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Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die
DELUXE EDITION WITH SPRAYED + STENCILED EDGES, SPOT GLOSS AND GOLD FOIL.
In this hilarious gay fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together. Funny, touching and inventive, this brilliant debut is perfect for fans of How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying and Dreadful.
In Which Many Dangerous and Homosexual Things Happen.
All his life, Sir Cameron has stayed as far away from danger as possible. He is quite frankly too handsome to die a pointless death in battle. But then the Church hands down a prophecy to his fellow the only way to defeat their nemesis, the mad sorcerer Merulo, is to kill Sir Cameron. Short of ideas, Cameron throws himself on the mercy of the one person who now actually wants him to the mad sorcerer.
Merulo isn’t thrilled to be babysitting a spoilt, attention-seeking knight, but transmogrifying him into a vulture is at least entertaining. Cameron, meanwhile, is on a voyage of self-discovery. It turns out he’s really, really into surly sorcerers who lock him up and tell him what to do. Who knew?
As a legion of knights surround their stronghold, the sorcerer’s poisonous ambitions draw ever closer to fruition. Cameron is quite invested in not dying, but he finds he’s also invested in Merulo. And sometimes, supporting the sorcerer you care about means taking an interest in their hobbies. Even if that hobby is trying to kill God.
Even if it might get you killed, too.
Fall in love with this laugh-out loud, genre-bending romp full of concussed elves and queer romance like you've never seen before.
In this hilarious gay fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together. Funny, touching and inventive, this brilliant debut is perfect for fans of How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying and Dreadful.
In Which Many Dangerous and Homosexual Things Happen.
All his life, Sir Cameron has stayed as far away from danger as possible. He is quite frankly too handsome to die a pointless death in battle. But then the Church hands down a prophecy to his fellow the only way to defeat their nemesis, the mad sorcerer Merulo, is to kill Sir Cameron. Short of ideas, Cameron throws himself on the mercy of the one person who now actually wants him to the mad sorcerer.
Merulo isn’t thrilled to be babysitting a spoilt, attention-seeking knight, but transmogrifying him into a vulture is at least entertaining. Cameron, meanwhile, is on a voyage of self-discovery. It turns out he’s really, really into surly sorcerers who lock him up and tell him what to do. Who knew?
As a legion of knights surround their stronghold, the sorcerer’s poisonous ambitions draw ever closer to fruition. Cameron is quite invested in not dying, but he finds he’s also invested in Merulo. And sometimes, supporting the sorcerer you care about means taking an interest in their hobbies. Even if that hobby is trying to kill God.
Even if it might get you killed, too.
Fall in love with this laugh-out loud, genre-bending romp full of concussed elves and queer romance like you've never seen before.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
273 people are currently reading
5492 people want to read
About the author
Greer Stothers
4 books73 followersGreer Stothers is an award-winning author/illustrator based in Toronto. Their experiences as a nonbinary individual inform their writing and art, as does their drive to find the humor in everything.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
Want to read
January 4, 2025Saw the beginning of chapter posts by author online and the fact that it's getting published!!!
can't wait it's going to be hilarious
can't wait it's going to be hilarious
December 29, 2025
Love the subtitle: "In Which Many Dangerous and Homosexual Things Happen"!! I'm in; let the many dangerous and homosexual things begin!
Update: Pleasant enough story.
Update: Pleasant enough story.
December 6, 2025
This was an utter delight from beginning to end. A fresh and original take on what I'm dubbing the "irreverent/humorous medieval Fantasy genre," in which the author maintains a jovial tone throughout, poking fun at old-fashioned tropes using modern sensibilities, while still paying homage to genre staples like dragons and elves and quests to save the world.
If you get nothing else from this review, just know that I loved this humorous, queer, fresh take on Fantasy, and the endearingly horrible little himbo coward man who gets into the most entertaining and farcical situations.
The Writing:
I already knew I'd be in for a good time from the silly, tongue-in-cheek chapter heading of the prologue. The only question was if it would be over-used and become annoying, or if it would be used in just the right balance. Humor is subjective so I'm sure it won't work for everyone, but for me it was just right. While the whole book is goofy and humorous, it's exaggerated and voicey during the chapter headers, but toned down for the rest of the text so I felt that it never overstayed its welcome.
World-building:
The scenarios are often over-the-top and implausible, but the author makes them feel as if they're perfectly logical within the rules of the world. Still bonkers sometimes, sure, but never breaking that immersion. This is the kind of world where the thought of a hornless unicorn (aka a horse) seems just too strange to imagine, but magical battles that transform half the species present are just a ho hum Tuesday.
LGBTQIA rep:
But despite the medieval-ish setting and often Conservative mindsets (especially of the Church and the elves), the text is really inclusive and non-judgmental of a variety of explicitly and implicitly mentioned identities and lifestyles. The main cast all exhibit some amount of LGB throughout the story, but there are also trans and non-binary side characters and some gentle, accepting conversations that don't feel overly preachy.
Cameron:
The majority of the book is told through Cameron's POV, so I think that how much he grows on the reader will largely determine the overall impression of the book. Cameron is a himbo and a consummate coward. But not only do I find his rather obvious flaws to make for a lot of humorous and dynamic situations, I also appreciate the way he grows throughout the book so that he feels like a much more well-rounded character by the end.
