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A Gentle Apocalypse #1
The Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan
The Demon Overlord retires to farm turnips in peace, only to find life in a small village far more chaotic than he ever could have anticipated in this laugh-out-loud debut cozy fantasy with teeth. Includes an exclusive bonus adventure coming 8/25/26!
When destroying the world and killing the hero grows boring, what's a Demon Overlord to do but quit while he's ahead?
Galornus Prime was the Scourge of Nations, Ender of Hope, and Master of the Cardinal Sins. He had done everything worth doing. Some of it more than once.
His retirement plan was simple: get a goat, farm quietly, and avoid accidentally conquering anything. The plan didn't include soul-crushing town halls, after-school combat lessons with children, and a war with perhaps his most worthy nemesis yet: the rose-growing, seventy-three year-old widow next door.
Even in retirement, evil never sleeps...but it does plant turnips.
When corrupt officials and greedy merchants threaten his infuriatingly loveable neighbors, Galornus faces a new kind of challenge: saving the village without revealing he is the monster parents invoke to make children eat their vegetables.
Demon Overlord’s Retirement Plan is a cozy fantasy with teeth, where the hardest battle isn’t defeating heroes—it’s staying retired and learning how to live after 444 lifetimes of villainy.
When destroying the world and killing the hero grows boring, what's a Demon Overlord to do but quit while he's ahead?
Galornus Prime was the Scourge of Nations, Ender of Hope, and Master of the Cardinal Sins. He had done everything worth doing. Some of it more than once.
His retirement plan was simple: get a goat, farm quietly, and avoid accidentally conquering anything. The plan didn't include soul-crushing town halls, after-school combat lessons with children, and a war with perhaps his most worthy nemesis yet: the rose-growing, seventy-three year-old widow next door.
Even in retirement, evil never sleeps...but it does plant turnips.
When corrupt officials and greedy merchants threaten his infuriatingly loveable neighbors, Galornus faces a new kind of challenge: saving the village without revealing he is the monster parents invoke to make children eat their vegetables.
Demon Overlord’s Retirement Plan is a cozy fantasy with teeth, where the hardest battle isn’t defeating heroes—it’s staying retired and learning how to live after 444 lifetimes of villainy.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2025
About the author
M.H. Foster
5 books199 followersI write cozy fantasy fiction and other types of short stories and novels.
For those of you who have read my books, please visit my patreon page for regular updates and short stories from the worlds of A Gentle Apocalypse and Janissary.
https://www.patreon.com/mhfoster
For those of you who have read my books, please visit my patreon page for regular updates and short stories from the worlds of A Gentle Apocalypse and Janissary.
https://www.patreon.com/mhfoster
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews
August 7, 2026
Edit: Lowering my rating to 1-star about a month later after hearing it's confirmed this author does use AI in their writing process. Link to the interview below.
https://www.joditaylorbooks.com/p/aut...
Original Review:
This was one of my most anticipated reads this month but unfortunately it ended up being a big disappointment. As other reviews have mentioned, this seems to be at best AI-assisted writing, or at worst, completely AI-written.
Before the suspicion settled in, this started off relatively good. The murderous being caring for his group of humans was giving Murderbot vibes, and the intro talking about all of Galornus Prime’s reincarnations really had me interested in this world. However, something about the writing set off some alarms for me that I could never really get past.
Whether it is or isn’t AI, the writing quality is bad regardless. The plot and characters are exceedingly generic, the exposition and dialogue are clunky and over-dramatic, and there are frequent metaphors that either aren’t needed or don’t make any sense. Plus, the book is episodic in the way that the chapters are independent of one another and each focuses on its own mini plotline, except there’s no consistency chapter to chapter. One chapter Galornus adores his neighbors and wants to protect them, and the next he doesn’t understand them and only wants to manipulate them for his own benefit. Little things like this seem to switch back and forth, and details or concepts will be brought up once then completely forgotten once the chapter ends.
I tried looking into the author online but the only thing I could find is their Patreon page, on which they have an AI-generated profile picture and banner. And given that the independently published cover for this book appears to also be AI-generated, it seems they have no issues with using AI for other aspects of art. All I can do is theorize, there’s no proof, but either way something about this book put a bad taste in my mouth. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, but unfortunately it was not the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://www.joditaylorbooks.com/p/aut...
Original Review:
This was one of my most anticipated reads this month but unfortunately it ended up being a big disappointment. As other reviews have mentioned, this seems to be at best AI-assisted writing, or at worst, completely AI-written.
Before the suspicion settled in, this started off relatively good. The murderous being caring for his group of humans was giving Murderbot vibes, and the intro talking about all of Galornus Prime’s reincarnations really had me interested in this world. However, something about the writing set off some alarms for me that I could never really get past.
Whether it is or isn’t AI, the writing quality is bad regardless. The plot and characters are exceedingly generic, the exposition and dialogue are clunky and over-dramatic, and there are frequent metaphors that either aren’t needed or don’t make any sense. Plus, the book is episodic in the way that the chapters are independent of one another and each focuses on its own mini plotline, except there’s no consistency chapter to chapter. One chapter Galornus adores his neighbors and wants to protect them, and the next he doesn’t understand them and only wants to manipulate them for his own benefit. Little things like this seem to switch back and forth, and details or concepts will be brought up once then completely forgotten once the chapter ends.
I tried looking into the author online but the only thing I could find is their Patreon page, on which they have an AI-generated profile picture and banner. And given that the independently published cover for this book appears to also be AI-generated, it seems they have no issues with using AI for other aspects of art. All I can do is theorize, there’s no proof, but either way something about this book put a bad taste in my mouth. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, but unfortunately it was not the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
July 9, 2026DNF 30%. I was vibing with the writing at first, but quickly started to get annoyed by it. Until it got to a point where I found it odd and obnoxious.
There’s something off about it. A lot of things don’t make any sense, and the dialogue is just plain weird. There are too many analogies, too many adverbs, just a lot of over describing things. Maybe this is how the author prefers to write, but I don’t like it.
Then I checked the reviews, and realized this would clearly not get better for me. The idea was great, but I didn’t love whatever was happening here.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: don’t know what it is about a villain retiring to become a farmer, but it hooks me every single time
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
There’s something off about it. A lot of things don’t make any sense, and the dialogue is just plain weird. There are too many analogies, too many adverbs, just a lot of over describing things. Maybe this is how the author prefers to write, but I don’t like it.
Then I checked the reviews, and realized this would clearly not get better for me. The idea was great, but I didn’t love whatever was happening here.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: don’t know what it is about a villain retiring to become a farmer, but it hooks me every single time
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
February 1, 2026
Schitt's Creek with demons, basically. A fun and quick read, ideal for a palate cleanser between darker books.
April 17, 2026
If it hasn’t all been written by AI, a good chunk has been edited by it. The clunky tells in language completely ripped me out the story.
I’ve since looked at the authors other books-the rate they release them also suggests AI
EDIT: Since writing this review, I’ve also come across an interview with M.H. Foster in which the author openly recommends AI to new writers as a tool for “ideation, brainstorming or research”, including using it to bounce ideas around during the writing process.
To be clear, that interview doesn’t establish how, or even whether, AI was used in the actual prose of this particular book. But given what I noticed in the writing itself, it certainly hasn’t changed my opinion that AI has likely played a part somewhere in the process.
https://www.joditaylorbooks.com/p/the...
I’ve since looked at the authors other books-the rate they release them also suggests AI
EDIT: Since writing this review, I’ve also come across an interview with M.H. Foster in which the author openly recommends AI to new writers as a tool for “ideation, brainstorming or research”, including using it to bounce ideas around during the writing process.
To be clear, that interview doesn’t establish how, or even whether, AI was used in the actual prose of this particular book. But given what I noticed in the writing itself, it certainly hasn’t changed my opinion that AI has likely played a part somewhere in the process.
https://www.joditaylorbooks.com/p/the...
Read
April 6, 2026My new year's resolution is the same as it always is: to quit my romance-only diet and read grittier books. Grittier here meaning books that require some effort from the reader, whether that be in the form of worldbuilding, idea density, vocabulary, etc. Classic fantasy (not romantasy, not YA fantasy) tends to check this box. For me, personally, any book where romance isn't the main theme also counts. You may assume that I, as an author, have somehow escaped our collective shortening of attention. Not so. The internet, with its vast and endless wonders (or whatever) has affected me like it's affected everyone, and I don’t love what it's done to my focus. It's time to reverse course.
Enter: Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan.
This is, admittedly, not the deepest reading. But it's also not romance, so ha! The book begins when our anti-hero Galornus Prime decides to quit being the Demon Overlord and enter retirement. He settles down in a sleepy village and turns his hand to turnip farming, but staying retired isn't as easy as it seems, and as corrupt officials threaten the villagers, Galornus finds himself stepping in.
