LitRPG that is very accessible of a read and a great entry point for those that haven't read any litRPG before. This story reads like a dungeon master guiding you through the game, its not bloated but also not too shallow of a story. If you don't like litRPG, this will most likely not be for you. If you do enjoy litRPG or want to test the waters check it out!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was very interesting! My first litRPG and It took some getting used to for sure, but eventually I was into it!

This one is SO GOOD. This one is written as though your Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master has sat you down, and you walking alongside the main character who has been given the mission of a lifetime. They level up in points. There are rules to the system. It is so fun, like you are there playing the game. It is fun. It is epic. It is the tale of the little person who has big dreams. And it is a quick read, so it is the perfect book for between series, when you only have a small period of time, or you are someone who can’t commit to a large book but want something enjoyable.
If you are a Legend of Zelda lover, or like quick fantasy stories, this one is for you.

Loved this title. I was hooked from beginning to end. I really do enjoy the lighthearted LitRPG books.
We are always looking for fresh books to put on the shelves of the store and I already have several copies of this book on preorder in anticipation of its release.

I absolutely adored this book. I'm fairly a newbie to RPG but I've played video games since I was a kid and this is reminiscent of both, This was such a fun adventure that felt like I was right in the book with the characters. I was literally laughing out loud at parts and was thoroughly captivated by the journey. This is a book I will be recommending to all my RPG friends, or anyone else who will listen.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps was my first foray into LitRPG and so I have nothing to compare it to, but I dunno, you guys. Reading this book is exactly like watching someone play a video game, and I have no idea if that's supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing.

I mean, this book is entertaining in spots, especially toward the end, but the storyline is so, so shallow … kind of like it would be in a video game. There's a lot of “this is what happens because this is the way it has to happen” and “first I leveled this and then I leveled that” and dei ex inventory slot (“inventory slot” may or may not be the correct Latin phrasing here, I'm not a Catholic priest so 🤷🏻‍♀️), and I'm not sure if LitRPG books normally have a bit more depth to them or not. I felt like I was watching my husband play a knockoff Legend of Zelda game, except that I couldn't dink around on my computer and watch cat videos at the same time.

I did enjoy the humor, though, and the author does a great job of satirizing RPGs. Vex (the Faerie Who Failed) and Nameless Kage (who is definitely, positively not a princess) are both fantastic characters and have some of the best lines in the book. And Yui is a resourceful non-Hero, even if most of her issues are solved by taking things in and out of her inventory slots. I fear that many of the video game references went straight over my head since I'm not much of a gamer (unless Pokemon Go counts and I'm pretty sure it doesn't), but I did have fun trying to recognize various bits from the Zelda games — Yui's green tunic was a particularly obvious one, as was the harmonica-in-place-of-an-ocarina.

So, yeah, there are definitely things to love about this book, but I do wish that the story were less superficial. I need backstory and character development that's not tied to gaining levels and explanations that go beyond “because the goddesses said so.” It's likely that LitRPG just isn't for me (provided this is the norm, of course), but if you're a fan of the genre, definitely don't let my review dissuade you from giving this book a read — there are parts of it that are really fun.

3.14 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for providing me with a copy of this book to review. Its expected re-release date is September 30, 2025.

Imgur link goes to photo scheduled for Sept 30th
Amazon Review submitted (previous edition purchased so allowed to review 'early'). Barnes & Noble review will go up when available
Blog post goes live Sept 26th
Youtube Review goes up in Friday Reads July 4th


**TL;DR**: The Hero hasn’t appeared so Yui Shaw takes it upon herself to get the magical sword and stop his army! I loved this!
**Source**: NetGalley , Thank you so much to the publisher!

**Plot**: Take a classic game (think Zelda) and then give an NPC the free will and drive to try and defeat the Demon King. How can you loose?
**Characters**: For something that uses a lot of very familiar tropes I found the characters hilarious and fresh.
**Setting:** This roams over a world that feels just familiar enough to not be foreign. The focus certainly wasn’t on it, but it did help.
**Fantasy:** Again, think ‘classic game’ fantasy and you have it. Plus LitRPG elements.

**Thoughts:**
If you’ve played any classic games you know you frequently go into people’s houses and break their things, or rifle through their trash. What would you think if those NPCs were instead the hero of the story and end up saving the day? Never thought about it? Well this is the book for you. Yui Shaw is once such ‘npc’ in a world where The Demon King rises, then the Hero appears and defeats him. Over and over, this cycle repeats. Until it doesn’t and the Demon King is doing the most he can with no one to stop him. Yui, of the very mundane Bag Mage class, decides she is going to do something about it.

This is the beauty of How to Defeat a Demon King for me. We have what at first blush would be the ‘mule’ character - the one that can hold lots of items, and makes her the main character. It’s clever, because it has to be! Yui has no big spells, she has no big muscles, she has to figure this out as she goes. I adore that type of character and story. Along the way she meets more misfits. We have a cleric who is very concerned with his fashion (so much so the Fashionista class is an option for him). We have a Fairy that failed, and a swords man who is more awkward than all of them put together.

While I don’t think the writing is to die for, I do absolutely love the story and think it needs more eyes. If you enjoy gaming and reading or you have a friend who does, anyone really - pick this up. It’s just so much fun and want so many more people to try it. This is a huge recommendation from me and I will be shouting about it for a long time.

Such a fun read if you want to get into LitRPGs. It explains a lot of the mechanics very thoroughly and it is a bit satirical. Very entertaining and enjoyable.

Thank you Net Galley and Saga Press for the eARC.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps doesn’t try to be perfect—and that’s part of its charm. It’s quick, clever, and highly enjoyable. You can clearly see the inspirations behind the story—classic RPGs, video game tropes, hero’s journey beats—and rather than feeling tired, it leans into them with heart and humor.

The pacing is tight, the tone light, and the characters make the journey shine. Ken? Absolutely a standout—quirky, loyal, and genuinely fun to follow.

If I had one complaint, it’s that I wanted more. I found myself wanting to dig deeper into the setting and its rules. There’s a lot of potential in this world, and I would’ve gladly spent more time in it.

Some plot points come a little too easily, and not everything hits perfectly, but honestly? The book knows what it is and leans into it with confidence. It’s a fun, nostalgic, and entertaining ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review.

I know it doesn’t fall under it but I lowkey want to put this on cozy fantasy haha. Very fast and easy to read. In my opinion this book is PERFECT to get yourself out of a reading slump. It doesn’t really dive into things, gives the perfect amount of detail, but answers basically all questions you may have.
I thought I had clocked how the MC planned to defeat the demon king but I was so wrong and I'm furious but not furious about it at the same time. There were also so many times that I got CHILLSSSSSS from this book.
I will definitely be reading more from this author. I loved this book.

This was such a great and fun read! If you are new to LitRPG this is a great book to start with, and I really enjoyed reading this book and I found the characters of Yui and Ken to be so delightful. I wish there was more of the Princess and I loved Dirk's characterization from when he was "hiding". A great read and I'm excited for it to be traditionally published!

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

I love the fun way that this book was written almost like you’re playing a video game along with the characters. As their conquering quests, they get experience points and level up. You get to go along this journey with them on this epic quest. There is definitely elements of found family and character development.

It is a quick fun read that is YA and great for anybody who enjoys things like dungeons and dragons or World of Warcraft. I truly enjoyed this book and will probably have my 11-year-old read it because I feel like she would really enjoy it. I loved the side characters! My only wish is that it was longer and the quest had more development! Otherwise it was great!

4 🌟 0 Spice True YA Fantasy 😊

A comedic LitRPG parody that made me laugh out loud and devour in one sitting. With snide jokes that poke fun at The Legend of Zelda series and other leveling up tropes.

This light hearty read is sure to sate anyone's appetite for nerd culture

What do you do if you can't wait for a Hero to come and save you, and the rest of the world? Well Yui decides she can't wait and sets off on a plan to fake in it until she makes it as the Hero.

This was super fun! I don't play a lot of video games or roleplaying games, but you don't need to be into those to appreciate this story. It definitely is setup like that, but the world building and magic system are so well thought out that anyone who appreciates lots of planning put into their fantasy books will really like this book. I loved how everyone was like this is how it has always been done, and Yui was like well I am not a Hero so this is how I am going to do it.

The plot definitely wraps up but there is room for a book two and I would pick it up in a heartbeat.

This book is so much fun! It's a parody of LitRPG, Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Quest. This world has been going through a cycle of demon lords and chosen one heroes for thousands of years. Yue isn't a Hero but that's not going to stop her from fudging it anyway.

This is a great introduction to LitRPG for newcomers, or a silly short romp for longtime fans of the genre.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is actually the first LitRPG book I ever read, before I even understood what the genre was. I just thought the title sounded fun.

And it definitely was a very fun read! This is predictable in a way that is more cozy than boring, packed with jokes (especially if you are familiar with Zelda or similar games!), and the characters slowly started to creep up on me with how much I enjoyed them. By the end, I was like, why am I getting so emotional over silly little video game characters?! It's not long enough to get overly repetitive, even in a genre known for depicting repetitive grinding.

This is one that deserves a reprint, and I appreciate the new afterword.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is a comedic riot for those who already know the tropes of many JRPGs. Our protagonist, a non-Hero pseudo-Hero named Yui Shaw, decides that waiting for the Hero to appear to battle the current Demon King is a ridiculous waste of time and could affect the lives of many people around the world. So, she decides to embark on a non-traditional journey with a plan to take matters into her own hands and stop the whole cycle.

The story takes strong cues from The Legend of Zelda in terms of world-building with thinly veiled references to many aspects of the franchise. However, due to the refreshing perspective of the non-Hero protagonist, lots of satire and tongue-in-cheek jokes are satisfyingly made. I greatly enjoyed exploring the good-vs-evil trope through the unconventional eyes of Yui, from butting up against the "traditional" way of things the Hero does to the sporadic "you have gained a level" messaging that just appears in her vision.

The exploration of the job classes was nice without getting heavily into all the details and nuances that Dungeons and Dragons uses. The pacing was easy to follow and the story itself could be read in just a few short sittings.

What I Enjoyed:
- the satire and jokes of the traditional formula for a JRPG
- main protagonist Yui Shaw's personality
- the general format of the 10 steps being told (each step has a dedicated chapter to exploring it)

Ok confession: this is my first LitRPG book and I have to say this book was so much fun! If you are a fan of video games like Legend of Zelda you need to read this book!
The unnamed fantasy world in this book has been cursed by a Demon King but also blessed by Goddesses. Every hundred years or so a new version of a Demon King will rise and lay waste to the land, once this happens a new Hero will come forth to save the land. This has happened so many times that the routine becomes familiar and the Heroes and Demon Kings no longer have names but titles like The Water Temple Hero or The Hero That Failed, The Demon King Who Lived.
Each of these heroes has a very familiar trajectory toward greatness, acquire skills and companions, level up and get a big sword, defeat the Demon King.
This time the Demon King is early and the new hero hasn’t arrived so our FMC Yui decides that if the hero isn’t here maybe it’s time for her to take the plot line into her own hands and level up her own abilities as a….Bag Mage.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this book which is rereleasing in September in a new deluxe hardcover edition and I am giving 4⭐️
I so enjoyed this book which is right up my Zelda loving alley. I loved the characters and the style of this book. It was incredibly fast paced, clocking in around 240 pages and so much fun to read. I loved the fact that it was predictable while also subverting the stereotypes and being unpredictable at the same time. I will absolutely post about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) closer to its release date.
To be honest the biggest issue I have with this book is the fact that this is for a rerelease of a new hardcover edition of the book and while it does appear to have a sprayed edge it’s just a flat one color sprayed edge. For a $27.00 book that’s not even 300 pages long this could be stepped up a lot more. Maybe it’s not visible based off the pics from NetGalley but I certainly hope there is more going on with this book than just a green sprayed edge for this cost.

What a fun book!!! A great combination of adventure and comedy.

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.
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.

Yui is such a badass. I loved how she wasn’t going to wait sitting down for the Demon King to continue doing harm, and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Great book for all gamers and adventure lovers

4.5 stars rounded up.

Man, if you like Legend of Zelda and LitRPG this is the book for you. Probably. Unless you’re really into Zelda and then it’s not, based off some other reviews I’ve seen. But I never played Zelda so 🤷🏻‍♀️ This book takes parody to a whole new level but I personally love a parody, Weird Al and those Pride & Prejudice & Zombies books were my shit growing up.

This is something I’d recommend if you want to get into LitRPG but you’re new and/or you don’t want to start an entire series like say, Dungeon Crawler Carl.

This is low stakes and cozy fantasy as well, my favorite. It’s very silly and incredibly fun. The characters are funny and lovable. The world could have used a bit more explaining/expanding but for a short book that gets through A LOT of plot in such a short amount of time, it’s hard to be that mad.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.