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rhiwind93's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Blood, War, Body horror, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
jadorelecafe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death, War, Genocide, Grief, and Violence
barda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very enjoyable debut novel, with a very rich world. The ideas about gods and how they're created by thoughts and prayers of people was really well done.
I broadly enjoyed the characters, in particular Kissen and Skedi. Kissen I enjoyed just because I really like competent but flawed female main characters, and Skedi was a fascinating look into a god with a different morality compared to the humans around him. I mostly wasn't as keen on Elo and found him a bit one-note, so I hope he gets a bit more development in the second book.
The writing and use of language were excellent, especially for a debut novel; however, I found some parts to be over-described and thus dragged the story on too much. My main complaint about the novel was the pacing, with it being slightly too slow in parts. I'm also torn about the twist in the end of
Overall, however, I enjoyed this and will be picking up the next one when it comes out.
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Cursing
saltycoffee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Genocide, Medical content, Gore, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Ableism, Blood, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Trafficking, and War
zarhara's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Death, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and War
caskraft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Grief
katvou's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Outing
Moderate: Child death, Gaslighting, Animal death, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Grief, Medical content, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
heathengray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I didn't realise Godkiller was "Young Adult", which apparently just means the characters are quite edgy, swear, and occasionally have just-shy-of-graphic sex. I must say I really rather enjoyed it.
It begins with our main character Kissen being sacrificed, and follows her, years later, taking on the role of protector of another wayward girl (and her attached Pullman's dæmon, which can change shape and size and act autonomously, and obviously just has its serial number shaved off). The cold, dark world of Godkiller is split between theists and royalists - the king a few years ago decreeing that all gods must die, starting and end an war to enforce his will. This creates an interesting environment to find kind and cruel characters on both sides of the secular divide. The gods manifesting themselves reminds me more for their overt self-insertion in Micheal Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné stories, rather than the more comic Terry Pratchett's Discworld, especially as they can be overcome through training, will, pacts, and luck. There is a very interesting biology to the gods here, their growth and life cycle can result in the razing of continents, or the collecting of odd trinkets as tribute for their shrines. I hope this is explored further with another book.
The cast of characters is varied, different races coming from across this fantasy Pangea, with gay and lesbians represented sparingly, though I wish they in particular had more backstory, as a person's orientation ends up just lamp-shaded, rather than fitting into the fabric of their character and world. Kissen (who prefers women, but mainly because she doesn't prefer getting pregnant), has the most backstory but is such an edgy (also literally, she has edges sown into her clothes) Mary Sue, she comes across as a medieval Batman. Nothing gets in her way. And in a refreshing way for a female character, this is never even questioned by the foes she comes across - a person holding a sword is never to be toyed with. There are times I wish her dialog was a bit more terse, however, as she will often say something really cool, then ruin it up with some redundant exposition. The descriptions of her rituals at camp, including tending to her disability, and the the god-killing tools available to her are fascinating, if detailed, glimpses we usually don't see in fantasy beyond "They camped for the evening". The descriptions of foods and their preparations alone seem almost written for the Hobbit demographic.
If you're looking for a tragic fantasy tale that's lighter on plot, but heavier in how people prepare their travel dumplings and snacks, then please give this a read. Like Kissen, Godkiller punches above her weight.
I personally hope I've joined this series as it's about to take off.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent
The worst aspects ars towards the startshannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: War, Murder, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Police brutality, and Abandonment