I appreciate Orbit and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this one, but unfortunately had to DNF it.
I got to about the 25% mark. I liked the first one enough to give this one a shot but it missed for me. It felt too similar to the first one and I got bored. I felt disconnected for me.
I do hope it’s received well. Good luck!

An hilarious continuation from the first book, and another example of Wexler's tongue-in-cheek gallows humour. Tremendously fun.

3.5 Stars

Ever accidentally become a Dark Lord and then discover your army’s primary goal is “kill all humans”? Yeah, awkward. In Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me, Davi finds herself trying to avert a bloodbath by returning to the human kingdom—except this is the first time in the loop she’s not interfering, her girlfriend is (justifiably) angry, and her legions are off doing “training exercises” (read: busy work).

Wexler shines when it comes to characters. Whether it’s the lovable ones, the ones you love to hate, or the side characters who actually feel like real people, the cast is consistently strong and engaging. The worldbuilding is also a win—minimalist but immersive, it doesn’t overwhelm with details yet still feels lived-in. And of course, the humour is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Wexler’s sharp wit and pop culture-savvy voice give the story a uniquely entertaining flavour.

This sequel didn’t hit quite as hard as the first. The footnotes, a highlight before, felt overused here and lost much of their comedic punch. The pacing dragged in places; for a book about a powerful villain, we spend much time with Davi doing little “villaining.” The central villain’s master plan also didn’t quite add up. There’s a lot of magical effort for something that felt unnecessarily convoluted. And a nitpick that started small in book one but got harder to ignore here: Davi supposedly has only a vague recollection of Earth, yet she makes constant Earth-specific references. It’s a fun quirk, but it clashes with the world’s internal logic.

It’s still a fun, snarky fantasy romp that fans of the first book will enjoy, but it’s not quite as tight or clever as its predecessor. Worth the read for the characters and humour, but don’t be surprised if it meanders more than you’d like.

Thank you to Django Wexler, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. On Sale May 27th, 2025

Once again, I was really pleased with the wide range of different characters, creatures, and races in this book. We even got a dragon this time! (Surely that's not a spoiler if there's a dragon on the cover, right?) I did have an issue with the motivation for most of the characters. I found that with multiple characters, ranging from Davi's allies to the actual villain of the story, I didn't believe their motivation. I think the characters lacked some depth, but maybe it's just because this book is more centered on being funny and chaotic. And that's totally okay!

I also think there was a lot of potential for this book to dive deeper into the lore of the world they live in. Why can humans perform magic one way, while wilders have a different form of magic? This is touched on, but not fully explored. The Old Ones and the dragon never really received much explanation either. Where did they come from? Again, I think it's okay for this story to just be fun and only focus on Davi's life. But it's a little disappointing seeing how much potential this world has to really thrive that was just neglected.

There were a couple of inconsistencies that really bothered me. Spoilers ahead:

The first ties back to what I just said about the creation of the world and how much more it could have encompassed. At one point, there's an attack by a band of crab wildings called the Canceri. And you think oh shit there's a new bad guy in town that they're going to have a big face-off with! But, uh... You...never see them again? So... What was the point of even giving them a name if they're not even that important?

The second one is very small, but it kind of annoyed me. There's a moment where Davi watches a character die, and a few moments later, one of her friends runs up. The friend sees the body, and they're both shocked by grief. Then a chapter or so later, the friend tells Davi that that character died? Like... Yes? You were both there. I think we're all aware. Maybe I'm just confused, but the character kind of took a sword through the chest... I don't know if there was any hope that the character was going to live, unfortunately.

Spoilers over!

Overall, I will say again, this is a really original story that's incredibly funny and well-done. The mixture of medieval(ish) fantasy with modern-day references and jokes is so unique. One of my favorites was a reference to Joe Abercrombie's grimdark works that made me laugh out loud.

That being said, this book seems to have a lot less humor infused into it than the first one, but I think that's due to how much Davi changed over the course of the first book. The longer she's alive, the more she's at risk of losing the relationships she's made. Speaking of which, the found family aspect of this story is great. Everyone is so different, and almost none of them liked each other at first. But they learn to get along and love one another despite all their differences.

This book wasn't my favorite ever, but I will 1000% be reading more from Django Wexler in the future.

This was everything I hoped the sequel to How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying would be and more. It did not feel at all repetitious (even though Davi’s life has been full of time loops). The humor was still excellent, mixing Earthly humor with that of this fantasy world. It felt like Davi really grew a lot in this book and many members of the horde did also. I really enjoyed the way Davi went about trying to bring peace across the land.

While I could tell who the twist was going to involve, it was not at all what I was expecting and it was a lot more interesting the way that it all played out.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to @orbitbooks_us and @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

If you liked the first, you'll like this one as well.

It has the same irreverent tone, the ridiculous random references, the crass jokes and everything that made the first fun. I'd probably hate Davi in real life because she's obnoxious, but she makes for a wild ride as a protagonist. But this time with existential crises and trying to be a better person. Her beloved himbo boyfriend Prince Johann shows up. And I would never have expected certain twists and turns. This duology has been so messed up and so much fun.

This was a fun conclusion to the first book although I enjoyed the premise of the first book more. I think this duology is great for anyone who likes DND or warhammer type games.

I'm always happy when a series knows the reader probably doesn't remember everything from the previous books and will do a bit of a recap. I liked that the story didn't lap about but was fast paced and engaging. Even though I missed Davi's level of morally grey-ness from the previous book though I'm glad it was because of her character development and her growing instead of just a result of the author just writing her differently without a reason.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first book but I wanted to see how it would end so I’m very happy I received the final book in their series. Davi felt more fleshed out in the book and it was interesting to see how she interacted with other people. I did not anticipate the characters that we encountered in this book but it was a fun ride. The plot and premise was interesting and the story stayed consistently enjoyable throughout. This author is really good at keeping your attention while still giving you a good story.

The exact second I finished the first book in this series, I was useless, until I got the second installment. Typically, I'm a thriller, suspense, cozy, romance girlie. But, Davi? Oh, she changed it all for me. In a big way.

Humor fantasy girlie, ho!

This installment in the series didn't disappoint me in the slightest! I was laughing from the second page and Wexler just kept the good times coming as I finished it.

I never, ever want to be without these fantasy people in my life and I will be stalking this author's backlist until the day I die. I'm currently convincing my SO to read this series, as he recently finished Dungeon Crawler Carl and I consider this series in somewhat of the same vein.

Seriously, read this book. If you want an ab workout from hilarity and all of the feels, do not stop, do not pass go, forfeit all of your money and maybe your first born, it's worth it.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This is absolutely hilarious and definitely went in some unexpected directions. I did not clock who started the time loop or exactly how it would evolve as the plot proceeded which was amazing. The footnotes, as always, are glorious and necessary for extra enjoyment of the book and Davi does not disappoint. The duology being over makes me sad but this new genre of snarky science fiction/fantasy is right where I want to be so I need to go read more like this as well as more in general from Wexler. 4.5 stars.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me is the second book in the Dark Lord Davi duology. As always, this book was amazing. In the first book, we followed Davi's journey to becoming a dark lord, and in this second installment, she is trying to uncover her curse. Davi's personal growth throughout the story was remarkable. She is so chaotic and I love reading every second of it. Reading this series was a lot of fun, and I loved the snarky humor; I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud. If you enjoyed the first book, you will definitely like the conclusion. I highly recommend this series to everyone. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

Had to do it, book is aware of it, so I get a pass Tears for Fears! "Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me" by Django Wexler concludes Davi's brush with being the Dark Lord. Out 27 May 2025!

Ever get into a leadership position and find out all your employees just want to "kill all humans?" It can be awkward. Only thing to do is give her legions some definitely really training (busy work) as she returns to the human kingdom to try and prevent a bloodbath. Except, she hasn't been there at this point in a loop when she hasn't interfered with things. Plus, her girlfriend is pissed at her.

Narrated by Jeanette Illidge, hilarious and heartfelt voice.

Reasons to read:
-Its hilarious
-Ethical conundrums for a person who hasn't thought about people as real for centuries
-The side characters are fantastic
-Oh good reveal
-Another reminder to very be caught doing that

Cons:
-Alas, the breakdown of an organization when the management is gone

4.25 stars

This was so fun! Same format as the first book - all the humor, footnotes, and action. It was well-paced and gripping from start to finish. I do wish the epilogue was longer, but I was overall satisfied by the ending. Highly recommend to readers of the first!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for access to this work. All opinions are my own

I love this book just as much as the first in series. Great fun, designed to be silly but with attitude and a good deal of self-awareness, reflection, and guilt. Davi is the villain I wish we always had. Hopeful for a series continuation because I want more Davi in my life!

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler is an entertaining and darkly humorous conclusion to the Dark Lord Davi duology. This sequel picks up where its predecessor left off, diving deeper into Davi's struggle to accept her new role as Dark Lord, balancing power, politics, and her own personal insecurities. The story continues to blend wit, sarcasm, and a sharp commentary on the supervillain genre, keeping the tone light even as Davi faces serious threats.

The book is full of clever, tongue-in-cheek humor, with Davi's sarcastic inner monologue and the use of footnotes that provide additional commentary. While it’s a fun and engaging read overall, there are moments where the pacing drags, and the resolution of some plot points feels a little too rushed or unresolved. Despite this, the story’s conclusion is still satisfying enough for those who enjoy an unconventional journey.

