What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 00:31:43
25 copies available
U.S. only
How to Seduce a Dark Lord
Not yet published
Expected 23 Feb 27Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 00:31:43
25 copies available
U.S. only
A charismatic young necromancer decides the safest path to power is seducing a dark lord, not becoming one, in this witty and endearingly macabre queer paranormal rom-com debut by Bridgette Way.
Kieran Prentiss, necromancer prodigy and New York’s “Most Darling Devil,” has a while he might love death, he has no interest in killing. Though the world expects him to rise as the next great villain, Kieran has no interest in ruling over anyone.
After an encounter with Dark Lord du Maurier—known to his fans as LdM, New York’s infamously fearsome and impossibly attractive ruler—an idea why become a dark lord when he can seduce one instead? Under the guise of managing LdM’s PR for the upcoming Dark Leader of the Northeast competition, Kieran enters LdM’s orbit with one getting LdM to put a ring on it.
But when the competition goes awry, it becomes clear someone wants to oust LdM. While Kieran is busy avoiding an assassin's crosshairs and trying to secure his future as a trophy husband, the line between scheming and true feelings blurs. But how can Kieran ever hope to have a real relationship with a man he's been lying to since day one?
Kieran Prentiss, necromancer prodigy and New York’s “Most Darling Devil,” has a while he might love death, he has no interest in killing. Though the world expects him to rise as the next great villain, Kieran has no interest in ruling over anyone.
After an encounter with Dark Lord du Maurier—known to his fans as LdM, New York’s infamously fearsome and impossibly attractive ruler—an idea why become a dark lord when he can seduce one instead? Under the guise of managing LdM’s PR for the upcoming Dark Leader of the Northeast competition, Kieran enters LdM’s orbit with one getting LdM to put a ring on it.
But when the competition goes awry, it becomes clear someone wants to oust LdM. While Kieran is busy avoiding an assassin's crosshairs and trying to secure his future as a trophy husband, the line between scheming and true feelings blurs. But how can Kieran ever hope to have a real relationship with a man he's been lying to since day one?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 23, 2027
About the author
Bridgette Way
1 book24 followersBridgette (she/her) writes comedic fantasy novels about messy queer people finding happy endings. She lives in Naarm Melbourne, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples, with her wife and two fantastically round cats. She has a PhD in Law and Legal Studies, an MA in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory, and a BA in Sociology.
Before the sun is up, you can find her typing like a gremlin to turn the stories in her head into books. During the day, she pretends to be a Serious Academic. The rest of the time, she’s either at the gym, eating something carb-heavy and full of cheese, or bothering her cats.
Before the sun is up, you can find her typing like a gremlin to turn the stories in her head into books. During the day, she pretends to be a Serious Academic. The rest of the time, she’s either at the gym, eating something carb-heavy and full of cheese, or bothering her cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this for the romance and sadly it fell flat. There were one or two mildly charged scenes in the first half and then they were dating. They even had the talk. And yet I still felt like I didn’t know either of these characters. Their kisses and sex scenes were also pretty lukewarm. There was too much time spent on the competition and not enough on the romance, I think.
And that’s the other thing. I don’t really like competition plots. I’ve tried, I keep trying. They’re just never interesting enough. I did like that the love interest was the one competing this time around, but since this is only Kieran’s POV, I felt like a spectator watching another spectator, if that makes sense. So any of LdM’s wins felt unearned and any losses felt meh. I would have loved to see LdM’s perspective in this book.
It wasn’t all bad though. All the jokes about necromancy and their love of death were fun. The scene with Kieran’s family and LdM was so cute. This was an easy read, the side characters were great (I really liked Gerty). The world didn’t make a lot of sense, but I was willing to look past it.
I wanted to love it more, but oh well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
And that’s the other thing. I don’t really like competition plots. I’ve tried, I keep trying. They’re just never interesting enough. I did like that the love interest was the one competing this time around, but since this is only Kieran’s POV, I felt like a spectator watching another spectator, if that makes sense. So any of LdM’s wins felt unearned and any losses felt meh. I would have loved to see LdM’s perspective in this book.
It wasn’t all bad though. All the jokes about necromancy and their love of death were fun. The scene with Kieran’s family and LdM was so cute. This was an easy read, the side characters were great (I really liked Gerty). The world didn’t make a lot of sense, but I was willing to look past it.
I wanted to love it more, but oh well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
Want to Read
August 28, 2026This seems like Assistant to the Villain but gay. I love it 💀
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had a great time with how to seduce a dark lord.
The book is about a recently graduated dark lord that isn't really evil and has no wish to conquer territories and do evil things. The next best thing? Seduce an already established dark lord and become his husband, of course.
They are necromancers so the humor is dark at times, which I love. It's very reminiscent of sara raasch so if you like her books give this one a try for sure! Also, hopeless necromantic!! Again for the type of humor.
It's a quick read and I finished it in one day, it's fast paced and the plot moves at a very high speed. The characters are great, all very different but all lovable.
It's a love story with a fantasy setting, so don't expect crazy world building, but I enjoyed what we got. We have a (dead-but-not-really)cat and I loved that so much!!
I definitely recommend it, it's a romantic and funny read.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC.
The book is about a recently graduated dark lord that isn't really evil and has no wish to conquer territories and do evil things. The next best thing? Seduce an already established dark lord and become his husband, of course.
They are necromancers so the humor is dark at times, which I love. It's very reminiscent of sara raasch so if you like her books give this one a try for sure! Also, hopeless necromantic!! Again for the type of humor.
It's a quick read and I finished it in one day, it's fast paced and the plot moves at a very high speed. The characters are great, all very different but all lovable.
It's a love story with a fantasy setting, so don't expect crazy world building, but I enjoyed what we got. We have a (dead-but-not-really)cat and I loved that so much!!
I definitely recommend it, it's a romantic and funny read.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
If you do not have this book on your to be read, you need to add it. It was wonderful and I absolutely devoured this book. I loved Kieran's quest to seduce and marry the Dark Lord du Maurier. He was so funny in his mission and to get into the company of the dark lord to even have a shot of seducing him. I also liked the idea that even though Kieran is a necromancer and has alliance to the dark he does not let that ruin his morals about killing. Besides Kieran, the Lord du Maurier is just so adorable. He is so clearly dark and says the most unhinged things but yet he has such a caring side by taking care of his constituents and people. I loved this multifaceted part of Lord du Maurier's character. Overall, a very good romance story with two characters that are absolutely wonderful. I wished this book did not end.
If you do not have this book on your to be read, you need to add it. It was wonderful and I absolutely devoured this book. I loved Kieran's quest to seduce and marry the Dark Lord du Maurier. He was so funny in his mission and to get into the company of the dark lord to even have a shot of seducing him. I also liked the idea that even though Kieran is a necromancer and has alliance to the dark he does not let that ruin his morals about killing. Besides Kieran, the Lord du Maurier is just so adorable. He is so clearly dark and says the most unhinged things but yet he has such a caring side by taking care of his constituents and people. I loved this multifaceted part of Lord du Maurier's character. Overall, a very good romance story with two characters that are absolutely wonderful. I wished this book did not end.
September 20, 2026
☆ 4 stars
I was drawn into How to Seduce a Dark Lord by debut author Bridgette Way by the absolutely stunning, eye-catching cover and had such a fun experience consuming the story. I loved getting to explore a world run by villains and heroes with a moral code that isn’t as linear as it may seem. Villains can be known to use their violent tendencies for well-meaning intentions just as much as heroes can hide behind ‘good’ reputations to pursue selfish goals. I did find the world-building itself to be more lacking outside of the present day and wished to have been given more insight into the establishment of the political dynamic that controls everything we see. I really enjoyed the variety of the magical system established and the randomness in which people manifest their gifts at a young age. There’s a lot of really fun elements explored throughout this story that makes for a compelling read outside of the budding romance being established. I especially enjoyed the descriptiveness of the trials explored throughout the competition alongside the inspected challenges that they presented throughout. The humour felt effortless and I especially adored the undercurrent exploration of being true to yourself regardless of public perception and scrutiny.
Kieran Prentiss was a delight to follow as the narrative voice of this story with his people pleasing tendencies battling against his distaste for violence. The juxtaposition of a declared ‘villain’ with an adoration for Death at its basest form whom recoils at the prospect of using violence to ensure his own security was really fun to explore. I really enjoyed the duality of his character that is rooted in softness whilst being cunning enough to plot his way into an elusive Dark Lord’s bed. Kieran felt so innately human in the way that he is shown to mistakenly make the wrong choices despite having innocent intentions which I found made him easier to connect with. I loved getting to see his determination to make his own way in life outside of public expectation as he unexpectedly chases after a career that he loves and thrives within. His fear of the unknown alongside the guilt he carries which could see Kieran losing an authentic connection that he has come to cherish added a lot of emotional depth to his journey. I adore Kieran as a character and how unapologetically himself he remains from beginning to end. It was emotional to witness how Kieran’s earnestness helped to soften his cagey Dark Lord over time as he proves himself to be a true companion to love and be loved by. I truly had the best time getting to follow his development as he gradually learns that the best things in life are worth being vulnerable for when facing against your greatest fears.
Dark Lord du Maurier was the perfect grumpy counterpart to Kieran’s sunshine with his murder first, ask questions second approach to conflict. He is so unexpectedly funny, witty and unpredictable in the best possible way. A feared villain that harbours murderous intent towards those who don’t utilise headphones on public transport whilst equally advocating for accessible healthcare for his constituents? Absolutely yes. His care for the people in his city was apparent and intentional no matter how strongly LdM tried to brush off its significance. He’s a strong and dependable leader that is unafraid to lean into his darker attributes in defence of those he has vowed to be safe under his care. LdM comes across as very stoic and unreachable which piqued my interest to learn more which was thankfully not left unexplored. I deeply sympathised with his backstory whilst recognising how much internal development he has yet to endure in order to secure a happy ending. It warmed my heart to see how thoughtful and earnest LdM could be without expecting anything in return, and honestly just spent the entire book rooting for this stubborn man to open his heart to the adorable necromancer that is determined to claim his heart. LdM faces a lot of life-endangering challenges throughout his story without flinching whilst fearing the prospect of falling in-love above all else which is funny to experience. It felt really rewarding to witness the softening of his character and to see how attentive he can be to a partner worthy of his affections. LdM is a wonderful character that can leave you feeling equal parts giddy and frustrated simultaneously… and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of his well-deserved development.
A minor complaint I do have about their relationship is how quickly the third-act conflict played out after spending a large portion of the book building up Kieran and LdM’s connection. They were ‘together’ for barely a blip before the truth comes out and suddenly we are witnessing an emotional conflict that didn’t feel as significant (for me) in response. I think spending more time getting to witness Kieran and LdM as an established couple would’ve greatly benefitted in building the believability of the hurt and confusion without feeling rushed, but ultimately this could just very much just be a ‘me’ issue. I still really enjoyed their chemistry and felt all of the intended warm, fuzzy feelings that their interactions manifested in the end. It would’ve been nice to see more moments of their happiness in the aftermath of all both Kieran and LdM overcome to get together, however ultimately there’s no denying how sweet their ending is in its simple domestically. Plus… now I yearn to know what the pineapple story is. Do please share!
I had a really great time reading How to Seduce a Dark Lord and highly recommend for readers looking for a swoon-worthy romance story with an exciting premise. This is a guaranteed fun experience and I can’t help but hope that this isn’t the last that we’ll get to see of this universe. I’d absolutely rush to read a story centred around Mallory and to get more insight into the struggles that ‘ungifted’ individuals face in a world that values power over morality. Also, I need to add how much I adored the acknowledgements which shows the author highlighting and recognising the works that has inspired Way’s own writing, as I have now found myself with an even bigger TBR than when I first started. Authors supporting and championing fellow authors will always be a beautiful thing to see.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
I was drawn into How to Seduce a Dark Lord by debut author Bridgette Way by the absolutely stunning, eye-catching cover and had such a fun experience consuming the story. I loved getting to explore a world run by villains and heroes with a moral code that isn’t as linear as it may seem. Villains can be known to use their violent tendencies for well-meaning intentions just as much as heroes can hide behind ‘good’ reputations to pursue selfish goals. I did find the world-building itself to be more lacking outside of the present day and wished to have been given more insight into the establishment of the political dynamic that controls everything we see. I really enjoyed the variety of the magical system established and the randomness in which people manifest their gifts at a young age. There’s a lot of really fun elements explored throughout this story that makes for a compelling read outside of the budding romance being established. I especially enjoyed the descriptiveness of the trials explored throughout the competition alongside the inspected challenges that they presented throughout. The humour felt effortless and I especially adored the undercurrent exploration of being true to yourself regardless of public perception and scrutiny.
Kieran Prentiss was a delight to follow as the narrative voice of this story with his people pleasing tendencies battling against his distaste for violence. The juxtaposition of a declared ‘villain’ with an adoration for Death at its basest form whom recoils at the prospect of using violence to ensure his own security was really fun to explore. I really enjoyed the duality of his character that is rooted in softness whilst being cunning enough to plot his way into an elusive Dark Lord’s bed. Kieran felt so innately human in the way that he is shown to mistakenly make the wrong choices despite having innocent intentions which I found made him easier to connect with. I loved getting to see his determination to make his own way in life outside of public expectation as he unexpectedly chases after a career that he loves and thrives within. His fear of the unknown alongside the guilt he carries which could see Kieran losing an authentic connection that he has come to cherish added a lot of emotional depth to his journey. I adore Kieran as a character and how unapologetically himself he remains from beginning to end. It was emotional to witness how Kieran’s earnestness helped to soften his cagey Dark Lord over time as he proves himself to be a true companion to love and be loved by. I truly had the best time getting to follow his development as he gradually learns that the best things in life are worth being vulnerable for when facing against your greatest fears.
Dark Lord du Maurier was the perfect grumpy counterpart to Kieran’s sunshine with his murder first, ask questions second approach to conflict. He is so unexpectedly funny, witty and unpredictable in the best possible way. A feared villain that harbours murderous intent towards those who don’t utilise headphones on public transport whilst equally advocating for accessible healthcare for his constituents? Absolutely yes. His care for the people in his city was apparent and intentional no matter how strongly LdM tried to brush off its significance. He’s a strong and dependable leader that is unafraid to lean into his darker attributes in defence of those he has vowed to be safe under his care. LdM comes across as very stoic and unreachable which piqued my interest to learn more which was thankfully not left unexplored. I deeply sympathised with his backstory whilst recognising how much internal development he has yet to endure in order to secure a happy ending. It warmed my heart to see how thoughtful and earnest LdM could be without expecting anything in return, and honestly just spent the entire book rooting for this stubborn man to open his heart to the adorable necromancer that is determined to claim his heart. LdM faces a lot of life-endangering challenges throughout his story without flinching whilst fearing the prospect of falling in-love above all else which is funny to experience. It felt really rewarding to witness the softening of his character and to see how attentive he can be to a partner worthy of his affections. LdM is a wonderful character that can leave you feeling equal parts giddy and frustrated simultaneously… and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of his well-deserved development.
A minor complaint I do have about their relationship is how quickly the third-act conflict played out after spending a large portion of the book building up Kieran and LdM’s connection. They were ‘together’ for barely a blip before the truth comes out and suddenly we are witnessing an emotional conflict that didn’t feel as significant (for me) in response. I think spending more time getting to witness Kieran and LdM as an established couple would’ve greatly benefitted in building the believability of the hurt and confusion without feeling rushed, but ultimately this could just very much just be a ‘me’ issue. I still really enjoyed their chemistry and felt all of the intended warm, fuzzy feelings that their interactions manifested in the end. It would’ve been nice to see more moments of their happiness in the aftermath of all both Kieran and LdM overcome to get together, however ultimately there’s no denying how sweet their ending is in its simple domestically. Plus… now I yearn to know what the pineapple story is. Do please share!
I had a really great time reading How to Seduce a Dark Lord and highly recommend for readers looking for a swoon-worthy romance story with an exciting premise. This is a guaranteed fun experience and I can’t help but hope that this isn’t the last that we’ll get to see of this universe. I’d absolutely rush to read a story centred around Mallory and to get more insight into the struggles that ‘ungifted’ individuals face in a world that values power over morality. Also, I need to add how much I adored the acknowledgements which shows the author highlighting and recognising the works that has inspired Way’s own writing, as I have now found myself with an even bigger TBR than when I first started. Authors supporting and championing fellow authors will always be a beautiful thing to see.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
September 14, 2026
Yum yum yum!!! I devoured this! It was so good! I thought Kieran’s whole quest to get the dark lord to marry him and then catching feelings himself was so fun! I loved how over the top Lord du Maurier was. He’s so funny and even though he’s like this big bad he still cares about all of the people who work for him and who live in his city.
