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Demon Lord for Hire

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Are you a god in dire need of followers, of some more faithful to bolster your ranks?
Then I’m the one you’re looking for! A Demon Lord in all its glory!

You may hire my services for a small fee, that is a small portion of your divinity.
I will send my minions to terrorize the populace and give people a reason to pray to you. I will spawn horrors to drum up support or even trigger a holy crusade.

Just sign the contract and I’ll take care of everything. You won’t even have to lift a finger, except maybe to bless a few heroes of your choosing to face off against my armies and eventually defeat me, the dreaded Demon Lord, in dramatic fashion. This is a bargain you can’t possible pass up!

But I warn you, if I hold up my end of the deal, I expect you to honor it too, or else…

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2022

162 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

E.M. Hardy

18 books76 followers

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5 stars
190 (63%)
4 stars
69 (23%)
3 stars
27 (9%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
645 reviews15 followers
May 21, 2022
Not very good

The intro was misleading this book was not about a demon Lord but about a whiny ex God of commerce if you like whiny MC then this book is for you
Profile Image for Jonathan.
663 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2022
Fun

Van is a god running from the past and the total destruction of his universe. To make ends meet he finds universes where faith in gods is struggling and hires on as an antogonist, secretly training up heroes and inspiring faith . This time he’s got an added problem, a Demon Lord seeking to destroy everything. So he races a ticking clock, rediscovering himself, and saving the world by being the villain.

It was a fun read and I truly enjoyed the idea of a good guy god as a villain. It was well told, fast paced, and entertaining. I hope you enjoy it
17 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2025
ALRIGHT LISTEN UP
Or read down, you get the point
Since the book’s summary isn’t very helpful, I’m gonna rewrite it for you guys.

*ahem*

This isn’t a story of violence, of evil desperately trying to claw good to the ground and stomp out the ashes
No.
It’s a tale of redemption, of survivors guilt, and of self forgiveness
The main character of our story isn’t some wicked demon lord, banished from his world and who sets out to create an empire by trying to get themselves hired at an inter dimensional tavern
It’s of a forgotten god, who blames himself for his planets destruction and failing his followers
It’s a story of growth and learning to care again, of shaking off the numbness, of finding joy again, and of second chances and new beginnings

Aaaaand cut
Well not cut but you get the point
If your like me and have a handful of DESPERATE questions about the plot, AS YOU READ IT, I’ve included the following below;

1. Nobody we care about dies
2. He is not evil
3. He does not join a pantheon
4. By the end he’s grown emotionally into a better place
5. It’s a HEA, or at least a HFN
Profile Image for Arty.
122 reviews10 followers
March 19, 2023
Not many people will like this. It's not action packed per say. However, it is pretty amusing and actually pretty heartfelt. Basically, he is a rogue God wandering the multiverse offering to play the bad guy to up the the gods of various worlds. Which in term, they pay him for his services. However, he isn't martial in nature so he is finds creative ways to get the job done. What it really is, the MC, a God trying to find redemption for his lack of action in saving his people. My only problem is that, the MC kinda get stuck in a loop with his guilt. It is a good series and deserves a chance.
1 review
May 10, 2022
Story with a fresh twist.

To be honest the cover caught my attention, but immediately that was overwhelmed by an interestingly crafted tale that such a fresh twist that was so enjoyble that the ending snuck up and left me looking if there was a follow-up. The only disappointment was the lurch of the abrupt end of the book. I was looking forward to the interaction of the MC with his supporting characters. They totally enhanced the effects of the story.
16 reviews2 followers
June 7, 2022
Much better than expected

When I was flipping through the new releases looking for something to pass the time, this caught my eye. I wasn’t expecting much more than a distraction. Instead I got clever trope subversion, interesting and empathetic characters, and a story that kept me thinking about it after I was done. Would definitely recommend, and I’ll be looking at the author’s other works in the near future.
10 reviews
August 9, 2022
Significantly better than advertised.

I came in expecting over the top villainy, maniacal laughter, and an evil protagonist. Instead I saw the world through the eyes of some doing everything in his power to appear evil while rooting for those rallied against him. An intricate story, wonderful characters, and just enough in world meta to tie it all together makes one heck of a story.
33 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2022
Whelp, already done and wanting more

This book was a breath of fresh air after months of fluff and low hanging fruit. It drew me in, and I'm just glad I got this early on a weekend day, because I read it in one sitting. I had borrowed it with my Amazon account, but I am going back to buy it, and see if I can get a physical copy too.
2 reviews
July 30, 2022
different. no bs level up notifications. no harem. good

A story you care about. The characters, decisions, the anticipation. It was an unusual take on stories often cookie cutter in their outline. I cannot think of a book exactly like it (although i am sure there is) it is a fun read & i will be looking to read other books & sequels from this author.
15 reviews
November 28, 2022
Enjoyed

Unique idea done well. Found myself wishing there was a bit more tension and higher stakes throughout the story. Not LitRPG! No power progression. Just a fantasy story where spells the protagonist uses is thought of like abilities in a game. Easy read. Decent ending. Recommended!
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,765 reviews32 followers
July 23, 2023
This was different, though not something I personally enjoyed much.

It was well written, and had a good plot... I just want more magic users. People who use magic in novel ways. Someone thinking outside the box.

This seems a one and done type story (not that I would have read a sequel). Now that I read two different works of the author, I may be willing to try another.

3/5 Stars
Profile Image for William.
Author 14 books83 followers
October 30, 2024
I only finished this novel because I used a credit to get it on Audible. It had a different take on the fantasy genre and that is what caught my attention, but the overall story didn’t interest me as much. I didn’t care for the MC, he did little to endear me to him. I just didn’t like it the overall flow of the text.
2,606 reviews71 followers
May 12, 2022
This one is just as fun as the rest, but. . .

The writing is a bit rough. This just does not flow as well as normal. It feels rushed and unfinished. It is still fun, but not as well done as other Hardy books I have read.
213 reviews
June 28, 2022
The title is a bit misleading, as it is not a *Real* demon lord you are hiring. Do read the rest of the blurb before deciding to buy or read the book.
But other than that, a nice adventure. Perhaps a bit too soft. I liked it.
5 reviews
June 30, 2022
Another bleeding heart

Character goes from mercenary to bleeding heart way too quickly. Not quite zero to a hundred, but from ten to eighty.

The lack of gradual build up just made the whole story seem cheap.
Profile Image for Jim Phillips.
1,049 reviews4 followers
September 12, 2022
Well that's Awesomeness

Now that's a good romp of a tale. Story was not only fresh and refreshing but stayed pretty funny throughout. And the epilogue was totally awesome. You don't get a good epilogue very often in these LitRpg books so this especially nice.
10 reviews
November 13, 2022
A refreshing twist

I picked this book up on a whim based on Amazon’s “Similar” list. It’s more fantasy than LitRPG despite the author name, but this title was a fantastic tale from a different perspective than normally seen. 5/5 recommended to read
10 reviews
July 12, 2022
Great story

What a fun story to read seeing things from a gods pov I look forward to the next one. I can't wait
Profile Image for Adam Macarthur.
7 reviews
October 2, 2022
Oddly Amazing!

You would think the premise would work, financial God as a demon lord for hire but it's awesome and emotionally packs a punch right in the feels, well done.
203 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2023
Was a good story but also felt very lonely.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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