Brought on by the success of the previous 4 books from Tanith Lee's flat earth.
There is no central plot. No cataclysmic schemes or happenings. And by that very absence we are free to see the central theme running through all the flat earth books (including this one). The reason they are marvels.
It is Ms. Lee's own version of "Nevertheless". (In my opinion much better that the original).
So we are pawn on the chessboard of the gods. So they pull us high or low by whim and happenstance. So what? Do you not hear the singing of the lark! It is so wonderful to be alive.