I finished this in about three days of fast, delighted reading. It's a fantasy novel that succeeds in weaving together a very small, intimate human drama with an ages-long battle of gods. The lead human character is Eolo, the aid to Mawat, the Heir to the Raven's Lease (which is both a political leadership position and voluntary human sacrifice role). The lead god character, who narrates the story, is The Strength and Patience of the Hill. Eolo and Mawat have returned from the front lines of their country's defense to the capital city because they have had a message that the Raven God's Instrument (it's physical body) is near death. Mawat expects to arrive in time for the death of the earthly Raven, his father's suicide and funeral, and his own accession to the position of Lease. Instead, he finds that his father has mysteriously disappeared and his uncle has taken on the duties of Raven's Lease. Eolo is drawn into an investigation of the mystery, while the Strength and Patience of the Hill attempts to communicate it's own history and motives with him. I always withhold my judgement (and my excitement) when a fantasy or sci-fi author I love tries their hand at a book outside their usual genre. Ann Leckie knocked this one out of the park. I think it might be my favorite of her books yet, which is saying a lot, because I adore the others too. She's so good at writing gender-nonconforming characters! This book has a trans character who's plot arc has nothing to do with being trans, a subtle queer romance, a genderless god, and a strikingly good story!