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Dark Lord's Commands #1
Dark Lord's Commands
From the shadows, I shall rise, the Dark Lord of a shattered land and a broken people.
My name is Robert Grailmont. Since I was young, I felt called to serve my fellow citizens, rising through the political ranks with a senator’s seat in my near future. But when I tried to reveal the scandal of the century, I found myself framed by the very people I was trying to expose.
I thought I’d hit rock bottom, never to get back up, but then I heard a call from another world.
"Dark Lord, we need you!"
Now I find myself the king of a ruined kingdom, its people enslaved and its territory occupied by a corrupt empire. It’ll take all my wits, skills, and guile, along with the aid of my ascendant queens, to save Duskhaven and to restore what was lost.
My name is Robert Grailmont. Since I was young, I felt called to serve my fellow citizens, rising through the political ranks with a senator’s seat in my near future. But when I tried to reveal the scandal of the century, I found myself framed by the very people I was trying to expose.
I thought I’d hit rock bottom, never to get back up, but then I heard a call from another world.
"Dark Lord, we need you!"
Now I find myself the king of a ruined kingdom, its people enslaved and its territory occupied by a corrupt empire. It’ll take all my wits, skills, and guile, along with the aid of my ascendant queens, to save Duskhaven and to restore what was lost.
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First published August 23, 2021
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About the author
M.E. Thorne
56 books77 followersAn up-and-coming author writing sci-fi, fantasy, and exciting adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 9, 2021
This was a mish mash of ideas that do not work together.
The politician saving the day with a book by Machiavelli is a good idea, but putting him in a refuge camp with no resources does not work. That kind of character would flourish in an established city. He repeatedly acts heroic from, from an emotional response, without a plan. Not something a person toting around Machiavelli would do. He accomplishes nothing on his own, every story advancement just happens as the goddess throws something his way. So he is an empty figurehead, around which stuff happens.
The politician saving the day with a book by Machiavelli is a good idea, but putting him in a refuge camp with no resources does not work. That kind of character would flourish in an established city. He repeatedly acts heroic from, from an emotional response, without a plan. Not something a person toting around Machiavelli would do. He accomplishes nothing on his own, every story advancement just happens as the goddess throws something his way. So he is an empty figurehead, around which stuff happens.
July 9, 2022
A sperm donor in a new world who doesn’t do much really
It’s tough writing a review for this book it has a good premise and foundation but I think the first few chapters of the book highlight it’s biggest problems. Now I realize this is a world of misticism magic legend that sort of things so there will be things that are unbelievable but I think it has to be somewhat grounded in reality. Another word I think the reader has to understand how this works. During the first chapter some things occurred that just don’t add up. It’s not major to the plot of the book so this may be a spoiler but a good man trying to do the right thing ends up losing his job ends up losing everything. What doesn’t make sense is all the information against the corrupt politician disappears all of it all the back up information disappears it’s scrubbed completely and while I understand that sets the tone for the DMC leaving one world going to another it doesn’t make sense. You see it again when the MC begins to have relations with another character the author tells you they can have relations but it doesn’t make sense how can he have relations with this woman considering her supposed anatomy. I understand him and this woman having relations is key to the story but you have to make it make sense. Don’t just say they did it make it make sense.
Not perhaps what’s most crippling to the story to me at least is the MC himself he doesn’t seem to be very empowered he’s more of a sperm donor and again that brings up concerns that might not make sense. Hypothetically what if this was a female dark Lord. How would she create ascended. The author let you know that there can be female leaders briefly in the story so it begs the question how would it work. But again I come back to the main character it just doesn’t make sense he’s supposed to be the sign of power for this particular garden all he really uses a sperm donor they even mention it in the story for the most part he has no strength really but the women he inseminates do. That’s not necessarily entertaining not if he doesn’t bring something to the table and that’s the most confusing part he doesn’t really seem to bring much to the table that’s the part that doesn’t make the most sense if he had brought new ideas and ways of thinking from his world to a New World OK if I could see his sense of righteousness displayed to make the new kingdom better OK he brought something this guy didn’t bring anything but sperm and that makes no sense at least to have a decent story.
I will say this it has a great foundation I like the world I’d like a majority of the characters I like the fact that it’s dark versus light and you can see the true struggle but I think it’s this main character that gets me. I will try the next book in the series because the action in the story was actually pretty good it’s just a fact the MC wasn’t really part of the action that sucked.
One more thing I think the author might be relying a little too much on the scenes involving sex I mean there’s a scene at the end of the book it’s just unnecessary and I say why is this here what does it do it’s just a last hurrah at the end of the book. I think I’m back at that point where I would say it doesn’t make sense for this to be here.
It’s tough writing a review for this book it has a good premise and foundation but I think the first few chapters of the book highlight it’s biggest problems. Now I realize this is a world of misticism magic legend that sort of things so there will be things that are unbelievable but I think it has to be somewhat grounded in reality. Another word I think the reader has to understand how this works. During the first chapter some things occurred that just don’t add up. It’s not major to the plot of the book so this may be a spoiler but a good man trying to do the right thing ends up losing his job ends up losing everything. What doesn’t make sense is all the information against the corrupt politician disappears all of it all the back up information disappears it’s scrubbed completely and while I understand that sets the tone for the DMC leaving one world going to another it doesn’t make sense. You see it again when the MC begins to have relations with another character the author tells you they can have relations but it doesn’t make sense how can he have relations with this woman considering her supposed anatomy. I understand him and this woman having relations is key to the story but you have to make it make sense. Don’t just say they did it make it make sense.
Not perhaps what’s most crippling to the story to me at least is the MC himself he doesn’t seem to be very empowered he’s more of a sperm donor and again that brings up concerns that might not make sense. Hypothetically what if this was a female dark Lord. How would she create ascended. The author let you know that there can be female leaders briefly in the story so it begs the question how would it work. But again I come back to the main character it just doesn’t make sense he’s supposed to be the sign of power for this particular garden all he really uses a sperm donor they even mention it in the story for the most part he has no strength really but the women he inseminates do. That’s not necessarily entertaining not if he doesn’t bring something to the table and that’s the most confusing part he doesn’t really seem to bring much to the table that’s the part that doesn’t make the most sense if he had brought new ideas and ways of thinking from his world to a New World OK if I could see his sense of righteousness displayed to make the new kingdom better OK he brought something this guy didn’t bring anything but sperm and that makes no sense at least to have a decent story.
I will say this it has a great foundation I like the world I’d like a majority of the characters I like the fact that it’s dark versus light and you can see the true struggle but I think it’s this main character that gets me. I will try the next book in the series because the action in the story was actually pretty good it’s just a fact the MC wasn’t really part of the action that sucked.
One more thing I think the author might be relying a little too much on the scenes involving sex I mean there’s a scene at the end of the book it’s just unnecessary and I say why is this here what does it do it’s just a last hurrah at the end of the book. I think I’m back at that point where I would say it doesn’t make sense for this to be here.
June 10, 2023
I only picked this up because the author's other series (delving for loot) was enjoyable.
I also picked up another series by the author (which I read already and didn't like) because of said delving for loot book... I had a feeling that this book would also not be well received, it's why I took so long to read it, I hope I'm wrong.
Yeah. I really didn't like this and won't be continuing the series.
I don't even know if I will continue with the author after the poor showing of delving for loot book two.
2/5 Stars
I also picked up another series by the author (which I read already and didn't like) because of said delving for loot book... I had a feeling that this book would also not be well received, it's why I took so long to read it, I hope I'm wrong.
Yeah. I really didn't like this and won't be continuing the series.
I don't even know if I will continue with the author after the poor showing of delving for loot book two.
2/5 Stars
August 18, 2024
As with the other book by M.E. Thorne I sampled (Dungeon Delving for Loot and Treasure), this review is based only on the free sample I downloaded for my Kindle (about the first quarter of the book).
Dungeon Delving was more fun; this was just a basic D&D plot with extra horny.
This is another harem-lit book but the litrpg elements are less explicit. The main character gets a few chapters of exposition about how he was a state senator's political staffer who discovered (shock and dismay!) that the politician he's been working for is a corrupt sleazeball embezzling money to pay for hookers and blow. He tries to report his boss to the ethics committee, and of course the entire system turns against him. Being now unemployed and with his reputation destroyed, seems like a good time to be pulled into another world.
The worldbuilding is minimal. He gets called by a priestess of the Goddess of Darkness to save his land, answers the call, and finds that worshippers of Light are the bad guys, running an oppressive evil empire, and the worshippers of Darkness are the oppressed good guys, living in a run-down refugee nation where everyone is poor and sickly. The MC is asked to become their new "Dark Lord" and he immediately become the hero they need. He gets some kind of power-up from the Goddess, and the priestess who summoned him, who has been described as diseased and emaciated but still having a nice rack, is completely onboard with becoming his First Wife. She casually mentions that harems are a thing and every proper Dark Lord has one, but I didn't get to any other waifus before the free sample ended.
We did get a badly written sex scene, and a lot of clumsy exposition about how this dude became a Dark Lord. Overall the setting was very Generic Fantasy, and the writing was mediocre. Wasn't really fun or interesting enough for me to be interested in continuing.
Dungeon Delving was more fun; this was just a basic D&D plot with extra horny.
This is another harem-lit book but the litrpg elements are less explicit. The main character gets a few chapters of exposition about how he was a state senator's political staffer who discovered (shock and dismay!) that the politician he's been working for is a corrupt sleazeball embezzling money to pay for hookers and blow. He tries to report his boss to the ethics committee, and of course the entire system turns against him. Being now unemployed and with his reputation destroyed, seems like a good time to be pulled into another world.
The worldbuilding is minimal. He gets called by a priestess of the Goddess of Darkness to save his land, answers the call, and finds that worshippers of Light are the bad guys, running an oppressive evil empire, and the worshippers of Darkness are the oppressed good guys, living in a run-down refugee nation where everyone is poor and sickly. The MC is asked to become their new "Dark Lord" and he immediately become the hero they need. He gets some kind of power-up from the Goddess, and the priestess who summoned him, who has been described as diseased and emaciated but still having a nice rack, is completely onboard with becoming his First Wife. She casually mentions that harems are a thing and every proper Dark Lord has one, but I didn't get to any other waifus before the free sample ended.
We did get a badly written sex scene, and a lot of clumsy exposition about how this dude became a Dark Lord. Overall the setting was very Generic Fantasy, and the writing was mediocre. Wasn't really fun or interesting enough for me to be interested in continuing.
November 4, 2022
Very well written, I enjoyed the idea of the MC choosing to become isekai ten'i. The adult scenes were short, just a few paragraphs, which is also a plus. On the down side, the author likes to use 'they' as a third person singular, which makes it harder to develop a mental picture of what is going on in a scene.
September 16, 2021
An amazing beginning!!
Truly enjoyable reading experience!!! Excellent world building, powerful characters, interesting use of magic and great adult fantasy action!!! All around a very enjoyable story and hopefully an awesome series!!!
Truly enjoyable reading experience!!! Excellent world building, powerful characters, interesting use of magic and great adult fantasy action!!! All around a very enjoyable story and hopefully an awesome series!!!
July 3, 2022
Good series
Good series. Currently reading them again to get ready for the third book that's coming out in a few days. Not many books catch my interest so much that I'll read the series again just to get reacquainted with the characters.
Good series. Currently reading them again to get ready for the third book that's coming out in a few days. Not many books catch my interest so much that I'll read the series again just to get reacquainted with the characters.
September 12, 2021
A great start to a new series
This book was a lot of fun. I pretty much inhaled it in an evening. I'm really hoping for more to come.
This book was a lot of fun. I pretty much inhaled it in an evening. I'm really hoping for more to come.
September 17, 2021
A very good book
You have started a book and series that needs to be finished. The character and story line are easy and enjoyable to read.
You have started a book and series that needs to be finished. The character and story line are easy and enjoyable to read.
August 18, 2023
I feel the author has played too much World of Warcraft.
May 16, 2024
Some noticeable mispronunciations that took me out of the story, but otherwise not bad!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews