Bingo Square: G
This is a world where there are many gods, they are real, and they interact with people; there are ancient gods and new gods, and there are grudges between them as they divert attention and worship away from each other. Some gods have become greedy and demand human sacrifices. Basically, it’s chaotic and some humans cling to the old ways while others have decided gods are more trouble than they are worth.
In the kingdom of Middren the worship of gods is illegal, so Kissen earns her living as a godkiller, hunting down the ones doing the most harm, whether that be by demanding human sacrifices or in other ways hurting communities in order to get they worship they feel they deserve. As someone that survived being offered as a human sacrifice to a fire god, Kissen has seen the worst of humanity and gods.
While gruff, Kissen also has a soft spot for orphans and values her word so she ends up helping Inara who has come to her about a bit of a god problem. Inara is linked to a small god, Skedi, the god of small lies. She doesn’t want him dead (and she is unsure if killing him would kill her) but both want freedom from their bond. Skedi is described in the cutest way imaginable (hare with antlers and wings) and takes the size of a small bird or kitten (he can shift sizes).
All three of these characters have POV chapters at various points, and to find answers to Inara and Skedi’s predicament, Kissen and Inara join a group of pilgrims to visit the ancient city of the gods. After multiple attacks on the voyage, the group of three ends up split from the pilgrimage along with one other traveler, Elogast, a knight turned baker with a secret mission for a king and old friend.
I enjoyed this one and will definitely be continuing the series but it also was one of the books where I didn’t feel the need to immediately dive into the next one. In this world, the gods draw their power from faith and offering, and it’s been interesting to see Kaner explores that theme – even Skedi at points feels the lure and draw of power and worship, so it’s very much a world of gray where there aren’t absolutes, and that applies to both gods and humans. There are also some political intrigues that are hinted at but will likely be explored more later in the trilogy. At around 300 pages, this is a surprisingly short first novel for a fantasy trilogy, especially given today’s trends, but it sets up an interesting world and story and doesn’t unnecessarily drag itself out.