It's a cheerfully unserious story, surprisingly heartfelt at times, with a goofy cast and a main character who always comes out on top. That makes for incredibly satisfying reading. The pacing is perhaps a little wonky, with most of the action happening over the last few pages, and the story ends on a very soft note, with a cliffhanger at the end, but that's all to be expected for the genre (cozy fantasy) and doesn't detract from this general warm hug of a novel. If you're looking for something light and feel-good, I recommend it.
Enter: Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan.
This is, admittedly, not the deepest reading. But it's also not romance, so ha! The book begins when our anti-hero Galornus Prime decides to quit being the Demon Overlord and enter retirement. He settles down in a sleepy village and turns his hand to turnip farming, but staying retired isn't as easy as it seems, and as corrupt officials threaten the villagers, Galornus finds himself stepping in.
It's a cheerfully unserious story, surprisingly heartfelt at times, with a goofy cast and a main character who always comes out on top. That makes for incredibly satisfying reading. The pacing is perhaps a little wonky, with most of the action happening over the last few pages, and the story ends on a very soft note, with a cliffhanger at the end, but that's all to be expected for the genre (cozy fantasy) and doesn't detract from this general warm hug of a novel. If you're looking for something light and feel-good, I recommend it.
March 26, 2026
I did not expect a book about a Demon Overlord retiring to farm turnips and get a goat to be one of my new favorite reads and yet here we are.
The Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan scratched every single cozy fantasy itch I had. Found family, quirky and lovable side characters, animal companions with full personalities, a strong sense of community, and a grumpy main character with (surprisingly for a Demon Overlord) genuine values that make him completely endearing. The sarcasm/denial is perfect, the humor lands every time, and watching this character's heart slowly get pulled open by the people around him is just wonderful.
It fits so naturally into the cozy fantasy mold despite its premise, and to me that is impressive. This is the kind of feel good, warm, unexpectedly charming read that I will be recommending to everyone who asks for a cozy fantasy recommendation from here on out.
I will absolutely be continuing this series and I have a feeling it is going to be one of my favorite discoveries of the year. If you are on the fence, just read it. You will not regret it. And if you do, it's only barely more than 200 pages so you'll survive.
The Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan scratched every single cozy fantasy itch I had. Found family, quirky and lovable side characters, animal companions with full personalities, a strong sense of community, and a grumpy main character with (surprisingly for a Demon Overlord) genuine values that make him completely endearing. The sarcasm/denial is perfect, the humor lands every time, and watching this character's heart slowly get pulled open by the people around him is just wonderful.
It fits so naturally into the cozy fantasy mold despite its premise, and to me that is impressive. This is the kind of feel good, warm, unexpectedly charming read that I will be recommending to everyone who asks for a cozy fantasy recommendation from here on out.
I will absolutely be continuing this series and I have a feeling it is going to be one of my favorite discoveries of the year. If you are on the fence, just read it. You will not regret it. And if you do, it's only barely more than 200 pages so you'll survive.
April 17, 2026
Terribly done AI cover.
Start hiring artists if you want me to believe what's behind them isn't also stolen concepts and materials.
Thanks.
++** update to add: they changed the cover, the interior still an AI written book. Smh
Start hiring artists if you want me to believe what's behind them isn't also stolen concepts and materials.
Thanks.
++** update to add: they changed the cover, the interior still an AI written book. Smh
December 22, 2025
I find it hard to believe this is the first book written by M. H. Foster. It is so full of heart and humor and turnips and pickling that I was caught by surprise.
Galornus Prime, a very very high ranking demon decides during his 444th incarnation (Yes, he has died a lot during the last several thousand years) he has gotten tired of the whole "defeat the Hero and another comes along, until you lose and die", existence. He wants boredom and peace instead. He decides being a farmer fits that lifestyle and turnip farming might be the best to meet his needs.
He makes a few small mistakes in his efforts to keep a low profile and avoid anything that is too evil. His neighbor disapproves of everything he does, his goat seems to revel in annoying him, and his hell- hound guard dog bonds with one of the children who keep trampling his crops. This is not what he expected.
Galornus Prime, a very very high ranking demon decides during his 444th incarnation (Yes, he has died a lot during the last several thousand years) he has gotten tired of the whole "defeat the Hero and another comes along, until you lose and die", existence. He wants boredom and peace instead. He decides being a farmer fits that lifestyle and turnip farming might be the best to meet his needs.
He makes a few small mistakes in his efforts to keep a low profile and avoid anything that is too evil. His neighbor disapproves of everything he does, his goat seems to revel in annoying him, and his hell- hound guard dog bonds with one of the children who keep trampling his crops. This is not what he expected.
