Mortimer

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: a goblin surviving Armageddon by sheer dumb luck (and a lot of stabbing) sounded like a one-joke pony. But *Mortimer* disarms you—literally and figuratively—by being *smarter* than its synopsis suggests. The narration is a masterclass in tonal whiplash. Jeff Hays makes Mortimer’s internal monologue a delightful mix of self-pity and bloodlust, like if Deadpool had a goblin’s survival instincts and a poet’s regret. Annie Ellicott’s performance as the Overlord’s right hand, all icy precision, contrasts perfectly with Mortimer’s unhinged energy. The supporting cast (Justin Thomas James’ smug angel, Will Watt’s booming deity) round out a production that feels like a blockbuster cast recording, not just a reading. The story’s pacing is relentless, but not exhausting—Iliev knows when to let a joke breathe or a fight scene linger. My only gripe? The mid-act twist involving [REDACTED] feels slightly *too* convenient, a rare moment where the plot’s cleverness outpaces its internal logic. And while the humor lands 90% of the time, a few gags (like the running bit about goblin cuisine) wear thin by hour eight. But these are quibbles. The audiobook’s real triumph is how it *sounds*—the layered performances, the strategic use of silence before a punchline, the way the final act’s chaos feels like a symphony of destruction. If you’ve ever wanted a fantasy that’s equal parts heart, gore, and ‘how is this goblin still alive?’, *Mortimer* delivers. Just maybe don’t listen while eating." "tags": [ "dark fantasy comedy audiobook