On Sale: Sep 29, 2026
Page Count: 528 pages
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN-13: 9780316392709

$9.99

$12.99 CAD

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A small-time scrapper and his pet robot will fight their way out of the junk-heap in a tournament that will either make them richer than gods or rip them apart in the first book of Django Wexler’s lightning paced progression fantasy adventure for fans of Cradle and Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Taj has always fought. He's fought for survival from the gangs, for enough scrap metal and sigils to pay for his next meal, and to keep his robot Star a secret. You see, most robots are useful but dumb. Only as smart as the instructions you can yell at them across a room during a battle. But Star is something else: Star thinks (he's a bit of a smart-ass, to be honest), and he seems to have a unique psychic connection to Taj.

So far, they've managed to make enough money to get by and stay under the radar, but when Taj gambles big and loses, he's got to do something desperate to get back on his feet… like enter the most dangerous bot-fighting competition in the entire world. The Ascent isn't just some rinky-dink competition. Every level they ascend, the bots get bigger, badder, and deadlier, Taj's ability to build better bodies for Star and outwit his opponents is challenged, and Star's secret is at greater risk of being revealed.

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Django Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.

"Tremendous fun."
Kirkus (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Takes the old saying 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,' to the next level. A sarcastic, action-packed, intrigue-filled (mis)adventure. One of the funniest books I've read in a long time."
Matt Dinniman, author of Dungeon Crawler Carl on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
“All hail Dark Lord Davi! How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is outrageously fun, filled with campy humor, action and unexpected warm-heartedness. I grinned from the first page to the last.”
Fonda Lee, author of Jade City on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Funny as hell, multi-layered, and affecting. Wexler's irreverent demolition of the fantasy genre doubles as a reverent exploration of where the magic comes from."
Scott Lynch, author of The Lies of Locke Lamora on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"By turning the themes of chosen-one fantasy on their head, this sardonic romp from Wexler brings out the smiles ... Wexler balances the snarky asides with the angst of Davi’s repeating existence and evolving awareness that her actions have consequences. Under the flippancy, a truly touching grimdark story lurks, complete with hilarious footnotes. Readers will be wowed."
Publishers Weekly (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"All-afterburners Isekai adventure—twisty, pacey, and full of reverent irreverence for fantasy. I can't get enough."
Max Gladstone, New York Times Bestselling Author on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Wickedly sharp, funny, and raunchy. Wexler delights in punching holes in the beloved cliches of fantasy, and I adore this. If you ever thought: if I was the villain, I'd actually be smart about things, then this is the book for you."
Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Davi's first-person narration is electric, filled with obscenities and hilarities... [her] questionable ethics, active libido, comfortable bisexuality, and leadership skills combine for a fresh and exciting take on the fantasy adventure."

Shelf Awareness (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Fast-paced, brilliantly raunchy, unforgettable. The Pratchett-esque American isekai you didn't know you wanted. My favorite read of the year."
Seanan McGuire, author of Middlegame on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"A howlingly funny romp about a lone woman's quest to become the dark lord and her surprisingly endearing minions."
Aliette de Bodard, author of The Red Scholar's Wake on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Django Wexler takes the concept of progression fantasy to a whole new level in this darkly comic delight of a novel. Finding comedic, and sometimes tragic, potential in the absurdities and contradictions offered by well worn fantasy tropes, How to Become a Dark Lord and Die Trying works wonderfully as both satire and tribute."
Anthony Ryan, author of The Pariah on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
“Witty and clever but stuffed with heart to boot, a wonderful twist on familiar tropes presented with skill and polish and Wexler’s trademark pacing. I can hardly wait to read the next one!”
Howard Andrew Jones, author of The Desert of Souls on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Awesome! This book is all kinds of fun. It’s dark, irreverent, and funny as hell. I tore through this thing in a day. It’s that good. All Hail Dark Lord Davi!"
Sylvain Neuvel, the author of The Themis Files on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"This book cold-cocked me out of the worst reading slump of my life, and I'm not just saying that to stay on Dark Lord Davi's dark side. Join the horde and read it!"
Yoon Ha Lee, author of Ninefox Gambit on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"High-brow fantasy? Low-brow hilarity? Maybe the other way around? Whatever, it's awesome. If only I was trapped in a time loop, then I could enjoy this gem fresh every day. Wexler's done it again!"
Jason M. Hough, New York Times bestselling author on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Highly recommended for anyone who loved watching the 'hero' die in Edge of Tomorrow, readers who enjoy Christopher Buehlman’s, K.J. Parker’s and T. Kingfisher’s snarky, sarcastic, and ultimately pragmatic protagonists with hearts of gold, and especially readers looking for stories where the stock villains finally get a fair shake ... a wild ride of fake it ’til you make it, full of high adventure and low chuckles every step of the way."
Library Journal on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"A brash swords-and-satire romp that draws you into its rollicking adventure even as it pokes fun at the whole genre. Gamers in particular will appreciate the irreverent upending of classic roleplaying tropes."
James L. Sutter, co-creator of the Pathfinder and Starfinder Roleplaying Games on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Wexler smashes a dozen tropes and then glues them back together like a Japanese vase in what can only be called a page-turning manic pixie Dark Lord story. Part portal fantasy, part Groundhog Day, part R-rated D&D campaign gone off the rails, and just so much damned fun. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had this much sheer fun with a book. "
Peter Clines, NYT bestselling author of The Broken Room on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Lord of the Rings crossed with Groundhog Day, narrated by a gender-flipped Deadpool."
Mike Brooks, author of The Black Coast on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Wexler’s wise-cracking heroine grabs the reader in the first sentence and never (and I mean never) lets go. With expert pacing, the plot has rhythm and energy...An utter delight from start to finish. Both hilarious and wise at once, Wexler has created a brilliant comedic novel and one hell of a ride!"
Constance Sayers, author A Witch in Time on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"A riotous fantasy-adventure series starter featuring Davi, a protagonist whose sarcasm and wit make her instantly endearing ... a rollicking ride readers won't want to miss."
Booklist on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

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Django Wexler

About the Author

Django Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.

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Django Wexler

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