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Review of Godkiller | Growls and Grimm
Fantasy | Mythology | Dark Fantasy
Book 1 of 3 in the Series
“What happened to us does not define us, what we do next is what matters.”
Fantasy often leans too heavily in one direction, whether it is world-building, character work, lore, or action, until something else gets lost beneath it. Godkiller manages to balance those pieces without making any of them feel underdeveloped.
Kissen’s life has been built on her need for vengeance, Elo left the army to have a small quiet life that he never wanted to leave, and Inara just wanted to be a child and help her tiny God and friend Skedi. None of them imagined that when their paths crossed they would become bound together by promise, duty, and loneliness, forming a small family.
Should You Read Godkiller?
If you enjoy fantasy worlds, strong female main characters, magic, and mythology, this book is likely a good fit for you. Godkiller is for readers who want a well paced story with twists, relationship building and an ending that has them wanting to continue the story in the next book.
The atmosphere of Godkiller feels shaped by aftermath rather than active war. The world is rebuilding after the God War, but the tension never fully disappears because not everyone agrees with the new order being forced into place under the King. There is a constant undercurrent of resistance, sabotage, and people quietly refusing to fall in line, which keeps the world feeling unstable in a believable way.
The setting leans heavily into an older fantasy feel with swords, god-forged metal, lingering magic, and weathered cities that still carry the scars of what came before. Nothing feels overly polished or overly modern, which helps the atmosphere stay grounded throughout the story.
One of the strongest aspects of the writing is how balanced the different story-lines feel. The world-building, character relationships, political tension, and action all share space without one overtaking the others, allowing the story to move naturally without feeling overloaded in any one direction.
Having lost her family, Kissen has spent her life building herself into a Godkiller. The small found family she created during her childhood on the streets quietly filled some of the loneliness she carried, but when Inara seeks her out, things begin to shift in unexpected ways.
Inara’s curiosity and determination to protect both herself and her tiny god, Skedi, place her directly in Kissen’s path. At the same time, Elo is pulled away from the quiet life he built for himself after being sent on a mission tied to the King’s survival. As their paths continue to cross on the journey toward the God city, the tension between them slowly shifts into reluctant trust and dependence.
Though this a fantasy book, which doesn’t disappoint, there is a found family element to it. It is built slowly and it is written in a way that feels genuine. There are hints of romance between Kissen and Elo, but it never overtakes the larger story. The story definitely is engaging and since it is book one, I know I will be reading book two. Hannah Taner writes in a way that keeps everything balanced and engaging which makes it worth the read.
If you love fantasy worlds, strong female main characters, magic, and mythology, this belongs on your shelf.
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