Heretical Fishing 2: A Cozy Guide to Annoying the Cults, Outsmarting the Fish, and Alienating Oneself

Heath Miller doesn’t narrate *Heretical Fishing 2*—he weaponizes it. I’ve listened to my fair share of snarky protagonists, but Jobson’s unnamed misanthrope isn’t just sarcastic; he’s a full-blown anarchist with a fishing rod, and Miller sells every eye-roll, muttered curse, and existential groan like it’s an Olympic sport. His vocal range is staggering, shifting from gravelly indifference during diplomatic disasters to manic, pitchy glee when describing the latest eldritch horror that’s tried to eat the protagonist (and failed, because rules). The pacing is relentless, mirroring the book’s chaotic energy, though I’ll admit the middle act drags slightly under the weight of its own world-building. Jobson’s world feels alive in the way a coral reef does—vibrant, teeming, and just a little too eager to bite you. Where the first book flirted with absurdity, this sequel dives headfirst into full-blown surrealism, with cults that worship the wrong deities, fish that might be gods in disguise, and a central conflict that’s less about saving the world and more about not getting sued by it. My only real gripe? The sheer density of ideas occasionally outpaces Miller’s ability to distinguish side characters, leaving a few quirky NPCs feeling like indistinct blips in the audio fog. But that’s a small price to pay for an audiobook that’s equal parts comedy, horror, and existential dread—like if Douglas Adams wrote a grimdark fantasy with a side of maritime law. If you want a fantasy that refuses to take itself seriously while still delivering genuine stakes, this is your bait.