Charlie is shocked to discover that his estranged uncle's passing has involved him in a shadowy world of billionaires, evil-doers, and satellite exploding lasers.

Suddenly he's the owner of a top secret lair (under a volcano, naturally), though the "sinister mission control room" is somewhat lacking. And now some people are pressuring him to join the Lombardy Convocation, a group of super villainous villains who just happen to be having their annual meeting.
"Think of Davos, except they don't pretend they're helping people."

I assume the above info was enough to get your attention, but if you need more tidbits to lure you in, I'll also mention the spy cats, and the disgruntled dolphins.

This was pure (well, not really PURE) fun from start to finish; a quirky, hilarious romp that should keep you chuckling.

And, if your cat is staring at you right now, you should probably be a little nervous . . .

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book! Scalzi does it again! This was such an interesting premise for a book that had a little bit of fantasy and a little bit of crime and mystery, a combination that I’m constantly searching to find with characters that are believably human in their behavior. Such a great read!

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for a review.

I want to start this review by saying the cats were my favorite! They saved this book for me.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a novel that initially grabs your attention with its intriguing premise and eye-catching cover, promising an adventure in the world of supervillains with a "fish out of water" protagonist. However, while the concept has the potential for a fun and exciting story, I found the execution falling well short of expectations.

It seemed a lot of the story focused on the personal finances of the characters more than the actual villainy, which had me felling like I was attending a lecture rather than embarking on a high-stakes adventure. Coupled with the main character's constant need for explanations, and the repeated assertion of his ignorance, the story kept getting bogged down with it's own exposition.

One notable aspect that really left me puzzled was the protagonist's sudden transformation into a mastermind when it came to interacting with the other villains. It was inconsistent with his character development and had me questioning the timeline of this story.

In summary, while Starter Villain's premise and cover might be enticing, some readers may be disappointed by the heavy focus on economic aspects and a lackluster finale. It's essential to approach this book with an open mind and a willingness to explore its unique take on the supervillain genre, but be prepared for a narrative that might not fully deliver on the initial promise.

Pub date: 9/19/23
Genre: science fiction, humor
Quick summary: Charlie finds out that his estranged uncle was a supervillain, his cat is hyperintelligent, and he's inherited an island volcano lair. It's going to be a fight just to stay alive.

I discovered John Scalzi with THE KAIJU PRESERVATION SOCIETY, which turned out to be one of the most fun books I've ever read. STARTER VILLAIN is a similar wild ride - I love Scalzi's sarcastic and witty humor and the ridiculous situations he places his protagonists in. This one got a little complicated in the middle as Charlie dealt with all the supervillains, but I loved the beginning and ending so much. I never knew I needed a book with hyperintelligent cats and unionized dolphins, but it turns out a I did.

Thank you to Tor Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute. If you liked the humor in Red Shirts you’ll like this one too! Main character is a decent guy who isn’t having a great time in life. An estranged uncle dies, he’s asked to see to his funeral arrangements and the hijinks ensue from there. I chuckled throughout reading this and the ending is kind of sweet. I highly recommend it.

Starter Villain has just the kind of quirky, clever premise that I love, but after about 25% the novelty wore off, and it just became the kind of plot-driven, James Bond-esque story that bores me. Many readers will love it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc for review.

Laughed to the point of tears during this book - such smart, silly, creative, interesting writing around a plot that kept the pages turning - read this in a day. And what a day! During parts, I found my spouse and read sections out loud because I had to share in the fun. This novel has it all - mystery! Intrigue! Explosions! All of this with the surrounding social commentary of what a villain is - loved it. You must read it. Thanks to Tor Books. . What a gift!

Despite its fantastic cover, Starter Villain didn't capture my attention right away. I found the beginning a bit confusing and slow and didn't connect much to Charlie's perspective.

As the plot progressed, I did become more interested in what was happening and the situation Charlie was in. The pace also picked up some with the addition of some pretty well written and tense action scenes! There were also a few well executed plot twists that kept me guessing.

The one thing I looooved loved loved was the take on cats and dolphins here and how much humor they brought to the book. They were actually relevant! and complex characters and I didn't expect them to be used in that way. The best part of the story!

The ending was a bit underwhelming? I expected more from it and didn't much care for the final twists. After everything, it went in a direction I found a bit too predictable.

John Scalzi is an absolute treasure. I read this in one sitting (yes I was on an airplane but it still counts) and laughed the whole way through. The plot is clever, and the cats are even more so.

Charlie has been down on his luck and finds himself at the head of a mostly evil corporation when his uncle passes away. Can he make the change from substitute teacher to starter villain?

It's a classic twists inside of twists, nothing is quite as it seems story and I am totally here for it. Without ruining too much all I can say is: read this book!!! It's got everything you could possibly want; evil lairs, explosions, and multiple double crosses!

The best fun I've had reading...since my previous Scalzi book!
Thank you @netgalley and @jscalzi for the absolute blast I had reading this ARC!
All the stars- can you believe the typing cats are not even the best part about the book? That's because everything is the best part of this book- the adventure, the dolphins, the twists, the world of (super)villains (and their cats), the social criticism... anyway- did I mention the CATS?

I haven’t had this much fun reading a non-smutty book all year. This novel was a hoot-and-a-half that had me in stitches multiple times. I cackled so loud at one point my kid came to see what all the fuss was all about. So I read the part I was cackling over to them and they laughed so hard they curled up in a ball.

No, I’m not going to tell you when it is. It’s before 40% into the book, though. That’s a hint.

In a way, this book reminds me a little of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (all pay homage). Poor Charlie doesn’t have any friends, save his cat, Hera. He’s divorced, has less than two-hundred dollars in the bank, and is working as a substitute teacher when he used to be an excellent business reporter for a major newspaper. If that wasn’t enough, his three half-siblings are trying to strong-arm him into agreeing to sell the family house that he’s currently living in so they can split the money they’ll get for it four ways, even though his half-siblings all have plenty of money and he has none. He’s a sad sack, really. I kind of just want to give him a towel and tell him to not panic for what’s coming up next in his life.

Charlie’s Uncle Jake, who was his mother’s brother, dies of pancreatic cancer (screw cancer, especially that one, on a personal note), and asks that Charlie stand witness at his viewing before his cremation. If only he knew what he was getting into. Vulgar funeral bouquets, hired stooges all present to make sure his uncle is actually dead and not just pretending to be…again? And why is everyone suddenly so interested in him?

It’s not long before Charlie is flung into his late uncle’s secret world. To everyone else in the world, his uncle had just been the world’s largest manufacturer of parking garages. To those in the know, however, he was a villain, complete with his own villain lair on a volcanic island. There are hyper-intelligent cats trained as spies, guard dolphins who want collective bargaining rights, a laser array that can blast satellites out of the sky, and the whole island is self-sustainable. The issue is that a lot of other villains hated Uncle Jake, because he didn’t play by their rules. Now that he’s dead, they're gonna come for Charlie, because he’s just a starter villain.

Charlie isn’t without allies, though, and he has a keen mind for business. It’s just…well, the poor dear just needs to not panic, because this is all coming at him so very fast.

I wasn’t kidding when I said this book is funny. It’s hilarious. From the droll sense of humor the cats have to the dirty and Marxist speech of the dolphins I was constantly laughing. The way both Charlie and Til (his uncle’s assistant and now his) feel about rich nepobabies and the Ivy League Brads who come to the table with propositions that will only make more white men like them more rich made me snicker. The ways in which Charlie decides to screw with the other side made me chuckle.

In the end, this story is really just pure escapism: not just for the reader, but for Charlie too. Granted, the stakes are higher for him than us, but he was directionless in life and in a bit of a sticky wicket. His late uncle’s death gave him an opportunity to escape it all and find something new. In the end, he gets exactly what he wanted, and he’s a happy man. Excellent, fantastic read.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, and views expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Comedy/Fantasy/Science Fiction/Secret Society/Speculative Fiction

Absolutely hilarious and ridiculously heartwarming! If you’re wondering how either of these things is possible in a story about megalomaniacs with psychotic tendencies, just dive in and find out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

This book was such a fun ride! John Scalzi never fails top bring the humor to his books and this one was no exception. I loved this behind the scenes glimpse into the supervillain industry - by the end of the book I was wondering if this is actually what happens with the billionaires of the world - he was so convincing! I loved Charlie as our MC and I loved the way this super weird concept was executed.

This one was a super quick and easy read and I think it'll be a great addition to a spooky season TBR!

This is an enjoyable and original take on the superhero and villain archetypes. This novel also has many laugh aloud moments. Imagine what it would be like to be thrust into the role of supervillain after living a relatively ordinary life? Yes, it would be thrilling, but likely terrifying, at the same time. This main character gets to try a life of villainy on for size. This is a quick, delightful read!

I absolutely adored this book. Sentient cats and dolphins, evil villains, secret lairs... it was too good to put down. My favourite part of this book were the extremely rude dolphins. They had the best insults, my favourite was when the dolphin named "Don't Give a Shit" called our main character "A suppurating bourgeois fistula of oppression". The best insults, of course, require one to use the word lookup feature on kindle.

Charlie's estranged uncle dies and leaves him the keys to his supervillain business, however Charlie has no idea how to manage it. He is only a Starter Villain, and he doesn't have much time to learn the ropes. Luckily he has some sentient cats (all in management of course) to help him out, and a few humans to help him deal with the aforementioned rude dolphins and even worse - the competing villains.

The story got pretty confusing at the end, but was so great I read it in one sitting.

In Scalzi's newest novel, Charlie is shocked to find he is the heir to his estranged uncle's estate. He is even more shocked to find out his uncle was a villain, complete with lair and sentient cats. Charlie finds himself tangled up in villainous plots, and perhaps even worse, management.

I loved this one so much! This honestly might be my favorite from Scalzi so far. I just loved the whole premise, the cats, the everything. It was also so different than I thought it would be because I thought it would be more superhero villainy, but it is more everyday capitalist greed villainy. This was one I truly didn't want to put down, and I definitely suggest reading it! Such fun!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

A fun, fish-out-of-water story with evil villains, international conspiracies, talking cats, and a secret base on a volcanic island. The hero is clever, competent, and surprisingly able to roll with the absurdities of inheriting his long- lost uncle’s evil villain business. This is a book to read when you are tired of the terrible and the dark, and want something to entertain and leave you feeling better than you did when you started.

This was so fun! Starter Villain was exactly what I expected and wanted when I requested this. After reading this authors previous release, I was so excited to try more from him. While I was a little apprehensive with the whole villain storyline, this was a fun and quirky read that I flew through. I also love cats (and the cover) and this had me smiling and laughing throughout.

Though I was hoping for a bit more in the plot and surprises but I just had such a good time with this. This is silly and fun and is self aware of this that just worked so well. I really hope to see more like this from this author.


Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the e-arc!

Title: Starter Villain
Tagline: Meet the new boss.
Author: John Scalzi

Date Released: September 19th, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Category: Science-Fiction

Synopsis: Inheriting your mysterious uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might imagine. Sure, there are the things you'd expect. The undersea volcano lairs. The minions. The plots to take over the world. The international networks of rivals who want you dead. Much harder to get used to...are the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats. And the fact that in the overall organization, they're management...

Quote: “Villain conference,” Morrison said. “Think of Davos, except they don’t pretend they’re helping people.”

The UnReel Take:
Story: 7
Writing: 7
Characters: 5
Setting: 8
UnReel AR: 6.75

Bottom Line: Scalzi has a cult following but I’ve never been able to get into his work, so Starter Villain was something of a Hail Mary as a wannabe reader; luckily, it worked pretty well for me. This novella is more plot-driven than I typically prefer, but it makes sense in context. Scalzi’s trademark humor can be found in abundance, from hilarious funerals, striking dolphins, hyper intelligent cats, and a volcano lair. I did think the humor and over-the-topness grew a bit tiresome, but it was mostly a fun read.

Ideal Reading Location: Starter Villain can really be read anywhere but, if possible, try and have a cat in your lap while reading.

Drink Pairing: An Old-Fashioned. You’ll see.

Charlie is a down on his luck former journalist, current substitute teacher, who inherits his uncles villain business. It really shouldn't be surprising to anyone that all billionaires are super villains. Charlie has to figure out how to run this business quickly, or die. Good thing uncle Jake's assistant and Charlie's cat, Hera are here to help.

John Scalzi is a hilarious writer. This is the kind of book you read when you just want something fun, when you want a good laugh. It also makes sense that cat's basically rule the world.

Highly recommend!