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Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
WARNING! Under no circumstances must employees strike a deal with unauthorized personnel on Dark Enterprises property. Such behavior could result in death…or the end of the world.
Colin is a low-level employee at Dark Enterprises, a Hell-like multinational corporation solving the world’s most difficult problems in deeply questionable ways. After years of toiling away in a cubicle, he's ready to climb the corporate ladder and claim the power he's never had.
The only problem is, he’s pretty sure he’s about to be terminated. Like, terminated. That's tough, because his BFF has just set him up with a great guy. In fact, maybe he's a little too great. And asks a lot of questions...
When Colin meets a shadowy figure promising him his heart’s deepest desire, he can’t resist the urge to fast-track his goals. In return for a small, unspecified favor, he asks for the one thing that will improve his life: a promotion.
But that small favor unleashes an ancient evil. People in New York are disappearing, the world might be ending, and Management is starting to notice. Getting to the top is never easy, and now it’s up to Colin to save the world. It's the ultimate power move, after all.
Colin is a low-level employee at Dark Enterprises, a Hell-like multinational corporation solving the world’s most difficult problems in deeply questionable ways. After years of toiling away in a cubicle, he's ready to climb the corporate ladder and claim the power he's never had.
The only problem is, he’s pretty sure he’s about to be terminated. Like, terminated. That's tough, because his BFF has just set him up with a great guy. In fact, maybe he's a little too great. And asks a lot of questions...
When Colin meets a shadowy figure promising him his heart’s deepest desire, he can’t resist the urge to fast-track his goals. In return for a small, unspecified favor, he asks for the one thing that will improve his life: a promotion.
But that small favor unleashes an ancient evil. People in New York are disappearing, the world might be ending, and Management is starting to notice. Getting to the top is never easy, and now it’s up to Colin to save the world. It's the ultimate power move, after all.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2025
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April 18, 2025
"But how does he manage to make the exact wrong choice in every situation? Like, how is that even possible?”
Oh my gosh, this book is absolutely delightful. Colin's a mess (see above) and probably a bit of a psychopath, but he's the most entertaining psychopath I've read about in very long time … or perhaps ever. Colin works for Dark Enterprises in a dead-end, low-level job but longs for real power, primarily for enemy-smiting purposes. And what do you do when you need power? Well, you make a deal with a dark entity of questionable origin, of course. Unfortunately, making deals with dark entities rarely comes without its challenges, and in Colin's case he just happens to doom the world. No biggie.
Dark Enterprises is a scary, scary place, you guys. Like, there's a people-eating monster living in the stairwell and that's one of the least frightening things about it. Having your employment terminated involves a visit from a “remediation team” known as the Firing Squad (which does exactly what you're thinking it does), and even high-performing employees meet their demise at an alarming rate. I certainly wouldn't want to work there, but it was a blast to read about. The world-building is absolutely top-notch, and I was constantly amazed (and more than a little horrified) by all of the fantastic details that the author managed to fit into this book regarding the company's, um … business dealings. There's sorcery and torture and magical relics and portals to alternate dimensions and many, many frightening otherworldly beings and it's all just simply brilliant.
And Colin? Well, he's got … issues, but he's entertaining. He dooms the world and really only cares how it'll affect him and, like, three other people. I mean, if I set the apocalypse into motion, I'd probably feel a little guilty. Colin, though? Nope. Colin wants a promotion to middle management and he plans to work this whole “dark entity destroying the world” thing to his advantage. And, by the way, the entity that Colin unleashes is terrifying and almost pushes this book into horror territory at points. I don't know why, but the way the author chose to format the creature's dialogue makes it so much more scary than it would have been otherwise.
Do expect the romance to be very, very insta-love. It totally fits in with the weirdness that is this book, but Colin and Eric have one of the most bizarre first date conversations I've ever heard. “Amira told me you have all the muscles” … um, okay, Colin. Very smooth.
But, yeah, this book is wonderful. It's full of dark humor and morally gray characters and, okay, lots of death and destruction, but it's amusing death and destruction. Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World honestly might just be my new favorite urban fantasy read. 4.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.
Oh my gosh, this book is absolutely delightful. Colin's a mess (see above) and probably a bit of a psychopath, but he's the most entertaining psychopath I've read about in very long time … or perhaps ever. Colin works for Dark Enterprises in a dead-end, low-level job but longs for real power, primarily for enemy-smiting purposes. And what do you do when you need power? Well, you make a deal with a dark entity of questionable origin, of course. Unfortunately, making deals with dark entities rarely comes without its challenges, and in Colin's case he just happens to doom the world. No biggie.
Dark Enterprises is a scary, scary place, you guys. Like, there's a people-eating monster living in the stairwell and that's one of the least frightening things about it. Having your employment terminated involves a visit from a “remediation team” known as the Firing Squad (which does exactly what you're thinking it does), and even high-performing employees meet their demise at an alarming rate. I certainly wouldn't want to work there, but it was a blast to read about. The world-building is absolutely top-notch, and I was constantly amazed (and more than a little horrified) by all of the fantastic details that the author managed to fit into this book regarding the company's, um … business dealings. There's sorcery and torture and magical relics and portals to alternate dimensions and many, many frightening otherworldly beings and it's all just simply brilliant.
And Colin? Well, he's got … issues, but he's entertaining. He dooms the world and really only cares how it'll affect him and, like, three other people. I mean, if I set the apocalypse into motion, I'd probably feel a little guilty. Colin, though? Nope. Colin wants a promotion to middle management and he plans to work this whole “dark entity destroying the world” thing to his advantage. And, by the way, the entity that Colin unleashes is terrifying and almost pushes this book into horror territory at points. I don't know why, but the way the author chose to format the creature's dialogue makes it so much more scary than it would have been otherwise.
Do expect the romance to be very, very insta-love. It totally fits in with the weirdness that is this book, but Colin and Eric have one of the most bizarre first date conversations I've ever heard. “Amira told me you have all the muscles” … um, okay, Colin. Very smooth.
But, yeah, this book is wonderful. It's full of dark humor and morally gray characters and, okay, lots of death and destruction, but it's amusing death and destruction. Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World honestly might just be my new favorite urban fantasy read. 4.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.
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October 9, 2025A Tom Holt-esque corporate horror comedy. Colin is a lowly assistant at a Company of Ultimate Evil where office backstabbing and human resources are phrases that should be taken very literally. Colin is a whiny and resentful loser who is quite happy to torture people and murder colleagues and consign souls to eternal torture, and who releases a world-ending abomination in exchange for a promotion.
So far so fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the evil corporation and Colin's combination of weedy haplessness, total lack of responsibility, and sociopathic murdering (for work! we all need a pay cheque! is it my fault what management do???).
I did start to struggle with the introduction of Eric, the love interest. Eric is a very bland character, correctly self-described as boring, and there's a completely baffling scene where he explains all the wonderful depths and feelings he sees in Colin that are completely invisible to the reader, since he's a staggeringly self-centred man of zero good qualities. I really started to pull away from the story because I felt I was being asked to invest sincerely in a romance involving someone who is not only responsible for a million deaths, but also a crap person.
This resolved At this point I finally grasped that the entire thing is a massive piss-take of, among other things, romance novels that seem unaware they're depicting ghastly people / terrible relationships, therapy speak, and the overwhelming selfishness we all exhibit in pursuing personal satisfaction and success. I expect I would have reached that conclusion a lot earlier if I didn't read so much romance because I was absolutely going along with all the romance beats and assuming I was meant to take it at face value, but in fairness to myself, the author plays it completely straight (as it were), including Colin (a literal mass murderer) being genuinely hurt and affronted that Eric started the relationship under false pretences, and Eric going into full grovel role.
Let me say, this is not the author ridiculing romance novels per se (nobody could have written this without reading a lot of them and it's obviously deeply fond), but rather ridiculing those that appear to be oblivious to the staggering dreadfulness of their viewpoint character. I could list several recent tradpub books that read exactly like this, so: spot on, sir.
Good satirical fun with some lovely imaginative horror touches, especially the haunts. Could have been tighter in the middle, but a very entertaining read overall.
So far so fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the evil corporation and Colin's combination of weedy haplessness, total lack of responsibility, and sociopathic murdering (for work! we all need a pay cheque! is it my fault what management do???).
I did start to struggle with the introduction of Eric, the love interest. Eric is a very bland character, correctly self-described as boring, and there's a completely baffling scene where he explains all the wonderful depths and feelings he sees in Colin that are completely invisible to the reader, since he's a staggeringly self-centred man of zero good qualities. I really started to pull away from the story because I felt I was being asked to invest sincerely in a romance involving someone who is not only responsible for a million deaths, but also a crap person.
This resolved At this point I finally grasped that the entire thing is a massive piss-take of, among other things, romance novels that seem unaware they're depicting ghastly people / terrible relationships, therapy speak, and the overwhelming selfishness we all exhibit in pursuing personal satisfaction and success. I expect I would have reached that conclusion a lot earlier if I didn't read so much romance because I was absolutely going along with all the romance beats and assuming I was meant to take it at face value, but in fairness to myself, the author plays it completely straight (as it were), including Colin (a literal mass murderer) being genuinely hurt and affronted that Eric started the relationship under false pretences, and Eric going into full grovel role.
Let me say, this is not the author ridiculing romance novels per se (nobody could have written this without reading a lot of them and it's obviously deeply fond), but rather ridiculing those that appear to be oblivious to the staggering dreadfulness of their viewpoint character. I could list several recent tradpub books that read exactly like this, so: spot on, sir.
Good satirical fun with some lovely imaginative horror touches, especially the haunts. Could have been tighter in the middle, but a very entertaining read overall.
September 14, 2025
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
by Mark Waddell
Oh my Gosh! This is so hilarious all the way through! Non-stop crazy! I giggled and laughed out loud so many times! This is a must-read!
This poor guy is tired of dating and tired of getting bullied. Job issues and dating issues, what could be worse?
Suddenly he gets a great job and a great-looking guy is paying attention to him. Wow! Things are looking up. Until he finds out who he works for. That quitting isn't a healthy option. He needs to find a way out. He needs a secret weapon. Oh boy, does he find one! Now the world is doomed. Now he has to stop it!
If Lucy, from I Love Lucy, were a spy, and the world depended on her...
This might have been the way things would go down!
I have got to say, I haven't laughed at a book so much in a very long time. I am giggling while I am writing this just thinking of some scenes. I am very thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this hilarious book.
by Mark Waddell
Oh my Gosh! This is so hilarious all the way through! Non-stop crazy! I giggled and laughed out loud so many times! This is a must-read!
This poor guy is tired of dating and tired of getting bullied. Job issues and dating issues, what could be worse?
Suddenly he gets a great job and a great-looking guy is paying attention to him. Wow! Things are looking up. Until he finds out who he works for. That quitting isn't a healthy option. He needs to find a way out. He needs a secret weapon. Oh boy, does he find one! Now the world is doomed. Now he has to stop it!
If Lucy, from I Love Lucy, were a spy, and the world depended on her...
This might have been the way things would go down!
I have got to say, I haven't laughed at a book so much in a very long time. I am giggling while I am writing this just thinking of some scenes. I am very thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this hilarious book.
October 7, 2025
4 be careful what you wish for stars
What would you do to get power? Would you unleash a being who wants to destroy the world? Maybe as long as your enemies also perish?
I enjoyed this one and meeting Colin as he toils away at Dark Enterprises. If you are a fan of magic, dark powers, and alternate realities, I think you would enjoy it too!
Colin sees a way to get ahead and jumps at the chance to strike a bargain. He gets his promotion, but then masses of people start disappearing from New York. What has he started?
Colin has finally met someone he likes, but now he has to try to save the world! I liked how he teamed up with an archivist, his nerdy math roommate, and his new love interest.
As Colin tries to determine whether he wants to join Middle Management after all, he develops as a character. I loved how ambitious he was, and I wondered what I would do in his shoes. This one did have some gruesome moments, but I enjoyed escaping to Colin’s world for a while!
My thanks to Berkley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. This one is available now for Halloween reading!
What would you do to get power? Would you unleash a being who wants to destroy the world? Maybe as long as your enemies also perish?
I enjoyed this one and meeting Colin as he toils away at Dark Enterprises. If you are a fan of magic, dark powers, and alternate realities, I think you would enjoy it too!
Colin sees a way to get ahead and jumps at the chance to strike a bargain. He gets his promotion, but then masses of people start disappearing from New York. What has he started?
Colin has finally met someone he likes, but now he has to try to save the world! I liked how he teamed up with an archivist, his nerdy math roommate, and his new love interest.
As Colin tries to determine whether he wants to join Middle Management after all, he develops as a character. I loved how ambitious he was, and I wondered what I would do in his shoes. This one did have some gruesome moments, but I enjoyed escaping to Colin’s world for a while!
My thanks to Berkley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. This one is available now for Halloween reading!
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Ace and PRH Audio for the gifted ARC/ALC to review.
The premise of Colin Gets Promoted And Dooms The World is fabulous! We’ve got an evil corporation, and I mean EVIL! And we have an ambitious young man who works in Human Resources. When an employee at Dark Enterprises is terminated, he/she is actually terminated! In a take on the idea of selling your soul to the devil, Colin meets a shadowy figure promising him his heart’s deepest desire. He wants to be promoted, to have power, to be able to seek revenge on all the employees who have denigrated and bullied him. The results are, per the title, a bit worse than Colin could ever imagine.
So that’s the set-up and I loved it. It’s such a parody on corporate life. A plus for me was all the New York City references. I loved Colin’s best friend and roommate Amira, a mathematical whiz in grad school. And I loved Lex, the library assistant at Dark Enterprises. She was probably the best part of the book for me. Colin himself didn’t really have any redeeming qualities, even at the very end of the book. I wasn’t so taken with Eric, the love interest for Colin, either. I didn’t feel the chemistry at all. In addition, I felt that the book just went on a bit too long, which is mainly why my rating isn’t quite as high as it might have been.
I quite enjoyed another book by Mark Waddell, which was more of a standard cozy mystery. This one was a huge departure for the author and while he succeeded to a certain extent, it didn’t quite hit the mark he was probably going for.
I mainly listened to the audiobook version, which was narrated beautifully by Pete Cross.
Again, thank you to Ace and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to PRH Audio for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
The premise of Colin Gets Promoted And Dooms The World is fabulous! We’ve got an evil corporation, and I mean EVIL! And we have an ambitious young man who works in Human Resources. When an employee at Dark Enterprises is terminated, he/she is actually terminated! In a take on the idea of selling your soul to the devil, Colin meets a shadowy figure promising him his heart’s deepest desire. He wants to be promoted, to have power, to be able to seek revenge on all the employees who have denigrated and bullied him. The results are, per the title, a bit worse than Colin could ever imagine.
So that’s the set-up and I loved it. It’s such a parody on corporate life. A plus for me was all the New York City references. I loved Colin’s best friend and roommate Amira, a mathematical whiz in grad school. And I loved Lex, the library assistant at Dark Enterprises. She was probably the best part of the book for me. Colin himself didn’t really have any redeeming qualities, even at the very end of the book. I wasn’t so taken with Eric, the love interest for Colin, either. I didn’t feel the chemistry at all. In addition, I felt that the book just went on a bit too long, which is mainly why my rating isn’t quite as high as it might have been.
I quite enjoyed another book by Mark Waddell, which was more of a standard cozy mystery. This one was a huge departure for the author and while he succeeded to a certain extent, it didn’t quite hit the mark he was probably going for.
I mainly listened to the audiobook version, which was narrated beautifully by Pete Cross.
Again, thank you to Ace and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to PRH Audio for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2025
I would like to thank NetGalley and Viking for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
What
A
funny, business-model diabolical, compelling, and wildly entertaining read this was! I think I saw this satirical, otherworldly take on office politics called "corporate horror" somewhere and honestly, that tracks.
Colin was peak NY Office ambitious! Underestimated (possibly the cardigan-bow tie ensemble), sexually harassed, bullied and then sabotaged at work for refusing his co-worker's advances, he made a deal with a shadow in a suit to get him to the top floor…and ended up unleashing an abomination that made a mess of Manhattan.
Sure his interesting (read:consequences? That's tomorrow-Colin's problem) decision-making skills made a few things worse, but when Colin landed EA for the CEO of Dark Enterprises, Waddell pretty much took the brakes off this thing and Colin's drive to succeed swept me away in waves of monster mayhem, retribution and unadulterated fu glee.
The energy was delightful…but also macabre. Jaunty gore? Whatever it is it's a whole mood and I'm here for all of it.
I was charmed (and also, career motivated), the pace was quick but on point, the high-stakes tension was gripping, and all in all I was supremely invested in what was going to happen to Colin! The characterizations were all brilliant and engaging, and I loved everyone to bits. Even the tailored doom!
The esoteric minutiae was the kind of detail-oriented worldbuilding I could get lost in for days, and Dark Enterprises was the kind of netherworld hub that fed my imagination the whole way through and left me wanting more!
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World was astonishing amounts of fun and the perfect level of ghoulishness (for me) for 🍂🎃Spooky Season!👻🍂 I'm a fan of E V E R Y T H I N G this was, and I'm very excited for whatever else Waddell releases in the future because this was fabulous!
What
A
funny, business-model diabolical, compelling, and wildly entertaining read this was! I think I saw this satirical, otherworldly take on office politics called "corporate horror" somewhere and honestly, that tracks.
Colin was peak NY Office ambitious! Underestimated (possibly the cardigan-bow tie ensemble), sexually harassed, bullied and then sabotaged at work for refusing his co-worker's advances, he made a deal with a shadow in a suit to get him to the top floor…and ended up unleashing an abomination that made a mess of Manhattan.
Sure his interesting (read:consequences? That's tomorrow-Colin's problem) decision-making skills made a few things worse, but when Colin landed EA for the CEO of Dark Enterprises, Waddell pretty much took the brakes off this thing and Colin's drive to succeed swept me away in waves of monster mayhem, retribution and unadulterated fu glee.
The energy was delightful…but also macabre. Jaunty gore? Whatever it is it's a whole mood and I'm here for all of it.
I was charmed (and also, career motivated), the pace was quick but on point, the high-stakes tension was gripping, and all in all I was supremely invested in what was going to happen to Colin! The characterizations were all brilliant and engaging, and I loved everyone to bits. Even the tailored doom!
The esoteric minutiae was the kind of detail-oriented worldbuilding I could get lost in for days, and Dark Enterprises was the kind of netherworld hub that fed my imagination the whole way through and left me wanting more!
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World was astonishing amounts of fun and the perfect level of ghoulishness (for me) for 🍂🎃Spooky Season!👻🍂 I'm a fan of E V E R Y T H I N G this was, and I'm very excited for whatever else Waddell releases in the future because this was fabulous!
October 17, 2025
This one surprised me, but maybe it shouldn’t? It is exactly what the title promises. A man gets a promotion and dooms the world. Well, mostly. Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is a corporate satire mixed with horror and romance.
Colin is a nobody at Dark Enterprises, a company so evil it employs literal monsters, makes blood sacrifices part of their company culture, and where contract termination usually involves an actual execution. Colin is underperforming and fears his contract may be terminated soon. And so he makes a deal with a shadowy creature and gets promoted instead.
I liked how the author turned corporate cliches into horror and peppered the book with dry, self-aware humor that’s actually funny. Waddell writes with a restraint that makes the absurdity even funnier. There are no punchlines shouted for effect; the horror comes from how normal it all feels. Staff meetings continue while the city crumbles. We get corporate slogans twisted into demonic hierarchies, office memos written like commandments. There’s real craft behind the silliness, and an awareness of how horror and comedy can coexist without canceling each other out.
Now, Colin himself is not a good person. He’s weak, whiny, selfish, and only sporadically realizes he’s a cog in an infernal machine. That’s why the romance subplot feels absurd - Colin’s crush, Eric, sees “the good in him,” though the reader can’t. But fear not, it doesn’t go where you expect it to go - it’s a satire of the feel-good redemption arc, played absolutely straight.
There are a few slow patches, but the mix of horror, absurdity, and corporate satire kept me reading. The humor is sly, and the worldbuilding is bizarrely coherent for something that features office demons and motivational posters from Hell.
On the surface, Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is a darkly comic urban horror-fantasy, filled with clever asides and grotesque details. But it’s also surprisingly insightful about the ways people rationalize their choices. It’s weird, funny, and well-written.
Colin is a nobody at Dark Enterprises, a company so evil it employs literal monsters, makes blood sacrifices part of their company culture, and where contract termination usually involves an actual execution. Colin is underperforming and fears his contract may be terminated soon. And so he makes a deal with a shadowy creature and gets promoted instead.
I liked how the author turned corporate cliches into horror and peppered the book with dry, self-aware humor that’s actually funny. Waddell writes with a restraint that makes the absurdity even funnier. There are no punchlines shouted for effect; the horror comes from how normal it all feels. Staff meetings continue while the city crumbles. We get corporate slogans twisted into demonic hierarchies, office memos written like commandments. There’s real craft behind the silliness, and an awareness of how horror and comedy can coexist without canceling each other out.
Now, Colin himself is not a good person. He’s weak, whiny, selfish, and only sporadically realizes he’s a cog in an infernal machine. That’s why the romance subplot feels absurd - Colin’s crush, Eric, sees “the good in him,” though the reader can’t. But fear not, it doesn’t go where you expect it to go - it’s a satire of the feel-good redemption arc, played absolutely straight.
There are a few slow patches, but the mix of horror, absurdity, and corporate satire kept me reading. The humor is sly, and the worldbuilding is bizarrely coherent for something that features office demons and motivational posters from Hell.
On the surface, Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is a darkly comic urban horror-fantasy, filled with clever asides and grotesque details. But it’s also surprisingly insightful about the ways people rationalize their choices. It’s weird, funny, and well-written.
Read
October 7, 2025One of those books in which the premise, and the side characters, outshine the central protagonist.
Briefly, Colin is a nebbish who I think the narrative voice liked to much to give him actual growth, so the romance felt unearned. But Amira was great, and the inventiveness of the backdrop and action kept me going!
Briefly, Colin is a nebbish who I think the narrative voice liked to much to give him actual growth, so the romance felt unearned. But Amira was great, and the inventiveness of the backdrop and action kept me going!
September 4, 2025
It’s the end of the world! And the fate of everything lies in the hands of a slightly insecure, occasionally self depreciating, cardigan-wearing corporate assistant. What could go wrong?
If you like dark humor, this one might be for you.
Colin is undervalued and mistreated employee of Dark Enterprises.
His coworkers are sabatgoing him, and he’s facing termination by the head of HR.
Things seem to look up once Colin makes a deal with a mysteious being- who offers him whatever he wants in life.
Now, he’s climbing the cooproate latter and living his best life. But, his wish came with a price, and it’s time to pay up.
It turns out that the cost is much greater than he expected.
This was both darker and funnier than I’d expected it to be.
There is also a very obvious connection to some real-world issues in this.
Sure, there are no monsters running about and devouring people in real life. But, there is corporate greed, crazy work expectations and undervalued workers.
I can see the point the author is trying to make here (I think), and I thought this made it a lot more fun to read.
I thought the characters here were pretty great. They were developed pretty well and were quite likable.
I do think the side characters could have used just a little more personality, but I didn’t find that to be a huge deal.
Bonus: We also get a little MM romance between Colin and another character, Eric. While it isn’t the primary focus here, I wanted to shout it out for the romance lovers!
I think my only critique is that it felt kind of long. Around the 80% mark i thought it started to drag out a little bit, making it tad more difficult to read.
It did pick up again at the end though.
I also have to say I adored the self discovery in this!
Colin’s new found confidence, self-worth and ability to stand up for himself?! That was a treat. Power to him.
Really fun story overall!
Good writing, interesting plot and well-developed characters!
This checked a lot of boxes for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and author Mark Waddell for providing me with the eARC of “Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 07, 2025
If you like dark humor, this one might be for you.
Colin is undervalued and mistreated employee of Dark Enterprises.
His coworkers are sabatgoing him, and he’s facing termination by the head of HR.
Things seem to look up once Colin makes a deal with a mysteious being- who offers him whatever he wants in life.
Now, he’s climbing the cooproate latter and living his best life. But, his wish came with a price, and it’s time to pay up.
It turns out that the cost is much greater than he expected.
This was both darker and funnier than I’d expected it to be.
There is also a very obvious connection to some real-world issues in this.
Sure, there are no monsters running about and devouring people in real life. But, there is corporate greed, crazy work expectations and undervalued workers.
I can see the point the author is trying to make here (I think), and I thought this made it a lot more fun to read.
I thought the characters here were pretty great. They were developed pretty well and were quite likable.
I do think the side characters could have used just a little more personality, but I didn’t find that to be a huge deal.
Bonus: We also get a little MM romance between Colin and another character, Eric. While it isn’t the primary focus here, I wanted to shout it out for the romance lovers!
I think my only critique is that it felt kind of long. Around the 80% mark i thought it started to drag out a little bit, making it tad more difficult to read.
It did pick up again at the end though.
I also have to say I adored the self discovery in this!
Colin’s new found confidence, self-worth and ability to stand up for himself?! That was a treat. Power to him.
Really fun story overall!
Good writing, interesting plot and well-developed characters!
This checked a lot of boxes for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and author Mark Waddell for providing me with the eARC of “Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 07, 2025
October 29, 2025
How freakin fun was this?! It reminded me of Sign Here, which I also enjoyed and hoped to find more of, so I was so excited when I received this one. It's funny, and witty, and a bit ridiculous in the best way. Sprinkling in some queer energy and I was addicted! I loved how unapologetic Colin was but then still had some character growth. Made for a very fun, very unique audiobook, I enjoyed it so much!!
Thanks to Berkley for the gifted copy!
Thanks to Berkley for the gifted copy!
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November 26, 2025
"Do you remember that thing we talked about?" I asked eventually.
"You mean your plan to impress your boss?"
"Yeah."
"But it's really about punishing the people who've bullied you?"
"Right."
"But it's *really* about your pathological need for power, which is actually a desire for control over a frightening and chaotic universe?"
"Uh..."
"Sure, I remember."
Colin works for Dark Enterprises, a totally legit and fully corporate evil global conglomeration that does things to keep the world running just as it is. Life is not so good—his boss is going to have him retired (read: killed) in a week unless he can figure a way out. When a deal comes along that seems too good to be true, Colin latches on to it...and oopsie poopsie, dooms the world.
"That sounds very innovative," I finally said. "I'm excited to synergize my talents with your core competencies and move a needle on constructing a new paradigm.
A lot of this book worked really well for me, while a lot didn't.
I really liked the satirical tone and sense of surreality (not sure if that's 100% the right word but I'm uncaffeinated and cranky). The ridiculous juxtaposition of corporate bureaucracy mixed with hellish endeavors? It was kinda the Bad Place in The Good Place (but less awful, weirdly) and worked really well.
The ramping horror worked well. Colin's flippant and scrambling and sociopathic nature worked. Colin's new friends/allies were kinda delightful, especially Lex, although Lex was a bit of a caricature of nonbinary punk stereotypes...but Lex does constantly call Colin out on his shit, so that's something.
This was also surprisingly more diverse than I was expecting it to be. Colin is gay. There are several nonbinary, gay, bi and BIPOC people in the book. Which felt weird that a lot of the people in charge of DE were melanated, but also fully buying into and perpetuating the system of capitalistic white supremacy that fucks over literally everyone on the planet (there's a loose rationale for this but it doesn't fly).
But my biggest problem with the book is Colin himself. Chiefly, Colin's seemingly limitless potential—and the potential management sees in him despite literally everything Colin does to the contrary. Something something something that's the point, but I do get tired when a character is (purposefully) a bumbling asshole (he is smart but also really blase about the deaths of millions of people and the collapse of NYC...again, I know it's the point) and made out to be something he's not, and then ends the book wrapped in righteousness he didn't really earn (again, that's the point). Anywho, I think what I'm trying to say is that I wanted a bit more nuance and *wink wink nudge nudge* from the author, which *is* hard to to in a limited first person POV, where all we have is Colin's not-very-objective perspective.
The romance didn't really work for me at all, either.
It seems like I'm dumping on this book. I swear I'm not. It's not the most original book on the planet, but it was enjoyable. It was fun.
The high points were definitely learning more and more about Dark Enterprises itself. As an evil corporation, I enjoyed it immensely.
Just don't think too hard on it, I guess?
"You mean your plan to impress your boss?"
"Yeah."
"But it's really about punishing the people who've bullied you?"
"Right."
"But it's *really* about your pathological need for power, which is actually a desire for control over a frightening and chaotic universe?"
"Uh..."
"Sure, I remember."
Colin works for Dark Enterprises, a totally legit and fully corporate evil global conglomeration that does things to keep the world running just as it is. Life is not so good—his boss is going to have him retired (read: killed) in a week unless he can figure a way out. When a deal comes along that seems too good to be true, Colin latches on to it...and oopsie poopsie, dooms the world.
"That sounds very innovative," I finally said. "I'm excited to synergize my talents with your core competencies and move a needle on constructing a new paradigm.
A lot of this book worked really well for me, while a lot didn't.
I really liked the satirical tone and sense of surreality (not sure if that's 100% the right word but I'm uncaffeinated and cranky). The ridiculous juxtaposition of corporate bureaucracy mixed with hellish endeavors? It was kinda the Bad Place in The Good Place (but less awful, weirdly) and worked really well.
The ramping horror worked well. Colin's flippant and scrambling and sociopathic nature worked. Colin's new friends/allies were kinda delightful, especially Lex, although Lex was a bit of a caricature of nonbinary punk stereotypes...but Lex does constantly call Colin out on his shit, so that's something.
This was also surprisingly more diverse than I was expecting it to be. Colin is gay. There are several nonbinary, gay, bi and BIPOC people in the book. Which felt weird that a lot of the people in charge of DE were melanated, but also fully buying into and perpetuating the system of capitalistic white supremacy that fucks over literally everyone on the planet (there's a loose rationale for this but it doesn't fly).
But my biggest problem with the book is Colin himself. Chiefly, Colin's seemingly limitless potential—and the potential management sees in him despite literally everything Colin does to the contrary. Something something something that's the point, but I do get tired when a character is (purposefully) a bumbling asshole (he is smart but also really blase about the deaths of millions of people and the collapse of NYC...again, I know it's the point) and made out to be something he's not, and then ends the book wrapped in righteousness he didn't really earn (again, that's the point). Anywho, I think what I'm trying to say is that I wanted a bit more nuance and *wink wink nudge nudge* from the author, which *is* hard to to in a limited first person POV, where all we have is Colin's not-very-objective perspective.
The romance didn't really work for me at all, either.
It seems like I'm dumping on this book. I swear I'm not. It's not the most original book on the planet, but it was enjoyable. It was fun.
The high points were definitely learning more and more about Dark Enterprises itself. As an evil corporation, I enjoyed it immensely.
Just don't think too hard on it, I guess?
August 21, 2025
5⭐
Imagine if "The Devil Wears Prada" had actual devils...
Colin is looking down the barrel of a (literal) termination from his job at Dark Enterprises. When an opportunity is presented to him to avoid his dire fate - as well as getting a hefty promotion - he unknowingly puts the entire world in peril. Now, he has to figure out if getting ahead in life is really all it's worth.
What initially attracted me to this work was the concept. I love this idea of an overly-satirical take on evil corporations and those who work there. The notion that there is a genuinely evil corporate structure was just a fantastic notion and I loved the entire premise of this work! If I had a way to describe this, it was like if you combined "The Devil Wears Prada" with "Lucifer," a dash of "Charmed" and a smattering of "Severance."
After I started, I fell in deep with this book. The characters were fun and engaging; plots were thoughtful and twisty; and the development of the whole story had me binge-reading the last few chapters just to see how it ends. Though there were some lulls with story or plot, I think the overall effect was fan-freaking-tastic!
All of that aside, what makes this book a 5-star read is that this book is not one singular thing, but a multitude. What starts as a funny, satirical, young-adult-coming-of-age turns into a love story, then turns into a horror, thriller, to an action/adventure. "Multi-faceted" is a great word to describe this book and I was so happy to get the opportunity to read this work.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the Berkeley Publishing Group for an ARC of this work!
Imagine if "The Devil Wears Prada" had actual devils...
Colin is looking down the barrel of a (literal) termination from his job at Dark Enterprises. When an opportunity is presented to him to avoid his dire fate - as well as getting a hefty promotion - he unknowingly puts the entire world in peril. Now, he has to figure out if getting ahead in life is really all it's worth.
What initially attracted me to this work was the concept. I love this idea of an overly-satirical take on evil corporations and those who work there. The notion that there is a genuinely evil corporate structure was just a fantastic notion and I loved the entire premise of this work! If I had a way to describe this, it was like if you combined "The Devil Wears Prada" with "Lucifer," a dash of "Charmed" and a smattering of "Severance."
After I started, I fell in deep with this book. The characters were fun and engaging; plots were thoughtful and twisty; and the development of the whole story had me binge-reading the last few chapters just to see how it ends. Though there were some lulls with story or plot, I think the overall effect was fan-freaking-tastic!
All of that aside, what makes this book a 5-star read is that this book is not one singular thing, but a multitude. What starts as a funny, satirical, young-adult-coming-of-age turns into a love story, then turns into a horror, thriller, to an action/adventure. "Multi-faceted" is a great word to describe this book and I was so happy to get the opportunity to read this work.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the Berkeley Publishing Group for an ARC of this work!
June 7, 2025
i had SO much fun reading this one. without a doubt, this is definitely unique compared to anything else i’ve read this year – it follows colin, a low-level employee at a company called dark enterprises, which takes the phrase “work is hell” to new heights. his ambition takes him to places i wouldn’t go with a gun, but that’s why he’s the one getting a promotion when i’d probably be one of the people disappearing from the streets of new york on day one! nevertheless, i found myself rooting for him to live out his evil dreams every step of the way.
if you’re a fan of welcome to night vale or the good place, i’d definitely recommend this book – there’s the same kind of lighthearted, humorous banality surrounding things like world-devouring monsters and artifacts from alternate realities. the supporting characters are great, too, especially my beloved lex! they’re everything to me. i loved trying to guess what kind of zaniness would happen next, and while i loved the ending, i wouldn’t mind another book somewhere down the line to see what shenanigans colin & co get up to next.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
if you’re a fan of welcome to night vale or the good place, i’d definitely recommend this book – there’s the same kind of lighthearted, humorous banality surrounding things like world-devouring monsters and artifacts from alternate realities. the supporting characters are great, too, especially my beloved lex! they’re everything to me. i loved trying to guess what kind of zaniness would happen next, and while i loved the ending, i wouldn’t mind another book somewhere down the line to see what shenanigans colin & co get up to next.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2025
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
---
this book was soso fun to read! if you're a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is for you! it's hilarious (literally had me chuckling from the beginning), the characterizations are great, and Mark Waddell somehow manages to have you rooting for Colin despite his many questionable decisions.
Colin works at Dark Enterprises, a company with an office in Manhattan that specializes in helping people solve problems and achieve their wildest dreams through relatively, unsavory means: "Once they promise to pay our price, we employ the darkest of magicks on their behalf or outsource the work to one of our contractors, entities summoned from across the known realms of existence. Everyone's happy, at least until the bill comes due."
not only is this book hilarious, but it has a clear stance on capitalism/coporate life (but not in an annoying way don't worry) and features a good bit of queer rep! The relationships are believable, the characters are nuanced, the antagonists are entertaining, and everything is so funny, so outlandish, and still somehow so real.
if you need any other reason to read this book, know that it includes thought-provoking lines like "Here’s the thing that nobody tells you, though: status and power are limited resources. The system is designed not just to elevate the few but also to ensure that most never get close to the top." as well as hilarous lines like "I’m just a boy, standing in front of another boy, asking him to take this arcane dagger and give it to his boss so they can use it to kill an Abomination." and neither of them feel out of place.
if this was turned into a series (and i really really hope it will be), just know that i'll devour each and every book. i was so sad when this was over and i want moreee!
thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for an advance copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
---
this book was soso fun to read! if you're a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is for you! it's hilarious (literally had me chuckling from the beginning), the characterizations are great, and Mark Waddell somehow manages to have you rooting for Colin despite his many questionable decisions.
Colin works at Dark Enterprises, a company with an office in Manhattan that specializes in helping people solve problems and achieve their wildest dreams through relatively, unsavory means: "Once they promise to pay our price, we employ the darkest of magicks on their behalf or outsource the work to one of our contractors, entities summoned from across the known realms of existence. Everyone's happy, at least until the bill comes due."
not only is this book hilarious, but it has a clear stance on capitalism/coporate life (but not in an annoying way don't worry) and features a good bit of queer rep! The relationships are believable, the characters are nuanced, the antagonists are entertaining, and everything is so funny, so outlandish, and still somehow so real.
if you need any other reason to read this book, know that it includes thought-provoking lines like "Here’s the thing that nobody tells you, though: status and power are limited resources. The system is designed not just to elevate the few but also to ensure that most never get close to the top." as well as hilarous lines like "I’m just a boy, standing in front of another boy, asking him to take this arcane dagger and give it to his boss so they can use it to kill an Abomination." and neither of them feel out of place.
if this was turned into a series (and i really really hope it will be), just know that i'll devour each and every book. i was so sad when this was over and i want moreee!
thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for an advance copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2025
Whoever designed the cover did a wonderful job. It grabbed my attention, along with the title, and put me in the mood for a dark comedy. However, the contents of the book didn't deliver for me.
Here are my main gripes:
The main character is insufferable.
He is - for lack of a better term - a loser. No skills, no charisma, no bravery, no maturity, no moral compass. He makes the worst possible choices over and over again, and never learns from it. Pretty much every character speaks and acts like a teenager.
I first assumed this was deliberate. Maybe we're meant to laugh at this absurd cast of characters, since this is a parody of sorts. But if that's truly the author's intent, then it lacks a real bite.
In fact, as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly sentimental and cheesy.
We're apparently meant to root for the loser. He gets a love interest, a new friend, a found family, a hero arc... We're told Colin's funny (he's not), a badass (he's not), and a good person (he's not) deserving of his wildest ambitions (torturing his fellow humans but it's okay because he's not doing it directly). This is all delivered via the sappiest dialogue you could imagine.
I'm an avid Hallmark enjoyer, and even I was rolling my eyes.
It's like the author couldn't pick between first and second degree, so he went with both. It seems like lots of readers enjoyed the book, but to me, these elements are incompatible.
Here's another example.
Colin works for an evil corporation. He works in "human resources" where actual people are flayed alive and tortured in all kinds of manner. He has no qualms about his role in it. That point is made numerous times throughout the novel. It's even said the screams are peaceful white noise to him.
Yet, this is the same person who complains about capitalism, sexual harassment and - I'm quoting, here - "toxic masculinity". Which is it? Is he woke or is he evil?
There's no consistent characterization. Give me either a loser to laugh at, a hero to root for, or even a compelling villain. But I need him to make sense.
There's also the issue of repetitions. For example, Colin's voice. I understand trying to convey Colin's vulnerability, but the man's always speechless.
"I tried to speak but my throat was as dry as sand"
"... my voice sounding strained to my own ears"
"... mouth open, trying to scream with lungs paralyzed by fear"
"my voice sounded thin and weak"
"... I said around a tongue that felt too big for my mouth"
"... I started to ask before my voice wavered"
"I shook my head mutely, unable to speak"
I feel like Colin's lack of confidence ought to be expressed in a variety of ways.
Finally, I know the whole premise of the story is evil corp, but even then, I'd expect a bit more magic and a little less corp. There's only so much that can be entertaining about coffee runs and excel spreadsheets.
Here are my main gripes:
The main character is insufferable.
He is - for lack of a better term - a loser. No skills, no charisma, no bravery, no maturity, no moral compass. He makes the worst possible choices over and over again, and never learns from it. Pretty much every character speaks and acts like a teenager.
I first assumed this was deliberate. Maybe we're meant to laugh at this absurd cast of characters, since this is a parody of sorts. But if that's truly the author's intent, then it lacks a real bite.
In fact, as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly sentimental and cheesy.
We're apparently meant to root for the loser. He gets a love interest, a new friend, a found family, a hero arc... We're told Colin's funny (he's not), a badass (he's not), and a good person (he's not) deserving of his wildest ambitions (torturing his fellow humans but it's okay because he's not doing it directly). This is all delivered via the sappiest dialogue you could imagine.
I'm an avid Hallmark enjoyer, and even I was rolling my eyes.
It's like the author couldn't pick between first and second degree, so he went with both. It seems like lots of readers enjoyed the book, but to me, these elements are incompatible.
Here's another example.
Colin works for an evil corporation. He works in "human resources" where actual people are flayed alive and tortured in all kinds of manner. He has no qualms about his role in it. That point is made numerous times throughout the novel. It's even said the screams are peaceful white noise to him.
Yet, this is the same person who complains about capitalism, sexual harassment and - I'm quoting, here - "toxic masculinity". Which is it? Is he woke or is he evil?
There's no consistent characterization. Give me either a loser to laugh at, a hero to root for, or even a compelling villain. But I need him to make sense.
There's also the issue of repetitions. For example, Colin's voice. I understand trying to convey Colin's vulnerability, but the man's always speechless.
"I tried to speak but my throat was as dry as sand"
"... my voice sounding strained to my own ears"
"... mouth open, trying to scream with lungs paralyzed by fear"
"my voice sounded thin and weak"
"... I said around a tongue that felt too big for my mouth"
"... I started to ask before my voice wavered"
"I shook my head mutely, unable to speak"
I feel like Colin's lack of confidence ought to be expressed in a variety of ways.
Finally, I know the whole premise of the story is evil corp, but even then, I'd expect a bit more magic and a little less corp. There's only so much that can be entertaining about coffee runs and excel spreadsheets.
November 3, 2025
I’m just here to tell you one thing: read this book. You won't be sorry.
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝘾𝙀/𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠! 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.)
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝘾𝙀/𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠! 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.)
June 26, 2025
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell is a darkly funny story that, in short, follows pretty closely along with the title. Colin Harris is a self-loathing, ambitious, somewhat pathetic employee of Dark Enterprises. Through a pact made with the an evil entity he gets exactly what he’s after; a promotion. The problem is that he unleashes mass destruction on the world. This story is funny, and while the character of Colin is at times pretty terrible, he’s still self-effacing, funny, and oddly sympathetic.
I would say that this book has a very direct comparison to Sign Here by Claudia Lux. While that has a more sarcastic main character (and a redemption arc), this story is a lot more lighthearted in its narration. If you enjoyed that this may be a great option for you. I’d also say that any of those ‘supernatural office worker’ shows or books are also in a similar vein.
The thing that I liked most about this book is the fact that the narrative voice is unique. Colin is such a complicated character in the sense that he’s sympathetic, devoted to his friend Amira, and a sort of soft spoken, cardigan wearing weenie. At the other time he’s willing to cast people into voids and is complicit in dark violence. He is funny, and self-aware of his own faults.
The other thing I appreciated about this book is that it didn’t have some preachy good-over-evil message. I didn’t feel like I was being spoon fed some message. Sometimes other books can ram this down your throat, but the author took a decidedly different route, which I really appreciated.
For me, this was an easy 4.5/5. I thought it was so fun and detailed. I loved the corporate world building and the breezy language, even when describing really horrific outcomes. While I don’t think this is for every reader, for those who love a darkly funny read, this is a great option.
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell is a darkly funny story that, in short, follows pretty closely along with the title. Colin Harris is a self-loathing, ambitious, somewhat pathetic employee of Dark Enterprises. Through a pact made with the an evil entity he gets exactly what he’s after; a promotion. The problem is that he unleashes mass destruction on the world. This story is funny, and while the character of Colin is at times pretty terrible, he’s still self-effacing, funny, and oddly sympathetic.
I would say that this book has a very direct comparison to Sign Here by Claudia Lux. While that has a more sarcastic main character (and a redemption arc), this story is a lot more lighthearted in its narration. If you enjoyed that this may be a great option for you. I’d also say that any of those ‘supernatural office worker’ shows or books are also in a similar vein.
The thing that I liked most about this book is the fact that the narrative voice is unique. Colin is such a complicated character in the sense that he’s sympathetic, devoted to his friend Amira, and a sort of soft spoken, cardigan wearing weenie. At the other time he’s willing to cast people into voids and is complicit in dark violence. He is funny, and self-aware of his own faults.
The other thing I appreciated about this book is that it didn’t have some preachy good-over-evil message. I didn’t feel like I was being spoon fed some message. Sometimes other books can ram this down your throat, but the author took a decidedly different route, which I really appreciated.
For me, this was an easy 4.5/5. I thought it was so fun and detailed. I loved the corporate world building and the breezy language, even when describing really horrific outcomes. While I don’t think this is for every reader, for those who love a darkly funny read, this is a great option.
October 13, 2025
I requested the eARC for Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World purely on the basis of its title, and Mark Waddell did not disappoint. This is a book that delivers exactly what I expected—which is to say, I knew going in that this book would not be groundbreaking in any way, and that’s fine. It was exactly the kind of absurdist fantasy I was hoping for.
Colin is a low-level employee of Dark Enterprises, which does exactly what it sounds like. Under threat of termination (literally), Colin receives an offer he can’t refuse from an entity who claims it can help him. Soon he finds himself firmly on track towards middle management—but Dark Enterprises is cutthroat, and Colin might not be cut out for this track. Oh, and that entity? Now going to eat all of humanity. Oops, I guess?
Obvious comps are Christopher Moore, but honestly this book reminds me too of Matthew Hughes’s The Damned Busters , especially the end of the trilogy. Colin gives me big Chesney Arnstruther energy. He’s a remarkably unlikable protagonist, snivelling and emotionally immature. Oh, you were bullied as a kid so now you want absolute power and dominion to make the world pay? Put up or shut up, kid. Colin’s congenital inability to follow through on his grandiose designs would make him insufferable if it weren’t for the fact that the other characters are excellent foils.
Indeed, my most serious criticism here is simply that Colin isn’t really the hero we need. Whenever he prevails in the story, it’s either luck or the actions of someone else. While I certainly don’t demand that my protagonists be classically heroic—flawed and “ordinary” protagonists are amazing—I do want them to be interesting. And Colin isn’t that.
Similarly, as I mentioned at the start of the review, this book does not offer any kind of twist or surprise. From start to finish, I found the plot, the jokes, the world entirely predictable. Now, in this case, I don’t see this as a negative! There is room for books like this aplenty—why else would cozy beach reads exist? This is basically beach-read fantasy; it even has a romantic HEA that gets telegraphed from about a hundred kilometres away!
So at the risk of damning with faint praise, that’s where I will leave this review: if you want some clever absurdist fantasy that compares corporate jobs to working in a soul-sucking industry, then Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is right for you. Waddell is a competent comedic storyteller, and he nails every element of this genre. Just don’t expect it to deliver anything more than that.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Colin is a low-level employee of Dark Enterprises, which does exactly what it sounds like. Under threat of termination (literally), Colin receives an offer he can’t refuse from an entity who claims it can help him. Soon he finds himself firmly on track towards middle management—but Dark Enterprises is cutthroat, and Colin might not be cut out for this track. Oh, and that entity? Now going to eat all of humanity. Oops, I guess?
Obvious comps are Christopher Moore, but honestly this book reminds me too of Matthew Hughes’s The Damned Busters , especially the end of the trilogy. Colin gives me big Chesney Arnstruther energy. He’s a remarkably unlikable protagonist, snivelling and emotionally immature. Oh, you were bullied as a kid so now you want absolute power and dominion to make the world pay? Put up or shut up, kid. Colin’s congenital inability to follow through on his grandiose designs would make him insufferable if it weren’t for the fact that the other characters are excellent foils.
Indeed, my most serious criticism here is simply that Colin isn’t really the hero we need. Whenever he prevails in the story, it’s either luck or the actions of someone else. While I certainly don’t demand that my protagonists be classically heroic—flawed and “ordinary” protagonists are amazing—I do want them to be interesting. And Colin isn’t that.
Similarly, as I mentioned at the start of the review, this book does not offer any kind of twist or surprise. From start to finish, I found the plot, the jokes, the world entirely predictable. Now, in this case, I don’t see this as a negative! There is room for books like this aplenty—why else would cozy beach reads exist? This is basically beach-read fantasy; it even has a romantic HEA that gets telegraphed from about a hundred kilometres away!
So at the risk of damning with faint praise, that’s where I will leave this review: if you want some clever absurdist fantasy that compares corporate jobs to working in a soul-sucking industry, then Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is right for you. Waddell is a competent comedic storyteller, and he nails every element of this genre. Just don’t expect it to deliver anything more than that.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
October 23, 2025
Very enjoyable read. Full to the brim with dark humour and it’s a good satire on corporate culture.
Colin is a barely noted employee within the large office complex of “Dark Enterprises” in New York. The company specialises in providing sinister, usually magically sourced, ‘solutions’ to anyone willing to pay. It attracts politicians, business and beings from other realms though this dubious side of the company is hidden from the attentions of our world. These solutions offered can be terminal for the targets. Colin is a ‘company man’, though only a minor bureaucrat manipulating spreadsheets, until he accidentally finds a way to progress up the greasy (bloody?) management ladder. Unfortunately it dooms the world, as the book title accurately indicates.
Colin is a complex lead character. I liked how he seemed rather wimpy and hesitant in his life, both inside and outside the company, but also has deep within him a determination to be as dark and ruthless as required to get power and progress within the company. Hence why he identifies with this company, which is evil at its core.
The only aspect I didn’t get on with is his romantic life. Partly because of the mutual attraction with the guy he falls for on a blind date; this guy is so much superior to him in every way - so why his attraction to Colin? Colin isn’t nice deep down and also seems weak on the surface. And that’s the other aspect I didn’t enjoy - the stranger (Eric) says he sees Colin as that vulnerable person who he feels the need to protect and care for, while Colin sees the stranger as his macho knight in shining armour. I find it hard to understand such unbalanced relationships. But that might be me as they appear to exist!
I’m probably making the flawed dynamics of the relationship a bigger deal than it is as the author does try to resolve its foundations later in the story but I did find it at odds for a while with the excellent construction of the rest of the plot.
Overall, I loved the story. Dark Enterprises is an excellent mirror for a lot of modern corporate activity. Maybe more the American ‘hire and fire’ philosophy that can exist in some companies and is rarer in my country and experience. Though in this story the consequences of not succeeding in the office are more severe than simply being fired.
The story concluded in a manner quite consistent with the rest of the story.
Torn between 4* and 5* but despite the romantic aspect I mention I did find the story absorbing and definitely unusual. So 5*.
Colin is a barely noted employee within the large office complex of “Dark Enterprises” in New York. The company specialises in providing sinister, usually magically sourced, ‘solutions’ to anyone willing to pay. It attracts politicians, business and beings from other realms though this dubious side of the company is hidden from the attentions of our world. These solutions offered can be terminal for the targets. Colin is a ‘company man’, though only a minor bureaucrat manipulating spreadsheets, until he accidentally finds a way to progress up the greasy (bloody?) management ladder. Unfortunately it dooms the world, as the book title accurately indicates.
Colin is a complex lead character. I liked how he seemed rather wimpy and hesitant in his life, both inside and outside the company, but also has deep within him a determination to be as dark and ruthless as required to get power and progress within the company. Hence why he identifies with this company, which is evil at its core.
The only aspect I didn’t get on with is his romantic life. Partly because of the mutual attraction with the guy he falls for on a blind date; this guy is so much superior to him in every way - so why his attraction to Colin? Colin isn’t nice deep down and also seems weak on the surface. And that’s the other aspect I didn’t enjoy - the stranger (Eric) says he sees Colin as that vulnerable person who he feels the need to protect and care for, while Colin sees the stranger as his macho knight in shining armour. I find it hard to understand such unbalanced relationships. But that might be me as they appear to exist!
I’m probably making the flawed dynamics of the relationship a bigger deal than it is as the author does try to resolve its foundations later in the story but I did find it at odds for a while with the excellent construction of the rest of the plot.
Overall, I loved the story. Dark Enterprises is an excellent mirror for a lot of modern corporate activity. Maybe more the American ‘hire and fire’ philosophy that can exist in some companies and is rarer in my country and experience. Though in this story the consequences of not succeeding in the office are more severe than simply being fired.
The story concluded in a manner quite consistent with the rest of the story.
Torn between 4* and 5* but despite the romantic aspect I mention I did find the story absorbing and definitely unusual. So 5*.
July 5, 2025
Getting promoted shouldn't come with world-ending consequences, but alas here we are.
“That’s what systems of oppression do: they sink into your bones, into the marrow, so you never forget where you belong”
————————————————
*slight spoilers ahead*
WOW! Let me tell you, I loved this book!
One of the things I loved most about this book was how seamlessly it wove sharp, biting social commentary into its apocalyptic chaos. The narrative doesn’t just flirt with big ideas, it drags them into the spotlight, points, laughs, and then sets them on fire. Lines like, “Idealism is easy when you’re twenty years old and have nothing to lose… But in my experience, it rarely survives contact with reality,” hit hard in a dark and relatable way. The book doesn’t shy away from criticizing the corporate machine either. One of my favorite quotes was, “We’re all expendable… To the companies who believe they run this world, we're data to be monetized or convenient sources of capital, useful only so long as we help them turn a profit. We're commodities, nothing more. Why should they care what happens to us when new commodities are born every day?”. This book was unapologetically blunt with its commentary, a little cynical, and honestly brilliant.
My only real issue was how quickly the relationship between Eric and Colin developed. I get that a rapidly approaching apocalypse tends to speed things up, but it still felt a bit too fast for me emotionally. But what do I know? I’ve never faced the consequences of unleashing an Abomination on the world. That said, I was totally on board for sassy and lowkey evil (but in a badass way) Colin.
And let’s talk about that “big fight” scene….EPIC. It was cinematic in all the best ways. I almost forgot I was reading because I could see everything playing out so vividly. It was intense, dramatic, and totally delivered on the stakes the book had been building toward.
Overall, this book was such a fun, wonderful read. It balanced humor, dystopian horror, and a surprising amount of heart. Mark Waddell has created something that feels both timely and timeless in its critique of modern systems, all wrapped in a chaotic supernatural package.
Big shoutout to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. I was hooked the moment I read the description, and the book absolutely delivered. Thank you! And to Mark Waddell… bravo!
“That’s what systems of oppression do: they sink into your bones, into the marrow, so you never forget where you belong”
————————————————
*slight spoilers ahead*
WOW! Let me tell you, I loved this book!
One of the things I loved most about this book was how seamlessly it wove sharp, biting social commentary into its apocalyptic chaos. The narrative doesn’t just flirt with big ideas, it drags them into the spotlight, points, laughs, and then sets them on fire. Lines like, “Idealism is easy when you’re twenty years old and have nothing to lose… But in my experience, it rarely survives contact with reality,” hit hard in a dark and relatable way. The book doesn’t shy away from criticizing the corporate machine either. One of my favorite quotes was, “We’re all expendable… To the companies who believe they run this world, we're data to be monetized or convenient sources of capital, useful only so long as we help them turn a profit. We're commodities, nothing more. Why should they care what happens to us when new commodities are born every day?”. This book was unapologetically blunt with its commentary, a little cynical, and honestly brilliant.
My only real issue was how quickly the relationship between Eric and Colin developed. I get that a rapidly approaching apocalypse tends to speed things up, but it still felt a bit too fast for me emotionally. But what do I know? I’ve never faced the consequences of unleashing an Abomination on the world. That said, I was totally on board for sassy and lowkey evil (but in a badass way) Colin.
And let’s talk about that “big fight” scene….EPIC. It was cinematic in all the best ways. I almost forgot I was reading because I could see everything playing out so vividly. It was intense, dramatic, and totally delivered on the stakes the book had been building toward.
Overall, this book was such a fun, wonderful read. It balanced humor, dystopian horror, and a surprising amount of heart. Mark Waddell has created something that feels both timely and timeless in its critique of modern systems, all wrapped in a chaotic supernatural package.
Big shoutout to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. I was hooked the moment I read the description, and the book absolutely delivered. Thank you! And to Mark Waddell… bravo!
October 11, 2025
4.5⭐️
Is this book perfect? Nope. Did I enjoy the hell out of it? You betcha.
Snark, satire, and dark humor combine to create a book that had me cackling and cheering for a MC who lacked common sense, empathy, and moral character. Colin is that dude! He’s a cardigan wearing, low level employee working in Human Resources for Dark Enterprises; an enterprise where job performance is literally a life and death matter. He’s being sexually harassed by a co-worker, unfairly blamed for screwups, and going nowhere in his dead end job until he makes a deal with a mysterious entity—upward mobility in exchange for a favor to be named later. This is where all hell breaks loose - for real.
Colin gets promoted and people start disappearing; a few at first, then many. By the time Colin figures out there’s a connection, he also discovers he rather enjoys executing revenge against those who harmed him. In his “it’s all about me” approach to problem solving, he sees finding a solution as his path to even greater success. Oh, Colin, you are such a fool.
In the midst of the world ending Colin also meets a potential love interest. Eric is hot, intelligent, and super attentive. Love is blooming while chaos reigns. The romance element is not the major focus of the book, but it is sweet even if it feels a tad insta-loveish.
Colin really never much evolves beyond the selfish, I’m-gonna-do-what-works-for-me-and-the-rest-of-you-be-damned character he is at the beginning of the book and that’s kind of the point. The corporate greed engine keeps turning and it’s every man for himself. The parallels to real life are stark.
Go into this book prepared to be wildly entertained. It bogged down a bit for me in the middle, but the battle for evil supremacy kept me turning the pages. There’s gore galore and it’s written with the kind of biting sarcasm that speaks to the dark recesses of my soul.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Ace Books for the ARC and finished copy. All opinions are my own.
Is this book perfect? Nope. Did I enjoy the hell out of it? You betcha.
Snark, satire, and dark humor combine to create a book that had me cackling and cheering for a MC who lacked common sense, empathy, and moral character. Colin is that dude! He’s a cardigan wearing, low level employee working in Human Resources for Dark Enterprises; an enterprise where job performance is literally a life and death matter. He’s being sexually harassed by a co-worker, unfairly blamed for screwups, and going nowhere in his dead end job until he makes a deal with a mysterious entity—upward mobility in exchange for a favor to be named later. This is where all hell breaks loose - for real.
Colin gets promoted and people start disappearing; a few at first, then many. By the time Colin figures out there’s a connection, he also discovers he rather enjoys executing revenge against those who harmed him. In his “it’s all about me” approach to problem solving, he sees finding a solution as his path to even greater success. Oh, Colin, you are such a fool.
In the midst of the world ending Colin also meets a potential love interest. Eric is hot, intelligent, and super attentive. Love is blooming while chaos reigns. The romance element is not the major focus of the book, but it is sweet even if it feels a tad insta-loveish.
Colin really never much evolves beyond the selfish, I’m-gonna-do-what-works-for-me-and-the-rest-of-you-be-damned character he is at the beginning of the book and that’s kind of the point. The corporate greed engine keeps turning and it’s every man for himself. The parallels to real life are stark.
Go into this book prepared to be wildly entertained. It bogged down a bit for me in the middle, but the battle for evil supremacy kept me turning the pages. There’s gore galore and it’s written with the kind of biting sarcasm that speaks to the dark recesses of my soul.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Ace Books for the ARC and finished copy. All opinions are my own.
November 4, 2025
3.5/5
What a fun, dark, and satirical novel!
Large corporations are known to embody psychopathic traits and I loved how this novel took that concept and ran with it.
Colin works at Dark Enterprises, an evil corporation where the Human Resources department actually extracts resources from human subjects via torture. Colin suspects that he might get terminated (in the most literal sense) because his office rival keeps sabotaging his work. So he does what any reasonable person would do if they they think their life might be over (because in this case, getting fired literally means being shot at by the Firing Squad) - he strikes a deal with the devil (not literal in this case, but close enough), gets promoted, and accidentally dooms the world in the process (hence the spot-on title).
Welcome to corporate America, amirite?
Destroying the world isn't that big of a deal, but Colin has ambition. He wants another promotion to middle management. His best bet to getting what he wants? Figure out how to save the world (and the company - because no company means no promotion, power, or wealth).
Anyone who has ever worked a corporate job will probably get a kick out of the worldbuilding and company culture of Dark Enterprises. I really enjoyed the corporate satire aspect of this novel but wasn't feeling the romance subplot (what does Eric see in Colin?!). I was also hoping that Colin would be a more layered and morally grey character but he's not - he only wants one thing (power) and he'll do anything to get what he wants.
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
What a fun, dark, and satirical novel!
Large corporations are known to embody psychopathic traits and I loved how this novel took that concept and ran with it.
"Like a Gen Z influencer on TikTok, all I'd ever wanted from this job was immeasurable power, staggering wealth, and maybe the chance to rule the world someday. Was that really so wrong?"
Colin works at Dark Enterprises, an evil corporation where the Human Resources department actually extracts resources from human subjects via torture. Colin suspects that he might get terminated (in the most literal sense) because his office rival keeps sabotaging his work. So he does what any reasonable person would do if they they think their life might be over (because in this case, getting fired literally means being shot at by the Firing Squad) - he strikes a deal with the devil (not literal in this case, but close enough), gets promoted, and accidentally dooms the world in the process (hence the spot-on title).
Welcome to corporate America, amirite?
"The path to middle management is not an easy one. A single misstep will lead to death, damnation, or worse."
Destroying the world isn't that big of a deal, but Colin has ambition. He wants another promotion to middle management. His best bet to getting what he wants? Figure out how to save the world (and the company - because no company means no promotion, power, or wealth).
Anyone who has ever worked a corporate job will probably get a kick out of the worldbuilding and company culture of Dark Enterprises. I really enjoyed the corporate satire aspect of this novel but wasn't feeling the romance subplot (what does Eric see in Colin?!). I was also hoping that Colin would be a more layered and morally grey character but he's not - he only wants one thing (power) and he'll do anything to get what he wants.
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
October 14, 2025
This book was desperately silly, darkly hilarious and genuinely a real treat! It looks at the dark side of capitalism and turns it up to 100, with terrifying monsters in the stairwell, untouchable god-like faceless management and someone feeding interns into the incinerator to keep the lights on in an apocalypse!
Colin Harris wants nothing more than to be powerful. He doesn’t care how he gets there, he just wants to stick it to Sunil in HR who keeps messing with his reports. But when Colin unwittingly releases an eldritch horror that starts consuming NYC, he realises that maybe he’s doomed the world. Or maaaaybe this is a chance to prove himself and finally move up to middle management! Hooray!
This book is dark; there’s a lot of gore and people dying in quirky and horrifying ways. It’s also so incredibly funny; anyone who’s worked in a corporate office will recognise some of the caricatures in here and chuckle. It’s also one for the D&D fans out there who have always dreamed of their battle map being a skyscraper where the 13th floor is literally hell!
The only reason this loses a star for me is that our main character Colin is a BAD GUY. He’s literally only motivated by power and corporate advancement and funny as the whole situation is, I did want to see some sort of moral redemption or something at the end… but alas, in to paraphrase immortal words of the Bugsy Malone musical, he could have been anything that he wanted to be, but he’s the very best at being a bad guy. Which if you’re into morally bankrupt characters, he’ll be right up your street!
I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend for a dose of dark humour and poking fun at corporate America!
Read for:
✨ Satire of corporate America
✨ Accidentally releasing an eldritch horror
✨ Said horror is eating NYC
✨ But it’s okay cus you get a promotion
✨ Very dark humour
✨ People dying in varied and quirky ways
✨ Floor 13 is a literal portal to hell
✨ The management are faceless gods
✨ Achillean romance sub-plot
✨ So silly, so dark, so perfect 💀
Colin Harris wants nothing more than to be powerful. He doesn’t care how he gets there, he just wants to stick it to Sunil in HR who keeps messing with his reports. But when Colin unwittingly releases an eldritch horror that starts consuming NYC, he realises that maybe he’s doomed the world. Or maaaaybe this is a chance to prove himself and finally move up to middle management! Hooray!
This book is dark; there’s a lot of gore and people dying in quirky and horrifying ways. It’s also so incredibly funny; anyone who’s worked in a corporate office will recognise some of the caricatures in here and chuckle. It’s also one for the D&D fans out there who have always dreamed of their battle map being a skyscraper where the 13th floor is literally hell!
The only reason this loses a star for me is that our main character Colin is a BAD GUY. He’s literally only motivated by power and corporate advancement and funny as the whole situation is, I did want to see some sort of moral redemption or something at the end… but alas, in to paraphrase immortal words of the Bugsy Malone musical, he could have been anything that he wanted to be, but he’s the very best at being a bad guy. Which if you’re into morally bankrupt characters, he’ll be right up your street!
I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend for a dose of dark humour and poking fun at corporate America!
Read for:
✨ Satire of corporate America
✨ Accidentally releasing an eldritch horror
✨ Said horror is eating NYC
✨ But it’s okay cus you get a promotion
✨ Very dark humour
✨ People dying in varied and quirky ways
✨ Floor 13 is a literal portal to hell
✨ The management are faceless gods
✨ Achillean romance sub-plot
✨ So silly, so dark, so perfect 💀
October 11, 2025
The Peter Principle, but make it apocalyptic!
I was a bit skeptical coming into this one, as I tend to not care for either workplace novels or this particular style of Fantasy, but I was so pleasantly surprised because this is exceptional.
It’s original, its warm and sweet, and it’s truly funny, which is where most of this type of Fantasy tends to fail.
Our hero Colin makes a terrific protagonist, a hero for everyone who knows they’re meant for more but just can’t get management to notice. If only one could release a world-devouring demon! Surely that would bring you some attention? And it does, which is great except for that whole pesky world-devouring business.
Colin and his pals are in a race against time and bureaucracy to save the world from a disaster of Colin’s own making. Will Colin be able to stop The Thing That Devours? Will he be able to keep his semi-sinister corporate job without being exterminated by his employer or eaten by the being he accidentally released? And will he learn a thing or two about loyalty and friendship and maybe even fall in love along the way?
You’ll just have to read this to find out, and I hope you do, because it’s a delight. And I sincerely hope Colin gets a sequel.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was a bit skeptical coming into this one, as I tend to not care for either workplace novels or this particular style of Fantasy, but I was so pleasantly surprised because this is exceptional.
It’s original, its warm and sweet, and it’s truly funny, which is where most of this type of Fantasy tends to fail.
Our hero Colin makes a terrific protagonist, a hero for everyone who knows they’re meant for more but just can’t get management to notice. If only one could release a world-devouring demon! Surely that would bring you some attention? And it does, which is great except for that whole pesky world-devouring business.
Colin and his pals are in a race against time and bureaucracy to save the world from a disaster of Colin’s own making. Will Colin be able to stop The Thing That Devours? Will he be able to keep his semi-sinister corporate job without being exterminated by his employer or eaten by the being he accidentally released? And will he learn a thing or two about loyalty and friendship and maybe even fall in love along the way?
You’ll just have to read this to find out, and I hope you do, because it’s a delight. And I sincerely hope Colin gets a sequel.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
October 5, 2025
Is cozy horror a thing? This was so much fun! Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is an absolute masterclass in corporate satire. We get a coming of age, romance, and thriller/horror all in one little bundle.
Colin finds himself in a pickle; his reports keep having mistakes in them and in the cutthroat world of HR, that could mean his untimely termination (literally). So why not make a deal with a menacing entity in the elevator? So what if it dooms humanity in the process? At least he’ll get a promotion.
This take on corporate culture was spot on. It’s all very tongue-in-cheek and I loved all the nods to office life. The pace didn’t let up at all, and I found this to be an extremely consumable read. It’s got your October vibes perfectly packaged up with some eldritch horrors and a boss from hell.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available October 7, 2025
Thank you to Ace Books for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Colin finds himself in a pickle; his reports keep having mistakes in them and in the cutthroat world of HR, that could mean his untimely termination (literally). So why not make a deal with a menacing entity in the elevator? So what if it dooms humanity in the process? At least he’ll get a promotion.
This take on corporate culture was spot on. It’s all very tongue-in-cheek and I loved all the nods to office life. The pace didn’t let up at all, and I found this to be an extremely consumable read. It’s got your October vibes perfectly packaged up with some eldritch horrors and a boss from hell.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available October 7, 2025
Thank you to Ace Books for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2025
4.5/5!
I love, love, love a fun workplace horror meets fantasy story! Add in a touch of romance and the looming threat of the world ending and you’ve got yourself a perfect spooky season read!
Colin is a low-level employee with big dreams. He works at a multi-national corporation that specializes in super normal things like Hell, magic, other worlds, and demons. Very casually, Colin releases an ancient evil that has doomed the world in the name of a promotion. Cue the chaos!
The mixture of humor, tension, impending doom, and romance really make this a unique read.
Things you need to know:
🔥 Colin is awesome and you’re going to love him.
🔥 Wait until you also fall in love with Eric, Lex, and Amira.
🔥 The world is definitely ending.
🔥 You’re going to have so much fun on the ride to save it!
Cheers to a brilliant read! I can’t wait to see what Mark Waddell dreams up next!
I love, love, love a fun workplace horror meets fantasy story! Add in a touch of romance and the looming threat of the world ending and you’ve got yourself a perfect spooky season read!
Colin is a low-level employee with big dreams. He works at a multi-national corporation that specializes in super normal things like Hell, magic, other worlds, and demons. Very casually, Colin releases an ancient evil that has doomed the world in the name of a promotion. Cue the chaos!
The mixture of humor, tension, impending doom, and romance really make this a unique read.
Things you need to know:
🔥 Colin is awesome and you’re going to love him.
🔥 Wait until you also fall in love with Eric, Lex, and Amira.
🔥 The world is definitely ending.
🔥 You’re going to have so much fun on the ride to save it!
Cheers to a brilliant read! I can’t wait to see what Mark Waddell dreams up next!
October 18, 2025
Welcome to Dark Enterprises, corporate hell on earth (literally) where there's a monster in the stairwell trying to eat people getting their steps in, a firing means final termination from earth, and the screaming heard in HR is normal while they try to meet their quotas.
We follow Colin, a low level employee, who's tired of being bullied and *maybe* unleashes a dark force on the city of New York just to get his promotion. Worth it?
This book was such a genuinely fun read that had me laughing throughout the whole damnation of the city. If you're a fan of the humor and creativeness of A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Welcome to Night Vale this is right up your alley.
“The path to middle management is not an easy one. A single misstep will lead to death, damnation, or worse."
We follow Colin, a low level employee, who's tired of being bullied and *maybe* unleashes a dark force on the city of New York just to get his promotion. Worth it?
This book was such a genuinely fun read that had me laughing throughout the whole damnation of the city. If you're a fan of the humor and creativeness of A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Welcome to Night Vale this is right up your alley.
“The path to middle management is not an easy one. A single misstep will lead to death, damnation, or worse."
October 19, 2025
3.5 rounded up
This was an off the wall doomsday/dystopian story that has Colin, an underling employee who works for Dark Enterprises (a Hell-like organization) wanting to work his way up the ranks so he's not always the scapegoat anymore. Enter a mysterious demon who Colin makes a deal with, not realizing how high the cost will be. This is laugh out loud funny, action-packed and had a sweet MM romance. Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Dungeon Crawler Carl. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for #SpookySeason reading.
This was an off the wall doomsday/dystopian story that has Colin, an underling employee who works for Dark Enterprises (a Hell-like organization) wanting to work his way up the ranks so he's not always the scapegoat anymore. Enter a mysterious demon who Colin makes a deal with, not realizing how high the cost will be. This is laugh out loud funny, action-packed and had a sweet MM romance. Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Dungeon Crawler Carl. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for #SpookySeason reading.
dnf-for-now
November 12, 2025dnf @ 54%
The premise of this was super promising buttttt all of the characters fell pretty flat and by 50% I was still bored with the plot and didn’t care much for Colin at all (hence the dnf). The writing also really bothered me. 80% of it is just explanation and glossing over events plus Colin’s inner monologue. With a story like this, I just feel like having compelling characters and dialogue is SO important and this was really lacking there.
The premise of this was super promising buttttt all of the characters fell pretty flat and by 50% I was still bored with the plot and didn’t care much for Colin at all (hence the dnf). The writing also really bothered me. 80% of it is just explanation and glossing over events plus Colin’s inner monologue. With a story like this, I just feel like having compelling characters and dialogue is SO important and this was really lacking there.
November 30, 2025
(1.75)
meh. те, що спочатку накльовувалось на (щонайменше) чотири зірочки, врешті зависло на волоску від однієї 🥴
норм зав'язка, прикольна задумка, справді класний сеттинг, але оповідь максимально неорганічна. після першої третини сюжет відверто так провис і мене вже не захоплювало нічого. також тут страшенно недолуге зображення стосунків між усіма персонаж_ками — не в останню чергу через свою квапливість. і інста лав між коліном та еріком, і дружба коліна з лекс, і закоханість аміки з тими ж лекс. мені були байдужі всі вони та їхні respective entanglements зокрема, а тому і в їхнє залучення до big important resolution я не повірила. утім, історія коліна все ж хороша. я люблю, коли персонажі мають сумнівну мораль та не цураються цього.
meh. те, що спочатку накльовувалось на (щонайменше) чотири зірочки, врешті зависло на волоску від однієї 🥴
норм зав'язка, прикольна задумка, справді класний сеттинг, але оповідь максимально неорганічна. після першої третини сюжет відверто так провис і мене вже не захоплювало нічого. також тут страшенно недолуге зображення стосунків між усіма персонаж_ками — не в останню чергу через свою квапливість. і інста лав між коліном та еріком, і дружба коліна з лекс, і закоханість аміки з тими ж лекс. мені були байдужі всі вони та їхні respective entanglements зокрема, а тому і в їхнє залучення до big important resolution я не повірила. утім, історія коліна все ж хороша. я люблю, коли персонажі мають сумнівну мораль та не цураються цього.
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