Haha! This was a brilliant take on corporate America. The social commentary was woven so well within this book. And Colin- I'll admit it took a minute to buy in with his character but but by the end I loved this antihero.

This delightful urban fantasy portrays corporate America as the Hell it really is. Colin, our protagonist, is the definition of morally questionable and ruthlessly ambitious, but is still someone who is easy to cheer for as he frantically tries to clean up a mess of his own making (releasing an evil entity that is eating the denizens of New York City in an exchange for a promotion). Along with his clever roommate. a punk, nonbinary librarian, and a handsome man who may just be involved with other mysterious forces, Colin searches for solutions in this humorous book. I do wish there had been more relationship-building between Colin and his love interest, but otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this clever and hilarious book.

There are morally grey main antiheroes, and then there’s Colin: an unapologetic sociopath in a cardigan. The whole world has treated Colin badly (people called him a nerd in high school! he has a crappy job! his coworkers make up mean rumors about him!). He works at Dark Enterprises, doing Very Bad Things about which he has no qualms and dreaming of climbing the (evil) corporate ladder, grinding his enemies into dust beneath his shoes on the way. Or kicking them into a hell dimension, he's not picky. If he has to pull out the fingernails of innocents to do it? No problem. He only really cares about one person in the world, his physicist roommate who thinks he works at a bank. Everyone else is fair game for destruction.

But then he accidentally releases something into the world in exchange for a killer (pun intended) promotion. He's fine with a bunch of random people being eaten, that's no big deal, but when it starts to affect his career prospects and the possibility of a romantic relationship? Forget it. Colin's going to figure this out if it's the last thing he does (which it probably will be).

Colin is a terrible human being. His resume skills would include bloodthirsty ambition and choosing the worst possible option at every opportunity. And yet he's also a surprisingly likeable doofus we can root for. Will he get to go on a date? Will he save the world? There's only one way to find out, which is to read this snarky, laugh out loud, wildly inventive, Cthulhu-esque satire of corporate culture and office politics. You should do that, immediately.

Getting promoted shouldn't come with world-ending consequences, but alas here we are.

WOW! Let me tell you, I loved this book!

One of the things I loved most about this book was how seamlessly it wove sharp, biting social commentary into its apocalyptic chaos. The narrative doesn’t just flirt with big ideas, it drags them into the spotlight, points, laughs, and then sets them on fire. Lines like, “Idealism is easy when you’re twenty years old and have nothing to lose… But in my experience, it rarely survives contact with reality,” hit hard in a dark and relatable way. The book doesn’t shy away from criticizing the corporate machine either. One of my favorite quotes was, “We’re all expendable… To the companies who believe they run this world, we're data to be monetized or convenient sources of capital, useful only so long as we help them turn a profit. We're commodities, nothing more. Why should they care what happens to us when new commodities are born every day?”. This book was unapologetically blunt with its commentary, a little cynical, and honestly brilliant.

My only real issue was how quickly the relationship between Eric and Colin developed. I get that a rapidly approaching apocalypse tends to speed things up, but it still felt a bit too fast for me emotionally. But what do I know? I’ve never faced the consequences of unleashing an Abomination on the world. That said, I was totally on board for sassy and lowkey evil (but in a badass way) Colin.

And let’s talk about that “big fight” scene….EPIC. It was cinematic in all the best ways. I almost forgot I was reading because I could see everything playing out so vividly. It was intense, dramatic, and totally delivered on the stakes the book had been building toward.

Overall, this book was such a fun, wonderful read. It balanced humor, dystopian horror, and a surprising amount of heart. Mark Waddell has created something that feels both timely and timeless in its critique of modern systems, all wrapped in a chaotic supernatural package.

Big shoutout to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. I was hooked the moment I read the description, and the book absolutely delivered. Thank you! And to Mark Waddell… bravo!

This was a fun, breezy, enjoyable comic fantasy read - except for one problem. I didn't like the main character at all. Colin is a mid-level worker at a megabig corporation called Dark Enterprises. He works in Human Resources - which means literally harvesting the resources of humans to power the company (and all that implies). Colin explicitly says that all he wants from life is immeasurable power, staggering wealth, and maybe the chance to rule the world someday. And due to an inadvertent deal with an elder demon of unspeakable power, he gets it all.

