Review: Sunbringer by Kaner
Book Details
Author: Hannah Kaner
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fallen Gods Trilogy #2
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Sunbringer is a powerful, emotionally charged sequel that expands everything that made Godkiller so compelling. Hannah Kaner deepens the world, raises the stakes, and delivers a story that feels darker, richer, and even more ambitious without losing the heart that made the first book unforgettable. It’s full of tension, sacrifice, shifting loyalties, and moments that hit with real emotional force. A breathtaking continuation that proves this series is only getting stronger.
The Atmosphere
The world of Sunbringer feels heavier with consequence, as though every choice carries the weight of history behind it. The lingering presence of gods, fractured faith, and political unrest creates an atmosphere that is constantly simmering with danger. From sacred spaces filled with unease to brutal journeys across uncertain lands, the setting feels immersive and alive at every turn. Kaner balances epic fantasy scale with an intimacy that keeps the emotional stakes feeling personal. There’s beauty in the world, but it’s always shadowed by loss, fear, and the sense that something vast is shifting beneath the surface.
The Characters
The characters remain the heart of the story, and Sunbringer allows them to grow in ways that feel natural, painful, and deeply rewarding. Kissen continues to be a phenomenal protagonist, fierce, guarded, and endlessly compelling, but this sequel also gives space for vulnerability and emotional depth to shine through. Inara’s journey becomes even more fascinating as the weight of her identity and power grows more complicated, while Skediceth brings warmth and humanity that grounds some of the darker moments beautifully. The relationships between the characters feel layered and believable, shaped by trust, fear, grief, and love in equal measure. Every interaction carries emotional weight.
The Writing Style
Kaner’s writing remains sharp, confident, and incredibly easy to lose yourself in. The prose flows effortlessly between quiet emotional moments and intense action sequences, never sacrificing character for spectacle. The pacing is excellent, steadily building tension while allowing the story room to breathe when it matters most. Dialogue feels natural and distinct, and the emotional scenes land with genuine impact. There’s a maturity to the writing that makes the world and characters feel fully realised, whilst still keeping the story accessible and gripping throughout.
Conclusion
Sunbringer is a stunning sequel that builds on the foundations of Godkiller while carving out its own emotional identity. It’s darker, more intense, and filled with moments that linger long after the final page. With exceptional character work, immersive worldbuilding, and a story driven by both heart and conflict, Hannah Kaner delivers another unforgettable fantasy novel. This series continues to stand out as one of the most exciting modern fantasy stories being written right now, and Sunbringer is an easy five-star read.
Review: Godkiller by Kaner
Book Details
Author: Hannah Kaner
Genre: Fantasy
Key Info: Stunning Debut Story
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Godkiller is a bold, thrilling fantasy that feels sharp, fresh, and impossible to put down. Hannah Kaner delivers a world of fractured gods, dangerous roads, and reluctant alliances, blending action, heart, and dark humour into a story that grips from the very first page. It’s fierce and fast-moving, but never loses the emotional core beating beneath the adventure. A stunning debut that feels both classic and entirely new.
The Atmosphere
Set in a land shaped by old faiths and fresh wounds, the world of Godkiller feels rich, gritty, and alive. There’s a constant sense of tension lingering in ruined temples, crowded taverns, wild roads, and cities where power shifts in the shadows. Magic is woven naturally into the setting, but it never feels whimsical or soft. Instead, it feels dangerous, unpredictable, and deeply tied to the people who fear it or worship it. Kaner creates a world that feels expansive, but also personal enough to draw you fully inside it.
The Characters
The real strength of this book lies in its unforgettable characters. Kissen is a brilliantly compelling protagonist who is sharp-tongued and capable, whilst carrying scars that make her feel wonderfully real. She’s the kind of character who commands every scene she enters. Alongside her is a cast of companions who bring warmth, tension, humour, and emotional depth in equal measure. Their dynamic grows naturally over the course of the story, and the relationships feel layered rather than predictable. Each character has their own wounds, motives, and moments to shine.
The Writing Style
Kaner’s writing is confident, clean, and effortlessly engaging. The prose is easy to sink into, balancing vivid worldbuilding with sharp dialogue and strong momentum. Action scenes are exciting without becoming overwhelming, while quieter moments land with real emotional weight. The pacing keeps the story moving, but still allows room for character growth and atmosphere. It’s the kind of fantasy that feels accessible while still offering depth.
Conclusion
Godkiller is everything I want in a fantasy novel, immersive worldbuilding, memorable characters, high stakes, and a story full of heart. It’s exciting, emotional, and packed with personality from beginning to end. Whether you’re a longtime fantasy reader or just stepping into the genre, this is a book well worth picking up. A brilliant start to a series, and an easy five-star read.
Review: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Arden
Book Details
Author: Katherine Arden
Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy
Key Info: World War I Setting
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a haunting, lyrical journey through grief, love, and the lingering shadows of war. Katherine Arden steps into historical fiction with a story that feels both intimate and otherworldly, blending the brutality of World War I with a quiet, almost dreamlike sense of magic. It’s a novel that lingers softly at first, then all at once.
The Atmosphere
Set against the bleak, frozen landscapes of wartime Europe, the novel carries a constant chill both physical and emotional. The trenches, hospitals, and ruined towns are rendered with stark realism, but there’s also an eerie undercurrent that makes everything feel slightly unreal, as though the veil between the living and the dead has thinned. Arden creates a world where grief hangs heavy in the air, yet moments of warmth and humanity shine through, making the contrast all the more powerful.
The Characters
At the heart of the story is Laura Iven, a determined and quietly resilient protagonist searching for answers in the chaos of war. Her journey is driven by love and loss, and her emotional depth makes her incredibly easy to root for. Alongside her, the characters she encounters soldiers, survivors, and strangers each carry their own scars, adding layers to the narrative. The relationships feel tender and real, grounded even as the story brushes against the supernatural.
The Writing Style
Arden’s prose is as beautiful as ever delicate, immersive, and deeply atmospheric. She has a way of writing that feels almost musical, pulling you into the story with vivid imagery and emotional precision. The pacing is more reflective than fast, allowing the weight of each moment to settle. It’s the kind of writing that doesn’t rush you, but instead asks you to sit with the story and feel it.
Conclusion
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a poignant, quietly powerful novel that blends history with a touch of the uncanny. It’s not a fast-paced read, but for those who enjoy character driven stories with rich atmosphere and emotional depth, it’s well worth the journey. A beautifully written exploration of loss, memory, and what it means to hold on even when everything else slips away.
Review: Victorian Psycho by Feito
Book Details
Author: Virginia Feito
Genre: Gothic Thriller
Key Info: Victorian London Setting
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Victorian Psycho is a blood-soaked, stylistic descent into the psyche of a woman who is as refined as she is depraved. Virginia Feito, who dazzled with her debut, returns with a tale that is even more visceral and unapologetically weird. Set in 1858 London, the novel challenges every convention of the gothic thriller with a sharp, satirical edge.
The Atmosphere
The story takes place in a cold, secluded, and rotting gothic mansion, where winter snow adds to the feeling of isolation but despite the horror, the tone is often laugh-out-loud funny, using satire to mock Victorian propriety, gender roles, and the incompetence of the upper class. It’s gothic horror at its most decadent, where every shadow seems to hide a secret and every velvet curtain conceals a stain.
The Characters
Notty is a fascinating creation. On the surface, Winifred presents herself as a prim, proper, and capable governess, hired to teach the young Drusilla and Andrew Pounds. In reality, she is a sociopath who views her charges with deep disdain and, at times, predatory amusement. Winifred’s perspective is filled with visceral, often grotesque, descriptions of the world around her, displaying a casual relationship with violence. She possesses a razor-sharp, sardonic wit, frequently making macabre comments on the upper-class family she serves.
The Writing Style
The reader is immersed in the warped mind of narrator Winifred Notty, leading to an unsettling experience where the lines between sanity, reality, and imagination blur. The prose is elegant, witty, and deeply unsettling. Feito has a gift for making the mundane feel menacing. The juxtaposition of high-society etiquette with extreme gore is handled with a master’s touch, creating a reading experience that is as addictive as it is disturbing. It's a novel that demands attention and rewards the brave reader.
Conclusion
Victorian Psycho is a transgressive, brilliant piece of historical fiction. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy their thrillers with a side of pitch-black humor and literary sophistication, it’s an absolute must-read. Feito has solidified her place as a master of the unsettling, delivering a finale that lingers long after the book is closed.
Review: Finale by Garber
Book Details
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Caraval #3
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
The finale to a trilogy is always a high-wire act, but Stephanie Garber doesn’t just walk the wire she dances on it with a trail of stars in her wake. Finale brings the Caraval trilogy to a close with a story that feels both inevitable and surprising, answering long-held questions while introducing new layers of wonder and peril.
The Stakes
The stakes have shifted from a game of illusions to a battle for the soul of Valenda itself. With the Fates fully awakened and reclaiming their power, the city is transformed into a playground of ancient curses and impossible bargains. The sense of urgency is palpable throughout, far exceeding the preceding volumes.
Perspectives & Perspectives
We see things through both Scarlett and Tella’s eyes once more, and their growth is staggering. Tella’s fierce independence and Scarlett’s quiet strength are tested in ways that force them to redefine what they’re willing to sacrifice for love and for each other. Their bond remains the trilogy's true North Star.
Revelations & Twists
Legend’s true identity and past have been teased from the very first book, and the payoff here is deeply satisfying. The plot is a maze of "if this then that" magic where every choice has a cost. There were several moments that genuinely caught me off guard, proving Garber still has tricks up her sleeve.
Writing Style
Garber’s prose remains as lush as ever. She has a way of describing emotions through colors and textures that makes the reading experience uniquely sensory. It’s whimsical, yes, but tempered with a newfound maturity in the narrative voice that reflects the high stakes.
Conclusion
Every thread is woven together into a tapestry that honors the sisters' bond while giving each character a meaningful arc. It captures that bittersweet feeling of leaving a world you've grown to inhabit, providing closure while leaving just enough magic for the reader to linger on.
Final Thoughts
Finale is a triumphant end to a masterpiece series. It is a story about the stories we tell ourselves, the games we choose to play, and the magic that exists when we stop trying to win and start trying to love. This trilogy will hold a permanent spot on my shelf, and this final ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is very much earned.
Review: Legendary by Garber
Book Details
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Caraval #2
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
If Caraval was a dream, Legendary is a beautiful, high-stakes nightmare you never want to wake up from. Following Scarlett’s journey in the first book, Stephanie Garber takes us deeper into the rabbit hole by shifting the perspective to Donatella. Tella is a breath of fresh air sharp, determined, and willing to gamble everything for the people she loves. This sequel doesn’t just expand the world; it shatters the boundaries of what we thought was possible in Valenda.
Atmosphere & Stakes
The set has moved from the private island to the glittering, historical city of Valenda. It’s a city of myths and festivals, but underneath the celebration, the ancient Fates are beginning to wake. The atmosphere is heavier, more regal, and significantly more dangerous. Garber’s ability to weave sensory details the scent of rain and sugar, the feeling of silk against cold skin is unparalleled.
Mystery & The Fates
The inclusion of the Fates adds a layer of dark mythology that elevates the series. Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is one of the most compelling additions to the cast a villainous, tragic figure who keeps you guessing at his true intentions until the very last page. The game of Caraval is still present, but the true prize is survival against forces much older and crueler than Master Legend himself.
Characters & Emotion
While Scarlett’s story was about finding courage, Tella’s is about the cost of freedom. Her internal conflict between her duty to her family and the growing attraction to someone she knows is dangerous provides the emotional heartbeat of the novel. The bond between the sisters remains the core anchor, even when distance and secrets threaten to pull them apart.
Writing Style
Garber’s prose continues to be magical and evocative. Every line feels like a lyric, pulling the reader further into a world where reality is just another layer of illusion. It’s rhythmic and immersive, making the 400+ pages fly by in what feels like a single sitting.
Final Thoughts
Legendary is a rare sequel that improves upon its predecessor. It’s dark, romantic, and breathtakingly imaginative. For anyone looking for a story that feels like a decadent secret, this is the book for you. I was captivated from the first sentence and left desperate for the final act of Finale.
I gave Legendary a full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it is a dazzling, dangerous masterpiece.
Review: Caraval by Garber
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
There are books you read… and then there are books you experience. Caraval is very much the latter. From the first chapter, I felt like I’d stepped into a dream, glittering, strange, romantic, and just a little bit dangerous. The story follows two sisters who receive an invitation to Caraval, a legendary once a year performance where the audience becomes part of the game. But this isn’t just a game. It’s a maze of illusions, secrets, and shifting realities where nothing is quite what it seems. That’s exactly what makes this book so addictive.
Atmosphere & Worldbuilding
The island of Caraval feels like a character in its own right. Every scene is soaked in sensory detail: velvet nights, glowing lanterns, whispered clues, and dazzling performances. It’s whimsical, but there’s always a quiet edge of danger humming underneath.
I loved how the world never lets you get too comfortable. Just when you think you understand the rules, they twist. Reality bends. Trust becomes slippery. That constant uncertainty creates a delicious tension that makes it very hard to put the book down.
Mystery & Plot
At its core, Caraval is a puzzle. The stakes feel real, even when you’re not entirely sure what is real. Every interaction feels layered, every clue potentially misleading. I found myself trying to solve the game alongside the characters, second-guessing almost everything. The pacing is well balanced: quick enough to keep you turning pages late into the night, but with enough breathing room to really sit in the atmosphere.
Characters & Emotion
For all the spectacle, it’s the characters that give Caraval its heart. The protagonist’s journey is full of growth, doubt, and quiet courage, and it’s easy to root for her as she’s pulled deeper into the game. The bond between the sisters adds an emotional anchor that keeps the story grounded amid all the magic and misdirection.
Writing Style
Stephanie Garber’s writing is lush and immersive. The prose has a dreamy, almost theatrical quality that fits the story perfectly romantic, eerie, and enchanting all at once. There were lines that made me pause just to sit with the imagery for a moment. It’s the kind of writing that invites you to linger rather than rush.
Final Thoughts
Caraval is a dazzling escape: a story that blurs the line between performance and reality, truth and illusion. It’s mysterious, emotional, and wonderfully atmospheric. If you enjoy fantasy with rich settings, high-stakes games, and stories that keep you guessing right up to the end, this is absolutely worth picking up.
I gave Caraval a full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and it earns every one. And as for whether I’d survive Caraval myself… I’m still not entirely sure.
Book Details
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Caraval #1
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars