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Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Abandoning his days of beheading to live out an undercover retirement as a goat farmer, Morfran finds himself accidentally leading a rebellion against the kingdom’s Dark Lord, who, inconveniently, is him.
Morfran the Beheader is done being the Dark Lord of the kingdom of Ruthven. He’s tired of managing minions, and his wife, Queen Ravana, has officially exceeded his personal comfort level of evil. Yet when he books it for the hills with the hopes to live out his days disguised as a goat farmer, his aspirations are tragically cut short when Morfran’s former soldiers catch up with plans to behead him.
Morfran’s only chance at safety is to seek refuge within a tiny forest dwelling where no one recognizes him. But he quickly learns the village is the base for a brewing rebellion against his rule. And after he reluctantly saves said village from an attack, he’s voted the one to lead the charge. Against himself.
Morfran helps the rebels while planning to desert them at the soonest moment. But as he fights by their side, he discovers that they’re actually quite pleasant—especially the lovely assassin who has been out for his blood for a decade. Too bad Ravana has sent Morfran’s best men to nip the revolt in the bud, and too bad his unlikely allies would burn him alive if they learned he’s no hero, but actually their Dark Lord in disguise. Because even Morfran knows that only a hero would stand up to Ravana and fight for friends, and he’s certainly no hero.
Right?
Morfran the Beheader is done being the Dark Lord of the kingdom of Ruthven. He’s tired of managing minions, and his wife, Queen Ravana, has officially exceeded his personal comfort level of evil. Yet when he books it for the hills with the hopes to live out his days disguised as a goat farmer, his aspirations are tragically cut short when Morfran’s former soldiers catch up with plans to behead him.
Morfran’s only chance at safety is to seek refuge within a tiny forest dwelling where no one recognizes him. But he quickly learns the village is the base for a brewing rebellion against his rule. And after he reluctantly saves said village from an attack, he’s voted the one to lead the charge. Against himself.
Morfran helps the rebels while planning to desert them at the soonest moment. But as he fights by their side, he discovers that they’re actually quite pleasant—especially the lovely assassin who has been out for his blood for a decade. Too bad Ravana has sent Morfran’s best men to nip the revolt in the bud, and too bad his unlikely allies would burn him alive if they learned he’s no hero, but actually their Dark Lord in disguise. Because even Morfran knows that only a hero would stand up to Ravana and fight for friends, and he’s certainly no hero.
Right?
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
S.B. West
2 books38 followersStephanie B. West is a freelance reporter; author of Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 26, 2026
Normally I would support any fairytale villain in quitting their evil job and retiring in a cozy place, but Morfran here was really testing my patience. He is widely known as Dark Lord Morfran the Beheader, but now he ran away from his evil wife and starts a new life as Bernard the goat farmer. But before he can embrace this new way of living he gets captured and eventually joins the rebellion against the Dark Lord aka the rebellion against himself. It's a silly story with a humorous tone, but I was immediately not clicking with the vibe here. None of the characters were likable to me, nothing about the world is ever explained and the jokes were repeated endlessly. The female goat is called Benjamin; can you believe it? You surely will after reading about it for the tenth time. The characters fell flat to me, because even when we got into the heavy backstory of someone, it eventually turned into a joke. What do you mean that Morfran became a Dark Lord because his mother was too nice? It's also not a cozy fantasy for me. Maybe it's not actually supposed to be, but it is tagged as one. If Morfran would have just stayed a goat farmer, I could have enjoyed it more, but the whole story is now about actively killing the people that once served him. The double standard of it all was throwing me off so badly. Morfran is describing himself as dark but not evil, and apparently that's a big difference even if he was beheading people left and right in his prime. You know who is actually evil? His wife, Ravana. Who he picked out as a young girl and showed her the way of being a cruel leader. She of course is the unredeemable real villain of the story. I'm actually surprised that this book wasn't written by a man with the slight misogyny of it all. There even is another character whose trait is that he actively hates women. No wonder I didn't like it. Maybe I just don't like anything Dark Lord related. Long Live Evil and How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying were so terrible to me that I couldn't even finish these books. On the other hand I really liked Violet Thistlewait is not a Villain Anymore, which also follows a villain retiring. In this case I personally blame Morfran though. I disliked him so much that I just didn't want for him to succeed in anything. What even was his goal here? He joins the rebellion against himself and everyone there hates the Dark Lord, but of course Morfran starts to like these people. He feared the moment his true identity is revealed. I was interested in seeing how this conflict would be resolved, but it just wasn't. It was all good in the end, barely an inconvenience. Some of the scenes were fun to read, like the jam convention, but overall I barely liked anything here. I think I took it all a bit too seriously, though. I'm sure that this book will work perfectly well for other readers if they just don't get off on the wrong foot with it like I did.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group / Ace for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group / Ace for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was everything i hoped for and more! 🥹😭
First of all, it has one of the cutest covers ever (which is what first caught my eye). But knowing this was about a retired villain accidentally leading a rebellion against himself? I was completely sold.
The funniest thing is that I missed the best detail about the cover and only noticed after I found out who was actually in that tower. So hilarious and clever. (I love you, Rapunzo)
As someone who has been loving campy, silly, and wholesome stories… yeah, I absolutely loved this.
Morfran is just trying his best to live a quiet life as a goat farmer, but of course, no one will let him. Instead, he finds himself being used as a valuable tool in a rebellion he wants no part of. Forced to stick around, he ends up bonding with his “captors” in the most unexpected ways. This leads to the best found family trope, including obviously the three cutest goats.
The main characters are flawed, over 30 (well, I know Morfran is definitely over 30, tho I’m not quite sure about Bronwen!), and so lovable. The story is also fast paced, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and can get absolutely ridiculous. But I loved it anyway. That ending tugged at my heart strings and I may or may not have shed a tear or two.
What an absolute banger. I really hope to see more of Morfran.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i really hope this is a 5 star read because what do you mean Morfran painted his barn red with the blood of his enemies?! my fav kind of main character, i love him already! 😂
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!
First of all, it has one of the cutest covers ever (which is what first caught my eye). But knowing this was about a retired villain accidentally leading a rebellion against himself? I was completely sold.
The funniest thing is that I missed the best detail about the cover and only noticed after I found out who was actually in that tower. So hilarious and clever. (I love you, Rapunzo)
As someone who has been loving campy, silly, and wholesome stories… yeah, I absolutely loved this.
Morfran is just trying his best to live a quiet life as a goat farmer, but of course, no one will let him. Instead, he finds himself being used as a valuable tool in a rebellion he wants no part of. Forced to stick around, he ends up bonding with his “captors” in the most unexpected ways. This leads to the best found family trope, including obviously the three cutest goats.
The main characters are flawed, over 30 (well, I know Morfran is definitely over 30, tho I’m not quite sure about Bronwen!), and so lovable. The story is also fast paced, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and can get absolutely ridiculous. But I loved it anyway. That ending tugged at my heart strings and I may or may not have shed a tear or two.
What an absolute banger. I really hope to see more of Morfran.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i really hope this is a 5 star read because what do you mean Morfran painted his barn red with the blood of his enemies?! my fav kind of main character, i love him already! 😂
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!
Read
July 6, 2026🐐👑 Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed 👑🐐
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Reformed Dark Lord
• Secret Identity
• Found Family
• Reluctant Hero
• Assassin Love Interest
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ace, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Reformed Dark Lord
• Secret Identity
• Found Family
• Reluctant Hero
• Assassin Love Interest
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ace, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
June 22, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ So the Dark Lord of Ruthven™ has had enough of being the evil ruler of the kingdom. Fair. His new plan is to become a goat hearder and make jam as a side hustle. Obviously.
Orrrr maybe instead of living the peaceful life complete with a burbling stream and a red barn (painted with the blood of his enemies) he should lead a rebellion against himself. Yes. Much better plan.
Think The Princess Bride, meets Shrek, meets Assistant to the Villain. Lighthearted, cozy, and great banter between Morfran and, well… himself. That man has a non-stop running commentary in his head and it’s the most relatable thing.
Perfectly tropey is all the best ways- the knight in shining armor (ughhhh), the lost-all-her-marbles evil queen (Morfran’s ex-wife as luck would have it), the gentle giant, goats (!). the unlikely hero and a whole cast of found family.
The setting is medieval-ish, but also sprinkled with modern language and concept. I actually like that in this genre, I feel it adds to the charm and fun of it, but I know this can turn off some readers.
If you’re looking for fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a lovable cast of characters, and to question what it takes to be redeemed from a life of atrocities, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Orrrr maybe instead of living the peaceful life complete with a burbling stream and a red barn (painted with the blood of his enemies) he should lead a rebellion against himself. Yes. Much better plan.
Think The Princess Bride, meets Shrek, meets Assistant to the Villain. Lighthearted, cozy, and great banter between Morfran and, well… himself. That man has a non-stop running commentary in his head and it’s the most relatable thing.
Perfectly tropey is all the best ways- the knight in shining armor (ughhhh), the lost-all-her-marbles evil queen (Morfran’s ex-wife as luck would have it), the gentle giant, goats (!). the unlikely hero and a whole cast of found family.
The setting is medieval-ish, but also sprinkled with modern language and concept. I actually like that in this genre, I feel it adds to the charm and fun of it, but I know this can turn off some readers.
If you’re looking for fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a lovable cast of characters, and to question what it takes to be redeemed from a life of atrocities, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 4, 2026
What a delightful story! This is a first fantasy, full of charm and humor. It was a wonderful palette cleanser after some previously heavy reads.
Morfran is tired of being the Dark Lord and decides to run away. His queen and army have become evil, and he wants it all to end. So he runs away and set himself up in a cottage with a goat, and her two babies. He prefers jam-making. Life is good for the former Dark Lord. When soldiers come to get him, he runs away and winds up joining the rebellion that exists to him.