Overall:
Cameron and Merulo wormed their way into my heart and I loved watching their story unfold. This is one of those books where I can't help but give it 5/5 because I honestly would've finished it 1-2 hrs earlier if I didn't pause so often to repeat quotes aloud to my spouse. It was fun and took me on such a journey as the book I was reading by the end felt totally different (but tonally the same) from the one I started at the beginning.
All I can hope is that this book is a harbinger and that 2026 brings more horrible little vulture men!
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you get nothing else from this review, just know that I loved this humorous, queer, fresh take on Fantasy, and the endearingly horrible little himbo coward man who gets into the most entertaining and farcical situations.
The Writing:
I already knew I'd be in for a good time from the silly, tongue-in-cheek chapter heading of the prologue. The only question was if it would be over-used and become annoying, or if it would be used in just the right balance. Humor is subjective so I'm sure it won't work for everyone, but for me it was just right. While the whole book is goofy and humorous, it's exaggerated and voicey during the chapter headers, but toned down for the rest of the text so I felt that it never overstayed its welcome.
World-building:
The scenarios are often over-the-top and implausible, but the author makes them feel as if they're perfectly logical within the rules of the world. Still bonkers sometimes, sure, but never breaking that immersion. This is the kind of world where the thought of a hornless unicorn (aka a horse) seems just too strange to imagine, but magical battles that transform half the species present are just a ho hum Tuesday.
LGBTQIA rep:
But despite the medieval-ish setting and often Conservative mindsets (especially of the Church and the elves), the text is really inclusive and non-judgmental of a variety of explicitly and implicitly mentioned identities and lifestyles. The main cast all exhibit some amount of LGB throughout the story, but there are also trans and non-binary side characters and some gentle, accepting conversations that don't feel overly preachy.
Cameron:
The majority of the book is told through Cameron's POV, so I think that how much he grows on the reader will largely determine the overall impression of the book. Cameron is a himbo and a consummate coward. But not only do I find his rather obvious flaws to make for a lot of humorous and dynamic situations, I also appreciate the way he grows throughout the book so that he feels like a much more well-rounded character by the end.
Overall:
Cameron and Merulo wormed their way into my heart and I loved watching their story unfold. This is one of those books where I can't help but give it 5/5 because I honestly would've finished it 1-2 hrs earlier if I didn't pause so often to repeat quotes aloud to my spouse. It was fun and took me on such a journey as the book I was reading by the end felt totally different (but tonally the same) from the one I started at the beginning.
All I can hope is that this book is a harbinger and that 2026 brings more horrible little vulture men!
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely ridiculous, full-on hilarious, and it had me laughing right away. Sadly, it couldn't follow through on the excellent opening and ended up confusing and unsatisfying.
The first 25% of the book was fantastic! I loved how utterly bonkers everything was and our dumb, darling MC Cameron who just really didn't want to die was an instant favourite. A true himbo! Merulo, the evil sorcerer, and his disdain for Cameron was also hilarious and they had great banter. I also loved the chapter names/summaries, they almost all made me laugh.
Sadly, the plot felt weirdly resolved quickly and somehow also never resolved at all, and the pacing of the story wasn't great. It started dragging in the middle, picked up a bit near the end, and then ended on the absolute weirdest note that left so many open plotlines that felt like they should've never been introduced. What was the point of Glenda? Why not use those chapters on giving Cameron and Merulo's characters some much needed depth? There were so many things this book could've done something with and it instead did nothing with any of it and ended in a nonsensical way. And not the fun kind.
There was humor throughout the book but it wasn't nearly as funny as in the beginning and I found my eyes glazing over for a while near the middle. This book had such potential and started off so well but it just couldn't follow through. I still adore himbo king Cameron but I'm sadly mostly left feeling disappointed upon finishing.
I read an eARC from Titan and Netgalley.
The first 25% of the book was fantastic! I loved how utterly bonkers everything was and our dumb, darling MC Cameron who just really didn't want to die was an instant favourite. A true himbo! Merulo, the evil sorcerer, and his disdain for Cameron was also hilarious and they had great banter. I also loved the chapter names/summaries, they almost all made me laugh.
Sadly, the plot felt weirdly resolved quickly and somehow also never resolved at all, and the pacing of the story wasn't great. It started dragging in the middle, picked up a bit near the end, and then ended on the absolute weirdest note that left so many open plotlines that felt like they should've never been introduced. What was the point of Glenda? Why not use those chapters on giving Cameron and Merulo's characters some much needed depth? There were so many things this book could've done something with and it instead did nothing with any of it and ended in a nonsensical way. And not the fun kind.
There was humor throughout the book but it wasn't nearly as funny as in the beginning and I found my eyes glazing over for a while near the middle. This book had such potential and started off so well but it just couldn't follow through. I still adore himbo king Cameron but I'm sadly mostly left feeling disappointed upon finishing.
I read an eARC from Titan and Netgalley.
