Dreadful

by Caitlin Rozakis

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Dark wizards, monsters, and princesses. They all seem to go together in those epic fantasy tales, don't they? That's certainly how it feels for Dread Lord Gavrax. He may be a dark wizard, but he's not the one with all the ideas.

Or rather, he wasn't? It's hard to be certain when all your memories have flowed the coop, leaving you with a blank slate, a foreboding castle, and a kidnapped princess. Should Gav play along or break the pattern he fell into?

My Review:

There are several reasons why I picked up Dreadful. First, the cover (pretty colors, yada yada). Second, the description is funny and compelling, so yes, please. Finally – the comps! You compare any new (to me) author to T. Kingfisher or Travis Baldtree, and you know I will give them a go.

So here we are, and I have to say that I really enjoyed Dreadful. It was so uniquely charming while also tackling real issues (toxic masculinity, assumptions vs. expectations, unintentional biases, etc.). I'm sure people will have many thoughts on the commentary, but I enjoyed the exploration here.

As far as the comedy elements go, they felt similar to Kill the Farm Boy (Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne), so if you enjoyed it, you have to check this book out (or vice versa!). It played around with tropes, flipped expectations on their heads, and overall just had fun with it.

By the time the book's climax came around, I was howling with laughter (no, really; ask anybody who was around when I was reading). The imagery was just too funny. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a different read full of thoughts and chuckles.

Highlights:
Tongue-in-Cheek
Fantasy
Part Cozy Mystery
Similar Vibes to Kill the Farm Boy

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