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Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die
In this hilarious, off-the-wall queer fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together.
Funny, touching and inventive, this book is perfect for fans of Mortal Follies, A Marvellous Light and Dreadful.
All his life, Sir Cameron has stayed as far away from danger as possible. He is, quite frankly, too handsome to die a violent and pointless death in battle. But when the Church hands down a prophecy to his fellow knights predicting that the only way to defeat their nemesis, the mad sorcerer Merulo, is to kill Cameron, he finds himself in a situation too sticky for even his considerable wiles. Short of ideas, Cameron throws himself on the mercy of the one person who now actually wants him to survive: the mad sorcerer.
Merulo isn’t thrilled to be babysitting a spoilt, attention-seeking knight, but fate has tied them together. And transmogrifying Cameron into a vulture is at least a great source of entertainment. Cameron, meanwhile, is on a voyage of self-discovery. It turns out he’s really, really into surly sorcerers who lock him up and tell him what to do. Who knew?
As a legion of knights surround their stronghold, the sorcerer’s poisonous ambitions draw ever closer to fruition. Cameron is quite invested in not dying, but he finds he’s also invested in Merulo. And sometimes, supporting the sorcerer you care about means taking an interest in their hobbies. Even if that hobby is trying to kill God.
Even if it might get you killed, too.
Funny, touching and inventive, this book is perfect for fans of Mortal Follies, A Marvellous Light and Dreadful.
All his life, Sir Cameron has stayed as far away from danger as possible. He is, quite frankly, too handsome to die a violent and pointless death in battle. But when the Church hands down a prophecy to his fellow knights predicting that the only way to defeat their nemesis, the mad sorcerer Merulo, is to kill Cameron, he finds himself in a situation too sticky for even his considerable wiles. Short of ideas, Cameron throws himself on the mercy of the one person who now actually wants him to survive: the mad sorcerer.
Merulo isn’t thrilled to be babysitting a spoilt, attention-seeking knight, but fate has tied them together. And transmogrifying Cameron into a vulture is at least a great source of entertainment. Cameron, meanwhile, is on a voyage of self-discovery. It turns out he’s really, really into surly sorcerers who lock him up and tell him what to do. Who knew?
As a legion of knights surround their stronghold, the sorcerer’s poisonous ambitions draw ever closer to fruition. Cameron is quite invested in not dying, but he finds he’s also invested in Merulo. And sometimes, supporting the sorcerer you care about means taking an interest in their hobbies. Even if that hobby is trying to kill God.
Even if it might get you killed, too.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
108 people are currently reading
4748 people want to read
About the author
Greer Stothers
4 books60 followersGreer Stothers is an award-winning author/illustrator based in Toronto. Their experiences as a nonbinary individual inform their writing and art, as does their drive to find the humor in everything.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
Want to read
January 4, 2025Saw the beginning of chapter posts by author online and the fact that it's getting published!!!
can't wait it's going to be hilarious
can't wait it's going to be hilarious
December 29, 2025
Love the subtitle: "In Which Many Dangerous and Homosexual Things Happen"!! I'm in; let the many dangerous and homosexual things begin!
Update: Pleasant enough story.
Update: Pleasant enough story.
December 6, 2025
This was an utter delight from beginning to end. A fresh and original take on what I'm dubbing the "irreverent/humorous medieval Fantasy genre," in which the author maintains a jovial tone throughout, poking fun at old-fashioned tropes using modern sensibilities, while still paying homage to genre staples like dragons and elves and quests to save the world.
If you get nothing else from this review, just know that I loved this humorous, queer, fresh take on Fantasy, and the endearingly horrible little himbo coward man who gets into the most entertaining and farcical situations.
The Writing:
I already knew I'd be in for a good time from the silly, tongue-in-cheek chapter heading of the prologue. The only question was if it would be over-used and become annoying, or if it would be used in just the right balance. Humor is subjective so I'm sure it won't work for everyone, but for me it was just right. While the whole book is goofy and humorous, it's exaggerated and voicey during the chapter headers, but toned down for the rest of the text so I felt that it never overstayed its welcome.
World-building:
The scenarios are often over-the-top and implausible, but the author makes them feel as if they're perfectly logical within the rules of the world. Still bonkers sometimes, sure, but never breaking that immersion. This is the kind of world where the thought of a hornless unicorn (aka a horse) seems just too strange to imagine, but magical battles that transform half the species present are just a ho hum Tuesday.
LGBTQIA rep:
But despite the medieval-ish setting and often Conservative mindsets (especially of the Church and the elves), the text is really inclusive and non-judgmental of a variety of explicitly and implicitly mentioned identities and lifestyles. The main cast all exhibit some amount of LGB throughout the story, but there are also trans and non-binary side characters and some gentle, accepting conversations that don't feel overly preachy.
Cameron:
The majority of the book is told through Cameron's POV, so I think that how much he grows on the reader will largely determine the overall impression of the book. Cameron is a himbo and a consummate coward. But not only do I find his rather obvious flaws to make for a lot of humorous and dynamic situations, I also appreciate the way he grows throughout the book so that he feels like a much more well-rounded character by the end.
Overall:
Cameron and Merulo wormed their way into my heart and I loved watching their story unfold. This is one of those books where I can't help but give it 5/5 because I honestly would've finished it 1-2 hrs earlier if I didn't pause so often to repeat quotes aloud to my spouse. It was fun and took me on such a journey as the book I was reading by the end felt totally different (but tonally the same) from the one I started at the beginning.
All I can hope is that this book is a harbinger and that 2026 brings more horrible little vulture men!
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you get nothing else from this review, just know that I loved this humorous, queer, fresh take on Fantasy, and the endearingly horrible little himbo coward man who gets into the most entertaining and farcical situations.
The Writing:
I already knew I'd be in for a good time from the silly, tongue-in-cheek chapter heading of the prologue. The only question was if it would be over-used and become annoying, or if it would be used in just the right balance. Humor is subjective so I'm sure it won't work for everyone, but for me it was just right. While the whole book is goofy and humorous, it's exaggerated and voicey during the chapter headers, but toned down for the rest of the text so I felt that it never overstayed its welcome.
World-building:
The scenarios are often over-the-top and implausible, but the author makes them feel as if they're perfectly logical within the rules of the world. Still bonkers sometimes, sure, but never breaking that immersion. This is the kind of world where the thought of a hornless unicorn (aka a horse) seems just too strange to imagine, but magical battles that transform half the species present are just a ho hum Tuesday.
LGBTQIA rep:
But despite the medieval-ish setting and often Conservative mindsets (especially of the Church and the elves), the text is really inclusive and non-judgmental of a variety of explicitly and implicitly mentioned identities and lifestyles. The main cast all exhibit some amount of LGB throughout the story, but there are also trans and non-binary side characters and some gentle, accepting conversations that don't feel overly preachy.
Cameron:
The majority of the book is told through Cameron's POV, so I think that how much he grows on the reader will largely determine the overall impression of the book. Cameron is a himbo and a consummate coward. But not only do I find his rather obvious flaws to make for a lot of humorous and dynamic situations, I also appreciate the way he grows throughout the book so that he feels like a much more well-rounded character by the end.
Overall:
Cameron and Merulo wormed their way into my heart and I loved watching their story unfold. This is one of those books where I can't help but give it 5/5 because I honestly would've finished it 1-2 hrs earlier if I didn't pause so often to repeat quotes aloud to my spouse. It was fun and took me on such a journey as the book I was reading by the end felt totally different (but tonally the same) from the one I started at the beginning.
All I can hope is that this book is a harbinger and that 2026 brings more horrible little vulture men!
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely ridiculous, full-on hilarious, and it had me laughing right away. Sadly, it couldn't follow through on the excellent opening and ended up confusing and unsatisfying.
The first 25% of the book was fantastic! I loved how utterly bonkers everything was and our dumb, darling MC Cameron who just really didn't want to die was an instant favourite. A true himbo! Merulo, the evil sorcerer, and his disdain for Cameron was also hilarious and they had great banter. I also loved the chapter names/summaries, they almost all made me laugh.
Sadly, the plot felt weirdly resolved quickly and somehow also never resolved at all, and the pacing of the story wasn't great. It started dragging in the middle, picked up a bit near the end, and then ended on the absolute weirdest note that left so many open plotlines that felt like they should've never been introduced. What was the point of Glenda? Why not use those chapters on giving Cameron and Merulo's characters some much needed depth? There were so many things this book could've done something with and it instead did nothing with any of it and ended in a nonsensical way. And not the fun kind.
There was humor throughout the book but it wasn't nearly as funny as in the beginning and I found my eyes glazing over for a while near the middle. This book had such potential and started off so well but it just couldn't follow through. I still adore himbo king Cameron but I'm sadly mostly left feeling disappointed upon finishing.
I read an eARC from Titan and Netgalley.
The first 25% of the book was fantastic! I loved how utterly bonkers everything was and our dumb, darling MC Cameron who just really didn't want to die was an instant favourite. A true himbo! Merulo, the evil sorcerer, and his disdain for Cameron was also hilarious and they had great banter. I also loved the chapter names/summaries, they almost all made me laugh.
Sadly, the plot felt weirdly resolved quickly and somehow also never resolved at all, and the pacing of the story wasn't great. It started dragging in the middle, picked up a bit near the end, and then ended on the absolute weirdest note that left so many open plotlines that felt like they should've never been introduced. What was the point of Glenda? Why not use those chapters on giving Cameron and Merulo's characters some much needed depth? There were so many things this book could've done something with and it instead did nothing with any of it and ended in a nonsensical way. And not the fun kind.
There was humor throughout the book but it wasn't nearly as funny as in the beginning and I found my eyes glazing over for a while near the middle. This book had such potential and started off so well but it just couldn't follow through. I still adore himbo king Cameron but I'm sadly mostly left feeling disappointed upon finishing.
I read an eARC from Titan and Netgalley.
Want to read
January 2, 2025I want to read this so bad, I’m so excited
Want to read
January 10, 2025"In this hilarious, off-the-wall queer fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together."
I'll read anything athurian!
I'll read anything athurian!
January 18, 2026
Friends, this book was an absolute rollercoaster and I LOVED it. It’s marketed as a fantasy, but I genuinely think a sci-fi tag would suit it better… I definitely went into it expecting a medieval romantasy, and whilst we did get elements of that, I think the sci-fi twist far outweighs it! Don’t go into this expecting pure romance, as that’s very much a sub-plot (and it’s all closed door), but the sexual tension between the two MCs is really fun (think ultimate black cat x golden retriever, but the black cat has to power to end the world and the golden retriever keeps nearly getting murdered on accident, oops!)
If you’re someone who loves unreliable, chaos-gremlin narrators, you are going to LOVE Sir Cameron Vaillencourt. He is the biggest himbo on horseback that you could ever meet. He’s big, dumb and gorgeous - and spends a considerable amount of time transfigured into various other forms, much to his horror. He is a perfect counterpoint to the ‘mad sorcerer’ Merculo, who is a genius determined to ‘destroy god’ and save the world.
Having gone into this expecting a silly, easy read, I actually ended up having to pay quite a lot of attention… trying not to give spoilers, but this is definitely more reminiscent of ‘Some Desperate Glory’ or ‘A Complicated Love Story Set In Space’ than ‘Fourth Wing’… but there are dragons, so that’s very exciting!
Overall not the read I was expecting, but definitely the one I needed! Read for:
✨ Fantasy x sci-fi mash up
✨ Elves, dragons, unicorns
✨ Black cat x golden retriever
✨ Jock x nerd
✨ Chaotic unreliable narrator
✨ MC is a himbo on horseback
✨ So stupid… that he’s smart?
✨ Escaping his own prophecy
✨ What is really real?
✨ Destroy god, save the universe
✨ Apocalypse!? I hardly know her!
Thank you to Titan Books for an ARC! It’s available on 3rd Feb 💕
If you’re someone who loves unreliable, chaos-gremlin narrators, you are going to LOVE Sir Cameron Vaillencourt. He is the biggest himbo on horseback that you could ever meet. He’s big, dumb and gorgeous - and spends a considerable amount of time transfigured into various other forms, much to his horror. He is a perfect counterpoint to the ‘mad sorcerer’ Merculo, who is a genius determined to ‘destroy god’ and save the world.
Having gone into this expecting a silly, easy read, I actually ended up having to pay quite a lot of attention… trying not to give spoilers, but this is definitely more reminiscent of ‘Some Desperate Glory’ or ‘A Complicated Love Story Set In Space’ than ‘Fourth Wing’… but there are dragons, so that’s very exciting!
Overall not the read I was expecting, but definitely the one I needed! Read for:
✨ Fantasy x sci-fi mash up
✨ Elves, dragons, unicorns
✨ Black cat x golden retriever
✨ Jock x nerd
✨ Chaotic unreliable narrator
✨ MC is a himbo on horseback
✨ So stupid… that he’s smart?
✨ Escaping his own prophecy
✨ What is really real?
✨ Destroy god, save the universe
✨ Apocalypse!? I hardly know her!
Thank you to Titan Books for an ARC! It’s available on 3rd Feb 💕
dnf
December 31, 2025One last DNF before the end of the year!
Apart from the chapter sub headings, the humour isn't working for me and the plot and characters are not nearly interesting enough to hold my attention. I don't think it's bad, just not for me.
Apart from the chapter sub headings, the humour isn't working for me and the plot and characters are not nearly interesting enough to hold my attention. I don't think it's bad, just not for me.
December 7, 2025
Well... this was something for sure.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the fun title, and the comps really worked for me, too. First things first: Do not believe them. I have no idea what the marketing team for this one was on but Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely nothing like A Marvellous Light for one. I do see they changed the comps for the Kindle version now, and I haven't read those so can't speak to any resemblance, but the original comps were not it. And that's never helping because it just sets wrong expectations which most of the time lead only to disappointment.
Now, Apparently,... is still a fun book that I really enjoyed... until about 50%. It's a comedy with very cliched characters that could only ever exist in a comedy like this, and while there are more serious themes woven into the narrative (our main character has anxiety and regularly gets panic attacks, one other character is addicted to a drug that allows her to feel emotions, there's exploration of gender and religion) they are never explored in a serious way, so yeah, that's kind of just there. The humour is also really silly, almost childish at times. But still, the first half of this book was a hoot, the kind of brain-turned-off-fun you need sometimes. The central relationship is weird and never really makes you feel much because the characters just cannot be taken seriously, but again, it was fun.
Then a big, actually emotional thing happens at the halfway point which I was actually invested in... and after that, well. Let's just say things get increasingly weird, there are cool world-building ideas but the execution was lacking, and the way the plot unfolds is just off the walls. Cameron, our protagonist, gets really annoying when I found him really endearing before. His emotional responses to some of the events happening, especially during the final chapters, are completely nonsensical. Things are confusing, some don't make sense if you think about them a little more, and I just didn't enjoy any of it. Kudos for creativity, though.
So yeah, in the end I'd probably give this 3 stars - the beginning might have been leaning towards 3,5, but the second half probably lingers somewhere around 2-2,5 stars. A mixed bag, but worth it for the fun of it.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
I was really intrigued by the premise and the fun title, and the comps really worked for me, too. First things first: Do not believe them. I have no idea what the marketing team for this one was on but Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely nothing like A Marvellous Light for one. I do see they changed the comps for the Kindle version now, and I haven't read those so can't speak to any resemblance, but the original comps were not it. And that's never helping because it just sets wrong expectations which most of the time lead only to disappointment.
Now, Apparently,... is still a fun book that I really enjoyed... until about 50%. It's a comedy with very cliched characters that could only ever exist in a comedy like this, and while there are more serious themes woven into the narrative (our main character has anxiety and regularly gets panic attacks, one other character is addicted to a drug that allows her to feel emotions, there's exploration of gender and religion) they are never explored in a serious way, so yeah, that's kind of just there. The humour is also really silly, almost childish at times. But still, the first half of this book was a hoot, the kind of brain-turned-off-fun you need sometimes. The central relationship is weird and never really makes you feel much because the characters just cannot be taken seriously, but again, it was fun.
Then a big, actually emotional thing happens at the halfway point which I was actually invested in... and after that, well. Let's just say things get increasingly weird, there are cool world-building ideas but the execution was lacking, and the way the plot unfolds is just off the walls. Cameron, our protagonist, gets really annoying when I found him really endearing before. His emotional responses to some of the events happening, especially during the final chapters, are completely nonsensical. Things are confusing, some don't make sense if you think about them a little more, and I just didn't enjoy any of it. Kudos for creativity, though.
So yeah, in the end I'd probably give this 3 stars - the beginning might have been leaning towards 3,5, but the second half probably lingers somewhere around 2-2,5 stars. A mixed bag, but worth it for the fun of it.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was so over the top ridiculous and weird and I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading it.
January 13, 2026
I really wanted to love Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die. On paper, this should have been a slam dunk for me: absurd premise, unserious tone and a story that clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously. And to be fair, the opening is fun. The setup is chaotic, the chapter titles are clever, and Cameron’s earnest refusal to die is genuinely endearing at first. It feels like the kind of book that promises ridiculous, LOL comedy.
But somewhere along the way… it just never delivered on that promise for me.
The book leans hard into humour, yet I didn’t actually find it funny. Not even a giggle. The jokes often felt more silly than sharp, more quirky than clever, and the tone skewed almost childish at times. Maybe my humour is just too dark 😆 but I kept waiting for that moment where it would fully click and it never did.
Structurally, things also started to unravel. The pacing dragged in the middle, rushed and confused itself near the end, and somehow managed to both resolve things too quickly and leave far too many plot threads dangling. Interesting ideas and characters were introduced only to go nowhere, which made the ending feel messy and unsatisfying rather than delightfully absurd. Emotional beats that should have landed didn’t, largely because the story never quite asked me to take anything seriously even when it clearly wanted me to.
By the end, what remained was a book that was occasionally entertaining, occasionally clever, but ultimately frustrating. I can absolutely see why this works for some readers as a low brain power read, and I appreciate the creativity behind it but for me, it just wasn’t funny enough, cohesive enough, or emotionally grounded enough to stick the landing.
A fun idea, a strong start… and a big miss for my personal taste.
But somewhere along the way… it just never delivered on that promise for me.
The book leans hard into humour, yet I didn’t actually find it funny. Not even a giggle. The jokes often felt more silly than sharp, more quirky than clever, and the tone skewed almost childish at times. Maybe my humour is just too dark 😆 but I kept waiting for that moment where it would fully click and it never did.
Structurally, things also started to unravel. The pacing dragged in the middle, rushed and confused itself near the end, and somehow managed to both resolve things too quickly and leave far too many plot threads dangling. Interesting ideas and characters were introduced only to go nowhere, which made the ending feel messy and unsatisfying rather than delightfully absurd. Emotional beats that should have landed didn’t, largely because the story never quite asked me to take anything seriously even when it clearly wanted me to.
By the end, what remained was a book that was occasionally entertaining, occasionally clever, but ultimately frustrating. I can absolutely see why this works for some readers as a low brain power read, and I appreciate the creativity behind it but for me, it just wasn’t funny enough, cohesive enough, or emotionally grounded enough to stick the landing.
A fun idea, a strong start… and a big miss for my personal taste.
October 29, 2025
This is another book where the cover immediately caught my eye, and the title sealed the deal. It’s not your typical fantasy title and that alone made me curious. After reading the synopsis I was completely in
I don’t usually pick up humor books, and honestly, I’m not sure why.. but after this that might have to change. I’ve never described a book as literally making me laugh out loud until this one. Cameron’s humor is unmatched. Everyone in this world seems to hate him, which is wild because he’s so genuinely lovable. Merulo was also a standout, but when these two share the page, the story really shines. Their dynamic is chaotic and charming and somehow perfectly balanced
The side characters, especially Glenda the elf, add so much personality. Getting brief POVs from them made the world/universe feel even more alive. The world is one of the most unique settings I’ve read in a while. It blends this almost futuristic feel with ancient magic, and while I’m still not totally sure I understood every piece of the lore... I loved the ride it took me on 😅
The ending was totally unexpected. It really feels so much different than the start of the book, and i never really would have guessed it going there, but honestly I really loved that. I don't know how to exactly convey my feelings on what happens without spoiling things, but simply I need more!
For a debut, this was seriously impressive! The writing, humor, and pacing were all spot on, and I’m already excited to see what Greer Stothers does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t usually pick up humor books, and honestly, I’m not sure why.. but after this that might have to change. I’ve never described a book as literally making me laugh out loud until this one. Cameron’s humor is unmatched. Everyone in this world seems to hate him, which is wild because he’s so genuinely lovable. Merulo was also a standout, but when these two share the page, the story really shines. Their dynamic is chaotic and charming and somehow perfectly balanced
The side characters, especially Glenda the elf, add so much personality. Getting brief POVs from them made the world/universe feel even more alive. The world is one of the most unique settings I’ve read in a while. It blends this almost futuristic feel with ancient magic, and while I’m still not totally sure I understood every piece of the lore... I loved the ride it took me on 😅
The ending was totally unexpected. It really feels so much different than the start of the book, and i never really would have guessed it going there, but honestly I really loved that. I don't know how to exactly convey my feelings on what happens without spoiling things, but simply I need more!
For a debut, this was seriously impressive! The writing, humor, and pacing were all spot on, and I’m already excited to see what Greer Stothers does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 2, 2025
Despite this being one of the most anticipated books of the year for me, I'm unfortunately underwhelmed and disappointed. I'm a huge fan of the author's sense of humour when it comes to their Tumblr but I don't think it translated super well with the writing style and plot pacing. It's not bad persay but I'm not recommending this one.
January 23, 2026
A lot of reviews are calling this book weird and I was foolishly like, aha, with my big brain I will surely be able to come up with a better description than that! But turns out that no, that sums it up pretty well. It’s extremely weird! And I loved it a lot! Cameron sucks so bad in a very specific way that just hits the spot for me!!! The only reason it isn’t a solid 5 stars is the pacing, which varied pretty wildly between lightning-fast and a liiiittle slow. It wasn’t enough to derail my enjoyment of the rollercoaster ride that was reading this, but it’s worth noting.
February 4, 2026
I adored this! Laughed out loud so many times and the plot is absolutely fantastic!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this book!
It was such an entertaining read that had me laughing quite a few times with how ridiculous it could be.
The characters were all great! I really liked both Cameron and Merulo and enjoyed reading their banter and how their romance came together. Glenda was also an interesting character and I enjoyed reading her POV.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the beginnings of each chapter as they always made me giggle.
The book definitely took an unexpected turn around halfway after a very surprising scene.
I can't say much more due to not wanting to spoil anything but it was a very unique twist.
I also enjoyed the ending a lot and while I would have loved to see more I was pretty happy with where the story ended!
All in all, this was such a fun read that I definitely recommend checking out! Especially if you are looking for a unique fantasy read with a fascinating world and lovable characters that just make you laugh.
It was such an entertaining read that had me laughing quite a few times with how ridiculous it could be.
The characters were all great! I really liked both Cameron and Merulo and enjoyed reading their banter and how their romance came together. Glenda was also an interesting character and I enjoyed reading her POV.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the beginnings of each chapter as they always made me giggle.
The book definitely took an unexpected turn around halfway after a very surprising scene.
I can't say much more due to not wanting to spoil anything but it was a very unique twist.
I also enjoyed the ending a lot and while I would have loved to see more I was pretty happy with where the story ended!
All in all, this was such a fun read that I definitely recommend checking out! Especially if you are looking for a unique fantasy read with a fascinating world and lovable characters that just make you laugh.
November 24, 2025
This was a 3-star read for me. There was just so much going on, yet also not enough going on. The plot was crazy, and while the premise was super interesting, I felt like the level of complexity in the plot and some of the themes were just too much stuffed into one book. The characters did not have enough growth and personal insight for the amount of things they went through in this book, which left me feeling like the entire book was underdeveloped.
First, the characters. Cameron is very cute, and very sweet, and also, an annoying idiot. I liken him to a golden retriever puppy with a singular brain cell and not quite potty trained. Cute, yet annoying. There are moments of self-awareness and self-growth that I did enjoy, but they fell pretty flat when Cameron was like "eh, oh well" and then shrugged it off. I did enjoy seeing a non-traditional knight character and how Cameron perceived the world, and quite honestly, took everything in stride. His relationship with Merulo was freaky and cute in an ugly-but-cute cat way, and made me laugh a couple of times during their interactions. I think if we were to give Cameron more time and more character depth, he would be a refreshing twist on the knight character type. But alas. Many of the side characters also had some great moments, but I again felt like we needed some more time and more development with the characters before I truly began to feel like they were real. Merulo was interesting and emo, Hydna was badass and had some peak sibling interactions, and Glenda could have been good, but I felt like there was little resolution with her character.
Next, the plot. What in the actual sci-fi fantasy was going on in there? The first part of the book was as advertised, cute, nice twist on the knight saves the day with a prophecy trope, interesting dynamic between the hero and the villain, and neat world building! But somewhere in the middle, the plot started to go haywire. It was almost like we mashed a trilogy into one book and thought the readers could keep up. It was genuinely so interesting, we get fantasy, magic, dragons, space, modern technology, but it was so messily combined together that I was almost sad that it didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It was an amazing concept with cool ideas and interesting character types, but it was just too much all at once for a reader to really enjoy and allow for necessary character development.
All in all, this was a debut novel, and there were some super neat ideas, and I am excited to see how Sothers develops as an author!
I am grateful for my e-ARC copy received through Edelweiss, and I hope to see more from Greer Stothers in the future.
First, the characters. Cameron is very cute, and very sweet, and also, an annoying idiot. I liken him to a golden retriever puppy with a singular brain cell and not quite potty trained. Cute, yet annoying. There are moments of self-awareness and self-growth that I did enjoy, but they fell pretty flat when Cameron was like "eh, oh well" and then shrugged it off. I did enjoy seeing a non-traditional knight character and how Cameron perceived the world, and quite honestly, took everything in stride. His relationship with Merulo was freaky and cute in an ugly-but-cute cat way, and made me laugh a couple of times during their interactions. I think if we were to give Cameron more time and more character depth, he would be a refreshing twist on the knight character type. But alas. Many of the side characters also had some great moments, but I again felt like we needed some more time and more development with the characters before I truly began to feel like they were real. Merulo was interesting and emo, Hydna was badass and had some peak sibling interactions, and Glenda could have been good, but I felt like there was little resolution with her character.
Next, the plot. What in the actual sci-fi fantasy was going on in there? The first part of the book was as advertised, cute, nice twist on the knight saves the day with a prophecy trope, interesting dynamic between the hero and the villain, and neat world building! But somewhere in the middle, the plot started to go haywire. It was almost like we mashed a trilogy into one book and thought the readers could keep up. It was genuinely so interesting, we get fantasy, magic, dragons, space, modern technology, but it was so messily combined together that I was almost sad that it didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It was an amazing concept with cool ideas and interesting character types, but it was just too much all at once for a reader to really enjoy and allow for necessary character development.
All in all, this was a debut novel, and there were some super neat ideas, and I am excited to see how Sothers develops as an author!
I am grateful for my e-ARC copy received through Edelweiss, and I hope to see more from Greer Stothers in the future.
February 4, 2026
I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den.
The only thing I needed to know about this book before knowing, without a doubt, I needed to read it was the title. I mean, how can you resist a title so snarky and defiant?! It doesn’t hurt that this book in its entirety, from its shiny, gold cover to its decorated edges, is absolutely stunning. I was always going to pick it up. But then I read the blurb and knew that this was a book written for me!
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is a comedic queer romantasy where one cowardly knight is willing to go against prophecy to save his own hide, with the . . . help? (if you can call it that) . . . of his worst enemy.
This book was an absolutely wild ride, in the best possible way. The characters are funny, the plot unexpected, and I couldn’t stop laughing. I did find that there were beats that felt “off,” though, like the ending. There also seems to be an entire side plot that felt incomplete and not well tied in. All in all, I really enjoyed it, and Greer Stothers is an author I will definitely read more from!
My Thoughts
✿ Right off the bat, I am absolutely in love with the chapter subheadings, which are delightfully descriptive and ridiculously funny. For example, Chapter 4: In Which an Elf Is Concussed, but It’s Not Really My Fault because What Would You Have Done? Would You Not Have Concussed the Elf? No, Of Course You Would Have. We All Would Have Concussed the Elf. Besides Which, I Am Very Sorry for Concussing Her and Will Try to Make Amends Later if She Stops Trying to Kill Me. And Also, Her Intent to Kill Me Was a Highly Relevant Factor in My Decision to Concuss Him.
Is it hopelessly long and wordy for a subtitle? Okay, sure. But is it wonderfully in character and every bit as chaotic as Sir Cameron himself? Why yes, it is. The subtitles absolutely cracked me up, and I looked forward to seeing what each new chapter had in store. I’ve never been much of a fan of titled chapters, but I absolutely loved . . . whatever this is.
✿ Sir Cameron isn’t exactly what I would call likeable, but darn if he’s not painfully relatable! Right down to being remarkably bad at . . . well . . . mostly everything. Including, as it turns out, staying alive. To be fair, until now, Sir Cameron has done a wonderful job at that. He’s conveniently managed to avoid battles and side-step his way out of danger, to his father’s chagrin. But there’s one danger that he’s finding quite unavoidable: a prophecy shows that he must die in order for the mad sorcerer to be overthrown, once and for all. Violently. Bloodily. Two things he’s not particularly fond of, especially when they’re attached to his untimely demise.
He does everything he possibly can think to do. He pleads and begs. Sir Cameron even tries to seduce someone. Twice. (He swears this has worked before, but his track record is questionable at best.) Finally, he does the only thing that makes any sense and throws himself at the mercy of the one person who might be just as invested as he is in keeping him alive: Merulo, the Mad Sorcerer himself.
✿ The mad sorcerer describes Sir Cameron as a “chaos entity,” and that is probably the most apt description I’ve ever heard. To be fair, Sir Cameron doesn’t mean to cause trouble for the people around him. Well . . . mostly. He’s just . . . not particularly good at anything? He does his best to be agreeable, in whatever way the people around him want. That’s how he’s stayed alive for so long. He’s remarkably flexible and good-tempered, even when Merulo turns him into a vulture. Easier to not be killed that way, for the most part. Sure-fire way to avoid the prophecy. In the end, not very practical, though.
Sir Cameron is realizing that he may not be as popular as he had once thought. It doesn’t bother him all that much to throw himself upon the whims of his totally not handsome and mysterious enemy, who may be the only person willing to save him, but also the only person who truly likes him. Which is the roughest blow of all.
✿ With seemingly the whole world wanting Sir Cameron dead, he throws himself upon the mercy of his mortal enemy, the mad sorcerer. And they are both . . . less than pleased. Mostly. Merulo, understandably, isn’t thrilled when a knight throws himself on his mercy. Probably because Sir Cameron is, to put it kindly, a nuisance who is literally not good at anything. Not even seduction. (Despite his claims to the contrary.) More importantly, Sir Cameron is interrupting Merulo’s very important work. Notably, destroying the world. For its own good, of course. But still. Distractions are not welcome, and Sir Cameron is most assuredly a distraction. Certainly as a vulture. Definitely as a female. But most of all as himself.
