Deadbeat Druid

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first—another necromancer protagonist? But *Deadbeat Druid* won me over in the first chapter with its refusal to take itself too seriously. Adam is a fantastic mess: a druid who’s terrible at nature magic, a necromancer who treats the dead like unpaid interns, and a queer disaster whose love life is a dumpster fire. Slayton’s writing thrives in the details, like a banshee who files noise complaints or a ghost who haunts a Starbucks because ‘it’s where I had my first latte.’ The worldbuilding is specific without being overwrought, and the humor lands because it’s rooted in character, not just one-liners. Axtell’s narration is a masterclass in tonal balance. He nails Adam’s weary cynicism without making him unlikable, and his voice for the undead—ranging from a whiny poltergeist to a zombie with the cadence of a stoned philosopher—keeps even the exposition lively. My only critique? The middle act drags slightly when the plot pivots to a more traditional ‘save the day’ arc, losing some of the early chaos that hooked me. And while the queer rep is solid, I wished the romance subplot had more bite to match the rest of the book’s sharp edges. Still, the audiobook’s production is flawless: no awkward edits, no volume spikes, just a tight, immersive listen. If you love your fantasy with more snark than sorcery, this is a no-brainer.