Finally got around to reading something again. I think [[Heavenly Tyrant]] straight up killed the momentum I tried to build going into 2025, lmfao. But I managed to get back on the saddle. **How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying** was a fun and breezy two-day read, which was exactly what I needed to get over the "why you just *read*, you stupid fucking brain!" roadblock I was experiencing. It's about a girl named Davi who's been isekai'd into a fantasy world and has been stuck there for 1000 years and about 278 deaths, give or take. She's been told the loop doesn't end until she kills the Dark Lord, and has been...less than successful. Every time she dies the loop restarts, and the loop we find her at has her deciding that instead of killing the Dark Lord, she'll just take their place instead. It's a pretty light-hearted book, despite some of the dark material. I thought the dialogue and footnotes would annoy me more, but I settled in pretty quickly and started to enjoy myself when I realized I needed to take the book as seriously as the book was taking itself.[^1][^2] The book hints at some interesting thoughts on expansionism that I wasn't prepared for, but it doesn't go much further than "hints." A lot of my final feelings on this book will hinge on it being a duology. By the time I was finished, there was a lot left to go over, but that won't happen until the second book comes out May 2025. I'm hoping it sticks the landing, but uh...the last sequel book I read is leaving me just a *tiiiiny* bit apprehensive, LMFAO. Also the main character is a bi/pansexual monster fucker, which is like, 98% of my readership I'm pretty sure. Anyways if you're looking for a good weekend read, you could definitely do worse! Check it out if you wish your Isekai light-novels were a lot gayer and a lot less misogynistic. [^1]: I.e. not very [^2]: Yes I know how rich my worry is as someone who uses footnotes way too much myself. I will not be changing this.