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Dreadful
A sharp-witted, high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, evil wizards and a garlic festival - all at once. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, K. J. Parker and Travis Baldree.
It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.
It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever is… you.
Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed.
But as he realizes that nothing – from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess – is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all – who does he want to be?
Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.
It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.
It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever is… you.
Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed.
But as he realizes that nothing – from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess – is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all – who does he want to be?
Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,046 reviews
July 11, 2024
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 book 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 sweetness just doesn’t mesh with my dark 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 too saccharine or twee. (YMMV). Plus it was full of introspection and heart. And garlic. Lots of it. So if you're a vampire, you might not like this. Humorous fantasy is probably the closest generic description for it, I wouldn't call it low-stakes or cosy. Lives are definitely at stake, and I kinda feel like it leans more into quirky than cosy–although there are some adorable goblins.
Secondly, we all know I love a trope subversion and Dreadful doesn't disappoint. It pokes fun at every fairytale trope under the sun, whether it's conventional heroes, knights in shining armour, princess stereotypes, or evil wizards.
Thirdly, 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. There's also a bit of soul-searching and overcoming toxic masculinity.
Finally, beneath it all there are subtle underlying themes of kindness and reminders to not discriminate, stereotype or judge a book by its cover.
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.
___
Overdid it on the arcs while on semi-hiatus but apparently, there is killer moat squid, an evil wizard with amnesia and a garlic festival in this one. 🧲
Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis book 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 sweetness just doesn’t mesh with my dark 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 too saccharine or twee. (YMMV). Plus it was full of introspection and heart. And garlic. Lots of it. So if you're a vampire, you might not like this. Humorous fantasy is probably the closest generic description for it, I wouldn't call it low-stakes or cosy. Lives are definitely at stake, and I kinda feel like it leans more into quirky than cosy–although there are some adorable goblins.
Secondly, we all know I love a trope subversion and Dreadful doesn't disappoint. It pokes fun at every fairytale trope under the sun, whether it's conventional heroes, knights in shining armour, princess stereotypes, or evil wizards.
Thirdly, 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. There's also a bit of soul-searching and overcoming toxic masculinity.
Finally, beneath it all there are subtle underlying themes of kindness and reminders to not discriminate, stereotype or judge a book by its cover.
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.
___
Overdid it on the arcs while on semi-hiatus but apparently, there is killer moat squid, an evil wizard with amnesia and a garlic festival in this one. 🧲
April 21, 2024
Dreadful might just be my favorite read of 2024. And, yes, I realize that it's only February, but it's going to be really, really hard for another book to oust it from its throne. This book is absolutely fantastic.
It has humor. It has heart. It has magic. It has evil wizards. It has goblins. It has sassy princesses. It has heroes. It has, uh, killer moat squids? I mean, there is nothing else that I could possibly want from a book (unless maybe it could auto-dispense $100 bills or something … hit me up for some more great ideas, Titan Books).
Dread Lord Gavrax is a delightful main character and I love his watching his progression from dark wizard to maybe-not-evil-but-not-exactly-good wizard. But, honestly, the rest of the characters are just as fabulous and I loved every single one of them – the goblins are particularly endearing and I wish I had a Grrribeetle of my very own. And who could have seen that … unexpected development with Siraco coming?
The plot is just so much fun, too. Dread Lord Gavrax wakes up with no memory of who he used to be, but apparently he was evil. Really, really evil. Like, “immolating his servants for minor transgressions” evil. And he seems to be mixed up in some sort of nefarious plot with super duper evil dark wizard Zarconar, which he's pretty sure is a terrible idea. And why is there a princess locked up in his castle?
As an added bonus, I'm pretty sure that this novel increased my vocabulary tenfold. I'm glad I was reading it on my e-reader with the built-in dictionary, because I found myself looking up words at least once a chapter.
So, yeah. This is a brilliantly fantastic debut novel and is quite possibly one of my new favorites. If you like humorous fantasy novels with maybe-not-really-so-dark wizards and goblins in garlic costumes and enchantedchickens roosters, you should definitely read this one without delay.
My overall rating: a resounding five stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
It has humor. It has heart. It has magic. It has evil wizards. It has goblins. It has sassy princesses. It has heroes. It has, uh, killer moat squids? I mean, there is nothing else that I could possibly want from a book (unless maybe it could auto-dispense $100 bills or something … hit me up for some more great ideas, Titan Books).
Dread Lord Gavrax is a delightful main character and I love his watching his progression from dark wizard to maybe-not-evil-but-not-exactly-good wizard. But, honestly, the rest of the characters are just as fabulous and I loved every single one of them – the goblins are particularly endearing and I wish I had a Grrribeetle of my very own. And who could have seen that … unexpected development with Siraco coming?
The plot is just so much fun, too. Dread Lord Gavrax wakes up with no memory of who he used to be, but apparently he was evil. Really, really evil. Like, “immolating his servants for minor transgressions” evil. And he seems to be mixed up in some sort of nefarious plot with super duper evil dark wizard Zarconar, which he's pretty sure is a terrible idea. And why is there a princess locked up in his castle?
As an added bonus, I'm pretty sure that this novel increased my vocabulary tenfold. I'm glad I was reading it on my e-reader with the built-in dictionary, because I found myself looking up words at least once a chapter.
So, yeah. This is a brilliantly fantastic debut novel and is quite possibly one of my new favorites. If you like humorous fantasy novels with maybe-not-really-so-dark wizards and goblins in garlic costumes and enchanted
My overall rating: a resounding five stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
April 29, 2025
He woke up with no eyebrows and no idea how he’d gotten into such a position. It wasn’t just that he couldn’t remember why he was lying on his back, or why there were tiny fires smoldering throughout the room. He couldn’t remember the room.
Caitlin Rozakis' Dreadful is the diverting story of a Dread Lord waking up to amnesia and trying not to drown in his own schemes. The novel subverts themes, starting with the amnesiac villain trying to rescue the smarter-than-him princess, to his slimy assistant sneakily doing good, his goblin staff trying their best with their jobs while fitting in the general goblin image, and all the way to the villagers' working in partnership with the castle to raise income with garlic.
The witty writing carries this premise with the Dread Lord asking 'Who am I?' and smoothly slipping into the philosophic 'Who do I want to be?', all while keeping the tone lighthearted and the story humourous. The world-building and the story arc are just detailed enough to keep the novel moving at a good pace, and authentic enough to keep your attention in between laughs. On the whole, the book is very enjoyable, and I'd recommend keeping an eye out for this author's work!
He wasn’t really sure, himself. If his memories were gone, and he wasn’t going to get them back, what did he owe his old self? He didn’t even like him. So maybe he needed to focus less on trying to figure out what Gavrax would have done, and more on what Gav wanted to do.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 star for the story; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 stars in total, rounded up to 4 stars.]
Caitlin Rozakis' Dreadful is the diverting story of a Dread Lord waking up to amnesia and trying not to drown in his own schemes. The novel subverts themes, starting with the amnesiac villain trying to rescue the smarter-than-him princess, to his slimy assistant sneakily doing good, his goblin staff trying their best with their jobs while fitting in the general goblin image, and all the way to the villagers' working in partnership with the castle to raise income with garlic.
The witty writing carries this premise with the Dread Lord asking 'Who am I?' and smoothly slipping into the philosophic 'Who do I want to be?', all while keeping the tone lighthearted and the story humourous. The world-building and the story arc are just detailed enough to keep the novel moving at a good pace, and authentic enough to keep your attention in between laughs. On the whole, the book is very enjoyable, and I'd recommend keeping an eye out for this author's work!
He wasn’t really sure, himself. If his memories were gone, and he wasn’t going to get them back, what did he owe his old self? He didn’t even like him. So maybe he needed to focus less on trying to figure out what Gavrax would have done, and more on what Gav wanted to do.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 star for the story; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 stars in total, rounded up to 4 stars.]
February 26, 2024
This was dreadfully delightful!
He woke up with no memory of who he was only to deduce he was a Dark Wizard called Dread Lord Gavrax. What kind of name was that?!
Not to mention, he knew most Dark Wizards must have enemies. That was probably why he was in this situation in the first place.
Oh, and he had a princess in his dungeons but had no idea why he had a princess.
He couldn't let anyone know that there was a problem. Surely, there was a guide somewhere to properly ruling with an iron-clad fist.
He straightened up, wondering how old he actually was. Was this early-middle-age pain? Or was this "time to start slaughtering virgins for the annual literal blood-bath before the seven hundred years of life caught up with him" pain?
From the first page, I knew this would be a fun book. The writing is very self-aware and turns troupes on their head with a mocking remark.
We have a Dark Wizard who doesn’t want to be evil, a Princess who is not very refined, a young clueless goblin valet, and a bedraggled rooster.
This cleverly satires all the overused fantasy troupes and acts as a commentary on expectations and perceptions. Yes, this is a funny romp, but it’s also a reflection of how we must take responsibility for our own image and how we cultivate it.
"If people don't see what they expect to see..."
“They're disappointed, and then they won't take you seriously."
Definitely recommended for fans of T Kingfisher!
Thank you to Titan Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
He woke up with no memory of who he was only to deduce he was a Dark Wizard called Dread Lord Gavrax. What kind of name was that?!
Not to mention, he knew most Dark Wizards must have enemies. That was probably why he was in this situation in the first place.
Oh, and he had a princess in his dungeons but had no idea why he had a princess.
He couldn't let anyone know that there was a problem. Surely, there was a guide somewhere to properly ruling with an iron-clad fist.
He straightened up, wondering how old he actually was. Was this early-middle-age pain? Or was this "time to start slaughtering virgins for the annual literal blood-bath before the seven hundred years of life caught up with him" pain?
From the first page, I knew this would be a fun book. The writing is very self-aware and turns troupes on their head with a mocking remark.
We have a Dark Wizard who doesn’t want to be evil, a Princess who is not very refined, a young clueless goblin valet, and a bedraggled rooster.
This cleverly satires all the overused fantasy troupes and acts as a commentary on expectations and perceptions. Yes, this is a funny romp, but it’s also a reflection of how we must take responsibility for our own image and how we cultivate it.
"If people don't see what they expect to see..."
“They're disappointed, and then they won't take you seriously."
Definitely recommended for fans of T Kingfisher!
Thank you to Titan Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
June 24, 2024
This is what I wished Assistant to the Villain had been—what a fun and clever romp. Satirical, darkly humorous, and well paced. Good times!
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
You never know if a satirical fantasy romp will be worth the effort until you dive in. Or at least, that's the case for me—humor is so singular, and the thin line of "appropriate levels of over-the-topness" and "wow that's TOO MUCH" is often a wash.
When I say that Dreadful was a hit... That's high praise.
Now, I'm going to viciously compare another recently published satirical fantasy with Dreadful, and I feel kind of bad about it. But it must be said, because I think there's a group of readers out there who will be immediately interested in this novel when I say this: I thought Assistant to the Villain was meh and not worth the time. In hindsight, what I truly wanted from that meh reading experience was THIS novel, Dreadful, instead.
So if you're like me and you wanted a classic European/feudal-vibed fantasy romp with a heavy dose of self-aware humor that is actually well paced and constructed... Welcome.
Dreadful is about a man who wakes up in a Dark Lord's lair and realizes, to his surprise and horror, that HE is somehow this castle's Dark Lord. He has no idea who he is, was, or why he's here with no memory. But all signs point to the fact that yes, he's the terror who decorated this macabre and decrepit castle and filled it with horrors.
Armed with no memories and a confusing situation that he must navigate with nuance and stealth, our Villain slowly comes to the realization that... maybe he doesn't WANT to be this narrative's villain. Who said he had to be, anyway? He doesn't have any sentimental attachment to black dour robes and, frankly, he finds the decor gauche and over the top. And the captured princess in the dungeon? That's just a headache waiting to happen.
So our incognito amnesiac inside of the Dark Lord mucks some stuff up and learns some things along the way. (I don't want to give you more than that, as it's fun to go into this one without a lot of knowledge.)
Highly recommend to fans of K.J. Parker—cleverly done humorous fantasies are Parker's jam, and it's clear that Rozakis has a talent for the same thing. I look forward to more from her!
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
You never know if a satirical fantasy romp will be worth the effort until you dive in. Or at least, that's the case for me—humor is so singular, and the thin line of "appropriate levels of over-the-topness" and "wow that's TOO MUCH" is often a wash.
When I say that Dreadful was a hit... That's high praise.
Now, I'm going to viciously compare another recently published satirical fantasy with Dreadful, and I feel kind of bad about it. But it must be said, because I think there's a group of readers out there who will be immediately interested in this novel when I say this: I thought Assistant to the Villain was meh and not worth the time. In hindsight, what I truly wanted from that meh reading experience was THIS novel, Dreadful, instead.
So if you're like me and you wanted a classic European/feudal-vibed fantasy romp with a heavy dose of self-aware humor that is actually well paced and constructed... Welcome.
Dreadful is about a man who wakes up in a Dark Lord's lair and realizes, to his surprise and horror, that HE is somehow this castle's Dark Lord. He has no idea who he is, was, or why he's here with no memory. But all signs point to the fact that yes, he's the terror who decorated this macabre and decrepit castle and filled it with horrors.
Armed with no memories and a confusing situation that he must navigate with nuance and stealth, our Villain slowly comes to the realization that... maybe he doesn't WANT to be this narrative's villain. Who said he had to be, anyway? He doesn't have any sentimental attachment to black dour robes and, frankly, he finds the decor gauche and over the top. And the captured princess in the dungeon? That's just a headache waiting to happen.
So our incognito amnesiac inside of the Dark Lord mucks some stuff up and learns some things along the way. (I don't want to give you more than that, as it's fun to go into this one without a lot of knowledge.)
Highly recommend to fans of K.J. Parker—cleverly done humorous fantasies are Parker's jam, and it's clear that Rozakis has a talent for the same thing. I look forward to more from her!
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
June 12, 2024
3 stars
Rating cozy fantasy books is hard for me because I keep waiting for the plot to go somewhere but that's kind of the point?
Dread lord Gavrax has forgotten who he is and has blown up his workshop. He also has a princess trapped in the dungeon. As he works to figure out who he is, he realizes he didn't like his old self and wants to change that.
This was a cute book, feels a little like a self help book at times. "Why am I angry? Why am I acting like this?" Lots of questions never get answered though. Why was he a bad guy? Did he just decide to be evil? I really wanted his backstory and you never get it which was a little frustrating. The character interactions are fine. I wish it would have gone somewhere sooner rather than taking half the book to finally start making some progress.
Would I recommend this? Probably not but it was cute and I had a decent time.
Rating cozy fantasy books is hard for me because I keep waiting for the plot to go somewhere but that's kind of the point?
Dread lord Gavrax has forgotten who he is and has blown up his workshop. He also has a princess trapped in the dungeon. As he works to figure out who he is, he realizes he didn't like his old self and wants to change that.
This was a cute book, feels a little like a self help book at times. "Why am I angry? Why am I acting like this?" Lots of questions never get answered though. Why was he a bad guy? Did he just decide to be evil? I really wanted his backstory and you never get it which was a little frustrating. The character interactions are fine. I wish it would have gone somewhere sooner rather than taking half the book to finally start making some progress.
Would I recommend this? Probably not but it was cute and I had a decent time.
June 23, 2024
The title of the book is fitting. DNF’d about 2/3rds of the way through.
I wanted to like this book, I couldn’t like this book. I probably spent more time convincing myself to pick this book up again and again than I did actually reading this book.
The concept is great: a guy wakes up in an evil warlocks lair and has no clue who he is only to realize he is the evil warlock. Hilarity ensues. Except not really. So much of the book was spent on Gav’s introspection at who he must have been and how he must have gotten to the point of being an evil warlock with no sign of closure. He bungled every interaction he had with everyone and not in a funny way but in a “oh god it’s a train-wreck I need to look away from.” The amount of second-hand embarrassment I felt just reading this book was enough to put me off of it. I realized about 2/3rds of the way through that I just didn’t care if he gets his memories back or ends up with anyone (as he seems to think he might).
If it wasn’t for a few small pieces to the story I would have assumed this book was written for middle-grade, not adults. The writing was juvenile and clunky, and how Gav sees and deals with the world around him feels more simplistic with little nuance. If you take out the princess being a virgin and the sorceress using seductive powers to be taken seriously you could easily shelve this next to Nancy Drew (though that may be rude to Nancy Drew, which is more well-written than this).
This book was meant to be cozy fantasy, but in reality it was more awkward teen-angst than anything else.
I wanted to like this book, I couldn’t like this book. I probably spent more time convincing myself to pick this book up again and again than I did actually reading this book.
The concept is great: a guy wakes up in an evil warlocks lair and has no clue who he is only to realize he is the evil warlock. Hilarity ensues. Except not really. So much of the book was spent on Gav’s introspection at who he must have been and how he must have gotten to the point of being an evil warlock with no sign of closure. He bungled every interaction he had with everyone and not in a funny way but in a “oh god it’s a train-wreck I need to look away from.” The amount of second-hand embarrassment I felt just reading this book was enough to put me off of it. I realized about 2/3rds of the way through that I just didn’t care if he gets his memories back or ends up with anyone (as he seems to think he might).
If it wasn’t for a few small pieces to the story I would have assumed this book was written for middle-grade, not adults. The writing was juvenile and clunky, and how Gav sees and deals with the world around him feels more simplistic with little nuance. If you take out the princess being a virgin and the sorceress using seductive powers to be taken seriously you could easily shelve this next to Nancy Drew (though that may be rude to Nancy Drew, which is more well-written than this).
This book was meant to be cozy fantasy, but in reality it was more awkward teen-angst than anything else.
April 24, 2024
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!
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!
March 17, 2025
Strangely enough, I think the last time I read a book this hilarious was in 2021, when I reread The Makening. Why is it strange, you ask? First, because the main protagonists of both books are evil overlords. Second, because one is named Gav and the other Gar, which makes me think they must be third cousins twice removed or something.
Anyhoo and stuff, as I was saying, this story is funny as fish: There's a dread lord who wakes up with amnesia (spoiler alert: much confusion ensues), a knife-throwing captive princess with a brain (shocking, I know) and a passion for siege weapons (a girl after my own heart), and rats with pigeon wings (don't ask). There are also face-eating cephalopods (aka killer moat squids), a bunch of evil wizards (they tend to quadruple suddenly, just so you know), tourists,counts chickens, hordes of do-gooders, mercenaries, boy toys, heroes bedraggled roosters, trained actOrs, and one of the most delicious casts of secondary characters ever (I'm firing my shrimp serving staff and getting goblins instead).
Add to that nefarious plots aplenty, jars of replacement eyebrows, an unwillingly hilarious existential crisis, "suave forms of evil," a garlic festival, "fiendish yet acceptably merciful plans," the merciless destruction of countless tropes and stereotypes, delightful goblin cuisine, very uncomfortable wizardry props, hahahaha dialogues, the ruthless immolation of inefficient servants (why did I never think of this?!), everything-you-want on a stick, people desperate enough to dress up like an allium, others who are on speaking terms with the dark gods (or not), very clever plot tricks, and last but certainly not least, severed limbs (yay!).
Long story short:
P.S. This is kind of like Castle Hangnail for adults. No wonder the blurb mentions T. Kingfisher. Ha!
Anyhoo and stuff, as I was saying, this story is funny as fish: There's a dread lord who wakes up with amnesia (spoiler alert: much confusion ensues), a knife-throwing captive princess with a brain (shocking, I know) and a passion for siege weapons (a girl after my own heart), and rats with pigeon wings (don't ask). There are also face-eating cephalopods (aka killer moat squids), a bunch of evil wizards (they tend to quadruple suddenly, just so you know), tourists,
Add to that nefarious plots aplenty, jars of replacement eyebrows, an unwillingly hilarious existential crisis, "suave forms of evil," a garlic festival, "fiendish yet acceptably merciful plans," the merciless destruction of countless tropes and stereotypes, delightful goblin cuisine, very uncomfortable wizardry props, hahahaha dialogues, the ruthless immolation of inefficient servants (why did I never think of this?!), everything-you-want on a stick, people desperate enough to dress up like an allium, others who are on speaking terms with the dark gods (or not), very clever plot tricks, and last but certainly not least, severed limbs (yay!).
