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I Ran Away to Evil #1
I Ran Away to Evil
A reluctant heroine finds unexpected love when she’s sent to assassinate a lonely dark lord in the first book of this cozy romantasy series.
Henrietta Doryn has never enjoyed fighting. She’d rather be in the kitchen baking cookies. But it’s her duty as Warrior Princess to face off against the forces of evil. As such, she’s unceremoniously shooed from her kingdom to go eliminate the all-powerful Dark Lord next door.
Keith Monfort has never enjoyed ruling with an iron fist. He’d prefer to be in his workroom tinkering with practical magic. But it’s his duty to lead the Dark Enchanted Forest and the forces of evil. So when Henrietta shows up at his door, he’s only too happy to invite her in for tea to talk it out instead.
Can this unlikely pair prevent war between their two kingdoms? Where do their true loyalties lie? And when will they finally confess their growing feelings for each other?
Blending the best of love stories, fairy tales, and whimsy—with just a dash of mystery provided by the soothsaying Madame Potts’s enigmatic announcements—I Ran Away to Evil is a deliciously delightful start to a charming romantic-comedy LitRPG series.
The first volume of the hit LitRPG romantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Henrietta Doryn has never enjoyed fighting. She’d rather be in the kitchen baking cookies. But it’s her duty as Warrior Princess to face off against the forces of evil. As such, she’s unceremoniously shooed from her kingdom to go eliminate the all-powerful Dark Lord next door.
Keith Monfort has never enjoyed ruling with an iron fist. He’d prefer to be in his workroom tinkering with practical magic. But it’s his duty to lead the Dark Enchanted Forest and the forces of evil. So when Henrietta shows up at his door, he’s only too happy to invite her in for tea to talk it out instead.
Can this unlikely pair prevent war between their two kingdoms? Where do their true loyalties lie? And when will they finally confess their growing feelings for each other?
Blending the best of love stories, fairy tales, and whimsy—with just a dash of mystery provided by the soothsaying Madame Potts’s enigmatic announcements—I Ran Away to Evil is a deliciously delightful start to a charming romantic-comedy LitRPG series.
The first volume of the hit LitRPG romantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2024
658 people are currently reading
2908 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
May 3, 2024
This was a cozy fantasy LitRPG romcom. A niche concept for sure but it should have been my particular niche which only made it all the more frustrating that I never really gelled with this tale!
This one sucked me in with its fun premise and catchy blurb:
A reluctant heroine finds unexpected love when she's sent to assassinate a lonely dark lord in the first book of this cozy romantasy series.
Sadly it just never worked for me. I was never sucked in by the writing and the humour failed to land for me more often than not. It was a shame, really, as it was an earnest sort of cutesy slice of life romcom that had plenty of good ideas but that just never quite managed to put them together in a way that made for a compelling read.
Rating: 2.5 stars. I’ll be kindly and round up to 3 stars here on Goodreads.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Laura Horowitz and Johnathan McClain. I quite liked the performance by Horowitz but struggled more with the performance of McClain. He was solid with the general narration and gave a very enthusiastic performance but some of his character voices were just awful.
This one sucked me in with its fun premise and catchy blurb:
A reluctant heroine finds unexpected love when she's sent to assassinate a lonely dark lord in the first book of this cozy romantasy series.
Sadly it just never worked for me. I was never sucked in by the writing and the humour failed to land for me more often than not. It was a shame, really, as it was an earnest sort of cutesy slice of life romcom that had plenty of good ideas but that just never quite managed to put them together in a way that made for a compelling read.
Rating: 2.5 stars. I’ll be kindly and round up to 3 stars here on Goodreads.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Laura Horowitz and Johnathan McClain. I quite liked the performance by Horowitz but struggled more with the performance of McClain. He was solid with the general narration and gave a very enthusiastic performance but some of his character voices were just awful.
