Review: Sunbringer (Fallen Gods #2)

Book information

Title: Sunbringer

Author: Hannah Kaner

Where to buy: Harper Collins, Amazon, Banres & Noble & Bookshop.org

The following review contains spoilers, proceed at your own risk!

At first I was a bit disappointed seeing that the drama from the first book vanished and mainly was about action, but the end got a spike of drama, also unexpected as it wasn't about Arren and Elogast but rather about Skedi and Inara. Again a fight, and I don't quite know why, maybe as I got attached from the start to Skedi but every time I read their fights I feel very sad. Not like the 'I pity them' sad, but actually sad. Even if the cause for it is my attachment to Skedi and him being my favourite character from the start, I think without the awesome writing style of Hannah Kaner I would have never felt that way.

I ironically liked as well that the focus of this book was not on Kissen, but rather on Arren, Elgoast, Skedi and Inara. Don't like characters that are rude in nature, nothing against Kissen, I know that she has a kind heart, but on the long run I can't read it all the time. Besides, it fills me with joy knowing that Skedi and Inara get a greater spotlight this time. 

This one tiny detail that some might not talk about in their reviews, but which I definitely wanted to adress is how Skedi wanted to be loved, wanted to be praised, to have followers, feel needed and still decided to not accept any gifts or offerings to him. At some point in this story he gets people to trust him which was very astonishing for me as he had trouble with trust as everyone just knew him as a white lie god and believed nothing he said, but he gained the trust of people he met throughout this book and every time they wanted to give him an offering for his service he didn't accept them. First from Inara, saying that she is his shrine and that he possibly can't do that and the next times out of kindness and as he knew that it was Inara to thank for, not him. I think he has such a kind soul and that him seeing Inara not only as a friend, but also as someome he can rely on and someone he don't want to lose. And the 2nd time Inara owed him an offering he said that she doesn't need to give him anything as ‘Some things are done out of love.’ I think their relationship also stronged even if they can distance themselves more, as she decided to give him offerings instead of just taking him for granted or telling him to stop using his powers, like in the first book.

Not only is the writing style good as mentioned above, but the things characters say aren't just half-heartly, they say stuff that are perfect for quotes. I already recognised this in the first book of this series and I was amazed of how some words where found back in a fantasy novel, as they sounded so philosophical. 

Might be biased but I like to see once in a while an author who uses British English for their writing style. And I made my research, the author is also from there so that's great. Personally, I prefer to read British English as I use it mainly and American English sometimes puts me off as I don't know all their vocabulary and sometimes speculate what certain words mean. 

Things that I didn't like was the way Inara behaved. Not that major, just slightly as I know she was in a fight with Skedi, but her excuse for all this felt a bit childish. But can't say a lot as she is still a child so perhaps it was done on purpose. It only really upset me as Skedi was full of sorrow and then she changes her mind that fast and instead of like last time no one was grudging this time. I get it that last time was worse, but still. We can see quite clearly who the child of the two are.

Some scenes were a bit useless, I mean the ones with Kissen, but maybe I only think so as I prefer to not see the POV of someone who everyone thinks is dead. 'Cause then it could have been more surprising when she arrives to the rest of the group, even if the reader knew she lived. 

The fight between Arren and Elogast was quite interesting especially their dialogue and how they apologised and their different views, one saying the other one left him while the other one said that he changed. Only thing I didn't like that one moment where the author decided to write down that: ‘Now Elo was close enough to kiss him’. I thought when they both said that they used to love eachother that it was meant in a platonic way. As Elogast was Arren's knight and protected him and they had lots of memories like friends. And now I'm not so sure anymore and it just ruined the complete mood and setting. I thought I read about a broken friendship which seemed to be sad, and then this. 

Lastly, the word 'cock' was used a few times and I think it was unnecessary. No sex scenes, just some jokes, but I was a bit baffled when I read that. Especially as the first book wasn't like that and I wasn't used of it therefore.

How it works: Only everything that is lower than 9 gets reduced from the final rating. Depending on how strong it inflicted the overall enjoyment of reading it effects differently. 

[ Story 8 / 10 ]

[ Characters 8 / 10 ]

[ Triggering 1 / 10 ]

[ Topic/Genre 9 / 10 ]

[ Writing style 9 / 10 ]

[ Grammatic and spelling 10 / 10 ]

[ Ending 10 / 10 ]

Final Rating

4/5