The big bad goddess has just been defeated, falls out of the sky, and lands in Hitch’s lake. Hitch, a hermit who just wants to fish, smoke her pipe, and look after her snails, suddenly finds herself stuck with a de-powered deity on the run. From there, the story gets fun and moves between sorcery, strange tech, musings on the nature of reality and morality, a fire-breathing frog with issues, and even a collectible card game tournament. The author makes it all fun and easy to follow.

Hitch is instantly likable, deeply shaped by her deformities and status as an outcast. Because of her looks, people treated her harshly and made her life hard. She spends much of the journey wrestling with the question of why people choose evil at all, which is important because the answer will allow her to decide if she should kill the goddess or not. Also, she’s a great FWEN (card game) player who treats the game seriously. Beatrix, the goddess herself, is Hitch’s opposite - obsessed with beauty, perfection, and power, yet suddenly dependent on someone she might have crushed underfoot if it weren’t for all this mess. Their dynamic is tense, funny, and occasionally touching.

There’s also Reinwald, a chirurgeon scarred by trauma. He sees dead people, suddenly remembers he had a kitten as a child, and it’s not a good memory. His chapters aren’t as captivating as Hitch’s, but they’re strong in their own right.

I liked the writing style - it’s clear, easy to read and follow. I found it perfect for a story that juggles more “adult” moments (sex, violence, death) with warm interludes (Hitch playing the Game of FWEN is delightful). The pacing is quick, and the ending sticks the landing. Also, somewhere in the middle Stang’s readers will find an excellent sequence that connects the author’s books in a surprising way. Fans of Lamplight Murder Mysteries series will learn new things about Nobles.

Overall, this was a great ride. Fans of fantasy with heart and teeth will love it.