Is 'My Disciples Are All Villains' A Comedy Or Dark Fantasy?

I've binge-read 'My Disciples Are All Villains' twice, and it's this perfect blend of dark fantasy with wicked humor. The premise screams darkness—a master raising morally gray disciples who wreak havoc—but the execution is hilariously ironic. The disciples' attempts to be evil often backfire spectacularly, like when they try to poison a village and accidentally cure a plague instead. The master's deadpan reactions to their failures add a layer of dry comedy. It's not slapstick; it's the kind of humor that creeps up on you while you're knee-deep in political intrigue and blood magic. The world-building is grim (think cursed forests and sacrificial rituals), but the characters' chaotic energy keeps it from feeling oppressive. If you enjoy stories where the villains are too incompetent to be terrifying, this hits the sweet spot.

As someone who analyzes narrative tones, 'My Disciples Are All Villains' defies simple genre labels. At its core, it's a dark fantasy with visceral stakes—disciples slaughter entire sects, the magic system runs on pain, and betrayal lurks in every arc. But the author cleverly subverts expectations through tone. The protagonist isn't a brooding antihero; he's a tired teacher stuck babysitting his sociopathic students. His internal monologue drips with sarcasm, especially when his disciples misinterpret his teachings in absurd ways. One memorable scene has them turning a lesson about 'harvesting power' into literal crop-stealing from farmers.

The comedy isn't gratuitous. It highlights the absurdity of power structures—how these 'villains' are just products of a ruthless world. When they try to enact grandiose evil plans, like summoning a demon, they end up arguing over petty details (one refuses to chant correctly because another stole his favorite robe). This juxtaposition makes the darker moments hit harder. A disciple's tragic backstory hits differently when you've just laughed at his over-the-top villain persona crumbling during a tea party with his estranged sister.

What makes it unique is how it balances genres. The humor never undermines the stakes—you still feel tension during battles—but it prevents the story from drowning in edginess. If you liked 'Overlord's' mix of darkness and satire or 'The Eminence in Shadow's' intentional ridiculousness, this novel refines that balance further.

Let’s cut through the genre debate: 'My Disciples Are All Villains' is dark fantasy first, comedy second. The humor isn’t the focus—it’s relief valve. Picture a world where cultivation sects are basically mafia families, and the protagonist’s disciples are the equivalent of hitmen with impulse control issues. Their 'evil' deeds often spiral into darkly funny situations (like accidentally becoming folk heroes after botching an assassination), but the underlying themes are brutal. The novel explores how power corrupts, how trauma shapes people, and how even 'villains' have twisted moral codes.

The comedy stems from character dynamics. The master’s exasperation with his disciples feels relatable—imagine teaching a class where every student interprets 'be ruthless' as 'set fire to the library... twice.' But when the story shifts to flashbacks showing why these characters became monsters, the laughter dies fast. One disciple’s origin involves watching his clan get flayed alive by rivals. Another was raised as a living weapon since birth. The humor makes their brokenness more tragic, not less.

It’s closer to 'The Godfather' with magic than a straight comedy. The laughs are there, but they’re the kind you guiltily stifle when a disciple tries to intimidate someone by quoting bad poetry. If you want pure comedy, try 'Beware of Chicken.' If you want darkness with sharp wit, this delivers.