Story begins as intriguing gods-driven event up-ends society and winnows humans to scattered huddled masses.
We have a believable narrator in an impossible situation who must adapt or die.
So far, so good. One stylistic touch that separates this novel from YA: Adult themes pepper the book. OTOH: cases of human foibles is too convenient, self-indulgent and lurid to turn the story into something believable.
The problems in plot and character development accumulate quickly. The protagonist must be everywhere and do everything. Subsidiary characters are just that, useful plot devices with thin motivations and personalities. Which is not great, but then the dialog underlines the pointless nature of other characters in this universe. Only the protagonist appears to have initiative or personality. He speak in hammy repartee and engages physical humor to ingratiate himself. Question mark….
OK. This is a character-driven plot and not an ensemble effort. Let’s keep going.
The protagonist neither gives up, nor is flummoxed nor is truly tested. Instead, every encounter, every antagonist, weapon and spell makes him stronger. The stakes are low. Life threatening injuries do not linger or maim. One just drinks a health potion and the wages of combat just go away. The dungeon grind is a grind: just a utilitarian means to the end of character-enhancement.
I tried to enjoy the story but the characters, plot holes, irritating dialog and opportunistic sequence. At some point, I came to sympathize with the gods who afflicted the humans.
A better executed version of this genre is Nicholas Sansbury Smith, Hell Divers. It’s a downer but competently imagined & written.