January 13, 2026
I really wanted to love Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die. On paper, this should have been a slam dunk for me: absurd premise, unserious tone and a story that clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously. And to be fair, the opening is fun. The setup is chaotic, the chapter titles are clever, and Cameron’s earnest refusal to die is genuinely endearing at first. It feels like the kind of book that promises ridiculous, LOL comedy.
But somewhere along the way… it just never delivered on that promise for me.
The book leans hard into humour, yet I didn’t actually find it funny. Not even a giggle. The jokes often felt more silly than sharp, more quirky than clever, and the tone skewed almost childish at times. Maybe my humour is just too dark 😆 but I kept waiting for that moment where it would fully click and it never did.
Structurally, things also started to unravel. The pacing dragged in the middle, rushed and confused itself near the end, and somehow managed to both resolve things too quickly and leave far too many plot threads dangling. Interesting ideas and characters were introduced only to go nowhere, which made the ending feel messy and unsatisfying rather than delightfully absurd. Emotional beats that should have landed didn’t, largely because the story never quite asked me to take anything seriously even when it clearly wanted me to.
By the end, what remained was a book that was occasionally entertaining, occasionally clever, but ultimately frustrating. I can absolutely see why this works for some readers as a low brain power read, and I appreciate the creativity behind it but for me, it just wasn’t funny enough, cohesive enough, or emotionally grounded enough to stick the landing.
A fun idea, a strong start… and a big miss for my personal taste.
But somewhere along the way… it just never delivered on that promise for me.
The book leans hard into humour, yet I didn’t actually find it funny. Not even a giggle. The jokes often felt more silly than sharp, more quirky than clever, and the tone skewed almost childish at times. Maybe my humour is just too dark 😆 but I kept waiting for that moment where it would fully click and it never did.
Structurally, things also started to unravel. The pacing dragged in the middle, rushed and confused itself near the end, and somehow managed to both resolve things too quickly and leave far too many plot threads dangling. Interesting ideas and characters were introduced only to go nowhere, which made the ending feel messy and unsatisfying rather than delightfully absurd. Emotional beats that should have landed didn’t, largely because the story never quite asked me to take anything seriously even when it clearly wanted me to.
By the end, what remained was a book that was occasionally entertaining, occasionally clever, but ultimately frustrating. I can absolutely see why this works for some readers as a low brain power read, and I appreciate the creativity behind it but for me, it just wasn’t funny enough, cohesive enough, or emotionally grounded enough to stick the landing.
A fun idea, a strong start… and a big miss for my personal taste.
February 11, 2026
This was so good!! The humor was amazing, the romance genuinely heart-warming, the characters really likable and complex. I think my only criticism is that the ending felt the a bit rushed, but overall I loved it.
Want to read
January 2, 2025I want to read this so bad, I’m so excited
February 6, 2026
This had so much potential but the execution was just not it.
dnf
December 31, 2025One last DNF before the end of the year!
Apart from the chapter sub headings, the humour isn't working for me and the plot and characters are not nearly interesting enough to hold my attention. I don't think it's bad, just not for me.
Apart from the chapter sub headings, the humour isn't working for me and the plot and characters are not nearly interesting enough to hold my attention. I don't think it's bad, just not for me.
Want to read
January 10, 2025"In this hilarious, off-the-wall queer fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together."
I'll read anything athurian!
I'll read anything athurian!
February 12, 2026
Did I find this funny? Yes, but it got to a point where I genuinely felt frustrated with the humor. It didn't help that the book slowed down considerably to build up for the climax at the same time. The best way to describe it is when a friend keeps telling the same structure of a joke over and over, it's funny for the first few times and then it's just...not.
I did really like the settings of the book and the overall atmosphere. The writing was pretty immersive and I loved it. Cameron as a character was hilarious and a fucking dolt (affectionate) and his interactions with the other characters were definite highlights!!
I did really like the settings of the book and the overall atmosphere. The writing was pretty immersive and I loved it. Cameron as a character was hilarious and a fucking dolt (affectionate) and his interactions with the other characters were definite highlights!!
January 18, 2026
Friends, this book was an absolute rollercoaster and I LOVED it. It’s marketed as a fantasy, but I genuinely think a sci-fi tag would suit it better… I definitely went into it expecting a medieval romantasy, and whilst we did get elements of that, I think the sci-fi twist far outweighs it! Don’t go into this expecting pure romance, as that’s very much a sub-plot (and it’s all closed door), but the sexual tension between the two MCs is really fun (think ultimate black cat x golden retriever, but the black cat has to power to end the world and the golden retriever keeps nearly getting murdered on accident, oops!)
If you’re someone who loves unreliable, chaos-gremlin narrators, you are going to LOVE Sir Cameron Vaillencourt. He is the biggest himbo on horseback that you could ever meet. He’s big, dumb and gorgeous - and spends a considerable amount of time transfigured into various other forms, much to his horror. He is a perfect counterpoint to the ‘mad sorcerer’ Merculo, who is a genius determined to ‘destroy god’ and save the world.
Having gone into this expecting a silly, easy read, I actually ended up having to pay quite a lot of attention… trying not to give spoilers, but this is definitely more reminiscent of ‘Some Desperate Glory’ or ‘A Complicated Love Story Set In Space’ than ‘Fourth Wing’… but there are dragons, so that’s very exciting!
Overall not the read I was expecting, but definitely the one I needed! Read for:
✨ Fantasy x sci-fi mash up
✨ Elves, dragons, unicorns
✨ Black cat x golden retriever
✨ Jock x nerd
✨ Chaotic unreliable narrator
✨ MC is a himbo on horseback
✨ So stupid… that he’s smart?
✨ Escaping his own prophecy
✨ What is really real?
✨ Destroy god, save the universe
✨ Apocalypse!? I hardly know her!
Thank you to Titan Books for an ARC! It’s available on 3rd Feb 💕
If you’re someone who loves unreliable, chaos-gremlin narrators, you are going to LOVE Sir Cameron Vaillencourt. He is the biggest himbo on horseback that you could ever meet. He’s big, dumb and gorgeous - and spends a considerable amount of time transfigured into various other forms, much to his horror. He is a perfect counterpoint to the ‘mad sorcerer’ Merculo, who is a genius determined to ‘destroy god’ and save the world.
Having gone into this expecting a silly, easy read, I actually ended up having to pay quite a lot of attention… trying not to give spoilers, but this is definitely more reminiscent of ‘Some Desperate Glory’ or ‘A Complicated Love Story Set In Space’ than ‘Fourth Wing’… but there are dragons, so that’s very exciting!
Overall not the read I was expecting, but definitely the one I needed! Read for:
✨ Fantasy x sci-fi mash up
✨ Elves, dragons, unicorns
✨ Black cat x golden retriever
✨ Jock x nerd
✨ Chaotic unreliable narrator
✨ MC is a himbo on horseback
✨ So stupid… that he’s smart?
✨ Escaping his own prophecy
✨ What is really real?
✨ Destroy god, save the universe
✨ Apocalypse!? I hardly know her!
Thank you to Titan Books for an ARC! It’s available on 3rd Feb 💕
February 12, 2026
was genuinely so scared that this would be so so annoying and not as funny as it thought it was (like *loud throat clearing noises* iykyk), but it wasn't! actually funny! went somewhere I Did Not expect! silly and aware of itself and the subchapters are probably my favorite part! fun!!
December 7, 2025
Well... this was something for sure.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the fun title, and the comps really worked for me, too. First things first: Do not believe them. I have no idea what the marketing team for this one was on but Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely nothing like A Marvellous Light for one. I do see they changed the comps for the Kindle version now, and I haven't read those so can't speak to any resemblance, but the original comps were not it. And that's never helping because it just sets wrong expectations which most of the time lead only to disappointment.
Now, Apparently,... is still a fun book that I really enjoyed... until about 50%. It's a comedy with very cliched characters that could only ever exist in a comedy like this, and while there are more serious themes woven into the narrative (our main character has anxiety and regularly gets panic attacks, one other character is addicted to a drug that allows her to feel emotions, there's exploration of gender and religion) they are never explored in a serious way, so yeah, that's kind of just there. The humour is also really silly, almost childish at times. But still, the first half of this book was a hoot, the kind of brain-turned-off-fun you need sometimes. The central relationship is weird and never really makes you feel much because the characters just cannot be taken seriously, but again, it was fun.
Then a big, actually emotional thing happens at the halfway point which I was actually invested in... and after that, well. Let's just say things get increasingly weird, there are cool world-building ideas but the execution was lacking, and the way the plot unfolds is just off the walls. Cameron, our protagonist, gets really annoying when I found him really endearing before. His emotional responses to some of the events happening, especially during the final chapters, are completely nonsensical. Things are confusing, some don't make sense if you think about them a little more, and I just didn't enjoy any of it. Kudos for creativity, though.
So yeah, in the end I'd probably give this 3 stars - the beginning might have been leaning towards 3,5, but the second half probably lingers somewhere around 2-2,5 stars. A mixed bag, but worth it for the fun of it.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
I was really intrigued by the premise and the fun title, and the comps really worked for me, too. First things first: Do not believe them. I have no idea what the marketing team for this one was on but Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is absolutely nothing like A Marvellous Light for one. I do see they changed the comps for the Kindle version now, and I haven't read those so can't speak to any resemblance, but the original comps were not it. And that's never helping because it just sets wrong expectations which most of the time lead only to disappointment.
Now, Apparently,... is still a fun book that I really enjoyed... until about 50%. It's a comedy with very cliched characters that could only ever exist in a comedy like this, and while there are more serious themes woven into the narrative (our main character has anxiety and regularly gets panic attacks, one other character is addicted to a drug that allows her to feel emotions, there's exploration of gender and religion) they are never explored in a serious way, so yeah, that's kind of just there. The humour is also really silly, almost childish at times. But still, the first half of this book was a hoot, the kind of brain-turned-off-fun you need sometimes. The central relationship is weird and never really makes you feel much because the characters just cannot be taken seriously, but again, it was fun.
Then a big, actually emotional thing happens at the halfway point which I was actually invested in... and after that, well. Let's just say things get increasingly weird, there are cool world-building ideas but the execution was lacking, and the way the plot unfolds is just off the walls. Cameron, our protagonist, gets really annoying when I found him really endearing before. His emotional responses to some of the events happening, especially during the final chapters, are completely nonsensical. Things are confusing, some don't make sense if you think about them a little more, and I just didn't enjoy any of it. Kudos for creativity, though.
So yeah, in the end I'd probably give this 3 stars - the beginning might have been leaning towards 3,5, but the second half probably lingers somewhere around 2-2,5 stars. A mixed bag, but worth it for the fun of it.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
December 2, 2025
Despite this being one of the most anticipated books of the year for me, I'm unfortunately underwhelmed and disappointed. I'm a huge fan of the author's sense of humour when it comes to their Tumblr but I don't think it translated super well with the writing style and plot pacing. It's not bad persay but I'm not recommending this one.
February 11, 2026
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is a humorous queer fantasy about a cowardly knight and an evil sorcerer who wants to kill God. Sir Cameron is a handsome but cowardly knight who gets by because of his friendship with an elf. But when a Church prophecy dictates that he has to die before the sorcerer Merulo can be defeated, he runs away to that mad sorcerer and is willing to grovel or seduce. In Merulo’s lair, Sir Cameron discovers a masochistic kink within himself, several good reasons why God needs to die, and a lonely flawed obsessive man he can grow to genuinely care for.
I really enjoyed this book but milage may vary depending on how you respond to its tone. It is super casual and incredibly unserious, and the title hints at it. It is also a ton of fin because of that. It actually reminded me of AJ Sherwood’s “How I Stole the Princess’ White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy” more than it did Caitlin Rozakis’ “Dreadful”. It’s kind of a parody of the fantasy genre that turns kind of meta by the end. I won’t spoil it, but the setting was a surprise as the book takes a science fiction bend.
I really enjoyed the clippy long chapter titles, but I do think they’d do spoil the chapter a bit. The short sequential episodic chapters do give the impression of an online serial so it did made me wonder if that’s how this started as. I liked the himbo of a man that is Cameron. He is gay, knows himself rather well and is honest to himself about it, and does not let dignity get in the way of survival. I enjoyed the hijinks he gets himself into including discovering masochism and being turned into a vulture and a woman. I was just charmed by him and his earnestness throughout. The book just brought a smile to my face. Honestly, it was cute too while also somehow managing to make me tear up.
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is a funny gay fantasy-turned-scifi romance that does not take itself too seriously.
I really enjoyed this book but milage may vary depending on how you respond to its tone. It is super casual and incredibly unserious, and the title hints at it. It is also a ton of fin because of that. It actually reminded me of AJ Sherwood’s “How I Stole the Princess’ White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy” more than it did Caitlin Rozakis’ “Dreadful”. It’s kind of a parody of the fantasy genre that turns kind of meta by the end. I won’t spoil it, but the setting was a surprise as the book takes a science fiction bend.
I really enjoyed the clippy long chapter titles, but I do think they’d do spoil the chapter a bit. The short sequential episodic chapters do give the impression of an online serial so it did made me wonder if that’s how this started as. I liked the himbo of a man that is Cameron. He is gay, knows himself rather well and is honest to himself about it, and does not let dignity get in the way of survival. I enjoyed the hijinks he gets himself into including discovering masochism and being turned into a vulture and a woman. I was just charmed by him and his earnestness throughout. The book just brought a smile to my face. Honestly, it was cute too while also somehow managing to make me tear up.
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die is a funny gay fantasy-turned-scifi romance that does not take itself too seriously.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Don’t underestimate the phrase “genre-bending” in the description of this book. This ‘funny fantasy romance’ turns into a story where Artificial Intelligences work to save humanity from itself and its belief in God. The end goal is to kill God and escape Earth by going to the Moon or Mars. The first half of the book is fantasy while the second half is just science fiction. And the two halves don’t blend well.
The story starts when Sir Cameron, a vain and goofy knight, is informed that his death will fulfill a prophecy that will lead to the downfall of the evil sorcerer Merulo. While she does feel kind of bad about it, Glenda, Cameron’s only friend, is going to murder him. So Cameron escapes and seeks shelter with Merulo. What ensues is a lighthearted comedic enemies (ish) to lovers closed door romance. I like how fluid gender is in this relationship, but I don’t understand why the two leads are actually into each other. Later, Glenda captures and kills Cameron. In his grief, Merulo reveals himself to be a great black dragon, and he sacrifices his magic to turn back time and save Cameron. I personally would have had a much better time reading if this had been the end of the story. But it just keeps going.
Merulo and Cameron retreat to the corpse filled underwater city where Merulo’s sister lives. This is when Cameron (and the readers) finds out that dragons, including Merulo, are all AI systems that were given physical form when God came to Earth and introduced magic (and homophobia, I guess) to the world. Because Merulo was made from magic, his body can still be used for magical purposes when he cuts off his limbs and burns them. This is how he’ll continue his quest to kill God. In the end, Merulo learns that God granted magic to Earth and shaped society in the image of a video game then they died. God has been dead the whole time. They all sail off into space on an AI powered ship that enjoys making people uncomfortable by saying slurs. When the people of Earth learn that God is dead, homophobia disappears. The end.
