# Reborn as a Dark Lord

By Timothy W. Long · Reborn as a Dark Lord, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/reborn-as-a-dark-lord-7aba9ae3/

Vincent Logan loses his office job, nearly dies of a heart attack and wakes in the body of Dark Lord Morthisal. The kingdom has good reasons to fear that face. Vince would rather buy a tavern and introduce everyone to chicken wings, but he has inherited powers he barely understands and a reputation that makes a quiet life difficult.

## What makes it funny?

Readers single out the food jokes, particularly fantasy-world customers encountering burgers and wings for the first time. They enjoy the tavern meals and everyday life between bouts of trouble, with cooking as much a draw as the magic.

### The comedy at work

The man inside the feared dark lord has ordinary ambitions. People expect evil, while he wants to feed them and run his business; readers point to his determination to be normal even as fate keeps pursuing him.

### Try this if…

Cozy-fantasy readers who like cooking, camaraderie and a business to build have clear reasons to look here. Readers in LitRPG groups describe enjoying the funny moments and the downtime enough to want the next volume.

### Good to know

Readers describe the combat as mild. Listeners also praise John Pirhalla’s narration for bringing the world to life. Start here before Dark Lord on the Rocks, which continues the series.

## What to expect

- Genre: Fantasy · LitRPG
- On the shelf: Cozy fantasy · Portal fantasy
- Kind of humor: Situational comedy
- The atmosphere: Cozy · Warmhearted
- Format: Novel
- Audiobook: 11 hr 30 min
- Published: 2025

## A few distinguishing details

- An office worker stuck with a dark lord’s reputation
- Hot wings as a fresh start in another world

## Questions readers ask

### Is it very sweet?

The author says he aimed to let the protagonist solve problems with cooking, with a few sweet moments and light romance.

## Sources & further reading

- Book information: [Apple Books unabridged audiobook listing for Reborn as a Dark Lord](https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/reborn-as-a-dark-lord-the-tavernkeepers-guide/id1827562198)
- Publisher: [Publisher announcement and author answer](https://www.reddit.com/r/litrpg/comments/1mul6nb/reborn_as_a_dark_lord_is_now_on_kindle_audible)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://aethonbooks.com/book/reborn-as-a-dark-lord)
- Book information: [Novel and series](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/timothy-w-long/reborn-as-a-dark-lord.htm)
- Reader discussion: [Reader discussion](https://facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books/permalink/24649331884663482)