Ah, Sunbringer how much I wanted to love you like I loved Godkiller…
While it didn’t quite steal my heart like its predecessor, Sunbringer still had its moments. I’d say it’s a solid 3-star read, just lacking that special charm that made Godkiller so captivating.
To me, one of the key elements that made Godkiller endearing was its strong emphasis on the found family dynamic. However Sunbringer disappointingly deviates from this and decides to seperate the characters for much of the story, thus losing the tight-knit bond that was integral to the appeal of the first book. While this departure initially felt like a setbacki it actually provided room for Inara’s growth. Being seperated from Kissen for the most part allowed her to flourish and became her own person, which was great to witness. Despite the narrative shift, this development in Inara’s journey added depth to the story and showcased the characters’ resilience in adapting to new challenges.
Additionally, the pacing of Sunbringer leaves much to be desired. Unlike the brisk momentum of Godkiller, Sunbringer’s pacing feels slow, hindering the narrative’s ability to engage and hold the reader’s attention effectively. Besides pacing there is one more reason I felt this way..
I’m not sure how to articulate this really (not being native English speaker doesn’t help) Sunbringer adds a lot of new characters. They are not new PoV’s but they actually felt that way. I felt like our main characters are side characters in their stories. Does it make any sense? That, for me, created a sense of fragmentation that detracts from the overall cohesiveness of the story. They are not bad characters. Some of them possess intriguing qualities but their inclusion sidelined the main characters. I don’t mean don’t add new characters, just don’t sideline the main ones. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me.
However, Sunbringer shines in its exploration of gods. Kaner presents a captivating array of gods. Exploring these divine entities was the highlight of the book for me. The richness of ther world-building in Sunbringer stands out as a testament to Kaner’s talent, immersing us in a vividly crafted universe filled with depth and detail.
So, eventhough the negatives may outweight the positives this time around, I am eagerly looking forward to reading the final book in the series. Fallen Gods remains intriguing.
Have you read Sunbringer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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