May 21, 2024
DNF @ 80%
The funny quirky situations from the start get old. The romance is barely there at all. They kiss after 70% of the book and already wanna get married right after. The age gap is 18 and 24 but they’re both utterly inexperienced. The premise is there only for every single thing to be anti-climatic. Like I get it’s cozy but then don’t promise conflict only for it to be so underwhelming the whole time. If you don’t play dnd, you won’t get a lot of things. It’s all skill points and xp and this obsession with leveling up from quests and fighting etc. The writing style is tedious. Having it in 3rd person while it’s already dual pov is a hate from me too. After 30% I was bored as hell. Pushed through and mildly enjoyed it until 70% but i wasn’t gripped. Then gave up. There was some character development and some fun characters but it reads very juvenile. I was gonna wait till this very looked forward to ball and proposal they’re off to around the 80% mark but considering how every single chance for tension I looked forward to fell flat, I’m not bothered to see. Like I get it’s cozy but there still needs to be passion and chemistry if it’s gonna be considered a romance. Most of this was the least romantic book ever. I stuck it out for as long as I was even slightly enjoying it but I’m done. It’s also too long for a “cozy” book and the amount of filler is unnecessary
The funny quirky situations from the start get old. The romance is barely there at all. They kiss after 70% of the book and already wanna get married right after. The age gap is 18 and 24 but they’re both utterly inexperienced. The premise is there only for every single thing to be anti-climatic. Like I get it’s cozy but then don’t promise conflict only for it to be so underwhelming the whole time. If you don’t play dnd, you won’t get a lot of things. It’s all skill points and xp and this obsession with leveling up from quests and fighting etc. The writing style is tedious. Having it in 3rd person while it’s already dual pov is a hate from me too. After 30% I was bored as hell. Pushed through and mildly enjoyed it until 70% but i wasn’t gripped. Then gave up. There was some character development and some fun characters but it reads very juvenile. I was gonna wait till this very looked forward to ball and proposal they’re off to around the 80% mark but considering how every single chance for tension I looked forward to fell flat, I’m not bothered to see. Like I get it’s cozy but there still needs to be passion and chemistry if it’s gonna be considered a romance. Most of this was the least romantic book ever. I stuck it out for as long as I was even slightly enjoying it but I’m done. It’s also too long for a “cozy” book and the amount of filler is unnecessary
April 4, 2024
A hilarious, wonderfully told story of overcoming traumatic pasts, fighting against expectations, and the greatest battle of all, death to buttons. (seriously, how DARE that button!)
this was my first ever LitRPG story so I had to get used to some of the genre quirks but man am I SO glad I was able to pick up this book! it has it all! princesses, warriors, sword battles, magic, dragons, political shenanigan's, kidnappings, poor damsel kings in distress, and the Happily Ever After the main characters deserved. the worldbuilding alone left me in awe, with every kind of being under the sun from trolls, to high elves, to griffons and even the undead!
we follow Princess Henrietta as she is sent on a quest, more or less, to die. she has to go and challenge the dreaded evil dark lord of the monster filled forest. said evil overlord, is tired and just wants a nap and sends her off to go have fun baking. Henrietta soon finds herself having fun, and being herself for the first time in her life, and has to choose between disappointing her parents with her continued existence, or living with the dark denizens of the dark forest. with one choice, she lives in misery, and the other choice could lead to a happily ever after. with a prophetic fortune teller guiding the way, Henrietta has a lot of choices to make before she gets her happily ever after.
this was my first ever LitRPG story so I had to get used to some of the genre quirks but man am I SO glad I was able to pick up this book! it has it all! princesses, warriors, sword battles, magic, dragons, political shenanigan's, kidnappings, poor damsel kings in distress, and the Happily Ever After the main characters deserved. the worldbuilding alone left me in awe, with every kind of being under the sun from trolls, to high elves, to griffons and even the undead!
we follow Princess Henrietta as she is sent on a quest, more or less, to die. she has to go and challenge the dreaded evil dark lord of the monster filled forest. said evil overlord, is tired and just wants a nap and sends her off to go have fun baking. Henrietta soon finds herself having fun, and being herself for the first time in her life, and has to choose between disappointing her parents with her continued existence, or living with the dark denizens of the dark forest. with one choice, she lives in misery, and the other choice could lead to a happily ever after. with a prophetic fortune teller guiding the way, Henrietta has a lot of choices to make before she gets her happily ever after.
April 5, 2024
First, let me thank the author for giving me an ARC of this book to read. I had a lot of fun! This was cute, funny, and oddly cozy. The side characters really shined through the most for me, especially the wonderful Gerda. The world and its inhabitants are very fleshed out, and the LitRPG elements were appropriate, though I wanted a bit more math haha.
The only thing I would have liked is oddly less romance in the beginning. The payoff would have been much more squeal inducing with a bit more tension early on between our main characters. Besides that, it was a cute story from start to finish!
The only thing I would have liked is oddly less romance in the beginning. The payoff would have been much more squeal inducing with a bit more tension early on between our main characters. Besides that, it was a cute story from start to finish!
March 10, 2025
This story felt slow and wasn't invested into the characters as much.
I really loved the humor of the characters because it was obvious that this is wholesome and couldn't take them very seriously.
But nothing really was happening and just couldn't get into it even with an amazing audiobook narrator.
DNF'd at 13%
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I really loved the humor of the characters because it was obvious that this is wholesome and couldn't take them very seriously.
But nothing really was happening and just couldn't get into it even with an amazing audiobook narrator.
DNF'd at 13%
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November 7, 2024
Charming, entertaining, and not as dorky as I'd feared.
LitRPG / Romantacy / humorous / low stress / foodie
Likeable characters, Low conflict, and almost no outbreaks of 'suddenly stupid' to advance the plot in a ridiculous way.
I don't think this book would stand up to many re-readings, but it's light and fluffy and not too sappy. (Definitely some sappy, but not too much)
Yes I would read the next one
LitRPG / Romantacy / humorous / low stress / foodie
Likeable characters, Low conflict, and almost no outbreaks of 'suddenly stupid' to advance the plot in a ridiculous way.
I don't think this book would stand up to many re-readings, but it's light and fluffy and not too sappy. (Definitely some sappy, but not too much)
Yes I would read the next one
January 10, 2025
This book is so cozy I could taste the sugar and cinnamon on every page. The characters are loveable and diverse, the pacing is quick and enticing. The kind of story that leaves you with a warm heart and a strong desire to bake cake and steep some tea!
April 28, 2024
I think this will be one of my favorite reads of this year. It was such a fun read!
I really enjoyed the characters. They were easy to feel connected to emotionally. Their actions and motivations were understandable and relatable.
The storyline was interesting and kept me engaged. The writing flowed nicely and I never felt that the story was rushed or lagging anywhere.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, having never read a LitRPG before, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the characters have access to their stats and buffs and whatnot. This added to the experience of reading this story. I enjoyed seeing what the stats were for the two main characters, what buffs or effects they had on them at different times in the story, the different titles they had, and other things like that.
I loved every moment I spent reading this book and recommend it to anyone that enjoys RPGs, both online and tabletop, as well as those who enjoy fun fantasy reads.
I received a free copy of this book via Podium Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed the characters. They were easy to feel connected to emotionally. Their actions and motivations were understandable and relatable.
The storyline was interesting and kept me engaged. The writing flowed nicely and I never felt that the story was rushed or lagging anywhere.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, having never read a LitRPG before, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the characters have access to their stats and buffs and whatnot. This added to the experience of reading this story. I enjoyed seeing what the stats were for the two main characters, what buffs or effects they had on them at different times in the story, the different titles they had, and other things like that.
I loved every moment I spent reading this book and recommend it to anyone that enjoys RPGs, both online and tabletop, as well as those who enjoy fun fantasy reads.
