Godkiller by Hannah Kraner

 

Four individuals reluctantly travel together to the ruined city of Blenraden.  Each has their own reason for going.  Some are allies, some newly met.  Blenraden was the scene of the killing and defeat of the gods, wild gods, household gods, all those who tried to defeat the men who made them.  In this world, gods are created and maintained by humans; their desires and requests and offerings.  

Krissen is a godkiller.  She travels the land, taking assignments to kill gods that have become troublesome.  She has her own reasons for killing gods.  It was a god that allowed the sacrifice of her own family, burning them all alive.  Krissen escaped at the cost of her right leg.

Elogast was the former commander of knights at Blenraden.  He grew up with the king who later demanded the end of all gods.  They were both unwanted as children as the king was the youngest child and no one expected him to ever be king.  At Blenraden, the king stepped between Elogast and certain death so when he asks Elogast to return there and make a request of a surviving god to save his life, Elogast feels he must take up his sword after years of being a baker and return.

Inara is a young girl, daughter of the local royalty.  Her mother has kept her hidden to protect her and few even know of her existence.  Inara is somehow bound to Skedi, a small god who is the god of white lies.  She woke up one morning and he was there attached to her.  After several years of attachment, they both want to break the bond and go to ask Kissen to help them.  When they return to Inara's manor, it has been burned in their absence along with everyone Inara knows and loves.  

These four travel together on their separate missions which eventually become one mission.  Along the way, they learn to put aside their mistrust and dislike for one another and become a loyal foursome.  Whether that will give them success is another story.

This is a debut novel for Hannah Kraner although not the first she submitted for publication.  It is an original take on the quest meme and has been a major success in the fantasy world.  The characters are well drawn and their loyalty to each other, although hard won, is interesting.  The idea of gods being created by men's desires twists the usual ideas of the genre.  Kraner lives in Scotland and says she wrote this book out of anger at how women are portrayed in most writing.  This book is highly recommended for fantasy readers.