The story is completely ridiculous on purpose. There are moments with modern references and I think it’s deliberate even though it does pull you out of the story a little bit. It’s almost like the author is saying yes this is crazy. Isn’t it funny?
Woven into this silly story are some very sweet moments and a little bit of romance. It was wonderful.
The Author’s Note says that this book came through Berkley‘s open submission process. Is it possible that this was passed up multiple times by others? What else is out there that we’re not getting because someone is saying no to fun stories like this?
Morfran is tired of being the Dark Lord and decides to run away. His queen and army have become evil, and he wants it all to end. So he runs away and set himself up in a cottage with a goat, and her two babies. He prefers jam-making. Life is good for the former Dark Lord. When soldiers come to get him, he runs away and winds up joining the rebellion that exists to him.
The story is completely ridiculous on purpose. There are moments with modern references and I think it’s deliberate even though it does pull you out of the story a little bit. It’s almost like the author is saying yes this is crazy. Isn’t it funny?
Woven into this silly story are some very sweet moments and a little bit of romance. It was wonderful.
The Author’s Note says that this book came through Berkley‘s open submission process. Is it possible that this was passed up multiple times by others? What else is out there that we’re not getting because someone is saying no to fun stories like this?
June 1, 2026
A funny, cozy mix of Assistant to the Villain and Shrek that will have you smiling the whole way through!
Morfran is tired of being a dark lord. He’s left his evil doing behind and is enjoying a quiet life with his goats. But the queen will not let him go so easily. Chased by her men, Morfran ends up in a small village putting together a resistance focused on combating the evil he’s put into place. With the threat of being exposed, Morfran must join forces with the rebels to help take himself down.
This was such an unexpectedly funny and delightful read! Morfran is absolutely hilarious! He’s so put out by everything that happens but you can tell he secretly enjoys it too. I loved his character growth since the story doesn’t shy away from him confronting all of the bad that he’s done.
The side characters really help to round out this story. They remind me of different fairy tale characters with a funny spin, hence the Shrek comparison. There’s a small romantic subplot that’s very sweet. I’m still wanting to know what his scent was!
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a lighthearted fantasy that will have you laughing out loud. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy.
Morfran is tired of being a dark lord. He’s left his evil doing behind and is enjoying a quiet life with his goats. But the queen will not let him go so easily. Chased by her men, Morfran ends up in a small village putting together a resistance focused on combating the evil he’s put into place. With the threat of being exposed, Morfran must join forces with the rebels to help take himself down.
This was such an unexpectedly funny and delightful read! Morfran is absolutely hilarious! He’s so put out by everything that happens but you can tell he secretly enjoys it too. I loved his character growth since the story doesn’t shy away from him confronting all of the bad that he’s done.
The side characters really help to round out this story. They remind me of different fairy tale characters with a funny spin, hence the Shrek comparison. There’s a small romantic subplot that’s very sweet. I’m still wanting to know what his scent was!
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a lighthearted fantasy that will have you laughing out loud. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy.
Read
May 18, 20264 stars and a lot of absurdité; review to come September 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed is a cozy fantasy that just may convince you that a dark lord who captured towns and beheaded hundreds of innocent people might deserve a happy ending.
Morfran is the titular hero? anti-hero? who just wants to retire in the countryside and make jam with his goat. Alas, his evil ex-wife wants him back, and then he’s captured by rebels who don’t know who he is. Those pesky rebels force him to… help them defeat the dark lord, which happens to be him.
Expect whimsy and silly humor. Fantasy readers will find references that may amuse them. It is a sweet and simple story, even though the protagonist does have quite the bloody resume. As he grows as a person, and more of his backstory is revealed, Morfran becomes more likable.
For those looking for romantasy, this is more of a fantasy book, with romance a very small subplot. And no, the romance isn’t between Morfran and his ex; it’s with a leader of the rebellion, and boy, are the odds stacked against them.
As cozy tales are wont to do, the middle can drag a bit, but the last 10% has the climax, conflict, and juicy aftermath you’ll have been waiting for. The book does seem to be a standalone, with everything wrapped neatly in a bow by the end, but I was hoping for just the slightest more closure (what did Morfran smell like to Bronwen?)
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Morfran is the titular hero? anti-hero? who just wants to retire in the countryside and make jam with his goat. Alas, his evil ex-wife wants him back, and then he’s captured by rebels who don’t know who he is. Those pesky rebels force him to… help them defeat the dark lord, which happens to be him.
Expect whimsy and silly humor. Fantasy readers will find references that may amuse them. It is a sweet and simple story, even though the protagonist does have quite the bloody resume. As he grows as a person, and more of his backstory is revealed, Morfran becomes more likable.
For those looking for romantasy, this is more of a fantasy book, with romance a very small subplot. And no, the romance isn’t between Morfran and his ex; it’s with a leader of the rebellion, and boy, are the odds stacked against them.
As cozy tales are wont to do, the middle can drag a bit, but the last 10% has the climax, conflict, and juicy aftermath you’ll have been waiting for. The book does seem to be a standalone, with everything wrapped neatly in a bow by the end, but I was hoping for just the slightest more closure (what did Morfran smell like to Bronwen?)
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 7, 2026
I’m so conflicted on how to review this because while I did really like it, I also would just constantly put it down in the middle of a sentence. I usually finish a book in a day or two, yet this took 6 and that’s only because I pushed myself to read the last 2/3 all today because I had only gotten thru 1/3 in the last 5 days. Which is just odd for a book that I genuinely can say I liked.
I read a physical copy of this book (thank you to the publisher & goodreads for the giveaway copy!) but I think this would be a really good audiobook. The humour was my favourite part of it, and I can just see that coming across so well on audio. So I would be interested in doing a reread in that format in the future.
I loved the goats. I loved the friendships. The little bit of romance was cute. But it really was the writing style and the humour that was top tier to me and made me glad I read this. I’m definitely intrigued to keep an eye out for more books that this author writes.
I read a physical copy of this book (thank you to the publisher & goodreads for the giveaway copy!) but I think this would be a really good audiobook. The humour was my favourite part of it, and I can just see that coming across so well on audio. So I would be interested in doing a reread in that format in the future.
I loved the goats. I loved the friendships. The little bit of romance was cute. But it really was the writing style and the humour that was top tier to me and made me glad I read this. I’m definitely intrigued to keep an eye out for more books that this author writes.
Want to Read
April 24, 2026A retired and reformed Dark Lord involuntarily leading a rebellion against his own regime—and his very-much-unretired and very-much-unreformed Evil Queen wife—while everyone else thinks he’s just a goat farmer.
This synopsis has definite Assistant to the Villain quirky vibes.
This synopsis has definite Assistant to the Villain quirky vibes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What happens when the Dark Lord decides he'd rather grow fruit trees and make jam?
✶ PRE-READING ✶
The premise of Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed immediately caught my attention. A Dark Lord who gets tired of being evil, runs away to become a goat farmer, and then accidentally ends up leading a rebellion against himself? That's a fantastic idea, and I was very curious to see whether the story could actually make it work.
Thankfully, S. B. West doesn't waste any time getting started. We meet Morfran while he's already on the run from the soldiers sent to capture him, so there's no lengthy set-up before the story gets moving. From there, the book has plenty of twists to keep things interesting.
✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought... this is a wonderfully clever spin on the Dark Lord trope. The basic premise is funny enough on its own, but the story goes further than simply putting an evil overlord into an amusing situation. Morfran has genuinely decided that he doesn't want that life anymore, and watching him navigate the consequences of that decision is where the story really becomes interesting.
The dialogue occasionally has a Pratchett-esque quality to it, with some lovely little comic moments and absurdity woven through the fantasy. It's not Pratchett - nothing is Pratchett, GNU - but it does have some of that same affection for playing with fantasy conventions.
It surprised me by... how much I came to believe in Morfran's reformation. I expected his reasons for protecting the people around him to be somewhat self-serving: perhaps he wanted to protect his goats because they're his goats, or he simply didn't want anyone interfering with his new life.
Instead, he genuinely seems to care about the animals depending on him. He's devastated at the thought of leaving his cottage, not because he's abandoning his grand Dark Lord headquarters, but because he'd started planting fruit trees so he could make his own jam.
And somehow, that tells us an enormous amount about him.
Morfran's old life was about power and conquest. His new life is about growing things, caring for animals and making jam. He doesn't just want to stop being a Dark Lord; he has started becoming someone who wants to cultivate rather than control. That's a surprisingly lovely piece of character development hiding underneath all the jokes.
There are some clever twists as the story progresses, and I particularly appreciated that although this is billed as the beginning of a series, it doesn't end on a giant cliffhanger. The main story gets a satisfying resolution while leaving the door open for more adventures.
And I hope there are more adventures. I'd happily spend more time with Morfran, particularly now that we've seen the man underneath the Dark Lord.
✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
Book Recommendation: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. If you enjoy fantasy that takes familiar tropes, turns them sideways and finds the comedy in the unexpected corners, this has a similar spirit.
TV or Movie Recommendation: Galavant. It's full of fantasy conventions, ridiculous situations and characters who turn out to be rather more complicated than their roles initially suggest.
✧ VIBE CHECK ✧
A colour palette: moss green, warm brown and blackberry purple.
A soundtrack: jaunty folk music with the occasional dramatic orchestral flourish.
A season: early autumn, when the harvest is coming in and you're already thinking about what to preserve for winter.
A mood: mischievous, warm-hearted and unexpectedly wholesome.
A scent: woodsmoke, damp earth and fruit simmering into jam.
★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★
The Hermit. Morfran has spent years surrounded by power, soldiers and the expectations of being a Dark Lord, and his first real act of rebellion is to walk away from all of it. He retreats to a quiet life where he can discover who he is when nobody expects him to be the villain.
The irony, of course, is that he doesn't get to stay there. But his time in that little cottage matters because it shows that his reformation isn't just about escaping punishment. Morfran has begun to discover that he actually prefers a life built around caring for things - goats, fruit trees, friendships - to one built around controlling them.
The Hermit asks what remains when we step away from the identity everyone else has given us. For Morfran, the answer turns out to be rather more heroic than he expects.
✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦
Can someone who has done terrible things genuinely become a good person?
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed doesn't let the answer be as simple as “yes, because he says he's changed.” Morfran's past still exists, and the people he once ruled have every reason to distrust him. But neither does the story suggest that a person is permanently defined by the worst things they've done.
Morfran's redemption is shown through the choices he makes when he has nothing to gain from making them. He doesn't set out to become a hero. He simply keeps finding himself in situations where someone needs help - and increasingly, he's becoming the sort of person who helps.
Perhaps that's what makes his accidental heroism so convincing: he isn't trying to prove that he's good. He's just slowly becoming good.
Final Thoughts
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed publishes on the 8th of September. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
✶ PRE-READING ✶
The premise of Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed immediately caught my attention. A Dark Lord who gets tired of being evil, runs away to become a goat farmer, and then accidentally ends up leading a rebellion against himself? That's a fantastic idea, and I was very curious to see whether the story could actually make it work.
Thankfully, S. B. West doesn't waste any time getting started. We meet Morfran while he's already on the run from the soldiers sent to capture him, so there's no lengthy set-up before the story gets moving. From there, the book has plenty of twists to keep things interesting.
✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought... this is a wonderfully clever spin on the Dark Lord trope. The basic premise is funny enough on its own, but the story goes further than simply putting an evil overlord into an amusing situation. Morfran has genuinely decided that he doesn't want that life anymore, and watching him navigate the consequences of that decision is where the story really becomes interesting.
The dialogue occasionally has a Pratchett-esque quality to it, with some lovely little comic moments and absurdity woven through the fantasy. It's not Pratchett - nothing is Pratchett, GNU - but it does have some of that same affection for playing with fantasy conventions.
It surprised me by... how much I came to believe in Morfran's reformation. I expected his reasons for protecting the people around him to be somewhat self-serving: perhaps he wanted to protect his goats because they're his goats, or he simply didn't want anyone interfering with his new life.
Instead, he genuinely seems to care about the animals depending on him. He's devastated at the thought of leaving his cottage, not because he's abandoning his grand Dark Lord headquarters, but because he'd started planting fruit trees so he could make his own jam.
And somehow, that tells us an enormous amount about him.
Morfran's old life was about power and conquest. His new life is about growing things, caring for animals and making jam. He doesn't just want to stop being a Dark Lord; he has started becoming someone who wants to cultivate rather than control. That's a surprisingly lovely piece of character development hiding underneath all the jokes.
There are some clever twists as the story progresses, and I particularly appreciated that although this is billed as the beginning of a series, it doesn't end on a giant cliffhanger. The main story gets a satisfying resolution while leaving the door open for more adventures.
And I hope there are more adventures. I'd happily spend more time with Morfran, particularly now that we've seen the man underneath the Dark Lord.
✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
Book Recommendation: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. If you enjoy fantasy that takes familiar tropes, turns them sideways and finds the comedy in the unexpected corners, this has a similar spirit.
TV or Movie Recommendation: Galavant. It's full of fantasy conventions, ridiculous situations and characters who turn out to be rather more complicated than their roles initially suggest.
✧ VIBE CHECK ✧
A colour palette: moss green, warm brown and blackberry purple.
A soundtrack: jaunty folk music with the occasional dramatic orchestral flourish.
A season: early autumn, when the harvest is coming in and you're already thinking about what to preserve for winter.
A mood: mischievous, warm-hearted and unexpectedly wholesome.
A scent: woodsmoke, damp earth and fruit simmering into jam.
★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★
The Hermit. Morfran has spent years surrounded by power, soldiers and the expectations of being a Dark Lord, and his first real act of rebellion is to walk away from all of it. He retreats to a quiet life where he can discover who he is when nobody expects him to be the villain.
The irony, of course, is that he doesn't get to stay there. But his time in that little cottage matters because it shows that his reformation isn't just about escaping punishment. Morfran has begun to discover that he actually prefers a life built around caring for things - goats, fruit trees, friendships - to one built around controlling them.
The Hermit asks what remains when we step away from the identity everyone else has given us. For Morfran, the answer turns out to be rather more heroic than he expects.
✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦
Can someone who has done terrible things genuinely become a good person?
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed doesn't let the answer be as simple as “yes, because he says he's changed.” Morfran's past still exists, and the people he once ruled have every reason to distrust him. But neither does the story suggest that a person is permanently defined by the worst things they've done.
Morfran's redemption is shown through the choices he makes when he has nothing to gain from making them. He doesn't set out to become a hero. He simply keeps finding himself in situations where someone needs help - and increasingly, he's becoming the sort of person who helps.
Perhaps that's what makes his accidental heroism so convincing: he isn't trying to prove that he's good. He's just slowly becoming good.
Final Thoughts
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed publishes on the 8th of September. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. Wast
This is a genuinely cute, lighthearted fantasy that wears its absurdity proudly. Morfran, formerly the terrifying Dark Lord, has abandoned his kingdom and attempted to disappear into a quiet life of goat farming, only to be captured by the very rebels trying to overthrow him. He does the only sensible thing: pretends to be a general in the Dark Lord’s army rather than admitting that he is, in fact, the Dark Lord himself. From there, he inadvertently becomes useful to the rebellion, helps them defeat his ex-wife Ravana, and gradually finds himself becoming the person he never expected to be. Along the way there is an assassin named Bronwen on sabbatical, an increasingly obvious slow-burn romance, and Benjamin, Morfran’s beloved female goat and arguably his favorite person in the entire book. The premise is ridiculous in exactly the right way, and there is a lot of charm in watching a former villain discover that he actually enjoys being good.
The strongest part of the novel for me was Morfran’s redemption arc. His eventual decision to join the rebels against Ravana feels like the natural culmination of the story, particularly because he has to stop thinking of redemption as simply abandoning his old life and start actively taking responsibility for what he did. I also liked the reveal about his father being a necromancer, particularly the twist that he was essentially a good necromancer. It adds some welcome complexity to Morfran’s understanding of his own history and suggests that the world isn’t quite as morally binary as the labels of “Dark Lord” and “good guys” initially imply. The themes of redemption, inherited identity, and whether someone can genuinely become different from the person they once were are all interesting beneath the comedy. Morfran doesn’t redeem himself by insisting that he was secretly a good person all along. He becomes better by making different choices, which I appreciated.
Where I struggled was the execution of the humor. I went into this expecting the tongue-in-cheek quality to keep me invested because I generally love books that are funny, and there are genuinely funny moments here. However, Morfran’s internal dialogue became increasingly repetitive for me. The jokes are often funny in isolation, but because so much of the humor happens inside his head, it sometimes feels like the book is explaining its own joke rather than allowing the situation or the characters to create the comedy naturally. I think this also contributed to the book feeling somewhat YA in tone and, ironically, made the stakes feel lower. There is a rebellion, a tyrannical ruler, assassins, battles, and Morfran confronting the consequences of his former life, but the constant comedic narration often diffused the tension. I kept wishing the humor would be moved outward into dialogue, character interactions, and increasingly absurd situations rather than relying so heavily on Morfran’s internal commentary. The story itself was interesting enough that I didn’t need quite so much narration telling me why it was funny.
Ultimately, I enjoyed Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed, but I think I liked the idea of the book slightly more than the execution. The slow-burn relationship between Morfran and Bronwen was particularly promising because there is such a great emotional conflict underneath it: she is an assassin who has every reason to hate the Dark Lord, while she is slowly falling for the man he has become without realizing they are the same person. That reveal has the potential to carry real emotional weight, and I wish the book had leaned harder into that tension. The humor also reminded me at times of A.K. Caggiano’s style, particularly the absurdity, banter, and underlying sweetness, although Caggiano’s humor tends to arise more naturally from character interaction. This is ultimately a story about whether a person can outgrow the identity they were given and whether redemption is something you can actually earn through your actions. It’s charming, funny, occasionally surprisingly thoughtful, and Benjamin remains a highlight. I just wish the book had trusted its characters and its plot enough to let the humor breathe without constantly narrating the punchline. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a genuinely cute, lighthearted fantasy that wears its absurdity proudly. Morfran, formerly the terrifying Dark Lord, has abandoned his kingdom and attempted to disappear into a quiet life of goat farming, only to be captured by the very rebels trying to overthrow him. He does the only sensible thing: pretends to be a general in the Dark Lord’s army rather than admitting that he is, in fact, the Dark Lord himself. From there, he inadvertently becomes useful to the rebellion, helps them defeat his ex-wife Ravana, and gradually finds himself becoming the person he never expected to be. Along the way there is an assassin named Bronwen on sabbatical, an increasingly obvious slow-burn romance, and Benjamin, Morfran’s beloved female goat and arguably his favorite person in the entire book. The premise is ridiculous in exactly the right way, and there is a lot of charm in watching a former villain discover that he actually enjoys being good.
The strongest part of the novel for me was Morfran’s redemption arc. His eventual decision to join the rebels against Ravana feels like the natural culmination of the story, particularly because he has to stop thinking of redemption as simply abandoning his old life and start actively taking responsibility for what he did. I also liked the reveal about his father being a necromancer, particularly the twist that he was essentially a good necromancer. It adds some welcome complexity to Morfran’s understanding of his own history and suggests that the world isn’t quite as morally binary as the labels of “Dark Lord” and “good guys” initially imply. The themes of redemption, inherited identity, and whether someone can genuinely become different from the person they once were are all interesting beneath the comedy. Morfran doesn’t redeem himself by insisting that he was secretly a good person all along. He becomes better by making different choices, which I appreciated.
Where I struggled was the execution of the humor. I went into this expecting the tongue-in-cheek quality to keep me invested because I generally love books that are funny, and there are genuinely funny moments here. However, Morfran’s internal dialogue became increasingly repetitive for me. The jokes are often funny in isolation, but because so much of the humor happens inside his head, it sometimes feels like the book is explaining its own joke rather than allowing the situation or the characters to create the comedy naturally. I think this also contributed to the book feeling somewhat YA in tone and, ironically, made the stakes feel lower. There is a rebellion, a tyrannical ruler, assassins, battles, and Morfran confronting the consequences of his former life, but the constant comedic narration often diffused the tension. I kept wishing the humor would be moved outward into dialogue, character interactions, and increasingly absurd situations rather than relying so heavily on Morfran’s internal commentary. The story itself was interesting enough that I didn’t need quite so much narration telling me why it was funny.
Ultimately, I enjoyed Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed, but I think I liked the idea of the book slightly more than the execution. The slow-burn relationship between Morfran and Bronwen was particularly promising because there is such a great emotional conflict underneath it: she is an assassin who has every reason to hate the Dark Lord, while she is slowly falling for the man he has become without realizing they are the same person. That reveal has the potential to carry real emotional weight, and I wish the book had leaned harder into that tension. The humor also reminded me at times of A.K. Caggiano’s style, particularly the absurdity, banter, and underlying sweetness, although Caggiano’s humor tends to arise more naturally from character interaction. This is ultimately a story about whether a person can outgrow the identity they were given and whether redemption is something you can actually earn through your actions. It’s charming, funny, occasionally surprisingly thoughtful, and Benjamin remains a highlight. I just wish the book had trusted its characters and its plot enough to let the humor breathe without constantly narrating the punchline. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I feel like the subject and theme of satirical fantasy about dark lords was already ran into the ground. We had: Dreadful, Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Nemesis Mine, The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes), Assistant to the Villain, Long Live Evil, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore... and the list goes on. And now we have this book and another Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan, and somehow both of them include becoming a goat farmer.
At this point, the jokes feel old and recycled, also often repeated and stretched to impossibility, and the stories tend to be a wacky parade of flanderized stereotypical characters. Satire is fun when it's fresh, but instead we have publishers milking a trend. In order to be "fun and not that deep" everything is absurd and devoid of nuance, but inadvertently wanders into the minefield of problematic tropes, handwavy moral lessons and cliche characters. Add some Freudian undertones and flimsy stakes that get mostly overridden by plot conveniences for the lulz, and we get another of those empty calorie books that don't try to say anything, but accidentally up your cholesterol levels anyway.
I really wish what retired weren't the dark lords, but the trend for books about them. Don't we really have anything else to satirize, but something that was very unserious in the first place already? Also, most satire is trying to say something by putting the image of the society through a curved lens. But satire for the sake of satire, without being a distorted mirror to anything, what's the point?
At this point, the jokes feel old and recycled, also often repeated and stretched to impossibility, and the stories tend to be a wacky parade of flanderized stereotypical characters. Satire is fun when it's fresh, but instead we have publishers milking a trend. In order to be "fun and not that deep" everything is absurd and devoid of nuance, but inadvertently wanders into the minefield of problematic tropes, handwavy moral lessons and cliche characters. Add some Freudian undertones and flimsy stakes that get mostly overridden by plot conveniences for the lulz, and we get another of those empty calorie books that don't try to say anything, but accidentally up your cholesterol levels anyway.
I really wish what retired weren't the dark lords, but the trend for books about them. Don't we really have anything else to satirize, but something that was very unserious in the first place already? Also, most satire is trying to say something by putting the image of the society through a curved lens. But satire for the sake of satire, without being a distorted mirror to anything, what's the point?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Initial Reaction:
GOATS on the cover and reforming some kind of dark lord!? Oh yes. Utterly hooked from the very start. I needed this book like I needed oxygen, so thank you Net Galley for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After Reading:
The best way I can think to describe this book is Shrek meets Kill the Farm Boy. It's a campy, silly story, and sometimes stories like this work, and sometimes they don't. This one, for the most part, worked well. You've got a little bit of everything here: humor, adventure, goats, a side cast of found-family rebels, fractured fairytales, pirates, enemies-to-lovers romance, did I mention GOATS? Benjamin stole the show - as I knew she would. (She. Yes, she. It's a whole amazing thing).
The best part about this book (aside from Benjamin) is our main character Morfran: Dark Lord of Ruthven TM, possible-destroyer-of-Atlantis, listener of punk bard groups, burdened with the curse of feelings... He's so unapologetically morally corrupt (in a petty, petulant child kind of way) and yet in his heart of hearts doesn't want to be evil, just dark and menacing. The extent to which this man does not give any f*cks and how much he's bothered by the existence of literally anyone else who isn't himself and his goats is superb. His dialogue and inner thoughts are witty and so clever, and the writing stands out from a lot of the books I've been reading lately. The arc his character goes through, mainly watching him grow fond of the rebels and trying to redeem those he's wronged in the past, was the best part and done so perfectly.
And of course, I can't talk about Morfran without talking about his assassin love interest Bronwen: alum from both Death Zeta and Alpha Kappa Killers, once a feared assassin now hexed to be a bumbling, clumsy damsel, she's still hellbent on chasing Morfran to the ends of the earth to kill him at last - entirely unaware she is, in fact, falling in love with him.
Together, they make the most chaotic, unhinged, memorable pair, gifting each other deadly weapons as acts of true love, slaying their enemies all whilst backlit by fiery explosions... This was the kind of relationship I've been needing in my books.
I think one of the main issues I had was the pacing. Some parts were rapid fire, while others were, honestly, kind of boring? The humor makes up for a lot of it, but some of the jokes began to repeat, or fall a little flat. I found myself drifting at times, and then something would happen a few chapters later that had me back in that whirlwind must-read-faster headspace.
The only thing that really had me looking like that one suspicious wiener dog meme was the few jokes and character choices that, at least to me, carried slight misogyny tones. I don't want to spoil anything because maybe it's just a me thing, but it did give me pretty big pause and kind of a bad taste in my mouth. It had me thinking about it still after I was done reading - and not in a good way.
All in all, this was a good story. The characters were alive, and Morfran's voice is the golden ticket here. All the side characters are just so much fun, and I could truly feel the love they all had for each other. Would I reread it? Probably not. But I would definitely recommend it to other readers!
GOATS on the cover and reforming some kind of dark lord!? Oh yes. Utterly hooked from the very start. I needed this book like I needed oxygen, so thank you Net Galley for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After Reading:
The best way I can think to describe this book is Shrek meets Kill the Farm Boy. It's a campy, silly story, and sometimes stories like this work, and sometimes they don't. This one, for the most part, worked well. You've got a little bit of everything here: humor, adventure, goats, a side cast of found-family rebels, fractured fairytales, pirates, enemies-to-lovers romance, did I mention GOATS? Benjamin stole the show - as I knew she would. (She. Yes, she. It's a whole amazing thing).
The best part about this book (aside from Benjamin) is our main character Morfran: Dark Lord of Ruthven TM, possible-destroyer-of-Atlantis, listener of punk bard groups, burdened with the curse of feelings... He's so unapologetically morally corrupt (in a petty, petulant child kind of way) and yet in his heart of hearts doesn't want to be evil, just dark and menacing. The extent to which this man does not give any f*cks and how much he's bothered by the existence of literally anyone else who isn't himself and his goats is superb. His dialogue and inner thoughts are witty and so clever, and the writing stands out from a lot of the books I've been reading lately. The arc his character goes through, mainly watching him grow fond of the rebels and trying to redeem those he's wronged in the past, was the best part and done so perfectly.
And of course, I can't talk about Morfran without talking about his assassin love interest Bronwen: alum from both Death Zeta and Alpha Kappa Killers, once a feared assassin now hexed to be a bumbling, clumsy damsel, she's still hellbent on chasing Morfran to the ends of the earth to kill him at last - entirely unaware she is, in fact, falling in love with him.
Together, they make the most chaotic, unhinged, memorable pair, gifting each other deadly weapons as acts of true love, slaying their enemies all whilst backlit by fiery explosions... This was the kind of relationship I've been needing in my books.
I think one of the main issues I had was the pacing. Some parts were rapid fire, while others were, honestly, kind of boring? The humor makes up for a lot of it, but some of the jokes began to repeat, or fall a little flat. I found myself drifting at times, and then something would happen a few chapters later that had me back in that whirlwind must-read-faster headspace.
The only thing that really had me looking like that one suspicious wiener dog meme was the few jokes and character choices that, at least to me, carried slight misogyny tones. I don't want to spoil anything because maybe it's just a me thing, but it did give me pretty big pause and kind of a bad taste in my mouth. It had me thinking about it still after I was done reading - and not in a good way.
All in all, this was a good story. The characters were alive, and Morfran's voice is the golden ticket here. All the side characters are just so much fun, and I could truly feel the love they all had for each other. Would I reread it? Probably not. But I would definitely recommend it to other readers!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 stars
S.B. West’s Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed is a fantasy rom-com about an evil overlord who decides to retire and becomes a goat farmer, but accidentally becomes a leader in the rebellion against him. The story is humorous and clever, with a cast of interesting characters and an excellent found family.
This book was a lot of fun. Morfan is an engaging character to follow, with a humorous ethical framework and a lot of clever writing. Morfran is not a relatable character, per se, but he makes decisions that often make sense in their nonsense. There are lots of little details that are meant to delight and serve their function, creating a world where (female) goats named Benjamin become the catalyst of change for a former villain, or where a man named Rapunzo lets down his glorious beard to allow guests to come into his tower. It’s cheeky and irreverent and strangely sweet, a redemption arc for a person who did terrible thing.
The story makes it clear that despite Morfran’s retirement before the story starts, the character’s actions are driven from exhaustion and boredom rather than an actual change of heart. However, relationships become a large part of Morfran’s ethical growth, and the found family of the book serves to motivate him to grow. The romance in this story is definitely a side-plot, but it does function as a large part of the story. The story ends on a very positive note, though the book doesn’t have a definitively defined happily ever after in the traditional sense.
This book has a lot of silly, cozy elements, from the medieval-ish elements to the Shrek-like premise. There is extensive violence, but much is comical—people melting when being exposed to poison, berries that explode on contact. Our main character is shot with arrows multiple times, but never in particularly dangerous spaces, but we do see multiple side characters die on page. (No harm comes to Benjamin the Goat, though, which is the most important part.)
I really enjoyed myself when reading this book. Morfran has a constant dialogue that’s humorous and engaging, the story gives character development for our main character and creates a lovable cast of side characters. The world felt vast enough that I could see the author continuing in this world with other characters and I would be thrilled to continue in this series. I think each book would probably function as a standalone, as all of the major story threads were finished in this book.
Thank you to Berkley, S. B. West and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!!
S.B. West’s Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed is a fantasy rom-com about an evil overlord who decides to retire and becomes a goat farmer, but accidentally becomes a leader in the rebellion against him. The story is humorous and clever, with a cast of interesting characters and an excellent found family.
This book was a lot of fun. Morfan is an engaging character to follow, with a humorous ethical framework and a lot of clever writing. Morfran is not a relatable character, per se, but he makes decisions that often make sense in their nonsense. There are lots of little details that are meant to delight and serve their function, creating a world where (female) goats named Benjamin become the catalyst of change for a former villain, or where a man named Rapunzo lets down his glorious beard to allow guests to come into his tower. It’s cheeky and irreverent and strangely sweet, a redemption arc for a person who did terrible thing.
The story makes it clear that despite Morfran’s retirement before the story starts, the character’s actions are driven from exhaustion and boredom rather than an actual change of heart. However, relationships become a large part of Morfran’s ethical growth, and the found family of the book serves to motivate him to grow. The romance in this story is definitely a side-plot, but it does function as a large part of the story. The story ends on a very positive note, though the book doesn’t have a definitively defined happily ever after in the traditional sense.
This book has a lot of silly, cozy elements, from the medieval-ish elements to the Shrek-like premise. There is extensive violence, but much is comical—people melting when being exposed to poison, berries that explode on contact. Our main character is shot with arrows multiple times, but never in particularly dangerous spaces, but we do see multiple side characters die on page. (No harm comes to Benjamin the Goat, though, which is the most important part.)
I really enjoyed myself when reading this book. Morfran has a constant dialogue that’s humorous and engaging, the story gives character development for our main character and creates a lovable cast of side characters. The world felt vast enough that I could see the author continuing in this world with other characters and I would be thrilled to continue in this series. I think each book would probably function as a standalone, as all of the major story threads were finished in this book.
Thank you to Berkley, S. B. West and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a good cozy fantasy. Sarcastic? A little slapstick? Absolutely here for this. When I heard about this book I was missing Assistant to the Villian, and this seemed like a good place to be. I did not expect to become invested, and certainly not to completely fall for a goat. Seriously, I came for the promise of rediculously hilarious antics; and I stayed for the characters. Warning: spoilers ahead but I will try to keep them light.
Morfran is tired… of everything. He was a Dark Lord, but his wife had become down right evil- even he couldn’t stomache it. So what’s a man to do? Run away and buy a (misgendered) goat, spending your days learning to make jam and play the lute. He and Benjamin have a good thing here- and then she had two kids! He is totally going to have a goatdom! Obviously, this is when it all goes sideways. Ravana- evil queen extraordinair, has found him. And so he’s on the run with three goats. On the way to freedom he gets captured and forced into a rebellion against…. himself (awkward!). With an incredibly sarcastic inner commentary, I feel like we get a good picture of Morfran (while being incredibly entertaining).
Then you have Bronwen, the hexed assassin that can no longer do anything right. As far as character growth, I think she and Morfran had the most. I loved how she slowly started to believe in him, to see him as a partner. Along for the ride is Rapunzo of the high tower and flowing…. beard?.. a retired pirate and a childhood friend-turned-blood thirsty mercenary (absolutely not Morfran’s fault). You’ve got a rag-tag crew of loveable fools, the world’s worst goat farmer (but best jam maker), a hero with superhuman strength and a supersized dose of childhood trauma, a jinxed assassin and a goat. How could this be anything but a good time? Seriously though, I loved it. Four stars!
As far as adult content, there is drinking, swearing, sexual banter and inuendo (very light physical contact- low spice), and violence. A lot of violence. I think one character might have threatened to eat an enemy’s face? I would say this is geared toward new adults.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review. I am, as always, very grateful. The opinions in this review are completely my own and in no way swayed by this.
Morfran is tired… of everything. He was a Dark Lord, but his wife had become down right evil- even he couldn’t stomache it. So what’s a man to do? Run away and buy a (misgendered) goat, spending your days learning to make jam and play the lute. He and Benjamin have a good thing here- and then she had two kids! He is totally going to have a goatdom! Obviously, this is when it all goes sideways. Ravana- evil queen extraordinair, has found him. And so he’s on the run with three goats. On the way to freedom he gets captured and forced into a rebellion against…. himself (awkward!). With an incredibly sarcastic inner commentary, I feel like we get a good picture of Morfran (while being incredibly entertaining).
Then you have Bronwen, the hexed assassin that can no longer do anything right. As far as character growth, I think she and Morfran had the most. I loved how she slowly started to believe in him, to see him as a partner. Along for the ride is Rapunzo of the high tower and flowing…. beard?.. a retired pirate and a childhood friend-turned-blood thirsty mercenary (absolutely not Morfran’s fault). You’ve got a rag-tag crew of loveable fools, the world’s worst goat farmer (but best jam maker), a hero with superhuman strength and a supersized dose of childhood trauma, a jinxed assassin and a goat. How could this be anything but a good time? Seriously though, I loved it. Four stars!
As far as adult content, there is drinking, swearing, sexual banter and inuendo (very light physical contact- low spice), and violence. A lot of violence. I think one character might have threatened to eat an enemy’s face? I would say this is geared toward new adults.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review. I am, as always, very grateful. The opinions in this review are completely my own and in no way swayed by this.
Read
July 3, 2026⬦ Villain Redemption Arc
⬦ Comedic Cozy Fantasy
⬦ Hidden Identity
⬦ Fast Paced Plot
⬦ Found Family + Beloved Pet Goats
SYNOPSIS: The Dark Lord, Morfran, has decided that his wife has become far too evil for his tastes and it's time for him to skedaddle and become a goat herder instead. However, his peaceful and lowkey lifestyle is constantly disrupted by his wife sending soldiers after him, and he's eventually driven into a forest where rebels are hiding and building an army to defeat the Dark Lord ... in other words, him. Morfran is forced to help these rebels strategize how to bring himself down, while keeping his real identity hidden and plotting to make his escape.
This premise had me hooked instantly and the humour had me cackling in the first few chapters! 😆 MC's devotion to his goats and his massive ego were hilarious and endearing. And his tactical thinking and strategizing were entertaining to read and made him invaluable to the rebellion.
There was some light romance between MC and one of the rebel ladies, starting off as enemies with her being super suspicious of him, to her slowly trusting him after he proves himself by helping the rebellion. The key tension point is that MC must still keep his identity a secret as he discovers to his great guilt that he's responsible for the deaths of many of their loved ones. So even as he gradually softens and becomes less self-centred and the rebels become his found family, he knows he needs to leave before they find out his real identity 😰
However, this was a very cozy read despite its high stakes because I could predict what would happen next most of the time. The characters, their behaviours and motives were all pretty trope-y, especially the villains, and you always knew the main cast would be alright. This meant there was sometimes a strong lean towards absurdity in the plot that required a high level of suspension of disbelief, and the over-the-top jokes became a bit repetitive over time 😅
Overall, if you want a lighthearted read with a fast paced plot where a villain redeems himself through learning to care about others, this is perfect and super bingeable (I finished it in less than 2 days!) ☺️
⬦ Comedic Cozy Fantasy
⬦ Hidden Identity
⬦ Fast Paced Plot
⬦ Found Family + Beloved Pet Goats
SYNOPSIS: The Dark Lord, Morfran, has decided that his wife has become far too evil for his tastes and it's time for him to skedaddle and become a goat herder instead. However, his peaceful and lowkey lifestyle is constantly disrupted by his wife sending soldiers after him, and he's eventually driven into a forest where rebels are hiding and building an army to defeat the Dark Lord ... in other words, him. Morfran is forced to help these rebels strategize how to bring himself down, while keeping his real identity hidden and plotting to make his escape.
This premise had me hooked instantly and the humour had me cackling in the first few chapters! 😆 MC's devotion to his goats and his massive ego were hilarious and endearing. And his tactical thinking and strategizing were entertaining to read and made him invaluable to the rebellion.
There was some light romance between MC and one of the rebel ladies, starting off as enemies with her being super suspicious of him, to her slowly trusting him after he proves himself by helping the rebellion. The key tension point is that MC must still keep his identity a secret as he discovers to his great guilt that he's responsible for the deaths of many of their loved ones. So even as he gradually softens and becomes less self-centred and the rebels become his found family, he knows he needs to leave before they find out his real identity 😰
However, this was a very cozy read despite its high stakes because I could predict what would happen next most of the time. The characters, their behaviours and motives were all pretty trope-y, especially the villains, and you always knew the main cast would be alright. This meant there was sometimes a strong lean towards absurdity in the plot that required a high level of suspension of disbelief, and the over-the-top jokes became a bit repetitive over time 😅
Overall, if you want a lighthearted read with a fast paced plot where a villain redeems himself through learning to care about others, this is perfect and super bingeable (I finished it in less than 2 days!) ☺️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the former Dark Lord Morfran wants to do is raise goats and enter his jam in the county fair. However, his ex-wife Ravana won't let him retire to the countryside in peace, instead sending minions to drag her husband back to her. While fleeing from her goons he gets himself captured by the members of a rebellion, and through a series of events finds himself not only trusted, but promoted to one of the leaders of the rebellion. Against himself.
I had high hopes for this book because I'd heard nothing but good things about it, and I'm pleased to say it absolutely delivered! I made the mistake of reading it in public and couldn't keep myself from laughing out loud; Morfran's head is just a fun place to be because he's hilarious, but also because his character growth is real. He has to come face to face with the pain he's caused others during his reign as a Dark Lord and he realizes just how much he hurt others. Watching him become more and more invested in the rebellion and righting his wrongs was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The found family aspect is definitely present. Brim, Hugh, The Fleet Foot Club, the Goats, Rapunzo...just a wide varity of side characters that Morfran comes to care about and take care of. Bronwen! I loved her so much, she's a badass despite having her own struggles. The romantic subplot with her was both adorable and Complicated with a capital C. Absolutely top tier, love that dichotomy. I also really appreciated that both Morfran and Bronwen are fully grown adults; yes I read a lot of books with 19 year-olds saving the world, but I'm a middle aged Millennial and the older I get the younger those 19 year-olds get. All I'm saying is that it's nice to see more heroes that are closer to my age.
I found the book to be funny, sweet, silly and surprisingly cozy. This is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously; it has major Shrek vibes. If you're looking for a light and fast-paced read this is absolutely a book for you. No complaints except for the fact that it seems to be a standalone; I want more Morfran and Bronwen. Easy 5 star read.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an ARC of this book
I had high hopes for this book because I'd heard nothing but good things about it, and I'm pleased to say it absolutely delivered! I made the mistake of reading it in public and couldn't keep myself from laughing out loud; Morfran's head is just a fun place to be because he's hilarious, but also because his character growth is real. He has to come face to face with the pain he's caused others during his reign as a Dark Lord and he realizes just how much he hurt others. Watching him become more and more invested in the rebellion and righting his wrongs was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The found family aspect is definitely present. Brim, Hugh, The Fleet Foot Club, the Goats, Rapunzo...just a wide varity of side characters that Morfran comes to care about and take care of. Bronwen! I loved her so much, she's a badass despite having her own struggles. The romantic subplot with her was both adorable and Complicated with a capital C. Absolutely top tier, love that dichotomy. I also really appreciated that both Morfran and Bronwen are fully grown adults; yes I read a lot of books with 19 year-olds saving the world, but I'm a middle aged Millennial and the older I get the younger those 19 year-olds get. All I'm saying is that it's nice to see more heroes that are closer to my age.
I found the book to be funny, sweet, silly and surprisingly cozy. This is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously; it has major Shrek vibes. If you're looking for a light and fast-paced read this is absolutely a book for you. No complaints except for the fact that it seems to be a standalone; I want more Morfran and Bronwen. Easy 5 star read.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an ARC of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is a quote in this book “Morfran really was his own worst enemy” and if this isn’t both literal and metaphorical. No because how exactly does one end up leading a rebellion against himself exactly.
Well you see, Morfran is a retired dark lord who decided to run away from his throne, wife and responsibilities and start a new life with his pet goat, Benjamin, HER two kids, and start his jam making career in hopes of one day attaining the elusive and coveted blue ribbon from the country fair. Great plan except Murphys law is in full effect and if something can go wrong that means it will, so in an unfortunate series of events he ends up forced to join and assist a rebellion against himself. The ones getting him in this predicament? A hexed assassin that bumbles about and absolutely can not even walk a mile without stumbling and her dimwit brother.
So here we are, setting on a ridiculous journey that reads like a parody movie, filled with action and events that are so outrageous you can’t go a single page without laughing or facepalming. Filled with side characters that are so formulaic and expected yet absolutely perfect to the story. There is, ofc, the bumbling assassin and her previously mentioned questionable intelligence brother, their rebellion leading built like a tank father, a buttchin knight that reminds me of Prince Charming, the Shrek version, a club of children, a wise grandfather and least we forget, Rapunzo the gym bro exile.
Massive fairytale vibes except with more bloodshed at times and honestly the most ridiculous and outrageous events, decisions, outcomes, everything. All complemented by a background romantic slow burn that is absolutely endearing.
Honestly this is one of my favorite books I’ve read to date. It’s funny yet emotional at times, it has spectacular if expected character development and the entire thing is just heartwarming. Perfect to read when you just want something to make you happy.
Well you see, Morfran is a retired dark lord who decided to run away from his throne, wife and responsibilities and start a new life with his pet goat, Benjamin, HER two kids, and start his jam making career in hopes of one day attaining the elusive and coveted blue ribbon from the country fair. Great plan except Murphys law is in full effect and if something can go wrong that means it will, so in an unfortunate series of events he ends up forced to join and assist a rebellion against himself. The ones getting him in this predicament? A hexed assassin that bumbles about and absolutely can not even walk a mile without stumbling and her dimwit brother.
So here we are, setting on a ridiculous journey that reads like a parody movie, filled with action and events that are so outrageous you can’t go a single page without laughing or facepalming. Filled with side characters that are so formulaic and expected yet absolutely perfect to the story. There is, ofc, the bumbling assassin and her previously mentioned questionable intelligence brother, their rebellion leading built like a tank father, a buttchin knight that reminds me of Prince Charming, the Shrek version, a club of children, a wise grandfather and least we forget, Rapunzo the gym bro exile.
Massive fairytale vibes except with more bloodshed at times and honestly the most ridiculous and outrageous events, decisions, outcomes, everything. All complemented by a background romantic slow burn that is absolutely endearing.
Honestly this is one of my favorite books I’ve read to date. It’s funny yet emotional at times, it has spectacular if expected character development and the entire thing is just heartwarming. Perfect to read when you just want something to make you happy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Morfran the Beheader is tired of being the Dark Lord of Ruthven. He escapes from his (much more evil than him) wife, determined to become a goat farmer. But his plans are derailed when he begrudgingly becomes the logistical leader of the local rebellion... against himself.
🐐Adult Fiction
📜Dark Comedy Fantasy
🐐(Mostly) Reformed Villain
📜Hidden Identity
🐐Found Family & Goats
📜Romance Subplot
'Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed' is an entertaining fairy tale fantasy full of absurd situations, goats, and self-growth. I was surprised by how many times this dark comedy could make me laugh on a single page.
Morfran is bored with his life as a ruler. He's burnt out from listening to the sounds of battle and people begging for their lives. Not to mention all the complaining from his soldiers, mediating childish generals, and other leadership drama. He's dark and cunning, but very insistent that he isn't evil. Throughout this book, he learns to feel remorse for ruining so many people’s lives. His commitment to being a goat parent is amusing and endearing. Best believe that if you're anti-goat, he's putting you on his enemy list.
By no means does this story take itself seriously. The characters are charming, quirky, and ridiculous in the best way. I'm conflicted about some of the language and the messaging (given the severity of his crimes), but I can't deny that I enjoyed the adventure. This book moves at a steady pace that includes action, plotting, character development, and an extra slow burn romance.
It turns out that to defeat the dark lord you actually need his help.
Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Ace for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
🐐Adult Fiction
📜Dark Comedy Fantasy
🐐(Mostly) Reformed Villain
📜Hidden Identity
🐐Found Family & Goats
📜Romance Subplot
'Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed' is an entertaining fairy tale fantasy full of absurd situations, goats, and self-growth. I was surprised by how many times this dark comedy could make me laugh on a single page.
Morfran is bored with his life as a ruler. He's burnt out from listening to the sounds of battle and people begging for their lives. Not to mention all the complaining from his soldiers, mediating childish generals, and other leadership drama. He's dark and cunning, but very insistent that he isn't evil. Throughout this book, he learns to feel remorse for ruining so many people’s lives. His commitment to being a goat parent is amusing and endearing. Best believe that if you're anti-goat, he's putting you on his enemy list.
By no means does this story take itself seriously. The characters are charming, quirky, and ridiculous in the best way. I'm conflicted about some of the language and the messaging (given the severity of his crimes), but I can't deny that I enjoyed the adventure. This book moves at a steady pace that includes action, plotting, character development, and an extra slow burn romance.
It turns out that to defeat the dark lord you actually need his help.
Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Ace for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Hilarious and Heartwarming Twist on the Dark Lord Trope
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. West is a delightfully funny fantasy novel that takes the classic retired villain trope and turns it into a genuinely pleasant, heartwarming adventure. The story follows Morfran, a former Dark Lord who wants nothing more than to leave his brutal past behind, tend to his goats, and become an award-winning jam maker. However, fate has other plans, and a series of chaotic misunderstandings forces him back into the fray, this time acting as an unlikely war strategist for a local peasant rebellion.
What Worked:
Brilliant Humor: The comedy throughout this book is top-notch. The contrast between Morfran's formidable history and his simple cottagecore ambitions creates countless laugh-out-loud moments. Watching a terrifying figure navigate absurd situations, like carefully hauling newborn baby goats in a sling while trying to evade recognition, keeps the tone wonderfully entertaining.
A Thoughtful Redemption Arc: Beneath the comedy, the book delivers a surprisingly grounded redemption arc. As Morfran's history unfolds, the narrative explores how childhood trauma influenced his past choices, giving his desire for a quiet, reformed life real emotional weight and context.