The romance in this is a little on the back burner since there’s a lot going on with the competition and trust issues. If you’re looking for spice heavy this has a couple chapters and spicy scenes but not a ton! I really enjoyed the competition and all of the side characters I feel like it was so fun!
I definitely recommend this is you’re looking for a fun read! This was honestly such a good time!!
Read if you like:
Magical system
Necromancer
Assistant X Boss
Single POV
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
The romance in this is a little on the back burner since there’s a lot going on with the competition and trust issues. If you’re looking for spice heavy this has a couple chapters and spicy scenes but not a ton! I really enjoyed the competition and all of the side characters I feel like it was so fun!
I definitely recommend this is you’re looking for a fun read! This was honestly such a good time!!
Read if you like:
Magical system
Necromancer
Assistant X Boss
Single POV
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 🌟
This was such a fun read that had me laughing while also swooning just a little.
Kieran is a powerful Necromancer who just graduated but doesn't want to conquer any territories. He is harboring a secret that he doesn't like violence or killing of any sort. However, being a villain he is expected to be villainous. He devised a plan to become the consort of a dark lord by becoming his PR agent to get close to him. All to avoid the future everyone else has laid out for him.
~♡ What I loved ♡~
I'll start with the setting. We are in a world where are villains, heroes, and mundane people with no power or special abilities. No one knows who will develop abilities and who won't. It seems hereditary but is not a guarantee. The story starts with Kieran graduating as a powerful Necromancer from a school where the amount of assassination attempts one receives is sign of status.
Right after graduating, Kieran finds himself reanimating the recently deceased so they could say farewell to their loved ones. This had me actually giggling because the person shown used her time for gossipy drama.
Kieran is expected to conquer territory and become a dark lord since he has the power to do so. Possibly one of my favorite parts of this setting is that the villainous job of becoming a dark lord over a territory is equivalent to real life politics running cities and states. I'll let you all unpack what the author did there on your own. Just know that also had me cackling.
Kieran is such a sweet character. While he may have gone into his PR roll with selfish intent, his personality in no way could have made him do so with with malicious intent. He still has the bones of his beloved cat that he regularly reanimates to spend time with. The man is a kitten.
LdM (Lord du Maurier) has walls from being used and hurt. He is expecting an attack from Kieran but allows him to work for him anyway. He may be a villain, but he does the best he can for the people in his territory. He may not be a kitten, but he would gladly protect one.
Gertrude was one of the best side characters ever. She is full of snark, takes no sh!t, and is at times a little stabby.. or at least she aspires to be.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. The trials weren't my favorite part but they did add a little suspense to the story. Especially since we never knew quite what to expect. The ending sets up for a different characters story in what I assume with be book 2 and I'm here for it.
If you like the cozy side of paranormal romance, this really was an entertaining story that I very much recommend.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group, Bridgette Way, and NetGalley for sending for me an Arc to review.
This was such a fun read that had me laughing while also swooning just a little.
Kieran is a powerful Necromancer who just graduated but doesn't want to conquer any territories. He is harboring a secret that he doesn't like violence or killing of any sort. However, being a villain he is expected to be villainous. He devised a plan to become the consort of a dark lord by becoming his PR agent to get close to him. All to avoid the future everyone else has laid out for him.
~♡ What I loved ♡~
I'll start with the setting. We are in a world where are villains, heroes, and mundane people with no power or special abilities. No one knows who will develop abilities and who won't. It seems hereditary but is not a guarantee. The story starts with Kieran graduating as a powerful Necromancer from a school where the amount of assassination attempts one receives is sign of status.
Right after graduating, Kieran finds himself reanimating the recently deceased so they could say farewell to their loved ones. This had me actually giggling because the person shown used her time for gossipy drama.
Kieran is expected to conquer territory and become a dark lord since he has the power to do so. Possibly one of my favorite parts of this setting is that the villainous job of becoming a dark lord over a territory is equivalent to real life politics running cities and states. I'll let you all unpack what the author did there on your own. Just know that also had me cackling.
Kieran is such a sweet character. While he may have gone into his PR roll with selfish intent, his personality in no way could have made him do so with with malicious intent. He still has the bones of his beloved cat that he regularly reanimates to spend time with. The man is a kitten.
LdM (Lord du Maurier) has walls from being used and hurt. He is expecting an attack from Kieran but allows him to work for him anyway. He may be a villain, but he does the best he can for the people in his territory. He may not be a kitten, but he would gladly protect one.
Gertrude was one of the best side characters ever. She is full of snark, takes no sh!t, and is at times a little stabby.. or at least she aspires to be.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. The trials weren't my favorite part but they did add a little suspense to the story. Especially since we never knew quite what to expect. The ending sets up for a different characters story in what I assume with be book 2 and I'm here for it.
If you like the cozy side of paranormal romance, this really was an entertaining story that I very much recommend.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group, Bridgette Way, and NetGalley for sending for me an Arc to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll admit that it was the striking cover that sold me on reading this book. HOW TO SEDUCE A DARK LORD by Bridgette Way is an mm/age-gap/paranormal romance between two powerful necromancers, Kieran and Dark Lord du Maurier. Kieran is a twenty-two year old, half-filipino necromancer that would rather con his way into marrying a Dark Lord than become one himself. Enter the thirty-five year old Dark Lord du Maurier, a powerful and political figure. You have your classic started as a con, but ended in real feelings storyline, a dash of hot mmcs, and politics thrown into the mix. And I mean a lot of politics, but perhaps that's because this is set in a future NYC where the political climate between villains and heroes is quite heated.
But until the last chapter and epilogue, the sexy stuff is just lukewarm. Those chapters were absolutely added by the editors because they knew this book was as spicy as nacho dip from the old folks home. The title does feel slightly misleading, or perhaps I simply expected more in the "seduction" department, and less with the political polls and speeches. While we FINALLY end with some decently hot scenes, I felt that we didn't get enough cutesy time with our leads outside of politics to emotionally impact me in the end. But we did get HUNGER GAMES trials? If that's your thing, totally fine. I just wanted more of the kissing and vulnerability, and less of the debates and government gatherings? Is that too much to ask for with my romances?
Way does write this line, however: “He could feast on Eric’s c*ck for the ret of his life and never be hungry.” So I know she has it in her. While these two hotties come around nicely, this feels like a solid three star MM paranormal romance that's more plot than romance heavy. I wasn't electrified by this, but I was invested enough to see how their story ended. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars.
But until the last chapter and epilogue, the sexy stuff is just lukewarm. Those chapters were absolutely added by the editors because they knew this book was as spicy as nacho dip from the old folks home. The title does feel slightly misleading, or perhaps I simply expected more in the "seduction" department, and less with the political polls and speeches. While we FINALLY end with some decently hot scenes, I felt that we didn't get enough cutesy time with our leads outside of politics to emotionally impact me in the end. But we did get HUNGER GAMES trials? If that's your thing, totally fine. I just wanted more of the kissing and vulnerability, and less of the debates and government gatherings? Is that too much to ask for with my romances?
Way does write this line, however: “He could feast on Eric’s c*ck for the ret of his life and never be hungry.” So I know she has it in her. While these two hotties come around nicely, this feels like a solid three star MM paranormal romance that's more plot than romance heavy. I wasn't electrified by this, but I was invested enough to see how their story ended. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars.
September 23, 2026
When young and powerful necromancer and aspiring Kieran is floundering on what direction to take his villainous career, he settles on PR manager and eventual consort to the Dark Lord of New York. The problem? “LdM” is seemingly as pompous as his nickname and speech patterns, self-isolates due to past subterfuge, and comes off as being colder than an Antarctic glacier. Seducing someone like that will prove harder than initially expected, especially given Kieran’s squirrelly demeanor that stands to be LdM’s polar opposite.
Kieran is a sweetheart with a heart of gold but because of his necromancy power and nefarious associations, no one believes he is expressing his true intentions and always questions his motives. I loved watching Kieran making strides toward gaining LdM’s affection, only to accidentally take 2 steps back because of this. And as can be expected in a romance: Kieran eventually finds chinks in LdM’s gruff exterior armor and finds the heart of Mamdani within. But can a relationship built on lies stand the test of time?
The world-building is done in a way that makes you feel a little lost initially (e.g. Why are there dark lords/ladies that reign in modern day territories in the US? Are the political parties are hero versus villain?), but more bits and pieces are revealed by the third-person omniscient narrator and conversations between various characters. (Speaking of side characters: MITTENS! How precious is this skeleton kitty?! I love how he is featured on the cover too!)
Another thing that amused me along the way were the little relatable moments but set in this universe, such as the spam email chains and the product placement for Chimera Engineer’s sponsorship. They really made you feel like this world was just a parallel universe to our own.
Although a week late for Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to a wonderful M/M enemies-to-lovers story set in an alternate villainous timeline of our world when this book is released on February 23, 2027!
Thank you to Bridgette Way and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Kieran is a sweetheart with a heart of gold but because of his necromancy power and nefarious associations, no one believes he is expressing his true intentions and always questions his motives. I loved watching Kieran making strides toward gaining LdM’s affection, only to accidentally take 2 steps back because of this. And as can be expected in a romance: Kieran eventually finds chinks in LdM’s gruff exterior armor and finds the heart of Mamdani within. But can a relationship built on lies stand the test of time?
The world-building is done in a way that makes you feel a little lost initially (e.g. Why are there dark lords/ladies that reign in modern day territories in the US? Are the political parties are hero versus villain?), but more bits and pieces are revealed by the third-person omniscient narrator and conversations between various characters. (Speaking of side characters: MITTENS! How precious is this skeleton kitty?! I love how he is featured on the cover too!)
Another thing that amused me along the way were the little relatable moments but set in this universe, such as the spam email chains and the product placement for Chimera Engineer’s sponsorship. They really made you feel like this world was just a parallel universe to our own.
Although a week late for Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to a wonderful M/M enemies-to-lovers story set in an alternate villainous timeline of our world when this book is released on February 23, 2027!
Thank you to Bridgette Way and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2026
I had so much fun reading this! The dark lordddd gave off major I’m in control daddy vibes and honestly I’m here for it! This story is about LdM and Kieran! Kieran basically graduated from the top of his class making him a very powerful necromancer thing is he’s kinda a softie! All the people want to know is when he will take over a territory which he would have to kill the leader of said territory to gain the power! In comes LdM the current leader of New York and Kieran has a plan to seduce him for his protection thing is first off LdM thinks he’s trying to kill him secondly Kieran develops feelings and starts to feel bad about his scheme especially when LdM lets him call him Eric! So kierans plan of helping LdM win the competition actually helps despite the fact that someone’s trying to kill and sabotage LdMs campaign! So once Eric realizes that Kieran is not trying to sabotage him and he opened up about his former lover trying to kill his mom Kieran feels very guilty and we alllll know the crap is gonna hit the fan and it does! There is major tension LdM wins! But Kieran redeems
Himself when he’s trying to get the press away from LdM and he finally tells the world he doesn’t want to be a dark lord of any sort and Eric realizes that Kieran truly does care for him because his original plan of seducing Eric was for protection! This story is a slow burn but honestly it didn’t even matter because their relationship developed so well LdM started off so cold and kept people at bay and Kieran was hiding everything about himself! I love that they fixed their issues to get back together and also we get to see that Kieran will have a future as a PR agent!
Also this book has a skeleton cat named Mittens I mean come on! Adorable
Himself when he’s trying to get the press away from LdM and he finally tells the world he doesn’t want to be a dark lord of any sort and Eric realizes that Kieran truly does care for him because his original plan of seducing Eric was for protection! This story is a slow burn but honestly it didn’t even matter because their relationship developed so well LdM started off so cold and kept people at bay and Kieran was hiding everything about himself! I love that they fixed their issues to get back together and also we get to see that Kieran will have a future as a PR agent!
Also this book has a skeleton cat named Mittens I mean come on! Adorable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Berkley for the ARC of How to Seduce a Dark Lord by Bridgette Way.
This was a really cute debut! I am always a little worried that a cozy book is too cozy -- just vibes, no plot, but this is not that. There is romance, an underlying attempted-murder-mystery, and a competition with rising stakes that keep the reader engaged. The worldbuilding is interesting - it's not so in-depth you can't figure out the magic system or the setting - it has just enough urban fantasy elements to keep it creative. In a way it reminded me a bit of if the major relationships in Natalie Zina Walschots' Villains duology was less serious/horrific and more romantic.
Kieran is a lot of fun and relatable, and in a world that has no social media he is a real darling of the news industry who knows how to manipulate PR without being an influencer of today. He has a slow burn with LdM that includes a lot of funny, murderous meet-cutes and misunderstandings. While the trajectory of their relationship is predictable, it's still an enjoyable ride overall.
This was a really cute debut! I am always a little worried that a cozy book is too cozy -- just vibes, no plot, but this is not that. There is romance, an underlying attempted-murder-mystery, and a competition with rising stakes that keep the reader engaged. The worldbuilding is interesting - it's not so in-depth you can't figure out the magic system or the setting - it has just enough urban fantasy elements to keep it creative. In a way it reminded me a bit of if the major relationships in Natalie Zina Walschots' Villains duology was less serious/horrific and more romantic.
Kieran is a lot of fun and relatable, and in a world that has no social media he is a real darling of the news industry who knows how to manipulate PR without being an influencer of today. He has a slow burn with LdM that includes a lot of funny, murderous meet-cutes and misunderstandings. While the trajectory of their relationship is predictable, it's still an enjoyable ride overall.
October 2, 2026
the second I saw this on instagram I knew I had to read it & I loved this every single bit as much as I thought I would
first of all, the world building was done at a perfecttttt pace. not too much at once, questions answered as soon as you start to think “wait how does that…” so well done. also, this is just ridiculously funny and cute. I was laughing out loud so many times at Kieran’s antics and inner monologue.
I will admit the pacing of the romance was a little off to me. it felt like it tried to be a slow burn and then realized it was running out of time. I think there was a lot of time spent focused on the competition and PR stuff so the romance didn’t get as much time as it deserved. i’m oddly not that mad about it though, the competition plot was still really well done and entertaining
even though it was silly, it’s a book that knows it’s silly and doesn’t take itself too seriously. it also still made me cry so
highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something lighthearted and so so fun
4.5 stars, rounded up!
thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
first of all, the world building was done at a perfecttttt pace. not too much at once, questions answered as soon as you start to think “wait how does that…” so well done. also, this is just ridiculously funny and cute. I was laughing out loud so many times at Kieran’s antics and inner monologue.
I will admit the pacing of the romance was a little off to me. it felt like it tried to be a slow burn and then realized it was running out of time. I think there was a lot of time spent focused on the competition and PR stuff so the romance didn’t get as much time as it deserved. i’m oddly not that mad about it though, the competition plot was still really well done and entertaining
even though it was silly, it’s a book that knows it’s silly and doesn’t take itself too seriously. it also still made me cry so
highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something lighthearted and so so fun
4.5 stars, rounded up!
thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
Did Not Finish
November 3, 2026Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an eArc of this book!
DNF @ 13%
I really wanted to like this. The premise made me giggle, the writing is funny, but (and I know this is so stupid) I cannot get over Dark Lord du Maurier being called LdM constantly. It's in dialogue and in prose and it was just too much for me. Nothing against the book and the author, I just couldn't get past LdM. Maybe I'll pick this one up again eventually.
DNF @ 13%
I really wanted to like this. The premise made me giggle, the writing is funny, but (and I know this is so stupid) I cannot get over Dark Lord du Maurier being called LdM constantly. It's in dialogue and in prose and it was just too much for me. Nothing against the book and the author, I just couldn't get past LdM. Maybe I'll pick this one up again eventually.
Want to Read
August 28, 2026I could NOT resist this cover and title!!!!
Debut paranormal queer romance? YESSSSS
Debut paranormal queer romance? YESSSSS
Want to Read
August 28, 2026I am seated and ready for this
Read
September 20, 20264 stars; review to come February 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RATING: 4.25/5 STARS
How to get lost in a good time - read this book! Featuring an alternate version of New York City where a villain rules over the city, a cute skeleton cat, and seduction schemes. I loved Kieran (the most adorable and funny MC) and how he broke through LdM's walls. The way Kieran described his necromantic powers and relationship with death was really beautiful, and the scenes where Kieran and LdM's powers complemented each other were so special. This book managed to strike the perfect balance of dark, comedic, and heartfelt. I would love to read more from Bridgette Way in this universe!
