How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler is a hilarious fantasy and the first in the Dark Lord Davi duology (4.25/5 stars)

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler is a hilarious fantasy and the first in the Dark Lord Davi duology.

I had a lot of fun reading this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my local library and followed along in my physical review copy. The narrator, Jeanette Illidge, does a PHENOMENAL job. I truly believe that listening to this book really leveled up my appreciation of the narrative.

It’s not a spoiler because it’s mentioned in the blurb, but the point-of-view character in this book, Davi, appears to be stuck in some kind of time loop. We start the book in her life #237, in fact. And she’s tired of all the choices she made in the last 236 lives, so she decides to maybe stop trying to be a hero and instead figure out how to become the Dark Lord instead.

There’s a world map at the front of the physical book that is fantastic and really a good gauge for how irreverent the book truly is. The humor is either going to absolutely land for you, or you’re going to hate it. I don’t think there’s any real in-between. It’s also pretty raunchy, so know that going in.

If you are a video gamer, you may enjoy this book! There are tons of gaming references, like save scumming. I laughed so loudly at many points throughout this book. The author mentions that he was inspired by isekai anime (aka a regular person somehow finds themself in a fantasy/other world) and I really love those. I also appreciated that Davi is truly a chaos bisexual.

I’m so excited for the final book in the duology, which comes out at the end of May!

I received a complimentary review copy from Orbit Books. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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