Faithbreaker

Kaner expertly sticks the landing in her page-turning conclusion to the Fallen Gods trilogy (after Sunbringer), which sees gods and humans collide in an epic struggle for control over the land of Middren. To combat the fire god Hseth’s reign of violence, seafaring Lady Lessa Craier has reluctantly allied with volatile King Arren. Now she; her demigod daughter, Inara; and Inara’s companion Skediceth, the god of white lies, sail in search of others who will support their cause. Warily joining them is godkiller Kissen, who’s determined to keep a protective eye over Inara. Meanwhile, knight Elogast comes out of retirement to serve as a commander in Arren’s army, despite his lingering hurt over Arren’s past betrayals. As Hseth’s followers burn through countless cities in worship of their god, the scattered friends must find courage within themselves and inspire it in their allies before Middren is lost for good. Kaner masterfully manipulates the plot’s many moving pieces, braiding pulse-pounding action, unpredictable twists, and quiet character beats into a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and hope. It’s an impressive feat. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Apr.)