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Guides to Villainy and Love #2
The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)
Assistant to the Villain
meets Dreadful in this riotously funny sequel romantasy to The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)!
Step Take her on a honeymoon.
Step Learn to co-villain effectively.
Step Try not to get possessed by ancient evil.
Kazimir and Arabella’s villainous honeymoon is interrupted when an old friend seeks sanctuary, King Auremar accelerates his sinister plans, and the Syndicate calls in their debt.
As they navigate assassination attempts and a growing evil, the truth becomes Some feelings can no longer be denied.
Step Take her on a honeymoon.
Step Learn to co-villain effectively.
Step Try not to get possessed by ancient evil.
Kazimir and Arabella’s villainous honeymoon is interrupted when an old friend seeks sanctuary, King Auremar accelerates his sinister plans, and the Syndicate calls in their debt.
As they navigate assassination attempts and a growing evil, the truth becomes Some feelings can no longer be denied.
688 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2026
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September 20, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I laughed too much at this book to pretend I didn't have a good time. I also complained about its pacing too much to give it 4 stars.
Welcome to my 3.5 star dilemma.
The Dark Lord was wife-guying. The Dark Lady was armed and thriving. Their accidental family remained deeply unserious.
The plot had 688 pages and used all of them.
What worked for me
(aka: villain enrichment)
Stay Married, Stay Obsessed
(Domesticity Has Not Cured Him)
Book Two understands that marriage doesn't have to kill the yearning; it just changes what you're yearning for. Kaz already has Arabella. Now the intimacy comes from how completely he's learning to know her.
He notices when she's uncomfortable and quietly adjusts. He respects her competence instead of constantly trying to sideline her. He wants her armed, powerful and terrifying beside him. And when absolute power and literal godhood are eventually dangled in front of him, his answer is essentially: have you considered my wife?
Peak Kaz is realising he could have everything the Shadow King represents - power, control, immortality - and choosing Arabella anyway.
“Every. Fucking. Time.”
That was the romantic core I wanted. Loving Arabella doesn't redeem Kaz; it just rearranges his priorities.
Godhood rejected. Ancient evil released. Wife saved.
Priorities immaculate.
Choose Connection Over Control
(Character Development, Unfortunately)
Kaz's relationship with control was probably my favourite character thread.
His mother raised him as a weapon, carved power into his bones and made vulnerability dangerous. Suddenly his inability to say I love you isn't just advanced emotional constipation. The Dark Lord has lore.
That's also why the Shadow King works so well: he doesn't create Kaz's need for control, he feeds it.
And the payoff? Kaz choosing connection anyway.
The Shadow King sees mine as ownership. Kaz and Arabella turn it into mutual choice: I choose you. You choose me. Occasionally we doom the realm together.
Growth comes in many forms.
Build a Terrifying Fortress
(Accidentally Acquire a Family)
The Skyspire crew remained one of my favourite parts of this book.
Vex, Thorne, Sebastian, Nyx and especially Griffin kept the enormous middle entertaining even when the plot itself wasn't moving very far. The humour worked best for me when it came directly from these characters rather than feeling like the book was reaching for a punchline.
Kaz is losing a psychological war against Sebastian's scones. Thorne, feared warrior, is supervising children. Griffin is one magical incident away from requiring supervision himself.
This is the calibre of villainy I came for.
But there was real warmth underneath it. Kaz built Skyspire around fear, control and isolation, and by the end there are children running through his Inner Sanctum, people openly bullying him over baked goods and a whole collection of disasters he would burn kingdoms for.
The Dark Lord built an empire and somehow ended up running a daycare for disasters.
Where it lost me
(aka: we had 688 pages)
Keep Adding Plot
(Progress It Eventually)
The first half stayed busy enough that 688 pages felt weirdly manageable. The second half reminded me that busy and progressing are not synonyms.
There are kidnappings, revelations, corrupted ley lines, heroic bloodlines, stolen memories, magical artifacts, political schemes, ancient prisons, betrayals and enough magical history to keep everyone extremely busy. But activity wasn't always translating into meaningful movement on the major plotlines.
For all that setup, an alarming amount of the actual payoff gets squeezed into the final 20%. The Shadow King doesn't fully manifest until around 80% and he isn't actually freed until we're somewhere around 90%.
And after 688 pages?
He's still free.
Then the final chapter opens another door underneath Skyspire and introduces primordial binding runes, something capable of requiring a god-prison, and a fresh serving of WHAT NOW.
The book spent so long complicating everything that it ran out of room to uncomplicate it.
Avoid Saying What You Feel
(Try Everything Else First)
The relationship had almost the opposite problem: a genuinely clever source of yearning that lasted considerably longer than it needed to.
Kaz and Arabella already wanted each other. The tension came from whether they trusted each other enough to be fully known.
I loved that....until we started doing laps.
They spent hundreds of pages privately loving each other, privately worrying about each other and privately deciding the other person couldn't handle the truth.
Unfortunately, I had dual POV. I knew everything. They knew nothing. Nobody was scheduling a meeting.
Every time an actual conversation threatened to happen, they'd get emotional, get distracted and somehow the unresolved issue lived to see another chapter.
Their reasons made sense. Kaz was terrified of becoming dangerous to Arabella; Arabella thought pushing him would make him retreat further. But understandable miscommunication is still miscommunication when it lasts this long.
By the time they finally exchanged fully conscious, mutually heard I love yous, the apocalypse was already underway.
Beautiful. Moving. Several hundred pages overdue.
Create Elaborate Villains
(Defeat Them With Whatever Is Nearby)
I also struggled with the balance between how complicated some threats became and how quickly their actual resolutions arrived.
Some of these villains took hundreds of pages to build and approximately thirty seconds to remove.
Auremar has political manipulation, stolen power, blood sacrifice and ancient magical scheming.
Arabella has knives.
Amaryska has spent years shaping Kaz's trauma, orchestrates the release of an ancient evil, begins her triumphant end-of-the-world speech and—
gets crushed by a....ceiling.
Hilarious. But after all that setup, I expected a little more fight from the final bosses. The Shadow King avoids this criticism by simply refusing to be resolved.
Work smarter, not harder.
Final Thoughts
I laughed. I swooned. I became alarmingly attached to the Skyspire daycare.
I also watched 688 pages accumulate complications faster than they could resolve them.
Will I read Book Three? Absolutely. You cannot show me an unidentified ancient horror living in Kazimir's basement and expect me to simply carry on with my life.
I just hope the next guide needs fewer pages to explain itself.
Final Verdict
3.5 ⭐️ - Funny, chaotic, occasionally frustrating, and still more than enough villainous nonsense to keep me invested.
And they lived villainously ever after. For now.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Established villain power couple
• Marriage in progress
• Catastrophic Wife Guy
• Mutual obsession & chosen belonging
• “I would doom the world for you” — unfortunately literal
• Control vs vulnerability
• Hurt/comfort & protective devotion
• Dark magic, ancient evil & corrupted ley lines
• Chaotic found family
• Villains with surprisingly domestic problems
• Emotional constipation with an apocalyptic deadline
• Ongoing-series ending / unresolved ancient evil
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Honeymoon package includes:- assassination attempts, political scheming, ancient evil, mandatory co-villaining...
688 pages though?! Respectfully, how long are these people honeymooning? Did they relocate?
Book 1 made me laugh, so I’m choosing optimism and packing snacks 🤞🏼✨️
I laughed too much at this book to pretend I didn't have a good time. I also complained about its pacing too much to give it 4 stars.
Welcome to my 3.5 star dilemma.
The Dark Lord was wife-guying. The Dark Lady was armed and thriving. Their accidental family remained deeply unserious.
The plot had 688 pages and used all of them.
What worked for me
(aka: villain enrichment)
Stay Married, Stay Obsessed
(Domesticity Has Not Cured Him)
Book Two understands that marriage doesn't have to kill the yearning; it just changes what you're yearning for. Kaz already has Arabella. Now the intimacy comes from how completely he's learning to know her.
He notices when she's uncomfortable and quietly adjusts. He respects her competence instead of constantly trying to sideline her. He wants her armed, powerful and terrifying beside him. And when absolute power and literal godhood are eventually dangled in front of him, his answer is essentially: have you considered my wife?
