Book review: "Band of others" by M. H. Foster

"Band of others" by M. H. Foster, which is the third part of "A gentle apocalypse," was published on 14th April 2026 and follows on from "The demon overlord's retirement plan" and "Love, politics, and other acts of war."

In the first book in this series, bored with evil after  444 lifetimes of grinding the faces of the poor, despoiling civilisation, fighting and killing heroes, the Demon Overlord of the world of Alteria decided to take the path of Cincinnatus, retire to a farm in a back-country village, and grow turnips. In this book, his attempts to remain inconspicuous and enjoy the quiet retirement for which he had plotted for lifetimes become still more difficult ...



While not entirely without challenges, Willem Porter, a.k.a. Galornus Prime, retired Demon Overlord, thinks he has adapted to retirement and learned how to grow really successful vegetables. He has even adapted to the difficulties caused when one of his main lieutenants, Ranjani, Queen of the succubi, found him and moved into his cottage,  posing as his cousin.

He has been accepted by his neighbours in the village of Lower Middleton, which is basically a magical fantasy world's version of a cross between St Mary Mead from Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple" stories, Ambridge from "The Archers," or Walton's Mountain. 

None of them suspect that he is actually the former Demon Overlord whose name mothers use to frighten naughty children. 

But if he is done with war and politics, they are not done with him. 

Another of his key lieutenants, "Laekus the Death Knight, the Butcher of a thousand armies," and first among his death knights, has found him.

The Death Knights, who had all the virtues and strengths of normal knights minus pesky notions of chivalry, had an unbreakable bond with their master, the Demon Overlord. Once this had been useful. But now that Laekus, who had pledged to serve Galorns Prime for all eternity, wants to resume his service, and does not understand the concept of retirement, it has become annoying.

Clearing up the trail of destruction which Laekus, or Lucas as Galornus Prime instructs him to call himself, has left on the way to the village of Lower MIddleton required a relatively simple magic spell.

Coping with the fact that Laekus and Ranjani have detested one another for a thousand years is a bit more problematic.

And dealing with the fact that the Kingdom of Trumar, in which the village of Lower Middleton is located, has become the target of the Emperor of Pelan, is more prpblematic still.

Defeating the army of Pelan would have been child's play to the demon overlord on his own: indeed, Laekus could probably do it for him.

Saving the village and his friends and neighbours without the celestial powers realising who he is and ending his retirement might be rather more difficult ...


The books so far published in the "A Gentle Apocalypse" series are:

1) "The Demon Overlord's retirement plan"  (October 2025, available from Amazon at

Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan (A Gentle Apocalypse) : Foster, M. H.: Amazon.co.uk: Books)

The book was reviewed on this site at 

Book Review: "The Demon Overlord's retirement plan" by M. H. Foster


2) "Love, Politics, and Other Acts of War"  (January 2026, available at

 Love, Politics, and Other Acts of War (A Gentle Apocalypse) : Foster, M. H.: Amazon.co.uk: Books)

3) "Band of others"  (Published 14th April 2026, available at:

Band of Others (A Gentle Apocalypse Book 3) eBook : Foster, M. H.: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store)

On the last page of book three we learn that the author is planning a fourth book in the series, but we don't have a name or a publication date yet.

The writing continues to be very amusing, both in the quality of the prose and the way Galornus, and then Ranjani, and now Laekus, are having a redemption arc without any of them being aware of it.

Like the first two books the the series, this is a joy from start to finish, and I recommend it.


 Mitth'raw'nuruodo

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