Reading this book was not enjoyable, especially in the second half. The things that I liked (a queer fantasy relationship) have been done better in other books, and the things that I disliked were abundant. I don’t want to deal with debates of God versus AI (a false binary for sure) in a fantasy rom-com. I actually don’t want to read about God or AI in fantasy rom-coms at all. The romance itself wasn’t great. All of the characters felt underdeveloped and flat. I didn’t like Glenda’s drug abuse storyline, I don’t think slurs are funny, and I don’t want to read about the protagonist of a ‘funny fantasy’ story dismembering themself. This book just didn’t work for me. At a minimum, I think it is being marketed and classified (it is sci-fi, and not just as a sub-genre) wrong.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with an eARC.
The story starts when Sir Cameron, a vain and goofy knight, is informed that his death will fulfill a prophecy that will lead to the downfall of the evil sorcerer Merulo. While she does feel kind of bad about it, Glenda, Cameron’s only friend, is going to murder him. So Cameron escapes and seeks shelter with Merulo. What ensues is a lighthearted comedic enemies (ish) to lovers closed door romance. I like how fluid gender is in this relationship, but I don’t understand why the two leads are actually into each other. Later, Glenda captures and kills Cameron. In his grief, Merulo reveals himself to be a great black dragon, and he sacrifices his magic to turn back time and save Cameron. I personally would have had a much better time reading if this had been the end of the story. But it just keeps going.
Merulo and Cameron retreat to the corpse filled underwater city where Merulo’s sister lives. This is when Cameron (and the readers) finds out that dragons, including Merulo, are all AI systems that were given physical form when God came to Earth and introduced magic (and homophobia, I guess) to the world. Because Merulo was made from magic, his body can still be used for magical purposes when he cuts off his limbs and burns them. This is how he’ll continue his quest to kill God. In the end, Merulo learns that God granted magic to Earth and shaped society in the image of a video game then they died. God has been dead the whole time. They all sail off into space on an AI powered ship that enjoys making people uncomfortable by saying slurs. When the people of Earth learn that God is dead, homophobia disappears. The end.
Reading this book was not enjoyable, especially in the second half. The things that I liked (a queer fantasy relationship) have been done better in other books, and the things that I disliked were abundant. I don’t want to deal with debates of God versus AI (a false binary for sure) in a fantasy rom-com. I actually don’t want to read about God or AI in fantasy rom-coms at all. The romance itself wasn’t great. All of the characters felt underdeveloped and flat. I didn’t like Glenda’s drug abuse storyline, I don’t think slurs are funny, and I don’t want to read about the protagonist of a ‘funny fantasy’ story dismembering themself. This book just didn’t work for me. At a minimum, I think it is being marketed and classified (it is sci-fi, and not just as a sub-genre) wrong.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with an eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2026
3.5-4 stars
Yeah okay, this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. Not my usual kind of read but I'm so glad I gave it a chance because it was funny, sexy, pacy and just everything I wanted in a quick and easy read!
Sir Cameron was a difficult protagonist to like - he's embarrassing, cowardly, selfish, and vain. But he did grow on me as the story progressed. And as for Merulo, well, I'm a sucker for a spooky, brooding villain in dark robes. The world building was a lot of fun and though the overarching plot was not the most original, it was a great backdrop for Cameron and Merulo's relationship.
The ending was rather abrupt and I'm hoping this is because there will be a book 2, but overall, I had a great time with this book.
Yeah okay, this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. Not my usual kind of read but I'm so glad I gave it a chance because it was funny, sexy, pacy and just everything I wanted in a quick and easy read!
Sir Cameron was a difficult protagonist to like - he's embarrassing, cowardly, selfish, and vain. But he did grow on me as the story progressed. And as for Merulo, well, I'm a sucker for a spooky, brooding villain in dark robes. The world building was a lot of fun and though the overarching plot was not the most original, it was a great backdrop for Cameron and Merulo's relationship.
The ending was rather abrupt and I'm hoping this is because there will be a book 2, but overall, I had a great time with this book.
February 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The premise is absolutely mad. The vibe feels like a queer version of The Sword in the Stone if Wart never became a king and instead fell in love with the skinny wizard. The ending is absolutely bonkers. There were some pacing issues, but overall a unique experience.
The premise is absolutely mad. The vibe feels like a queer version of The Sword in the Stone if Wart never became a king and instead fell in love with the skinny wizard. The ending is absolutely bonkers. There were some pacing issues, but overall a unique experience.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was so over the top ridiculous and weird and I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading it.
February 4, 2026
The humor was absurd, but not too much and I finished it in 2 days, so!
October 29, 2025
This is another book where the cover immediately caught my eye, and the title sealed the deal. It’s not your typical fantasy title and that alone made me curious. After reading the synopsis I was completely in
I don’t usually pick up humor books, and honestly, I’m not sure why.. but after this that might have to change. I’ve never described a book as literally making me laugh out loud until this one. Cameron’s humor is unmatched. Everyone in this world seems to hate him, which is wild because he’s so genuinely lovable. Merulo was also a standout, but when these two share the page, the story really shines. Their dynamic is chaotic and charming and somehow perfectly balanced
The side characters, especially Glenda the elf, add so much personality. Getting brief POVs from them made the world/universe feel even more alive. The world is one of the most unique settings I’ve read in a while. It blends this almost futuristic feel with ancient magic, and while I’m still not totally sure I understood every piece of the lore... I loved the ride it took me on 😅
The ending was totally unexpected. It really feels so much different than the start of the book, and i never really would have guessed it going there, but honestly I really loved that. I don't know how to exactly convey my feelings on what happens without spoiling things, but simply I need more!
For a debut, this was seriously impressive! The writing, humor, and pacing were all spot on, and I’m already excited to see what Greer Stothers does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t usually pick up humor books, and honestly, I’m not sure why.. but after this that might have to change. I’ve never described a book as literally making me laugh out loud until this one. Cameron’s humor is unmatched. Everyone in this world seems to hate him, which is wild because he’s so genuinely lovable. Merulo was also a standout, but when these two share the page, the story really shines. Their dynamic is chaotic and charming and somehow perfectly balanced
The side characters, especially Glenda the elf, add so much personality. Getting brief POVs from them made the world/universe feel even more alive. The world is one of the most unique settings I’ve read in a while. It blends this almost futuristic feel with ancient magic, and while I’m still not totally sure I understood every piece of the lore... I loved the ride it took me on 😅
The ending was totally unexpected. It really feels so much different than the start of the book, and i never really would have guessed it going there, but honestly I really loved that. I don't know how to exactly convey my feelings on what happens without spoiling things, but simply I need more!
For a debut, this was seriously impressive! The writing, humor, and pacing were all spot on, and I’m already excited to see what Greer Stothers does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 4, 2026
Gosh I don't even know what to say. I think it's changed something in me. I finished it only minutes ago so please forgive me. the humour was so so up my street. There were moments where I had to put the book down to laugh.
And the twists?? oh my god the twists. oh my god. Enough said. holy fuck.
The characters are all written so beautifully. And I love a pathetic sickly repressed older man so this was doing things for me. I love pathetic men in general so honestly both Sir Cameron and The Sorcerer were doing it for me if I'm honest.
I think this is definitely a book I shall reread over and over and remain a favourite for life.I remember they posted about the book premise online years ago and I have been eagerly awaiting for it to be finished. It does not disappoint at all. I can't wait to read what Greer Stothers writes next.
Edit: um. I forgot my colleagues follow me on this app. so um. if you're my colleague and you saw that thing about me talking about pathetic older men... um. no you didn't.
And the twists?? oh my god the twists. oh my god. Enough said. holy fuck.
The characters are all written so beautifully. And I love a pathetic sickly repressed older man so this was doing things for me. I love pathetic men in general so honestly both Sir Cameron and The Sorcerer were doing it for me if I'm honest.
I think this is definitely a book I shall reread over and over and remain a favourite for life.I remember they posted about the book premise online years ago and I have been eagerly awaiting for it to be finished. It does not disappoint at all. I can't wait to read what Greer Stothers writes next.
Edit: um. I forgot my colleagues follow me on this app. so um. if you're my colleague and you saw that thing about me talking about pathetic older men... um. no you didn't.
January 23, 2026
A lot of reviews are calling this book weird and I was foolishly like, aha, with my big brain I will surely be able to come up with a better description than that! But turns out that no, that sums it up pretty well. It’s extremely weird! And I loved it a lot! Cameron sucks so bad in a very specific way that just hits the spot for me!!! The only reason it isn’t a solid 5 stars is the pacing, which varied pretty wildly between lightning-fast and a liiiittle slow. It wasn’t enough to derail my enjoyment of the rollercoaster ride that was reading this, but it’s worth noting.
February 10, 2026
this was wacky and wild and i enjoyed it! definitely won’t be for everyone but if you like subversions or parodies of typical fantasy i think you’ll like this too. it has some clunkiness expected from a debut novel but the heart and humor make up for it imo.
February 4, 2026
I adored this! Laughed out loud so many times and the plot is absolutely fantastic!!
February 8, 2026
I can confidently say that I did not know where this was going, but it was a charming funny story with moments of surprising heart. I can respect how unapologetic it was and the nuanced perspective it provided.
February 3, 2026
I admit I was drawn in by the cover, but unfortunately, the book did not live up to the packaging. The story begins with a strong premise involving a polarized prince who must die to defeat the wizard Merulo and save God himself.
While the setup was promising, the narrative loses its footing in the second half. The author introduces genre-bending elements that clash with the world-building; the story would have been stronger had it remained a focused, traditional fantasy. Despite the uneven pacing that led me to skim parts of the middle, the dynamic between Cameron and Merulo is the highlight that keeps the book afloat
While the setup was promising, the narrative loses its footing in the second half. The author introduces genre-bending elements that clash with the world-building; the story would have been stronger had it remained a focused, traditional fantasy. Despite the uneven pacing that led me to skim parts of the middle, the dynamic between Cameron and Merulo is the highlight that keeps the book afloat
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this book!
It was such an entertaining read that had me laughing quite a few times with how ridiculous it could be.
The characters were all great! I really liked both Cameron and Merulo and enjoyed reading their banter and how their romance came together. Glenda was also an interesting character and I enjoyed reading her POV.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the beginnings of each chapter as they always made me giggle.
The book definitely took an unexpected turn around halfway after a very surprising scene.
I can't say much more due to not wanting to spoil anything but it was a very unique twist.
I also enjoyed the ending a lot and while I would have loved to see more I was pretty happy with where the story ended!
All in all, this was such a fun read that I definitely recommend checking out! Especially if you are looking for a unique fantasy read with a fascinating world and lovable characters that just make you laugh.
It was such an entertaining read that had me laughing quite a few times with how ridiculous it could be.
The characters were all great! I really liked both Cameron and Merulo and enjoyed reading their banter and how their romance came together. Glenda was also an interesting character and I enjoyed reading her POV.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the beginnings of each chapter as they always made me giggle.
The book definitely took an unexpected turn around halfway after a very surprising scene.
I can't say much more due to not wanting to spoil anything but it was a very unique twist.
I also enjoyed the ending a lot and while I would have loved to see more I was pretty happy with where the story ended!
All in all, this was such a fun read that I definitely recommend checking out! Especially if you are looking for a unique fantasy read with a fascinating world and lovable characters that just make you laugh.
November 24, 2025
This was a 3-star read for me. There was just so much going on, yet also not enough going on. The plot was crazy, and while the premise was super interesting, I felt like the level of complexity in the plot and some of the themes were just too much stuffed into one book. The characters did not have enough growth and personal insight for the amount of things they went through in this book, which left me feeling like the entire book was underdeveloped.
First, the characters. Cameron is very cute, and very sweet, and also, an annoying idiot. I liken him to a golden retriever puppy with a singular brain cell and not quite potty trained. Cute, yet annoying. There are moments of self-awareness and self-growth that I did enjoy, but they fell pretty flat when Cameron was like "eh, oh well" and then shrugged it off. I did enjoy seeing a non-traditional knight character and how Cameron perceived the world, and quite honestly, took everything in stride. His relationship with Merulo was freaky and cute in an ugly-but-cute cat way, and made me laugh a couple of times during their interactions. I think if we were to give Cameron more time and more character depth, he would be a refreshing twist on the knight character type. But alas. Many of the side characters also had some great moments, but I again felt like we needed some more time and more development with the characters before I truly began to feel like they were real. Merulo was interesting and emo, Hydna was badass and had some peak sibling interactions, and Glenda could have been good, but I felt like there was little resolution with her character.
Next, the plot. What in the actual sci-fi fantasy was going on in there? The first part of the book was as advertised, cute, nice twist on the knight saves the day with a prophecy trope, interesting dynamic between the hero and the villain, and neat world building! But somewhere in the middle, the plot started to go haywire. It was almost like we mashed a trilogy into one book and thought the readers could keep up. It was genuinely so interesting, we get fantasy, magic, dragons, space, modern technology, but it was so messily combined together that I was almost sad that it didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It was an amazing concept with cool ideas and interesting character types, but it was just too much all at once for a reader to really enjoy and allow for necessary character development.
All in all, this was a debut novel, and there were some super neat ideas, and I am excited to see how Sothers develops as an author!
I am grateful for my e-ARC copy received through Edelweiss, and I hope to see more from Greer Stothers in the future.
First, the characters. Cameron is very cute, and very sweet, and also, an annoying idiot. I liken him to a golden retriever puppy with a singular brain cell and not quite potty trained. Cute, yet annoying. There are moments of self-awareness and self-growth that I did enjoy, but they fell pretty flat when Cameron was like "eh, oh well" and then shrugged it off. I did enjoy seeing a non-traditional knight character and how Cameron perceived the world, and quite honestly, took everything in stride. His relationship with Merulo was freaky and cute in an ugly-but-cute cat way, and made me laugh a couple of times during their interactions. I think if we were to give Cameron more time and more character depth, he would be a refreshing twist on the knight character type. But alas. Many of the side characters also had some great moments, but I again felt like we needed some more time and more development with the characters before I truly began to feel like they were real. Merulo was interesting and emo, Hydna was badass and had some peak sibling interactions, and Glenda could have been good, but I felt like there was little resolution with her character.
Next, the plot. What in the actual sci-fi fantasy was going on in there? The first part of the book was as advertised, cute, nice twist on the knight saves the day with a prophecy trope, interesting dynamic between the hero and the villain, and neat world building! But somewhere in the middle, the plot started to go haywire. It was almost like we mashed a trilogy into one book and thought the readers could keep up. It was genuinely so interesting, we get fantasy, magic, dragons, space, modern technology, but it was so messily combined together that I was almost sad that it didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It was an amazing concept with cool ideas and interesting character types, but it was just too much all at once for a reader to really enjoy and allow for necessary character development.
All in all, this was a debut novel, and there were some super neat ideas, and I am excited to see how Sothers develops as an author!
I am grateful for my e-ARC copy received through Edelweiss, and I hope to see more from Greer Stothers in the future.
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