"Godkiller" Discuss Everything "*Spoilers*"

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

A few questions to get us started:


1. What did you think of the world?
2. What did you think of the characters?
3. What worked or didn't for you?
4. Overall thoughts?

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Bonus Question:
Write a recipe for this book! (Or @ least compile a list of its ingredients.)

[Becky]

I finished this yesterday, and really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the representation (especially well done disability rep which is not very common, at least that I see), and the world building. I really liked the concepts of the gods and their work and how they interact with humans.

I really liked Elo, but kept reading his name as “Flo” which was kinda weird. I wanted to try everything he baked. 🤤

I liked the character arcs and growth and I will be continuing the series as soon as book 2 is available from the library.

[CBRetriever]

I kept thinking Electric Light Orchestra

[Becky]

CBRetriever wrote: "I kept thinking Electric Light Orchestra"

LOL well I will now! 😅

[CJ]

I'm rereading this. I didn't care for it the first time I read it and my opinion of it hasn't improved. I read this when it was relatively new, and at the time there were several popular new fantasy books that I just couldn't get into, including this one. It made me question how much I actually like fantasy as a genre.

My problem with this is, for something with such a seemingly meaty premise behind it, it feels disappointingly shallow. Like all the fantasy elements and worldbuilding are window dressing and there's not really anything very deep or well thought-out about any of it. It's just vibes and not very substantial vibes at that. Also I don't really like any of the major characters. I find Kissen annoying and the rest bore me.

[Olga]

Finished Godkiller yesterday and feel much the same as Becky about it.

I enjoyed my time with the book a lot with one exception - the spicy scene at the end. Even with all the previous slow burn it didn’t feel deserved somehow and overall was just ‘eww’ for me. I get that it was kinda the right place and time for it, but still it felt shoehorned rather than natural.

I have books 2 and 3 on hold in the library and definitely want to finish the series.

I liked how throughout the book there were some mysteries and how they were gradually revealed (like the nature of Ina’s powers or Elo’s debt to Arren). The twist that Arren was actually trying to become a god I did not see coming and now I wonder if this was his plan from when he was still human or the god heart corrupted him. I tend to think it’s the former, but can’t see how he could deceive Elo for so long.

I was very intrigued by Kissen’s disability and think that overall it was well represented. It wasn’t paraded too much, but it wasn’t swept under the rug either.

The gods. Powerful but not too much, governed by the need to be worshiped and the greed for power, but capable of personal growth (as in case of Skedi, when he chose the love of one human over worship of many). A world full of them. I find it very interesting premise and the fact that in the end they basically behave like humans — want to have power over whole nations — seems logical.

One thing I always have qualms with is heroes who are too young, and Inara felt a tad too young for her ark. For 12 years she was hidden from the world and the world was hidden from her, but in the span of few weeks she turns almost into another godkiller? This was hard for me to believe. Yes, she grieved, she struggled and grew, but still it was too fast for my taste.

[Riyadh]

Feels like a wannabe Witcher

[Becky]

Riyadh wrote: "Feels like a wannabe Witcher"

I haven’t read that or even seen the show, so I can’t compare.
———

Olga, do you think that Ina being linked/connected to Skedi helped her precocity? I didn’t really notice that aspect being out of place, but since you mention it, I agree that a very sheltered 12 year old would probably not be at that level without help, which I think Skedi must have provided.

I also agree that the sex was unnecessary. I find myself liking books where there’s no sexual tension or romantic feelings involved so much more than when there is - even if it’s no strings or female agency/ empowering, which this scene definitely was in my opinion. I just don’t like reading sex scenes I think. LOL But it’s was short and one and done (hopefully for the series), so it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.

[P.E.N.]

I found it interesting how divided the reactions to this one are.

For me, the premise was the strongest element. A world where gods are sustained by belief but still behave with very human pettiness and ambition feels thematically rich, even when the plot itself leans more character-focused than cosmically ambitious.

I can understand the “vibes over depth” criticism, but I read the shallowness differently. It felt less like underdevelopment and more like restraint. The world hints at enormous theological and political consequences, but the narrative keeps us grounded in a small traveling group instead of zooming out into epic-scale philosophy.

The Arren twist was what really caught my attention. If his desire to ascend began before the corruption of the god heart, that says something unsettling about ambition in a world where divinity is attainable. It makes the gods feel less alien and more like an extension of human hunger.

As for Ina, I do think her connection to Skedi likely accelerated her growth. Being tethered to a god would change anyone’s perception of power and agency. Still, I agree that her transformation happens quickly, and I’m curious how the sequels handle that trajectory.

Overall, I wouldn’t call it Witcher-like, but I can see why some readers feel that tonal echo. To me, it reads less cynical than Witcher and more mythic in its emotional core.

Curious to see how book two expands the theological implications.

[Silvana]

1. What did you think of the world?
I liked it! Love the many varieties of gods and how they were sustained by the believers, or not.

2. What did you think of the characters?
I like all POV characters, especially Kissen and Skedi.
Many tropey characters, from world weary knights, badass red-haired woman warrior, a kid with secret power, a cute companion, all going for a journey and met all kinds of horrors (and friends) - but somehow it worked.

About Inara btw I somehow can't help but picture the Firefly one - which is so wrong....

3. What worked or didn't for you?
The romance. No, just kidding. I did predict they were gonna hook up at some point.

I actually don't have things on which I have strong feelings about.
I liked that Skedi was not all fuzzy wuzzy and he showed his darker side by controlling Inara.

4. Overall thoughts?
I really enjoyed this book, no-frills tight writing with likable POVs, no wonder Hannah got nominated for the Astounding Award.

Currently listening to the sequel.