diff --git a/examples/Cargo.toml b/examples/Cargo.toml
index 58b6ce6..f282003 100644
--- a/examples/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/Cargo.toml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ path = "src/downcast.rs"
 [package.metadata.release]
 release = false
 
-[dependencies]
+[dev-dependencies]
 derive_more = { workspace = true }
 exn = { workspace = true }
 
diff --git a/examples/src/custom-layout.rs b/examples/src/custom-layout.rs
index 36eb54e..348dc81 100644
--- a/examples/src/custom-layout.rs
+++ b/examples/src/custom-layout.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 //! This example shows how to traverse the error chain and create custom
 //! formatting to match your application's needs.
 
+use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt::Write;
 
 use exn::Exn;
@@ -48,10 +49,10 @@ impl std::error::Error for MainError {}
 
 impl MainError {
     /// Convert an `Exn<E>` into MainError with custom numbered list formatting.
-    pub fn new<E: exn::Error>(err: Exn<E>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new<E: Error>(err: Exn<E>) -> Self {
         fn collect_frames(frame: &Frame, frames: &mut Vec<String>) {
             // Add this frame first
-            frames.push(format!("[{}] {}", frame.location(), frame.as_error()));
+            frames.push(format!("[{}] {}", frame.location(), frame.error()));
             // Then collect children
             for child in frame.children() {
                 collect_frames(child, frames);
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ impl MainError {
         }
 
         let mut frames = vec![];
-        collect_frames(err.as_frame(), &mut frames);
+        collect_frames(err.frame(), &mut frames);
 
         // Format as numbered list
         let mut report = String::new();
@@ -120,5 +121,5 @@ mod http {
 // Output when running `cargo run --example custom_layout`:
 //
 // Error: fatal error occurred in application:
-// 0: [examples/src/custom-layout.rs:81:30] failed to run app
-// 1: [examples/src/custom-layout.rs:101:9] failed to send request to server: https://example.com
+// 0: [examples/src/custom-layout.rs:82:30] failed to run app
+// 1: [examples/src/custom-layout.rs:102:9] failed to send request to server: https://example.com
diff --git a/examples/src/downcast.rs b/examples/src/downcast.rs
index 45d6645..8e2f308 100644
--- a/examples/src/downcast.rs
+++ b/examples/src/downcast.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 //! - Recover from specific error types
 //! - Extract structured data (HTTP codes, retry hints, etc.)
 
+use std::error::Error;
+
 use derive_more::Display;
 use exn::Exn;
 use exn::Frame;
@@ -54,10 +56,10 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), MainError> {
 }
 
 /// Walk the error chain and extract HTTP status code if present.
-fn extract_http_status<E: exn::Error>(err: &Exn<E>) -> Option<u16> {
+fn extract_http_status<E: Error>(err: &Exn<E>) -> Option<u16> {
     fn walk(frame: &Frame) -> Option<u16> {
         // Try to downcast current frame
-        if let Some(http_err) = frame.as_any().downcast_ref::<HttpError>() {
+        if let Some(http_err) = frame.error().downcast_ref::<HttpError>() {
             return Some(http_err.status);
         }
 
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ fn extract_http_status<E: exn::Error>(err: &Exn<E>) -> Option<u16> {
         frame.children().iter().find_map(walk)
     }
 
-    walk(err.as_frame())
+    walk(err.frame())
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Display)]
@@ -117,8 +119,8 @@ mod http {
 // Retryable error, attempting retry #3
 //
 // HTTP error with status code: 503
-// Error: fatal error occurred in application, at examples/src/downcast.rs:52:24
+// Error: fatal error occurred in application, at examples/src/downcast.rs:54:24
 // |
-// |-> failed to run app, at examples/src/downcast.rs:80:35
+// |-> failed to run app, at examples/src/downcast.rs:82:35
 // |
-// |-> HTTP 503: service unavailable, at examples/src/downcast.rs:93:9
+// |-> HTTP 503: service unavailable, at examples/src/downcast.rs:95:9
diff --git a/exn/Cargo.toml b/exn/Cargo.toml
index 8380748..ab9ca26 100644
--- a/exn/Cargo.toml
+++ b/exn/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ repository.workspace = true
 all-features = true
 rustdoc-args = ["--cfg", "docsrs"]
 
-[dependencies]
-
 [dev-dependencies]
 insta = { workspace = true }
 
diff --git a/exn/src/debug.rs b/exn/src/debug.rs
index e45ea7e..04c556e 100644
--- a/exn/src/debug.rs
+++ b/exn/src/debug.rs
@@ -12,16 +12,16 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::fmt::Formatter;
 
-use crate::Error;
 use crate::Exn;
 use crate::Frame;
 
 impl<E: Error> fmt::Debug for Exn<E> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        write_exn(f, self.as_frame(), 0, "")
+        write_exn(f, self.frame(), 0, "")
     }
 }
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl fmt::Debug for Frame {
 }
 
 fn write_exn(f: &mut Formatter<'_>, frame: &Frame, level: usize, prefix: &str) -> fmt::Result {
-    write!(f, "{}", frame.as_error())?;
+    write!(f, "{}", frame.error())?;
     write_location(f, frame)?;
 
     let children = frame.children();
diff --git a/exn/src/display.rs b/exn/src/display.rs
index 7b839d6..80c8875 100644
--- a/exn/src/display.rs
+++ b/exn/src/display.rs
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt;
 
-use crate::Error;
 use crate::Exn;
 
 impl<E: Error> fmt::Display for Exn<E> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        write!(f, "{}", self.as_error())
+        write!(f, "{}", self.error())
     }
 }
diff --git a/exn/src/impls.rs b/exn/src/impls.rs
index fadf1fb..43ed0cd 100644
--- a/exn/src/impls.rs
+++ b/exn/src/impls.rs
@@ -12,35 +12,32 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::panic::Location;
 
-use crate::Error;
-
 /// An exception type that can hold an error tree and additional context.
-pub struct Exn<E: Error> {
+pub struct Exn<E: Error + 'static> {
     // trade one more indirection for less stack size
     frame: Box<Frame>,
     phantom: PhantomData<E>,
 }
 
-impl<E: Error> From<E> for Exn<E> {
+impl<E: Error + 'static> From<E> for Exn<E> {
     #[track_caller]
     fn from(error: E) -> Self {
         Exn::new(error)
     }
 }
 
-impl<E: Error> Exn<E> {
+impl<E: Error + 'static> Exn<E> {
     /// Create a new exception with the given error.
     ///
     /// This will automatically walk the [source chain of the error] and add them as children
     /// frames.
     ///
-    /// See also [`Error::raise`] for a fluent way to convert an error into an `Exn` instance.
-    ///
-    /// [source chain of the error]: std::error::Error::source
+    /// [source chain of the error]: Error::source
     #[track_caller]
     pub fn new(error: E) -> Self {
         struct SourceError(String);
@@ -57,9 +54,9 @@ impl<E: Error> Exn<E> {
             }
         }
 
-        impl std::error::Error for SourceError {}
+        impl Error for SourceError {}
 
-        fn walk(error: &dyn std::error::Error, location: &'static Location<'static>) -> Vec<Frame> {
+        fn walk(error: &dyn Error, location: &'static Location<'static>) -> Vec<Frame> {
             if let Some(source) = error.source() {
                 let children = vec![Frame {
                     error: Box::new(SourceError(source.to_string())),
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ impl<E: Error> Exn<E> {
     #[track_caller]
     pub fn from_iter<T, I>(children: I, err: E) -> Self
     where
-        T: Error,
+        T: Error + 'static,
         I: IntoIterator,
         I::Item: Into<Exn<T>>,
     {
@@ -111,15 +108,15 @@ impl<E: Error> Exn<E> {
     }
 
     /// Return the current exception.
-    pub fn as_error(&self) -> &E {
+    pub fn error(&self) -> &E {
         self.frame
-            .as_any()
+            .error()
             .downcast_ref()
             .expect("error type must match")
     }
 
     /// Return the underlying exception frame.
-    pub fn as_frame(&self) -> &Frame {
+    pub fn frame(&self) -> &Frame {
         &self.frame
     }
 }
@@ -127,7 +124,7 @@ impl<E: Error> Exn<E> {
 /// A frame in the exception tree.
 pub struct Frame {
     /// The error that occurred at this frame.
-    error: Box<dyn Error>,
+    error: Box<dyn Error + 'static>,
     /// The source code location where this exception frame was created.
     location: &'static Location<'static>,
     /// Child exception frames that provide additional context or source errors.
@@ -135,13 +132,8 @@ pub struct Frame {
 }
 
 impl Frame {
-    /// Return the error as a reference to [`std::any::Any`].
-    pub fn as_any(&self) -> &dyn std::any::Any {
-        &*self.error
-    }
-
-    /// Return the error as a reference to [`std::error::Error`].
-    pub fn as_error(&self) -> &dyn std::error::Error {
+    /// Return the error that occurred at this frame.
+    pub fn error(&self) -> &(dyn Error + 'static) {
         &*self.error
     }
 
diff --git a/exn/src/lib.rs b/exn/src/lib.rs
index c3cc71b..46ecec8 100644
--- a/exn/src/lib.rs
+++ b/exn/src/lib.rs
@@ -88,20 +88,6 @@ pub use self::option::OptionExt;
 pub use self::result::Result;
 pub use self::result::ResultExt;
 
-/// A trait bound of the supported error type of [`Exn`].
-pub trait Error: std::error::Error + std::any::Any + Send + Sync + 'static {
-    /// Raise this error as a new exception.
-    #[track_caller]
-    fn raise(self) -> Exn<Self>
-    where
-        Self: Sized,
-    {
-        Exn::new(self)
-    }
-}
-
-impl<T> Error for T where T: std::error::Error + std::any::Any + Send + Sync + 'static {}
-
 /// Equivalent to `Ok::<_, Exn<E>>(value)`.
 ///
 /// This simplifies creation of an `exn::Result` in places where type inference cannot deduce the
@@ -119,6 +105,6 @@ impl<T> Error for T where T: std::error::Error + std::any::Any + Send + Sync + '
 ///    |         consider giving this pattern the explicit type `std::result::Result<i32, E>`, where the type parameter `E` is specified
 /// ```
 #[expect(non_snake_case)]
-pub fn Ok<T, E: Error>(value: T) -> Result<T, E> {
+pub fn Ok<T, E: std::error::Error + 'static>(value: T) -> Result<T, E> {
     Result::Ok(value)
 }
diff --git a/exn/src/macros.rs b/exn/src/macros.rs
index 0778526..327cbe7 100644
--- a/exn/src/macros.rs
+++ b/exn/src/macros.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 /// use std::fs;
 ///
 /// use exn::bail;
-/// # fn wrapper() -> exn::Result<(), impl exn::Error> {
+/// # fn wrapper() -> exn::Result<(), std::io::Error> {
 /// match fs::read_to_string("/path/to/file") {
 ///     Ok(content) => println!("file contents: {content}"),
 ///     Err(err) => bail!(err),
diff --git a/exn/src/option.rs b/exn/src/option.rs
index 209fd7e..e9f589c 100644
--- a/exn/src/option.rs
+++ b/exn/src/option.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-use crate::Error;
+use std::error::Error;
+
 use crate::Exn;
 use crate::Result;
 
diff --git a/exn/src/result.rs b/exn/src/result.rs
index 8d58548..8b0f5e6 100644
--- a/exn/src/result.rs
+++ b/exn/src/result.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-use crate::Error;
+use std::error::Error;
+
 use crate::Exn;
 
 /// A reasonable return type to use throughout an application.
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ pub trait ResultExt {
     type Success;
 
     /// The `Err` type that would be wrapped in an [`Exn`].
-    type Error: Error;
+    type Error: Error + 'static;
 
     /// Raise a new exception on the [`Exn`] inside the [`Result`].
     ///
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ pub trait ResultExt {
 
 impl<T, E> ResultExt for std::result::Result<T, E>
 where
-    E: Error,
+    E: Error + 'static,
 {
     type Success = T;
     type Error = E;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ where
     #[track_caller]
     fn or_raise<A, F>(self, err: F) -> Result<Self::Success, A>
     where
-        A: Error,
+        A: Error + 'static,
         F: FnOnce() -> A,
     {
         match self {
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ where
     #[track_caller]
     fn or_raise<A, F>(self, err: F) -> Result<Self::Success, A>
     where
-        A: Error,
+        A: Error + 'static,
         F: FnOnce() -> A,
     {
         match self {
diff --git a/exn/tests/simple.rs b/exn/tests/simple.rs
index 72c9685..efde406 100644
--- a/exn/tests/simple.rs
+++ b/exn/tests/simple.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-use exn::Error;
 use exn::Exn;
 use exn::OptionExt;
 use exn::ResultExt;
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ impl std::error::Error for SimpleError {}
 
 #[test]
 fn test_error_straightforward() {
-    let e1 = SimpleError("E1").raise();
+    let e1 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E1"));
     let e2 = e1.raise(SimpleError("E2"));
     let e3 = e2.raise(SimpleError("E3"));
     let e4 = e3.raise(SimpleError("E4"));
@@ -40,21 +39,21 @@ fn test_error_straightforward() {
 
 #[test]
 fn test_error_tree() {
-    let e1 = SimpleError("E1").raise();
+    let e1 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E1"));
     let e3 = e1.raise(SimpleError("E3"));
 
-    let e9 = SimpleError("E9").raise();
+    let e9 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E9"));
     let e10 = e9.raise(SimpleError("E10"));
 
-    let e11 = SimpleError("E11").raise();
+    let e11 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E11"));
     let e12 = e11.raise(SimpleError("E12"));
 
     let e5 = Exn::from_iter([e3, e10, e12], SimpleError("E5"));
 
-    let e2 = SimpleError("E2").raise();
+    let e2 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E2"));
     let e4 = e2.raise(SimpleError("E4"));
 
-    let e7 = SimpleError("E7").raise();
+    let e7 = Exn::new(SimpleError("E7"));
     let e8 = e7.raise(SimpleError("E8"));
 
     let e6 = Exn::from_iter([e5, e4, e8], SimpleError("E6"));
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__bail.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__bail.snap
index c34b677..02b6606 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__bail.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__bail.snap
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: result.unwrap_err()
 ---
-An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:92:9
+An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:91:9
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__ensure_fail.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__ensure_fail.snap
index e159214..ee8f606 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__ensure_fail.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__ensure_fail.snap
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: result.unwrap_err()
 ---
-An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:112:9
+An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:111:9
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_straightforward.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_straightforward.snap
index e772fed..d9dadc6 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_straightforward.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_straightforward.snap
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: e5
 ---
-E5, at exn/tests/simple.rs:37:17
+E5, at exn/tests/simple.rs:36:17
 |
-|-> E4, at exn/tests/simple.rs:36:17
+|-> E4, at exn/tests/simple.rs:35:17
 |
-|-> E3, at exn/tests/simple.rs:35:17
+|-> E3, at exn/tests/simple.rs:34:17
 |
-|-> E2, at exn/tests/simple.rs:34:17
+|-> E2, at exn/tests/simple.rs:33:17
 |
-|-> E1, at exn/tests/simple.rs:33:32
+|-> E1, at exn/tests/simple.rs:32:14
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_tree.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_tree.snap
index 943f4ce..6e93ff9 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_tree.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__error_tree.snap
@@ -2,26 +2,26 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: e6
 ---
-E6, at exn/tests/simple.rs:60:14
+E6, at exn/tests/simple.rs:59:14
 |
-|-> E5, at exn/tests/simple.rs:52:14
+|-> E5, at exn/tests/simple.rs:51:14
 |   |
-|   |-> E3, at exn/tests/simple.rs:44:17
+|   |-> E3, at exn/tests/simple.rs:43:17
 |   |   |
-|   |   |-> E1, at exn/tests/simple.rs:43:32
+|   |   |-> E1, at exn/tests/simple.rs:42:14
 |   |
-|   |-> E10, at exn/tests/simple.rs:47:18
+|   |-> E10, at exn/tests/simple.rs:46:18
 |   |   |
-|   |   |-> E9, at exn/tests/simple.rs:46:32
+|   |   |-> E9, at exn/tests/simple.rs:45:14
 |   |
-|   |-> E12, at exn/tests/simple.rs:50:19
+|   |-> E12, at exn/tests/simple.rs:49:19
 |       |
-|       |-> E11, at exn/tests/simple.rs:49:34
+|       |-> E11, at exn/tests/simple.rs:48:15
 |
-|-> E4, at exn/tests/simple.rs:55:17
+|-> E4, at exn/tests/simple.rs:54:17
 |   |
-|   |-> E2, at exn/tests/simple.rs:54:32
+|   |-> E2, at exn/tests/simple.rs:53:14
 |
-|-> E8, at exn/tests/simple.rs:58:17
+|-> E8, at exn/tests/simple.rs:57:17
     |
-    |-> E7, at exn/tests/simple.rs:57:32
+    |-> E7, at exn/tests/simple.rs:56:14
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__from_error.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__from_error.snap
index cb43ac5..765da5f 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__from_error.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__from_error.snap
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: result.unwrap_err()
 ---
-An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:81:9
+An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:80:9
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__option_ext.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__option_ext.snap
index d5d3390..8834b0d 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__option_ext.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__option_ext.snap
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: result.unwrap_err()
 ---
-An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:74:25
+An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:73:25
diff --git a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__result_ext.snap b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__result_ext.snap
index 013566e..85b189b 100644
--- a/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__result_ext.snap
+++ b/exn/tests/snapshots/simple__result_ext.snap
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 source: exn/tests/simple.rs
 expression: result.unwrap_err()
 ---
-Another error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:67:25
+Another error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:66:25
 |
-|-> An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:67:25
+|-> An error, at exn/tests/simple.rs:66:25