What do you think?
Rate this book
A Practical Guide to Evil I
The Empire stands triumphant.
For twenty years the Dread Empress has ruled over the lands that were once the Kingdom of Callow, but behind the scenes of this golden age threats to the empire are rising.
The nobles of the Wasteland weave their plots behind pleasant smiles while rebellion stirs beyond Peren Woods, for dreams of crowns were buried in shallow graves. The greatest danger of all lies to the west, where the First Prince of Procer has restored order at her people sundered, she ponders if a crusade might not be the way to secure her reign.
Yet none of this matters, for in the heart of the conquered lands the most dangerous man alive sat across an orphan girl and offered her a knife.
Her name is Catherine Foundling, and she has a plan.
For twenty years the Dread Empress has ruled over the lands that were once the Kingdom of Callow, but behind the scenes of this golden age threats to the empire are rising.
The nobles of the Wasteland weave their plots behind pleasant smiles while rebellion stirs beyond Peren Woods, for dreams of crowns were buried in shallow graves. The greatest danger of all lies to the west, where the First Prince of Procer has restored order at her people sundered, she ponders if a crusade might not be the way to secure her reign.
Yet none of this matters, for in the heart of the conquered lands the most dangerous man alive sat across an orphan girl and offered her a knife.
Her name is Catherine Foundling, and she has a plan.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
204 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 7, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very interesting premise w/ expansive world building— I love the play on good v.s evil, but not in your typical way. The lines of who’s considered good and who’s evil are blurred into the story and left up to Catherine to decide.
In a world where Gods or Monsters don’t rule, but STEEL ⚔️ This is a complex read, I feel like I need to delve in one more time to really fully enjoy this.
*Pls excuse my rating, this isn’t my typical read!!
Although, it’s piqued my intrigue and I would love to continue this series 🫶🏽
Overall, if you love an epic fantasy read w/ big world building, detailed writing, and very in depth characters— Give this a shot!!
Amber Dekkers did an amazing job narrating 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very interesting premise w/ expansive world building— I love the play on good v.s evil, but not in your typical way. The lines of who’s considered good and who’s evil are blurred into the story and left up to Catherine to decide.
In a world where Gods or Monsters don’t rule, but STEEL ⚔️ This is a complex read, I feel like I need to delve in one more time to really fully enjoy this.
*Pls excuse my rating, this isn’t my typical read!!
Although, it’s piqued my intrigue and I would love to continue this series 🫶🏽
Overall, if you love an epic fantasy read w/ big world building, detailed writing, and very in depth characters— Give this a shot!!
Amber Dekkers did an amazing job narrating 🤍
August 5, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Catherine is an orphan raised in a kingdom that was conquered twenty years ago. She knows that the people in charge are corrupt and need to be stopped, but that seems to be impossible, especially since everyone knows how the stories go. What they need is a hero, but what they have is a villain who is willing to do what it takes to take the kingdom for himself, and he might just be Catherine's only shot. Now, apprenticed to the Black Knight, Catherine must train and ready herself to fight for the title of squire, and only the most evil among them will win it.
Well this was absolutely amazing. Let's start off with Catherine, because she is fantastic. She starts off knowing that the Black Knight and his followers are evil, but she continuously tells herself that they're evil for a good cause, and she doesn't have to be truly evil, just evil enough. But things eventually shift for her and we see the ruthless girl underneath who has learned the hard way that being only slightly evil is, in a way, worse than just being plain old evil. Her magic and her fight scenes were so well done, and I couldn't get enough of her by the end. The plot itself was well done and I loved the way the author actually incorporated the formulaic way that hero/villain stories are written/told into the actual book as conversations and lessons that Catherine is learning. I loved the world building, though I'm still confused over who is a villain because even the hero (especially in that final chapter/epilogue) seems to make terrible choices. The writing itself was gorgeous, and I was hooked from the very first line, and for my audiobook friends -- the narrator does such an awesome job bringing this book to life. I would 1000000% recommend this book.
Catherine is an orphan raised in a kingdom that was conquered twenty years ago. She knows that the people in charge are corrupt and need to be stopped, but that seems to be impossible, especially since everyone knows how the stories go. What they need is a hero, but what they have is a villain who is willing to do what it takes to take the kingdom for himself, and he might just be Catherine's only shot. Now, apprenticed to the Black Knight, Catherine must train and ready herself to fight for the title of squire, and only the most evil among them will win it.
Well this was absolutely amazing. Let's start off with Catherine, because she is fantastic. She starts off knowing that the Black Knight and his followers are evil, but she continuously tells herself that they're evil for a good cause, and she doesn't have to be truly evil, just evil enough. But things eventually shift for her and we see the ruthless girl underneath who has learned the hard way that being only slightly evil is, in a way, worse than just being plain old evil. Her magic and her fight scenes were so well done, and I couldn't get enough of her by the end. The plot itself was well done and I loved the way the author actually incorporated the formulaic way that hero/villain stories are written/told into the actual book as conversations and lessons that Catherine is learning. I loved the world building, though I'm still confused over who is a villain because even the hero (especially in that final chapter/epilogue) seems to make terrible choices. The writing itself was gorgeous, and I was hooked from the very first line, and for my audiobook friends -- the narrator does such an awesome job bringing this book to life. I would 1000000% recommend this book.
August 29, 2025
We start with Catherine Foundling, an orphan in the conquered kingdom of Callow who catches the attention of the Black Knight, the most dangerous man alive and he offers her a choice: take the knife, take the chance, and carve out her own future. What follows is a coming-of-age tale twisted through the lens of empire-building, rebellion, and the ever present tug-of-war between hero and villain.
The narration really shines here; the dry wit, the cutting humor, and the creeping menace of the Dread Empire all come alive in audio form. Catherine’s voice is equal parts pragmatic and ambitious, making her journey from street-level survivor to something far more dangerous feel believable and enthralling.
What I loved most is how ErraticErrata flips tropes on their heads. Heroes and villains aren’t about good versus evil; they're roles, traditions, and legacies you can inherit, fight, or subvert. Listening to this in audiobook form felt like being told a dark fairytale where the narrator is constantly nudging you to ask: what if the villain is right?
🔥Dark, clever, and addictive, this first installment sets the stage for a saga where power is a game and Catherine Foundling is ready to play!
The narration really shines here; the dry wit, the cutting humor, and the creeping menace of the Dread Empire all come alive in audio form. Catherine’s voice is equal parts pragmatic and ambitious, making her journey from street-level survivor to something far more dangerous feel believable and enthralling.
What I loved most is how ErraticErrata flips tropes on their heads. Heroes and villains aren’t about good versus evil; they're roles, traditions, and legacies you can inherit, fight, or subvert. Listening to this in audiobook form felt like being told a dark fairytale where the narrator is constantly nudging you to ask: what if the villain is right?
🔥Dark, clever, and addictive, this first installment sets the stage for a saga where power is a game and Catherine Foundling is ready to play!
August 4, 2025
This was INCREDIBLE! Wow!
A story about a girl who wants change at any cost. She dreams of going to the war college to fight through the ranks to change the empire. She wants the innocent to remain innocent and be able to live in peace. It's a dream since birth and will take decades to achieve. Who is she to deny an opportunity to make that dream a reality much, much faster. When the Villian Lord Black comes into town, she impresses him and is asked if she wants to take on a Name. A Name is a storybook idea that gives you power as long as you follow the Fate of the Story. Will she be able to stay good while learning to be a Villian? What will this cost in her quest to change the world for the better?
HOLY FREAKING COW! This was so good. The world building is on point! It flows into the story and is given as needed. The characters are so well developed I forgot they were fake. The idea of a person having a Name based on the idea that Fate has a plan for us all is incredible. Even the small ways Fate is cheated is amazing.
I CANNOT wait for the rest of the series!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
A story about a girl who wants change at any cost. She dreams of going to the war college to fight through the ranks to change the empire. She wants the innocent to remain innocent and be able to live in peace. It's a dream since birth and will take decades to achieve. Who is she to deny an opportunity to make that dream a reality much, much faster. When the Villian Lord Black comes into town, she impresses him and is asked if she wants to take on a Name. A Name is a storybook idea that gives you power as long as you follow the Fate of the Story. Will she be able to stay good while learning to be a Villian? What will this cost in her quest to change the world for the better?
HOLY FREAKING COW! This was so good. The world building is on point! It flows into the story and is given as needed. The characters are so well developed I forgot they were fake. The idea of a person having a Name based on the idea that Fate has a plan for us all is incredible. Even the small ways Fate is cheated is amazing.
I CANNOT wait for the rest of the series!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this audiobook! Instead of your typical young person surviving and fighting to get out, coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress, then following the hero's journey to rid the land of evil people, you get Catherine Foundling, someone much more interesting! She decides to follow a different path, destined to become a Name, specifically Squire to the Black Knight. I love her! And the way her mind works to solve issues, is fascinating. Not one to back away from a fight, or to succeed at her goal, Catherine twists the problems to unique solutions and while she follows the villain way, she is not totally heartless (though she has no problem slitting throats of those that deserve it!) and it gives so much depth to her character and I as the reader, could understand that her way has a certain genius to it. All the named villains were interesting and a nice change from following a hero on their all righteous journey in a land that has been conquered and needs saving. The Black Knight has some very interesting conversations with Catherine about that in fact and how that way sometimes makes things so much worse for the people living there. I also really enjoyed the snippets of advice from the Dread Empresses and Emperors at the start of each chapter. Those were entertaining! Lots of learning, quite a bit of murdering, fun snark, and even a bit of necromancy. It definitely keeps Catherine busy and I am looking forward to seeing where she is going to end up next (and the next showdown with a certain lone swordsman!).
This was a great audiobook to listen to! The narrator, Amber Dekkers, did a wonderful job in bringing Cathrine to life and the other villains and characters populating a strange and interesting world. I really want to find out what happens next and I wish Catherine the best in her tough journey ahead!
This was a great audiobook to listen to! The narrator, Amber Dekkers, did a wonderful job in bringing Cathrine to life and the other villains and characters populating a strange and interesting world. I really want to find out what happens next and I wish Catherine the best in her tough journey ahead!
August 25, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for sending me a copy of the ALC of this book for my honest review.
I finally picked up A Practical Guide to Evil I, and I can honestly say it delivers something truly unexpected. Catherine Foundling, an orphan in a conquered land, chooses a path most wouldn't dare: join the ranks of villainy to reshape the system from within. What could've been a standard fantasy trope turns into a sharp, ambitious exploration of moral ambiguity and narrative awareness.
The worldbuilding is next-level. Names, Roles, and tropes are wielded like magic, and characters—especially Catherine—aren’t just aware of them; they manipulate them. The result is meta but never gimmicky. This book is narrated from the 'villains' perspective. Catherine is likeable, we accept her twisted motives because we see the 'Heroes' and they are not too different from our FMC.
Catherine is a standout—cunning, determined, and ambitious. The narrative grips from the start with taut writing, intense political intrigue, and dark humor that sneaks up on you in the best way.
🎧 Audiobook: The narration really elevates the story. The narrator captures Catherine’s sharp wit and confidence without overplaying it, and gives just enough distinction to side characters to keep the large cast clear. It made the political intrigue and meta-commentary even more engaging—I’d easily rate the audio performance 4.5 stars as well.
Overall: A thrilling, unconventional fantasy start with a strong, morally ambiguous lead and a world that knows it’s in a story. The premise alone is enough to hook you—but it’s the execution that keeps you invested. Solid 4.5 stars.
September 11, 2025
The Dread Empress has ruled over the Kingdom of Callow for twenty years, but threats to the empire are rising. Catherine had no plans of getting involved as she’s only an orphan who spends her time fighting for money, but when the Black Knight unexpectedly offers her the chance of becoming a villain under his tutelage, she can’t say no. Catherine is hesitant, but as she wants change and power, she decides she’ll do what she must to save her home and punish those who have taken advantage of her people.
This work is supposed to be an Adult fantasy with darker themes, which I was excited for. But I had to go double check the genres after starting to read this, because it felt about as modern YA as you can get. The main reason for this feel is the protagonist. A teenager who’s not like other girls, has an unnecessarily foul mouth, is obnoxiously sassy and talks back constantly, and already knows everything and is just as brilliant as the older mages who recruit her. There was one sentence in the book that perfectly summed up her character development: “Because if I couldn’t be right, I could at least be petty.” Sigh.
This book is also dialogue heavy. While this isn’t always a bad thing, the dialogue here is often used for info-dumping to the point where it just caused me to lose interest. The worldbuilding was decent, but since it was incorporated in this way it wasn’t engaging or immersive for me. net
If you like YA epic fantasies with know-it-all protagonists, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This work is supposed to be an Adult fantasy with darker themes, which I was excited for. But I had to go double check the genres after starting to read this, because it felt about as modern YA as you can get. The main reason for this feel is the protagonist. A teenager who’s not like other girls, has an unnecessarily foul mouth, is obnoxiously sassy and talks back constantly, and already knows everything and is just as brilliant as the older mages who recruit her. There was one sentence in the book that perfectly summed up her character development: “Because if I couldn’t be right, I could at least be petty.” Sigh.
This book is also dialogue heavy. While this isn’t always a bad thing, the dialogue here is often used for info-dumping to the point where it just caused me to lose interest. The worldbuilding was decent, but since it was incorporated in this way it wasn’t engaging or immersive for me. net
If you like YA epic fantasies with know-it-all protagonists, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 29, 2025
(audio)
Came into this with super high expectations: my brother said it was as great a RR read as Mother of Learning or He Who Fights Monsters... +reddit's tier lists have this one high. ~30 minutes in i knew this would not be for me; basically: MC takes part in an underground fight & needs some magical healing. Only mage available is a drunkard. While being healed we hear about his drunkenness. While being paid for the bout, MC repeats to us about the healer's drunkenness. While later, while MC brings it up again when retelling/remembering the events (forgot why) we again hear about this drunkard that SUCCESFULLY healed the MC. All this in 30 minutes... so i think to myself: if this healer is a throw away character who the FAWK cares about his drinking. If that healer character comes to be important later, might see something worth telling us ONCE. Now ~60% in & still nothing about healer again. IE why was this time wasted to be repeated 3 times instead of something interesting happening instead? Dropping here till i get my brother to defend this / tell me it gets better... (if you dont see edit to this, just skip this one)
This has a trope i LUV and is underutilized in books IMO: (Asides/lines QUOTED just to hint at deeper lore)
"Faith is the only sword that cant be taken away from you. "
But when that is done with something truly profound in likes of Bobiverse or Shusterman(Scythe/Unwind) or Sanderson this is great... I hope you can see through this one's garbage: faith is a blunt sord (for seppuku) at best.
Came into this with super high expectations: my brother said it was as great a RR read as Mother of Learning or He Who Fights Monsters... +reddit's tier lists have this one high. ~30 minutes in i knew this would not be for me; basically: MC takes part in an underground fight & needs some magical healing. Only mage available is a drunkard. While being healed we hear about his drunkenness. While being paid for the bout, MC repeats to us about the healer's drunkenness. While later, while MC brings it up again when retelling/remembering the events (forgot why) we again hear about this drunkard that SUCCESFULLY healed the MC. All this in 30 minutes... so i think to myself: if this healer is a throw away character who the FAWK cares about his drinking. If that healer character comes to be important later, might see something worth telling us ONCE. Now ~60% in & still nothing about healer again. IE why was this time wasted to be repeated 3 times instead of something interesting happening instead? Dropping here till i get my brother to defend this / tell me it gets better... (if you dont see edit to this, just skip this one)
This has a trope i LUV and is underutilized in books IMO: (Asides/lines QUOTED just to hint at deeper lore)
"Faith is the only sword that cant be taken away from you. "
But when that is done with something truly profound in likes of Bobiverse or Shusterman(Scythe/Unwind) or Sanderson this is great... I hope you can see through this one's garbage: faith is a blunt sord (for seppuku) at best.
August 13, 2025
I was so pleasantly surprised at this book. It takes such a unique spin on the Heroes vs Villains troupe and I was absolutely living for it. At first I was a little unsure if I was going to like the main character since she was young but the author did a great job at making her relatable and a well defined character with her faults and nuances. I enjoyed her progression as well through the story and really am looking forward to reading the next one. The main villain mentor character in this story is also so wonderful and the story as a whole is so complex and layered but I think it was described well without dragging down the flow of the pacing. The audio book was a delight, I was not super jazzed with the voice at first but it did grow on me and I think it was well done over all. I am so very happy with this world and I will definitely be reading the rest in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
August 29, 2025
2.5 Stars
Firstly, the grammar is terrible and nearly made me stop reading. Secondly, the villainous roles rarely felt more than pragmatic, not really evil. This undermined the central premise.
I could see what the author was trying to do. As an examination of the moral continuum versus the common man's simplistic categorization of good versus evil, the book was clumsy. For example, it was telling that the protagonist was not forced to confront an act that her "good" heart could not stomach until the end of the book. I had to bend over backwards to believe that Black was simply grooming her gently toward the dark side.
I liked the magic system, where powers where enhanced by finding a mythos/role and living it. But, there was a distinct lack of stakes. The author never took the time to let us fall in love with the victims; the defeated kingdom. Why should we barrack for the Catherine's people? Simply because they lost a war? My gut was unmoved.
Firstly, the grammar is terrible and nearly made me stop reading. Secondly, the villainous roles rarely felt more than pragmatic, not really evil. This undermined the central premise.
I could see what the author was trying to do. As an examination of the moral continuum versus the common man's simplistic categorization of good versus evil, the book was clumsy. For example, it was telling that the protagonist was not forced to confront an act that her "good" heart could not stomach until the end of the book. I had to bend over backwards to believe that Black was simply grooming her gently toward the dark side.
I liked the magic system, where powers where enhanced by finding a mythos/role and living it. But, there was a distinct lack of stakes. The author never took the time to let us fall in love with the victims; the defeated kingdom. Why should we barrack for the Catherine's people? Simply because they lost a war? My gut was unmoved.
August 5, 2025
A great introduction for new and returning readers alike
This is my absolute favorite web serial and I cannot be more excited to finally have it on my Kindle.
If you were on the fence about doing a reread of A Practical Guide to Evil now that it is on Kindle/KU, this book appears to have had a full editing pass, new scenes, and six new chapters of content, as well as some extra alternative POV scenes added to the epilogue. This book ends at chapter 14 of the web serial.
The new chapters are awesome, and give a lot more foreshadowing, context, and (new?!) character introductions.
If this continues for the rest of the series, I will be eagerly awaiting each new book!
This is my absolute favorite web serial and I cannot be more excited to finally have it on my Kindle.
If you were on the fence about doing a reread of A Practical Guide to Evil now that it is on Kindle/KU, this book appears to have had a full editing pass, new scenes, and six new chapters of content, as well as some extra alternative POV scenes added to the epilogue. This book ends at chapter 14 of the web serial.
The new chapters are awesome, and give a lot more foreshadowing, context, and (new?!) character introductions.
If this continues for the rest of the series, I will be eagerly awaiting each new book!
August 8, 2025
I've read literally thousands of books in my life. I've been reading fantasy since I knew what fantasy was. At a certain point I felt like I had seen and read all there was to see and read.
I was wrong. Practical Guide to Evil surpassed all of my preconceived notions and expectations. The first book is great. It had me hooked from day one. Each subsequent book was better than the last. By the end, I felt like I had changed from reading the series. One of the best fantasy series ever written. Read it, make your friends read it, make your family read it. Raise the bar on what is possible. Read it.
I was wrong. Practical Guide to Evil surpassed all of my preconceived notions and expectations. The first book is great. It had me hooked from day one. Each subsequent book was better than the last. By the end, I felt like I had changed from reading the series. One of the best fantasy series ever written. Read it, make your friends read it, make your family read it. Raise the bar on what is possible. Read it.
August 12, 2025
It's so exciting that this is now been fully edited and is being officially published instead of being a web serial. This covers an expanded version of the first half of the first book of the original web serial.
The changes made from the web version make the story flow much better, and the added background information sprinkled in help to develop the world a lot better. I can't wait for more of these to come out and see what other changes have been made to the story.
I do eventually want to try to listen to the Audiobook version of this, but I'll wait until I do a re-read with more of the books out.
The changes made from the web version make the story flow much better, and the added background information sprinkled in help to develop the world a lot better. I can't wait for more of these to come out and see what other changes have been made to the story.
I do eventually want to try to listen to the Audiobook version of this, but I'll wait until I do a re-read with more of the books out.
August 31, 2025
So much better than I bargained for…
Drops a world right before your eyes with the first words and BAM! You’re off on a roller coaster ride of a fantasy book. It had all my favorites: political intrigue, sword fights, banter, clever writing, 90 degree turns, character development, complicated motivations, etc. Oh it was SCRUMPTIOUS. I think I noticed like 1 or 2 typos (petty instead of pretty once and something else) but nothing that bothered pulling me out of the story. The world is well developed and rich without feeling like you’re being spoon fed. I cannot wait to read the next one
Drops a world right before your eyes with the first words and BAM! You’re off on a roller coaster ride of a fantasy book. It had all my favorites: political intrigue, sword fights, banter, clever writing, 90 degree turns, character development, complicated motivations, etc. Oh it was SCRUMPTIOUS. I think I noticed like 1 or 2 typos (petty instead of pretty once and something else) but nothing that bothered pulling me out of the story. The world is well developed and rich without feeling like you’re being spoon fed. I cannot wait to read the next one
September 3, 2025
I enjoyed listening to this first instalment so much I come back for hunting down everything from same autor (his style is much, much better than usual crap in this genre)!
It's witty, irreverent and full of trope jabst and self-irony not typical for "literature" centered around game mechanic universes.
The characters are not black-or-white, have a depth, motivations, style and character DEVELOPMENT.
It's much more about the inner process inside of MFC than just mindless descriptions of fights, game mechanics or jumping from action to action!
Enjoying these mind-games a lot even if it (probably still) is a LitRPG...
It's witty, irreverent and full of trope jabst and self-irony not typical for "literature" centered around game mechanic universes.
The characters are not black-or-white, have a depth, motivations, style and character DEVELOPMENT.
It's much more about the inner process inside of MFC than just mindless descriptions of fights, game mechanics or jumping from action to action!
Enjoying these mind-games a lot even if it (probably still) is a LitRPG...
August 13, 2025
I really enjoyed that the main character of this book is essentially a villain. The author does a really good job of describing the surroundings and characters. The main character struggles with her decision regarding becoming a villain, which was understandable at the start, but towards the end I do wish she came to terms with it a little better. If you enjoy reading fantasy with a hint of politics, this book is for you. The narrator of the audiobook also did a good job taking the reader on this journey through a war-torn fantasy world.
Trigger warnings: Gruesome animal death (necromancy)
Trigger warnings: Gruesome animal death (necromancy)
August 15, 2025
Fantastic start to a fantastic series
I read this as a prior fan from when it was a webseries, but found myself still enthralled despite having read the first version already. Those who have read the webseries can look forward to the new additions and exciting changes (which for my money are all improvements), and those who are new to the series can look forward to a series filled with grand battles, epic moments, and a more complex morality than your standard fantasy fare
I read this as a prior fan from when it was a webseries, but found myself still enthralled despite having read the first version already. Those who have read the webseries can look forward to the new additions and exciting changes (which for my money are all improvements), and those who are new to the series can look forward to a series filled with grand battles, epic moments, and a more complex morality than your standard fantasy fare
September 18, 2025
Amazing look at what makes good and evil and the gray between
Such a fantastic story! The MC is snarky and strong willed, though she spends the book coming to terms with the choices she makes and finding growth Theophrastus it. Plus, she is a badass. The world is incredibly interesting and the system of Roles and Names is really compelling. I am looking forward to the next in the series!
Such a fantastic story! The MC is snarky and strong willed, though she spends the book coming to terms with the choices she makes and finding growth Theophrastus it. Plus, she is a badass. The world is incredibly interesting and the system of Roles and Names is really compelling. I am looking forward to the next in the series!
August 29, 2025
Received as an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Great, great, story telling. Loved the world building and the attention to detail in developing the atmosphere, characters, and their abilities. I’ll definitely be investing in the book when it’s released.
The narration was very good. I only have two complaints (one more personal than a suggested tweak).
1. The speed of narration was far too slow for me. I wish the app offered more increments of speeds to listen to at normal (1.0x) I felt like everything dragged on. I found myself listening at 1.25x for the entirety of the book.
2. I learned that legionaries is pronounced legion-aries instead of like legion-air and listening to that numerous times bothered me. Again. Not against the narrator. Thats personal. I learned I've been saying it wrong 😅.
Overall this was such a refreshing fantasy I can’t wait for the next installment.
Would I purchase as an audiobook even after buying the hard copy? Absolutely.
Great, great, story telling. Loved the world building and the attention to detail in developing the atmosphere, characters, and their abilities. I’ll definitely be investing in the book when it’s released.
The narration was very good. I only have two complaints (one more personal than a suggested tweak).
1. The speed of narration was far too slow for me. I wish the app offered more increments of speeds to listen to at normal (1.0x) I felt like everything dragged on. I found myself listening at 1.25x for the entirety of the book.
2. I learned that legionaries is pronounced legion-aries instead of like legion-air and listening to that numerous times bothered me. Again. Not against the narrator. Thats personal. I learned I've been saying it wrong 😅.
Overall this was such a refreshing fantasy I can’t wait for the next installment.
Would I purchase as an audiobook even after buying the hard copy? Absolutely.
August 7, 2025
So Satirical it becomes serious
What a book! It leans hard on the tropes of paperback fantasy, throwing around Good and Evil as ontological truths. In doing so it carves out space for the depths of human experience. A real pageturner too, it was damn difficult to put down.
What a book! It leans hard on the tropes of paperback fantasy, throwing around Good and Evil as ontological truths. In doing so it carves out space for the depths of human experience. A real pageturner too, it was damn difficult to put down.
August 15, 2025
best fantasy novel ever written
I’ve been waiting ages for this book to be released to the public. I cannot wait for the rest to be available. If you haven’t read it yet you are in for a treat, if you have there are extra chapters that weren’t in the original.
I’ve been waiting ages for this book to be released to the public. I cannot wait for the rest to be available. If you haven’t read it yet you are in for a treat, if you have there are extra chapters that weren’t in the original.
August 21, 2025
Amazing!
I read this after a recommendation and boy was I glad I did. This is a brilliant opener to the series, the lines between good and evil are blurred, the heroes are not heroic…. Loved it will read more.
I read this after a recommendation and boy was I glad I did. This is a brilliant opener to the series, the lines between good and evil are blurred, the heroes are not heroic…. Loved it will read more.
September 2, 2025
I love evil characters who still know how to have fun. Cat is absolutely perfect in that and seeing how she reasons being evil and how she turns even the most chaotic of her battles into strategies to further her goals is amazing to read
September 6, 2025
Embracing villainy
This is one of my favorite stories. This starts off Catherine's journey to reshape her world to her ideas. I love the characters and their world. This is what a morally grey story should look like.
This is one of my favorite stories. This starts off Catherine's journey to reshape her world to her ideas. I love the characters and their world. This is what a morally grey story should look like.
July 26, 2025
Republished on royal road - perhaps to drum up support for the book release. But this is worth the read - I love how this series plays with narratives and works on story-logic.
August 7, 2025
Utterly Amazing
I am so excited to go on this journey again. Any true fantasy will enjoy this meta story and the frankly just a great story on its own. Read it, love it
I am so excited to go on this journey again. Any true fantasy will enjoy this meta story and the frankly just a great story on its own. Read it, love it
August 9, 2025
Amazing
Brilliant all the way through, the changes to the original only added to the story
Can't wait for book 2
Brilliant all the way through, the changes to the original only added to the story
Can't wait for book 2
August 15, 2025
"You're an upgrade, aren't you?" / "Of the very best kind."
September 4, 2025
The new content is excellent expansions to the original Wordpress version! Seeing Refuge this early was a trip, and my favorite girl Archer... ANYWAYS everyone read this. I'm extremely happy to see my favorite webnovel ever getting published.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews