By Claire North
© November 18, 2025
File size: 3.1 MB
437 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0316586344
In a society where one either has “shine” or is always struggling to gain more “shine,” Maw has lived an entirely ordinary, unShiny life until they find themselves in debtor’s prison. Debtors have no say in their lives, so when Maw is forced to pilot a ship through arc space—a job that always carries lingering aftereffects—they do what they’re told. But when they die in arc space, only to then be found alive (sort of) and fine, no one knows exactly what to do with them, except fear them. Because Maw isn’t exactly human anymore. They can’t be killed. And they can speak to the Infinite Dark.
Wow! I’ve read Claire North books before, and expected a lot, especially given this book’s description. I was not disappointed. This story is more mystery and character-driven than it is thrilling and filled with excitement, yet it was hard to put it down. The book’s slow pace fits the long, long timeline. North’s writing style is eloquent, flowing, almost literary, requiring the reader’s attention in order to follow along. You can’t daydream while you’re flipping pages. You can’t skip ahead. Every page, every paragraph, every word is necessary to understand the storyline and follow what is going on. This is a thought-provoking read, not a quick and easy one.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Slow Gods is Maw’s search for meaning, for their lost humanity. It isn’t a purposeful search. Rather, it’s something that grows on them throughout the book, happening as a result of events around them. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and dangerous for other people if Maw becomes too curious, too “dysregulated.” And yet that strong connection—love and hate, belonging and isolation—acknowledged or not, is at least part of what drives Maw. It’s deep. It’s provocative. It’s complicated. You just gotta read it to understand.
The prose is beautifully done, and I especially loved the use of multiple genders throughout the book. Different races of beings each approach the idea of gender in very different ways. The only race with a hard line in in the sand about gender is the one that presses Maw into slavery in the first place. Pronouns ranged from ae to xe to qe, and others besides. The story has an entire chapter on the different genders present or recognized in each of the races in this universe, and I found it fascinating. One of the characters, Gebre, when told of another race’s belief that so many genders was too confusing, said “So… even if you can’t see someone’s genitals, they are the first thing that is on your mind when you meet someone?” He goes on to ask whether this race sees the identification of people’s genitalia as more important than their ethics, their hobbies, their hopes and loves. I found this new way of putting it to be quite refreshing, and a delightful way to express the absurdity of such concerns.
Slow Gods is not your typical science fiction novel. It stands apart, in line with the works of Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Ursula LeGuin, or N. K. Jemisin. If you love those authors, you’ll love this book, and probably North’s other books as well. Most highly recommended.