How to get lost in a good time - read this book! Featuring an alternate version of New York City where a villain rules over the city, a cute skeleton cat, and seduction schemes. I loved Kieran (the most adorable and funny MC) and how he broke through LdM's walls. The way Kieran described his necromantic powers and relationship with death was really beautiful, and the scenes where Kieran and LdM's powers complemented each other were so special. This book managed to strike the perfect balance of dark, comedic, and heartfelt. I would love to read more from Bridgette Way in this universe!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, that was an absolute gosh darn delight! You can go ahead and sign me up for anything else Bridgette Way writes right now. I don’t read much MM romance or paranormal romance, really, so imagine my surprise when I started this book that I hadn’t heard anything about, from a debut author, at that, and finished it in less than 24 hours.
Everything about this story just drew me right in. The premise of the government being run by heroes and villains. Kieran’s harebrained plan to seduce a dark lord, so he can gain his protection by association. The sabotage and assassination attempts. It all adds up to such a fun and engaging story. I love a good cast of side characters, too, and this one had just enough people in the inner circle to keep things entertaining, without taking away from the main characters. Honestly, my only complaint is that I finished it too quickly and now I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!
Everything about this story just drew me right in. The premise of the government being run by heroes and villains. Kieran’s harebrained plan to seduce a dark lord, so he can gain his protection by association. The sabotage and assassination attempts. It all adds up to such a fun and engaging story. I love a good cast of side characters, too, and this one had just enough people in the inner circle to keep things entertaining, without taking away from the main characters. Honestly, my only complaint is that I finished it too quickly and now I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Will publish a review closer to the release date.
September 6, 2026
Kieran Prentiss, one of the top gifted necromancers, has no desire to become a dark lord. Having just graduated, everyone is waiting to see what he'll do next. Being a people pleaser, he keeps dodging the question while trying to figure out how to have a non-violent career that won't disappoint his adoring fans. After a run in with Dark Lord du Maurier at Kieran's graduation ball, he realizes being a dark consort fits all his needs. Now he just has to convince LdM to marry him, but it's harder than he anticipates since LdM is convinced that Kieran is trying to usurp him.
What a delightfully absurd book. I loved this so much. The magic system was interesting even though not fully delved into, and the idea that villains take over cities either by conquering or competing, and competing comes with benefits from the villain council is so great and funny. The fact that the competition is basically expecting bribes and cheating while being a legitimate body is honestly kind of too close to how it works in real life if I'm honest. I love that even with conquering cities. there are some dark lords who Kieran hasn't heard of because he hasn't even heard of their cities.
Kieran is such a fun protagonist. In a sea of novels with dual POV, I was so happy we were only in his head the whole time. It makes the uncertainty he feels more real for the reader. Especially in the third act, to not know what LdM was feeling really added some tension to relationship. I adored how all his complimentary phrases all revolved around death and decay because he finds death so beautiful. It was fun to see what new grotesque phrase he was going to use that was meant to be a good thing.
Dark Lord du Maurier has the air of a comic book villain but believes a dark lord should take care of his constituents, even if they are worms. His dead pan responses to Kieran are a great balance to how animated Kieran is. I loved how every time Kieran did something unexpected, LdM was basically like DASTARDLY VILLAIN, YOU WILL NOT FOOL ME WITH YOUR PLOYS. Rinse and repeat but in a fun way. Watching him start to slowly trust Kieran was really satisfying, and his close relationships with some of his workers was really sweet.
Shoutout to the scene where they are breaking and entering and Kieran insists they take off their shoes before walking through the house because it's unfathomable to wear your outside shoes in someone's house - even someone you suspect is your enemy.
The competition was fun and allowed the relationship to progress and move along with a believable timeline. It felt like the characters were actually in situations that forced them to grow. I found LdM's backstory to not be as compelling as I think it was meant to be, and the reaction in the third act to be a bit overblown considering they are both villains (albeit, not as violent as others), but I had so much fun with the rest of the book that it didn't really bother me.
This was a solid 4.5 for me and I would recommend this in a heartbeat.
Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the ARC!
What a delightfully absurd book. I loved this so much. The magic system was interesting even though not fully delved into, and the idea that villains take over cities either by conquering or competing, and competing comes with benefits from the villain council is so great and funny. The fact that the competition is basically expecting bribes and cheating while being a legitimate body is honestly kind of too close to how it works in real life if I'm honest. I love that even with conquering cities. there are some dark lords who Kieran hasn't heard of because he hasn't even heard of their cities.
Kieran is such a fun protagonist. In a sea of novels with dual POV, I was so happy we were only in his head the whole time. It makes the uncertainty he feels more real for the reader. Especially in the third act, to not know what LdM was feeling really added some tension to relationship. I adored how all his complimentary phrases all revolved around death and decay because he finds death so beautiful. It was fun to see what new grotesque phrase he was going to use that was meant to be a good thing.
Dark Lord du Maurier has the air of a comic book villain but believes a dark lord should take care of his constituents, even if they are worms. His dead pan responses to Kieran are a great balance to how animated Kieran is. I loved how every time Kieran did something unexpected, LdM was basically like DASTARDLY VILLAIN, YOU WILL NOT FOOL ME WITH YOUR PLOYS. Rinse and repeat but in a fun way. Watching him start to slowly trust Kieran was really satisfying, and his close relationships with some of his workers was really sweet.
Shoutout to the scene where they are breaking and entering and Kieran insists they take off their shoes before walking through the house because it's unfathomable to wear your outside shoes in someone's house - even someone you suspect is your enemy.
The competition was fun and allowed the relationship to progress and move along with a believable timeline. It felt like the characters were actually in situations that forced them to grow. I found LdM's backstory to not be as compelling as I think it was meant to be, and the reaction in the third act to be a bit overblown considering they are both villains (albeit, not as violent as others), but I had so much fun with the rest of the book that it didn't really bother me.
This was a solid 4.5 for me and I would recommend this in a heartbeat.
Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I flew through this one! I knew from the beginning that I was going to like it, because it has just the right amount of snark and quirkiness and humor that is fine tuned to match mine. And it's also a really sweet romance. Every one of the books and authors that the author mentioned in the notes as inspiration turned out to be one of my favorites, which explains why it hit every right note for me. Those inspirations (for those who are curious and want to know if this book might match their favorite style or vibes) are Alexis Hall (especially Boyfriend Material and Rosalind Palmer Takes the Cake), Sara Raasch (especially the Nightmare Before Kissmas and Entanglement for Rival Wizards), and Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
The characters were wonderful. I loved Kieran the powerful graduating villain who doesn't like violence and doesn't want to conquer anything, despite what his adoring public insist, who schemes to seduce a Dark Lord and then ends up falling in love with him and launching a career as a PR manager. I also loved LdM, (though that is an *awkward* name to repeat as often as the book does), the powerful and intimidating Dark Lord who cares deeply about his people and just wants to launch universal healthcare but cares not at all about his public image. Which of course is Kieran's in as his PR manager.
Their interactions were so much fun and the banter and playfulness between them was what I loved the most. I adore playfulness in a couple, especially when the banter doesn't feel forced. They also really clearly cared about each other which is really important to me in a romance.
The worldbuilding was really fun as well, with the heroes and villains taking the place of political parties in an alternate America. This book focuses on the villains, so we don't learn too much about the heroes, and in fact that leaves an excellent avenue for further exploration of the world in follow-up books which I hope we get. Another potential avenue for further exploration is Kieran's friend Mallory who is ungifted but a formidable covert agent and her struggles as an ungifted to get recognition.
I could have done without the spicy scenes as they seemed a little awkward and I don't think they really added anything to the story (disclaimer: I'm ace and spicy scenes do nothing for me)... but I know most people really want spicy scenes in their romances so I can understand putting them in. At least they were near the end after we'd gotten to really know the characters.
Overall this was fantastic, I loved it, and I really hope we get more books in this world because I think there's a lot of potential for expansion. I would love an exploration of the heroes side of things, as well as the ungifted. And I hope for more books from this author in general, even if not in this world, because her writing style is one I really vibe with.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an advanced copy for review.
