Become As God by A. B. Watts is a mind-boggling epic fantasy set in the country of Modrinia, where magic is taboo and feared so much it is only referred to as “the m-word.” In this world, humans and canines operate as equals, kept awake permanently by the unyay paste after losing sleep centuries ago. When Detective Linen Cobskin raids a house on Shepherd Street, together with deputies Rucktar and Kel, he discovers decades of missing children bound in enchanted slumber by Leyhwan, the “Dreamer.” Meanwhile, canine Professor Mithba Harland, working to perfect immortality on pigs, is rejected by Mayor Grisford. In the aftermath, she runs over a fugitive named Staithie Becksdon and resurrects her, binding their fates. Soldier Gabelle Davles is badly hurt trying to liberate canine slaves in Purronto, losing her friend Eba Tougue soon after. These plotlines merge with startling revelations about the protagonists.

The storytelling is superb and captivated me the most. A. B. Watts mimics the tone, the pronunciation, and the accents of the characters. The result is that their perspectives are stunningly captured, together with the accompanying sarcasm, humor, and streams of consciousness. The author cleverly juggles big ideas in a tale that has deep emotional undercurrents. He examines systemic racism where gray canines are enslaved for their feline genocide, the ethics of eternal life, and the concept of the “greater good” linked to Lonika’s child-led cult. Become As God features multilayered, finely developed characters who transform through their ordeals. The author maintains suspense through well-crafted subplots and cliffhangers, keeping you guessing as you turn the pages. There is plenty of humor in this epic fantasy, sometimes sly, sometimes deadpan, but often so grim it lingers between funny and horrifying. This book is a delightful read.

'Tective Cobskin's determination to solve a long-running case of missing children leads him to a nondescript part of town and a house where nefarious individuals have hidden away the unconscious children. Having solved one part of this befuddling riddle, the diligent officer turns his attention to bringing all of those involved in this dastardly crime, whether human or canine, to book so that they face the laws of Modrinia. He has no idea that his crusade for justice will uncover a conspiracy of gigantic proportions within the kingdom, involving ancient factions and gods determined to settle an old score with devastating consequences. Read along and uncover the truth in A. B. Watts's Become As God.

A. B. Watts combines intricate world-building with extensive origin stories in Become As God. He helps readers understand the unique relationship between humans and canines, and the origins of Modrinia's citizens' dislike of anything associated with magic. The author complements these elements with dialogue that oscillates between strategic and emotional while maintaining subtle humor in the undertones. The pace is rapid, graduating from sedate as the perspective follows Cobskin's detective work to full-on breakneck as all the factions collide in the latter part of the narrative. The author deserves plaudits for a narrative style that fluidly integrates time travel and ancient mythology to immerse science fiction purists. Factor in the attention to detail in the battle scenes, and you have a one-of-a-kind novel that will appeal to action and fantasy enthusiasts in equal measure.