I received a free copy of this book via Podium Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2025
Utterly adorable, with a demonstration of a healthy relationship
May 29, 2024
I loved this cute rpg rom com so fun and cute, and action packed
April 29, 2024
This book is the perfect way to cross from Cozy Romantasy into Lit-RPG Romantasy. I'll preface this with three things.
1. I have played single player RPG computer games.
2. I have and still do read and write fanfiction, which has a similar pacing and structure.
3. I am familiar with how table top RPGs, like Dungeons & Dragons, are played and their mechanics. Though I have not played a campaign or watched a campaign before.
If you don't have any similar experience to what I've listened above, this book will probably not be for you. Especially if you're coming from only reading novels. The structure is different and you may misinterpret it as "slow" as opposed to a new story structure.
Quick summary: Princess Henrietta has trained her entire life to be the son her parents wished they'd had. She's leveled up to the point that she's considered the Heroine of Justice before her 19th birthday, but still a disappointment to them. When they find out her cousin will have a son, they send her off on a suicide mission to kill King Keith, The Dark Overlord of the Enchanted Evil Forest. Except, King Keith is more interested in working on his spells than battling her, and when he gives Henrietta the opportunity to bake rather than face him in mortal combat, she jumps at the chance. But Henrietta's parents aren't going to let their plans go so easily, and while Henrietta and Kieth are slowly falling in love, her parents are doing everything in their power to pull them apart.
Now! On to what I absolutely LOVED about this book!
Henrietta and Kieth are absolutely adorable! I literally could not get enough of them being adorable together. Kieth is so sweet and I loved how he cared about Henrietta and worked to make her life better while still respecting her boundaries. And Henrietta is darling as she heals and comes to be herself. I loved how she was both earnest and stood her ground. I fell in love with Henrietta faster than Kieth did.
I also really appreciated that therapy and mental health were cheered and supported all the way through the book. I loved how Henrietta (fair warning her parents call her Henri and I hate it as much as Kieth does) and Kieth grew through the book, becoming more than they were at the beginning, along with growing closer to each other.
And the characters! Oh my gosh, I was laughing the entire way through this book! The flip that everyone in the Enchanted Evil Forrest was nice and kind and considerate while also being mildly to mostly terrifying was the sweetest breath of fresh air. Yes, they enjoy flesh eating flowers, but what better way to clean bones than making flowers bloom?
This book is low spice, it's only kisses between Henrietta and Kieth. It's is cozy, cozy. Henrietta doesn't like killing. No one dies till the end, and honestly the people who die I wanted to revive them to kill them again. The book shows people handling the after effects of an abusive childhood in healthy ways. It addresses human trafficking at the end. If any of that isn't your jam then you'll want to find another book. For me it was 5 stars and I had an absolutely lovely experience all the way through!
1. I have played single player RPG computer games.
2. I have and still do read and write fanfiction, which has a similar pacing and structure.
3. I am familiar with how table top RPGs, like Dungeons & Dragons, are played and their mechanics. Though I have not played a campaign or watched a campaign before.
If you don't have any similar experience to what I've listened above, this book will probably not be for you. Especially if you're coming from only reading novels. The structure is different and you may misinterpret it as "slow" as opposed to a new story structure.
Quick summary: Princess Henrietta has trained her entire life to be the son her parents wished they'd had. She's leveled up to the point that she's considered the Heroine of Justice before her 19th birthday, but still a disappointment to them. When they find out her cousin will have a son, they send her off on a suicide mission to kill King Keith, The Dark Overlord of the Enchanted Evil Forest. Except, King Keith is more interested in working on his spells than battling her, and when he gives Henrietta the opportunity to bake rather than face him in mortal combat, she jumps at the chance. But Henrietta's parents aren't going to let their plans go so easily, and while Henrietta and Kieth are slowly falling in love, her parents are doing everything in their power to pull them apart.
Now! On to what I absolutely LOVED about this book!
Henrietta and Kieth are absolutely adorable! I literally could not get enough of them being adorable together. Kieth is so sweet and I loved how he cared about Henrietta and worked to make her life better while still respecting her boundaries. And Henrietta is darling as she heals and comes to be herself. I loved how she was both earnest and stood her ground. I fell in love with Henrietta faster than Kieth did.
I also really appreciated that therapy and mental health were cheered and supported all the way through the book. I loved how Henrietta (fair warning her parents call her Henri and I hate it as much as Kieth does) and Kieth grew through the book, becoming more than they were at the beginning, along with growing closer to each other.
And the characters! Oh my gosh, I was laughing the entire way through this book! The flip that everyone in the Enchanted Evil Forrest was nice and kind and considerate while also being mildly to mostly terrifying was the sweetest breath of fresh air. Yes, they enjoy flesh eating flowers, but what better way to clean bones than making flowers bloom?
This book is low spice, it's only kisses between Henrietta and Kieth. It's is cozy, cozy. Henrietta doesn't like killing. No one dies till the end, and honestly the people who die I wanted to revive them to kill them again. The book shows people handling the after effects of an abusive childhood in healthy ways. It addresses human trafficking at the end. If any of that isn't your jam then you'll want to find another book. For me it was 5 stars and I had an absolutely lovely experience all the way through!
May 15, 2024
Yay for letting go of toxic people!
This was absolutely a fun read! Would love to see a bit more of Henrietta and her sweet found family! As a great latin minstrel once said: La Vida te da sorpresas! Sorpresas te da la vida! Ria's surprises certainly spared her a life of misery. I absolutely found all fun trope break a refreshing twist. I hope to read more in the future from this author.
This was absolutely a fun read! Would love to see a bit more of Henrietta and her sweet found family! As a great latin minstrel once said: La Vida te da sorpresas! Sorpresas te da la vida! Ria's surprises certainly spared her a life of misery. I absolutely found all fun trope break a refreshing twist. I hope to read more in the future from this author.
October 18, 2024
I Ran away to Evil
This read was such a good time! I found it hard to put it down!
Crown princess Henrietta has been trained as a warrior her whole life, but her sunny disposition and lack of killer instinct is wholly disappointing to her parents. In an effort to harden her resolve (or simply get rid of her) they send her to assassinate the Arcane Sage. Winning her way past his automatons and guards, Henri arrives at His Royal Viciousnesses presence and decides killing, not for her.
Agreeing to stay on as a test subject, Henri befriends the staff and spends her days baking and altogether confusing the Evil Overlord.
This was so lightheartedly humorous, and the perfect example of the grumpy vs sunshine trope. I really like the video game references (this is a litrpg story) and the fantasy elements of magic, enchanted forests and mythical creatures coupled with cosy vibes of baking and friendship.
Bonus points for having a Dark Overlord named Keith.
Ideal for fans of Assistant to the Villain 🩷
This read was such a good time! I found it hard to put it down!
Crown princess Henrietta has been trained as a warrior her whole life, but her sunny disposition and lack of killer instinct is wholly disappointing to her parents. In an effort to harden her resolve (or simply get rid of her) they send her to assassinate the Arcane Sage. Winning her way past his automatons and guards, Henri arrives at His Royal Viciousnesses presence and decides killing, not for her.
Agreeing to stay on as a test subject, Henri befriends the staff and spends her days baking and altogether confusing the Evil Overlord.
This was so lightheartedly humorous, and the perfect example of the grumpy vs sunshine trope. I really like the video game references (this is a litrpg story) and the fantasy elements of magic, enchanted forests and mythical creatures coupled with cosy vibes of baking and friendship.
Bonus points for having a Dark Overlord named Keith.
Ideal for fans of Assistant to the Villain 🩷
February 19, 2025
Title: I Ran Away to Evil (I Ran Away to Evil, #1)
Author: Mystic Neptune
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ☆ ☆ (3/5)
Review:
"I Ran Away to Evil" by Mystic Neptune is a dark, immersive, and daring tale that blends horror, adventure, and self-discovery. It takes readers on a journey into the heart of temptation, with complex characters and a story full of unexpected twists.
