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A review by gramco
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It was okay. The overall concept was intriguing but the characters were ultimately very flat.
Kissen, despite being a bisexual femme amputee, felt incredibly one-dimensional. She's traumatized and as a result is hard and brusque, and the author attempted mysterious but failed thanks to the multi-pov format. There's no room for Kissen to develop and grow in a way that's entertaining or interesting. I take issue with that because the book attempts to set her up as the main protagonist when, at most, she plays a supporting role to the overall plot. I found myself wondering why I was supposed to care about this character when the story really isn't about her?The sexual chemistry between her and Elogast (a complete Mary-sue) was shoe-horned in, and it did nothing to enhance the characters or the story. Despite all those things that could make her a complex and fascinating character, she is failed by the writing.
The little creature Sketi was the most compelling of them all, but even he fell flat a fair amount. But his arc has good bones to it.His psychic connection to Inara is something that kept me reading because I was so curious about what that is and how it will play out in the story. Sketi is what kept me in this book. He develops and learns and questions himself and his motives. He messes up and redeems himself. However, like all the others, he is limited by the writing. Still, Godkiller would have been better off being told entirely from his perspective as opposed to the multi-POV format, which just feels lazy at this point.
Finished it because the plot was fun and the world the author built felt fully-realized, if a little redundant. It was a decently fun romp but be patient with the mediocre writing and character development.
Kissen, despite being a bisexual femme amputee, felt incredibly one-dimensional. She's traumatized and as a result is hard and brusque, and the author attempted mysterious but failed thanks to the multi-pov format. There's no room for Kissen to develop and grow in a way that's entertaining or interesting. I take issue with that because the book attempts to set her up as the main protagonist when, at most, she plays a supporting role to the overall plot. I found myself wondering why I was supposed to care about this character when the story really isn't about her?
The little creature Sketi was the most compelling of them all, but even he fell flat a fair amount. But his arc has good bones to it.
Finished it because the plot was fun and the world the author built felt fully-realized, if a little redundant. It was a decently fun romp but be patient with the mediocre writing and character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Trafficking