By MK Gibson
Narrator Jeffrey Kafer
Villains Rule is the first book in The Shadow Master series. Jackson Blackwell has declared himself the Villain of all Villains and spends this book having to prove it.
The story is full of pop culture references, bad men jokes, and cliches. It reminds me of an adult version of Ready Player One and the Deadpool movies with Ryan Reynolds. The writing style reminds me of a Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. If you liked/loved either of those then you’ll probably enjoy this book.
Oh course you’ve realized by the title and summary that this book highlights the villians. So if you’re not one to occasionally root for the bad guy then this may not be your cup of tea.
If you’re wondering if this is really a bad guy, then here are a few of my favorite bad guy moments:
“Baby Unicorn Chops are so delicious. You can actually taste their sadness.”
“Yes, I was happy to watch that mare die. That horse was an a** hole.”
The title for this book doesnt do the story justice. I wish the author would have chosen something different.
The same for this cover art. It is one of the worst I’ve seen. It definitely doesnt fit such a complex story. It makes it seem as though you’re about to read either an old book from the 70s or some type of American anime knock off.
There is a long drawn out ending… the final battle seemed never ending. I’m 50/50 on whether I liked or hated that.
The narrator fits well with voicing Jackson. He doesnt have as many character voices like I’d like but he still did a good job.
I did finish with a couple of questions:
– Why does his sister even have Goddess powers in his realm???
– Why would these villains never ask to go to another dimension instead of returning to their own?
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was something different and my first time reading this author.
3 Stars ???- Good Book. I like the overall concept and it was delivered well. Most common ranking for a book I enjoyed and look forward to the next.