Thank you to the author publisher & Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I enjoyed dreadful! It was funny and heart warming., even though he was a Dark Lord. I think the characters are lovable and quirky. I could see it becoming a movie. If you are looking for a fun read check this one out.

This was such a fun book to read! Super campy and felt very much like I was watching a very comforting episode of a show I used to watch as a kid. The author has a gift for humour, and I absolutely love the age-old trope of body swaps/being transported into a world you're not expecting to be a part of. Not to say that it's just a romp, there's a lot of great character work here and discussions of good v. evil and stripping down the image of a quintessential villain. If you're looking for a fun and cozy fantasy, Dreadful's the one for you!

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

Now LISTEN HERE. This is REAL cozy fantasy right here. I don't think I've enjoyed a cozy fantasy this much since Legends & Lattes, one of my all time favourite fantasies. It's got the perfect amount of fluff, filler, down time, and humour, which match up against the deadlines, low stakes, and antagonists to form an absolutely perfect concoction of magical awesomeness. And what's even better, this one made me cry! I never cry. My eyeliner is fuckin' expensive.

Gav is probably one of my favourite protagonists ever. I really, REALLY enjoy the slightly-past-their-prime, tired and grumpy, overworked and overworn types, and the Dread Lord Gavrax fits that to a T, with his jar of replacement eyebrows and poser evil aesthetic. This is an amnesia story, but it doesn't really fall into the pits that those stories usually do. Gav grows SO MUCH as a person and becomes, well. Not perfect, because no one is perfect. But he becomes something better than what he was before. He realizes that his life as an evil dark lord is tacky, stupid, and worthless, and that things would be much more enjoyable if he didn't torture the princess, or execute his goblins, or threaten the townsfolk. There's plenty of evil in the world without him having to decorate like a Halloween department, or wear uncomfortable, lavish garments that get caught underfoot.

Speaking of the evil in the world, that's his boss. And his boss sucks ass. So Gav's gonna team up to take his boss down, working with the princess, who isn't very pretty, or demure, or sparkly, but has a hell of a knack for magic, and his rival, a beautiful enchantress, and his castle staff, who have all kinds of Etsy worthy talents and love to cook terribly exotic foods. There's a witless knight, an overzealous steward, a town full of garlic, and more facepalms and heavy sighs than you can shake a severed hand at. Dreadful has a bit of everything for everyone.

I think I enjoyed this so much because I've always loved stories about becoming better than yourself. Realizing that there's evil in you, and there's evil in everyone, and then taking the steps to conquer that evil, and maybe just be mean, rude, or downright bad sometimes instead. Letting go of a past you who thought that cruelty and isolation would keep you safe and give you the shield against anything the world could throw at you. Sure, it's fun to wear all black and throw fireballs at innocent people. But sometimes, you really just want a day off in your pj's.

I can't wait to see more from Rozakis. I'm hoping for another standalone--- it's hard to start and end a story entirely in one go, but she managed it expertly. Though I definitely wouldn't mind a return to the world of Gav.

What if a villain wasn't a villain... this was so fun! The tone reminded me of the old 'Dungeon Keeper' games, as it played with the stereotypical 'moustache-twirling baddie' stereotype to great effect. The Shrek-style realism of essentially fantasy-tropes shown as real people was delightful without being heavy-handed or lampshading, and this really was a pleasure to read.

I've already been recommending it, and look forward to seeing what the author does next!

I infrequently read books from a male POV now, that this was a pleasant surprise. Dreadful was laugh out loud funny at times and downright charming.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. The above is my honest opinion.

Well this is just super fun!
A little bit of romance, a lot of funny quips, the identity of what it means to be evil (versus good); with a focus on stereotypes and how entrenched they are in people’s perceptions and expectations.
I like that the ending is fairly closed, could maybe do a sequel, but kind of hope this remains a stand-alone. All the characters, especially the goblins, are quite endearing, or at least interesting, and the focus on how everyone looks, sounds, etc. just amplifies these differences and makes our characters even more likeable.
The plot is not as thin as I expected, and the magic set-up, rituals, etc. explained better than I had hoped for. Overall this is a funny, cosy little fantasy which features a less-pretty princess, our leading dark lord with no memories, some (cuddly?) goblins, a few sinister dark wizards (or lords), and a lot of garlic. Yes that’s right, garlic.
You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out why Dreadful is dreadfully great.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

If you’ve been yearning for a comedic high fantasy featuring a dark wizard protagonist, your wait is over. Caitlin Rozakis’s Dreadful is a delightful romp through a world where humor and wit reign supreme. The story follows the misadventures of Gav, who endeavors to navigate a series of bizarre and hilarious predicaments.

Rozakis’s sharp writing style kept me engaged (and giggling) throughout.

I enjoyed the way Dreadful balances humor with meaningful storytelling. Yes, it’s funny, but it’s also a well-written book. Even better, Rozakis has crafted quirky, interesting characters who are themselves twists on long-suffering high fantasy archetypes.

For those of us who love to laugh, Dreadful is a joy to read. I mean, the cover says it all, doesn’t it??

The plot, while light-hearted, also touches on deeper themes of classism and bigotry, providing a satisfying and thought-provoking experience.

But whether you’re in it for the laughs or the story, Dreadful delivers on all fronts. If you’ve already read Dreadful and enjoy fantasy stories with a strong sense of humor, check out my reviews of The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde and I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle​​​​.

For those looking for an entertaining summer read, give Dreadful a try. It’s a narrative that is as funny as it is engaging. I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a laugh and a great story.

In Dreadful, Caitlin Rozakis takes on the oft-attempted and oft-mishandled mission of attempting to write a humorous fantasy book. Many have tried to follow in the footsteps of famous authors like Terry Pratchett and more often than not, tragically miss the mark.
Dreadful, has a fabulous core concept of someone waking up realising they are an evil wizard who has managed to erase their own memories.This alone had me intrigued, but the addition of wholesome side characters like hench-individuals and bold princesses alongside painfully seductive sorceresses captivated me. I think Rozakis managed to balance the heavier more thought-provoking plot elements with the humour of the book to create something that had an overall balance to it.
I wouldn't describe Dreadful as side-splittingly-funny but it definitely raised a smile and at some points a chuckle which is what I wanted the book to do. I thought the aspects where there were interactions with other characters definitely made the book sing - the Garlic Festival was pure genius.
I'd recommend this book to fantasy fans feeling stuck in a rut and needing something of a shake-up.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

Such a fun read! If I had my guess, this author is a fan of Terry Pratchett and has let him inspire both story and characters. Which is almost the highest praise I can think of for a Fantasy novel that aims to be fun an whimsical. The characters are fun and well thought through, the plot is all over the place (and reflects the main characters experience of the very strange turn of events he finds himself in) in the best possible way! I'm a little slow with my review, but I loved this book so much, I suggested it for my bookshops fantasy book of the month, where it was very well recieved!

Dreadful is a humorous and whimsical YA fantasy standalone novel by Caitlin Rozakis. Released 28th May 2024 by Titan Books, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a diverting, slyly funny, wonky story full of off-kilter characters, an intelligent, fairly badass princess, an evil magician with amnesia, memory demons, goblins, depressingly decorated evil wizard tower, and some pretty good underlying messages.

There were honestly a few snort-out-loud moments. Evil blue squids, a down-at-the-heels town full of cowering peasants desperately in need of some tourist-friendly activities (a garlic festival! That's the ticket!), transmogrified handsome prince, eyebrowless evil wizard, goblins in fluffy kitchen aprons, and so many more crazy but appealingly silly moments.

There are some really good takeaways about the true nature of how we're seen affecting who we become, self-determination, found family, second (or twenty-third) chances, and making our own destiny. It's not preachy at all, it's very funny in places, and the author has wickedly accurate comedic timing.

Four stars. Highly recommended for library acquisition, home library, gifting, or a read-aloud with a friend/book club/buddy.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

"Dreadful" might just be my favorite read of 2024! This book is a fantastic blend of humor, heart, magic, and a whole lot of fun with evil wizards, sassy princesses, and even killer moat squids. Dread Lord Gavrax, our main character, wakes up with no memory and has to navigate his dark past and nefarious plots with a lot of wit and charm. The goblins are adorable, the plot is engaging, and the writing is delightfully self-aware. If you love humorous fantasy with a twist, don't miss this one!

One of my favourite Australian TV shows is an improv comedy gem called Thank God You’re Here. In it, an unscripted performer walks through a door onto a set filled with fully-scripted actors. The performer has no clue what character they are or what scene they're stepping into, and they have to improvise their way out, making for highly entertaining, sometimes awkward scenes.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis reminded me exactly of that, except with an evil wizard, who has woken up in a castle and forgotten exactly why he turned into a villainous dread lord, why he’s imprisoned a princess, why his past self kept incinerating his employees, why everyone cowers beneath him and what his fearsome reputation is built on. I’m glad to report I was very, very amused and I found myself laughing out loud plenty of times while reading this.

There are a few reasons this book worked for me:

Firstly, I’ve come to realise that cosy fantasy with too much sugar and fluff just doesn’t mesh with my cynical soul and I was worried I might not be the target audience for this book. But it turns out, I had nothing to fear. This book was simultaneously magical, absurd, flippant, whimsical, satirical, and self-deprecating without being twee. Plus it was full of introspection and heart. And garlic. Lots of it. Vampires would be repelled by this book. Humorous fantasy is probably the closest generic description for it, I wouldn't call it low-stakes or cosy. Lives are definitely at stake.

Secondly, we all know I love a trope subversion and Dreadful doesn't disappoint. It leans into and pokes fun at every fairytale trope under the sun, whether it's conventional heroes, knights in shining armour, princess stereotypes, or evil wizards.

Finally, beneath it all there are subtle underlying themes of kindness and reminders to not discriminate, stereotype or judge a book by its cover. There's a bit of soul-searching and overcoming toxic masculinity. The female characters in this book are written to be intelligent and cunning, which should be a basic benchmark in stories, but seems worthwhile to mention given how frequently certain popular authors write witless, inauthentic women characters.

This was almost a 5-star read for me, teetering on a solid 4.5. If you like T.Kingfisher’s light-hearted fantasies or John Scalzi-type humour, there is a decent chance you would also appreciate this book.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something unserious, witty and creative to read, and to anyone who believes in the unfathomable magical power of garlic. I’m genuinely excited to read anything Caitlin Rozakis writes next.

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This book has been published and is available to read now.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis is such a great read!

It has adventure, humor, an epic story line, and characters that are unique and such fun to read about. People often forget that a fantasy novel can also be humorous as well, and Rozakis delivers a one-of-a-kind story that readers are going to be enjoying for years to come.

This is comedy/satire style fantasy. Our male main character wakes up in a half destroyed evil wizard's workshop with no memories, either of what happened or who he is.

Except it's looking like he's the evil wizard. He also realises that he was mid scheme and there's a princess locked in the dungeon so he just sort of has to go along with things and try to figure out the plan as he goes along.

But what's he's figuring out is that nothing is quite as it seems in his evil wizard castle.

This was fun, I think that comedy is difficult to do well but this hit the mark nicely for me. The fact that he's figuring out things along with the reader eliminates the need for awkwardly placed exposition which is a nice touch. The side characters are a nice balance of interesting and a bit weird and no one's quite who they seem to be.

4 stars

I would like to thank Titan Books, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Read if you like:
Cozy Fantasy
Monty Python vibes
Dark wizards who aren't so dark
Smart Princesses

Gav awakens to a mess of what appears to be a workshop of a dark wizard, in a keep full of goblins, surrounded by a moat filled with killer squid. Turns out that that Gav is the Dread Lord Gavrax, a dark wizard that is part of a nefarious plot with three other wizards. He just can't remember what the plot is, or why he appears to have kidnapped a princess and is holding her in the dungeon. As he comes to terms with being both an evil wizard who terrorizes his servants and the village he lords over and learns who he is as Gav, he has to decide who he wants to be and what part he plays in this evil plot.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and loved that it was a cozy high fantasy. This book is quite funny and, for me, has Monty Python vibes. Unfortunately, the middle of the book dragged a bit and suffered from the only really likable characters were the side characters. I couldn't really root for the main characters. Luckily, the end of the book is completely ridiculous, in a good way so the book did hold my interest. This was an interesting debut, I'll be on the lookout for the author's next book.

I normally love a good amnesia trope but I found this book difficult to get into. I think it’s because it read like it was written very YA (or perhaps even MG) but the characters were older. Which felt a bit discordant to me. I didn’t finish this book because I just felt I was never going to get into it (and I check with a friend who’d loved it, basically if I wasn’t into by the point I’d got to then I never was). Which is not to say that there was anything wrong with the writing or the story, the combination just wasn’t for me. I genuinely thought I’d love this book but it was perhaps too much like a video game. I don’t know. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eGalley.

What would you do if you woke up in a dark lords tower, singed, and with no memories ?

🐌 Taking into account that legging it isn’t an option as it turns out you, are said Dark Lord.

Okay so throughout this I was imagining Gav as Edmund Blackadder, and Grrribeetle as Baldrick - and honestly I’m going to need them to get onto a tv production of this.

Gav is always panicking (relatable) and very much out of his depth (also relatable) He also has magic (enviable) but as he slowly discovers, The Dread Lord Gavrax seemingly has little in common with Gav, and maybe not as competent as Gav had hoped.

With a princess in his dungeon, a goblin house hold, and a garlic festival, Gav tumbles head on into essentially a dark Lord convention, and these were the really scary ones.

Orla, this book has a million reasons to read it but Orla is one of my fave. Competent, honest, and bizarre. Goblin cook in a frilly apron. Please just read this I can’t explain how much I enjoyed it properly 🐙

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was witty and charming and funny. It tells the story of 'Gav', a dark wizard who wakes up with no memories, including why he is a dark wizard and why there's a princess trapped in his dungeon. This story is engaging and heart warming and is a definite 5* from me!

This book was just not for me. I tried! Even though it was a little funny at times, I was ultimately bored. I DNFed at 40%

Hilarious, satirical, and at times redolent with biting humor. We will be ordering this for our library. Our readers will love it.