Long story short:
P.S. This is kind of like Castle Hangnail for adults. No wonder the blurb mentions T. Kingfisher. Ha!
July 8, 2024
3.5 stars
Very cute and fun!! I wish some bits of the world were explored more and the characters had a little more depth but it was a fun, easy read. I really liked the message and the exploration of misogyny in it, but I also think it could have gone a bit further in both.
This book is one I foresee being very hit or miss for people. It’s tropey and the voice and humor will appeal to a particular audience but I liked it overall and would recommend if you’re looking for a basic and fun comedic fantasy book. :)
Very cute and fun!! I wish some bits of the world were explored more and the characters had a little more depth but it was a fun, easy read. I really liked the message and the exploration of misogyny in it, but I also think it could have gone a bit further in both.
This book is one I foresee being very hit or miss for people. It’s tropey and the voice and humor will appeal to a particular audience but I liked it overall and would recommend if you’re looking for a basic and fun comedic fantasy book. :)
September 5, 2024
I demand to see this ridiculousness on screen immediately
July 20, 2025
I have not been reading a lot of YA or middle grade books lately but this was on my radar, and it seems like it was just the thing to get me over my summer blah reading mood, where nothing seemed compelling.
This was just lovely, what if you wake up amnesiac and discover you are the dark lord of a castle filled with oppressed goblins and a kidnapped princess in a dungeon and you really really think that is quite dreadful and you just want to be nice to people? It is not a new concept, it reminded me actually ofHowl’s Moving Castle's Dark Lord of Derkholm and in a good way, lots of good ways, but it is so charming and Gav's insight into looking things from the other point of views is modern and relatable (and maybe we can read him as some kind of incel) but for once it does not feel didactic, but natural.
It might be one of those YA/middle grade books which are wasted on the young - I am sure they will enjoy it, but there is an implied romance plot (kind of), which is so grown up and adult and mature, I think you need to be old enough to really really appreciate it! Also reminded me of T. Kingfisher, her YA and her romances both (though the romance plot is really really off center and subtle)...
I am definitely going to be checking her other books, and if you like DWJ and T. Kingfisher's YA novels you might like this as well.
This was just lovely, what if you wake up amnesiac and discover you are the dark lord of a castle filled with oppressed goblins and a kidnapped princess in a dungeon and you really really think that is quite dreadful and you just want to be nice to people? It is not a new concept, it reminded me actually ofHowl’s Moving Castle's Dark Lord of Derkholm and in a good way, lots of good ways, but it is so charming and Gav's insight into looking things from the other point of views is modern and relatable (and maybe we can read him as some kind of incel) but for once it does not feel didactic, but natural.
It might be one of those YA/middle grade books which are wasted on the young - I am sure they will enjoy it, but there is an implied romance plot (kind of), which is so grown up and adult and mature, I think you need to be old enough to really really appreciate it! Also reminded me of T. Kingfisher, her YA and her romances both (though the romance plot is really really off center and subtle)...
I am definitely going to be checking her other books, and if you like DWJ and T. Kingfisher's YA novels you might like this as well.
June 14, 2024
On my blog.
Rep: gay side character
Galley provided by publisher
Dreadful was a reasonably amusing book, if entirely unsubtle in its messaging. I mean, I didn’t expect subtle. If there’s one thing a lot of books round about now are if they’re on this topic (i.e. toxic masculinity, i.e. feminist retellings) it’s unsubtle. Like, I don’t know guys, maybe I want to have to read between the lines a bit sometimes. Maybe I don’t want it all spelled out for me.
But I digress. I didn’t expect it so I wasn’t disappointed when it wasn’t. And it wasn’t a bad read by any stretch of the imagination. It was fun! The overall experience of it was good! It was a little weirdly lighthearted at times for the violent misogyny that (appeared) to be on show, yes, but overall good.
The story follows a character whose name I’ve already forgotten (good start!), who wakes up to discover he’s lost his memory. It is, however, apparent that everyone around him expects him to be an evil wizard. Oh, and he’s in the middle of a villainous plot along with some genuinely evil wizards. That he knows nothing about thanks to his memory loss.
This is a book that relies quite a bit on generic fantasy worldbuilding and doesn’t really provide a whole lot new in that respect. Which is, I guess, alright. It’s not trying to tell a story like that, it’s trying to tell a story about toxic masculinity within a fantasy context. So depth in worldbuilding is hardly the priority: depth in character is.
It’s an interesting balancing act between making Gav likeable enough to root for, while still allowing that he’s a violent misogynist. I have more to say about this later, but for now let’s stick to the positives. It’s mostly good at doing this. Watching Gav recognise his faults and challenge his own instinctive behaviours means that you’re rooting for him to overcome them and change. The memory loss is (mostly) a good vehicle for this. (Yes, I am, in part, trying to hedge what I’m saying here because there is a but coming.)
The characters around him are also fun, especially the goblins who, really, have to be my favourite part of the book. The whole network of Gav, princess (no, I don’t remember a name), evil secretary (reviews say his name is Siraco), and the goblins was clearly meant to tug on your heartstrings as some kind of found family. And I’m not above admitting that it worked to an extent. Hey, I could read a whole series of them and the villagers bullying Gav like that. Alas, not the story being told. But they were fun! As a group of characters to root for, they filled that requirement admirably.
If I had one slightly finicky complaint, it’s that memory loss of all the most horrific things Gav did was required for him to change. It’s that, actually, he does these horrific things (which, by the by, he actually did want to do. To not beat about the bush, this involves burning a woman alive because she rejects him which is what I meant earlier by the violent misogyny that just feels tonally out of place in this one) but it’s okay really because firstly, he’s a new person now who’s horrified by that behaviour and secondly, everyone around him was good and rescued the people he thinks he did this to, so really, he hasn’t done it in the first place. And he can separate present-post memory loss-Gav from past-Gav. Present-Gav doesn’t do these things, that was past-Gav’s problem. Okay, having put it like that, maybe it’s less finicky. The more I think about it, the more it seems to kind of undercut the story that the author’s trying to tell. I get it, she doesn’t want him to be wholly irredeemable and some of these things would absolutely for sure put him on that list for some readers. But I think that might have been a more interesting take: at what point do you give up on someone like this? Do you ever? Is redemption at all possible? But I get it. One, that takes a lot of skill, and two, this is a book that’s really just a light-hearted chance for one man to unlearn toxic masculinity and his incel ways. But that violent misogyny does pose a conundrum here: this is a book that is written in a way that’s quite light-hearted (or feels it, for all the obvious sexism of its main character, sorry past main character). Then you get to the reveal of what he’s done and it hits you like woah, okay. What I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t really fit going back to that light-heartedness after that reveal, and it feels like doing so almost misses the point. I don’t know how clear I’m being here but basically, it’s about the dissonance of it all. It starts to feel a bit dismissive of the real violence of Gav’s misogyny.
So here we come to the strange point of me, in having written this review, thinking that perhaps I didn’t like it as much as all that. I’ve almost talked myself into giving it a lower rating (in fact, there may be no “almost” about it). The idea here might have been good, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
Rep: gay side character
Galley provided by publisher
Dreadful was a reasonably amusing book, if entirely unsubtle in its messaging. I mean, I didn’t expect subtle. If there’s one thing a lot of books round about now are if they’re on this topic (i.e. toxic masculinity, i.e. feminist retellings) it’s unsubtle. Like, I don’t know guys, maybe I want to have to read between the lines a bit sometimes. Maybe I don’t want it all spelled out for me.
But I digress. I didn’t expect it so I wasn’t disappointed when it wasn’t. And it wasn’t a bad read by any stretch of the imagination. It was fun! The overall experience of it was good! It was a little weirdly lighthearted at times for the violent misogyny that (appeared) to be on show, yes, but overall good.
The story follows a character whose name I’ve already forgotten (good start!), who wakes up to discover he’s lost his memory. It is, however, apparent that everyone around him expects him to be an evil wizard. Oh, and he’s in the middle of a villainous plot along with some genuinely evil wizards. That he knows nothing about thanks to his memory loss.
This is a book that relies quite a bit on generic fantasy worldbuilding and doesn’t really provide a whole lot new in that respect. Which is, I guess, alright. It’s not trying to tell a story like that, it’s trying to tell a story about toxic masculinity within a fantasy context. So depth in worldbuilding is hardly the priority: depth in character is.
It’s an interesting balancing act between making Gav likeable enough to root for, while still allowing that he’s a violent misogynist. I have more to say about this later, but for now let’s stick to the positives. It’s mostly good at doing this. Watching Gav recognise his faults and challenge his own instinctive behaviours means that you’re rooting for him to overcome them and change. The memory loss is (mostly) a good vehicle for this. (Yes, I am, in part, trying to hedge what I’m saying here because there is a but coming.)
The characters around him are also fun, especially the goblins who, really, have to be my favourite part of the book. The whole network of Gav, princess (no, I don’t remember a name), evil secretary (reviews say his name is Siraco), and the goblins was clearly meant to tug on your heartstrings as some kind of found family. And I’m not above admitting that it worked to an extent. Hey, I could read a whole series of them and the villagers bullying Gav like that. Alas, not the story being told. But they were fun! As a group of characters to root for, they filled that requirement admirably.
If I had one slightly finicky complaint, it’s that memory loss of all the most horrific things Gav did was required for him to change. It’s that, actually, he does these horrific things (which, by the by, he actually did want to do. To not beat about the bush, this involves burning a woman alive because she rejects him which is what I meant earlier by the violent misogyny that just feels tonally out of place in this one) but it’s okay really because firstly, he’s a new person now who’s horrified by that behaviour and secondly, everyone around him was good and rescued the people he thinks he did this to, so really, he hasn’t done it in the first place. And he can separate present-post memory loss-Gav from past-Gav. Present-Gav doesn’t do these things, that was past-Gav’s problem. Okay, having put it like that, maybe it’s less finicky. The more I think about it, the more it seems to kind of undercut the story that the author’s trying to tell. I get it, she doesn’t want him to be wholly irredeemable and some of these things would absolutely for sure put him on that list for some readers. But I think that might have been a more interesting take: at what point do you give up on someone like this? Do you ever? Is redemption at all possible? But I get it. One, that takes a lot of skill, and two, this is a book that’s really just a light-hearted chance for one man to unlearn toxic masculinity and his incel ways. But that violent misogyny does pose a conundrum here: this is a book that is written in a way that’s quite light-hearted (or feels it, for all the obvious sexism of its main character, sorry past main character). Then you get to the reveal of what he’s done and it hits you like woah, okay. What I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t really fit going back to that light-heartedness after that reveal, and it feels like doing so almost misses the point. I don’t know how clear I’m being here but basically, it’s about the dissonance of it all. It starts to feel a bit dismissive of the real violence of Gav’s misogyny.
So here we come to the strange point of me, in having written this review, thinking that perhaps I didn’t like it as much as all that. I’ve almost talked myself into giving it a lower rating (in fact, there may be no “almost” about it). The idea here might have been good, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
April 18, 2024
“Books told from the villain’s perspective” seem to be having something of a Moment. I read one recently, (How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying) 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)
My blog
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)
My blog
October 13, 2024
A man awakes in a castle with no eyebrows and no memory of the whom, the where, or the why of his predicament.
Obviously this is the doing of a Dark Wizard, right?
Who else would live with such tacky decor.
So begins the story of Dread Lord Gavrax.
He who sets aflame those whom he deems unworthy.
He who has a princess locked in a cell to use as sacrifice, eventually.
He who has cowering goblin minions as no one else would dare.
And maybe there's more to these little green beings that meets the eye.
He who rules the village below with an iron fist.
He who has way too much garlic.
Garlic festival, anyone?
He who has suffered memory loss and doesn't want to be a dark lord any longer.
He who now calls himself Gav.
I mean what parent in their right mind would name a baby Gavrax?!
Gav just wants to be good guy.
And I was cheering him on.
How this attempted transformation takes place makes for a fun romp.
There's those 3 dark wizards to deal with.
And Gav's not too keen on summoning a monster from another realm for some diabolical scheme.
Who or what has taken his memory?
Gav's got problems.
With the help of some unlikely allies he just may be able to pull this off.
No one is who or what they seem to be.
This makes for some twists and turns.
A great way to forget about all the nuisance that life brings your way and laugh about all the nuisance life brings someone elses way.
After all, laughter being the best medicine and all that jazz makes one a happy soul.
I got along with all the characters and approved of most decision making which is rare for me.
Someone always manages to irritate me in one way or another and then I'm pissed at them for the remainder of the book.
Usually it's because they have some hare brained ideas that defy any reasonable logic whatsoever.
Not so here.
This was a little bit evil, a little bit good, a lot a bit funny, but never a little bit dreadful.
I consider this a win.
Obviously this is the doing of a Dark Wizard, right?
Who else would live with such tacky decor.
So begins the story of Dread Lord Gavrax.
He who sets aflame those whom he deems unworthy.
He who has a princess locked in a cell to use as sacrifice, eventually.
He who has cowering goblin minions as no one else would dare.
And maybe there's more to these little green beings that meets the eye.
He who rules the village below with an iron fist.
He who has way too much garlic.
Garlic festival, anyone?
He who has suffered memory loss and doesn't want to be a dark lord any longer.
He who now calls himself Gav.
I mean what parent in their right mind would name a baby Gavrax?!
Gav just wants to be good guy.
And I was cheering him on.
How this attempted transformation takes place makes for a fun romp.
There's those 3 dark wizards to deal with.
And Gav's not too keen on summoning a monster from another realm for some diabolical scheme.
Who or what has taken his memory?
Gav's got problems.
With the help of some unlikely allies he just may be able to pull this off.
No one is who or what they seem to be.
