“All that mattered was the story. The myths that made gods, brought them to life in their shrines. Stories bind hope and love to make it faith.”

Fantasy books with a focus on gods, religion, and the line between faith & fanaticism have my entire heart.

I was a bit hesitant going into this book because I'd heard some mixed reviews, but I absolutely loved it. I can see why some people were let down, especially if they loved the first book for the found family and quest vibes (which were notably... less present in this story lol.)

The focus turned more towards the gods and their followers, which was exactly what I wanted. We still followed most of the characters from Godkiller, but their focus was on the changing tide of the kingdoms, the struggles of the gods, and the changing political climate.

The characters were perhaps the weakest part of this installment, which isn't to say I didn't still care for them, but their own internal struggle took up so much of their narratives that it became hard to connect with them. One character in particular was acting so rashly that I found it hard to not be irritated every time it was their perspective. (Not my beloved Skedi though; his internal struggle was actually handled the best, in my opinion.)

Also, Elo and Arren were 1,000,000% in love and I will die on this hill.

As for recommending this: I know this trilogy isn't quite as character driven as some books, but I'd still highly recommend this series to everyone. It's so good, familiar and unique at once, as well as fantastic at being inclusive without feeling forced.

Now, I shall sit here and wait for March/April, because I need Faithbreaker in my hands as soon as possible.