Series · Ongoing · LitRPG · Harem · Isekai
Villain by Reputation
The most feared villain in the world has a very good publicist. He is the publicist. Glen Hollis was a marketing consultant until he woke up in the black armor of Vaskar Thorne, Dread Lord of the Ashmarch, the villain of his favorite childhood RPG. The script says he burns villages, takes the Crown and dies on his own stairs. Glen refuses all three, and he'll do it the only way he knows how: with posters, rumors, staged executions and a very good story. Every atrocity in the Ashmarch is a fake. Every scheme is a con that adds up. And every woman the script sends to stop him, a paladin, an inquisitor, an assassin, finds out the truth, keeps his secret by choice and tells him exactly what she thinks of his methods. Meanwhile the System pays for evil, the hero is coming, the church wants proof, and something is rewriting the game's script to put the story back the way it was written. Wry LitRPG, staged atrocities, a status screen that adds up, a household that grows each book, heroines with their own opinions, and plenty of heat. For adult readers.
Reading order
- 01
Villain by Reputation
The whole world fears the Dread Lord. Only he knows it's an act.
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The cast
Vaskar Thorne
the Dread Lord of the Ashmarch
Wakes up as the most feared villain in his favorite childhood game, nine days before the script has him burn a village. He has never hurt anyone in his life.
Dame Seraphine Vale
paladin of the Radiant Order, the game's "Dawn Knight"
Sent to scout the Dread Lord's lair. Her vow forbids her to lie, so keeping his secret will cost her more than anyone.
Liora Fenwick
village healer of Emberford, the hero's childhood friend
The script needs her dead to make the hero a hero. She'd like a word with the script.
Inquisitor Maren Vosk
church inquisitor, a professional liar-catcher · from Book 2
Sent to prove the burning of Emberford was real. She has never been fooled twice.
Kestrel
guild assassin, the game's "executioner" of the Dread Lord · from Book 3
Hired to kill him, as the script says. She never misses, which is why she can't work out why she keeps not taking the shot.
Lady Ilvane Cross
heir of the Iron Margrave, a rival warlord (Books 4–6) · from Book 4
The real villainess of the game. She wants an alliance with the most evil man alive, and she's disappointed to find out who he really is.
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