Title: The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)Author: Tiffany Hunt
Series: Guides to Villainy and Love #1
Pages: 532
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: Scarlett Press
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
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.
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I absolutely loved The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes). The story is fun and funny, a little bit dark, and a lot romantic. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. It is immersive without ever feeling heavy, with strong world-building and pacing. And the humor! There are so many comical moments, and the quick wit in both the narration and dialogue had me laughing out loud more than once. It’s so well done and balances the darker elements perfectly.
Arabella has never had control over her life, first dictated by her father, who treated her like a piece of property more than a daughter, and then kidnapped by Kazimir. But from the moment she meets Kazimir, she fights for her autonomy, and, surprisingly, Kazimir gives it to her. She is fantastic, and I loved her arc throughout the story. She learns so much about herself and what she wants and what she’s capable of, and Kazimir is her biggest cheerleader.
I never thought I’d love a villainous character called the Dark Lord, but here we are. lol Kazimir is the most charming, funny, vengeful, and endearing bad guy, and I can totally see what Arabella falls for him. He’s equally infuriating and appealing, and as dark and antagonizing as he is, he’s also so entertaining and compelling. I mean, the man golfs with the eyeballs of his victims, and I kind of found it charming.
Of course, for me, the romance between Kazimir and Arabella is the best part of the story. Whew, do these two have chemistry! It is clear almost immediately that Kazimir is captivated by Arabella, and he respects and admires her gumption, her fiery spirit, and her unwillingness to be cowed. I love how their relationship develops, especially the way Kazimir helps Arabella explore her powers and embrace her darker side. Instead of trying to shape her into something he wants or use her as a pawn like her father did, Kazimir encourages her to discover who she truly is and to own it. He gives her the space and support to grow into her power, both magical and personal, and, even though it had a rocky start (that’s what usually happens when you kidnap your bride! lol), their relationship ends up feeling like a true partnership. Passionate, fiery, and dripping with sizzling sexual tension, their romance is magical, literally and figuratively.
Another standout for me was the found family vibes woven throughout the story. This is one of my favorite tropes, and there’s some irony in the fact that Arabella doesn’t find the warmth of family and feelings of safety and security until she’s taken by the Dark Lord. Among the intriguing secondary characters and creatures, Griffin became one of my faves. Charming and unknowingly comical, he brought so much personality to the story, and his inventions were memorable. lol
I thought this was a fabulous start to the series! It is funny, a little dark, and super swoon-worthy. And the chapter titles! So good!! I am very much looking forward to seeing where this story and these characters go next. Thanks to NetGalley and Scarlett Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- forced proximity
- touch her and die
- insta-lust
- shadow daddy
- kidnapped bride
- only one bed
Arabella’s eyes glittered. “What do villains call it when a woman threatens to rot her enemies from the inside?”
“Foreplay.”
Adapt doesn’t mean surrender.
“I used to think vulnerability was weakness, that caring meant handing someone a blade to stab you in the back. But after everything . . . fighting you, fighting for you, and with you . . . I don’t feel weaker, Kazimir. I feel . . .” The word got caught in my throat. “More.”
“Lord Blackrose has enough on his plate, what with the wedding and the world domination and the perpetual brooding.”
