Faithbreaker | Book Review

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of the Fallen Gods trilogy.

After Sunbringer left me a little underwhelmed, I went into Faithbreaker optimistically cautious. And find myself pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was invested again. Around the 25% mark, I already knew this would be a stronger finish. At least for me.

As always, chapters with Inara and Skedi were my favorites. Inara’s character arc has been so satisfying to follow, and Skedi continues to be one of the most delightful and compelling sidekicks in recent fantasy.

Structurally, we’re still spending much of the book in preparation. Rallying support, gathering new allies, setting the board. That said, I found myself enjoying the political dynamics far more this time. Where Sunbringer’s politics felt heavier and were mostly centered around a character I didn’t connect with. But here, Faithbreaker introduces new players and a much more nuanced balance of power, which made all the maneuvering significantly more engaging.

One of my biggest frustrations with Sunbringer was how scattered the main cast was. After falling in love with their dynamic in Godkiller, I was hoping we’d get more of that chemistry but instead they spent most of the second book apart. Faithbreaker fixes that. We get Inara, Skedi and Kissen together for a big portion of the story, and while it is not the full team, their reunion gave the book a warmth and momentum I really missed before. Elogast is still off on his own path for much of it but honestly? His arc delivers such an emotional weight that I didn’t mind his distance at all.

If I have one real complaint, it’s the death that happens around the midpoint. It felt unnecessary, like it was there purely for shock value. The character wasn’t even properly mourned and the loss didn’t serve the story in a meaningful way. It just left a sour note in otherwise well-composed book.

It’s true the book isn’t action heavy. This series never really was. But I did expect a bit more direct conflict in the final installment. Still, once we hit 70% mark, the momentum really picks up. The lead-up to the final confrontation with Hseth is beautifully done, and when the moment arrives… I was fully hooked.

And the ending made me cry. I saw it coming but I didn’t expect how hard it would hit. I understand exactly why it hit me like that but I can’t get into it without spoiling the whole thing.

Faithbreaker is a thoughtful, fitting conclusion to a great trilogy. It might not be the flashiest finale, but it feels right, and sometimes that’s the most satisfying kind of ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.