Slow Gods is a standalone space opera novel, written by Claire North and published by Orbit Books. A novel with a rather unconventional approach, following the journey of one immortal character, Mawukana (Maw), a story that takes place over a long period of time and multiple planets and cultures; a deeply philosophical story whose epicenter can be tied with a binary star collapse and its consequences, all told by the own Maw, giving the reader a privileged spot to think about the own nature of existence and identity.

Mawukana is forced to become a Pilot, a process that usually drives the individual mad; but in his case, something went differently in the Void, maybe wrong, with Maw not coming back as himself. His (sort of) immortality and his ability to fly fast spaceships without getting mad puts him at the center of the events related to the imminent collapse of a binary star system; his decisions might change the future, but he also needs to understand and think about his own nature.

Interestingly, Maw's narrative feels more like an observer, this recount of this stretch of his life as a way to come to terms with his own immortality, with the binary star system collapse and the rise and fall of an empire being the background that allows it to happen. North blends together philosophy and science-fiction, putting the focus on themes such as the nature of identity, the control by political structures and the own human condition. 

The worldbuilding itself features a wide range of cultures, which allows the author to explore different approaches to some concepts that are tied to our own society; there's a clear parallel between our nowadays world and how the powers in this novel act in fear of retaliation.
The pacing is relatively slow, as this is a more reflexive piece, but I found myself deeply invested in Maw's story, and North's prose certainly helps to keep the reader engaged.

Slow Gods is an excellent space opera novel, a genre-blending piece that certainly leaves a long-lasting impression; if you are looking for a thought-provoking novel, this one should be on your list!