods, changed by them, for good or ill. Kissen has a prosthetic leg fashioned from leather and metal, replacing the flesh leg she lost as a child when the other villagers tried to sacrifice her family to a fire god. She uses the prosthesis when the situation calls for two legs (as travelling and fighting tend to do). Most discussion of her legs is logistical, such as when she's cut in the leg while fighting and just needs to repair or replace the prosthesis, instead of having been injured in her flesh. I like the matter-of-fact handling of it. While there was someone in her past who exploited her and other children like her, the narrative only briefly discusses that time of her life. Now, she has two legs, it's just that the lower part of one of them can detach from the rest of her.
As the first book in the series, Godkiller feels very complete, able to stand alone. It invites a sequel with the way that it changes the situations of the main characters by the end, and I want to know what they do next. It's more open than a standalone without giving me a cliffhanger, which is perfect. The main characters are all very different with competing motivations that have all placed them together for now, but they don't know if they can trust each other. The worldbuilding and characterization work together seamlessly to make an engaging story that isn't afraid to have a slow burn in the middle. Most of it takes place during this pilgrimage, complemented by a much slower story pace. It helps to create a sense of time, that this journey really does take a while, one measured in days or perhaps weeks though not months.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, and Confinement
Moderate: Ableism, Self harm, Sexual content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement, Trafficking, Animal death, Child abuse, and Slavery
spooked_anise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and War
Minor: Self harm
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, Child death, Murder, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Blood, War, and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism and Child abuse
noriboo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's a classic fantasy adventure story.
Kissen and Elo were interesting main characters. I liked the depiction of sign language in the story. There were a few twists in the story that kept me on my toes.
Overall, it is a very enjoyable story!
Kissen and Elo were interesting main characters. I liked the depiction of sign language in the story. There were a few twists in the story that kept me on my toes.
Overall, it is a very enjoyable story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, War, Child death, Blood, and Death
kjm19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Godkiller is a great display of character driven fantasy that includes so many fun tropes and colourful characters.
It is possibly the most diverse/inclusive set of core characters that I’ve come across in any novel, let alone a fantasy one, which was really refreshing. Several characters have disabilities that add depth and context to their lives and shows us just how possible it is to be inclusive in the fantasy genre. Authors, take note!
The characters are loveable, funny, and relatable. It’s great to see how relationships blossom between our core characters, I do admit that it happens rather fast, but it’s a fast pace story with high stakes. Of course they will form immediate bonds if they have to.
There are convenient elements to the plot line, I must admit, like how quickly Skedi changes his mind about things and how his actions are forgiven etc. But fantasy is all about people coming together to join in one an epic adventure, and I feel that this was crafted very well.
I see how the world is building for a sequel, and I am intrigued to see how the wider context, such as archivists and the role of the King, will play into the future plot.
Kissen is one of my favourite protagonists of recent reads - she is bold in every way possible. Need I say more.
It is possibly the most diverse/inclusive set of core characters that I’ve come across in any novel, let alone a fantasy one, which was really refreshing. Several characters have disabilities that add depth and context to their lives and shows us just how possible it is to be inclusive in the fantasy genre. Authors, take note!
The characters are loveable, funny, and relatable. It’s great to see how relationships blossom between our core characters, I do admit that it happens rather fast, but it’s a fast pace story with high stakes. Of course they will form immediate bonds if they have to.
There are convenient elements to the plot line, I must admit, like how quickly Skedi changes his mind about things and how his actions are forgiven etc. But fantasy is all about people coming together to join in one an epic adventure, and I feel that this was crafted very well.
I see how the world is building for a sequel, and I am intrigued to see how the wider context, such as archivists and the role of the King, will play into the future plot.
Kissen is one of my favourite protagonists of recent reads - she is bold in every way possible. Need I say more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, War, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
figsofpeach's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and War
emmabeeslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and War
weareinheritors's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I didn't realize that when the blurb on the back said it was for fans of Gideon that it meant that Gideon's long-lost cousin was gonna be one of the main characters.
Great book, wonderful characters, loved the dynamic between the trio. The sorta-romance didn't feel forced, Elo wasn't a toxic broody bad boy (just a little dumb in a not-necessarily-bad way), Kissen wasn't some frail whiny petite thing you see way too often in fantasy, and Inara is gonna be a fascinating force of nature in later additions.
I do feel like it could've been a little longer, to flesh out some of the finer details of the worldbuilding. And the ending felt rushed, with the big reveal and final battle sequence all coming and going way, way too fast.
Definitely looking forward to the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Child death
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
tacochelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such good worldbuilding and compelling characters. I loved every minute of it, and I can't wait for the next book. My one gripe is more with the formatting of the ebook on Libby. At the start of each chapter is an emblem representing the character narrating that one, and Kissen's emblem would cut into the next page and cover up the left side of the page. Not sure if it's just with Libby or if that's a consistent issue across all e-readers. Not gonna dock the book for something so minor though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Slavery
Minor: Animal death
bramble_am's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Child death