For years, Morfran has been the Dark Lord ruling over Ruthven with his Dark Lady Ravana. But lately it’s all gotten a little ho-hum, and he’s feeling like he needs something more from life than beheading his enemies and torturing dissenters. So he decides to make a run for it, leave behind Morfran the Beheader and become Bernard the goat herder. Things are going well for Bernard when she finds him. When he tries to make his escape, he runs smack dab into a rebellion looking to take down, well, him. Now it looks like the only way to escape is to help the rebels plan his own downfall and hope that no one realizes just who he is. Enjoy the sheer lunacy of it all in S.B. West’s new novel Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Ace for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed contains some spoilers!]
This is what happens when you try to stop killing people…
Morfran was a good Dark Lord, and he enjoyed it. But eventually all the blood and screams began to feel the same, and he began to yearn for something more. Especially when his wife took a sharp left turn (maybe not so sharp, honestly; only Morfran seems to really make this distinction) from being a Dark Lady and started being an Evil Lady. Morfran can’t abide her new tastes, but he doesn’t know how to stand up to her either. So instead he runs away and assumes a new identity. He buys a goat, finds the perfect piece of land, and settles down to a simple life. Turns out he can make a mean jam, and he begins to dream of starting Damn Good Jam Goods and raising kids with Benjamin (that would be his pregnant female goat).
But the past has a way of sneaking up on you, and it does just that to Morfran. His ex-soldiers find him, and he retrieves his sword, blows them up, and runs away to start again. Of course he ends up running straight into the heart of a rebellion against him. They capture him, but they don’t know who he is (everyone thinks Morfran is still in his castle). He convinces him that he used to be a general in Morfran’s army but that he deserted when he became disillusioned. His hope is that they’ll just let him go. They don’t trust him, or anything he’s told them, but the rebels do see what an advantage having someone with inside knowledge and military training could be. Instead of letting him go, they force him to help them. It’s the last thing he wants, but Morfran figures he’ll help until he can slip away. Besides, maybe helping them will relieve some of the guilt he feels about all the bad things he did when he was Morfran, Dark Lord.
Now suddenly he’s, well, not exactly leading, but he’s integral to the rebellion that’s dedicated to ending his rule and his life. His biggest fear is that they’ll find out who he really is. What would they do if the very person they hate so much, the person they blame for so much pain and suffering, was sitting right there with them? Morfran is also devastated to find out just what the people think of him. He thought it was a good ruler, tough but fair. Maybe a little strict, but he wanted what was best for his people. Now he’s realizing that maybe he wasn’t as wonderful as he always thought. The guilt is heavy; maybe helping the rebellion a little more will lighten it? Just how much will he have to help to get a smile from Bronwen, the rebel girl he’s falling for? Not that it matters because he’s leaving as soon as he can…isn’t he?
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed is a very odd book
I’m really struggling to place Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed. It has a very goofy presentation that made me feel it was intended as a children’s book, maybe for 8-10-year-olds. But as I read further, some things came up that were definitely more adult in nature (not too bad, more of a PG-13 vibe). Which made me adjust the target age up to a more adult range. But the delivery is still very childish. I’m not sure that many adults would care for it. And I know that teenagers would feel talked down to. So it’s one of those oddball books that is hard to place. The story is funny enough, but the style is all wrong. It’s like when a kindergarten teacher goes out to the bar and forgets that they aren’t at work. There they are, flirting with some hot guy while using a baby voice and asking if he has to use the potty before they head out. The two don’t go together. Same with the story. I understand that West was going for a silly story, but she needed to decide whether it was for children or adults and then match her tone accordingly.
Now I’m sure there are those out there that will enjoy the story enough that they won’t care about the tone. Honestly, as I write this, I feel like people who like Will Ferrell movies will love it because it’s a similar juxtaposition of ridiculous story and delivery with adult consumers in mind. South Park fans might be interested too. It’s not nearly as raunchy as South Park, but again it’s that adult content with a childish vibe that those fans might enjoy. If that’s your jam, check out Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. West on September 8th, 2026.
Rating: 6/10
Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. West is available on September 8th!
Learn more about the book on the official website for the title.
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