jadorelecafe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death, War, Genocide, Grief, and Violence
andreapap15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
- 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: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
barda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
I couldn't choose between giving it 3.75 and 4 stars so rounded up to 4 stars.
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, it's a really cool idea but I feel it could have been foreshadowed in the text a bit more, as the reveal seemed to me to come out of nowhere.
Overall, however, I enjoyed this and will be picking up the next one when it comes out.
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
Spoiler
the king wanting to become a godOverall, however, I enjoyed this and will be picking up the next one when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Cursing
verinvaldez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I was so sure this book was going to be a 5 star read for me, the world was amazing, setup was gripping, the child character Inara was believable without being annoying. The disability and queernorn rep was seamless, an excellent finale calling back to the traumas of all our characters, shocking betrayals.
However I thought the romance was poorly set up and detracted from how great everything else was, especially as I was very much under the impression
Outside of the romance and my confusion about the sexualities of our adult characters, the book was a brilliant and fresh new take on the relationship between Gods and humanity.
However I thought the romance was poorly set up and detracted from how great everything else was, especially as I was very much under the impression
Spoiler
Kissen was a lesbian and Elogast was gay, I did not think they had any romantic chemistry at all and I just felt really uncomfortable during the sex scene, "wet hot nub" shivers no thanks.Outside of the romance and my confusion about the sexualities of our adult characters, the book was a brilliant and fresh new take on the relationship between Gods and humanity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.25
An exciting fantasy. Not too long ago, the humans fought a war with the gods. The new king has outlawed all shrines and worship. Three, make that four, individuals are brought together on a pilgrimage to the city where the war was fought. A girl, a Godkiller, a knight turned baker, and the God of white lies. The each need answers. They each have secrets. With the exception of the girl, none really trusts the others.
Great world building. Great character building. An ending that leaves you wanting the next book, without a dreaded cliffhanger.
Recommended for readers who enjoy books about people who find their tribes in the most unexpected people.
Great world building. Great character building. An ending that leaves you wanting the next book, without a dreaded cliffhanger.
Recommended for readers who enjoy books about people who find their tribes in the most unexpected people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
millieinks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Brilliant disability rep, including sign language usage...the characters were intriguing and you truly cared for them throughout. I loved everything about this book including the writing which was beautiful, as someone with aphantasia I was able to feel like i was there which does not happen often with me so I was so thankful for that!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Death, Blood, and War
awaterswadesthrough'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
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
maregred'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Sexual content
deedireads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Godkiller is a well-written, well-built start of a new fantasy series with characters you’ll love and worldbuilding you’ll swoon over. I definitely recommend it!
For you if: You love a sword-wielding butch bisexual woman (and fantasy in general, tbh).
FULL REVIEW:
I’d heard plenty of exciting buzz around Godkiller, so when Harper Voyager sent me a review copy (thank you!), it jumped right to the top of my list. Happy to report this is a super-solid fantasy read with a whole new cast of characters to fall in love with!
Godkiller is set in a world where there are many gods, major and minor — all it takes is for people to begin praying to one in order for it to be born. The story takes place several years after a major war between the now-king and the gods, and in order to keep them under control, godkillers like Kissen (your new favorite sword-wielding butch who also, I might add, does it all on her prosthetic leg) are on the king’s payroll and practicing faith is illegal. We have four main characters — Kissen, a high-born girl named Inara, a minor god attached to her lifeforce named Skedi, and a former-war-hero-turned-baker named Elogast.
There is so much to dig about this book, including its robust worldbuilding — the good kind done well, not the overwhelming kind that slows you down. I also love a book that takes place a few years after the big war is over, a sort of “where are they now” feeling that shows that happily ever after is more complicated than we think. And I loved the prosthesis rep, the sapphic rep, all the rep!
My only (small) complaint is that I actually think this could have been longer. There was a little bit of tidiness that felt sort of commercialized to me, but I would have been happy to spend 50-100 more pages with this crew, easily. And so all that to say, I can’t wait for book two!
TL;DR REVIEW:
Godkiller is a well-written, well-built start of a new fantasy series with characters you’ll love and worldbuilding you’ll swoon over. I definitely recommend it!
For you if: You love a sword-wielding butch bisexual woman (and fantasy in general, tbh).
FULL REVIEW:
I’d heard plenty of exciting buzz around Godkiller, so when Harper Voyager sent me a review copy (thank you!), it jumped right to the top of my list. Happy to report this is a super-solid fantasy read with a whole new cast of characters to fall in love with!
Godkiller is set in a world where there are many gods, major and minor — all it takes is for people to begin praying to one in order for it to be born. The story takes place several years after a major war between the now-king and the gods, and in order to keep them under control, godkillers like Kissen (your new favorite sword-wielding butch who also, I might add, does it all on her prosthetic leg) are on the king’s payroll and practicing faith is illegal. We have four main characters — Kissen, a high-born girl named Inara, a minor god attached to her lifeforce named Skedi, and a former-war-hero-turned-baker named Elogast.
There is so much to dig about this book, including its robust worldbuilding — the good kind done well, not the overwhelming kind that slows you down. I also love a book that takes place a few years after the big war is over, a sort of “where are they now” feeling that shows that happily ever after is more complicated than we think. And I loved the prosthesis rep, the sapphic rep, all the rep!
My only (small) complaint is that I actually think this could have been longer. There was a little bit of tidiness that felt sort of commercialized to me, but I would have been happy to spend 50-100 more pages with this crew, easily. And so all that to say, I can’t wait for book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, War, and Violence