Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

40 reviews

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

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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

kjm19's review

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. 

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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

Godkiller is a great display of character driven fantasy that includes so many fun tropes and colourful characters. We are first introduced to Kissena (goes by the name of Kissen) when her family and their estate is burnt to the ground. Her father sacrifices himself to his lover Osidisen, a water god, to save her life. Montage! We are introduced to Inara, a young girl of noble birth who belongs to the House of Craier. She has this attachment/bond to a small God of white lies, Skediceth (who also becomes a POV character). Their bond is not understood and they wish to break it without killing each other so that they can live their separate lives. Inara has special abilities gifted to her, unwittingly, by Skediceth where she can see people’s true emotions in colour - pretty cool. She is sheltered (hidden away…) for reasons Inara is initially unaware of, and runs off to seek answers for herself and Skedi from none other than our favourite veiga. Ser Elogast completes the lineup of Godkiller’s POV characters and he is a baker who used to be a knight with a close fraternal bond with the now King Arren.

anditsreal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

2.75

I've almost DNF'ed this book multiple times while reading, but I stuck to it hoping it would turn around at the end. I found the multiple point of views not very well-developed: it seems to never really own on the person we're following, either by flip flopping or not giving us enough insight. This made it hard to really care about any of the characters.

However, it's good in building mystery, it has a nice mix of characters, it's diverse, and I am considering reading the second installment in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder and Blood

hayleystagg's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

caitlinspeachyreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Cannibalism

rahzel20's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

A fantastic read with compelling characters who are interesting and flawed but doing the best they can in a hard situation. The relationship's build naturally but quickly and the characters benefit from their interactions with each other. It's dark and violent in places but has plenty of humour. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Murder, and Medical trauma

witcheep's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Godkiller is utter perfection! 🩷 I could not put this down, I had to read it in one sitting.

The characters are very diverse and their motivations are complicated, making them more interesting. For example, Kissen's disability (missing leg, burn scars) and emotional distancing were handled beautifully, and it showed her strength as an unyielding but also a loving and loved person. What I most loved reading this book were the evolving relationships between the four main characters. They all made mistakes, but found ways to own them and grow as a person by learning from them.

I can't wait to return to the worl of this book in the sequel. I'm certain I alao want to have a reread of this book some time in the near furure, that's how captivating the book is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Physical abuse

Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Mental illness, Violence, Death, and Grief

Minor: Drug use and Infertility

drewsbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Murder

mmccombs's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

I had such a good time with this one! I knew nothing going in except for liking the cover, and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the world building. It’s the kind of fantasy I love, where the world is deeply connected to the themes the book is trying to explore, where you can tell how much thought and care went into building out culture, characters, and settings. I also loved how imaginative this was, a world of gods and people who hate them and people who want to be them. I’m a sucker for a quest, and this delivered. I thought the disability rep was well done, and enjoyed the characters a lot. I’m very excited to get to the next installment!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

rangerwing75's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Is Kissen meant to be the main character? I think she is, but her part of the plot is easily the weakest. Like she’s just there for the ride and to be angry. Idk I found her chapters the most boring. 

Elo is fine. His story is more compelling, and he has his fun moments, but I wasn’t overly invested in his mission to save Arren. 

Inara and Skedi are definitely the best characters. I thought they were both compelling and they definitely had the most interesting story. 

The ending is definitely set up for a sequel, but I have no interest in reading it to be honest. I only read this book to the end for Inara and Skedi but I’m not curious enough to see how their story ends. 

The lore was the best part of the book - how the gods are created and their relationship with humans. It was intriguing and fun to learn about. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Sexual content