The first book in the I Ran Away to Evil series introduces readers to a world where good and evil collide, forcing the protagonist to confront not only the forces around them but also the darkness within themselves.
Plot:
The story follows Iris, a young woman who runs away from her mundane life and stumbles into a world of sinister magic, forbidden powers, and morally ambiguous characters. What initially seems like a choice for personal freedom soon spirals into a terrifying adventure as she’s pulled deeper into the realms of evil. Neptune weaves an intricate plot, full of tension and suspense, where nothing is as it seems.
Characters:
Neptune's character work is one of the novel's strengths. Iris, the protagonist, is incredibly relatable yet intriguingly flawed. As the story progresses, you witness her internal conflict between seeking personal autonomy and dealing with the dangerous temptations of dark power. The antagonist, Ezra, is equally compelling—a charismatic and manipulative figure whose presence constantly blurs the line between enemy and ally.
Setting & Atmosphere:
The world-building is extraordinary. Neptune creates a hauntingly beautiful landscape where darkness lurks behind every corner. The atmosphere is eerie, with descriptions that pull you deep into the chilling environments. From abandoned castles to cursed forests, the setting perfectly complements the sinister undertones of the story.
Themes:
The book explores heavy themes such as the nature of evil, personal choice, and the consequences of our actions. One of the core ideas Neptune presents is whether embracing evil is sometimes necessary to survive. The novel doesn’t provide simple answers but encourages readers to contemplate moral ambiguity and inner darkness.
Writing Style:
Mystic Neptune's prose is lyrical yet sharp. There’s a beautiful balance between descriptive passages that bring the setting to life and moments of razor-sharp dialogue. The pacing, while slower at the beginning, ramps up toward the middle, culminating in a heart-pounding climax. Neptune’s command over tension keeps you at the edge of your seat, making the slower parts worth the build-up.
Highlights:
Emotional Depth: Iris’s internal struggles are beautifully written, making her journey not just about facing external threats but also about confronting her own moral boundaries.
Unique Antagonist: Ezra is not your typical villain. His seductive charm and manipulation make him one of the most intriguing characters, leaving readers guessing his true motivations until the end.
World-building: The shadowy realms and mysterious magical systems create a rich, immersive world that feels alive with danger and intrigue.
Possible Drawbacks:
Slow Start: The first few chapters move at a slower pace, which might make it a bit difficult for some readers to get invested early on. However, patience is rewarded as the tension steadily builds.
Occasionally Overwhelming Descriptions: While Neptune’s world-building is fantastic, some descriptions are a bit lengthy, and it can occasionally slow the momentum of the plot.
Final Verdict:
I Ran Away to Evil is a darkly enchanting novel that excels in delivering a gripping narrative filled with moral complexities and unforgettable characters. Mystic Neptune has crafted a mesmerizing start to this series, with enough mystery and tension to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy with a touch of horror and psychological depth, this book is not to be missed.
Who Should Read This?
If you enjoy morally complex protagonists navigating dark and magical realms.
Fans of gothic horror, where the atmosphere is as important as the characters themselves.
Readers who appreciate thought-provoking fantasy that tackles themes of power, choice, and corruption.
August 18, 2024
Sadly DNF. I really liked the premise and the MCs from what I read, but the inserts of game stats, character sheets, notifications, etc. were just too distracting for me to actually get into the story.
May 7, 2025
3.5⭐
After having my first experience with LitRPG with Dungeon Crawler Carl, I was excited to try another one - so when I saw this one (also labeled as a cozy rom-com), I knew I just had to try it.
This was fun! There was a lot I enjoyed about this book - I loved how it felt cozy due to the fact that even the darkest consequence (death) could easily be reversed, and liked how the main couple's relationship felt adorably pure. I also loved the world and all the different fantasy races represented in the story!
My biggest critique was that I wasn't crazy about the audiobook - the duel narration felt disjointed and like the narrators didn't come together to mutually settle on the different voices and accents of characters. I also think this book could have easily either been shortened, or it could have been lengthened and split in two to form a duology.
I haven't decided on whether or not I plan to continue on with the series, but I did like the characters that the next book will be focusing on.
After having my first experience with LitRPG with Dungeon Crawler Carl, I was excited to try another one - so when I saw this one (also labeled as a cozy rom-com), I knew I just had to try it.
This was fun! There was a lot I enjoyed about this book - I loved how it felt cozy due to the fact that even the darkest consequence (death) could easily be reversed, and liked how the main couple's relationship felt adorably pure. I also loved the world and all the different fantasy races represented in the story!
My biggest critique was that I wasn't crazy about the audiobook - the duel narration felt disjointed and like the narrators didn't come together to mutually settle on the different voices and accents of characters. I also think this book could have easily either been shortened, or it could have been lengthened and split in two to form a duology.
I haven't decided on whether or not I plan to continue on with the series, but I did like the characters that the next book will be focusing on.
abandoned
March 28, 2024What an absolutely adorable cover!
The story concept is a fun cozy one - between that and the cover, I completely glossed over the part that mentions this story is a litRPG. Unfortunately, litRPGs and I rarely get along. I want to love them! but the usual writing style tends to grate on me.
The part that I did listen to introduces a cutesy main character who is adept with a sword but would rather bake and make friends. She is an unloved princess sent to assassinate the neighboring country's ruler, a dark lord who enjoys tinkering with automatons. Neither is as interested in a battle to the death as they are supposed to be and decide to make their own arrangements. The setup isn't anything unusual, but if you like litRPG - give this one a try.
Thank you to the author for an audio ARC. The audio quality is great and the narrators engaging, making the audiobook version a great way to pick up this book.
The story concept is a fun cozy one - between that and the cover, I completely glossed over the part that mentions this story is a litRPG. Unfortunately, litRPGs and I rarely get along. I want to love them! but the usual writing style tends to grate on me.
The part that I did listen to introduces a cutesy main character who is adept with a sword but would rather bake and make friends. She is an unloved princess sent to assassinate the neighboring country's ruler, a dark lord who enjoys tinkering with automatons. Neither is as interested in a battle to the death as they are supposed to be and decide to make their own arrangements. The setup isn't anything unusual, but if you like litRPG - give this one a try.
Thank you to the author for an audio ARC. The audio quality is great and the narrators engaging, making the audiobook version a great way to pick up this book.
March 26, 2024
I helped beta read this book and absolutely loved it from start to finish. It's a barrel of laughs and I often found myself rooting for the characters. Neptune has created a hilarious and cozy take on the 'stuck in a game' genre that delights in throwing the tropes on their heads.
The story follow a delightful romance as the hero of justice and the lord of evil begin to wonder if they should really let societal roles get in the way of a good thing.
It kind of reminds me of a fantasy version of the Bridgertons, with a varied lovable cast, and multiple realistic relationships entangling together to make a fascinating weave of a story. I laughed, hated, and cried in all the right places. Great work Neptune, I can't wait to read the next book!!
The story follow a delightful romance as the hero of justice and the lord of evil begin to wonder if they should really let societal roles get in the way of a good thing.
It kind of reminds me of a fantasy version of the Bridgertons, with a varied lovable cast, and multiple realistic relationships entangling together to make a fascinating weave of a story. I laughed, hated, and cried in all the right places. Great work Neptune, I can't wait to read the next book!!
January 12, 2025
I LOVED this book.
Most fun I've had in a novel in months. It's LitRPG-lite and definitely a cozy-romance, the spice level is like 0.5 out of 10 (three on screen kisses, one cuddling session, and like five instances of GASP Holding Hands!!!!)...seriously, I would gladly let my 11-year-old read this. Mostly because it tackles things like "being a good person isn't about how you look but what you do" and "monsters don't always look like monsters" and "vicious can mean a lot of different things depending on the result and outcomes and intent of our actions".
It's also funny as hell with excellent characterizations and snappy dialog.
A joy to read, I can't recommend highly enough.
Most fun I've had in a novel in months. It's LitRPG-lite and definitely a cozy-romance, the spice level is like 0.5 out of 10 (three on screen kisses, one cuddling session, and like five instances of GASP Holding Hands!!!!)...seriously, I would gladly let my 11-year-old read this. Mostly because it tackles things like "being a good person isn't about how you look but what you do" and "monsters don't always look like monsters" and "vicious can mean a lot of different things depending on the result and outcomes and intent of our actions".
It's also funny as hell with excellent characterizations and snappy dialog.
A joy to read, I can't recommend highly enough.
May 4, 2024
Perfection
The cosy genre is all over the place right now but this personifies it like no other story I've read. I finished this in a day and immediately pre-ordered the paperback.
Great range of characters, humourous writing but not too overly comedic, the world building is spectacular and each region and race feel distinct.
Read this immediately!
The cosy genre is all over the place right now but this personifies it like no other story I've read. I finished this in a day and immediately pre-ordered the paperback.
Great range of characters, humourous writing but not too overly comedic, the world building is spectacular and each region and race feel distinct.
Read this immediately!
November 16, 2024
I wish I could give this 5 stars but I can’t. Halfway through they introduced Homo stuff. Thankfully it was only side characters but it was always brought up. However I ADORED the main characters and their adororkable interactions and eventual love!!!
Glad I read it. Sad I can’t buy it due to religious and personal beliefs. If you can look past Homo then I’d say give this a read. If not then stay away.
Glad I read it. Sad I can’t buy it due to religious and personal beliefs. If you can look past Homo then I’d say give this a read. If not then stay away.
December 2, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It's flimsy, but not too much. Hilarious, but with dark undertones. It has well-rounded characters, none of which are even remotely clichee even though the whole book plays with those clichees a lot. I found myself immersed, and rooting for all the characters involved.
This is written extremely well, and I'm glad I found it. And that there is another book to continue the story with :) Looking forward to that.
Tone-wise this reminded me a lot of Gail Carriger's style, though with an adorable personal voice. This won't be the last book I've read by Mystic.
This is written extremely well, and I'm glad I found it. And that there is another book to continue the story with :) Looking forward to that.
Tone-wise this reminded me a lot of Gail Carriger's style, though with an adorable personal voice. This won't be the last book I've read by Mystic.
May 10, 2024
Cosy indeed
This was a fun read with strong world building and lovable main and support characters. Henrietta and Keith's romance was slow and sweet and made for a very satisfying HEA. I look forward to the next installment.
This was a fun read with strong world building and lovable main and support characters. Henrietta and Keith's romance was slow and sweet and made for a very satisfying HEA. I look forward to the next installment.
May 27, 2024
This was lovely. It was a chill, cozy read that those who appreciate manhwa/manga/light novels would enjoy. I had tried quite a few other books recently but the common and popular tropes just irritated me. I Ran Away to Evil was so refreshing.
June 2, 2024
So cute!
I loved it. It was fun, funny, insightful with lots of action, romance and delightful interactions. Great pacing and world building.
I loved it. It was fun, funny, insightful with lots of action, romance and delightful interactions. Great pacing and world building.
July 10, 2024
full review to come!
Read
December 22, 2024I really really wanted to love it but she is 18 and he is 24 . and both have no experience in love like really none . I was so excited for this story but it wasn't it for me sadly
February 10, 2025
DNF
I've been trying to read this since before the holidays...
I've been trying to read this since before the holidays...
March 28, 2025
Sadly not a book for me. The story itself was good, but I just got put out whenever the "stats" were mentioned.
May 21, 2024
Favorite book of the year so far
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