What do you think?
Rate this book
Villainy Consultant #1
Geoffrey P. Ward's Guide to Villainy
Discover a wickedly funny fantasy that is The Princess Bride meets Once Upon a Time and perfect for fans of fractured fairy tales!
Successful villains aren’t born. They’re made.
Unless you're born into the role of hero or handed it by misguided fairy godmothers, you can never hope to achieve anything beyond the measly life you've got. At least that's what the fairy tale fops would have you believe. They prefer people to think that only divine destiny allows others the right to join their exclusive club, but fate isn't a good enough reason to let the heroes get all the glory.
However, from "once upon a time" to "happily ever after", heroes have stacked the deck against the intrepid villains. Until now.
Geoffrey P. Ward is the world’s foremost (and only) fairy tale villain consultant, and in this guide, he outlines all the critical tips for success you need to achieve your villainous goals. Whether looking to overthrow a kingdom or put your unruly stepdaughter in her place, Geoffrey P. Ward’s Guide to Villainy will give you the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Because even villains deserve a happily ever after.
***
Geoffrey P. Ward’s Guide to Villainy is a satirical how-to guide for fairy tale villains that uses the characters of those classic stories to illustrate the narrator’s snarky (yet impeccable) advice.
Buy your copy today and leap into a new fantasy world where not all magic is good and not all endings are happily ever after.
Successful villains aren’t born. They’re made.
Unless you're born into the role of hero or handed it by misguided fairy godmothers, you can never hope to achieve anything beyond the measly life you've got. At least that's what the fairy tale fops would have you believe. They prefer people to think that only divine destiny allows others the right to join their exclusive club, but fate isn't a good enough reason to let the heroes get all the glory.
However, from "once upon a time" to "happily ever after", heroes have stacked the deck against the intrepid villains. Until now.
Geoffrey P. Ward is the world’s foremost (and only) fairy tale villain consultant, and in this guide, he outlines all the critical tips for success you need to achieve your villainous goals. Whether looking to overthrow a kingdom or put your unruly stepdaughter in her place, Geoffrey P. Ward’s Guide to Villainy will give you the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Because even villains deserve a happily ever after.
***
Geoffrey P. Ward’s Guide to Villainy is a satirical how-to guide for fairy tale villains that uses the characters of those classic stories to illustrate the narrator’s snarky (yet impeccable) advice.
Buy your copy today and leap into a new fantasy world where not all magic is good and not all endings are happily ever after.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2017
75 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Nichols
38 books479 followersBorn and raised in Anchorage, M.A. Nichols is a lifelong Alaskan, though she briefly ventured south to get a fancy bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from Utah State University—neither of which had anything to do with why she became an author, but they kept her alive while launching her publishing career.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 27, 2017
I loved writing this book, and I'm excited to publish it!
August 23, 2019
I thought this was a very creative fun book. It wasn't like anything I've read before and it was really interesting. I really liked hearing the many different fairy tales that I know have a unique spin to them and from a villain's point. It was also just as much fun to read stories I had never even heard from the such unique perspective. It really just proves that the winner's tell the stories.
This book really made me think about fairy tales in a whole new way. Just the way Geoffrey told all those stories and the advice the made it a really enjoyable. It was quite interesting to hear all of his advice about how to be villain and the way he stood villains. Villains really are victims who are just trying to make a better life for themselves just maybe not in the right way. It would have been nice to hear more about Geoffrey's backstory and I'm really hoping that in the next book it will go more in depth because we only ever heard little tidbits about it.
I found this book quite intriguing and could see myself reading again sometime in the near future. So I say if you are looking for a creative, fresh, new fantasy book to read you should this one.
This book really made me think about fairy tales in a whole new way. Just the way Geoffrey told all those stories and the advice the made it a really enjoyable. It was quite interesting to hear all of his advice about how to be villain and the way he stood villains. Villains really are victims who are just trying to make a better life for themselves just maybe not in the right way. It would have been nice to hear more about Geoffrey's backstory and I'm really hoping that in the next book it will go more in depth because we only ever heard little tidbits about it.
I found this book quite intriguing and could see myself reading again sometime in the near future. So I say if you are looking for a creative, fresh, new fantasy book to read you should this one.
December 1, 2018
You can tell a lot of love and thought went into this book. It reads so exactly like a self-help, I found myself sporadically forgetting that this book is fiction. Nichols does such a great job pegging the old fairytale tropes that I'd totally recommend this book to anyone looking to write fairytale retellings. Well written, Nichols. Very well written indeed.
Want to read
March 10, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/9/2020)! 🎁
October 17, 2017
Creative and well-written, I would recommend this book to fairy tale fans, especially those who might find themselves sympathizing with the villains in a tale or two. I would rate this book a 4.8 based on creativity and uniqueness. I obtained my copy from a Goodreads giveaway and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 22, 2020
I was expecting a parody, but this book was actually a good self-help book. I must be a villain because a lot of what Geoffrey said resonated with me on a profound level. Now to begin my training...
May 16, 2020
Fun take on morality in fairy tales. Good read.
April 27, 2020
A very creative treatise on organization, motivation and what it means to be a Villain. After reading this, the words spoken by Obi-Wan in Return of the Jedi, "..from a certain point of view." will have you looking at fables and nursery tales in a new light.
November 3, 2017
With tongue firmly in cheek, Nichols created a “villainous “ author who explains the ins and out of achieving your life’s goal through being the bad guy. Part self-help and part retelling of well-known Fairy Tales from the villain’s point of view. Much like WICKED or COFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER, this turns the tables to let you know that the so-called villain is merely an industrious person trying to improve his lot. The book is funny, a great read, and very enjoyable.
April 17, 2018
This books is written very well and so expertly written like a self-help book, it could very well be read by villains today. The prose was intelligent and professional, and I really loved the twist on fairy tales, even making certain characters from old favorites look like villains when they normally aren't. It's a clever twist.
I thought that it could have been funnier, which is what I expected, and I also thought it was redundant in parts. But otherwise, a good read.
I thought that it could have been funnier, which is what I expected, and I also thought it was redundant in parts. But otherwise, a good read.
September 26, 2020
This was cleverly written and at times had me laugh out loud and other times cringe. Overall, it was well done and gave an interesting twist to tales that are not so lovely.
Content:
Sexual: none per say, however....there were reference to rape and sexual abuse
Violence: mild, while not over graphic some was a little disturbing
Language: none that I can remember
Content:
Sexual: none per say, however....there were reference to rape and sexual abuse
Violence: mild, while not over graphic some was a little disturbing
Language: none that I can remember
December 27, 2020
DNF. While the fundamentals are humorous, and in general, I found the satirical take on the "real" world of business consultants amusing, the joke got old about halfway through the book and I have been unable to finish it.
If this is your thing, you might really enjoy it. It's well written and contains some interesting psychological insights.
If this is your thing, you might really enjoy it. It's well written and contains some interesting psychological insights.
October 3, 2017
Really a cute and creative take on fairy tale. I've read books that change fairy tales before, but this was creative in that it was more from the perspective of the villains. I enjoyed the unique look at familiar stories. Cute and worth a read.
October 12, 2017
Love
I loved this book. It shows you another side of villains found in popular fairy tales and how to be a “proper” villain. Creative, well thought out, and a fun read. Looking forward to more of MA Nichols’s books.
I loved this book. It shows you another side of villains found in popular fairy tales and how to be a “proper” villain. Creative, well thought out, and a fun read. Looking forward to more of MA Nichols’s books.
December 22, 2017
A unique take on fairy tales!
And much of the narrator's advice works for the here and now, as well. Funny and interesting read that takes familiar woes to a fantasy world where they can be crushed in a villainous fist.
And much of the narrator's advice works for the here and now, as well. Funny and interesting read that takes familiar woes to a fantasy world where they can be crushed in a villainous fist.
February 22, 2018
I met the author at the Life, the Universe and Everything writing conference last week. Her love of this book won me over so I bought a copy. Great fun! I reviewed it here: http://www.redhoteyebrows.com/2018/02...
June 12, 2018
Interesting read. Not my cup of tea being out of the workforce but may be useful to people wanting to advancement their careers.
Her use of fairy tales to explain the different types of villains and heroes is fun to rethink how we thought they meant.
Her use of fairy tales to explain the different types of villains and heroes is fun to rethink how we thought they meant.
July 16, 2020
This was super fun! I kept reading out quotes to my son.
July 18, 2020
Content:
Language: none
Violence: mild-medium (ref: original fairy tale gore)
Sexual: kissing
Language: none
Violence: mild-medium (ref: original fairy tale gore)
Sexual: kissing
December 13, 2022
This was so funny and entertaining! I am diving straight into the second book of this series!
August 10, 2020
Interesting idea that starts out well but then gets bogged down in too much detail and repetitiveness. I did enjoy the first few chapters and the retelling of several well-known fairy tales from the villain's perspective is quite funny but for a short book, it becomes tedious pretty quickly.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews