In Hannah Kaner’s remarkable fantasy debut, Godkiller, we are thrust into a world where deities walk among mortals, often with devastating consequences. This first installment in the Fallen Gods trilogy (continued in Sunbringer and the upcoming Faithbreaker) introduces us to a richly developed world where gods are made manifest through human worship, and where those same gods can be unmade by those skilled—or damaged—enough to hunt them.
Kaner crafts an intricate tale of revenge, loyalty, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the edge of civil war. With its compelling characters, unique magic system, and explorations of faith and power, Godkiller establishes itself as a formidable entry in modern fantasy literature.
The Sacred and the Profane: World-Building
The world of Godkiller by Hannah Kaner operates on a fascinating premise: gods are born from human belief and sustained by worship. They range from tiny local deities who help with broken sandals to ancient wild gods capable of mass destruction. This symbiotic relationship between belief and divinity creates a living ecosystem of faith that feels both inventive and intuitive.
Kaner’s Middren is a kingdom still reeling from the “God War” that decimated the city of Blenraden. King Arren, the “destroyer of gods,” has outlawed their worship, while roving godkillers—veiga—hunt down and eliminate smaller deities that pop up in defiance of the ban. The setting achieves that perfect fantasy balance of feeling both familiar and alien:
- The political landscape features noble Houses with conflicting interests
- The geography spans mountains, coastal lands, and abandoned city ruins
- The cultural systems include everything from pilgrimage routes to complex religious customs
Particularly impressive is Kaner’s portrayal of Blenraden itself—a once-magnificent city of shrines now haunted by fading gods and traumatic memories. The author’s ability to make this “dead city” feel simultaneously abandoned and alive with danger is a testament to her descriptive powers.
Characters: Broken and Bound
At the heart of Godkiller by Hannah Kaner stands Kissen, a one-legged veiga with a mechanical prosthesis and a heart full of vengeance. Orphaned when zealots of the fire god Hseth sacrificed her family, she now makes her living exterminating gods—a profession she approaches with competent ferocity and gold-toothed grins. Kissen carries the novel with her gruff exterior masking deep vulnerabilities, her caustic humor, and her reluctant capacity for care.
The supporting cast is equally compelling:
- Inara Craier, a sheltered young noblewoman mysteriously bound to a god
- Skediceth, the charming “god of white lies” who can’t exist more than a few paces from Inara
- Elogast, a former knight commander now living as a baker, haunted by his past service to King Arren
The dynamic between these characters evolves naturally as they journey together. Kaner excels at revealing their histories gradually, weaving their backstories into present action without resorting to exposition dumps. The relationship between Kissen and Inara is particularly affecting, as the godkiller’s initial reluctance to protect the girl gives way to genuine care.
The antagonists are similarly nuanced. Rather than one-dimensional villains, we encounter complex figures with understandable—if not justifiable—motivations. This extends even to the gods themselves, who are shown to be as varied in temperament and morality as the humans who create them.
Themes: Faith, Power, and Sacrifice
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner tackles profound themes with unexpected subtlety:
- The Nature of Divinity: Kaner presents gods as neither intrinsically evil nor good, but as reflections of human desire magnified through worship. This raises provocative questions about the relationship between worshippers and the worshipped.
- Trauma and Recovery: Each major character carries deep wounds—Kissen’s lost family, Elogast’s battlefield trauma, Inara’s isolation. Their struggles to move forward despite these injuries form the emotional core of the novel.
- Power and Corruption: Throughout the narrative runs a keen analysis of how power (whether divine, royal, or personal) can both heal and harm. The question of who deserves power—and what they might sacrifice to obtain it—drives much of the plot.
- Choice and Constraint: Many characters find themselves bound by oaths, curses, or physical limitations. Their struggles against these constraints highlight the value of agency and the cost of its loss.
Prose and Pace: A Ballet of Fire and Shadow
Kaner’s prose strikes an effective balance between poetic flourishes and propulsive action. Her fight scenes crackle with energy, while quieter moments allow for reflection and character development. Particularly impressive is her ability to shift tone—from darkly humorous to heart-wrenching—often within the same chapter.
The novel’s pacing follows a journey structure, with the quest to reach Blenraden providing forward momentum. While the middle section occasionally slows, this serves to deepen character relationships before the explosive final act. Some readers might find the first half’s road journey familiar fantasy territory, but Kaner consistently finds ways to subvert expectations.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Shines:
- The magic system is internally consistent while maintaining a sense of mystery
- Character dynamics evolve naturally and meaningfully
- The central concept of gods being born from and dependent on human worship feels fresh
- LGBTQ+ representation is handled with natural inclusion rather than tokenism
- Kissen emerges as a memorable protagonist whose brash exterior and inner vulnerability feel authentic
What Flickers:
- Some worldbuilding elements could be more fully developed (particularly the political structures of Middren)
- The villain’s motivation, when revealed, might feel slightly rushed given its significance
- Certain secondary characters don’t receive as much development as they deserve
- The curse plot device occasionally feels too convenient for advancing the narrative
The Fallen Gods Trilogy: Looking Forward
Godkiller lays impressive groundwork for the Fallen Gods trilogy by Hannah Kaner. The second book, Sunbringer, reportedly explores the consequences of the first novel’s climactic events, particularly focusing on Arren’s transformation and the growing rebellion. The promised final installment, Faithbreaker, suggests a culmination of the religious and political tensions established in this opening volume.
Kaner has created a world rich enough to sustain multiple books, with enough unresolved questions to maintain interest while still delivering a satisfying arc in this first installment. Readers who enjoy this debut will likely be eager to continue with the series to see how the complex relationships and theological systems evolve.
For Fans Of…
Readers who appreciate Godkiller by Hannah Kaner might also enjoy:
- R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War (for its exploration of divinity and human cost)
- Tasha Suri’s Empire of Sand (for its unique magic system based on ritual)
- Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series (for morally complex characters and gritty action)
- C.L. Clark’s The Unbroken (for its political intrigue and representation)
Final Verdict: A Bright Flame in Modern Fantasy
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner represents an impressive debut that balances inventive worldbuilding with character-driven storytelling. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitious ideas, these minor flaws are easily overlooked given the overall strength of Kaner’s vision.
The novel succeeds in establishing memorable characters whose journeys feel meaningful and earned. Its exploration of faith, power, and sacrifice resonates beyond its fantasy trappings to ask questions relevant to our own world. Most importantly, it accomplishes the primary task of any first book in a series: making readers hungry for more.
For fantasy readers seeking a fresh take on gods and monsters—especially those who appreciate complex female protagonists, intricate magic systems, and narratives that balance darkness with moments of hope—Godkiller offers a compelling journey well worth taking. Hannah Kaner has announced herself as a significant new voice in fantasy, and the remaining installments of the Fallen Gods trilogy promise to build on this strong foundation.