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A review by ninegladiolus
Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
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
3.75
While Sunbringer didn’t have quite the cohesive punch of Fallen Gods’ first installment, Godkiller, it shakes off its second book slump by the end and promises a thrilling next entry in the series. With further character development, an expanding world, and deepening stakes, Sunbringer is definitely worth picking up.
Characters continue to shine in this series. The found family vibes readers came to enjoy in Godkiller continues in Sunbringer. This time around, Kissen (my beloved) has less time center stage. Instead, we come to see Elo and Inara growing in complexity, their arcs intensifying and adding to their autonomy. Since characters are where Godkiller shined, having the main cast forcibly separated in Sunbringer detracted from it.
The worldbuilding continues to delight. We get more and more insight into the gods of this world, how they have shaped it, and the variety of consequences their presence has on both world and characters. It’s tied for my favourite thing in this series next to the character work.
This series lays the foreshadowing and groundwork for its ‘twists’ in a way that makes them satisfying for the reader. While I haven’t been surprised by any particular turn of events, they have all made sense when contextualized with the rest of the narrative, which makes for a more fulfilling experience for me personally. It’s an underrated skill to be able to guide your reader on a journey AND still have the emotional beats land when you know what plot reveal is coming.
I will continue to champion the Fallen Gods series as an inclusive, robust, and exciting entry into the fantasy world. I am excited to see what the next entry brings and am as eager to read it as I am to keep recommending this series.
Thank you to HarperVoyager and Edelweiss for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Characters continue to shine in this series. The found family vibes readers came to enjoy in Godkiller continues in Sunbringer. This time around, Kissen (my beloved) has less time center stage. Instead, we come to see Elo and Inara growing in complexity, their arcs intensifying and adding to their autonomy. Since characters are where Godkiller shined, having the main cast forcibly separated in Sunbringer detracted from it.
The worldbuilding continues to delight. We get more and more insight into the gods of this world, how they have shaped it, and the variety of consequences their presence has on both world and characters. It’s tied for my favourite thing in this series next to the character work.
This series lays the foreshadowing and groundwork for its ‘twists’ in a way that makes them satisfying for the reader. While I haven’t been surprised by any particular turn of events, they have all made sense when contextualized with the rest of the narrative, which makes for a more fulfilling experience for me personally. It’s an underrated skill to be able to guide your reader on a journey AND still have the emotional beats land when you know what plot reveal is coming.
I will continue to champion the Fallen Gods series as an inclusive, robust, and exciting entry into the fantasy world. I am excited to see what the next entry brings and am as eager to read it as I am to keep recommending this series.
Thank you to HarperVoyager and Edelweiss for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.