Tom Holt's fantasies tend to involve a Motley Crew and a Feisty Female. The Motley Crew may be gods, demons, characters from history, or characters from myth, but they always have one thing in common - they are not what you expected. Nor is the way they intereact with our world. That is part of the charm, the way Holt turns our assumptions inside out and manages to be funny about it. The Feisty Female usually doesn't want to get involved with the Motley Crew, but she does, and the outcome is amusing, inventive, and (eventually) all for the best.
Pointing out the formula (which Holt uses regulalrly) is not a criticism of it. I enjoy reading his books, and part of the charm is trying to work out how he will surprise us this time - and suprise us he does.
In this case the MC and FF cast are those of the Flying Dutrchman myth, suitably explained and suitably updated. And it's funny....