I appreciated the humor and the characters' growth, particularly Davi's struggle with her own identity and what it means to wield power. It’s a refreshing take on the "dark lord" trope, though it may not be for everyone, especially those looking for more depth in plot structure. That being said, it’s a solid continuation of the series that doesn't take itself too seriously and leaves you with a few thoughtful moments amid all the chaos.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

All hail Dark Lord Davi! After 1000+ years in a time loop, Davi finally decided to try something different – instead of fighting the Dark Lord, she became the Dark Lord. Unfortunately, that means that she's now in charge of a horde of wilders who want her to lead them to victory over the humans that she's spent centuries trying to protect. Oops. Davi decides to look up her old boyfriend Johann, hot himbo extraordinaire and prince not-so-extraordinaire of the human kingdom, to see if she can manipulate him into attempting to save his people … again. Needless to say, hijinks ensue.

If you enjoyed How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, there's a pretty good chance that you're going to love this sequel. It takes a bit for the story to really get going, but once it does it's almost impossible to put down. There are orcs and magic and evil dukes and subterfuge and epic battles and maybe even a dragon or two, and it's all absolutely delightful. And, of course, there's also lots of fucking (Davi's phrasing, not mine) and crude humor and language. This time, however, it's also possible that Davi might just acquire some emotional depth and maybe even a bit of a conscience?

All of the main characters from the first book make a reappearance in this one, but I have to confess Johann might just be my new favorite character (other than Davi herself, of course). He's a lot of fun in a hot himbo prince sort of way, and it turns out that there just might be more to him than meets the eye.

Do expect this book to be somewhat more serious than its predecessor. It still has plenty of humor and snark, but Davi does a lot more soul-searching in this one. Now that she can't rely on the time loop to reset everything back to the very beginning whenever she dies, all of the death and destruction starts to seem a little … permanent. She's not quite sure how to feel about it all, and then she also has the whole relationship with (and feelings for) Tsav to figure out.

If I absolutely had to choose, I'd probably say that I enjoyed How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying more than this one, but not by much. This is a solid sequel to an amazing book, and it wraps up Davi's story rather nicely. I'm sad that it's only meant to be a duology because I don't want to leave these characters behind, but perhaps it'll wind up being a duology in the same way that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series ended up being a “trilogy in five books.” A girl can dream, anyway.

4.6 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 27, 2025.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me
by Django Wexler
Dark Lord Davi #2
Fantasy Dark Humor
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 18+

Book two (and last) picks up a few days/weeks after the first book, where Davi and Tsav are off to the Kingdom to try to make peace with Prince Johann. But things have changed since the last time she was in the Kingdom... Prince Johann is married! Worse, his cousin, Duke Aster, is running things.

So now Davi needs to find a way to get Johann back in charge and get Aster out of the kingdom before her horde arrives and.... spoilers.


This book gave a lot more backstory to Davi and her plight, but sadly, she wasn't as morally gray as in the first book, so she wasn't as snarky, thus not as funny. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but instead of the dark humor from the first book, this was almost cozy...

I enjoyed the book and liked how it progressed at a decent speed, though it got a little 'technical', and that part needs some fleshing out. I liked the birthday cake idea, but there needs to be a little more 'icing and sprinkles'.

There is violence, language, and sexual situations, and with those combined, this isn't suitable for readers under eighteen. (Take a smidgen of each out, then maybe.)

Great story, great characters, highly recommend!

4 Stars

Thank you Net Galley for the Arc! I was so excited to get accepted to review this arc early because I LOVED the first book How to become a dark lord or die trying. We pick back up in the second book with Davi as the dark lord trying to steer the wilders from basically going to war with the humans.
Now what I loved about this book is that I felt we got to know Davi on a deeper level. Davi was so compassionate and kind in this book whereas in the last book she was comically selfish. I also really loved all the characters we get to know and the ones we already know. I loved the adventure that Davi and Tsav embarked on to save their worlds and the different things that got up to.
Things that I didn't like however were the fact that I felt like that same raunchy/ immature comedy to Davi was slightly missing. It felt super serious the majority of the time. I also felt like the footnotes in this book didn't add anything to the story like they did in the first book. I just felt them to be unfunny and like they were just there to be there.
With all that being said I enjoyed my time with this book and Getting into this world and I am sad that it's over but I definitely liked the first book that most and would highly recommend anyone who loves a raunchy/comedy/ fantasy book to check out these books.

We are back with Dark Lord Davi and her horde on their return to the human kingdom after Davi's ascension to lord-dom at the end of How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying. All the favorites are back - Tsav, Droff, Mari - and maybe some of our less favorites like Amitsugu, Artaxes and Sibarae. If you enjoy a wise-cracking dark hero with lots of quippy footnotes, this book is for you (as is the previous!)

Absolutely bless the this book for recapping the previous at the beginning. I have a terrible memory for the ins and outs and really appreciated the refresher. I really enjoyed how much character building happened with Davi in this one, and loved seeing Tsav's influence pay off and that relationship develop. Of course, antics abound and this is just a great, fun read from start to finish with a lot of heart in between.

Thank you so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.