3 Stars

I have not read mean LitRPG books, but I found this one to be pretty fun and I enjoyed the overall nostalgia of it. I enjoyed following our main character determining what her class was. How she didn't care to fit a certain mold and paved the way for herself regardless. She would manifest that she was a hero regardless. I thought it was pretty funny though how she tried to get her parents to disown her to tip the scales in her favor and them being like stop being so ridiculous haha.

For some this part may not work, but one of my favorite parts is this story is Zelda Ocarina of Time. This was one of my favorite games to play as a kid, so reading a story version of it brought all kinds of feelings for me. It's not a unique story line but it is a fun one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

My family’s cat growing up was named Zelda, so when a saw a book inspired by The Legend of Zelda videogame, I had to pick it up. I’m not a big role-playing game gal, so this was my first venture into the litRPG subgenre. How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is a quick, lighthearted read suitable for middle grade and YA readers and for fans of The Legend of Zelda videogames. Or, for children of fans of The Legend of Zelda videogame who want to see what it’s about.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps reads like popcorn. It’s quick and easy to digest. The characters were clever and easy to love. The plot reads a lot like a video game with a set script and clear end goal, so it’s predictable. The surprises were the unexpected obstacles Yui and her crew encountered, and how they game the system to get to the demon king. I enjoyed reading about the creative ways Yui navigated the world’s rules without being in the hero "class".

The fights were especially engaging both because Yui and her team use unconventional methods and because the writing made the sequences distinct and easy to imagine. I would recommend this book to fans of fast-paced stories with exciting fight scenes. This book will likely appeal to fans of the Percy Jackson series who are looking for a fun, quick read.

As for people looking to learn about The Legend of Zelda videogame without playing it. I do have a much better idea of how the game works, but I still do not know why Zelda is not the name of the main character, or if there even is a character named Zelda in the game…

Huge thanks to Saga press for this e-arc for an honest review. Honestly this book was so much fun. Legend of Zelda meets dungeon crawler Carl meets Peter Pan this whimsical tale of a journey to defeat a demon king and friends made along the way. Yui was a funny likable character who you couldn’t not root for to save the realm from the clutches of the demon king. With her sidekick Ken and moody defeated fairy Vex they set off defeating slimes and doing what they can to level up for their final battle but will it be their last? As someone who grew up with Zelda this book gives just the right amount of nostalgia to make you love it. I’m so glad it’s getting the reissue it deserves. 4 stars.

The Demon King has risen must faster than expected, and Yui isn't content to wait seventy-seven more years for a Hero to be reborn to save the world. She finds ways to game the system, so she can defeat the Demon King.

The was a very entertaining read. I enjoyed all the references to rpg games in general, but specifically to The Legend of Zelda.

"The LitRPG bestseller releasing in a stunning new deluxe hardcover edition, now with a new Afterword.

For thousands of years, there has been a cycle: a Demon King rises and conquers, and a Hero is reborn a hundred years later to defeat him. Each time, civilizations are ground to dust beneath the Demon King's hordes, but humanity has remained secure in the belief that a Hero of legend will always save them. There's just one slight problem. It's only been twenty-three years since the Demon King's latest rise, and this time, he's already conquered more than half the world. If humanity simply waits for the Hero's return, there may be no world left for him to save.

And so, Yui Shaw sets out with an ambitious plan. A ten-step plan.

She'll find a way to obtain the Hero's legendary sword. She'll earn obscure classes, gain levels, and increase her skills. She'll travel to the meticulously-crafted dungeons that seem designed for one specific Hero to complete. And, if she's truly (un)fortunate, she might even find a fairy."

I mean, giving evil a hundred year head start does seem a little unfair.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first LitRPG book, and I found it a fun, if shallow read. It's clearly a pastiche of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, with a few dragon quest references thrown in for good measure. I love both Zelda and Dragon Quest, so I understood may be too many of the references, as it was obvious what was pulled directly from these franchises. It was nice to squeeze in such a fast, light-hearted read amongst my normal darker fare, but I doubt it will stick with me. I do hope that this book encourages traditional publishers to bring more of Rowe's self-published work out in the future as I've heard such good things about his beloved Arcane Ascension series. All in all, a book to breeze through, though the copious Zelda references may annoy some readers.

This is a litRPG story and makes very fast reading. It's humorous, fast paced and very reminiscent of certain video games. It is a very very fast read, more novella than novel. It isn't a deep epic story so don't go in expecting that or expecting big feels. Go into this not expecting deep characters or plot. This is a story to read when in the mood for something light and funny, something that reminds you of rpg games, video games and all the times you've been frustrated with the gaming system. It is a fun read though and definitely worth a chuckle or two.

I really enjoyed getting to read this, it had that LitRPG element that I was looking for from this type of book. I was invested in what was going on and enjoyed the overall feel of this adventure. The characters were so well written and was invested in how their story was told and thought worked overall in the genre. Andrew Rowe was able to weave a strong writing style and glad it was everything that I wanted.

Throughout history, a Demon King rises to ravage and conquer, and every hundred years a Hero is born to stop him. But in the current cycle, the Demon King is ravaging faster than normal, and Yui Shaw, who's always dreamed of bigger things, is determined to break with tradition and stop him herself. There are rules and order to how things should be done, but Yui isn't about to let tradition stand in her way.
Though this is categorized as litRPG, to me it felt more like the "This is Spinal Tap" of fantasy games. Amusing at first, once the meat of the story really gets going towards the middle, moments of absolute hilarity come out, and the tale gets better (levels up?) as it moves forward. While definitely heavily influenced by The Legend of Zelda, much of what occurs could apply to other fantasy video games, from Skyrim to Runescape to The Bard's Tale. Any fan of such games and anyone who enjoys a witty story should get a kick out of the quirky humor in the book.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ebook ARC of this title. Certainly not for me, but one of my siblings would probably be more appreciative & interested.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

‘How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps’ is perfect for fans of RPGs, role playing games and mangas/manhwas starring heros who need to level up via quests in order to defeat the enemy.

In plain words – I really, really liked this book. It had levelling up, quests, likeable side characters, slimes…..The world building was not too detailed, but the bits that we were given were enough. I would have loved to read more about other types of monsters and heroes though. Throughout the story, I was able to envision exactly what was going on.

One of my issues with this novel is that it felt a bit rushed coming closer to the end. It felt like the author took some shortcuts in his writing. For example, the quests that were abandoned due to the destruction of certain places (cannot say more as I do not want to spoil it), the lack of minor supporting details like the later experience of killing slimes to level up, the journeys to the shrines and the Demon Lord’s lair, recovery after harrowing experiences, etc. This book had the potential to be a lot more than it was and I was disappointed with the pacing towards the end. I also felt like the story was ended very abruptly, and not neatly tied off by telling us exactly what the characters got up to after.

Despite these challenges, I still enjoyed this read and I recommend anyone interested to give it a try. It is a nice ‘cosy’ read.

I was skeptical of litRPG and didn’t really get the hype… but I do now!

As soon as you open the book, you’re transported into a different realm. The concept is executed so brilliantly that you won’t notice how quickly you become emotionally invested and eager to “achieve” more. The feel is reminiscent of Zelda, with a little Spyro, paired with the concept of “leveling up” - needing to gather coins after slaying a monster, etc.- all seamlessly woven into this adventure.

What I love most is the story itself, where Yui is many things, but not your conventional, boring “chosen one.” As she explores and problem-solves, we tag along, and it’s truly rewarding (I guess that’s the whole point of litRPG, right?). The perfect execution, paired with the roughly 250-page length, made this an enjoyable adventure that gave me the literary escape I was seeking.

I truly cannot recommend this journey enough... this was a fun ride! Thank you to Andrew Rowe for creating this quest and to Sage Press for allowing me to level up and add litRPG to my list of new obsessions!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley.

This is a breezy, super cozy LitRPG read that comes across as a blatant homage to classic role playing games. The set up is simple, the main character loaded with agency: Yui Shaw is not born to be the Hero, but decides to build the role for herself, as otherwise the Demon King will obliterate humanity before the real Hero comes along.

There are direct references to beloved game monsters, such as my own all-time favorite Dragon Quest slimes. A certain ninja royal from Final Fantasy IV gets a tribute, too. The characters who enter the book in disguise aren’t disguised at all to the reader, and that still works fine within this cozy set-up. The way technical game play aspects are converted into a novel is incredibly innovative; I loved how Yui manipulated her inventory skills to subvert the natural order. This book feels like a wink-wink-nod to RPG lovers of my generation and younger folks who also would get the references (my 20 year old son would love this book, but then, one of his favorite toys as a toddler was a plush slime).

Perfect for those who love a little comedy mixed in with their “gamelike” fiction otherwise known as litRPG. This was perfectly crafted, I laughed so many times while reading this and thoroughly enjoyed myself the whole time. If there is a sequel I will happily devour that as well.

"How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps" is easily one of my most anticipated releases this season. A quick 5/5. A fast-paced adventure LitRPG. It's hilarious and the premise of The Chosen Hero is too good. I loved the platonic friendship between the two main characters, Yui and Ken.

This books is easily for all the nerds, all the dungeon dwellers, and all the adventurers who are sick of the "Chosen Heroes".

Our store can't wait until release date!

Thank you Netgalley, author Andrew Rowe, and S&S Saga Press, for bringing this book to Netgalley.

𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝙳𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝙳𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚃𝚎𝚗 𝙴𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜!
⭐⭐⭐.5/5!

I have never read a book like this before, and while I did enjoy it, I can't tell if I really enjoyed it, y'know? It was basically a tribute to Zelda.....but was so similar to Zelda that it didn't feel truly original. There was something oddly comforting about it though. Like playing a video game, but not? I am a gamer though, and I would much rather play a game than read a book version of it. So that might've thrown things off a bit. However, I really enjoyed all the video game references and touches this book has. My nerd self was happy.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed reading this book.
It evoked all the nostalgic feelings of playing games as a child, dressing up, using your imagination, terrorizing the neighborhood!

For all the kids who knew to come home when the street lights came on, all the kids who obsessively drew their favorite characters on every piece of paper they found, and who may or may not have spent their childhood having elderly family members shake their heads behind your back…

This is definitely outside. My realm of normal books in that there is almost no romance whatsoever for the female main character. But, they still book two, so here’s hoping! 😂😂

The whole theme of this book to me at least is not just working with what you have, but working your ass off and accomplishing more than people who start with so much more.

This was a fast and quick read, coming in at around 160 pages.

I'm an anime super-fan and the synopsis of this book seemed so similar to many of my favorite anime shows. It actually reads like a how to guide in that there are steps Yui takes on her quest to defeat the Demon King and they are outlined by chapter. In this one we're following Yui on her journey to defeat the Demon King because she simply can't wait for the new "Hero" to rise. I was really excited when I was reading this because Rowe excels at descriptive writing. He allowed me to visualize scenes really well, whether that be Yui testing out her skills, fighting slimes or even navigating dungeons. If you love the underdog storytelling that's heavily present in anime, this is going to be your dream book. It really feels like you're watching your own show play in your mind. To top things off, the characters are relatable and it's funny. I thought it was hilarious when Yui was relaying all the things she asked her parents to do in order to make her the Hero.

The magic system is well fleshed out and there's pretty cool magical powers that characters can have. Who would have thought bag storage would prove to be so useful? If you want my opinion, I'd say this is somewhat similar to Solo Leveling in that the main character is seen as an underdog, there's dungeons, monsters, and the characters see their own stats like in a video game. I haven't played much RPG games but I know the author has a background in the gaming industry, so I'm sure this book is similar to those kind of games as well. Andrew Rowe really knocked it out of the park with this one for me. I may have to go and binge his backlist titles if they're as good as this one.

This book was FUN. For the geeks, video game lovers, and dungeons and dragons players this book plays on a ton of clichés of the genres while delivering an extremely quick and extremely fun story. For those that don't come from a nerdy/geeky background I don't think you will appreciate how the author subverts the stereotypes of those genres.

Overall, I do think this book would benefit from adding about 100 pages of character development and story telling. Everything happened *so fast* with very little fluff, but sometimes the fluff is what makes us fall in love with stories and characters.

Thank you for the ARC Saga Press and NetGalley!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. This was a fun book. I really loved the idea of someone looking around at their world and deciding not to wait for the Chosen Hero to show up and fix things. Yui and Ken were fun characters, the secondary characters were also interesting, and I wasn't quite expecting that ending. This book will definitely be for people who not only like lit rpg, but also play rpgs/games. Quite enjoyable.