This makes for some twists and turns.
A great way to forget about all the nuisance that life brings your way and laugh about all the nuisance life brings someone elses way.
After all, laughter being the best medicine and all that jazz makes one a happy soul.
I got along with all the characters and approved of most decision making which is rare for me.
Someone always manages to irritate me in one way or another and then I'm pissed at them for the remainder of the book.
Usually it's because they have some hare brained ideas that defy any reasonable logic whatsoever.
Not so here.
This was a little bit evil, a little bit good, a lot a bit funny, but never a little bit dreadful.
I consider this a win.
June 11, 2024
Dreadful is right
April 19, 2025
3.5 stars
Well, I think this is one of the first times that I am actually glad a book did not totally live up to its title. I mean, Dreadful is wacky, weird, and just dreadfully delightful. Okay and maybe a bit on the nose and slightly boring in places, yes, but still just inexplicably and strangely delightful. Who knew cozy fantasy could be such a diabolical wild ride?!
Just imagine: you wake up with no memory of who you are in a castle full of goblins and a kidnapped (knife-throwing) princess in your dungeon. Oh, and your eyebrows are gone as well. And as if that wasn't enough, it seems that you might just be the feared Dread Lord Gavrax responsible for great, evil deeds... What do you do? Well, let's just wing it and hope for the best. Villains thrive on chaos after all, right?
If that didn't give it away, this book is just ridiculously fun in the most unhinged way possible. Amnesia is a trope that rarely works well for me, but I loved how Rozakis was able to just run with it here. Gav is an absolutely delightful and tragically endearing protagonist, and I had a blast just seeing this snarky but anxious softie stumble his way through all the increasingly insane trials and tribulations that he finds himself entangled in.
That said, for a story with face-eating cephalopods (aka killer moat squids), a bunch of scheming evil wizards, loveable goblins, a garlic festival in town, lots of (boytoy) mercenaries, and the most chaotic cast of secondary characters, this story was somehow just also unforgivably boring to me. Yes, the (situatonal) humour bleeds off every page and I am always here for some good cozy vibes, but I seriously could not get myself to care a single flying fig about any aspect of the plot, be that Gav's journey of redemption and (re-)self-discovery or the shenanigans with the grand evil master plan. And do not get me started on the inklings of romance between Gav and the princess; no, weird dynamic, my girl should have just run off and live her best life on her own.
Also, I don't know what I was wanting or hoping for from this ending, but I was left feeling a bit... not underwhelmed, not overwhelmed, but just whelmed. To me, it feels like Dreadful is mostly concerned with mercilessly destroying all the most beloved (or outdated) fantasy conventions/tropes and delivering a very loud 'fuck the patriarchy' message. And honestly, I am allll here for that, but I would still prefer if that didn't come slightly at the cost of a coherent and satisfying plot.
All that said, I have a feeling I might have enjoyed this slightly more if I hadn't listened to this as an audiobook. Don't get me wrong, the narrator is fantastic (especially for the goblins), but I feel like I would have interpreted the voices for Gav and the princess a bit differently in my own head in a way that would not only have made them even more endearing to me, but also probably get me way more on board for their dynamic.
Who knows, maybe I am just a grumpy evil wizard who needs to be less critical. Ultimately, there's no denying that Dreadful is just an absolute ball of a book, and I was somehow inexplicably charmed by the chaos of it all. If you're looking for a snarky, subversive and unapologetically unconventional cozy classic fantasy adventure that will have you rooting for a confused, softie villain, then this is the book for you.
Well, I think this is one of the first times that I am actually glad a book did not totally live up to its title. I mean, Dreadful is wacky, weird, and just dreadfully delightful. Okay and maybe a bit on the nose and slightly boring in places, yes, but still just inexplicably and strangely delightful. Who knew cozy fantasy could be such a diabolical wild ride?!
Just imagine: you wake up with no memory of who you are in a castle full of goblins and a kidnapped (knife-throwing) princess in your dungeon. Oh, and your eyebrows are gone as well. And as if that wasn't enough, it seems that you might just be the feared Dread Lord Gavrax responsible for great, evil deeds... What do you do? Well, let's just wing it and hope for the best. Villains thrive on chaos after all, right?
If that didn't give it away, this book is just ridiculously fun in the most unhinged way possible. Amnesia is a trope that rarely works well for me, but I loved how Rozakis was able to just run with it here. Gav is an absolutely delightful and tragically endearing protagonist, and I had a blast just seeing this snarky but anxious softie stumble his way through all the increasingly insane trials and tribulations that he finds himself entangled in.
That said, for a story with face-eating cephalopods (aka killer moat squids), a bunch of scheming evil wizards, loveable goblins, a garlic festival in town, lots of (boytoy) mercenaries, and the most chaotic cast of secondary characters, this story was somehow just also unforgivably boring to me. Yes, the (situatonal) humour bleeds off every page and I am always here for some good cozy vibes, but I seriously could not get myself to care a single flying fig about any aspect of the plot, be that Gav's journey of redemption and (re-)self-discovery or the shenanigans with the grand evil master plan. And do not get me started on the inklings of romance between Gav and the princess; no, weird dynamic, my girl should have just run off and live her best life on her own.
Also, I don't know what I was wanting or hoping for from this ending, but I was left feeling a bit... not underwhelmed, not overwhelmed, but just whelmed. To me, it feels like Dreadful is mostly concerned with mercilessly destroying all the most beloved (or outdated) fantasy conventions/tropes and delivering a very loud 'fuck the patriarchy' message. And honestly, I am allll here for that, but I would still prefer if that didn't come slightly at the cost of a coherent and satisfying plot.
All that said, I have a feeling I might have enjoyed this slightly more if I hadn't listened to this as an audiobook. Don't get me wrong, the narrator is fantastic (especially for the goblins), but I feel like I would have interpreted the voices for Gav and the princess a bit differently in my own head in a way that would not only have made them even more endearing to me, but also probably get me way more on board for their dynamic.
Who knows, maybe I am just a grumpy evil wizard who needs to be less critical. Ultimately, there's no denying that Dreadful is just an absolute ball of a book, and I was somehow inexplicably charmed by the chaos of it all. If you're looking for a snarky, subversive and unapologetically unconventional cozy classic fantasy adventure that will have you rooting for a confused, softie villain, then this is the book for you.
March 28, 2025
4.5
“He nearly lost his breath at the influx of new information. He had goblins. He had, most likely, just been talking to a goblin. He had a princess. He had no idea why he had a princess.”
What do you do when you wake up with no eyebrows, no memory, a castle full of goblins and a kidnapped princess in your dungeon? Well of course, you wing it. You pretend you know what’s going on and you hope for the best. Dread Lord Gavrax, a feared master within his castle, finds himself in exactly this situation. He has no idea what evil deeds he has done and what part he is playing in the upcoming ritual that the other Dark Wizards have planned, but he knows he must find out soon before he gets himself killed, horribly. Yet Gavrax no longer remembers why he was evil, and more so, he finds himself no longer wanting to be seen that way. So what does that make Gavrax now?
Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis is an outrageously fun read with hidden depths and surprising heart. This is a story of reinventing yourself and choosing who you want to be.
Dreadful throughout remains a very character driven story as we are presented with a kind of redemption story arc, with very little in the way of an action packed plot. Some readers may find this too slow, whereas I personally enjoyed the gentle pace and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was following Gavrax’s journey. Memory loss is usually a trope I dislike but Rozakis cleverly uses it here to draw the reader in, to grab our curiosity and have us intrigued by this supposed ‘evil villain’. Gavrax is immediately likeable because he’s the ultimate goofy character who fumbles around, causes chaos and is completely out of his depth. The more he discovers about himself, some of which appalls him, the more it makes him question what had led him to become that way. A number of conversations Gavrax has with other characters are executed so well, Rozakis’ dialogue whilst being witty also reveals much character depth and so I began to like Gavrax even more because of this complexity. I also enjoyed exploring the close knit setting of his castle and surrounding village as he takes in the places he is the Dread Lord of.
This book is filled with tongue in cheek humour, creating a consistent light hearted atmosphere and tone. At times I did find that the humour went off on a tangent and used modernisms (the American term bangs for instance!) which did occasionally pull me out of the story, however this wasn’t a major issue. I found myself more impressed by the way Rozakis used humour to bring out one of the major themes, that of misconception. Gavrax is supposed to be our Dark Wizard and some of his past deeds do illustrate that he once did live up to the—prone to violent outbursts and malevolent behaviour—villain trope. Yet this is no longer the case, and Gavrax, even though he still has a fiery temperament and the inclination to be cruel if he wanted to, sees that the imposing black floor length robes, the gothic decor, the skulls and torches are all an archetype, a show to display his menacing power. Is this the real Gavrax? It doesn’t have to be. Perhaps Gavrax is misconstrued and can actually be the hero of this tale. What makes a hero? I found his character study a surprisingly multifaceted element to this otherwise playful story.
“He didn't feel particularly evil. He didn't have a deep urge to flay someone alive and laugh while doing it. But clearly he had. He'd lost connection with whatever made him himself. If a human was made up of the experiences of their life, was Gav anything at all?”
The theme of misconceptions and subverted tropes then runs through to the other characters. The kidnapped princess, Eliasha, is not quite the damsel in distress who needs saving by a brave Hero. It’s clear she’s intelligent and resourceful enough to find a way of freeing herself from the castle and yet she doesn’t. As we delve deeper into her character it becomes apparent that she, like Gavrax, needs to escape from other’s expectations of what a Princess should be and have the freedom to choose her own path, to be content with herself. Even the goblins, particularly the valet Grrrbeetle and the cook Orla, are not as grotesque or primitive as their appearance and reputation would have you believe and are actually rather sweet. Turning all these tropes on their head again creates such a humorous story, a mostly cosy vibe with just hints of darkness. When Rozakis also throws in a garlic festival, a dark wizard’s banquet with not so edible food and a race to stop a world destroying ritual from taking place, well you also have a very entertaining story arc. One which I thoroughly loved by the end.
Review copy gifted by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review.
“He nearly lost his breath at the influx of new information. He had goblins. He had, most likely, just been talking to a goblin. He had a princess. He had no idea why he had a princess.”
What do you do when you wake up with no eyebrows, no memory, a castle full of goblins and a kidnapped princess in your dungeon? Well of course, you wing it. You pretend you know what’s going on and you hope for the best. Dread Lord Gavrax, a feared master within his castle, finds himself in exactly this situation. He has no idea what evil deeds he has done and what part he is playing in the upcoming ritual that the other Dark Wizards have planned, but he knows he must find out soon before he gets himself killed, horribly. Yet Gavrax no longer remembers why he was evil, and more so, he finds himself no longer wanting to be seen that way. So what does that make Gavrax now?
Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis is an outrageously fun read with hidden depths and surprising heart. This is a story of reinventing yourself and choosing who you want to be.
Dreadful throughout remains a very character driven story as we are presented with a kind of redemption story arc, with very little in the way of an action packed plot. Some readers may find this too slow, whereas I personally enjoyed the gentle pace and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was following Gavrax’s journey. Memory loss is usually a trope I dislike but Rozakis cleverly uses it here to draw the reader in, to grab our curiosity and have us intrigued by this supposed ‘evil villain’. Gavrax is immediately likeable because he’s the ultimate goofy character who fumbles around, causes chaos and is completely out of his depth. The more he discovers about himself, some of which appalls him, the more it makes him question what had led him to become that way. A number of conversations Gavrax has with other characters are executed so well, Rozakis’ dialogue whilst being witty also reveals much character depth and so I began to like Gavrax even more because of this complexity. I also enjoyed exploring the close knit setting of his castle and surrounding village as he takes in the places he is the Dread Lord of.
This book is filled with tongue in cheek humour, creating a consistent light hearted atmosphere and tone. At times I did find that the humour went off on a tangent and used modernisms (the American term bangs for instance!) which did occasionally pull me out of the story, however this wasn’t a major issue. I found myself more impressed by the way Rozakis used humour to bring out one of the major themes, that of misconception. Gavrax is supposed to be our Dark Wizard and some of his past deeds do illustrate that he once did live up to the—prone to violent outbursts and malevolent behaviour—villain trope. Yet this is no longer the case, and Gavrax, even though he still has a fiery temperament and the inclination to be cruel if he wanted to, sees that the imposing black floor length robes, the gothic decor, the skulls and torches are all an archetype, a show to display his menacing power. Is this the real Gavrax? It doesn’t have to be. Perhaps Gavrax is misconstrued and can actually be the hero of this tale. What makes a hero? I found his character study a surprisingly multifaceted element to this otherwise playful story.
“He didn't feel particularly evil. He didn't have a deep urge to flay someone alive and laugh while doing it. But clearly he had. He'd lost connection with whatever made him himself. If a human was made up of the experiences of their life, was Gav anything at all?”
The theme of misconceptions and subverted tropes then runs through to the other characters. The kidnapped princess, Eliasha, is not quite the damsel in distress who needs saving by a brave Hero. It’s clear she’s intelligent and resourceful enough to find a way of freeing herself from the castle and yet she doesn’t. As we delve deeper into her character it becomes apparent that she, like Gavrax, needs to escape from other’s expectations of what a Princess should be and have the freedom to choose her own path, to be content with herself. Even the goblins, particularly the valet Grrrbeetle and the cook Orla, are not as grotesque or primitive as their appearance and reputation would have you believe and are actually rather sweet. Turning all these tropes on their head again creates such a humorous story, a mostly cosy vibe with just hints of darkness. When Rozakis also throws in a garlic festival, a dark wizard’s banquet with not so edible food and a race to stop a world destroying ritual from taking place, well you also have a very entertaining story arc. One which I thoroughly loved by the end.
Review copy gifted by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2024
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.
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.
February 16, 2025
This book was interesting, I was excited at the description - an evil wizard with no memory of anything finds himself in an evil castle with a staff of goblins terrified of him. I did think the book wasn’t sure if it wanted to be funny or evil and I wanted it to swing further to one (preferably the humor side). There were some plot holes but overall this was a fun story. Gar wakes up with no eyebrows and no memories and is terrified of the dark wizard that must of brought him to this creepy castle. Until he realizes that he is the dark wizard and he’s in way over his head.
June 30, 2024
This was cute. But I either needed it to be sillier or darker. Or honestly both. It was close but not a hit for me.
July 24, 2024
4.5🌟 OH WHAT A DELIGHT!! 🧛♂️🖤
This book is full of fun unexpected twists on your usual fairytale storylines and characters, with witty dark humour and amazing comedic timing!
In just over 300 pages, you get to meet surprisingly adorable lil goblins, a strong-willed and intelligent princess, an explosive garlic festival, clumsy stumbling heroes, inky sticky moat squids, a talking rooster, evil dark wizards, and a not-so-evil dark wizard who is on a quest of self rediscovery. It’s truly an adventure!
I love reading from a villain’s point of view and LOVE this refreshing take on the Good v Evil theme! Recommend this book if you’re looking for something extraordinary 🌟☺️
This book is full of fun unexpected twists on your usual fairytale storylines and characters, with witty dark humour and amazing comedic timing!
In just over 300 pages, you get to meet surprisingly adorable lil goblins, a strong-willed and intelligent princess, an explosive garlic festival, clumsy stumbling heroes, inky sticky moat squids, a talking rooster, evil dark wizards, and a not-so-evil dark wizard who is on a quest of self rediscovery. It’s truly an adventure!
I love reading from a villain’s point of view and LOVE this refreshing take on the Good v Evil theme! Recommend this book if you’re looking for something extraordinary 🌟☺️
June 28, 2024
This cozy fantasy story was exactly the palette cleanser I needed after a dark and heavy book. It’s a warm-hearted story about a dark wizard who has lost all his memories - and with them, his motivation to be evil. But deciding to be good and undo the deeds of his “dark” self isn’t as easy as it seems. The plot is well paced with a solid cast of characters we quickly learn are more nuanced than Gav originally believes. While it is definitely heavy on the comedy side, there’s enough to make you think too - what makes a person who they are, can bad deeds be undone, etc etc.
September 17, 2024
Loved loved loved the audio for this!! Such a cozy and fun fantasy that had me actually cackling while listening! A part of me thought this was a little romance going into it - it’s probs best you don’t go into it with that thought lol. I dont know how much i would’ve loved this if i physically read it but highly recommend the audio!
June 24, 2024
What a fun romp of a book! The dark wizard has lost his memory right on the eve of all his evil schemes going into play, and suddenly he's trying to gather why the heck this princess is in his dungeon and why worst backstabbers in the region are headed for his castle. Full of quirky characters and genre savvy humor, this is perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.
Want to read
December 5, 2023Book sounds genuinely interesting, the way the synopsis is written feels a bit on the twee side, but I'm curious to read this.
June 12, 2024
Moral of the story: you can always change your mind.
June 16, 2024
title is fitting.
November 29, 2024
This story follows Gav in third person as he wakes up in his evil wizard workshop with no eyebrows or memories of his previous evil deeds. He has a kidnapped princess and a castle full of goblin servants as well as a magical mirror for communication. Gav is just winging it until he figures out what’s going on.
I found this one a little slow to start, but once Gav has his feet under him and starts bumbling along to finding answers, I thought it was creative, highly entertaining and just plain fun. The goblin servants became endearing, the local village folk were at times fearful and industrious, especially the mayor and the princess even had a dual persona that I really enjoyed.
Between a more than creative chef, a hero turned into a rooster and a bag of wriggling squids, it often devolved into chaos that I found hysterical while all building to a strong climax. Gav ultimately had to examine his life choices even though he wasn’t sure what they were and make decisions on who he wanted to be moving forward. Was he really evil? Did he even want to know?
Recommended for its humor and chaos when you need a bit of levity. I’m looking forward to this author’s next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
I found this one a little slow to start, but once Gav has his feet under him and starts bumbling along to finding answers, I thought it was creative, highly entertaining and just plain fun. The goblin servants became endearing, the local village folk were at times fearful and industrious, especially the mayor and the princess even had a dual persona that I really enjoyed.
Between a more than creative chef, a hero turned into a rooster and a bag of wriggling squids, it often devolved into chaos that I found hysterical while all building to a strong climax. Gav ultimately had to examine his life choices even though he wasn’t sure what they were and make decisions on who he wanted to be moving forward. Was he really evil? Did he even want to know?
Recommended for its humor and chaos when you need a bit of levity. I’m looking forward to this author’s next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
September 14, 2024
OKAY there were certain little chunks where i was REALLY aware that i'm reading from the perspective of a man (even one written by a woman! why was he so ... man) and i CANNOT get over the age gap between gav and the princess LIKE WHYYYYY include even any hints of romance with that many years (and that much experience! the power imbalance!) between them?!
idk maybe i'm being overly sensitive but their relationship could have remained completely platonic like more of a father/daughter (he's old enough to be her father!!!) or teacher/mentor dynamic rather than "middle-aged man thinks young pretty virgin (yes that's integral to her character jesus christ) is hot" << do you see what i MEANNNN?!?! i kept getting the ick
OTHERWISE this was a fun little romp! some genuinely lol moments!! and i'd die for those freaky lil goblins! <3
***EDIT just to say that i am aware this book is supposed to address/dismantle misogynistic mindsets that men have (whether it succeeded is a whole other discussion) which is WHY it's written from the perspective of a man but i just don't know if it entirely worked for me at parts, especially regarding his romantically-inclined thoughts towards eliasha bc it just weirdly enforces this idea that if men don't have romantic interest in a woman then it's not worth giving a flying fuck about her as a person
idk maybe i'm being overly sensitive but their relationship could have remained completely platonic like more of a father/daughter (he's old enough to be her father!!!) or teacher/mentor dynamic rather than "middle-aged man thinks young pretty virgin (yes that's integral to her character jesus christ) is hot" << do you see what i MEANNNN?!?! i kept getting the ick
OTHERWISE this was a fun little romp! some genuinely lol moments!! and i'd die for those freaky lil goblins! <3
***EDIT just to say that i am aware this book is supposed to address/dismantle misogynistic mindsets that men have (whether it succeeded is a whole other discussion) which is WHY it's written from the perspective of a man but i just don't know if it entirely worked for me at parts, especially regarding his romantically-inclined thoughts towards eliasha bc it just weirdly enforces this idea that if men don't have romantic interest in a woman then it's not worth giving a flying fuck about her as a person
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