There is actually a ridiculously cute enemies-to-lovers queer romance in this. Is it healthy? Probably not, given the circumstances. But you know what? It works for them. And it’s quite funny. My favorite part is that the romance only hints at spice. There are some . . . erm . . . compromising scenes, but nothing actually shown “on screen,” which, if I’m honest, is my favorite kind of romance!
✿ The secondary cast are every bit as delightful as the main cast, from a drug-addicted elf, to a recluse dragon, to the worst partners-in-crime of all: siblings. There’s not a whole lot I can say about the side cast that isn’t venturing close to spoiler territory, so what I will say is that they were fun. We meet Glenda the Elf early on, and the dual perspective with her was . . . odd. Her story felt extremely unfinished, which was kind of frustrating, considering how much time we spent with her. She was also the character that I felt like I had the least understanding of, as she was kind of all over the place. The rest, though? I won’t say much, but they were delightful. I wouldn’t say they were necessarily Merulo’s allies, but they also weren’t actively trying to kill Sir Cameron, so . . . win?
The only thing I needed to know about this book before knowing, without a doubt, I needed to read it was the title. I mean, how can you resist a title so snarky and defiant?! It doesn’t hurt that this book in its entirety, from its shiny, gold cover to its decorated edges, is absolutely stunning. I was always going to pick it up. But then I read the blurb and knew that this was a book written for me!
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is a comedic queer romantasy where one cowardly knight is willing to go against prophecy to save his own hide, with the . . . help? (if you can call it that) . . . of his worst enemy.
This book was an absolutely wild ride, in the best possible way. The characters are funny, the plot unexpected, and I couldn’t stop laughing. I did find that there were beats that felt “off,” though, like the ending. There also seems to be an entire side plot that felt incomplete and not well tied in. All in all, I really enjoyed it, and Greer Stothers is an author I will definitely read more from!
My Thoughts
✿ Right off the bat, I am absolutely in love with the chapter subheadings, which are delightfully descriptive and ridiculously funny. For example, Chapter 4: In Which an Elf Is Concussed, but It’s Not Really My Fault because What Would You Have Done? Would You Not Have Concussed the Elf? No, Of Course You Would Have. We All Would Have Concussed the Elf. Besides Which, I Am Very Sorry for Concussing Her and Will Try to Make Amends Later if She Stops Trying to Kill Me. And Also, Her Intent to Kill Me Was a Highly Relevant Factor in My Decision to Concuss Him.
Is it hopelessly long and wordy for a subtitle? Okay, sure. But is it wonderfully in character and every bit as chaotic as Sir Cameron himself? Why yes, it is. The subtitles absolutely cracked me up, and I looked forward to seeing what each new chapter had in store. I’ve never been much of a fan of titled chapters, but I absolutely loved . . . whatever this is.
✿ Sir Cameron isn’t exactly what I would call likeable, but darn if he’s not painfully relatable! Right down to being remarkably bad at . . . well . . . mostly everything. Including, as it turns out, staying alive. To be fair, until now, Sir Cameron has done a wonderful job at that. He’s conveniently managed to avoid battles and side-step his way out of danger, to his father’s chagrin. But there’s one danger that he’s finding quite unavoidable: a prophecy shows that he must die in order for the mad sorcerer to be overthrown, once and for all. Violently. Bloodily. Two things he’s not particularly fond of, especially when they’re attached to his untimely demise.
He does everything he possibly can think to do. He pleads and begs. Sir Cameron even tries to seduce someone. Twice. (He swears this has worked before, but his track record is questionable at best.) Finally, he does the only thing that makes any sense and throws himself at the mercy of the one person who might be just as invested as he is in keeping him alive: Merulo, the Mad Sorcerer himself.
✿ The mad sorcerer describes Sir Cameron as a “chaos entity,” and that is probably the most apt description I’ve ever heard. To be fair, Sir Cameron doesn’t mean to cause trouble for the people around him. Well . . . mostly. He’s just . . . not particularly good at anything? He does his best to be agreeable, in whatever way the people around him want. That’s how he’s stayed alive for so long. He’s remarkably flexible and good-tempered, even when Merulo turns him into a vulture. Easier to not be killed that way, for the most part. Sure-fire way to avoid the prophecy. In the end, not very practical, though.
Sir Cameron is realizing that he may not be as popular as he had once thought. It doesn’t bother him all that much to throw himself upon the whims of his totally not handsome and mysterious enemy, who may be the only person willing to save him, but also the only person who truly likes him. Which is the roughest blow of all.
✿ With seemingly the whole world wanting Sir Cameron dead, he throws himself upon the mercy of his mortal enemy, the mad sorcerer. And they are both . . . less than pleased. Mostly. Merulo, understandably, isn’t thrilled when a knight throws himself on his mercy. Probably because Sir Cameron is, to put it kindly, a nuisance who is literally not good at anything. Not even seduction. (Despite his claims to the contrary.) More importantly, Sir Cameron is interrupting Merulo’s very important work. Notably, destroying the world. For its own good, of course. But still. Distractions are not welcome, and Sir Cameron is most assuredly a distraction. Certainly as a vulture. Definitely as a female. But most of all as himself.
There is actually a ridiculously cute enemies-to-lovers queer romance in this. Is it healthy? Probably not, given the circumstances. But you know what? It works for them. And it’s quite funny. My favorite part is that the romance only hints at spice. There are some . . . erm . . . compromising scenes, but nothing actually shown “on screen,” which, if I’m honest, is my favorite kind of romance!
✿ The secondary cast are every bit as delightful as the main cast, from a drug-addicted elf, to a recluse dragon, to the worst partners-in-crime of all: siblings. There’s not a whole lot I can say about the side cast that isn’t venturing close to spoiler territory, so what I will say is that they were fun. We meet Glenda the Elf early on, and the dual perspective with her was . . . odd. Her story felt extremely unfinished, which was kind of frustrating, considering how much time we spent with her. She was also the character that I felt like I had the least understanding of, as she was kind of all over the place. The rest, though? I won’t say much, but they were delightful. I wouldn’t say they were necessarily Merulo’s allies, but they also weren’t actively trying to kill Sir Cameron, so . . . win?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Prophecies are chaotic and love is messier than anyone expected.”
🗓 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 3, 2026
📚 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die
👑 𝗔𝘂𝗁𝗼𝗿: Greer Stothers
✨ 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗒 & 🍵 𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Sir Cameron has always avoided danger, partly because he’s too handsome to risk dying in pointless battles. Then a prophecy says the only way to beat a powerful enemy is to kill him, so he throws himself on the mercy of the mad sorcerer Merulo for protection. Instead of hostility, their days turn into a weird mix of survival, unexpected feelings, and absurd magical situations .. including being transmogrified into a vulture for entertainment while a legion of knights closes in. It’s a humorous, genre-bending fantasy with queer romance and frequent weird twists.
I thought this was a fun, inventive read. The banter and the odd situations kept the tone light even when things got chaotic, and I liked how the relationship dynamics unfolded over time. At the same time, some plot moments leaned into familiar fantasy comedy tropes, and a few details felt more playful than necessary, which might not hit for everyone. Overall, it’s an entertaining queer fantasy romp that’s easy to enjoy without taking too seriously.
🫶 Thank you to @titanbooks for this gifted copy!
🧙♂️ Sorcery and prophecies
🦅 Humor and absurd fantasy
❤️ Queer romance vibes
⚔️ Knightly chaos
📚 Light fantasy adventure
✨ Playful genre twist
🗓 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 3, 2026
📚 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die
👑 𝗔𝘂𝗁𝗼𝗿: Greer Stothers
✨ 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗒 & 🍵 𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Sir Cameron has always avoided danger, partly because he’s too handsome to risk dying in pointless battles. Then a prophecy says the only way to beat a powerful enemy is to kill him, so he throws himself on the mercy of the mad sorcerer Merulo for protection. Instead of hostility, their days turn into a weird mix of survival, unexpected feelings, and absurd magical situations .. including being transmogrified into a vulture for entertainment while a legion of knights closes in. It’s a humorous, genre-bending fantasy with queer romance and frequent weird twists.
I thought this was a fun, inventive read. The banter and the odd situations kept the tone light even when things got chaotic, and I liked how the relationship dynamics unfolded over time. At the same time, some plot moments leaned into familiar fantasy comedy tropes, and a few details felt more playful than necessary, which might not hit for everyone. Overall, it’s an entertaining queer fantasy romp that’s easy to enjoy without taking too seriously.
🫶 Thank you to @titanbooks for this gifted copy!
🧙♂️ Sorcery and prophecies
🦅 Humor and absurd fantasy
❤️ Queer romance vibes
⚔️ Knightly chaos
📚 Light fantasy adventure
✨ Playful genre twist
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
I don’t know why ‘silliness’ and ‘very simple prose’ go together so often, but they do here and it means I have no interest in continuing on. I made it to 25%, and it’s perfectly fine, I don’t think it’s a bad book. But the vibe is very childish, it’s not my flavour of funny, there are some hints of interesting things below the surface of the worldbuilding (this might be set in the future of our world? the elf PoV character is addicted to a drug that makes her feel emotions?) but not enough to hold my attention.
The comp titles in the current blurb are ridiculous: between the tone, writing style, and general aesthetic, Apparently, Sir Cameron is nothing like the Last Binding trilogy or Mortal Follies. Comping this to Dreadful is much fairer, but the prose in Apparently is noticeably easier/less complex. That’s not a bad thing! Sometimes you want to read something that allows you to completely shut your brain off; that can be a huge relief. Apparently is absolutely a book that will let you do that.
I think if you want an extremely readable, light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek queer snark-story, you’re likely to have fun with this – especially if you’re a fan of cowardly ‘heroes’ bucking expectations. (We stan a protagonist who is not ashamed in discovering he has a bondage kink!)
I don’t know why ‘silliness’ and ‘very simple prose’ go together so often, but they do here and it means I have no interest in continuing on. I made it to 25%, and it’s perfectly fine, I don’t think it’s a bad book. But the vibe is very childish, it’s not my flavour of funny, there are some hints of interesting things below the surface of the worldbuilding (this might be set in the future of our world? the elf PoV character is addicted to a drug that makes her feel emotions?) but not enough to hold my attention.
The comp titles in the current blurb are ridiculous: between the tone, writing style, and general aesthetic, Apparently, Sir Cameron is nothing like the Last Binding trilogy or Mortal Follies. Comping this to Dreadful is much fairer, but the prose in Apparently is noticeably easier/less complex. That’s not a bad thing! Sometimes you want to read something that allows you to completely shut your brain off; that can be a huge relief. Apparently is absolutely a book that will let you do that.
I think if you want an extremely readable, light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek queer snark-story, you’re likely to have fun with this – especially if you’re a fan of cowardly ‘heroes’ bucking expectations. (We stan a protagonist who is not ashamed in discovering he has a bondage kink!)
October 29, 2025
Digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Titan Books
What even was that? I say that in a good way, I promise. This was genuinely the most fun I’ve had reading a book in recent memory. Do you like weird gay books? This is the book for you. Unhinged, laugh out loud funny, weird and genre-bending: I am going to be thinking about this book for the next month minimum.
About halfway through reading I described the story as ‘Howl’s Moving Castle if it was 80% more feral’, and then everything managed to get twenty times stranger. You will not be able to guess the ending.
I definitely will be picking up anything else Greer Stothers writes and am super grateful for the chance to read this so so many months before publication.
What even was that? I say that in a good way, I promise. This was genuinely the most fun I’ve had reading a book in recent memory. Do you like weird gay books? This is the book for you. Unhinged, laugh out loud funny, weird and genre-bending: I am going to be thinking about this book for the next month minimum.
About halfway through reading I described the story as ‘Howl’s Moving Castle if it was 80% more feral’, and then everything managed to get twenty times stranger. You will not be able to guess the ending.
I definitely will be picking up anything else Greer Stothers writes and am super grateful for the chance to read this so so many months before publication.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I don't think a book has ever surprised me as much as this one did.
The first half of this book: Very silly and irreverent with love-to-hate characters and surprisingly intriguing world building. Entertaining, but in the way shoving an entire handful of Sour Patch Kids into your mouth is fun and addictive, but you're not necessarily sure you're having a good time.
Then I hit the halfway point and my jaw dropped. My jaw stayed dropped for around 20 pages, and from that point onward I was all in. This will certainly be a book I return to every year or so to reexperience the journey.
All I'm gonna say is I'm glad this writer already has a Tumblr following because if the fans don't start writing fic soon, I'll have to do it myself.
The first half of this book: Very silly and irreverent with love-to-hate characters and surprisingly intriguing world building. Entertaining, but in the way shoving an entire handful of Sour Patch Kids into your mouth is fun and addictive, but you're not necessarily sure you're having a good time.
Then I hit the halfway point and my jaw dropped. My jaw stayed dropped for around 20 pages, and from that point onward I was all in. This will certainly be a book I return to every year or so to reexperience the journey.
All I'm gonna say is I'm glad this writer already has a Tumblr following because if the fans don't start writing fic soon, I'll have to do it myself.
November 30, 2025
Within three chapters I was struggling to put the book down. We're introduced to Sir Cameron, a coward and extremely anxious person. Sir Cameron should be dislikable but actually I found him rather likeable in a rather round about way. A prophecy says he needs to die and well, he's not too keen on that. For the first third of the book I was onboard, watching the strange stories play out, deeply involved in the outcome but just -- the pacing is kinda buggered.
The story resolves, but then it keep going, but then something else happens, and then -- but the thing is, with Sir Cameron they're all rather enjoyable and I still sped through it at the speed of light. Although there was a lot more amputation than I'd have expected.
So whilst I did enjoy it, it could have used a much heavier editing hand on this, and I feel a little sad for the book that it could have been with me stamping 5* on it. But I can't, especially not with that epilogue. So, 3.5* it is, rounded... up? I think up for the sheer potential and because it kept me engaged.
The story resolves, but then it keep going, but then something else happens, and then -- but the thing is, with Sir Cameron they're all rather enjoyable and I still sped through it at the speed of light. Although there was a lot more amputation than I'd have expected.
So whilst I did enjoy it, it could have used a much heavier editing hand on this, and I feel a little sad for the book that it could have been with me stamping 5* on it. But I can't, especially not with that epilogue. So, 3.5* it is, rounded... up? I think up for the sheer potential and because it kept me engaged.
February 2, 2026
This book made me GIGGLE and was so fun to read. The book follows Cameron, a cowardly knight who is obviously too handsome to die and the sorcerer Merulo.
There’s a prophecy linking them together, and for the church to finally defeat Merulo, Cameron..needs to die.
This book took such an unexpected turn & was honestly full of chaos, silly, funny & the romance between the two of them was really sweet.
If you’re looking for a medieval gay fantasy romance with elves, dragons, unicorns and BIGGGGG black cat (merulo is soooo sick of Cameron it’s hilarious) x golden retriever energy this might just be for you
There’s a prophecy linking them together, and for the church to finally defeat Merulo, Cameron..needs to die.
This book took such an unexpected turn & was honestly full of chaos, silly, funny & the romance between the two of them was really sweet.
If you’re looking for a medieval gay fantasy romance with elves, dragons, unicorns and BIGGGGG black cat (merulo is soooo sick of Cameron it’s hilarious) x golden retriever energy this might just be for you
November 28, 2025
The book equivalent of 'crack treated seriously' and I had a great time reading it. This book is deeply unserious and still managed to make me deeply care about the characters. That said, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me because it felt like it tried a bit too hard to have plot in the second half of the novel (or rather, it worked a bit too hard to justify the plot when it could have carried on being deeply unserious).
The premise of the book: himbo knight Cameron teaming up with the evil ugly sorcerer (affectionate) to avoid a prophecy about his death? Love it. The very non-binary experience of morphing between being a man, a woman, and a vulture? Love it. The relationship between Merulo and Cameron? Did not expect to love it as much as I did. But the plot in the middle/second half? Did not super love it.
Overall, I recommend this when you're looking for an incredibly unserious reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the eARC!
The premise of the book: himbo knight Cameron teaming up with the evil ugly sorcerer (affectionate) to avoid a prophecy about his death? Love it. The very non-binary experience of morphing between being a man, a woman, and a vulture? Love it. The relationship between Merulo and Cameron? Did not expect to love it as much as I did. But the plot in the middle/second half? Did not super love it.
Overall, I recommend this when you're looking for an incredibly unserious reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the eARC!
February 3, 2026
I admit I was drawn in by the cover, but unfortunately, the book did not live up to the packaging. The story begins with a strong premise involving a polarized prince who must die to defeat the wizard Merulo and save God himself.
While the setup was promising, the narrative loses its footing in the second half. The author introduces genre-bending elements that clash with the world-building; the story would have been stronger had it remained a focused, traditional fantasy. Despite the uneven pacing that led me to skim parts of the middle, the dynamic between Cameron and Merulo is the highlight that keeps the book afloat
While the setup was promising, the narrative loses its footing in the second half. The author introduces genre-bending elements that clash with the world-building; the story would have been stronger had it remained a focused, traditional fantasy. Despite the uneven pacing that led me to skim parts of the middle, the dynamic between Cameron and Merulo is the highlight that keeps the book afloat
October 23, 2025
Very sweet, dark lord meets not actually all that noble knight, in that sense very much in the vein of all these atypical epic fantasies I've been enjoying. It's not cozy but has some fuzzy vibes, it's often humorous, the world is original but definitely classic high fantasy, and I enjoyed Cameron, who is not heroic but is pretty darn self-aware. It's queer in a world that is not queer-normative, which meant the text grappled with some real conflicts in that arena (a lot of fantasy is queer-normative, which I generally love, but I think sometimes it's nice to have your struggles represented along with your identity, since the crucible of experience builds who we are), and it has an unexpected sf element that was next level and frankly kind of brilliant in its commentary on epic fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
it had many good ideas but the execution was sort of lacking. I mean honestly this was a crazy ride and I did enjoy it but also I wish everything had a bit more depth. Feels like a lot had to be cut down and I wish this was longer so that relationships could be realistically developed.
January 13, 2026
My main feeling throughout reading this book was “wtf is going to happen next”, in the most fun way possible. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a romp that’s a little off the beaten path, with a dash of queer romance that grows on you like an invasive plant with pretty flowers.
January 31, 2026
HUGELY fun
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