How To Capture A Dark Lord's Heart: A Romantasy RomCom

by Emma Eden

Becoming the Chosen One is easy, falling in love with the Dark Lord is a mid-life crisis.

Danika had enough on her plate, between her teaching job and taking care of her ailing dad. So when some handsome cult dude shows up at her door to tell her she’s the Chosen One (isn’t she too old?) obliterating the Lord of Destruction, Darkness and Terror just becomes one more thing on her endless to-do list. Whether she’s ready or not.

Dark Lord Maksim needs to sacrifice the Chosen One to win the war that created him. Conveniently, he just has to wait for her to show up at his door, ready to square off with evil itself. Except when Fate makes fools them all and chooses wedding bells over war drums, the battle is about to get weird.

Since sacrificing is out, Maksim needs to train Danika in order to open the Fate Gate. Liking his beautiful and chaotic wife is the last thing he needs. He certainly didn’t expect to be possessive or for feelings to be involved. Especially when his new wife seems too stubborn to admit his dark charm might be working on her.

And when a new Chosen One shows up, calling for their heads, they might actually have to work together to (checks notes) destroy the man controlling them both. Or worse yet, admit that all the time they’re spending together might conjure into the most terrifying thing the world has ever seen - love.

What could possibly go right?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Fiction

420 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2026

About the author

Emma Eden’s favorite food is drama, which she indulges in with every single one of the characters she’s written over 15 years of scribbles.

That’s why only fantasy worlds and strong heroes can contain her most outrageous, fun, silly and romantic impulses. The women she writes are complex messy beasts in worlds you’ll never want to leave. She brings this “big shark energy” and Happily Ever Afters to every one of her books.

When she’s not cooking up words, she’s cooking soup, burning baked goods and avoiding the sun.

You can read her thoughtful ramblings by signing up for her newsletter and ignoring her on socials.

Let’s be moon magic besties!

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. It started out funny and interesting, I was digging the humor with the villain in particular. And then, there was a mention of jingle johnson. Okay, it’s just one, it’s fine. Maybe it’s a substitute so it’s not profanity laced. Then came the f-bombs. Ooookay. Well, there goes that theory. Then came butt waffle. Two words. Butt. Waffle. Okay, you know, it’s fine, I’ll keep going… until the FIFTH mention of jingle johnson. And readers, let me tell you, there was no bell attached. Under no circumstances should that been a jingle nor a johnson here without a damn bell attached.

I couldn’t do it. This one wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into the weird banter with the two swings either to profanity-laced rants to… well, butt waffles and jingle johnsons. Unfortunately that overshadowed the writing so thoroughly I couldn’t continue, despite really, really wanting to. Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Nikola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.

I liked the description of this book and was looking forward to some banter between the two main characters. However, reading this book just made me disappointed. It was difficult to follow along and it felt clunky and the transitions were weird and did not make sense to me. Overall, I gave it a shot and read the whole book but honestly I probably should have just dnf this.

[Sarah · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

This book was so cute! The beginning was wild! Danika thought she could take on the Dark Lord with barely any training! There were so many humorous moments that made this such a fun read! Once she was expected to marry him, I was like, well, this escalated in the weirdest way!

The more I learned about Maksim, the more I liked his character. He definitely had a bigger heart than I expected from a Dark Lord.

I loved all the moments with Danika’s dad. I felt like those moments were handled with compassion and care.

The actual plot was funny to me. At times, I didn’t know who to trust, but I loved how it all played out!

[ChipmunksandDandelion (Cinnamon&Pine) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Much in the vein of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating, this was an easy, thoroughly entertaining read. We have our rather naive Chosen One, a former schoolteacher in her first life who cares for her dementia-stricken father (though, thankfully, she is not quite as clueless as some of her predecessors), and a Dark Lord who needs her to open the Gates of Fate. A fairly straightforward arrangement, one might think. Until Fate herself makes an appearance and decides to marry the two of them instead…

The comedic style is wonderfully over the top, and you really need to be in the mood for a story that takes absolutely nothing seriously!

But beneath all the ridiculousness lies a surprisingly tender portrayal of the burden Danika carries. Having cared for her father for more than a decade, she knows all too well the difficult, exhausting and sometimes heartbreaking realities that come with looking after someone suffering from dementia. It adds a layer of emotional depth that you might not necessarily expect from such an utterly unserious story.

And then there is our Lord Maksim, who needs eye protection to read demon script. Thankfully , they help him decipher the letters, and here we go again: me and my favourite microtrope, the slutty little glasses. 🤓

I enjoyed this and will certainly pick up the next one!

Best quote:
“Having a unicorn bestie was intense.”

[Samanthasue218 · Rating 4 out of 5]

No spoilers. Read via kindle (arc).

This book is a romantasy romcom, and is such a great palate cleanser. This was humorous and quirky, but has a great storyline. The words that people had complained about, made me laugh more with how bothersome they were about it, along with the just the words in general. It was a fun time. The banter was good, the characters are good, and the storyline was good. If you are looking for something serious with your romantasy journey, this is not the book for you. It is to be silly and fun hence the romcom. I enjoyed the magic and the adventures this book takes you on. The tropes are good match in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Would I recommend? Yes, if you are wanting a fun romantasy romcom this fall, and need a good palate cleanser with first book in a series.

[Terri McCarrell · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying that I really get what Emma Eden was going for with this book. There is ABSOLUTELY an audience that will love this book. Unfortunately, it wasn't me. I really enjoyed Eden's other writing, and it should be known that she really writes great stuff. This book fell toooo far down the silly rabbit hole for me. Again, I understand that was the point, but for my own personal preferences, it was just too far that direction for my full enjoyment.
I always enjoy the magic and world building Eden writes, and this was no exception. The characters were funny while also having a good system of fantasy built around them. I just couldn't take them seriously at all in the end, and I know there are MANY people who kick their feet and giggle over this style of writing. They will have the best time with this book!

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I never knew how much I would fall for fantasy rom-coms. They bring so much sunshine and joy to my life, and they will always hold a special place in my heart. Emma knows how to write fantasy rom-coms. She delivers funny, witty stories filled with sizzling spice, longing, and awkward quips that make my day.

What makes it even better is being gifted with not one, but two equally sarcastic and unhinged leads. A chosen one who would rather not be chosen, and a Dark Lord with a soft and squishy side. Oh, and add an arranged marriage to the mix, and you get the perfect rainy-day concoction to keep you warm and fuzzy.

Maksim and Dani will steal your hearts just as they have mine. They are perfectly imperfect together, and their growing relationship, with all its ups and downs, was a joy to witness. So, grab a snack and a drink and get ready to meet Mr. and Mrs. Dark Lord. You’re guaranteed to laugh, cry, and root for these two from the first to the last sentence.

Thank you, Emma, for allowing me to join you on this wild ride as your ARC reader. It’s been a blast.

[Larissa Benfey · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I had a bit of a strange reading experience with this one. For roughly the first 50%, I was really struggling to connect with it—the writing and structure just weren’t quite working for me. There were several elements that felt underdeveloped or unclear, from some of the character relationships to the passage of time to plot points that seemed to get introduced and then glossed over. At times, things happened so quickly that I had to pause and piece together what had actually happened.

The romance was a mixed bag for me, too. While I did appreciate just how gloriously down-bad Maksim is for Dani (and his excellent “touch her and die” energy 👀), some of the chemistry INITIALLY felt more forced than earned. I also wasn’t always sure where certain character relationships stood, which made some of the sudden shifts in how people treated one another feel a little jarring.

That said... something really clicked for me around the halfway mark. I found myself invested in the characters and fully swept up in the plot despite the book’s earlier limitations. I particularly enjoyed the ideas around perception, manipulation, and propaganda—and the way “good” and “evil” aren’t necessarily as straightforward as they initially appear.

And the third act? That’s where the narrative really shines. Everything comes together, it’s genuinely gripping and fast-paced (but not confusing), and I loved seeing Dani take centre stage. I especially appreciated some of the ways the book flipped the usual gendered expectations around third-act conflicts, and by the end, I really liked that Dani and Maksim felt like genuine equals in terms of power. He also brings out the worst in her—in the best possible way—which ended up being one of my favourite aspects of their dynamic.

So, yeah. This was a weird one for me. There’s a lot here that I think could have used more development and polish, but the latter part of the book won me over considerably more than I expected it to. I can absolutely see what the author was going for, even if I didn’t always feel the execution quite got there.

Also: Why did I think this was a standalone?? Yes, it does wrap up its main story—but then THE LAST SENTENCE?!? IMPLYING SUCH A WILD CLIFFHANGER?!!??! I am unwell.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dísir · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was unfortunately one that I couldn't get past the first chapter at all: nothing sat right with me at all, not the tone nor the plot a 35-year-old lady getting to help a dark lord. I tried and I tried to get into it, but ended up going through the first 2 chapters repeatedly until I gave up.

It's not badly written if you consider the first person POV written in a comedic style that almost verges on New Adult slapstick from the very start, but I guessed a little too late that this wasn't my preference.

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Emma Eden for sending me this ARC!

How To Capture a Dark Lord’s Heart is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series and a great mix of fantasy romance and rom-com, I really enjoyed Dani and Maksim’s story.

This book sounded amazing when I first heard about it and I knew I had to read it. I mean, a 35-years old FMC who finds out she’s a Chosen One and needs to kill the Dark Lord but their fight doesn’t go according to plan and they end up getting married and forced to work together? It was exactly what it promised and I had a lot of fun reading this book, it started strong and I ended up really liking it. Dani and Maksim were great as the main characters, their banter was amazing and the tension between them was palpable. Their first meeting and all that followed and how they were stuck together was hilarious and they were definitely perfect for each other. I loved how down bad Maks was for Dani, he definitely fell first and it was fun to see him trying to deny it while constantly calling her ‘my wife’ and all the possessiveness and ‘touch her and die’ vibes. I also liked the supporting characters, especially Julius, the murderous unicorn, the author had many great ideas that she put into this book and I enjoyed seeing them come to life.

The reason it was not a 5⭐️ book for me was the pacing. This book started strong, but after some time it really slowed and I struggled to keep reading, but about halfway through it picked up and I flew through the rest and ended up really liking it, the story and the characters are really great and unique and definitely worth reading about.

How To Capture a Dark Lord’s heart is a great romantasy book with rom-com elements, I had fun reading it and enjoyed this story, definitely recommend it and I also liked that while it’s the first book in series, there’s no cliffhanger at the end.

[Julia · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from the author

Thank you to Emma Eden for this ARC! Overall, How to Capture a Dark Lord's Heart was the feel good fantasy romcom it promised to be. The book was dialogue-driven, mostly consisting of fun banter between the cast of characters. It was a fun, entertaining read that's great for when you're looking for something lighthearted.

There were a few downsides, which is why I ultimately rated this 2.75 stars. The writing style was somewhat stilted at points, and as it was dialogue-heavy, there are important world-building elements that readers are left to interpret on their own. Danika's vocabulary tended to trend the line between quirky and cringey, and definitely crossed that boundary multiple times. I'm also not a big fan of insta-love, so the immediate attraction (and relatively non-stop lust-driven internal monologue) Danika and Maksim shared was difficult to get into. As the relationship built between the two throughout the book, however, their love story became more believable. I also wish this book got into the politics of the fantasy setting more. I have so many questions about the way this world works. Why does there need to be a Chosen One and Dark Lord, and what balance are they maintaining by existing? What other magical beings and cultures existed beyond humans and unicorns (e.x. who are the shifters that were mentioned briefly)?

Ultimately, How to Capture a Dark Lord's Heart was a fun read! Thank you again to the author for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This is a fantasy rom/com full of magical creatures and general silliness. Our fmc Danika has been thrust into becoming a chosen one who has to face off against the dark lord with little training or experience. Chaos ensues

There are a number of colourful characters we're introduced to, including a murderous unicorn. There are plenty of zany antics and silly situations which are on the whole, very funny. The fmc has a sense of humour that leans to the absurd The banter is great and the chemistry and tension is really good

It sometimes feels as though the story races ahead without much explanation and I had to occasionally reread lines as I didn't understand what was happening or why. I appreciate this is a short book however so lots of world building can't be done.

The fmcs choices did start to rankle by the end of the book and I'm not sure if she will be a character I want to revisit. However the mmc and the surrounding cast of characters are great. I particularly liked the idea of having such a bland villian who commits atrocities in full view and creates a narrative to fit his plan.

Overall a short funny fantasy rom/com, read if you love a book full of silliness

[tonyasbookshelf · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was really excited to read this book based on the blurb that I read. There were parts of it that I really enjoyed, but some I just couldn't connect with. The relationship between the two main characters felt a little forced at times. The banter was good, but also seemed a little juvenile for a pair in their 30's. The plot was a little jumpy at times. I feel like there could have been come better transitions, or even chapters that ended at different spots to help. I was able to follow most of it and the plot got more interesting the further along in the book. The last 40% of the book was the best in my opinion. I felt as though I was able to follow it better and connect with what was going on more. Overall, I did enjoy most of this book and I am interested to see where it goes in the next book.

Thank you Emma Eden for the chance to read this early.

[lena ☆ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Danika’s already overwhelmed with work and caring for her ailing father when she discovers she’s the Chosen One destined to defeat the Dark Lord, Maksim. But when Fate turns their epic battle into an unexpected marriage, she finds herself training under the very man she’s supposed to destroy. As Maksim struggles with his growing feelings for his chaotic wife, a new Chosen One emerges, forcing them to work together against a common enemy. With forced proximity, an arranged marriage, and a villain falling in love, saving the world might be easier than admitting their feelings.

This is full of banter, funny side characters and fantasy elements.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s a quick, funny and entertaining read.

Their chemistry was really refreshing, and I loved how they slowly started to trust each other, as Danika got better at using her magic, and Maksim found love.

I will say, I didn’t understand a few aspects of the world building itself. I think with such a big world, there could’ve been more time to explore it, rather than gloss over it.

“The dildo of consequences rarely comes lubed”

thank you to net galley, victory editing and Emma Eden for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to say I am thankful to have received an advance copy through NetGalley.
Now onto my review - I really enjoyed this story! I think that it checks a lot of boxes that romantasy readers want- a slightly older FMC, real world burdens, growth arc that seems realistic and a MMC that really is pretty gray. It was funny, the banter was great and the spice was at like 1-2 peppers, which means there was actually a story!!
The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars was that there were parts, especially in the beginning, where things moved so quickly it was hard to follow for me.
Overall - it was a super fun read that I would definitely recommend!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of an advance copy received from the author.

“Kidnapping is not a love language” 
This book was so much fun! Danika is “the chosen one” from her village to go to the Dark Lord’s castle and defeat him. She quickly learns that she has been sent as a sacrifice instead, and she is very vocal about how she feels. Maksim, the Dark Lord, is just trying to break a curse when he meets the sarcastic and curvy chosen one. I found myself laughing out loud and getting invested in the side characters’ stories. 

It's also a good pallet cleanser if you're looking for a light fantasy romance.

[Sofia Gajewski mamaqueleeromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this book!
With Emma’s unique touch and humor, it is a book that will keep you waiting for what thing is going to happen next and be surprised. Every single time.
Max is a very dark and villainous character. But when the story develops, You will see a lot more of him and why he is how he is.
Dani is an incredible character. Very sweet but strong. With a natural way to flow with the chaos.
But my favorite character will always be Julius (fun fact: it is the nickname that my husband also uses, so it was hilarious and inevitable to imagine him reading the book).
The whole world is incredible. Unique in their own way. With amazing side characters and surprises that are always coming.
I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you Emma for this ARC copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Anushka]

Review in spanish:
La verdad que el libro se me está haciendo un poco aburrido y no me convence el estilo de escritura. La premisa es muy interesante pero no me gusta como se está desarrollando. Ademas que tenia que releer varias veces las cosas para enterarme bien.

English:
To be honest, I’m finding the book a bit boring, and the writing style doesn’t really work for me. The premise is very interesting, but I don’t like how it’s being developed. On top of that, I’ve had to reread parts several times to fully grasp what’s going on.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Emma Eden for the opportunity to review this ARC! Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I found the writing very clunky, disjointed and difficult to follow at times. I frequently had to reread sentences or paragraphs to understand what was happening and there were multiple times that I felt like I missed things (brought up later in the book).

Also, this was described as a romantasy romcom, so I was expecting some great banter and some funny moments. I didn't really feel any of that from any of the characters. Any of the "jokes" really fell flat for me. The funniest part were the chapter subtitles.

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a lover of the "villain as misunderstood cinnamon roll" trope and Emma Eden did not disappoint! From page one, I was hooked! The story follows Danika, who has been sent as the "Chosen One" to defeat the villainous Maxim. It's not until Danika makes it to his lair that she gets to know him and realizes that the story she was told may be more fiction than reality. It was a very fun read and I found myself laughing quite a bit at the banter, which kept me entertained throughout. Danika's dad was also a sweet addition to the story; he was out of it mostly, but it was great to see the love between Danika and her dad. The found family (Maksim's staff) was also a nice touch.

The more I learned about Maksim, the more I liked his character - he was an absolute cinnamon roll! It's always interesting to read about someone who is labelled as "bad" who isn't so bad after all -- it's all about who is controlling the narrative, amiright?

I am looking forward to the second installment How to Claim a Dark Lord's Soul - I want Danika and Maksim to have their HEA!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jackie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming the Chosen One is easy, falling in love with the Dark Lord is a mid-life crisis.

This was an ARC read from NetGalley.

This story was such a fun read. Fantasy/RomCom. Great banter.

I enjoyed the story line and the characters. There’s a little bit of ridiculous too the story that made me love it even more.

If you loved Assistant to the Villain, The Dark Lords Guide to Dating or The irresistible urge to fall for you Enemy.. you will love this book too!

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC, How to Capture a Dark Lord's Heart.

Oh no, this book was a miss for me. It immediately reminded me of Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brenen and I was not a fan of that book. I didn't like the humor and I didn't think the writing was smooth. I also immediately felt like I was missing pieces of the story throughout the book and I hate having to go back and try and reread what I already read, especially if I'm not already enjoying it.

[Cambria Grzybowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 13%

I received an ARC of How to Capture a Dark Lord’s Heart in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

I REALLY wanted to like this one.

A 35-year-old FMC discovers she’s the Chosen One destined to defeat a Dark Lord… only for Fate to apparently have wedding bells in mind instead?

YES. That premise immediately got me.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing around 13%, and the biggest reason was the writing itself.

I frequently found myself rereading sentences because the phrasing or sentence construction made it difficult to understand what was actually being said. There were also moments where fairly significant things seemed to happen almost in passing, leaving me wondering when or how we’d gotten from one action to the next.

More than anything, though, the writing felt very surface-level to me.

Character reactions, emotions, and implications were often stated or immediately explained rather than given room to develop through the scene. At the same time, some of the connective tissue between actions felt missing. I never really felt like I was inside the story—I was very aware that I was reading it.

The humor was also hit-or-miss for me. There were a couple of lines that genuinely made me laugh, and I could usually see where the book was trying to be funny, but most of the jokes didn’t quite land for me. The very modern, conversational phrasing also occasionally pulled me out of the fantasy setting.

And that’s ultimately why I decided to stop.

At only 13%, I can’t speak to how the romance, characters, or larger plot develop, and I don’t want to rate a story I didn’t read enough of to fairly judge.

But after repeatedly finding myself focused more on deciphering the writing than getting lost in the story, I realized this particular writing style just wasn’t going to work for me.

Which is a bummer because I still think the premise sounds SO fun. 😭

[S Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Assistant to the Villain, you are going to absolutely adore this book! It is funny and charming, with touches of villainy and sass. The push and pull of Maks and Dani is *chefs kiss*. I was laughing from the very beginning of this book and crying by the end. So if you want a good Romantasy comedy pick this one up!

[Therese Gorostiza]

Thank you to the author for the ARC. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through many chapters after having recently read A Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating/Honeymooning and it seemed very similar to me. Also jelly and teddy bears were a bit much. Cheers to those who enjoyed the book, but this was not for me! Good luck to the author for many books to come!

[Briana Briggs · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This was a fun read!! Reminded me of the Dark Lord's Guide to Dating, but a little faster paced.

[Ellie Wiemer · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Okay this had me giggling the entire time! I can’t wait to see how this story ends ☺️

[l_romantsayreads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This one was funny and parts but sometimes really chaotic and it pulled away from the story.

[lindsay ☆彡 · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

2.5 stars. the premise for this was interesting, but it ultimately read far too much like the Guides to Villainy series and i just didn't buy it. the humor didn't land for me and i ended up DNF'ing it around 25%. the writing style didn't resonate with me. i'm sure there are people who this book is meant for, but i wasn't one of them!

thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Gracie Howells]

It’s so bad I can’t 😭