Dreadful

Gavriel the Dreadful is a high wizard and a dark lord who wakes up with no memory of his villainous past after a magical mishap involving a golden-fried trout. He discovers he rules a gloomy mountain fortress populated by restless minions, a suspicious apprentice, and a very hungry dragon. Gavriel must conceal his amnesia while navigating the logistics of an impending ritual that requires kidnapping a princess. Instead of pursuing world domination, he tries to fix his castle's plumbing and manages his staff's interpersonal conflicts without revealing his sudden lack of malice.

Readers who enjoy satirizing the tropes of high fantasy and the absurdity of workplace management should pick up this book. It appeals to people who want a humorous perspective on the moral burden of being a designated antagonist. The narrative provides a lighthearted look at identity and the possibility of personal redirection. Readers finish the book with a comedic understanding of the administrative difficulties involved in maintaining a lair and the realization that even a dark lord can choose kindness over cruelty.