Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner

Book Review

Mikaela Silk

From killing gods and plotting the downfall of the king, Kissen and Elo must now work with these same enemies to defend Middren against an enemy bigger than them all. Meanwhile Inara is reunited with her mother, although neither of them are quite the same people as when they last met. Their allied force is held loosely together by fear, with tensions high and trust almost impossible to find. Will they be able to work together when it matters most and, even then, will their combined strengths be enough to break the faith of an entire nation?

The tangled web of relationships in this book makes for a compelling page-turner. The dynamics between Elo and Arren are particularly fraught, with heartbreak and betrayal warring against love, fear, and a lifetime of history. This contradiction is echoed in the surprising trust and friendship growing between Kissen and Skedi: god and godkiller. Their interactions have turned completely around since the first book as they conspire with each other instead of against each other. In fact many of Kissen’s interactions with the gods contradict her entire history with them, something which Kissen is constantly aware of and struggles with. Inara’s growing powers seem to make this easier for her as she represents a bridge between humans and gods, which Kissen cannot deny.

Both Inara and Skedi become the fullest versions of themselves in this final book. Having both learned their history, they are able to accept that these histories do not define their identities or futures. For Skedi, this means embracing his role as Inara’s protector and friend, finding within himself some very human emotions which are not often found in gods. In contrast, Inara becomes a harder version of herself, forging her hardships into a determined independence and a strong force of will. Overall, they seem to have taken on board the best of what Kissen could teach them; her unwavering commitment to protecting others, including the recklessness that this inspires. This is tempered somewhat by Elo’s influence. Where Kissen trusts no one, Elo has shown them that trust is possible but that it must be constantly earned.

We learn quite a bit more about gods in this book. The most impactful of these are the examples of what happens to re-born gods. This ability to be re-born makes them seem immortal, but it is clear that they are re-born only at the whims of their followers. We see how both Hseth and Yusef are re-born into new images and are vulnerable to manipulation by the very people that worship them. However, we also see how dangerous this manipulation can be. In Yusef’s case, the loss of memory of his past life holds a particular sting for the reader.

Reading this book, I was unsure how Hannah Kaner would choose to end her trilogy. Which people and which bonds would survive the war? How would victory be achieved and what losses would it entail? In the end, I think she has found a perfect balance of success and failure, loss and discovery. Enough loose ends were tied up to leave me feeling satisfied, with just enough potential for the future laid out for my mind to ponder. It is an end to the story, but for the characters within it, this is merely a new beginning.