Like I said, I didn't like Colin as a person. Not in the beginning, not in the middle, not in the end. It's not that he was gay - I think that was charming. It's not that he works at a mega corporation (although that does ding him in my book). It's that he's unrepentant about his shallow and self-serving goals, and the author rewards him for them. He meets a (hot) crusader for righteousness during the course of the book, uses him to defeat his enemies at work, and then stays in the relationship while moving up in the corporation to sacrifice more innocents and getting his hot boyfriend at the same time. This is Nietzche's 'revaluation of values' at the shallowest possible level. The writing was captivating, the supporting characters cute. But Colin is a jerk. And I hope he gets what he deserves.

WOW. 5 Stars, more if I could've rated higher.

I received this ARC from Netgalley.

This was such a fun read from beginning to end. I was starting to think I didn't like science fiction books, but this had a perfect combination of science fiction, comedy, and straight man.

It reminded me of Welcome to Night Vale (podcast) and The World's End (film). I honestly loved it, and I liked how Colin stayed true to himself until the end. All of the side characters were interesting and fleshed out very well. I'll keep an eye out for future works from this author.

Colin works for Dark Enterprises, a company where nobody gets out alive. When a coworker tampers with the reports Colin submits in retaliation for being turned down for a romantic entanglement, things start to look a little bleak. If his performance doesn’t improve, he will face the firing squad, literally. Desperate to prove himself and advance his career, he makes a deal with an otherworldly creature for a promotion. And as the title says, with his promotion, he dooms the world.

This book was a riotously good read! Colin is so driven by his desires, and uses that to his advantage as he and his friends work to undo the disaster he has caused. There are so many unusual and interesting characters throughout this story, and I loved the concept of Dark Enterprises. Dark magic and a potential apocalypse, what’s not to love?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of this book.

this book was soso fun to read! if you're a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is for you! it's hilarious (literally had me chuckling from the beginning), the characterizations are great, and Mark Waddell somehow manages to have you rooting for Colin despite his many questionable decisions.

Colin works at Dark Enterprises, a company with an office in Manhattan that specializes in helping people solve problems and achieve their wildest dreams through relatively, unsavory means: "Once they promise to pay our price, we employ the darkest of magicks on their behalf or outsource the work to one of our contractors, entities summoned from across the known realms of existence. Everyone's happy, at least until the bill comes due."

not only is this book hilarious, but it has a clear stance on capitalism/coporate life (but not in an annoying way don't worry) and features a good bit of queer rep! The relationships are believable, the characters are nuanced, the antagonists are entertaining, and everything is so funny, so outlandish, and still somehow so real.

if you need any other reason to read this book, know that it includes thought-provoking lines like "Here’s the thing that nobody tells you, though: status and power are limited resources. The system is designed not just to elevate the few but also to ensure that most never get close to the top." as well as hilarous lines like "I’m just a boy, standing in front of another boy, asking him to take this arcane dagger and give it to his boss so they can use it to kill an Abomination." and neither of them feel out of place.

If this was turned into a series (and i really really hope it will be), just know that i'll devour each and every book. i was so sad when this was over and i want moreee!

thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

I think Colin is what happens when you are a mess of a human being who lets his intrusive thoughts win out. This book was a wild ride and so much fun!!

Colin has a lower level job at Dark Enterprise, a company that uses very questionable and dark methods to to help solve the worlds most difficult problems. Colin, whose spent his whole life being stepped on, finally has a chance to leave the mediocrity behind and get a promotion right to the 13th floor, the catch is this might cause the end of the world.

Colin is incredibly relatable in a very dark way. Sometimes I think we all with we could push our bullies into a hell they cannot escape. Even while he's doing the worst, dark things, Colin is still lovable and you can't help but root for him even after he keeps making horrible choices. It's fun to root for a bit of a dark hero.

There's some great side characters here as Colin navigates the end of the world with his bestie, a new friend and a possible love match.

There's a very on the nose jab at capitalism and corporate America here as well and how far people will go to get to the top.

Not only is the cover to this book very eye-grabbing but I flew though the story within. If you're looking for something a little different, highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for approving me for this seriously great ARC!

I will say it time and time again - I love morally gray characters. Colin definitely falls into this category and still manages to undergo transformative character growth. Other characters get a personality and background. The fact that I can recall everyone the main character interacted with is a sign of just how good the characters are written! Also, shout out to our author for queer representation done right! No pomp and circumstance.

This book uses capitalism and makes it into a deadly (literally) company. This company weaponizes grief, anger, and rejection with ambition to create a group of willing participants to use the dark arts. The way it's written keeps it lighthearted despite the material definitely not being lighthearted.

I had a really good time reading this book. I cannot wait to get a copy when it's out!

If you've ever secretly suspected that the apocalypse would be less about fiery meteors and more about a disastrously unqualified executive assistant, then Mark Waddle's "Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World" is the darkly hilarious, surprisingly heartwarming, and utterly unputdownable book you've been waiting for. As we round out Pride Month, this gem is an absolute must-read for the queer community and our allies! Waddle seamlessly champions LGBTQIA+ characters with authenticity and respect, making them integral to the narrative without ever feeling tokenizing. As a Pride Month reading option, "Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World" is an absolute showstopper. It's a joyful, chaotic, and inclusive ride that celebrates diversity while still delivering belly laughs and existential dread in equal measure.

Waddle’s literary voice is an absolute triumph. He navigates the tightrope between cynicism and genuine affection with the grace of a gazelle… if that gazelle was darting around gopher holes and banana peels, hurling sarcastic quips at the cheetah out to make it a meal. There are some excellent uses of cliché's in very unexpected and ingenious ways. Every sentence sings with a dry wit that had me snorting with laughter, often at the most inappropriate (and therefore, most brilliant) moments.

Our protagonist, Colin, is a magnificent mess of ambition, incompetence, and accidental heroism. It’s a testament to Waddle’s skill that you’re not just rooting for him, you're practically planning his victory parade even as he's accidentally unleashing ancient evils. Stepping into this contemporary hellscape through Colin's eyes was an unexpected joy, a delightful vacation from reality where I could briefly revel in chaos and still feel a profound connection to the people (and perhaps a few non-people) trying to muddle through it.



TLDR: If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh until you cry, cheer for the most unlikely of heroes, and genuinely appreciate the masterful craft of a comedic genius, then drop everything and read "Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World." Mark Waddle hasn't just written a book; he's crafted a hilarious, poignant, and utterly unforgettable experience. Five out of five impending apocalypses!

I related to Colin a lot…. A person feeling like their life is stagnant, in a rut, going nowhere, and always receiving the short end of the stick. Would I release an evil power and doom the world just to get a promotion? No. Did I enjoy Colin doing it? Hell yeah. There were some times in the novel where I didn’t understand his personality. One second he feels bad, the next he is wanting all power. What I did really enjoy is the nonbinary representation in this novel. Lex was my favourite character. The big finale fight scene was also amazing. All I would say is that there were a lot of times where I found that the pages were just for word count, rather than substance. But still great nonetheless. Also, I really wanted someone to fuck the big scary monster, I found them quite sexy.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell is a darkly funny story that, in short, follows pretty closely along with the title. Colin Harris is a self-loathing, ambitious, somewhat pathetic employee of Dark Enterprises. Through a pact made with the an evil entity he gets exactly what he’s after; a promotion. The problem is that he unleashes mass destruction on the world. This story is funny, and while the character of Colin is at times pretty terrible, he’s still self-effacing, funny, and oddly sympathetic.

I would say that this book has a very direct comparison to Sign Here by Claudia Lux. While that has a more sarcastic main character (and a redemption arc), this story is a lot more lighthearted in its narration. If you enjoyed that this may be a great option for you. I’d also say that any of those ‘supernatural office worker’ shows or books are also in a similar vein.

The thing that I liked most about this book is the fact that the narrative voice is unique. Colin is such a complicated character in the sense that he’s sympathetic, devoted to his friend Amira, and a sort of soft spoken, cardigan wearing weenie. At the other time he’s willing to cast people into voids and is complicit in dark violence. He is funny, and self-aware of his own faults.

The other thing I appreciated about this book is that it didn’t have some preachy good-over-evil message. I didn’t feel like I was being spoon fed some message. Sometimes other books can ram this down your throat, but the author took a decidedly different route, which I really appreciated.

For me, this was an easy 4.5/5. I thought it was so fun and detailed. I loved the corporate world building and the breezy language, even when describing really horrific outcomes. While I don’t think this is for every reader, for those who love a darkly funny read, this is a great option.

I really enjoyed this book! It is modern and very humorous, with contemporary references feeling fresh and tasteful rather than cringe. We follow Collin as he yearns to get back at all those who have wronged him and to climb the corporate ladder. He makes a deal with a demon to do so, but in turn accidentally frees him and causes countless ongoing disappearances. Despite the rather dark and foreboding premise, Waddell is smart with his prose and makes Collin an accessible character that embodies all of us - the worst and the best. He is awkward, shy, comfortable with a decidedly unfashionable wardrobe, and deeply wants revenge. He has been bullied and ostracized all throughout his life and he finally wants to take a stand. His housemate is seemingly his only reprieve from his hellish and corporate lifestyle and she is also a relief in the doom. She brings Collin down to earth. I also adored Eric who is Collin's love interest. Eric Cho is everything Collin wants for in a love interest and thus cannot completely trust Eric's motivations (it turns out his intuition is more right than he believes). All in all, I highly recommend trying this story out. It will definitely bring out some laughs but also represents a very raw resentment of how the corporate life may feel.

I literally could not help but root for Colin the entire time even though sometimes it felt like he had the self awareness of a splashed bug on a windshield. This is funny,quirky, introspective and all of the elements that a fan of the show The Good Place might love. I know sometimes at work I think I’ve caused an apocalypse but our boy Colin starts an actual apocalypse. That’s a bad day at work. If you’re looking for a break from the serious fantasies that are out there and want to laugh along to an urban fantasy, this is one of the most creative and well thought out worlds to enter.

Quick very high level summary.
Colin works for Dark Enterprises at the lowest level in HR. Hating how is life is Colin decides to make a deal with a mysterious entity to secure a promotion. What could never go wrong when you make a deal with supernatural monster. Unless that supernatural monster begins consuming people and threatening the world.

My Take.
Humor, check, horror, check, social commentary, check! I enjoyed this a lot more then I expected to. Its like the author sat down and said, I wonder what would happen if you combined The Devil's Advocate and Office Space with a splash of horror and a dash of queer romance. Why The Devil's Advocate? Because in this novel we have the same themes of ambition, morality, and the corrupting influence of power. I believe Office Space needs no explanation. If you enjoy quick wit and humorous banter with an occult twist you will enjoy this book.

You know, I never really developed a fondness for any of the characters per se. The main character is focused on themselves to the exclusion of others, even friends and loved ones. The side characters aren't really developed, and the other characters are presented as the 'bad guys' without any real justification for that label. The plot is an interesting take on an individual claiming their power, and while I would have liked to see that built on a bit more, it was satisfying. I realize that none of that is selling the book. Despite all its flaws, though, this book was interesting and kept me reading until the end.

i had SO much fun reading this one. without a doubt, this is definitely unique compared to anything else i’ve read this year – it follows colin, a low-level employee at a company called dark enterprises, which takes the phrase “work is hell” to new heights. his ambition takes him to places i wouldn’t go with a gun, but that’s why he’s the one getting a promotion when i’d probably be one of the people disappearing from the streets of new york on day one! nevertheless, i found myself rooting for him to live out his evil dreams every step of the way.

if you’re a fan of welcome to night vale or the good place, i’d definitely recommend this book – there’s the same kind of lighthearted, humorous banality surrounding things like world-devouring monsters and artifacts from alternate realities. the supporting characters are great, too, especially my beloved lex! they’re everything to me. i loved trying to guess what kind of zaniness would happen next, and while i loved the ending, i wouldn’t mind another book somewhere down the line to see what shenanigans colin & co get up to next.

CW: Gore (Mild), Sexual Harassment, Abuse (Power Dynamics)

This book was an entertaining ride all the way through. The dark humor of the setting, a truly and openly evil corporation, and Colin’s navigating between that, a deal with an even more evil force, and finding a boyfriend were all equally engaging. The good pacing, fun writing and world building, and satisfying split of chills and thrills make me highly recommend this book.

Humorous. Entertaining, but definitely not my cup of tea. However, I will say I would follow Mark Waddell's other work.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.