Peak Kaz is realising he could have everything the Shadow King represents - power, control, immortality - and choosing Arabella anyway.
“Every. Fucking. Time.”
That was the romantic core I wanted. Loving Arabella doesn't redeem Kaz; it just rearranges his priorities.
Godhood rejected. Ancient evil released. Wife saved.
Priorities immaculate.
Choose Connection Over Control
(Character Development, Unfortunately)
Kaz's relationship with control was probably my favourite character thread.
His mother raised him as a weapon, carved power into his bones and made vulnerability dangerous. Suddenly his inability to say I love you isn't just advanced emotional constipation. The Dark Lord has lore.
That's also why the Shadow King works so well: he doesn't create Kaz's need for control, he feeds it.
And the payoff? Kaz choosing connection anyway.
The Shadow King sees mine as ownership. Kaz and Arabella turn it into mutual choice: I choose you. You choose me. Occasionally we doom the realm together.
Growth comes in many forms.
Build a Terrifying Fortress
(Accidentally Acquire a Family)
The Skyspire crew remained one of my favourite parts of this book.
Vex, Thorne, Sebastian, Nyx and especially Griffin kept the enormous middle entertaining even when the plot itself wasn't moving very far. The humour worked best for me when it came directly from these characters rather than feeling like the book was reaching for a punchline.
Kaz is losing a psychological war against Sebastian's scones. Thorne, feared warrior, is supervising children. Griffin is one magical incident away from requiring supervision himself.
This is the calibre of villainy I came for.
But there was real warmth underneath it. Kaz built Skyspire around fear, control and isolation, and by the end there are children running through his Inner Sanctum, people openly bullying him over baked goods and a whole collection of disasters he would burn kingdoms for.
The Dark Lord built an empire and somehow ended up running a daycare for disasters.
Where it lost me
(aka: we had 688 pages)
Keep Adding Plot
(Progress It Eventually)
The first half stayed busy enough that 688 pages felt weirdly manageable. The second half reminded me that busy and progressing are not synonyms.
There are kidnappings, revelations, corrupted ley lines, heroic bloodlines, stolen memories, magical artifacts, political schemes, ancient prisons, betrayals and enough magical history to keep everyone extremely busy. But activity wasn't always translating into meaningful movement on the major plotlines.
For all that setup, an alarming amount of the actual payoff gets squeezed into the final 20%. The Shadow King doesn't fully manifest until around 80% and he isn't actually freed until we're somewhere around 90%.
And after 688 pages?
He's still free.
Then the final chapter opens another door underneath Skyspire and introduces primordial binding runes, something capable of requiring a god-prison, and a fresh serving of WHAT NOW.
The book spent so long complicating everything that it ran out of room to uncomplicate it.
Avoid Saying What You Feel
(Try Everything Else First)
The relationship had almost the opposite problem: a genuinely clever source of yearning that lasted considerably longer than it needed to.
Kaz and Arabella already wanted each other. The tension came from whether they trusted each other enough to be fully known.
I loved that....until we started doing laps.
They spent hundreds of pages privately loving each other, privately worrying about each other and privately deciding the other person couldn't handle the truth.
Unfortunately, I had dual POV. I knew everything. They knew nothing. Nobody was scheduling a meeting.
Every time an actual conversation threatened to happen, they'd get emotional, get distracted and somehow the unresolved issue lived to see another chapter.
Their reasons made sense. Kaz was terrified of becoming dangerous to Arabella; Arabella thought pushing him would make him retreat further. But understandable miscommunication is still miscommunication when it lasts this long.
By the time they finally exchanged fully conscious, mutually heard I love yous, the apocalypse was already underway.
Beautiful. Moving. Several hundred pages overdue.
Create Elaborate Villains
(Defeat Them With Whatever Is Nearby)
I also struggled with the balance between how complicated some threats became and how quickly their actual resolutions arrived.
Some of these villains took hundreds of pages to build and approximately thirty seconds to remove.
Auremar has political manipulation, stolen power, blood sacrifice and ancient magical scheming.
Arabella has knives.
Amaryska has spent years shaping Kaz's trauma, orchestrates the release of an ancient evil, begins her triumphant end-of-the-world speech and—
gets crushed by a....ceiling.
Hilarious. But after all that setup, I expected a little more fight from the final bosses. The Shadow King avoids this criticism by simply refusing to be resolved.
Work smarter, not harder.
Final Thoughts
I laughed. I swooned. I became alarmingly attached to the Skyspire daycare.
I also watched 688 pages accumulate complications faster than they could resolve them.
Will I read Book Three? Absolutely. You cannot show me an unidentified ancient horror living in Kazimir's basement and expect me to simply carry on with my life.
I just hope the next guide needs fewer pages to explain itself.
Final Verdict
3.5 ⭐️ - Funny, chaotic, occasionally frustrating, and still more than enough villainous nonsense to keep me invested.
And they lived villainously ever after. For now.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Established villain power couple
• Marriage in progress
• Catastrophic Wife Guy
• Mutual obsession & chosen belonging
• “I would doom the world for you” — unfortunately literal
• Control vs vulnerability
• Hurt/comfort & protective devotion
• Dark magic, ancient evil & corrupted ley lines
• Chaotic found family
• Villains with surprisingly domestic problems
• Emotional constipation with an apocalyptic deadline
• Ongoing-series ending / unresolved ancient evil
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Honeymoon package includes:- assassination attempts, political scheming, ancient evil, mandatory co-villaining...
688 pages though?! Respectfully, how long are these people honeymooning? Did they relocate?
Book 1 made me laugh, so I’m choosing optimism and packing snacks 🤞🏼✨️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Stars!
The long awaited sequel pretty much starts off where we last saw our Lord and Lady Blackrose, strongly aligned and determined to bring down the corrupt king of Solandris who’s hiding behind false heroism and righteousness. However, they’re still struggling to harness the immense power of the heirloom meant to bridge their magics together into an unstoppable force. It doesn’t help that Kazimir himself has a secret, and it is determined to derail his and Arabella’s plans for world domination (or possibly destroy the world) if they don’t put aside personal reservations and trust in each other implicitly while also fully admitting their warm ooey gooey feelings.
Overall, what’s great about this series so far is that it consistently blurs the line between good and evil, explores cruel past trauma, and endorses the power of love like nobody’s business. The setting is unique, the world and its various inhabitants expanded upon, all the while bringing a petulant teenaged shadow dragon, sinister adversaries who love to stab you in the back, unpredictable magical mayhem, and a city built in a dead god’s body.
There’s still no doubt that The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) was one of my top 3 reads of 2025. I loved the humor, I loved how villain Kaz stayed true to his morally gray core (though perhaps made a bit more soft by growing tender feelings for his kidnapped bride), his goal of conquering his enemy never faltering.
Equally entertaining despite the length of this book was that it still contained great moments of humor with a side of silly and ridiculousness, interspersing the levity with balanced sobering moments of pain and betrayal. It also warmly expanded Kaz and Arabella’s found family while they staunchly supported each other in being unforgivingly merciless (albeit never unnecessarily so) in the complete annihilation of their adversaries.
This ends satisfyingly with regards to the main story arc but sets up a new challenge for this formidable duo of darkness. Though they’re stronger than ever before by growing a solid foundation of allies despite making new enemies, their next challenge ahead will definitely put them through their paces. I have no doubt they’ll crush their opponent with cunning brutality that has become their trademark ruthless brand, but it will unfortunately be a lengthy impatient wait to see that come to fruition. No doubt, I will be at the ready for when we get that next installment!
Thank you to the author and Scarlett Press via NetGalley for a copy to review honestly
The long awaited sequel pretty much starts off where we last saw our Lord and Lady Blackrose, strongly aligned and determined to bring down the corrupt king of Solandris who’s hiding behind false heroism and righteousness. However, they’re still struggling to harness the immense power of the heirloom meant to bridge their magics together into an unstoppable force. It doesn’t help that Kazimir himself has a secret, and it is determined to derail his and Arabella’s plans for world domination (or possibly destroy the world) if they don’t put aside personal reservations and trust in each other implicitly while also fully admitting their warm ooey gooey feelings.
