Tag: Review:  The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) (Guides to Villainy and Love Book 1) by Tiffany Hunt

Review:  The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) (Guides to Villainy and Love Book 1) by Tiffany Hunt

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Two immediate thoughts about this remarkable story. One, I absolutely love it. Secondly,  book two in the series isn’t going to be released until next year, so if you’re a reader who finds that hard to take, wait! Don’t read this yet. Because, much like me, are end of this book, you’ll be craving the next one.  And knowing we have a long wait ahead. Argh!

That said, what a fabulous tale this is. Hunt is another writer I discovered via this series and whether it’s her ingratiating characters, smart, snarky dialogue and humor, or just plain great storytelling, I was invested from the beginning. 

I love stories that  switch up the perspectives. It’s the villains who are the main (and magnificent) characters. And the well written women who are supposed to be the damsel in distress but aren’t. Instead, they’re women who are intelligent, strategic, and powerful in their own right. A equal. And morally grey partner to the villain in her story. 

As a fan of Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Assistant to the Villain series, I was quick to pick this up. Its similar only in that the villain is the main character (a dashing, dark magical lord) and that the relationship between the Dark Lord, Kaz, and his Lady, Arabella, is a very similar, fully developed one of growth, understanding and trust. It’s their fantastic dialogue and fierce dynamic, combining all their own strengths and hidden fears as well as magical abilities that will eventually combust into a new hot full partnership. 

But not until they have a strong understanding and connection with each other. That’s the key here. Respect, trust and understanding of each other. Remarkably adult thinking. 

There’s plenty of bloodshed, and violence. He’s a villain. But also there’s plenty of villainous deeds done by “the good guys “. Including her family.

There’s interesting mythology that’s just getting started and will grow into the next book. A dark mystery too. 

And a dragon!

But it’s Lord and Lady Blackrose ( yes, there are black roses, they bite) who make the story. They are an outstanding villainous couple. I love them and will find it hard to wait until next year to see what happens next!

Highly recommended!

 

Guides to Villainy and Love:

  • The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) #1
  • The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (And Other Villainous Deeds) – Feb 10,2026

Buy link

        The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) (Guides to Villainy and Love Book 1)

    

Blurb:

Perfect for fans of Assistant to the Villain, but darker and spicier.

In this riotously funny dark romantasy, a conflicted villain and his unstoppable bride form the realm’s most chaotic alliance.

“What’s mine, stays mine.”

Step One: Kidnap someone cute.

Step Two: Force her into marriage.

Step Three: Try not to get feelings.

When Dark Lord Kazimir Blackrose kidnaps Lady Arabella for a forced marriage, he expects an obedient, trembling bride. What he gets is a knife to the throat and a furious woman with her own terms. He may need her heroic bloodline to achieve ultimate dominion, but she’s not about to make this easy for him.

Arabella has already survived her father’s tower prison and a lifetime of being treated like property. Being abducted by the realm’s most notorious villain is just another Tuesday. If she must be married to the infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) Dark Lord, she’ll do it on her terms: freedom within his fortress, hands strictly to himself, and complete honesty about his plans.

But when his plans go awry, Kazimir faces his most terrifying challenge yet. He must actually date his own wife. Between magical training sessions, playing golf with the eyeballs of his enemies, and aphrodisiac dinners gone spectacularly wrong, his villainous seduction plans are failing at every turn.

As they navigate magical explosions and jealous exes, they discover a far more terrifying prospect than war or magical catastrophe:

They might actually be falling for each other.

This dark and sexy fantasy romance is perfect for readers who love:

  • A morally gray antihero (who stays that way)
  • A strong heroine who embraces her dark side (she doesn’t need rescuing, thanks)
  • Touch her and die
  • Hilarious, wicked banter and sizzling spice
  • One bed/forced proximity
  • Kidnapped bride/forced marriage
  • Dark humor