The characters were wonderful. I loved Kieran the powerful graduating villain who doesn't like violence and doesn't want to conquer anything, despite what his adoring public insist, who schemes to seduce a Dark Lord and then ends up falling in love with him and launching a career as a PR manager. I also loved LdM, (though that is an *awkward* name to repeat as often as the book does), the powerful and intimidating Dark Lord who cares deeply about his people and just wants to launch universal healthcare but cares not at all about his public image. Which of course is Kieran's in as his PR manager.
Their interactions were so much fun and the banter and playfulness between them was what I loved the most. I adore playfulness in a couple, especially when the banter doesn't feel forced. They also really clearly cared about each other which is really important to me in a romance.
The worldbuilding was really fun as well, with the heroes and villains taking the place of political parties in an alternate America. This book focuses on the villains, so we don't learn too much about the heroes, and in fact that leaves an excellent avenue for further exploration of the world in follow-up books which I hope we get. Another potential avenue for further exploration is Kieran's friend Mallory who is ungifted but a formidable covert agent and her struggles as an ungifted to get recognition.
I could have done without the spicy scenes as they seemed a little awkward and I don't think they really added anything to the story (disclaimer: I'm ace and spicy scenes do nothing for me)... but I know most people really want spicy scenes in their romances so I can understand putting them in. At least they were near the end after we'd gotten to really know the characters.
Overall this was fantastic, I loved it, and I really hope we get more books in this world because I think there's a lot of potential for expansion. I would love an exploration of the heroes side of things, as well as the ungifted. And I hope for more books from this author in general, even if not in this world, because her writing style is one I really vibe with.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an advanced copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fun take on the whole hero/villain thing where it's less about saving people but about politics, with a definite focus on the villains.
This was delightfully campy, and didn't take itself too seriously. I liked the casual, daily-life focus on most of the superpowers, like Kieran using his necromancy for funeral gigs where he brings the dead back to life for a one last time so they can say goodbye to their loved ones (or stirr up some drama).
That said, as is unfortunately often the case in these books that have a fun twist/setting but are ultimately romances, I would have appreciated more background worldbuilding. It's never entirely explained how the political system of heros and villains fighting for "territory" really works, especially when the winning leaders can apparently change the form of government?? But there's still territories and "Lord of the Northeast" and a president? It didn't entirely make sense, but I wasn't too bothered by it. On a smaller scale, I also wanted to know a bit more about the characters' backgrounds, like how or why Kieran is known as "New York's Darling Devil". Where did that term come from? Why devil? It's clear he somehow cultivated this image, but did the come up with the term of did he just go along with it?
Ultimately there were quite a few of these background inconsistencies, which weren't too bad or distracting in the moment, but now as I am writing this review there are several more that come to mind.
I did enjoy how Kieran's plan to seduce LdM (short for Dark Lord du Maurier) pans out, or rather, doesn't pan out. He keeps not sticking to his plan, and even when he does, it doesn't elicit any sort of reaction. I also just really appreciated LdM as a dark and brooding love interest who initially shows absolutely no interest in Kieran or any of the other possessive and often cringe toxic male posturing behaviours. His cold exterior then also clashes hilariously with his very forward and social politics, which in turn is in utter contrast to him being a very feared and powerful villain who isn't afraid to kill. I will say that here, too, there were quite a few inconsistencies in his morals, like wanting to introduce free healthcare, but also death penalty for people listening to loud music on public transport.
Ultimately this is a comedic romance, that didn't always make sense but was always fun to read. I would have appreciated more internal consistency and a bit more estbalished background, but overall this was rather lovely.
I received and ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This was delightfully campy, and didn't take itself too seriously. I liked the casual, daily-life focus on most of the superpowers, like Kieran using his necromancy for funeral gigs where he brings the dead back to life for a one last time so they can say goodbye to their loved ones (or stirr up some drama).
That said, as is unfortunately often the case in these books that have a fun twist/setting but are ultimately romances, I would have appreciated more background worldbuilding. It's never entirely explained how the political system of heros and villains fighting for "territory" really works, especially when the winning leaders can apparently change the form of government?? But there's still territories and "Lord of the Northeast" and a president? It didn't entirely make sense, but I wasn't too bothered by it. On a smaller scale, I also wanted to know a bit more about the characters' backgrounds, like how or why Kieran is known as "New York's Darling Devil". Where did that term come from? Why devil? It's clear he somehow cultivated this image, but did the come up with the term of did he just go along with it?
Ultimately there were quite a few of these background inconsistencies, which weren't too bad or distracting in the moment, but now as I am writing this review there are several more that come to mind.
I did enjoy how Kieran's plan to seduce LdM (short for Dark Lord du Maurier) pans out, or rather, doesn't pan out. He keeps not sticking to his plan, and even when he does, it doesn't elicit any sort of reaction. I also just really appreciated LdM as a dark and brooding love interest who initially shows absolutely no interest in Kieran or any of the other possessive and often cringe toxic male posturing behaviours. His cold exterior then also clashes hilariously with his very forward and social politics, which in turn is in utter contrast to him being a very feared and powerful villain who isn't afraid to kill. I will say that here, too, there were quite a few inconsistencies in his morals, like wanting to introduce free healthcare, but also death penalty for people listening to loud music on public transport.
Ultimately this is a comedic romance, that didn't always make sense but was always fun to read. I would have appreciated more internal consistency and a bit more estbalished background, but overall this was rather lovely.
I received and ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I loved the idea of a world run by superheroes and supervillains, and I also loved the idea of a necromancer deciding that the best path forward is to seduce a top supervillain to be that guy's dark consort instead of taking over a city himself, so I was very excited to read this book, and for the most part, it delivered in spades. Kieran, the darling devil of New York, is a powerful, people-pleasing necromancer who is squeamish about killing anyone, a PR master, and a big fan of Dark Lord du Maurier even before they meet. LdM is a powerful, paranoid dark lord who is mostly amused by Kieran joining him as his PR rep at the beginning, confident that the young upstart is making a bold ploy towards an underhanded assassination attempt and actually very much looking forward to it. Their interactions make the book, with Kieran slowly charming LdM and getting him to open up throughout the competition to make LdM the Dark Lord of the Northeast and dodging assassination attempts from mysterious entities. In terms of time span, it's kind of a fast-burn, since the competition is only held in a 6 week period, but their chemistry is electric and banter affectionate even before LdM slowly starts to trust Kieran and Kieran starts to feel conflicted about his own plans of seduction. The smut is quite hot, and the supporting cast for the most part is very fun too (special shout out to Gerty, my favorite vicious executive assistant, and Mittens, the best skeleton cat). The worldbuilding is fairly detailed, although some parts are a little bit complicated if you stare at it too long, like how cities can remain functional with dark lords trying to overthrow each other every year.
The main reason I'm taking a star off though is that as darling as Kieran is, it strains the limits of disbelief that he managed to be the top student in the villain school without ever having killed someone. In fact, the narrative actually seems to go out of its way to try and make Kieran as unproblematic as possible for a villain, making him squeamish about any kind of violence and agonizing over his plot to seduce LdM. It would have been more interesting to have Kieran less saintly, and I think would have lent the 3rd act breakup a bit more depth as well.
That being said, this is a great villain romance story with necromancers that you should definitely check out if fantasy M/M romance novels are your thing.
I loved the idea of a world run by superheroes and supervillains, and I also loved the idea of a necromancer deciding that the best path forward is to seduce a top supervillain to be that guy's dark consort instead of taking over a city himself, so I was very excited to read this book, and for the most part, it delivered in spades. Kieran, the darling devil of New York, is a powerful, people-pleasing necromancer who is squeamish about killing anyone, a PR master, and a big fan of Dark Lord du Maurier even before they meet. LdM is a powerful, paranoid dark lord who is mostly amused by Kieran joining him as his PR rep at the beginning, confident that the young upstart is making a bold ploy towards an underhanded assassination attempt and actually very much looking forward to it. Their interactions make the book, with Kieran slowly charming LdM and getting him to open up throughout the competition to make LdM the Dark Lord of the Northeast and dodging assassination attempts from mysterious entities. In terms of time span, it's kind of a fast-burn, since the competition is only held in a 6 week period, but their chemistry is electric and banter affectionate even before LdM slowly starts to trust Kieran and Kieran starts to feel conflicted about his own plans of seduction. The smut is quite hot, and the supporting cast for the most part is very fun too (special shout out to Gerty, my favorite vicious executive assistant, and Mittens, the best skeleton cat). The worldbuilding is fairly detailed, although some parts are a little bit complicated if you stare at it too long, like how cities can remain functional with dark lords trying to overthrow each other every year.
The main reason I'm taking a star off though is that as darling as Kieran is, it strains the limits of disbelief that he managed to be the top student in the villain school without ever having killed someone. In fact, the narrative actually seems to go out of its way to try and make Kieran as unproblematic as possible for a villain, making him squeamish about any kind of violence and agonizing over his plot to seduce LdM. It would have been more interesting to have Kieran less saintly, and I think would have lent the 3rd act breakup a bit more depth as well.
That being said, this is a great villain romance story with necromancers that you should definitely check out if fantasy M/M romance novels are your thing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a delightful read and I am completely obsessed with it! Kieran and Dark Lord du Maurier are both such brilliantly fun characters and the story itself is packed with action, competition, and a lovely romance. Once I picked this book up I was unable to put it down until it was over because I just had to know what would happen with these two!
I had the best time following the story from Kieran’s perspective, from seeing him figure out a solution to him not wanting to be a great villain to charming his way into LdM’s life and eventually falling in love and finding his true calling. Kieran is just a fun character to follow because of how extremely powerful and charming he is but also because of how much he hates his public image of being powerful and charming. It was so interesting seeing him enact his plan to seduce LdM because it never felt entirely like a scheme. Kieran really did want to help LdM win the competition and along the way he really did start falling for him. And the more Kieran realized it was all real, the more himself he became, instead of the perfect image he was trying to use for his schemes. It was also delightful seeing LdM enjoy Kieran’s real personality shining through and being protective of him of course!
LdM is described as very villainous and scary and people treat him as such which makes it so much more fun seeing him as more human with Kieran. I loved how even while he was suspicious of Kieran’s intentions he was still considerate and protective of him. And his goals as the Dark Lord for New York and for his employees were all very considerate and not at all villainous. I really enjoyed how even though he definitely was capable of being villainous and was very powerful, he was still a good leader who took care of the people he was ruling over. Even more so, I was delighted watching him slowly fall for Kieran because these two are an amazing team and an even more amazing couple. Their goals and humour aligned and of course they both loved Kieran’s cat!
Their relationship may have had a few bumps in the road with some breaking and entering, bribing of judges, and of course some assasiantion attempts, but they managed to find their way back to each other. I think the humour and romance that was mixed into the competition of this book made a really great balance and kept the book light and fun. I was completely hooked on both the results of Kieran and LdM’s relationship but also the competition and was thoroughly satisfied with how this book concluded. This was such a delightful universe to dive into with some really phenomenal characters and I am so glad I picked up this story!
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
I had the best time following the story from Kieran’s perspective, from seeing him figure out a solution to him not wanting to be a great villain to charming his way into LdM’s life and eventually falling in love and finding his true calling. Kieran is just a fun character to follow because of how extremely powerful and charming he is but also because of how much he hates his public image of being powerful and charming. It was so interesting seeing him enact his plan to seduce LdM because it never felt entirely like a scheme. Kieran really did want to help LdM win the competition and along the way he really did start falling for him. And the more Kieran realized it was all real, the more himself he became, instead of the perfect image he was trying to use for his schemes. It was also delightful seeing LdM enjoy Kieran’s real personality shining through and being protective of him of course!
LdM is described as very villainous and scary and people treat him as such which makes it so much more fun seeing him as more human with Kieran. I loved how even while he was suspicious of Kieran’s intentions he was still considerate and protective of him. And his goals as the Dark Lord for New York and for his employees were all very considerate and not at all villainous. I really enjoyed how even though he definitely was capable of being villainous and was very powerful, he was still a good leader who took care of the people he was ruling over. Even more so, I was delighted watching him slowly fall for Kieran because these two are an amazing team and an even more amazing couple. Their goals and humour aligned and of course they both loved Kieran’s cat!
Their relationship may have had a few bumps in the road with some breaking and entering, bribing of judges, and of course some assasiantion attempts, but they managed to find their way back to each other. I think the humour and romance that was mixed into the competition of this book made a really great balance and kept the book light and fun. I was completely hooked on both the results of Kieran and LdM’s relationship but also the competition and was thoroughly satisfied with how this book concluded. This was such a delightful universe to dive into with some really phenomenal characters and I am so glad I picked up this story!
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A well-paced and punchy supernatural romance debut from Bridgette Way brings to life an America full of villains, heroes, and normal everyday citizens, each not too unlike ourselves. Kieran Prentiss, one of the most powerful necromancers around, decides, as any directionless recent university graduate would, to ensnare Dark Lord du Maurier, current ruler of New York, so he won’t have to conquer anything and can avoid the necessary violence of becoming a Dark Lord himself. Way crafts compelling main and side characters and does just enough worldbuilding to allow the reader to become immersed in a kooky and endearing romp of a tale.
Way relies on classic rom-com tropes, like misunderstandings due to lack of communication, and superhero genre tropes, like secret names and combat tournaments, and gives them fun twists that sometimes blow up in our villains’ faces in entertaining ways. While much of this story is predictable, I found myself eagerly turning pages and was actively interested to see what Kieran did next. In a rare turn of events for myself, I even looked forward to when his original scheme would be discovered, and I was pleased with how the climax and conclusion of the journey played out.
This is the type of book that benefits from not doing too much differently structurally, which allows the reader to appreciate the creative characters and even the very current social commentary. Unlike some of the other “Dark Lord” focused stories that have come out in recent years, this requires very little to no frame of reference of fantasy or LitRPGs, and Way avoids the usual pitfalls of that sub-subgenre by setting this in a very recognisable New York City and therefore dealing with less abstract metaphors. I would readily recommend this book to those who enjoy rom-coms, those who like the grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic, and folks who like their romances to have a little creativity and meat on its bones.
Way relies on classic rom-com tropes, like misunderstandings due to lack of communication, and superhero genre tropes, like secret names and combat tournaments, and gives them fun twists that sometimes blow up in our villains’ faces in entertaining ways. While much of this story is predictable, I found myself eagerly turning pages and was actively interested to see what Kieran did next. In a rare turn of events for myself, I even looked forward to when his original scheme would be discovered, and I was pleased with how the climax and conclusion of the journey played out.
This is the type of book that benefits from not doing too much differently structurally, which allows the reader to appreciate the creative characters and even the very current social commentary. Unlike some of the other “Dark Lord” focused stories that have come out in recent years, this requires very little to no frame of reference of fantasy or LitRPGs, and Way avoids the usual pitfalls of that sub-subgenre by setting this in a very recognisable New York City and therefore dealing with less abstract metaphors. I would readily recommend this book to those who enjoy rom-coms, those who like the grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic, and folks who like their romances to have a little creativity and meat on its bones.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so different than I was expecting (in a good way)!
How to Seduce a Dark Lord follows Kieran, a recent college grad, trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life - does he want to conquer a city? does he want to overthrow a current leader?. This is a world with villains and heroes, and lots of expectations. As Kieran tries to figure out his next move, maybe seducing powerful dark Lord du Maurier (LdM) is actually the best way to go.
I love that this book took the idea of heroes and villains and took a political spin on it. Our wonderful Dark Lord LdM is a villain, but like a socialist woke villain? I loved it. He cares so much for his people and his family, but won't hesitate to kill when it's needed. Kieran is a villain, but doesn't want to embrace the violent side, a pacifist villain. I loved that Bridgette let her characters get to know each other and work together before exploring anything romantic, although a little more tension would've been wonderful. The world was nicely done and made sense. There were trials. It was so fun.
My only wish, apart from more romantic tension but along the same page, was that prior to the third act breakup they had been together a little bit longer, it felt a little rushed, as did the final battle - felt like it could've been more, especially since it was what things were leading up to.
I definitely recommend for anything looking for a fun book with a new world to explore. I like the characters and the humor in the writing! I will definitely check out future books by Bridgette Way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for this eARC.
How to Seduce a Dark Lord follows Kieran, a recent college grad, trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life - does he want to conquer a city? does he want to overthrow a current leader?. This is a world with villains and heroes, and lots of expectations. As Kieran tries to figure out his next move, maybe seducing powerful dark Lord du Maurier (LdM) is actually the best way to go.
I love that this book took the idea of heroes and villains and took a political spin on it. Our wonderful Dark Lord LdM is a villain, but like a socialist woke villain? I loved it. He cares so much for his people and his family, but won't hesitate to kill when it's needed. Kieran is a villain, but doesn't want to embrace the violent side, a pacifist villain. I loved that Bridgette let her characters get to know each other and work together before exploring anything romantic, although a little more tension would've been wonderful. The world was nicely done and made sense. There were trials. It was so fun.
My only wish, apart from more romantic tension but along the same page, was that prior to the third act breakup they had been together a little bit longer, it felt a little rushed, as did the final battle - felt like it could've been more, especially since it was what things were leading up to.
I definitely recommend for anything looking for a fun book with a new world to explore. I like the characters and the humor in the writing! I will definitely check out future books by Bridgette Way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Apparently, fantasy bureaucracy has become one of my favorite microgenres, and How to Seduce a Dark Lord just reinforced that. Between Apparently, Sir Cameron Must Die, Nemesis Mine, Grim Tidings, Go Luck Yourself, and Lightning & Thunder, I've discovered that I REALLY enjoy a little administrative nonsense mixed into my magic, romance, and political intrigue.
Kieran is a ridiculously charming necromancer who would rather seduce a Dark Lord than become one himself. Enter LdM, an intimidating, ridiculously attractive (of course) ruler whose public image could use a little help. So naturally, Kieran decides the best way to secure his future is to become the Dark Lord's PR manager and eventually his trophy husband. I loved how flirty and playful this take on necromancy and enemies-to-lovers was. The political intrigue, mysterious assassination attempts, and PR shenanigans gave the story plenty of substance outside the romance, and I really enjoyed trying to piece together what was happening behind the scenes. There was a great balance between the humor, mystery, and genuinely interesting worldbuilding.
What I especially appreciated was that Kieran and LdM didn't fall into the usual grumpy/sunshine or dark-and-broody/golden-retriever dynamic. They both had distinct personalities, their own motivations, and enough complexity to make their interactions genuinely entertaining. Their chemistry was fantastic, and watching Kieran's carefully calculated seduction start turning into actual feelings was SO much fun. 3.5/5 🌶️!
Thank you to Bridgette Way, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Kieran is a ridiculously charming necromancer who would rather seduce a Dark Lord than become one himself. Enter LdM, an intimidating, ridiculously attractive (of course) ruler whose public image could use a little help. So naturally, Kieran decides the best way to secure his future is to become the Dark Lord's PR manager and eventually his trophy husband. I loved how flirty and playful this take on necromancy and enemies-to-lovers was. The political intrigue, mysterious assassination attempts, and PR shenanigans gave the story plenty of substance outside the romance, and I really enjoyed trying to piece together what was happening behind the scenes. There was a great balance between the humor, mystery, and genuinely interesting worldbuilding.
What I especially appreciated was that Kieran and LdM didn't fall into the usual grumpy/sunshine or dark-and-broody/golden-retriever dynamic. They both had distinct personalities, their own motivations, and enough complexity to make their interactions genuinely entertaining. Their chemistry was fantastic, and watching Kieran's carefully calculated seduction start turning into actual feelings was SO much fun. 3.5/5 🌶️!
Thank you to Bridgette Way, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was a delight! In Kieran’s world there are hero’s and villains, but really they are all just self-serving, and at least villains own it. Kieran, as an extremely powerful necromancer, is expected to be the next up and coming villain. His secret, he hates violence and wants nothing to do conquering other villains. But what can he tell his adoring fans that won’t make them disappointed. Then it hits him, why become a dark lord when he can be the consort of one? All the perks without any violence. So who should it be? And who better then the most powerful necromancer, Dark Lord de Maurier, the dark lord of New York City. He’s competing to become the Dark Leader of the Northeast but his polls are down. It’s perfect Kieran can do his PR, making him more likely to win, all while seducing him and becoming his lover. An easy plan is made difficult by LdM’s complete lack of trust and paranoia that Kieran is biding his time to kill him. But there is clearly a connection between the two. Can Kieran push LdM to fall for him. Oh and don’t forget the assassins that are after the two. And what if Kieran actually starts to fall in love? Especially if LdM finds out about Kieran’s seduction plan. A magical slow burn rom com that’s filled with barbs, charm, sweetness, sexiness, and plenty of spice! Bridgette Way also adds in a thrilling and exciting competition with the intensity of almost death! Not to mention the powers! I could easily read more books set in this world!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! What’s keeping me from rating higher than a 3.5 is honestly the lack of explaining the world-building.
In this world, people can be born with magic powers (no one knows why) and you can choose to align yourself with the heroes or villains groups or not at all and go it alone. (You can also not have powers at all.) Kieran chooses to align with the villains because the heroes refused to help his mom after his dad died whereas a villain stepped in to help. And that seems to happen a lot in this book—villains offering their constituents free healthcare and food for kids in schools, etc etc, while the heroes are actually doing stuff that hurts people.
And it’s not explained why, it’s not explained why they class themselves as heroes or villains, and it’s not done as a satire because it doesn’t really seem to be making any point beyond “isn’t it funny that a villain wants free healthcare?” So idk. I wish that whole set-up had been explained more because what we did get was really interesting, and I could even see a sequel or a spin-off being written about other characters (like Kieran’s friend Mallory) that would help develop the world more.
The romance was fun but I do kind of wish we’d gotten POVs from Lord du Maurier. He’s so closed off as a person that it was hard to tell when and why he actually fell for Kieran, and reading about why he finally chose to open himself up to Kieran would’ve really helped his characterization more.
I also found it funny that a hero killed off the people who invented various social media platforms, and now social media just doesn’t exist in this world lol. I did like that haha.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and I really liked Kieran as a character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! What’s keeping me from rating higher than a 3.5 is honestly the lack of explaining the world-building.
In this world, people can be born with magic powers (no one knows why) and you can choose to align yourself with the heroes or villains groups or not at all and go it alone. (You can also not have powers at all.) Kieran chooses to align with the villains because the heroes refused to help his mom after his dad died whereas a villain stepped in to help. And that seems to happen a lot in this book—villains offering their constituents free healthcare and food for kids in schools, etc etc, while the heroes are actually doing stuff that hurts people.
And it’s not explained why, it’s not explained why they class themselves as heroes or villains, and it’s not done as a satire because it doesn’t really seem to be making any point beyond “isn’t it funny that a villain wants free healthcare?” So idk. I wish that whole set-up had been explained more because what we did get was really interesting, and I could even see a sequel or a spin-off being written about other characters (like Kieran’s friend Mallory) that would help develop the world more.
The romance was fun but I do kind of wish we’d gotten POVs from Lord du Maurier. He’s so closed off as a person that it was hard to tell when and why he actually fell for Kieran, and reading about why he finally chose to open himself up to Kieran would’ve really helped his characterization more.
I also found it funny that a hero killed off the people who invented various social media platforms, and now social media just doesn’t exist in this world lol. I did like that haha.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and I really liked Kieran as a character.
September 2, 2026
Urban fantasy mixed with office romance, sprinkled with political satire and a dash of the macabre. How to Seduce a Dark Lord is a cozy and light hearted read despite the amount of assassination attempts and reanimated corpses. Definitely shares a lot of plot beats with a typical contemporary romance, so even if you aren't a big paranormal or fantasy reader I think you could have a good time. I of course was drawn in by the world building, which is on the lighter side but still engaging enough that I ate my way through this book in record time.
""And know this, little necromancer. However clever your plans, you will not best me". His red eyes burned as his magic flared. "I am Dark Lord du Maurier and New York City is mine.""
Kieran & LdM were a cute couple with a fun (if predictable / trope heavy) dynamic, supported by a robust cast of side characters that were equity as quirky and lovable as the leading men. Really enjoyed the amount of diversity throughout, and how naturally it was integrated into the plot. Overall a very impressive debut, will need to keep an eye on Way's future releases.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
""And know this, little necromancer. However clever your plans, you will not best me". His red eyes burned as his magic flared. "I am Dark Lord du Maurier and New York City is mine.""
Kieran & LdM were a cute couple with a fun (if predictable / trope heavy) dynamic, supported by a robust cast of side characters that were equity as quirky and lovable as the leading men. Really enjoyed the amount of diversity throughout, and how naturally it was integrated into the plot. Overall a very impressive debut, will need to keep an eye on Way's future releases.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews