The cover is absolutely delightful, but I'm afraid I couldn't get into this one at all. The paragraphs were incredibly long and all the internal monologuing made any kind of momentum hard to come by. I'm sure this will appeal to the comedic fantasy fans, but I am unfortunately not one of them, I don't think.

Imagine waking up in a tower, amidst a smudged chalk circle, with no memory and a jar of replacent eyebrows. Oh, and your servants are goblins. And there's a princess in the dungeon. The humor takes on the traditional tropes of Evil Dark Lords and twists them into something slightly different and unexpected.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I really wanted to love this book! I thought it would be the quirky, fun read that I’d been looking for. Instead, it was just trying too hard. I didn’t love the massive, run-on paragraphs or the attempt at being edgy. It became very repetitive very early on.

1) I would recommend this to readers who liked Scalzi and T. Kingfisher, although this book skewed longer than those two author's recent standalone.
2) The 'set-pieces' of this book were highlights, especially the garlic festival as someone who's gone to food-themed festivals.
3) A lot of this book is the main character ruminating, okay he's a dark wizard but how bad was his past self. The character rather shines when he acts instead of thinks.

This book isn't so "cozy" as the comparison to Travis Baldree suggests, but the oddness and the quirk of T. Kingfisher is definitely on point. It also kind of reminded me of The Princess Bride and the Pit of Despair scenes at times. This would be a great movie, and I think I would have enjoyed it better as an audiobook. It was silly and quirky and I definitely enjoyed the villain's POV aspect. It was also heartfelt and kind of cliche with the ending. There was a lot of "finding yourself" and questioning morals and self discovery. This story was a lot of fun and I wasn't super satisfied with the ending - although apart from a little romance, I'm not sure what would have improved it. I feel like saying "needs romance: is narrow because not every story has to have romance to be good , but when you read the description and see "villain" and "princess locked up" you kind of assume that there will be something between the two. I love the goblin henchmen.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

When is a Dread Lord not a Dread Lord? Yup, he lost his memories of it all, so now he's got to fake it in order to survive. And what to do about that princess in his dungeon that he apparently kidnapped? So many problems: local townsfolk, face sucking squid, goblins, heroes, more Dark Lords, pesky "good" magicians, and servants who may not be quite what they seem. Interesting, funny, lots of great characters.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis is seriously the most epic thing I've read in ages! Imagine waking up in this wrecked wizard's workshop, totally clueless and facing the terrifying possibility that you're your own worst enemy. Yeah, that's the insane rollercoaster Gav finds himself on in this book, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride from start to finish!

Rozakis serves up a fantasy adventure that's not just hilarious but also flips all the clichés on their head. I'm talking killer moat squid, a garlic festival and a whole lot of laughs. But amidst all the chaos and craziness, there's this deeper message about finding yourself and owning who you are that really hit me right in the feels.

And let's talk about the characters – they're seriously the coolest bunch I've ever met in a book! Dread Lord Gavrax is an absolute riot, going from dark wizard to... well, something else entirely. And the rest of the crew? They're just as awesome, from the goblins who stole my heart to the princess who's anything but your typical damsel in distress.

But what really sets this book apart is how it tackles big stuff like gender equality and self-image, all while keeping you laughing and cheering on the characters like they're your BFFs. Rozakis has some serious skills when it comes to weaving in those important messages without ever making the story feel preachy or heavy-handed.

So, if you're after a fantasy romp that's funny, heartwarming, and totally epic, do yourself a favor and dive into Dreadful. Trust me, you won't regret it – in fact, you'll probably be begging for more by the time you reach the last page!

An interesting look at what makes us who we are. Dread Lord Gavrax loses his memories, and with them his dark twisted, bitter hatred. This leaves him as just Gav, who discovers that underneath it all, he doesn't actually enjoy torture or any of the other Dread Lord pursuits and actually, he'd quite like to try and make things better.
This was so funny and very clever, I enjoyed it a lot.

I loved this one! Such cheeky humour and a great cast of characters. It could easily be adapted to the silver screen. If you're a fan of The Princess Bride, then it one is definitely for you. My only slight complaint is that it felt a bit dragged on in the middle right before the climax, which took some of the wind out of its sails. But overall, it's one of my top reads this year! Very unique and a breath of fresh air.

This book bounced between being a 2 or a 3 for most of my read. The plotting and some good genre-subversion just about get it up into 3 territory. Fun characters and interactions, with comedic set pieces keep the story rollicking along. I think the novel would have been far better if written in first person - having a character struggle with amnesia in third person, no matter how limited, is difficult to read. I wish the characters had better names, and the climactic moments feel a little cheap in how the main characters win. There are some odd 'women writing men' moments which seem weird in a novel not really set up as a romance at all - it would be better without Gav's endless fascination with thinking how attractive all the women around him are and avoiding looking at their boobs. Fun enough for fans of the genre.

A new entry in the light fantasy-comedy-romance vein, Gaz wakes in the body and castle of a Dark Lord wizard, with no idea who he is. A kidnapped princess, unreliable goblins and the most evil interior decor ever complicate matters. A fun quick read.

In Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis, readers are thrust into a hilariously chaotic high fantasy world where nothing is as it seems. Gav wakes up in the aftermath of chaos, finding himself in the unlikely position of being the Dread Lord Whomever, destined to commit heinous acts he has no memory of planning. As he navigates his castle filled with goblins and a perplexing princess, Gav realizes that unraveling the mysteries of his past may be the key to saving himself from a gruesome fate. With killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, an evil wizard convocation, and even a garlic festival thrown into the mix, Dreadful offers a rollicking adventure full of unexpected twists and turns. As Gav grapples with his newfound identity, he must confront the consequences of his actions and ultimately decide who he truly wants to be in a world where reality is as bizarre as it is unpredictable.

Caitlin Rozakis’s Dreadful is a delightful romp through a world filled with magic, mayhem, and unexpected twists. From the moment protagonist Gav wakes up in a half-destroyed wizard’s workshop with no memories and the startling realization that he is the Dread Lord Whomever, the reader is swept along on a whirlwind adventure that is as hilarious as it is captivating.

Rozakis’s writing is sharp and witty, effortlessly blending humor with moments of genuine suspense. The characters, from the bumbling but endearing Gav to the quirky inhabitants of his castle, are expertly crafted and brim with personality. The dialogue crackles with energy, and the banter between characters is both clever and laugh-out-loud funny.

What truly sets Dreadful apart is its unique blend of fantasy elements and farcical humor. From killer moat squid to an evil wizard convocation and even a garlic festival, the story is filled with absurd and entertaining twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Yet beneath the humor lies a deeper exploration of identity, morality, and the consequences of our actions, adding depth and substance to an already engaging narrative.

While Dreadful is undoubtedly a light-hearted read, it is also a thought-provoking one, prompting readers to consider the nature of heroism and villainy in a world where nothing is quite what it seems. Rozakis’s deft handling of these themes, combined with her infectious sense of humor, makes Dreadful a must-read for fans of high fantasy and farce alike.

In conclusion, Dreadful is a delightful and entertaining romp that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Caitlin Rozakis’s next adventure. With its memorable characters, clever writing, and hilarious premise, it is a book that is sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone who picks it up. Highly recommended.


** I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. **

This book was such a fun read and unique. It’s described as cozy fantasy and I completely agree. The plot keeps moving and the characters are funny and interesting. If you like cheesy dark wizards, silly goblins, and some memory loss you will love this book.

“Books told from the villain’s perspective” seem to be having something of a Moment. I read one recently, have an ARC of another, and then there’s this one. This is not a complaint; these are fun.

The protagonist of this book wakes up in the ruins of a magical laboratory in the aftermath of some kind of spell gone disastrously wrong, missing both his memories of who he is and his eyebrows. He pretty quickly pieces together that there isn’t an evil wizard about to come and kill him; he is, in fact, the Dread Lord Gavrax. And he’s the corniest, most over-the-top villain since Ming the Merciless.

The goblin guards? Horribly incompetent. The wardrobe, featuring black robes with a stiff collar going up past his head, and flame embroidery better suited for a Dodge Charger purchased by a newly recruited Army private at 30% APR? So cheesy. The torches? Give crappy light, and smoke everywhere. The less said about the wanton carvings on his throne, the better. And, ah, hell, there’s a princess in the dungeon who is very angry over being kidnapped.

Gav - he can’t bear to think of himself as Dread Lord Gavrax - has a dilemma. He doesn’t particularly *want* to be evil. But he can’t just walk away. Because he has to help a much more competent and powerful dark wizard in a ritual in one week, that involves the sacrifice of the aforementioned princess. So he wants to keep himself safe from this wizard, keep the princess from being sacrificed, keep his village and staff from being horribly murdered (as they surely would be) if he just disappeared, and *also* keep from being killed (or killing) all the would-be Heroes who want to rescue the princess from him.

It’s an absolute farce, and it’s great. I would love to see it made into a movie. It had me laughing out loud on several occasions as things rise to ever greater heights of absurdity.

Looking forward to seeing reactions from others as they read this. They’ll see. They’ll *all* see. Hahaha. HAHAHAHA. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

<*ahem*>

I will be honest, I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. The story was highly compelling, characters were written well, and the ending was fun. I love when classic stories like the kidnapped princess are turned on their heads.

Is it too early to call this my favorite read of the year? Probably, but that won't stop me from giving this book a rare 5 stars from me.

This is a fantasy comedy done expertly and it pains me not to quote it just yet but you'll just have to take my word for it.

The style of humor employed by Rozakis in this is uninterruptive of the narrative while also adding to the characters. The best way to describe it is lighthearted dark-humor. It sounds oxymoronic but it truly is the best phrase to describe it.

I found myself laughing at lines that prove Rozakis's prowess for working with what could have been much darker situations in the hands of any other author.

It's no small feat to add something of value to the ever-growing pile of books that try to riff on and reinvent the tropes of the classic fantasy novel.

Dreadful reexamines the archetype of the Dark Lord and asks us as readers to ponder the way we think about evil. Is there a limit? If you do something terrible unknowingly, how are you supposed to reconcile? Are elaborately carved spooky thrones really comfortable?

Gav as a protagonist has my whole heart and I'm glad to have spend the time I did reading about him. I think a lot of readers will see themselves in Gav, whether they like it or not. He's endearingly written and his dilemma is handled with such care.

This book has massive Megamind energy and I mean that in the most complimentary of ways because I love that movie.

I cannot reccomend this one enough. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this one!

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook through NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: This was a very cute and entertaining read. I enjoyed it. This is compared to "Legends and Lattes" by Travis Baldree and also T. Kingfisher's novels. That is an apt comparison, this has a very "swords and sorcery" type of feel with a lot of cozy elements.

This follows Gav, who when he wakes up in a tower missing his eyebrows, doesn't know he is Gav the evil wizard. As he is faced with a convocation of dark wizards he is hosting, a bevy of heroes who are trying to rescue the princess he kidnapped (he has no idea why he kidnapped her), and a last minute garlic festival, he has to figure out how to survive this while pretending he totally understands what is happening and hasn't completely lost his memory. Through it all he is trying to figure out why he decided to be evil to begin with. It's a wonderful look at what makes an evil wizard evil; are they innately evil or did someone push them in that direction? Is it possible to change?

This was very entertaining and funny. I enjoyed the premise and enjoyed how the story played out. There are a number of entertaining side characters as well. The only struggle I had with this book was that I felt t a bit distanced from the characters. Since the main character doesn't know himself, it's a bit hard for the reader to really engage with and connect with both him and the side characters. I was starting to really grow to understand and engage with the character when the book ended. The plot was also very predictable despite all the hilarious antics going on, I would have liked some surprising twists and turns.

My Summary (4/5): Overall, I did end up enjoying this. It was humorous and fun. I do wish I had engaged with the characters a bit better and I would love to see where these characters end up in the future. This is a fun and feel good cozy fantasy that has a nice amount of humor and some unique characters. It is fairly predictable but if that doesn't bother you I would recommend it. I will definitely check out future book by Rozakis.

A wonderful first fantasy story.
A great start with the premise what would happen if a Dark Wizard lost his identity.
Characters who you really connect with and care what happens to them as the story is swept along like a tidal wave.
With a name like Dread Lord Gavrax, it’s made for fantasy. Throw in goblins and garlic and you have the excuse of lol moments.
You will be glad you took a few hours to immerse yourself into this world and smile a lot.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

There is absolutely nothing dreadful about Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis at all, in fact totally the opposite Rozakis delivers an absolute delight of a cosy fantasy satire.

It kicks off with Gav waking up with absolutely no memory of who he is or where he is but, he’s in a dark gloomy ‘castle’ surrounded by magical books and artefacts that are somewhat worse for wear! Plus he’s got a staff of goblins and a princess locked in his dungeon. What on earth is going on? Then things go from bad to worse as he discovers he’s part of a cabal of evil wizards and sorcerers planning some mysterious ritual that could be the end of the world and he’s also got a village and residents and their mayor to fave and protect!

Rozakis delivers a full on tongue in cheek, laugh out loud funny satire that not only challenges the perspective on the human condition and delivers sheer comedy, great plot, and twists and turns that build into an explosively brilliant finale.

Whilst there isn’t a huge world, Rozakis creates a whole multi-layered tapestry and environment that delves into multiple layers of society and humanity contained in this small microcosm that is Gav’s world. And the characters are just brilliant, from Gav and his very confusing awakening to the princess and of course the fantastic Goblin staff. Grrribeetle and Throk will definitely be favourites for many but my heart holds a huge spot for Orla and her culinary skills!

Thank you so much Titan Books and NetGalley for the arc of Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Dreadful was a delight!

I love this brand of quirky fantasy. I wouldn't go so far as to call this book "cozy" like the Travis Baldree comparisons imply, but I think the T Kingfisher connection is spot on. Dreadful is dark, but the prose is full of humor and situational self-awareness.

We follow our amnesiac protagonist Gav, who wakes up after a spell gone awry to find himself in the lair of a Dark Wizard. Evidence points to the fact that he, in fact, is said Dark Wizard. Only he has no recollection of who he is and why he went evil in the first place. He only knows that the name "Dread Lord Gavrax" doesn't fit like it should, the decor in his castle is tacky as hell, and the thought of the crimes his past self committed makes his stomach turn. Oh, and he has a princess locked in his dungeon, which he feels really torn up about.

Now Gav must reconcile who he is without his memories and evil ambition, figure out what to do with the princess, manage his goblin staff, and make sure his peasants don't starve, all while dealing with the threat of a much more powerful and evil wizard coming to visit for a summoning Gav is pretty sure he isn't meant to survive.

This book was a lot of fun. I loved the world that Caitlin Rozakis built and the humor she injected into what normally would have been a very dastardly character. The story was quirky and witty, but still had room for moral examinations and ruminations on what it means to be not a hero or a villain, but just a Good Guy.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC!