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Death to the Dread Goddess!
All Hitch the hermit wants to do is go fishing, smoke her pipe, and take care of her snails. Unfortunately, the world has other ideas.
It's the day of the final battle between good and evil, and the light has won. The White Star, hero of ages and leader of the rebellion, has conquered the Dread Goddess. Cast from her throne in the Onyx Tower, the mad tyrant falls like a comet — right into Hitch's lake.
Magically shackled and drained of power, the Goddess must rely on Hitch to flee the rebel army. Even dethroned, she is divine, and she promises to reward Hitch with heavenly wonders. But the hermit knows something that no one else how to kill the Dread Goddess for good.
And she has the means to do it.
With the White Star in hot pursuit, the unlikely duo must race across the land to recover the tyrant's strength. After a journey filled with mind-bending sorcery and horror, unexpected technology, deep secrets of the universe, a depressed fire-breathing frog, multiple accidental murders, and one legendary collectible card game tournament, Hitch must make a decision that will change everyone's fate.
Kill the Goddess?
Or set her free?
It's the day of the final battle between good and evil, and the light has won. The White Star, hero of ages and leader of the rebellion, has conquered the Dread Goddess. Cast from her throne in the Onyx Tower, the mad tyrant falls like a comet — right into Hitch's lake.
Magically shackled and drained of power, the Goddess must rely on Hitch to flee the rebel army. Even dethroned, she is divine, and she promises to reward Hitch with heavenly wonders. But the hermit knows something that no one else how to kill the Dread Goddess for good.
And she has the means to do it.
With the White Star in hot pursuit, the unlikely duo must race across the land to recover the tyrant's strength. After a journey filled with mind-bending sorcery and horror, unexpected technology, deep secrets of the universe, a depressed fire-breathing frog, multiple accidental murders, and one legendary collectible card game tournament, Hitch must make a decision that will change everyone's fate.
Kill the Goddess?
Or set her free?
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 30, 2025
4.5/5
Death to the Dread Goddess! moves fast, makes you laugh, but also makes you pause and think.
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.
Death to the Dread Goddess! moves fast, makes you laugh, but also makes you pause and think.
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.
August 31, 2025
What a time! I had a lot of fun with this - especially with the Easter eggs to the wider universe this author has created and the connections to some other stories.
This book puts a lot of fantasy tropes on their head, which is something I always love. Combine that with a lot of humor and of social critique and the inclusion of modern things - from health care systems to romance book tropes and card games - and you have this innovative mesh-up where the roles of good and evil are not clear at all. I felt the ending was very satisfying, and I'm excited about where this character might show up next.
This book puts a lot of fantasy tropes on their head, which is something I always love. Combine that with a lot of humor and of social critique and the inclusion of modern things - from health care systems to romance book tropes and card games - and you have this innovative mesh-up where the roles of good and evil are not clear at all. I felt the ending was very satisfying, and I'm excited about where this character might show up next.
September 26, 2025
4.5 stars or 9/10
September 3, 2025
I'm only halfway through this gem of a novel, but I was so aghast that there are only 4 ratings, I felt compelled to put a pre-review up.
I thoroughly enjoyed Stang's Lamplight series, and after a bad run of dnfing a few novels, DttDG seemed like the perfect novel to kick those reading cogs into gear. And oh boy, what a delight of a novel this has been so far. Crisp, clear writing, a fun premise and a fantastic protagonist in Hitch, who has a wonderfully unique voice.
Oh, and to laugh as I read page after page of an author who understands how to write comedy - just so refreshing after eye-rolling at much of what is supposed to be comedic in fiction these days.
I'll certainly update and edit this review once the book is completed, but if you're a fan of Terry Pratchett, or if you appreciate when the joy of a character is not in their physical prowess or fantastical good looks, but their wit and cunning - this is sure to go down a treat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So I'm finally finished, and though my thoughts remain largely the same and the rating unchanged, there are two aspects that marginally moved the needle to just under 4 stars and that may ipact your enjoyment of the novel.
First, the good stuff. Hitch is a fantastic protagonist, and I do hope Stang has more in store for her. The humour remained excellent and Stang really nailed the ending - it felt very much in keeping with Hitch's character, had a touch of humour but was also poignant and honest. There's a lot of satire of our modern world that I think Stang spotlights well, and I thought Reinwald's character arc was adeptly handled.
That said, and without trying to spoil anything, Stang does some unusual things with genre's clashing that I'm not sure I thought worked quite as well as he may have hoped, but that could just be personal preference. Of greater concern is a short section that deals with SA. Whilst I don't have an issue with the portrayal of SA in fantasy, I think it's important that the decision as to why it should be included should always receive a great deal of consideration. In this instance, I found it an unnecessary inclusion as it would likely have changed very little in terms of plot and character motivation. Of course this is just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Nevertheless, this felt like the breath of fresh air I needed - clever plotting, witty and original, and most of all, that Hitch is a triumph.
I thoroughly enjoyed Stang's Lamplight series, and after a bad run of dnfing a few novels, DttDG seemed like the perfect novel to kick those reading cogs into gear. And oh boy, what a delight of a novel this has been so far. Crisp, clear writing, a fun premise and a fantastic protagonist in Hitch, who has a wonderfully unique voice.
Oh, and to laugh as I read page after page of an author who understands how to write comedy - just so refreshing after eye-rolling at much of what is supposed to be comedic in fiction these days.
I'll certainly update and edit this review once the book is completed, but if you're a fan of Terry Pratchett, or if you appreciate when the joy of a character is not in their physical prowess or fantastical good looks, but their wit and cunning - this is sure to go down a treat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So I'm finally finished, and though my thoughts remain largely the same and the rating unchanged, there are two aspects that marginally moved the needle to just under 4 stars and that may ipact your enjoyment of the novel.
First, the good stuff. Hitch is a fantastic protagonist, and I do hope Stang has more in store for her. The humour remained excellent and Stang really nailed the ending - it felt very much in keeping with Hitch's character, had a touch of humour but was also poignant and honest. There's a lot of satire of our modern world that I think Stang spotlights well, and I thought Reinwald's character arc was adeptly handled.
That said, and without trying to spoil anything, Stang does some unusual things with genre's clashing that I'm not sure I thought worked quite as well as he may have hoped, but that could just be personal preference. Of greater concern is a short section that deals with SA. Whilst I don't have an issue with the portrayal of SA in fantasy, I think it's important that the decision as to why it should be included should always receive a great deal of consideration. In this instance, I found it an unnecessary inclusion as it would likely have changed very little in terms of plot and character motivation. Of course this is just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Nevertheless, this felt like the breath of fresh air I needed - clever plotting, witty and original, and most of all, that Hitch is a triumph.
September 28, 2025
What a result
I've been waiting and hoping to find out what the strange young woman who randomly teleports into Stang's various books is all about, so I was very excited to finally get the story.
And it's a banger. I loved it. Hitch is fantastic, Beatrix is somehow both terrifying and relatable, and from the very start you can just see what Sigrid is gonna do and wow, does that arc ever pay off.
By the end, we've been seeded with enough clues to figure everything out, but even when you spot them in advance the reveals are very well handled. Just as any good mystery should be. You won't be left feeling stupid if you don't figure it out, and the Bam! moment when it all clicks (at whatever point that may be) is excellent.
I love Stang's books, across the genres, and this one fills in so much lore that connects them all whilst also standing on its own. You don't need to know the references, though it's fun if you do - and I'll bet it's also fun to read this then others and do it that way around.
In short: I loved it.
I've been waiting and hoping to find out what the strange young woman who randomly teleports into Stang's various books is all about, so I was very excited to finally get the story.
And it's a banger. I loved it. Hitch is fantastic, Beatrix is somehow both terrifying and relatable, and from the very start you can just see what Sigrid is gonna do and wow, does that arc ever pay off.
By the end, we've been seeded with enough clues to figure everything out, but even when you spot them in advance the reveals are very well handled. Just as any good mystery should be. You won't be left feeling stupid if you don't figure it out, and the Bam! moment when it all clicks (at whatever point that may be) is excellent.
I love Stang's books, across the genres, and this one fills in so much lore that connects them all whilst also standing on its own. You don't need to know the references, though it's fun if you do - and I'll bet it's also fun to read this then others and do it that way around.
In short: I loved it.
September 25, 2025
It was a slow start but spectacular by the end.
October 2, 2025
Disclaimer: I was one of the few beta readers lucky enough to get an early copy.
Did he bribe me?
No, so my opinions of this book are still unfiltered but this segways into a point.
Also jump to where you want.
-
I read this in the early phase, a lot of fights with Stang over comma placements, British or American English spelling, WHAT CONSTITUENTS AS BASIC ASS MATH, STANG, and story elements took place. Why? Because of my previous work as an article writer and editing experience, I was fighting him, me, and the ghost of my editor teacher’s past in a William Strunk Jr. themed threeway W.W.E match and I’m in the chokehold. And no, it was not scripted.
I can’t agree with what Stang kept and what he left out, sure, it’s not my book, it’s his.
And it made me realize...
Not every book is made with everyone in mind.
-
This review is not formatted like my previous works. Why?
I got sick with COVID, new medication for my mystery arm pain literally made me astral project to Ahgra that I needed two weeks to rebalance my hold on this planet, my cat took a chunk off my wrist (yes you read that right) and I almost had to get hospitalized for it and then proceeded to puke my guts when I took the antibiotics, got electrocuted. TWICE., got horribly depressed, and then ultimately to what is today as of October 2nd, sick with a cold.
So in other words, I’m lucky to be depressed and sorta functioning, but I also give up trying to have any energy to do a "proper" review as I promised Stang and an astral projected deity I apparently made during the fugue of COVID.
So, take this, astral projected deity!
-
Let's get blunt:
This story felt like it was made for me*.*
Now, I don’t think Stang had his arms astral projected (I think these are my favorite words today) away for three years, but that’s not the point. He knows, somehow, how it feels to be a person that has Hitch's disability. He feels who his MC is, lives and breathes through them that they feel 100% real. And frankly, that's one of many Stang's strengths.
Hitch, our MC, during the small and quiet moments and thoughts, really enveloped what I feel as a disabled person.
The small things mean a lot to us.
Her snail collection? That’s literally “Civilization V” to her. Those rocks? OS Runescape. And Fwen? Redditors on Gwent.
It sort of baffles me that Stang really can hit it out of the ballpark when it comes to his MCs that I do think he found a Hitch IRL and based it off of her.
Overall, they all seem like genuine real people we know today.
I tried to ask Stang if any of these people were based on IRL but he was having none of it.
-
Hitch, as a character, and though I love her to bits, has me a little mixed. She is deep and fleshed, yes, though I think her brilliance tends to be blunted by that of Beatrix. 'Cause this is Beatrix’s world and we’re just living in it as she makes it startlingly clear. (I kept imagining her as Galadriel who finally snapped after the events of Mt. Doom, who didn’t board the ship to Valinor, and we’re just living in the end game here)
Beatrix you can see her as what she is in all of her glory (and a near copyright infringement) that I was gushing about her until the very end.
With Reinwald, who served as the in between chapters, he is fleshed too and he will speak to a lot of people, but it didn’t work for me but I understood what Stang was going for. Doesn’t mean I agree with the execution, but let’s face it:
~
“I have more books published than you, so your arguments are invalid.” Morgan Stang laughed as he blew more bubbles out of his pipe and kicked away my manuscript.
(Based on a false story)
~
There are going to be elements that won’t mesh with you, and that is perfectly ok.
Remember what I said earlier? “...not every book is made with everyone in mind.”
What maybe didn’t mesh with me, probably changed someone else’s worldview.
You never know!
-
I can go on about worldbuilding, plot, pace, vibe, etc. But at the end of the day, without too much nit picking, Stang knows how to cast a spell over his reader and if he casts it on the right person, you will be in for a treat.
It might hit down to the most pessimistic person to the most live laugh love creature. And heck, I was one the pessimistic readers going into this, 100% sure I can figure this book out, and by the end I was like Squidward having a meltdown about the "future".
And who knows? Maybe you’ll have a new perspective on life, maybe you won’t.
Who am I to say? I’m not your goddess.
But, Beatrix sure is.
5/5
Did he bribe me?
No, so my opinions of this book are still unfiltered but this segways into a point.
Also jump to where you want.
-
I read this in the early phase, a lot of fights with Stang over comma placements, British or American English spelling, WHAT CONSTITUENTS AS BASIC ASS MATH, STANG, and story elements took place. Why? Because of my previous work as an article writer and editing experience, I was fighting him, me, and the ghost of my editor teacher’s past in a William Strunk Jr. themed threeway W.W.E match and I’m in the chokehold. And no, it was not scripted.
I can’t agree with what Stang kept and what he left out, sure, it’s not my book, it’s his.
And it made me realize...
Not every book is made with everyone in mind.
-
This review is not formatted like my previous works. Why?
I got sick with COVID, new medication for my mystery arm pain literally made me astral project to Ahgra that I needed two weeks to rebalance my hold on this planet, my cat took a chunk off my wrist (yes you read that right) and I almost had to get hospitalized for it and then proceeded to puke my guts when I took the antibiotics, got electrocuted. TWICE., got horribly depressed, and then ultimately to what is today as of October 2nd, sick with a cold.
So in other words, I’m lucky to be depressed and sorta functioning, but I also give up trying to have any energy to do a "proper" review as I promised Stang and an astral projected deity I apparently made during the fugue of COVID.
So, take this, astral projected deity!
-
Let's get blunt:
This story felt like it was made for me*.*
Now, I don’t think Stang had his arms astral projected (I think these are my favorite words today) away for three years, but that’s not the point. He knows, somehow, how it feels to be a person that has Hitch's disability. He feels who his MC is, lives and breathes through them that they feel 100% real. And frankly, that's one of many Stang's strengths.
Hitch, our MC, during the small and quiet moments and thoughts, really enveloped what I feel as a disabled person.
The small things mean a lot to us.
Her snail collection? That’s literally “Civilization V” to her. Those rocks? OS Runescape. And Fwen? Redditors on Gwent.
It sort of baffles me that Stang really can hit it out of the ballpark when it comes to his MCs that I do think he found a Hitch IRL and based it off of her.
Overall, they all seem like genuine real people we know today.
I tried to ask Stang if any of these people were based on IRL but he was having none of it.
-
Hitch, as a character, and though I love her to bits, has me a little mixed. She is deep and fleshed, yes, though I think her brilliance tends to be blunted by that of Beatrix. 'Cause this is Beatrix’s world and we’re just living in it as she makes it startlingly clear. (I kept imagining her as Galadriel who finally snapped after the events of Mt. Doom, who didn’t board the ship to Valinor, and we’re just living in the end game here)
Beatrix you can see her as what she is in all of her glory (and a near copyright infringement) that I was gushing about her until the very end.
With Reinwald, who served as the in between chapters, he is fleshed too and he will speak to a lot of people, but it didn’t work for me but I understood what Stang was going for. Doesn’t mean I agree with the execution, but let’s face it:
~
“I have more books published than you, so your arguments are invalid.” Morgan Stang laughed as he blew more bubbles out of his pipe and kicked away my manuscript.
(Based on a false story)
~
There are going to be elements that won’t mesh with you, and that is perfectly ok.
Remember what I said earlier? “...not every book is made with everyone in mind.”
What maybe didn’t mesh with me, probably changed someone else’s worldview.
You never know!
-
I can go on about worldbuilding, plot, pace, vibe, etc. But at the end of the day, without too much nit picking, Stang knows how to cast a spell over his reader and if he casts it on the right person, you will be in for a treat.
It might hit down to the most pessimistic person to the most live laugh love creature. And heck, I was one the pessimistic readers going into this, 100% sure I can figure this book out, and by the end I was like Squidward having a meltdown about the "future".
And who knows? Maybe you’ll have a new perspective on life, maybe you won’t.
Who am I to say? I’m not your goddess.
But, Beatrix sure is.
5/5
September 5, 2025
This book is the definition of a wild ride. A break neck pace that kept me from wanting to put this down. I loved the characters and overall whimsical nature of the story and world. It feels very Pratchett in its approach to humor and themes and even references disc world so the inspiration is there. This was a very fun book that shattered my expectations in ways I never would have expected. Will absolutely be picking up more of Stang’s work.
October 6, 2025
Long live the Dread Goddess
As someone who has been eagerly awaiting a fourth book in the “Lamplight Murder Mystery” series, I was a little crestfallen when I heard that Morgan Stang was releasing this book instead and not another Lamplight book. Oh well, I decided to read it anyway. After all, any Morgan Stang book is always a wonderful experience. And after reading the first couple of pages of Hitch’s morning ablutions, I realised I needn’t have been so worried, I was hooked. I knew instantly I was going to be getting the same excellent character writing, the same brilliantly witty dialogue, and of course the same deeply rich imaginative world building that he gives to all his writing. “Death to the Dread Goddess” is just as magnificent as his Lamplight series, and maybe not quite the standalone I originally thought it was!?!
With the Dread Goddess we get a periphery view of the Lamplight universe as we are introduced to the marvellously magnificent, Hitch. A beautiful character who is the emotional heart of this incredible new book and whose humour and gentle view of the world flows effortlessly through the narrative prose. Morgan Stang has created a new world full of interesting new characters that do what all good science fiction writing does and help us to see our own frailties, and view this world through the descaled eyes of an observer. A clarity of vision wrapped up in a fantastical adventure.
I don’t want to discuss the plot in any way, except to say that you will probably get more out of it if you’ve read the “Lamplight Mysteries” first because the subtle crossover really adds to the richness of this story. But don’t worry if you haven’t as this book is such a great sci-fantascy book that you’ll have a blast reading it as it is. And much like the Lamplight series, now that I’ve read it, I want more. The characters have this quality about them that makes you want to spend more time in their company. Whether it’s loveably innocent Finnian or the moodily complex Reinwald, you’re left feeling there is more to be had as their story is not yet over. And we’ve got to see that Fwen rematch! Come on you magnificent son of a b… we want more!!!
As someone who has been eagerly awaiting a fourth book in the “Lamplight Murder Mystery” series, I was a little crestfallen when I heard that Morgan Stang was releasing this book instead and not another Lamplight book. Oh well, I decided to read it anyway. After all, any Morgan Stang book is always a wonderful experience. And after reading the first couple of pages of Hitch’s morning ablutions, I realised I needn’t have been so worried, I was hooked. I knew instantly I was going to be getting the same excellent character writing, the same brilliantly witty dialogue, and of course the same deeply rich imaginative world building that he gives to all his writing. “Death to the Dread Goddess” is just as magnificent as his Lamplight series, and maybe not quite the standalone I originally thought it was!?!
With the Dread Goddess we get a periphery view of the Lamplight universe as we are introduced to the marvellously magnificent, Hitch. A beautiful character who is the emotional heart of this incredible new book and whose humour and gentle view of the world flows effortlessly through the narrative prose. Morgan Stang has created a new world full of interesting new characters that do what all good science fiction writing does and help us to see our own frailties, and view this world through the descaled eyes of an observer. A clarity of vision wrapped up in a fantastical adventure.
I don’t want to discuss the plot in any way, except to say that you will probably get more out of it if you’ve read the “Lamplight Mysteries” first because the subtle crossover really adds to the richness of this story. But don’t worry if you haven’t as this book is such a great sci-fantascy book that you’ll have a blast reading it as it is. And much like the Lamplight series, now that I’ve read it, I want more. The characters have this quality about them that makes you want to spend more time in their company. Whether it’s loveably innocent Finnian or the moodily complex Reinwald, you’re left feeling there is more to be had as their story is not yet over. And we’ve got to see that Fwen rematch! Come on you magnificent son of a b… we want more!!!
February 27, 2026
Read this book! You won't regret it.
June 6, 2026
3/5, this book has such a strong start. Hitch is a wonderful protagonist. She has an amazing voice and I was immediately endeared to her and throughout the book she was the shining star. Her character study was also good, her conflict was good, everything about her was great.
The white star, the prophecised hero on the other hand is HORRENDOUS. She is the standin for soul less corporations of current day earth. She feels so out of place in this backwards mediaeval world that every time she was speaking I was just expecting there to be some twist about her character or something to explain why her character is so on the nose and out of place. At one point I thought the book was going to reveal that she is an AI masquerading as a human for its own goals and i thought holy shit that's so smart. But nope, she is just a regular old human who is somehow one to one to a soulless corporation of current day earth. This is easily the worst part of the book.
I did like the dread goddess herself. She is very fun and very manic and the whole world building around her is delightful. That said the way the world building was explained constantly pulled me out of the book too. She keeps using all these current day earth words and references and analogies that it felt so out of place in this world. I like the blend of sci-fi and fantasy but this felt like very incongruent with the themes and the tone of the book. At times it felt like the author just wanted to show off a cool world she built and as a GM I get the appeal, but for the book it should have been more restrained. Really surprising because she shows a lot of restraint in her lamplight books.
The plot is pretty good. The ending was genuinely great. I did NOT predict the twists and revelations towards the end. But I'm pretty sure not all plot points were explained. Reinwald keeps seeing dead people for example, what the fuck was up with that?
So I donno. I really enjoyed the book but it has so many sharp edges. I really think the book needs a lot more editing. It has some strong bones and some great sequences and an incredible character in Hitch, but it needed more time in the oven.
The white star, the prophecised hero on the other hand is HORRENDOUS. She is the standin for soul less corporations of current day earth. She feels so out of place in this backwards mediaeval world that every time she was speaking I was just expecting there to be some twist about her character or something to explain why her character is so on the nose and out of place. At one point I thought the book was going to reveal that she is an AI masquerading as a human for its own goals and i thought holy shit that's so smart. But nope, she is just a regular old human who is somehow one to one to a soulless corporation of current day earth. This is easily the worst part of the book.
I did like the dread goddess herself. She is very fun and very manic and the whole world building around her is delightful. That said the way the world building was explained constantly pulled me out of the book too. She keeps using all these current day earth words and references and analogies that it felt so out of place in this world. I like the blend of sci-fi and fantasy but this felt like very incongruent with the themes and the tone of the book. At times it felt like the author just wanted to show off a cool world she built and as a GM I get the appeal, but for the book it should have been more restrained. Really surprising because she shows a lot of restraint in her lamplight books.
The plot is pretty good. The ending was genuinely great. I did NOT predict the twists and revelations towards the end. But I'm pretty sure not all plot points were explained. Reinwald keeps seeing dead people for example, what the fuck was up with that?
So I donno. I really enjoyed the book but it has so many sharp edges. I really think the book needs a lot more editing. It has some strong bones and some great sequences and an incredible character in Hitch, but it needed more time in the oven.
June 2, 2026
This was quite an ambitious work of speculative fiction, which is readily apparent from its blurb:
Considering the challenge the author set about in writing this story, and the number of genres and tropes they juggled to accomplish it, this novel, while not perfect, was still quite impressive. It was uneven in parts. The pacing was a bit messy. There were clunky bits of exposition. I didn't love how often the point-of-view character switched to the general pursuing Hitch and the Dread Goddess. I found it a bit too on-the-nose on a few occasions. But it was also fun in big ways, such as its genre-bending (which I'm intentionally not expounding on for sake of spoilers), and had a lot of interesting things to say about the perception of good and evil, as well as the universe itself. All that said, it was well worth reading, even if its ambition slightly outpaced its results.
The White Star, hero of ages and leader of the rebellion, has conquered the Dread Goddess. Cast from her throne in the Onyx Tower, the mad tyrant falls like a comet - right into Hitch the hermit's lake. Magically shackled and drained of power, the Goddess must rely on Hitch to flee the rebel army. Even dethroned, she is divine, and she promises to reward Hitch with heavenly wonders. But the hermit knows something that no one else knows - how to kill the Dread Goddess for good. Hitch must make a decision that will change everyone's fate. Kill the Goddess? Or set her free?This is not an easy premise to write yourself out of in a satisfying fashion. The Dread Goddess must be powerful, or the decision is meaningless. But not too powerful, or the characters cannot be expected to have any agency over her. The Dread Goddess must also have some redeeming qualities, making Hitch's choice a difficult one, or the decision to kill her would be too obvious and any means of dragging it out would be an exercise in frustration. Furthermore, Hitch's knowledge of a secret method for killing the goddess must make narrative sense, or the author risks breaking the promise the novel sets up to the reader (By this, I mean to say that, if at the end of the novel, Hitch whips out a Magical Blade of God-Killing and then says she was given it right before the start of the story by a mysterious wizard named Deus Ex Machina, who had told her to keep it a secret, that would be a grossly unsatisfactory reveal that would not be fair to the reader.)
Considering the challenge the author set about in writing this story, and the number of genres and tropes they juggled to accomplish it, this novel, while not perfect, was still quite impressive. It was uneven in parts. The pacing was a bit messy. There were clunky bits of exposition. I didn't love how often the point-of-view character switched to the general pursuing Hitch and the Dread Goddess. I found it a bit too on-the-nose on a few occasions. But it was also fun in big ways, such as its genre-bending (which I'm intentionally not expounding on for sake of spoilers), and had a lot of interesting things to say about the perception of good and evil, as well as the universe itself. All that said, it was well worth reading, even if its ambition slightly outpaced its results.
April 11, 2026
This book was an absolute wild ride following a hermit and an evil goddess she reluctantly finds herself helping. I did not know what to expect, this book somehow balanced everything from sharp societal commentary to trading card games to skewering fantasy-romance tropes while also possibly being one the wackiest books I have ever read. It was fantastic.
I loved the surprising mix of genres, the callouts to other legendary books, and the gentle mocking of the fantasy, romance, and sci-fi genres that were clearly written by someone who really loves them. I often thought of Terry Pratchett while reading this.
Hitch, the main character, was complex and appealing even if her decisions were often in the grey area. She defies any expectations I had for where her story was going and I loved seeing her interactions and grow into herself. The two villains of the story were so evil, and Beatrix especially was delightful.
I have not read Stang's other books yet, but between how excellent this one was and how fun the little glimpses we got in this book were they are definitely on my list.
I loved the surprising mix of genres, the callouts to other legendary books, and the gentle mocking of the fantasy, romance, and sci-fi genres that were clearly written by someone who really loves them. I often thought of Terry Pratchett while reading this.
Hitch, the main character, was complex and appealing even if her decisions were often in the grey area. She defies any expectations I had for where her story was going and I loved seeing her interactions and grow into herself. The two villains of the story were so evil, and Beatrix especially was delightful.
I have not read Stang's other books yet, but between how excellent this one was and how fun the little glimpses we got in this book were they are definitely on my list.
December 1, 2025
I love a good standalone novel. I can drop a series fairly quickly, and it's nice to be able to read a good self-contained world that doesn't have any threads laid out for the next book.
But damn, do I want more of these characters! Even the fascinatingly awful Beatrix. I could read a dozen books about Hitch. I just adore her, and I'd love to tell you all about her, but that would spoil everything. Most of the book has to do with a decision that Hitch has to make, and I had no idea what she was going to do right up until the moment she did it.
Reinwald is another character that I want to see more of. The ending is satisfying, yet I can't help but think that Reinwald still has more to tell us.
The world is a strange mix of fantasy and science fiction tropes. Most of those tropes are turned sideways. The humor is sometimes subtle, but often mixed with a hint of darkness. There's even a bit of a Terry Pratchett homage.
I'm sad this isn't a series, but I have hope that Hitch might show up again in another of the author's books.
But damn, do I want more of these characters! Even the fascinatingly awful Beatrix. I could read a dozen books about Hitch. I just adore her, and I'd love to tell you all about her, but that would spoil everything. Most of the book has to do with a decision that Hitch has to make, and I had no idea what she was going to do right up until the moment she did it.
Reinwald is another character that I want to see more of. The ending is satisfying, yet I can't help but think that Reinwald still has more to tell us.
The world is a strange mix of fantasy and science fiction tropes. Most of those tropes are turned sideways. The humor is sometimes subtle, but often mixed with a hint of darkness. There's even a bit of a Terry Pratchett homage.
I'm sad this isn't a series, but I have hope that Hitch might show up again in another of the author's books.
May 4, 2026
Grannies Weatherwax and Ogg finally have a new leading lady with them in my favorite characters of all time list: Hitch! What an absolute gem of a character. I super liked this book and a good part of me wishes Hitch and Beatrix had a different story, but alas. Basically Hitch is by a watering hole minding her own business, doing some fishing, when the Onyx tower explodes. Beatrix comes flying from the explosion and lands in the pond before Hitch. She might be the immortal Dread Goddess and Hitch might know how to kill her. Afterwards they go on the run and it’s an adventure filled with magic and sci-fi after that. There were some elements that were a bit too simple for me amongst this grand world, and the plot had a ton of potential, so I feel like I can’t give it 5 stars for those reasons. But if you want a fun fantasy-sci genre blend with a fascinating, quirky, intelligent character I recommend giving it a try. I also want to note this could be great one for epic fantasy or hard sci-fi readers who need a lighter book — but not if you’re cussing averse.
September 21, 2025
Wonderful novel that combines Fantasy with SciFi elements, has links to the authors other works and really made me pondering humans and their tendency to step onto weaker people instead of showing empathy and kindness. Loved all the humour in it as well. Also, did I detect references to 'Discworld', 'the yellow wallpaper' and 'of mice and men'?
February 18, 2026
I have read a lot of Morgan Stang books and always enjoy them - I had no idea she could do THIS. I really hope to see more of this type of work from Stang in the future. I was so surprised and delighted by it.
Read
November 28, 2025Soft DNF
April 10, 2026
Easy read. Good plot twists
March 13, 2026
Very fun read. Notes of Douglas Adams, Tom Holt's doughnut series, and Rick & Morty. Doesn't take itself too seriously. I found the ending disappointing, though.
My rating definitions:
⭐️ Actively hated it, how was this published?
⭐️⭐️ Not very good, painful to read
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Average, decent read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very good, remarkable
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ God tier, unforgettable, frequent re-reads
My rating definitions:
⭐️ Actively hated it, how was this published?
⭐️⭐️ Not very good, painful to read
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Average, decent read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very good, remarkable
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ God tier, unforgettable, frequent re-reads
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