Wednesday, April 23, 2025

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, by Django Wexler

In my mind this is better than a 2 but not quite a 3. Lots of problems. I think the content warning was clear enough, and if it isn't you figure that out within a page or two. Grisly Groundhog Day. I was able to get past the problems enough to read the whole thing, and even enjoy parts of it mildly. The importance of friendship and thinking outside the box are always good for a plot.

But like pretty much every other reviewer I find that Wexler doesn't come close to bringing off a female character. All the sexual references pretty much come off as porn. A book full of this is cloying and leaves a bad taste.

We have a character who's lived over 200 lives, each multiple years, so she's been at this a long time. And hasn't really reflected on what kind of time loop she's caught in. And claims to have forgotten much of her previous life, but remembers enough to drop every current cultural reference the author knows.

The plot so far is just too shallow to justify the over-the-top grossness of the character. I could have used my time better.


The Long Earth, by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

Like many I think this book is stronger in concept than in execution. The Long Earth is a cool idea--that alternate versions of Earth are av...