Mortal Coil by Robert Gage

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Mortal Coil, Dog Days by Robert Gage

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a sucker for stories where ordinary people get caught up in something much bigger than themselves. And let me tell you, Robert Gage’s “Mortal Coil” fits the bill and then some. This is one of those books that grabs you by the collar and drags you into a world that’s so absurdly entertaining, you don’t even mind being yanked along.

The story kicks off with Moxy Lynn, a blacksmith’s daughter from the quaint (but clearly not boring) town of Midlam. She’s one of those plucky, determined characters who doesn’t ask for much—just a quiet life hammering away at horseshoes. But when she accidentally brings two copper dog statues to life, chaos promptly ensues. These aren’t just any statues, mind you—they’re bickering incarnations of Aikyamaya, the overworked Supreme Goddess of War and Wisdom. You can imagine how that goes.

And Aikyamaya? What a character. She’s the kind of goddess who’s clearly done with everyone’s nonsense but somehow still stuck cleaning up the mess. The interplay between her divine wisdom and her very human frustrations is just gold. Together, she and Moxy form a reluctant, mismatched team tasked with tracking down Aikyamaya’s semi-human half-brother before some cosmic catastrophe—referred to ominously as “What Happened Last Time”—comes back to wreak havoc.

The book’s world-building is stunningly imaginative, and the humor is pitch-perfect. From divine bureaucracy that would give any earthly office a run for its money to assassins squabbling over pension plans, it’s a riot from start to finish. Gage somehow makes the ridiculous feel real. Take Archie, for example—a charlatan with a half-tree-half-man shtick whose teleportation “device” works… well, sometimes. And when it doesn’t, let’s just say you’d better hope your next of kin has a good sense of humor.

But it’s not all laughs. The stakes are real, the tension is palpable, and the characters have a depth that sneaks up on you. Moxy’s growth—from a small-town blacksmith to someone who’s willing to take on the gods (and their absurd egos)—is genuinely satisfying. And the Fallen Deity™ on their trail? Chilling. Gage balances the comedy and the peril so well, you’re laughing one minute and holding your breath the next.

The locations are as much characters as the people in the story. The Whispering Forest, the City of Veils—each place feels alive, brimming with its own history and quirks. And the journey to The End of The World? Let’s just say it’s not a place you’ll forget anytime soon.

“Mortal Coil” is a masterclass in blending humor, action, and heart. It’s a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously but also isn’t afraid to ask big questions about power, responsibility, and what it means to step up when the odds are stacked against you. If you like your fantasy with a side of sharp wit and a lot of heart, this one’s for you.

Trust me, you’ll finish the last page and want to dive right back in. After all, how often do you get to save the world with a blacksmith’s daughter, a grumpy goddess, and two sentient copper dogs?

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