March 15, 2026
I love a good story about someone who is in denial about the person who they are surely and steadily becoming. This is the story of the Demon Lord who decides to seek a peaceful life farming turnips, and NOT, super NOT, getting involved in the affairs of the people around him, and NOT caring about them and NOT being a good neighbor. Setting aside theology - this one was very heartwarming and lighthearted, a perfect make-me-feel-good read.
June 5, 2026
This was such a fun book! It was a quick read and really hit the notes of a retired demon overlord who secretly has a heart. Highly recommend!
April 29, 2026
I wish I could mark this private because I don't want to make baseless accusations but: This did not feel like it was fully written by a human, and I did not like it. DNF at 32%.
January 22, 2026
This was an absolute delight of a book.
Cozy, humorous and the perfect palate cleanser read after heavier fantasy books.
Willem, our exhausted demon Overlord, was a treat to be in the mind of. His confusion but acceptance of human ways, his protectiveness of the village he convinces himself is simply him saving himself the effort of training new followers. All of it just brought a smile to my face.
A very fun start to a quirky little series. I highly recommend people pick this up!
Cozy, humorous and the perfect palate cleanser read after heavier fantasy books.
Willem, our exhausted demon Overlord, was a treat to be in the mind of. His confusion but acceptance of human ways, his protectiveness of the village he convinces himself is simply him saving himself the effort of training new followers. All of it just brought a smile to my face.
A very fun start to a quirky little series. I highly recommend people pick this up!
February 24, 2026
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲. 😂
This is my idea of the perfect book. The main character's internal dialogue is absolutely brilliant—dry, controlled, and consistently hilarious.
I'm so happy I stumbled across this little gem.
This is my idea of the perfect book. The main character's internal dialogue is absolutely brilliant—dry, controlled, and consistently hilarious.
I'm so happy I stumbled across this little gem.
August 31, 2026
This book was written with AI assistance
This book was very clearly written with AI assistance, which I could immediately identify. I looked it up to be sure that this wasn’t a case of a *very specific* writing style getting ripped off, and found an interview with MH Foster giving out the advice to aspiring writers that AI can be very helpful. Please, keep the machines to things like identifying cancer and improving human life instead of outsourcing your own creativity to the plagiarism machine.
This book was very clearly written with AI assistance, which I could immediately identify. I looked it up to be sure that this wasn’t a case of a *very specific* writing style getting ripped off, and found an interview with MH Foster giving out the advice to aspiring writers that AI can be very helpful. Please, keep the machines to things like identifying cancer and improving human life instead of outsourcing your own creativity to the plagiarism machine.
December 7, 2025
December 2025
Kindle edition
Not sure how I feel about getting to the end and realising there is another book. Is it so hard to put book 1 on the cover? Anyway, picked because of the title and yeah the goat on the throne. I liked this one. Small village isekai party gathering vibes. The kids were great. Best chapter was the hellhound and goat getting to work. Willem was mostly chill except for when the demon energy could be discovered.
Kindle edition
Not sure how I feel about getting to the end and realising there is another book. Is it so hard to put book 1 on the cover? Anyway, picked because of the title and yeah the goat on the throne. I liked this one. Small village isekai party gathering vibes. The kids were great. Best chapter was the hellhound and goat getting to work. Willem was mostly chill except for when the demon energy could be discovered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This is not the first book in which I’ve related heavily to a demonic figure but I can’t help it if I, too, would love to spend my time gardening and being left alone 🤷🏼♀️ Fun read, excited to see how the next one unfolds!
This is not the first book in which I’ve related heavily to a demonic figure but I can’t help it if I, too, would love to spend my time gardening and being left alone 🤷🏼♀️ Fun read, excited to see how the next one unfolds!
September 10, 2026
This was so cozy and fun!! It was full of found family and loveable characters!! It takes place on the cutest turnip farm in a cute little village. I loved how he would help the people in the town and then be like I’m not helping them 🙄 he’s so grumpy, but he genuinely cares about his immediate circle and is a secret softie.
It’s a very sweet feel good book! I feel lame because I always say this 😅 but it kind of gave me Stardew Valley vibes!! Very cozy!
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!! I highly recommend checking it out!!
Read if you like:
Cozy fantasy
Small town/village
Found family
Animal companion
Zany (maybe evil) main character
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
It’s a very sweet feel good book! I feel lame because I always say this 😅 but it kind of gave me Stardew Valley vibes!! Very cozy!
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!! I highly recommend checking it out!!
Read if you like:
Cozy fantasy
Small town/village
Found family
Animal companion
Zany (maybe evil) main character
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
December 30, 2025
Absolutely brilliant.
A sublime and hilarious read, #thedemonoverlordsretirementplan #mhfoster is absolutely excellent.
It's sarcastic, hilarious, dark humoured and heartwarming all at once. The characters are wonderfully described and have full personalities without becoming boring or excessive, the winning over of Mrs Crankshaw is adorable, as is Sally with her innocence "SHE PUT HER FACE ON YOU?" and star formation. The near misses and little accidents make it all more believable as does Willem's very focused passion for turnips. Perfectly believable as the new village (slightly touched) harmless bufoon.
Read it. Today. It's bloody great.
A sublime and hilarious read, #thedemonoverlordsretirementplan #mhfoster is absolutely excellent.
It's sarcastic, hilarious, dark humoured and heartwarming all at once. The characters are wonderfully described and have full personalities without becoming boring or excessive, the winning over of Mrs Crankshaw is adorable, as is Sally with her innocence "SHE PUT HER FACE ON YOU?" and star formation. The near misses and little accidents make it all more believable as does Willem's very focused passion for turnips. Perfectly believable as the new village (slightly touched) harmless bufoon.
Read it. Today. It's bloody great.
March 10, 2026
A delightfully absurd fantasy adventure with root vegetables
I expected Overlord would be a "did not finish" book for me; instead, it was a hilarious romp filled with loveable characters, redemption, and vegetable resistance. Right triumphs over Evil, but Right and Evil have fluid definitions. I read this book in KU, but I will definitely buy it to reread when I need happiness.
I expected Overlord would be a "did not finish" book for me; instead, it was a hilarious romp filled with loveable characters, redemption, and vegetable resistance. Right triumphs over Evil, but Right and Evil have fluid definitions. I read this book in KU, but I will definitely buy it to reread when I need happiness.
March 30, 2026
This was a quick and fun read that delivered everything you'd expect from the blurb.
I think the only reason this isn't a 5-star read for me is that I struggle to enjoy long-form comedy, since the mechanics of it tend to grow a bit stale and overstay their welcome for me. That was the case here as well, since much of the comedy relied on the juxtaposition of the Demon Lord's perspective relative to humanity's for daily events. The main issue for me was that it required the MC to be overly dense regarding certain matters to preserve the comedic stance, but it's just hard for me to suspend disbelief that a guy with a battalion of succubi at his beck and call doesn't know what a kiss is and wonders why a woman put her mouth on his.
If you're okay suspending your disbelief for comic purposes, then you will probably enjoy everything this story offers. For me, it still served as a nice palate-cleanser and I would easily recommend it for anyone in the mood for 30% cozy fantasy and 70% comedy.
I think the only reason this isn't a 5-star read for me is that I struggle to enjoy long-form comedy, since the mechanics of it tend to grow a bit stale and overstay their welcome for me. That was the case here as well, since much of the comedy relied on the juxtaposition of the Demon Lord's perspective relative to humanity's for daily events. The main issue for me was that it required the MC to be overly dense regarding certain matters to preserve the comedic stance, but it's just hard for me to suspend disbelief that a guy with a battalion of succubi at his beck and call doesn't know what a kiss is and wonders why a woman put her mouth on his.
If you're okay suspending your disbelief for comic purposes, then you will probably enjoy everything this story offers. For me, it still served as a nice palate-cleanser and I would easily recommend it for anyone in the mood for 30% cozy fantasy and 70% comedy.
February 9, 2026
Great Birthday gift from the wife. can't wait to read the next one
February 25, 2026
What an unexpected delight. Main character bemused as plans get subverted by the humans in the vicinity. Quietly witty with some laugh aloud moments.
Also: pickles.
Also: pickles.
March 14, 2026
4.5 🌟 This was so much fun! Loved it!
March 30, 2026
Pure genius, with a healthy side of humor.
September 21, 2026
DNF @ 25%.
Very disappointed because I was enjoying the book to begin with, but no longer wish to continue after reading the interview with the author regarding their use of generative ai in the writing process.
Going back through it, it’s kind of obvious. There are multiple moments where the writing is overly verbose or confusing. It’s a shame because the premise is incredibly funny and interesting, but it’s not enough to save it for me.
Very disappointed because I was enjoying the book to begin with, but no longer wish to continue after reading the interview with the author regarding their use of generative ai in the writing process.
Going back through it, it’s kind of obvious. There are multiple moments where the writing is overly verbose or confusing. It’s a shame because the premise is incredibly funny and interesting, but it’s not enough to save it for me.
August 31, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ M.H. Foster’s The Demon Overlord’s Retirement Plan is a short, light-hearted cosy fantasy about an evil overlord discovering that retirement is surprisingly complicated. After growing bored with destroying the world, Galornus Prime decides to settle down with a goat and live a quiet life in a small village. Unfortunately, mundane life comes with town meetings, troublesome neighbors, children who need combat lessons, and plenty of opportunities for his past to catch up with him.
The biggest charm of this book is definitely its characters. I especially loved the pet goat, and watching Galornus go from terrifying Demon Overlord to genuinely kind guy who actually cares about the people around him was a lot of fun. There is something wonderfully entertaining about watching this immensely powerful being struggle to understand mundane human behavior and figure out how to simply be part of a community.
Overall, I would summarize this book as cute. It has a lovely small-town vibe and was exactly the right length for the kind of cosy story it was trying to tell. I did enjoy the first half more, though. Once the central conflict was introduced, my attention started drifting a little, and I found myself less invested in where the story was going.
The audiobook narration by Neil Hellegers was delightful as always and definitely added to the experience.
This was a fun, cosy little read, even if it didn’t quite leave me desperate to jump straight into the next book. I might still pick up volume two at some point because I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time with Galornus, his goat, and this wonderfully odd little village.
The biggest charm of this book is definitely its characters. I especially loved the pet goat, and watching Galornus go from terrifying Demon Overlord to genuinely kind guy who actually cares about the people around him was a lot of fun. There is something wonderfully entertaining about watching this immensely powerful being struggle to understand mundane human behavior and figure out how to simply be part of a community.
Overall, I would summarize this book as cute. It has a lovely small-town vibe and was exactly the right length for the kind of cosy story it was trying to tell. I did enjoy the first half more, though. Once the central conflict was introduced, my attention started drifting a little, and I found myself less invested in where the story was going.
The audiobook narration by Neil Hellegers was delightful as always and definitely added to the experience.
This was a fun, cosy little read, even if it didn’t quite leave me desperate to jump straight into the next book. I might still pick up volume two at some point because I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time with Galornus, his goat, and this wonderfully odd little village.
February 9, 2026
clever, smartly written dialogue, and oddly warmhearted
Rating: 4.75⭐️
This is a great take on the “villain/big baddie turns hero” trope that is becoming more popular in fantasy and paranormal fiction.
Foster is another new discovery and I really enjoyed the storyline, especially the smartly crafted dialogue and well rounded characters that slowly became important to the “retired” demon overlord in his new role and reader.
It’s a believable redemption arc, and from the final battle between Devine Hero and Demon Overlord to his journey to the small village of
The Demon Overlord impetuously kept a bit of Wilhem’ when he took over his body so Galornus decides that best plan for retirement is journeying to the tiny mountain village where Wilhelm wanted to spend his life, being a farmer surrounded by his animals and raising crops. Not that the Demon Lord knows what any of this means.
The story that follows is witty, honest, oddly warmhearted, and believable in its own way. As Galornus learns about the humans around him, he learns to value and care about them and slowly becomes a real heart of the community. Each one of these villagers becomes, not just a neighbor but maybe more. Like family.
Plus there’s hilarious demonic goats and a wonderful demon dog. And children and pickles.
This is one book that continues to surprise and delight you as the story progresses. What a great find!
Highly recommended!
A Gentle Apocalypse (3 book series)
Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan #1
Love, Politics, and Other Acts of War #2
Band of Others #3 - April 14, 2026
Rating: 4.75⭐️
This is a great take on the “villain/big baddie turns hero” trope that is becoming more popular in fantasy and paranormal fiction.
Foster is another new discovery and I really enjoyed the storyline, especially the smartly crafted dialogue and well rounded characters that slowly became important to the “retired” demon overlord in his new role and reader.
It’s a believable redemption arc, and from the final battle between Devine Hero and Demon Overlord to his journey to the small village of
The Demon Overlord impetuously kept a bit of Wilhem’ when he took over his body so Galornus decides that best plan for retirement is journeying to the tiny mountain village where Wilhelm wanted to spend his life, being a farmer surrounded by his animals and raising crops. Not that the Demon Lord knows what any of this means.
The story that follows is witty, honest, oddly warmhearted, and believable in its own way. As Galornus learns about the humans around him, he learns to value and care about them and slowly becomes a real heart of the community. Each one of these villagers becomes, not just a neighbor but maybe more. Like family.
Plus there’s hilarious demonic goats and a wonderful demon dog. And children and pickles.
This is one book that continues to surprise and delight you as the story progresses. What a great find!
Highly recommended!
A Gentle Apocalypse (3 book series)
Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan #1
Love, Politics, and Other Acts of War #2
Band of Others #3 - April 14, 2026
March 3, 2026
This book is a tube of Pringles. You start it and you know exactly what you're going to get, totally predictable. As you go through you're aware that it really isn't very good but you keep going anyway and eventually you run out.
I am very glad I didn't have to pay for it, I got it with Kindle Unlimited. It's a quick read (see above re: Pringles), it's fluff. The latter 1/3 or so makes very little sense, I'm sure there are ideas in here but they're very well disguised. It's a souffle, looks fine on the outside but insubstantial.
It also really needs another pass from a proof reader - Willem or William? Clunky sentence structure, people 'groaning unconsciously', fabulously high tech bits of kit being ordered and arriving in a village that seems to be at late medieval stages of technology (blacksmiths and carts).
It all just leaves a weird aftertaste. It's short, it's a quick read, it has fun moments, but ultimately I feel like I've wasted my time. A shame because the basic premise could be interesting, there is just too much missing.
I am very glad I didn't have to pay for it, I got it with Kindle Unlimited. It's a quick read (see above re: Pringles), it's fluff. The latter 1/3 or so makes very little sense, I'm sure there are ideas in here but they're very well disguised. It's a souffle, looks fine on the outside but insubstantial.
It also really needs another pass from a proof reader - Willem or William? Clunky sentence structure, people 'groaning unconsciously', fabulously high tech bits of kit being ordered and arriving in a village that seems to be at late medieval stages of technology (blacksmiths and carts).
It all just leaves a weird aftertaste. It's short, it's a quick read, it has fun moments, but ultimately I feel like I've wasted my time. A shame because the basic premise could be interesting, there is just too much missing.
September 14, 2026
Yes! A cozy fantasy without romance! Finally!!!! And with great characters, so much fun!
Antagonist Galormus Prime - the demon overlord, THE demond overlord which made people squirm only by hearing his name, wanted to retire. He was tired of fighting heroes and being defeated and being incarnated and winning and repeating everything all over 443 lifetimes (yes, he had been living for thousands and thousands of years, accumulating a giant mass of knowledge and even future knowledge)
He was now Willem Porter, a farmer who enjoyed growing turnips and overall vegetables. His habis was farming and researching ways to pickle vegetables. He was very proud of his massive storage of pickled produces. He was indifferent to other people because he thought peole, humans in general, were uninteresting and very beneath him. And yet, he unintentionally helped those in need, and under the disguise of his selfishness, he helped his village. For example, he wanted to stop his neighbor's undergarments (Mrs Crankshaw became his worst enemy so far) from flying into his garden and being eaten by his demon goat Prometheus (he was a normal goat, but he ate everything and even knew how to break in, what a smart goat, and he wasn't scared of Galormus). To do that, he used his demon power to relocate a part of the moutain, which freed a part of the river, to redirect the wind. As a result, the village, which had always been isolated due to its difficult access, finally got a major new road connecting it to the outside world. This opened up opportunities for trade, brought in more visitors and new residents, and ultimately helped the village grow and thrive.
I mean, sure, we know that Galormus was evil, and he only thought of himself. But when living in this village, surrounded by people, he felt connected. He felt he belonged, even though he would never admit it. He attached to the children in this village and protected them. It was like, he was converted into being good and kind without intentionally being so. While struggling with this new realization, he also had to control his power so that it was not too auspicious to attract unwanted attention, like his armies and other demons - they would know their overlord still survived.
And Willen might fall in love... without being aware of. He didn't know this feeling. He just knew he kept wanting to talk to this Clara Thornfield girl, who was smart, understanding and had so much in common with him. He and Clara could talk for hours, non-stop, about mostly everything: agriculture, social and political topics. Clara had touched his heartm, but of course, due to his ignorance and his pride, he would never admit it.
Another mystery was his demonic power now was not used to destroy, but to create and nurture, which somehow transformed the nature of this demonic power. It was not divine power, it was something else, a mystery for a very curious scholar Arthur to solve. He never ceased to be amazed at how this magic worked, its core originated from demonic power, but its intent was divine. This combination actually caused Willem trouble as he didn't want to be disrupt his peaceful retirement. He was so content with this life here that he would do something if anyone had the intention of breaking it. But he was also surprised at how his magic had turned into.
I must say, I think Galormus is the only person, sorry, demon I came across that was always in denial of who he was becoming. He thought he was evil and didn't care about other people (children) and never wanted to be involved in the village's affair. And yet, his actions told us the opposite. He was confused about the human ways, the emotions and he was amazed, though obviously he wouldn't admit it. He protected his village but kept convincing himself that he did that to be left alone, to not attract any new followers. It was hilarious, the way he kept convincing himself like that.
I definitely will read the second book, because we had a cliffhanger at the end of this book!!!!
Antagonist Galormus Prime - the demon overlord, THE demond overlord which made people squirm only by hearing his name, wanted to retire. He was tired of fighting heroes and being defeated and being incarnated and winning and repeating everything all over 443 lifetimes (yes, he had been living for thousands and thousands of years, accumulating a giant mass of knowledge and even future knowledge)
He was now Willem Porter, a farmer who enjoyed growing turnips and overall vegetables. His habis was farming and researching ways to pickle vegetables. He was very proud of his massive storage of pickled produces. He was indifferent to other people because he thought peole, humans in general, were uninteresting and very beneath him. And yet, he unintentionally helped those in need, and under the disguise of his selfishness, he helped his village. For example, he wanted to stop his neighbor's undergarments (Mrs Crankshaw became his worst enemy so far) from flying into his garden and being eaten by his demon goat Prometheus (he was a normal goat, but he ate everything and even knew how to break in, what a smart goat, and he wasn't scared of Galormus). To do that, he used his demon power to relocate a part of the moutain, which freed a part of the river, to redirect the wind. As a result, the village, which had always been isolated due to its difficult access, finally got a major new road connecting it to the outside world. This opened up opportunities for trade, brought in more visitors and new residents, and ultimately helped the village grow and thrive.
I mean, sure, we know that Galormus was evil, and he only thought of himself. But when living in this village, surrounded by people, he felt connected. He felt he belonged, even though he would never admit it. He attached to the children in this village and protected them. It was like, he was converted into being good and kind without intentionally being so. While struggling with this new realization, he also had to control his power so that it was not too auspicious to attract unwanted attention, like his armies and other demons - they would know their overlord still survived.
And Willen might fall in love... without being aware of. He didn't know this feeling. He just knew he kept wanting to talk to this Clara Thornfield girl, who was smart, understanding and had so much in common with him. He and Clara could talk for hours, non-stop, about mostly everything: agriculture, social and political topics. Clara had touched his heartm, but of course, due to his ignorance and his pride, he would never admit it.
Another mystery was his demonic power now was not used to destroy, but to create and nurture, which somehow transformed the nature of this demonic power. It was not divine power, it was something else, a mystery for a very curious scholar Arthur to solve. He never ceased to be amazed at how this magic worked, its core originated from demonic power, but its intent was divine. This combination actually caused Willem trouble as he didn't want to be disrupt his peaceful retirement. He was so content with this life here that he would do something if anyone had the intention of breaking it. But he was also surprised at how his magic had turned into.
I must say, I think Galormus is the only person, sorry, demon I came across that was always in denial of who he was becoming. He thought he was evil and didn't care about other people (children) and never wanted to be involved in the village's affair. And yet, his actions told us the opposite. He was confused about the human ways, the emotions and he was amazed, though obviously he wouldn't admit it. He protected his village but kept convincing himself that he did that to be left alone, to not attract any new followers. It was hilarious, the way he kept convincing himself like that.
I definitely will read the second book, because we had a cliffhanger at the end of this book!!!!
August 20, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 | 4.5 stars rounded up
I loved this book! It was marketed as Schitt's Creek, but a cozy fantasy with a demon overlord and turnips - and that's exactly what I got.
The writing is witty and sharp, the setting is charming, Galornus/Willem is the perfect antihero, and the side characters added such depth and levity to the story.
It's just over 200 pages and is the perfect lighthearted palate cleanser to break up heavier and/or lonnger reads.
I still have many questions left unanswered at the end of this book, but I expect they will be answered in the rest of the series. 👀
Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy!
I loved this book! It was marketed as Schitt's Creek, but a cozy fantasy with a demon overlord and turnips - and that's exactly what I got.
The writing is witty and sharp, the setting is charming, Galornus/Willem is the perfect antihero, and the side characters added such depth and levity to the story.
It's just over 200 pages and is the perfect lighthearted palate cleanser to break up heavier and/or lonnger reads.
I still have many questions left unanswered at the end of this book, but I expect they will be answered in the rest of the series. 👀
Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy!
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