Book Review: Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

‘Sunbringer’ is the second book in Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller trilogy. This installment was released in February 2024 and was a book that I absolutely couldn’t wait to read from the second I finished the first book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from ‘Sunbringer’ when I was waiting for its release, but it certainly wasn’t expecting something as tense and sad as it ended up being. I absolutely loved how the characters developed.

Kissen returning to Talica and gaining a greater perspective on the politics and implications of the world around the main characters was heartbreaking. Nobody should need to have the burden of an epic quest like that on their shoulders, but, of course, Kissen is spurred on by an alterior motive – she sent Elo, Inara and Skedi back to her family, and she wants to rejoin them. I loved how she went about navigating the hurdles she enountered on her way back to them.

This book offered a greater sense of perspective on minor characters from the first book like Yatho and her wife, Telle, who grew up with Kissen. I also adored how they responded to Elo and Inara, upon the loss of Kissen. Her perceived death absolutely wrecks her companions from ‘Godkiller’ and Inara, having found a role model in Kissen, is distraught, often attempting to guess what Kissen would do if she was in Inara’s shoes. It was incredibly poignant to see that she had such a bond with Kissen, and how much it truly broke her to lose her, in a completely different way to how it had been to lose House Criar in ‘Godkiller’.

While this book had the potential to completely succumb to the slump that comes from Book Two in a trilogy, a very common flaw in the books I’ve encountered in the past, I would argue that ‘Sunbringer’ truly demonstrates the way in which a microcosm can be the macrocosm in a book. Although it is clear that ‘Sunbringer’ is a bridge between the events of ‘Godkiller’ and the epic finale, I didn’t feel like I was trudging through the book because instead of people navigating a series of almost errand like events to get them to the next point in the book, readers are given an immersive look at the beautiful city of Lesscia and the way that this territory works now that internal tensions in Middren are greater.

I really enjoyed Inara’s character development in this book. Going from meek and unsure about what bonds her to Skedi and what power she may hold to understanding what she can do for the people she loves, for the city she cares about. Inara grows so much in this book, and learns about her past, and ends the book with so much power, and pain around her. She is an incredible character and I absolutely loved seeing her come into her own. Her similarities to Cannovan were so interesting to see, they are complimentary foils and yet they are so similar. It was a great way to demonstrate Inara’s growth and strength, and the hurt that will come from using her powers, blinded by rage.

I can’t wait for what comes next in this story. It has been a complete standout in the industry and I have loved reading it so much. Kaner is such a careful, precise writer with clever foreshadowing and symbolism. I would definitely recommend this series.