A burned out Jamaican-Canadian MFA is tasked by a river goddess to sort some shit out, and spends a day running all over Toronto trying to get it done.

I've been looking forward to this ever since I read Reid-Benta's first book, Frying Plantain, and for the most part it lived up to my expectations. The quest plot was a lot of fun as a street-level romp across the city, and I liked the core cast of characters and their different relationships with their Caribbean heritage. Along the way, we meet a variety of creatures from Jamaican folk traditions, most of them hostile, plus a bunch of ghosts, and the horror element was often great (Though I would say the general tone is more madcap than creepy). Both the ghosts and the MC's magical connection to River Mumma allow a connection to Jamaican and Toronto history, which worked to varying effect. The thread following the MC's matriarchal line, and its connection with River Mumma was often very affecting, and the random Toronto ghosts less so.

If the book has a flaw, it might be the "too many things!" aspect. There is a lot going on, a lot of bouncing around and long chase scenes, and I wanted it to just stop and breathe a couple of times. The main character's personal narrative arc also felt a bit pat, but it more or less worked for me in the end.

I would absolutely read another novel with these characters! It feels like it could be one of those series with a different MC in each book. Hopefully Reid-Benta is just getting started.