Fun Fantasy Setup: The story blends high-stakes rebellion logic with cozy fantasy charm, creating a breezy, engaging pace that is easy to sink into.
Where It Stumbled:
Secondary Character Depth: While Morfran himself is a layered and hilarious protagonist, some of the supporting characters feel a bit flat in comparison. A few members of the rebellion and local cast could have benefited from extra development to match the depth of the main lead.
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. West is a delightfully funny fantasy novel that takes the classic retired villain trope and turns it into a genuinely pleasant, heartwarming adventure. The story follows Morfran, a former Dark Lord who wants nothing more than to leave his brutal past behind, tend to his goats, and become an award-winning jam maker. However, fate has other plans, and a series of chaotic misunderstandings forces him back into the fray, this time acting as an unlikely war strategist for a local peasant rebellion.
What Worked:
Brilliant Humor: The comedy throughout this book is top-notch. The contrast between Morfran's formidable history and his simple cottagecore ambitions creates countless laugh-out-loud moments. Watching a terrifying figure navigate absurd situations, like carefully hauling newborn baby goats in a sling while trying to evade recognition, keeps the tone wonderfully entertaining.
A Thoughtful Redemption Arc: Beneath the comedy, the book delivers a surprisingly grounded redemption arc. As Morfran's history unfolds, the narrative explores how childhood trauma influenced his past choices, giving his desire for a quiet, reformed life real emotional weight and context.
Fun Fantasy Setup: The story blends high-stakes rebellion logic with cozy fantasy charm, creating a breezy, engaging pace that is easy to sink into.
Where It Stumbled:
Secondary Character Depth: While Morfran himself is a layered and hilarious protagonist, some of the supporting characters feel a bit flat in comparison. A few members of the rebellion and local cast could have benefited from extra development to match the depth of the main lead.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you PRH Audio for the free audiobook!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This felt like a blend of the sharp, self-aware wit of The Princess Bride or Monty Python and the cozy charm of a low-stakes, slice-of-life. It was both comforting and energetic, weaving pop culture humor with a medieval setting and high stakes adventure.
The cast of characters was an absolute treat. Morfran “The Beheader” is a cynical, fatigued, legendary tyrant attempting to escape the heavy burden of his own reputation. His rag-tag crew kept me charmed, but also acted as the emotional core of the story. I loved the tense and entertaining dynamic between him and Bronwen: an assassin tasked with killing him but unaware of his true identity. Their accidental attraction to each other and witty banter was great, but the heartwarming, platonic, “found family” that formed with the whole gang really stole the show.
Beneath all the laughs, whimsy and goat-hostage situations, I was surprised to find deeply earnest emotional depth. The narrative genuinely grapples with the complexities of redemption, accountability, and the deliberate choice to choose peace and quiet over hustle and ambition.
I highly recommend this read if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud, adventure packed side quest. This would also be an excellent book to break a reading slump, or to read in between darker fantasy.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
What a treat this audio was. Fred Berman’s comedic timing was incredible, and I was so impressed by his animated delivery. His natural voice matched the deadpan humor perfectly and I also loved his varied voices for the full cast. Excellent vocal pacing and high quality audio. I recommend reading this in any format, but I particularly enjoyed the audio!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Found Family
Self Discovery and Reinvention
Personal Freedom
Secret Identities
Animal Companions
Deconstruction of Fairytale Heroism
Rebellion
Complexities of Redemption
✄----------
Genre: Fantasy, Satire
Rating: 4.5 Stars
✄----------
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This felt like a blend of the sharp, self-aware wit of The Princess Bride or Monty Python and the cozy charm of a low-stakes, slice-of-life. It was both comforting and energetic, weaving pop culture humor with a medieval setting and high stakes adventure.
The cast of characters was an absolute treat. Morfran “The Beheader” is a cynical, fatigued, legendary tyrant attempting to escape the heavy burden of his own reputation. His rag-tag crew kept me charmed, but also acted as the emotional core of the story. I loved the tense and entertaining dynamic between him and Bronwen: an assassin tasked with killing him but unaware of his true identity. Their accidental attraction to each other and witty banter was great, but the heartwarming, platonic, “found family” that formed with the whole gang really stole the show.
Beneath all the laughs, whimsy and goat-hostage situations, I was surprised to find deeply earnest emotional depth. The narrative genuinely grapples with the complexities of redemption, accountability, and the deliberate choice to choose peace and quiet over hustle and ambition.
I highly recommend this read if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud, adventure packed side quest. This would also be an excellent book to break a reading slump, or to read in between darker fantasy.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
What a treat this audio was. Fred Berman’s comedic timing was incredible, and I was so impressed by his animated delivery. His natural voice matched the deadpan humor perfectly and I also loved his varied voices for the full cast. Excellent vocal pacing and high quality audio. I recommend reading this in any format, but I particularly enjoyed the audio!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Found Family
Self Discovery and Reinvention
Personal Freedom
Secret Identities
Animal Companions
Deconstruction of Fairytale Heroism
Rebellion
Complexities of Redemption
✄----------
Genre: Fantasy, Satire
Rating: 4.5 Stars
✄----------
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 / 5 Stars
All around this silly, delightful, wacky time. Morfran is the Dark Lord of Ruthven™ so when things start to feel more evil than dark, he leaves his dark lord ways behind in order to raise goats and make jam. Except when he is caught by the rebel army so he lies about who he is and has to lead the rebellion against … himself.
This was giving me Gru from Despicable Me in the most complementary way possible. He’s a super villain who gets put in dumb and silly situations and realizes that maybe he isn’t such a villain after all. Just let this man live with his goats and make his jam! I thought his backstory was well done and added a lot to the story.
There were really absurd situations which were a lot of fun. All of the side characters were silly and fun. There were maybe one or two jokes that I wasn’t super sure about (maybe I am being overly sensitive about it so I will be intrigued to see what others think).
I wanted a little bit more from Ravana’s character and why she became so evil. I didn’t super buy into the romance but that wasn’t just a subplot so it didn’t worth me too much.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ He’s a beleaguered villain
⭐ Fantasy, action, and comedy
⭐ Found family
⭐ Delightful goats
⭐ Romance that is kissing only
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 8, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
All around this silly, delightful, wacky time. Morfran is the Dark Lord of Ruthven™ so when things start to feel more evil than dark, he leaves his dark lord ways behind in order to raise goats and make jam. Except when he is caught by the rebel army so he lies about who he is and has to lead the rebellion against … himself.
This was giving me Gru from Despicable Me in the most complementary way possible. He’s a super villain who gets put in dumb and silly situations and realizes that maybe he isn’t such a villain after all. Just let this man live with his goats and make his jam! I thought his backstory was well done and added a lot to the story.
There were really absurd situations which were a lot of fun. All of the side characters were silly and fun. There were maybe one or two jokes that I wasn’t super sure about (maybe I am being overly sensitive about it so I will be intrigued to see what others think).
I wanted a little bit more from Ravana’s character and why she became so evil. I didn’t super buy into the romance but that wasn’t just a subplot so it didn’t worth me too much.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ He’s a beleaguered villain
⭐ Fantasy, action, and comedy
⭐ Found family
⭐ Delightful goats
⭐ Romance that is kissing only
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 8, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Morfran, Dark Lord, really just wants to be a goat farmer and leave his Dark Lording behind him. Unfortunately, his ex, Ravana, really wants Morfran to get back into the role of evil overlord. And she's somehow tracking him! But, hey, if he can't be swayed, she's willing to cut down her losses. After all, no one knows that the Dark Lord is AWOL, and no one needs to know that he's never coming back because he's dead.
The Dark Lord Legacy has left swathes of devastation and unrest, and plenty of folk who'd also like to find Morfran and settle old scores. When the Dark Lord's minions lay waste to Morf's goat farm, he flees with his favorite goat, only to encounter the highly suspicious Brim, Hugh and Bronwen. They, with a larger-than-expected band of rebels, plan on taking back the kingdom. Morf, incognito as a defected dark general, keeps alive by joining the rebels (and plans to escape as soon as he can! Really. He's trying. He's no hero!) What a pickle.
I loved the situational humor. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments. I expect this to become a favorite reread. Fans of Diana Wynne Jones' Dark Lord of Derkholm will appreciate Morfran. Both Dark Lords have to learn to stuff their pride and rely on others to get out of trouble. In West's book, I also really love the twists and tangles that redemption takes. It's complicated and messy, as it should be.
I look forward to sharing this book with my high school readers, who need to see how adults manage mistakes. Many thanks to Ace and NetGalley for access to the digital arc in exchange for my review.
The Dark Lord Legacy has left swathes of devastation and unrest, and plenty of folk who'd also like to find Morfran and settle old scores. When the Dark Lord's minions lay waste to Morf's goat farm, he flees with his favorite goat, only to encounter the highly suspicious Brim, Hugh and Bronwen. They, with a larger-than-expected band of rebels, plan on taking back the kingdom. Morf, incognito as a defected dark general, keeps alive by joining the rebels (and plans to escape as soon as he can! Really. He's trying. He's no hero!) What a pickle.
I loved the situational humor. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments. I expect this to become a favorite reread. Fans of Diana Wynne Jones' Dark Lord of Derkholm will appreciate Morfran. Both Dark Lords have to learn to stuff their pride and rely on others to get out of trouble. In West's book, I also really love the twists and tangles that redemption takes. It's complicated and messy, as it should be.
I look forward to sharing this book with my high school readers, who need to see how adults manage mistakes. Many thanks to Ace and NetGalley for access to the digital arc in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I do love the plotline of a dark lord attempting to retire, so I was very much looking forward to this one. Unfortunately for me, the humor didn't quite land right. Some of that was due to the anachronistic terminology being bandied around; supposedly the setting is medieval fantasy-esque, but they mention things like punk music and genetic engineering, so that was kind of jarring. The other is that most major characters outside of Morfran and Bronwen were pretty one-note; obviously, some of that is down to this novel being a satire, but the evil queen Rowena (and Morfran's ex) and the obnoxious knight were the greatest offenders. Some of that was also down to Morfran himself; he retires mostly out of boredom and the fact that Rowena's evil deeds are starting to even freak him out, and he is confronted with the cost of him being a dark lord, and he does have some backstory about why in the first place he wanted to become a dark lord, but its treated almost like a joke (his mother was too nice and kept getting murdered for it while his father kept raising her from the dead).
With all that said, there is a lot to enjoy if the humor of this novel works for you; the setting is detailed, the antics are madcap, the romance is steady, and overall, it's still a fun read.
I do love the plotline of a dark lord attempting to retire, so I was very much looking forward to this one. Unfortunately for me, the humor didn't quite land right. Some of that was due to the anachronistic terminology being bandied around; supposedly the setting is medieval fantasy-esque, but they mention things like punk music and genetic engineering, so that was kind of jarring. The other is that most major characters outside of Morfran and Bronwen were pretty one-note; obviously, some of that is down to this novel being a satire, but the evil queen Rowena (and Morfran's ex) and the obnoxious knight were the greatest offenders. Some of that was also down to Morfran himself; he retires mostly out of boredom and the fact that Rowena's evil deeds are starting to even freak him out, and he is confronted with the cost of him being a dark lord, and he does have some backstory about why in the first place he wanted to become a dark lord, but its treated almost like a joke (his mother was too nice and kept getting murdered for it while his father kept raising her from the dead).
With all that said, there is a lot to enjoy if the humor of this novel works for you; the setting is detailed, the antics are madcap, the romance is steady, and overall, it's still a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Walking - not running - away from explosions was always something Morfran tried to indulge in whenever he could... it told the world, I'm cool. And this is what cool people do." - a quote that had me genuinely laughing out loud.
This book follows Morfran The Dark Lord, who has stopped his evil ways and has taken up goat farming. His plans of lying low go south when he accidentally saves a town from his own men - and now the saved villagers want him to help lead them to kill... himself.
What I liked
- Rupunzo (yes, you read that right, it should give you incentive to read this book)
- The goats
- Bronwen
- Brim
- The humour ! I was giggling to myself several times throughout the book
- It's an enjoyable, quick read
What I didn't like
- Sometimes I thought there was heavy sexism towards women in this book but by the end that feeling was resolved
- Some moments I would have liked to stay serious versus making a joke and using humour
- The use of "The Dark Lord TM" got a little old after a while; I would have preferred the trademark not being in it at all after the first few times
Overall, if you like fantasy, humour, ridiculous shinenageans, and wholesome moments, then read this book and enjoy.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC read! All opinions are my own.
This book follows Morfran The Dark Lord, who has stopped his evil ways and has taken up goat farming. His plans of lying low go south when he accidentally saves a town from his own men - and now the saved villagers want him to help lead them to kill... himself.
What I liked
- Rupunzo (yes, you read that right, it should give you incentive to read this book)
- The goats
- Bronwen
- Brim
- The humour ! I was giggling to myself several times throughout the book
- It's an enjoyable, quick read
What I didn't like
- Sometimes I thought there was heavy sexism towards women in this book but by the end that feeling was resolved
- Some moments I would have liked to stay serious versus making a joke and using humour
- The use of "The Dark Lord TM" got a little old after a while; I would have preferred the trademark not being in it at all after the first few times
Overall, if you like fantasy, humour, ridiculous shinenageans, and wholesome moments, then read this book and enjoy.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC read! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I requested this book because it just sounded like a good time, and I definitely got that and then some from this book!
After quite a few books in a darker tone, this was a welcome change into a very funny read with a ton of heart. It took a lot of fairytale tropes and spun them in a fun way (looking at you, Rapunzo) and this ended up being a surprise standout for me!
All the characters are flawed but lovable, and while it gets absolutely ridiculous it was always clear that it was MEANT to be ridiculous - I mean there is a tri-city area called Warchesterlestermestershire (which is of course pronounced Warshire).
This is definitely very silly and wholesome, and there were even times towards the end where I was getting tears in my eyes from how much it pulled on my heartstrings. i loved watching Morfran's character development from ex-dark lord to being his true self and confronting the things that he did while being the dark lord. Honestly, the vibes remind me a lot of Shrek in the way that it takes fairytales and places them in a fantasy world with modern aspects, and an unlikeable main character who is meant to be the 'villain' and is actually VERY likeable!
Overall I had a wonderful time reading this and I'm definitely looking forward to getting a physical copy for my shelves!
After quite a few books in a darker tone, this was a welcome change into a very funny read with a ton of heart. It took a lot of fairytale tropes and spun them in a fun way (looking at you, Rapunzo) and this ended up being a surprise standout for me!
All the characters are flawed but lovable, and while it gets absolutely ridiculous it was always clear that it was MEANT to be ridiculous - I mean there is a tri-city area called Warchesterlestermestershire (which is of course pronounced Warshire).
This is definitely very silly and wholesome, and there were even times towards the end where I was getting tears in my eyes from how much it pulled on my heartstrings. i loved watching Morfran's character development from ex-dark lord to being his true self and confronting the things that he did while being the dark lord. Honestly, the vibes remind me a lot of Shrek in the way that it takes fairytales and places them in a fantasy world with modern aspects, and an unlikeable main character who is meant to be the 'villain' and is actually VERY likeable!
Overall I had a wonderful time reading this and I'm definitely looking forward to getting a physical copy for my shelves!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The first thing that caught my attention about this book was the fairytale vibes of the cover! It’s so whimsical and nostalgic that I knew I had to pick up this book and see what it’s about.
I’m so glad to say that this fantasy action romance comedy adventure absolutely delivered on what I expected from the quirky synopsis. We follow a retired and reformed Dark Lord that is chosen to lead a rebellion against its own regime. That alone is such a fun concept, and I honestly was hooked from page one!
The humor in this book was so fun—it literally had me giggling as I was turning the pages! And all the characters were stars in their own right. I could easily read more books that feature these characters doing side quests and the like, I enjoyed them that much. (And I loved the found family element!) I also appreciated that the author knew when to slow the story down and let the character moments shine through.
There was so much joy sprinkled throughout the novel, in funny and clever ways. And yet, that chaotic joy is mixed with so much heart, to where the emotional beats shine through as well. I finished this book excited to read more from this author in the future!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Ace) for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was in the mood for a laugh, and Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed delivered a hilarious fairy tale combining Monty Python vibes and Princess Bride’s true love’s kiss!
I chuckled along from the start with cynical grump Morfran, whom we find post-runaway from his “boring” life as the kingdom’s Dark Lord trying to live a peaceful hidden life as a goat farmer only to be found by his evil wife the Queen and captured by a village that ends up designating him to lead their rebellion against himself!
We follow our morally gray anti-hero as he grapples (through diary entries and imaginary conversations with his goat) with the human consequences of his 20-year rule and dodges his evil wife. He has the funniest internal dialogues and sweetest character development as he finds his way to happiness.
The plot was so artfully crafted, steadily picking up pace along with the rebellion and sprinkled with so much comedy. I knew exactly what I was getting from the beginning, and the cozy, funny, stabby vibe stayed true to the end.
Readers who like cheeky dark comedy and twisted fairy tales wrapped in a cozy package will enjoy this story.
Thanks to Berkeley Ace and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
I chuckled along from the start with cynical grump Morfran, whom we find post-runaway from his “boring” life as the kingdom’s Dark Lord trying to live a peaceful hidden life as a goat farmer only to be found by his evil wife the Queen and captured by a village that ends up designating him to lead their rebellion against himself!
We follow our morally gray anti-hero as he grapples (through diary entries and imaginary conversations with his goat) with the human consequences of his 20-year rule and dodges his evil wife. He has the funniest internal dialogues and sweetest character development as he finds his way to happiness.
The plot was so artfully crafted, steadily picking up pace along with the rebellion and sprinkled with so much comedy. I knew exactly what I was getting from the beginning, and the cozy, funny, stabby vibe stayed true to the end.
Readers who like cheeky dark comedy and twisted fairy tales wrapped in a cozy package will enjoy this story.
Thanks to Berkeley Ace and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sure, Morfran was a Dark Lord, but does that mean he is evil? Not in his opinion. He has decided he is done with that life and just wants to become a goat farmer and make jam. Too bad his wife, Ravana, (who is actually evil) doesn't agree, wants him back and is somehow tracking him wherever he goes. Now the rebellion, having no idea who he is, has decided he is the best chance to defeat Mofran and Ravana. Really hard helping his friends make plans to plan his death when he really wants to live.
I really loved this book. Over the past year or so, I have read many, many fantasy and romantasy books. This one had all the right elements to make an amazing fantasy and such a unique plotline. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author in the future.
There is no smut in this book, but there are mentions of violence in the book (beheadings, people getting their feet cut off, etc.) Nothing is graphic, but I obviously that does depend on the reader. For some people, just the mentions of such things will be enough to put them off the book. Just be aware of the fact. I really can't think of any other content warnings or triggers in the book.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
I really loved this book. Over the past year or so, I have read many, many fantasy and romantasy books. This one had all the right elements to make an amazing fantasy and such a unique plotline. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author in the future.
There is no smut in this book, but there are mentions of violence in the book (beheadings, people getting their feet cut off, etc.) Nothing is graphic, but I obviously that does depend on the reader. For some people, just the mentions of such things will be enough to put them off the book. Just be aware of the fact. I really can't think of any other content warnings or triggers in the book.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
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