Overall, what’s great about this series so far is that it consistently blurs the line between good and evil, explores cruel past trauma, and endorses the power of love like nobody’s business. The setting is unique, the world and its various inhabitants expanded upon, all the while bringing a petulant teenaged shadow dragon, sinister adversaries who love to stab you in the back, unpredictable magical mayhem, and a city built in a dead god’s body.
There’s still no doubt that The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) was one of my top 3 reads of 2025. I loved the humor, I loved how villain Kaz stayed true to his morally gray core (though perhaps made a bit more soft by growing tender feelings for his kidnapped bride), his goal of conquering his enemy never faltering.
Equally entertaining despite the length of this book was that it still contained great moments of humor with a side of silly and ridiculousness, interspersing the levity with balanced sobering moments of pain and betrayal. It also warmly expanded Kaz and Arabella’s found family while they staunchly supported each other in being unforgivingly merciless (albeit never unnecessarily so) in the complete annihilation of their adversaries.
This ends satisfyingly with regards to the main story arc but sets up a new challenge for this formidable duo of darkness. Though they’re stronger than ever before by growing a solid foundation of allies despite making new enemies, their next challenge ahead will definitely put them through their paces. I have no doubt they’ll crush their opponent with cunning brutality that has become their trademark ruthless brand, but it will unfortunately be a lengthy impatient wait to see that come to fruition. No doubt, I will be at the ready for when we get that next installment!
Thank you to the author and Scarlett Press via NetGalley for a copy to review honestly
March 6, 2026
"Because you’re brilliant. Because you match me in ways no one else ever has. Because when you smile, it feels like sunlight breaking through storm clouds, and I don’t even care how cliche that sounds. Because I would burn the world to keep you safe"
I stll had fun but it was too long - at some points I was thinking to myself why is this even important? can we get a move on? I was getting frustrated... also, I was sure this is the end, and it's not - even less of a reason for it to be that long.
----
I might only be 1/3 in book 1, but I can say without a doubt I'll need this in my hands immediately after.
I stll had fun but it was too long - at some points I was thinking to myself why is this even important? can we get a move on? I was getting frustrated... also, I was sure this is the end, and it's not - even less of a reason for it to be that long.
----
I might only be 1/3 in book 1, but I can say without a doubt I'll need this in my hands immediately after.
Want to Read
April 20, 2026My only question at the moment is why is this one going to be 688 pages?? I'm 55% way through book 1 and also wondering why it's 502 pages. Don't get me wrong, it IS amusing, but why are these so long????
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Aaaahhhhhh thanks so much podium for my alc and Scarlett press for my arc. The opinions are my own.
Immersive reading is definitely my favorite, and both narrators really freaking bring this to life.
Story picks up right from where the first book left off and the pacing is fantastic. It was really enjoyable watching them realize it was more than just a partnership or lust. The stakes are so much higher , battles, possession, straight up choosing the person you love over dooming the world My fav part is that not only is he the villain getting the girl but the girl is just like nope I’m fine with being villainous too. Chapter headings always make me laugh. 10/10 love this series cannot wait for the next one!
Immersive reading is definitely my favorite, and both narrators really freaking bring this to life.
Story picks up right from where the first book left off and the pacing is fantastic. It was really enjoyable watching them realize it was more than just a partnership or lust. The stakes are so much higher , battles, possession, straight up choosing the person you love over dooming the world My fav part is that not only is he the villain getting the girl but the girl is just like nope I’m fine with being villainous too. Chapter headings always make me laugh. 10/10 love this series cannot wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) is Book 2 in The Guides to Villainy and Love series, and author Tiffany Hunt delivered exactly what I wanted! She gave me a love story wrapped in epic battles, unstable alchemy, dragon cuteness, found family, and full-on touch her/touch him and die energy! This is only the third romantasy series I’ve ever read, but THIS is the one that keeps me coming back for more!
Kazamir and Arabella are the main protagonists of the story. (If you don’t already know this, go read book one and come back). They are STILL doing that thing where their actions are screaming “I LOVE YOU” but their mouths refuse to say those three little words. Honestly, I was frustrated off and on, waiting for them to tell each other what they felt, but understood that giving love and being loved is something new to them. Neither of them had good role models.
Speaking of role models, (or lack there of), Kaz and Arabella not only have to figure out their feelings for each other, but work through their ambivalent feelings for his mother and her father. Abusive parenting doesn’t even begin to describe what was done to Kaz and Arabella. I wasn’t satisfied at all with what went down, but it’s a sore subject for me. Moving on.
Arabella and Kazimir are fighting their feelings for each other, fighting an ancient evil, fighting for control of the kingdom of Solandris, all while trying to maintain control of the Heirloom of Dominion. There’s no way they can handle anything else, right? WRONG! Several metaphorical grenades get lobbed their way while I read on in shock, but never felt like too much was going on. There was a lot of action, but I never felt lost or confused. I live for the chaos!
One thing is for sure: Kazimir and Arabella have the worst luck. They make plans, set them in motion, then usually watch as they fall apart. Thankfully, Kazimir’s trusted advisors are there to help. Griffin is his bumbling enchanter who is like a pyromaniac child with ADHD. Vex is Kaz’s loyal steward and day one ride-or-die, and Thorne is the stoic security chief that tries not to show how much he cares. Learning more about them felt important to the plot, and the witty banter between all of the characters had me laughing throughout the book! I love how they become more like family once Arabella enters the picture.
The spicy scenes are maybe a three out of five on the spice-o-meter. They’re enjoyable, sexy, sometimes silly, but there were a few times I was begging them to take a shower! We all have our preferences. Mine is timing. I hope I’m not the only one. I can’t say more than that without spoiling anything.
Did I mention there’s a dragon? THERE IS A DRAGON! Okay, we knew that from book one, but now we get A LOT more of Nyx, and I am so thrilled! I wanted a dragon as a kid, as all badass kids do, but obviously I never got one. Luckily, there are badass authors who write about dragons so we can read about them til our heart’s content. Nyx isn’t only freakin’ adorable, (according to my imagination and a decent description), but intuitive, intelligent, protective, and very HUNGRY. I kept hoping for a huge growth spurt for her so we could find out what magic she posses, but it didn’t quite happen. (Kaz is the king of husbands for gifting his lady a dragon!)
The book didn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger; some things got resolved, but others didn’t. That could only mean one thing: BOOK THREE!! I am praying to the book gods and goddesses to bless author Tiffany Hunt with speed in writing, and patience for her readers! I already preordered the book and audiobook for an immersive reading experience. I hope you love this book as much as I do!
Kazamir and Arabella are the main protagonists of the story. (If you don’t already know this, go read book one and come back). They are STILL doing that thing where their actions are screaming “I LOVE YOU” but their mouths refuse to say those three little words. Honestly, I was frustrated off and on, waiting for them to tell each other what they felt, but understood that giving love and being loved is something new to them. Neither of them had good role models.
Speaking of role models, (or lack there of), Kaz and Arabella not only have to figure out their feelings for each other, but work through their ambivalent feelings for his mother and her father. Abusive parenting doesn’t even begin to describe what was done to Kaz and Arabella. I wasn’t satisfied at all with what went down, but it’s a sore subject for me. Moving on.
Arabella and Kazimir are fighting their feelings for each other, fighting an ancient evil, fighting for control of the kingdom of Solandris, all while trying to maintain control of the Heirloom of Dominion. There’s no way they can handle anything else, right? WRONG! Several metaphorical grenades get lobbed their way while I read on in shock, but never felt like too much was going on. There was a lot of action, but I never felt lost or confused. I live for the chaos!
One thing is for sure: Kazimir and Arabella have the worst luck. They make plans, set them in motion, then usually watch as they fall apart. Thankfully, Kazimir’s trusted advisors are there to help. Griffin is his bumbling enchanter who is like a pyromaniac child with ADHD. Vex is Kaz’s loyal steward and day one ride-or-die, and Thorne is the stoic security chief that tries not to show how much he cares. Learning more about them felt important to the plot, and the witty banter between all of the characters had me laughing throughout the book! I love how they become more like family once Arabella enters the picture.
The spicy scenes are maybe a three out of five on the spice-o-meter. They’re enjoyable, sexy, sometimes silly, but there were a few times I was begging them to take a shower! We all have our preferences. Mine is timing. I hope I’m not the only one. I can’t say more than that without spoiling anything.
Did I mention there’s a dragon? THERE IS A DRAGON! Okay, we knew that from book one, but now we get A LOT more of Nyx, and I am so thrilled! I wanted a dragon as a kid, as all badass kids do, but obviously I never got one. Luckily, there are badass authors who write about dragons so we can read about them til our heart’s content. Nyx isn’t only freakin’ adorable, (according to my imagination and a decent description), but intuitive, intelligent, protective, and very HUNGRY. I kept hoping for a huge growth spurt for her so we could find out what magic she posses, but it didn’t quite happen. (Kaz is the king of husbands for gifting his lady a dragon!)
The book didn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger; some things got resolved, but others didn’t. That could only mean one thing: BOOK THREE!! I am praying to the book gods and goddesses to bless author Tiffany Hunt with speed in writing, and patience for her readers! I already preordered the book and audiobook for an immersive reading experience. I hope you love this book as much as I do!
Want to Read
July 6, 2026🖤 The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) 🖤
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Villain Romance
• Married Couple
• Honeymoon Adventure
• Found Family
• Dark Humor
• Demonic Magic
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Scarlett Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Villain Romance
• Married Couple
• Honeymoon Adventure
• Found Family
• Dark Humor
• Demonic Magic
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Scarlett Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
September 21, 2026
dnf @ 63%
listen…… I really had such a good time with the first book but it is taking me FOREVER to get through this one. I feel like we might be missing the plot ? I really love Arabella & Kazamir’s humor and banter but I can’t justify spending close to 700 pages on this story with it going no where. This one just didn't hit the mark for me which I am so sad about!
listen…… I really had such a good time with the first book but it is taking me FOREVER to get through this one. I feel like we might be missing the plot ? I really love Arabella & Kazamir’s humor and banter but I can’t justify spending close to 700 pages on this story with it going no where. This one just didn't hit the mark for me which I am so sad about!
September 8, 2026
This was even more ridiculous than the first one (complimentary).
What do you get when you combine:
- A pragmatic queen with a dangerous power melted into her actual skull
- A scone baker Lord on the run who talks to plants and speaks exclusively in rhymes (due to a curse)
- An enchanter engineer who accidentally blows everything up and trips over his own feet
- A bratty teenage shadow dragon throwing tantrums & eating people when she doesn’t get her way
- And a melodramatic dark lord who truly is on his last fucking straw
Idk the answer but you get a FUN TIME and the cutest found family ever!!!!
Somehow these books are equal parts humor, drama and ridiculousness combined with fantasy, high stakes, and to-die-for romance.
(No but seriously Arabella and Kazimir go 3 chapters without going to pound town challenge: FAILED. I’ll give them a pass because it is their honeymoon, of course).
Tiffany Hunt is truly a TOP TIER comedian. I highlight the hell out of this book and laugh the entire time. Once again I have to talk about the hilarious chapter titles:
- Try Diplomacy First (Just Kidding, Kill Everyone Who Saw You)
- Receive Therapy from Your Minions (Rock Bottom Looks Like This)
- Defend What’s Yours (Also Known as “Oops”)
- Share Your Trauma (It’s Called Emotional Availability, Apparently)
Did it really have to be 700 pages? No it did not.
Did I read every single page anyway with a smile? Yes I did.
Will I be reading the sequel even if it’s 1000 pages? 100% immediately yes.
I am the target audience always and forever.
Thanks to Scarlett Press & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.
What do you get when you combine:
- A pragmatic queen with a dangerous power melted into her actual skull
- A scone baker Lord on the run who talks to plants and speaks exclusively in rhymes (due to a curse)
- An enchanter engineer who accidentally blows everything up and trips over his own feet
- A bratty teenage shadow dragon throwing tantrums & eating people when she doesn’t get her way
- And a melodramatic dark lord who truly is on his last fucking straw
Idk the answer but you get a FUN TIME and the cutest found family ever!!!!
Somehow these books are equal parts humor, drama and ridiculousness combined with fantasy, high stakes, and to-die-for romance.
(No but seriously Arabella and Kazimir go 3 chapters without going to pound town challenge: FAILED. I’ll give them a pass because it is their honeymoon, of course).
Tiffany Hunt is truly a TOP TIER comedian. I highlight the hell out of this book and laugh the entire time. Once again I have to talk about the hilarious chapter titles:
- Try Diplomacy First (Just Kidding, Kill Everyone Who Saw You)
- Receive Therapy from Your Minions (Rock Bottom Looks Like This)
- Defend What’s Yours (Also Known as “Oops”)
- Share Your Trauma (It’s Called Emotional Availability, Apparently)
Did it really have to be 700 pages? No it did not.
Did I read every single page anyway with a smile? Yes I did.
Will I be reading the sequel even if it’s 1000 pages? 100% immediately yes.
I am the target audience always and forever.
Thanks to Scarlett Press & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.
September 25, 2026
I loved the dark, absurd humor in this one. Somehow we have a plan to capture Solembria and take down a corrupt king while also dealing with relationships, identity, and a found family of people who are just trying to make all of this work somehow.
One of the things I really liked was the theme of loving someone even when they aren't quite themselves. The Shadow Lord situation brings up that question of how well you can know someone and whether you can still love them while they're struggling. This was mirrored some in the FMC recovering memory and still figuring out who they are. There's also a bigger theme of discovering who you are and what you're actually capable of when you get the chance to step outside the role you've been given.
The found-family aspect was another favorite. They're all a little chaotic, but they keep choosing each other and figuring out how to make things work despite everything going completely off the rails.
Sebastian was also an interesting new addition, and I'm definitely curious to see where his story goes in the next book.
One of the things I really liked was the theme of loving someone even when they aren't quite themselves. The Shadow Lord situation brings up that question of how well you can know someone and whether you can still love them while they're struggling. This was mirrored some in the FMC recovering memory and still figuring out who they are. There's also a bigger theme of discovering who you are and what you're actually capable of when you get the chance to step outside the role you've been given.
The found-family aspect was another favorite. They're all a little chaotic, but they keep choosing each other and figuring out how to make things work despite everything going completely off the rails.
Sebastian was also an interesting new addition, and I'm definitely curious to see where his story goes in the next book.
August 14, 2026
I absolutely loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating and this sequel absolutely lived up to the first! It's funny, the world building is immense, and the romance mixed together with the plot is so satisfying. One of my favorite things about this series is how it continues to make me laugh out loud, the banter between the characters always hits and never feels forced.
The plot in The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning takes off immediately! Kaz wants to take over Solandris but things aren't as easy as they appear to be. While on a quest set forth by the Alchemist, Kaz and Arabella deal with relationship issues, assassination attempts, and kidnappings.
Arabella is one of my favorite FMCs, she is the strong one in this relationship, no matter what Kaz thinks. I love that she has really come into her own, she's embraced her darker side and I love seeing her defend her husband and her home. Kaz is this grouchy man who thinks he's so bad but secretly just loves his wife and wants her to be happy but also he's kinda mean to her because he doesn't know what to do with all his feelings. I adore watching their relationship grow as they each come to realize that they love each other.
We get introduced to Sebastian fairly early on and I love him. I want him to bake me scones and bring me flowers all day. He is such a good guy and he brought so much humor and heart into a story that was getting darker and darker. The found family has me rooting for everyone,
The ending had SO MUCH going on and the cliffhanger is brutal, I need book 3 immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and Scarlett Press for the advanced copy for my review.
The plot in The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning takes off immediately! Kaz wants to take over Solandris but things aren't as easy as they appear to be. While on a quest set forth by the Alchemist, Kaz and Arabella deal with relationship issues, assassination attempts, and kidnappings.
Arabella is one of my favorite FMCs, she is the strong one in this relationship, no matter what Kaz thinks. I love that she has really come into her own, she's embraced her darker side and I love seeing her defend her husband and her home. Kaz is this grouchy man who thinks he's so bad but secretly just loves his wife and wants her to be happy but also he's kinda mean to her because he doesn't know what to do with all his feelings. I adore watching their relationship grow as they each come to realize that they love each other.
We get introduced to Sebastian fairly early on and I love him. I want him to bake me scones and bring me flowers all day. He is such a good guy and he brought so much humor and heart into a story that was getting darker and darker. The found family has me rooting for everyone,
The ending had SO MUCH going on and the cliffhanger is brutal, I need book 3 immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and Scarlett Press for the advanced copy for my review.
July 15, 2026
4 ⭐️
This series is just so much fun and the sequel really stepped it up a notch from the first book. Everything that was good in Dating was amplified in Honeymooning.
We got to see the side characters sooo much more, they really made the whole book so enjoyable. I am obsessed with Sebastian. The humor was fine-tuned and I was laughing out loud nearly every page. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat, there was so much action, travel and increased magic at every turn. I was also theorizing like crazy. The author drops little hints nearly every page and I’m not sure if I’m delusional and making things up, or if all my theories are going to come true.
I did think the first book was too long but this one felt very justified in its length with how much was going on and the faster pace. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one.
Thank you to Scarlett Press for an advanced copy.
This series is just so much fun and the sequel really stepped it up a notch from the first book. Everything that was good in Dating was amplified in Honeymooning.
We got to see the side characters sooo much more, they really made the whole book so enjoyable. I am obsessed with Sebastian. The humor was fine-tuned and I was laughing out loud nearly every page. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat, there was so much action, travel and increased magic at every turn. I was also theorizing like crazy. The author drops little hints nearly every page and I’m not sure if I’m delusional and making things up, or if all my theories are going to come true.
I did think the first book was too long but this one felt very justified in its length with how much was going on and the faster pace. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one.
Thank you to Scarlett Press for an advanced copy.
July 9, 2026
I don't know where to start. The book's plot was interesting and the spice is great. But the book is about 400 pages too long. Everything is explained in such meticulous detail, there is so much repetitiveness. I kept putting it down and truly almost DNF it about 50 times and as early as 10% of the way in. Overall, I'm just glad to be done with the book.
September 23, 2026
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Saga Press for providing me a copy of the ebook.
An enjoyable follow-up to the first book! Has the same good humor and I enjoyed the expansion of the roles of the side characters and that there was greater exploration of the broader world. The plot is a little loosey-goosey. It felt a lot like reading a series of connected vignettes rather than a straightforward linear plot. Even though the world building expanded, the overall world of this book still felt quite small. We don't learn as much about other kingdoms as I would have liked. This is also too long. Given the loose plot, this did not need to be nearly 700 pages. This needed one more editing pass to trim a bit of the fat. I had a hard time getting through the last 20% because it felt so drawn out. The major relationship conflict centers almost entirely around a failure to communicate that wasn't justified by the characterization sufficiently. Because of that, I was a bit annoyed. Any time the plot would basically end if a single conversation occurred, it's hard for me to stay engaged.
I believe this is a trilogy and I will finish this but I'm not dying for the last book.
An enjoyable follow-up to the first book! Has the same good humor and I enjoyed the expansion of the roles of the side characters and that there was greater exploration of the broader world. The plot is a little loosey-goosey. It felt a lot like reading a series of connected vignettes rather than a straightforward linear plot. Even though the world building expanded, the overall world of this book still felt quite small. We don't learn as much about other kingdoms as I would have liked. This is also too long. Given the loose plot, this did not need to be nearly 700 pages. This needed one more editing pass to trim a bit of the fat. I had a hard time getting through the last 20% because it felt so drawn out. The major relationship conflict centers almost entirely around a failure to communicate that wasn't justified by the characterization sufficiently. Because of that, I was a bit annoyed. Any time the plot would basically end if a single conversation occurred, it's hard for me to stay engaged.
I believe this is a trilogy and I will finish this but I'm not dying for the last book.
September 18, 2026
When I say I loooved the first in this series…. I would say it was one of my favs of last year. This one was definitely good don’t get me wrong. But I just felt a little disconnected in this one. I will be continuing the series but I’m hoping the next one is better. Granted Sebastian is fun and I can’t wait to see his story.
Did Not Finish
September 23, 2026DNF @30%
I don't feel attached to any of these characters, nor do I care about the plot.
I don't feel attached to any of these characters, nor do I care about the plot.
September 15, 2026
Thank you Podium for the ALC and Scarlett Press for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
Reading Format: Immersive (ALC + ARC eBook) 🎧📖
Audiobook Production: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
I really wanted to like this book because I enjoyed the first one so much, but this book just put me in a reading slump here I had to drag myself to the finish line. 😭 So many pages and yet I felt like we just kept going in circles instead of actually progressing any of the plot. The end then felt very rushed and left on another cliffhanger. I love the chemistry and romance between Kazimir and Arabella. I love the humor mixed in. I just don't think this book should have been 688 pages.
Reading Format: Immersive (ALC + ARC eBook) 🎧📖
Audiobook Production: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
I really wanted to like this book because I enjoyed the first one so much, but this book just put me in a reading slump here I had to drag myself to the finish line. 😭 So many pages and yet I felt like we just kept going in circles instead of actually progressing any of the plot. The end then felt very rushed and left on another cliffhanger. I love the chemistry and romance between Kazimir and Arabella. I love the humor mixed in. I just don't think this book should have been 688 pages.
September 6, 2026
I am always so torn about these books and this series. On one hand I really like the humor and the core of Arabella and Kaz’s romance, but on the other, the plot is convoluted and the story just far longer than it needs to be.
Tiffany Hunt continues to make me laugh in a sequel that is just as dry and wry and witty as the first. I love the chapter titles (and their sarcastic parenthetical asides); I love the elaborate and hilarious villainous descriptions. The banter and jokes between the characters are also charming and genuinely funny—making their bond believable and easy to root for.
And none more so than Arabella and Kaz’s love—yes, love. The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning does what I think a sequel to a romance needs to do: it made me believe in the foundation and devotion already established in book one, but it also built on it even more with new challenges. By the end of this book, I am fully convinced that they are even more in love than they were at the start. And their romance continues to be enchanting, thrilling, and truly supportive. Despite all the villainy, what they have between them is pure. And the sacrifices that they’ve made both reflect and bolster the depth of their feelings.
The only thing that I didn’t enjoy about the romance, and I think this is due to one of my bigger gripes with this book, is that there is a miscommunication trope that goes on for far too long because there is just never time for them to speak. The plot breaks out into so many tangents that loop right back to where they started, making them feel extraneous or at least not worth the hundred or so pages of side questing. There were so many subplots that could have been completely cut or significantly shortened. This book runs over 650 pages, and it really doesn’t need to.
I think I would have enjoyed this book significantly more if it was pithy joke, significant plot point, emotional conversation between Arabella and Kaz, in quick succession and all within a snappy formula. There were points in the final third of the story where I was skimming chapters, because I didn’t need another aside or observation, I just needed to know what was going to happen as the action ramped up.
This is a story, and series, that I really enjoy the bones of. When it's just Arabella and Kaz learning to trust each other while facing their trauma and a found family of villains trying their best (worst) to save the world, this book really works. Especially with the humor and commentary and ridiculous scenarios sprinkled in. But all of the unnecessary mishaps and chapters following minute detail leading up to what truly matters weighs down the plot and muddles what could be a really crisp, focused book.
This is one I would recommend if you like your world-ending doom and danger with a side of sarcasm and satire—and don't mind a little chaos along the way. But if you don’t like side plots, if you just want to get to what is happening without entertaining but ultimately fruitless detours, this one might prove a bit too long.
﹙ three stars ﹚
— thank you scarlett press for the e-arc via netgalley and the gifted copy!
Tiffany Hunt continues to make me laugh in a sequel that is just as dry and wry and witty as the first. I love the chapter titles (and their sarcastic parenthetical asides); I love the elaborate and hilarious villainous descriptions. The banter and jokes between the characters are also charming and genuinely funny—making their bond believable and easy to root for.
And none more so than Arabella and Kaz’s love—yes, love. The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning does what I think a sequel to a romance needs to do: it made me believe in the foundation and devotion already established in book one, but it also built on it even more with new challenges. By the end of this book, I am fully convinced that they are even more in love than they were at the start. And their romance continues to be enchanting, thrilling, and truly supportive. Despite all the villainy, what they have between them is pure. And the sacrifices that they’ve made both reflect and bolster the depth of their feelings.
The only thing that I didn’t enjoy about the romance, and I think this is due to one of my bigger gripes with this book, is that there is a miscommunication trope that goes on for far too long because there is just never time for them to speak. The plot breaks out into so many tangents that loop right back to where they started, making them feel extraneous or at least not worth the hundred or so pages of side questing. There were so many subplots that could have been completely cut or significantly shortened. This book runs over 650 pages, and it really doesn’t need to.
I think I would have enjoyed this book significantly more if it was pithy joke, significant plot point, emotional conversation between Arabella and Kaz, in quick succession and all within a snappy formula. There were points in the final third of the story where I was skimming chapters, because I didn’t need another aside or observation, I just needed to know what was going to happen as the action ramped up.
This is a story, and series, that I really enjoy the bones of. When it's just Arabella and Kaz learning to trust each other while facing their trauma and a found family of villains trying their best (worst) to save the world, this book really works. Especially with the humor and commentary and ridiculous scenarios sprinkled in. But all of the unnecessary mishaps and chapters following minute detail leading up to what truly matters weighs down the plot and muddles what could be a really crisp, focused book.
This is one I would recommend if you like your world-ending doom and danger with a side of sarcasm and satire—and don't mind a little chaos along the way. But if you don’t like side plots, if you just want to get to what is happening without entertaining but ultimately fruitless detours, this one might prove a bit too long.
﹙ three stars ﹚
— thank you scarlett press for the e-arc via netgalley and the gifted copy!
August 21, 2026
4.5/5
Thank you @podiumentertainment @scarlettpress.us #partner for the gifted copy of this book!
This is how you do a sequel friends! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I absolutely loved The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating, so I was VERY curious to see if book two could live up to it...and I think this was the perfect continuation of the series.
I started this one reading the eARC, but then my friends at @podiumentertainment came in clutch and sent me the audiobook and I switched over to audio for the rest. The narrators were really good and I just feel like Anthony Palmini and Rachel Leblang brought that witty and fun vibe to these characters! 🎧🖤
I think I love most about this series is the freakin humor. It is hilarious! Usually fantasy can be so serious. This one does have it’s epic quests and dark magic but it keeps me laughing the whole way through! Tiffany has written this ridiculously witty dialogue with lots of sarcasm and some pretty epic banter! It kind of just feels like a breath of fresh air!
This book was a great continuation with the character development. I liked watching them continue to evolve while the worked through their own issues. There is plenty of adventure and high stakes in this one. There was lots of stress and chaotic moments but I ate all of it up. This one was very long and even though I think it could have been a tad shorter I flew through it because I needed to know all those details that I can’t tell you about. HAHA. I will say though by the end I was basically holding my breath because things got intense.
This was really a perfect sequel. Lots of humor and the characters that I fell in love with in the first book just got better! Super excited to see what comes next!
Thank you @podiumentertainment @scarlettpress.us #partner for the gifted copy of this book!
This is how you do a sequel friends! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I absolutely loved The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating, so I was VERY curious to see if book two could live up to it...and I think this was the perfect continuation of the series.
I started this one reading the eARC, but then my friends at @podiumentertainment came in clutch and sent me the audiobook and I switched over to audio for the rest. The narrators were really good and I just feel like Anthony Palmini and Rachel Leblang brought that witty and fun vibe to these characters! 🎧🖤
I think I love most about this series is the freakin humor. It is hilarious! Usually fantasy can be so serious. This one does have it’s epic quests and dark magic but it keeps me laughing the whole way through! Tiffany has written this ridiculously witty dialogue with lots of sarcasm and some pretty epic banter! It kind of just feels like a breath of fresh air!
This book was a great continuation with the character development. I liked watching them continue to evolve while the worked through their own issues. There is plenty of adventure and high stakes in this one. There was lots of stress and chaotic moments but I ate all of it up. This one was very long and even though I think it could have been a tad shorter I flew through it because I needed to know all those details that I can’t tell you about. HAHA. I will say though by the end I was basically holding my breath because things got intense.
This was really a perfect sequel. Lots of humor and the characters that I fell in love with in the first book just got better! Super excited to see what comes next!
September 9, 2026
The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning
From the get go, this story was just as dark and hilarious as the first! A LOT happens in this story, and it is long, but the spice, comedy, and gore maintain throughout. What I love about this book is that Arabella is just as strong and morally grey as Kazimir. And while Kazimir definitely has a touch her and die attitude, Arabella will burn the world down to save Kazimir, and THAT is what I love. There are so many good characters in this story, with the new addition to the Dark Lord's team, Sebastian, another heroic bloodline and also a childhood friend of Arabella. He has an affinity for plant life, and makes the best pastries! I love that Griffin has a major crush on Sebastian from the start. And oh Griffin, back to his usual antics, possibly causing explosions wherever he goes.
When the Alchemist requests their presence, Arabella decides it is a perfect opportunity to take a honeymoon. Things start to go wrong as soon as they arrive at the syndicate's stronghold, built inside the corpse of a forgotten god. Still on the hunt for Pip who betrayed them in book 1, and trying to navigate a new and sinister dark creature, Arabella and Kazimir are out for a great time. Every chapter is full of dark comedy, and so much action. Kazimir is hiding something from Arabella, something that could alter the world as they know it. What he doesn't realize, is that Arabella already suspects what is going on, but also keeps her knowledge to herself.
I love how Kazimir and Arabella have truly fallen in love with each other, but both being the villains that they are, refuse to admit or acknowledge such feelings. Arabella is amazing, and possibly an even more powerful character than Kazimir, which mostly turns him on.
With non-stop action, spice, and plans that seem to go wrong, I couldn't put this one down! I feel like something might be brewing between Sebastian and Vex, and hope to see more of that in the next book!
Thank you so much to Scarlett Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"The first sign that things weren’t going to plan was the lack of screaming."
"“Poor villain.” Arabella’s hazel eyes sparkled with mischief. “All dressed up for conquest with no one to conquer.” "
"And soon, she’d be able to fly into battle. The vision of my brilliant, ruthless wife swooping down to obliterate our foes sent such an immediate surge of desire through me that I shifted in my saddle."
"Nothing said “welcome to the villain’s camp” like a dragon devouring human remains."
"Gods, we were both terrible people—flirting in the middle of a massacre we’d orchestrated."
"“You know what this is?” “A clusterfuck?” “A honeymoon.” Her smile was wicked as she moved closer. "
"This was about need, pure and simple. The need to claim and be claimed, to lose ourselves in something that made sense when nothing else did."
"“We haven’t done a proper sacrifice in ages,” Griffin added wistfully."
"Because that’s what you did when you loved someone. You stood over their body on a battlefield and commanded an undead monstrosity while your dragon ate your enemies."
"“I should go bake something. It helps with near-death experiences.”"
From the get go, this story was just as dark and hilarious as the first! A LOT happens in this story, and it is long, but the spice, comedy, and gore maintain throughout. What I love about this book is that Arabella is just as strong and morally grey as Kazimir. And while Kazimir definitely has a touch her and die attitude, Arabella will burn the world down to save Kazimir, and THAT is what I love. There are so many good characters in this story, with the new addition to the Dark Lord's team, Sebastian, another heroic bloodline and also a childhood friend of Arabella. He has an affinity for plant life, and makes the best pastries! I love that Griffin has a major crush on Sebastian from the start. And oh Griffin, back to his usual antics, possibly causing explosions wherever he goes.
When the Alchemist requests their presence, Arabella decides it is a perfect opportunity to take a honeymoon. Things start to go wrong as soon as they arrive at the syndicate's stronghold, built inside the corpse of a forgotten god. Still on the hunt for Pip who betrayed them in book 1, and trying to navigate a new and sinister dark creature, Arabella and Kazimir are out for a great time. Every chapter is full of dark comedy, and so much action. Kazimir is hiding something from Arabella, something that could alter the world as they know it. What he doesn't realize, is that Arabella already suspects what is going on, but also keeps her knowledge to herself.
I love how Kazimir and Arabella have truly fallen in love with each other, but both being the villains that they are, refuse to admit or acknowledge such feelings. Arabella is amazing, and possibly an even more powerful character than Kazimir, which mostly turns him on.
With non-stop action, spice, and plans that seem to go wrong, I couldn't put this one down! I feel like something might be brewing between Sebastian and Vex, and hope to see more of that in the next book!
Thank you so much to Scarlett Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"The first sign that things weren’t going to plan was the lack of screaming."
"“Poor villain.” Arabella’s hazel eyes sparkled with mischief. “All dressed up for conquest with no one to conquer.” "
"And soon, she’d be able to fly into battle. The vision of my brilliant, ruthless wife swooping down to obliterate our foes sent such an immediate surge of desire through me that I shifted in my saddle."
"Nothing said “welcome to the villain’s camp” like a dragon devouring human remains."
"Gods, we were both terrible people—flirting in the middle of a massacre we’d orchestrated."
"“You know what this is?” “A clusterfuck?” “A honeymoon.” Her smile was wicked as she moved closer. "
"This was about need, pure and simple. The need to claim and be claimed, to lose ourselves in something that made sense when nothing else did."
"“We haven’t done a proper sacrifice in ages,” Griffin added wistfully."
"Because that’s what you did when you loved someone. You stood over their body on a battlefield and commanded an undead monstrosity while your dragon ate your enemies."
"“I should go bake something. It helps with near-death experiences.”"
September 11, 2026
Thank you to Tiffany Hunter and Scarlett Press for the review copy in exchange for a voluntary review. I love this series! This is the second book and picks up right where the other left off. The villainous couple goes on a honeymoon that has everything possible happen and all go wrong. I love this take on the dark fantasy genre. Kazimer and Arabella are fighting their feelings for each other still. Shout out to chapter 39’s title. They are getting used to Heirloom of Dominion working with both of their powers. The book is pure chaos with so much happening. The couple try so hard and can just not get a break. Now that Arabella is part of Kazimer’s group, there is a found family element filled with banter. I love that they are villans and they stay that way, although they are extremely lovable villans. This has all the elements of fantasy that I love like action and fantastic world building with characters you love but it has a dark cynical humor to it. The ending leaves some open questions for the next book but I still feel satisfied with this book’s conclusion. This would have been a 5 star read but there were times that I felt the book was a bit too long. I still enjoyed it though. It’s such a unique and fresh way to read dark fantasy. It’s serious at times but doesn’t take itself too serious. I totally recommend this series. You do have to read the first one though. Tropes: married couple, morally grey, villains romance, kidnapping, touch him/her and die, banter, found family, and spice.
September 9, 2026
I absolutely love their relationship. The internal struggle both of them have to express simple emotions is understandable and funny to watch the awkward ways they go about showing they care without saying those three little words. They do eventually voice their love for one another and I think it's done well. The devotion they have for each other is intense. They would both choose the other over the world. It's perfect for a villainous couple.
The found family of villains is great as always. The addition of Sebastian was adorable. Although I could see some tension there. I think it would be cute if Sebastian and Vex became a thing.
The blending of good and bad in order to defeat an even greater bad was wonderful. Although technically they didn't win (yet) they are all together and still alive.
Glad that Kaz got some closure with his mom.
So... What's with Vex's backstory? Who gave Arabella her memories back and why? And most importantly... What the fuck is the creature in the bowels of the citadel??
The found family of villains is great as always. The addition of Sebastian was adorable. Although I could see some tension there. I think it would be cute if Sebastian and Vex became a thing.
The blending of good and bad in order to defeat an even greater bad was wonderful. Although technically they didn't win (yet) they are all together and still alive.
Glad that Kaz got some closure with his mom.
So... What's with Vex's backstory? Who gave Arabella her memories back and why? And most importantly... What the fuck is the creature in the bowels of the citadel??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2026
The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (And Other Acts of Tyranny) was a wild ride. I love these characters, their quirky personalities, evil deeds, and their shenanigans are so fun. While I enjoyed this book overall, I feel that this book was very drawn out. I think this story would’ve flowed more smoothly and the pacing would’ve been more balanced if it had been more compressed.
By the last 20% of this book I was getting a little bored. It felt like the story would drag for a bit then get back on track then drag some more so it was a bit disappointing at times. However, there was a solid story, wonderful and lovable characters, and the good times outweighed the drag/not so good times.
If you read the first book and loved the characters, I think this is worth picking up. The humor, heart, fun, spice, and romance are all here! It’s just a bit muddled sometimes.
By the last 20% of this book I was getting a little bored. It felt like the story would drag for a bit then get back on track then drag some more so it was a bit disappointing at times. However, there was a solid story, wonderful and lovable characters, and the good times outweighed the drag/not so good times.
If you read the first book and loved the characters, I think this is worth picking up. The humor, heart, fun, spice, and romance are all here! It’s just a bit muddled sometimes.
September 25, 2026
Wowwww!!!! Just wow wanna talk about shadow daddies and epic spicy scenes!!! This is it. This book is so hard to put down and all I wanted to do was finish it and know the ending… epic ending with the best line up for another book
October 1, 2026
3/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️
I LOVED book 1. This one feel flat for me. Bummer because it was a long book. Too long, in fact.
1.5/5 🌶️
I LOVED book 1. This one feel flat for me. Bummer because it was a long book. Too long, in fact.
July 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Still gave me all the Assistant To The Villain vibes, it is a touch long though. I think 100 pages less would have been ideal.
The storyline of Kaz and the Shadow King was a really interesting twist and I liked the character development, including the introduction of the Scone Lord.
Overall a good book, and I’ll be reading the next one when it comes out for sure!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Scarlett Press, and Tiffany Hunt for the eARC, all opinions are my own!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Still gave me all the Assistant To The Villain vibes, it is a touch long though. I think 100 pages less would have been ideal.
The storyline of Kaz and the Shadow King was a really interesting twist and I liked the character development, including the introduction of the Scone Lord.
Overall a good book, and I’ll be reading the next one when it comes out for sure!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Scarlett Press, and Tiffany Hunt for the eARC, all opinions are my own!
Want to Read
April 6, 2026I loved the first book. I need book two like yesterday!!
September 21, 2026
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and am honored to share this completely honest review!
I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) just as much as I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)!
This book is funny, dark, entertaining, and spicy! It's the perfect balance of all of these elements making it a truly fun read that you won't want to put down!
Along with the beloved found family from the first book, I loved the introduction of a certain scone-baking hero! He along with some other characters were great additions to this book and the series overall.
While the ending solves most of the problems our villains were facing, it does end on a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to book 3! There's no title or release date yet, this book just came out, but I'm already excited for it!
Here's more of what to expect!
💖 All the Entertaining Banter
✨️ Everyone's Morally Grey!
🧪 Honeymoon Gone Wrong
💖 Epic Settings and World-building
✨️ Mass Kịdnªppịngs
🧪 Larger than Life Monsters
💖 Battles and War
I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) just as much as I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)!
This book is funny, dark, entertaining, and spicy! It's the perfect balance of all of these elements making it a truly fun read that you won't want to put down!
Along with the beloved found family from the first book, I loved the introduction of a certain scone-baking hero! He along with some other characters were great additions to this book and the series overall.
While the ending solves most of the problems our villains were facing, it does end on a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to book 3! There's no title or release date yet, this book just came out, but I'm already excited for it!
Here's more of what to expect!
💖 All the Entertaining Banter
✨️ Everyone's Morally Grey!
🧪 Honeymoon Gone Wrong
💖 Epic Settings and World-building
✨️ Mass Kịdnªppịngs
🧪 Larger than Life Monsters
💖 Battles and War
I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) just as much as I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)!
This book is funny, dark, entertaining, and spicy! It's the perfect balance of all of these elements making it a truly fun read that you won't want to put down!
Along with the beloved found family from the first book, I loved the introduction of a certain scone-baking hero! He along with some other characters were great additions to this book and the series overall.
While the ending solves most of the problems our villains were facing, it does end on a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to book 3! There's no title or release date yet, this book just came out, but I'm already excited for it!
Here's more of what to expect!
💖 All the Entertaining Banter
✨️ Everyone's Morally Grey!
🧪 Honeymoon Gone Wrong
💖 Epic Settings and World-building
✨️ Mass Kịdnªppịngs
🧪 Larger than Life Monsters
💖 Battles and War
I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) just as much as I loved The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)!
This book is funny, dark, entertaining, and spicy! It's the perfect balance of all of these elements making it a truly fun read that you won't want to put down!
Along with the beloved found family from the first book, I loved the introduction of a certain scone-baking hero! He along with some other characters were great additions to this book and the series overall.
While the ending solves most of the problems our villains were facing, it does end on a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to book 3! There's no title or release date yet, this book just came out, but I'm already excited for it!
Here's more of what to expect!
💖 All the Entertaining Banter
✨️ Everyone's Morally Grey!
🧪 Honeymoon Gone Wrong
💖 Epic Settings and World-building
✨️ Mass Kịdnªppịngs
🧪 Larger than Life Monsters
💖 Battles and War
September 21, 2026
We need to talk about Tiffany and her "Guides to Villanry and Love" series.
I am not usually one to request a sequel on netgalley before reading the first book but I just knew. Knew deep in my bones, in the fragments of my soul that I was going to love this series and I was right!
As you may know, I love a morally grey man, now give me a morally grey ensemble and I'm sat!
Now let's talk about the book...
It was the most fun I've had reading. The relationships between the inner circle was such a heartwarming, chaos inducing mess but I loved every second of it. I loved learning more about our side villians and hope that the next book shares more about their personal journeys. I need more! I need more Vex, like a whole book on Vex. And Throne, he gives off huge Azriel, Be careful how you speak about my High Lady" vibes.
Kazimir and Arabella truly are dark couple goals. They are very much the touch her/him and die trope and I'm here for it. The chemistry is electric. The spice is spicy. The side quest juxtaposition was entertaining and spoke alot about how Kazimir and Arabella present and see themselves.
Also, I loved the new characters and I know y'all are going to love them. I don't want to give too much away cause I know some friends on here plan on reading book 2 so I will leave you with this. There's a dragon! And a new bombshell is entering the villa. Expect chaos, expect darkness, and have so much fun.
Spoilersssss!
A little bit of spoiler. I give this book 5 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. My one qualms is the miscommunication trope. And its not even miscommunication and lack of communication like cmon. If my husband was being taken over by an eviler entity that not something I would let him figure out on his own. The whole book I just want to lock them in a room together, no sex, just talk. How are you suppose to conquer the world together if yall cant conquer communication.
But again. I loved it. It was fun. Miscommunication is not fun.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Scarlett Press and Tiffany Hunt for a eARC of own of my favorite series
I am not usually one to request a sequel on netgalley before reading the first book but I just knew. Knew deep in my bones, in the fragments of my soul that I was going to love this series and I was right!
As you may know, I love a morally grey man, now give me a morally grey ensemble and I'm sat!
Now let's talk about the book...
It was the most fun I've had reading. The relationships between the inner circle was such a heartwarming, chaos inducing mess but I loved every second of it. I loved learning more about our side villians and hope that the next book shares more about their personal journeys. I need more! I need more Vex, like a whole book on Vex. And Throne, he gives off huge Azriel, Be careful how you speak about my High Lady" vibes.
Kazimir and Arabella truly are dark couple goals. They are very much the touch her/him and die trope and I'm here for it. The chemistry is electric. The spice is spicy. The side quest juxtaposition was entertaining and spoke alot about how Kazimir and Arabella present and see themselves.
Also, I loved the new characters and I know y'all are going to love them. I don't want to give too much away cause I know some friends on here plan on reading book 2 so I will leave you with this. There's a dragon! And a new bombshell is entering the villa. Expect chaos, expect darkness, and have so much fun.
Spoilersssss!
A little bit of spoiler. I give this book 5 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. My one qualms is the miscommunication trope. And its not even miscommunication and lack of communication like cmon. If my husband was being taken over by an eviler entity that not something I would let him figure out on his own. The whole book I just want to lock them in a room together, no sex, just talk. How are you suppose to conquer the world together if yall cant conquer communication.
But again. I loved it. It was fun. Miscommunication is not fun.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Scarlett Press and Tiffany Hunt for a eARC of own of my favorite series
September 15, 2026
First I want to say thank you so much to Netgalley and Tiffany Hunt for this ARC.
Short review:
2.5 stars.
I should’ve DNF but I didn’t. Once you get past all the nonsense, fluff and bad writing sections. There’s actually a good plot line behind it. But it didn’t really focus on the plot and move forward until like the last 25-30%.
Long review:
I was so excited for this book as I loved the first book. Dark lords guide to dating, it was funny but also had great plot, great purpose, forward momentum and villain that stays the villain. Not to mention the FMC, Arabella, being strong and powerful and accepting of her darker side. I was so excited to see how she would grow into this darker side of herself but still wanting to protect those she loved and cared about.
However this sequel was not it for me. If I didn’t receive this as an eARC I would have DNF’d the book around 40%. I owed it to myself and to everyone to finish the book. (Took about a month to finish)
Did this book have banter still? Yes.
Did it have funny moments? Yes.
Chapter titles? Hilarious.
Did this book have a lot of fluff and unnecessary scenes? Yes.
I love spicy in my books. I especially love it when a book has spicy and a great plot line. However the plot and the spice seemed to be acting as two different entities. They didn’t flow together. The book has alot of fluff added to it and not sure why. It doesn’t add anything to the plot and it didn’t add additional insight to any of the characters thoughts or actions. It seems like it was simply added to make the book longer. It made the pacing in the book so much slower which made it difficult to want to continue.
However, if you get rid of the fluff and clean up the plot a bit, the store line is actually quite good. The last 30% is where it finally picked up and became interesting again. I loved seeing Kaz learning to communicate and actually deeply care (dare I say love) for Arabella. He knew he needed her and he knew he needed his other closer advisors and friends to help him through this character journey. It was great to see his growth as a character. Him and Arabella had great growth overall, you just had to shift through all that extra and unnecessary fluff.
I still think Tiffany Hunt is a great writer. She should be proud of her stories. I will continue to read books by her when I have the time.
Short review:
2.5 stars.
I should’ve DNF but I didn’t. Once you get past all the nonsense, fluff and bad writing sections. There’s actually a good plot line behind it. But it didn’t really focus on the plot and move forward until like the last 25-30%.
Long review:
I was so excited for this book as I loved the first book. Dark lords guide to dating, it was funny but also had great plot, great purpose, forward momentum and villain that stays the villain. Not to mention the FMC, Arabella, being strong and powerful and accepting of her darker side. I was so excited to see how she would grow into this darker side of herself but still wanting to protect those she loved and cared about.
However this sequel was not it for me. If I didn’t receive this as an eARC I would have DNF’d the book around 40%. I owed it to myself and to everyone to finish the book. (Took about a month to finish)
Did this book have banter still? Yes.
Did it have funny moments? Yes.
Chapter titles? Hilarious.
Did this book have a lot of fluff and unnecessary scenes? Yes.
I love spicy in my books. I especially love it when a book has spicy and a great plot line. However the plot and the spice seemed to be acting as two different entities. They didn’t flow together. The book has alot of fluff added to it and not sure why. It doesn’t add anything to the plot and it didn’t add additional insight to any of the characters thoughts or actions. It seems like it was simply added to make the book longer. It made the pacing in the book so much slower which made it difficult to want to continue.
However, if you get rid of the fluff and clean up the plot a bit, the store line is actually quite good. The last 30% is where it finally picked up and became interesting again. I loved seeing Kaz learning to communicate and actually deeply care (dare I say love) for Arabella. He knew he needed her and he knew he needed his other closer advisors and friends to help him through this character journey. It was great to see his growth as a character. Him and Arabella had great growth overall, you just had to shift through all that extra and unnecessary fluff.
I still think Tiffany Hunt is a great writer. She should be proud of her stories. I will continue to read books by her when I have the time.
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