Father always told me that true heroism was when someone fought for what was right, regardless of the risk to themselves. But Father was wrong. True Heroism was a passive skill only available to the Hero class, unlocked at forty-second level.
Andrew Rowe
How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps
Format:
Audible original. ebook is available via Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
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 23 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 10-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.
She might not be a Hero—but if she can fake it long enough, she might still be able to save the world.
Point of view:
1st Person. Entirely from Yui’s POV.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
First – this cover is absolutely gorgeous! It’s also the perfect representation of not only the world Andrew Rowe created, but captures the excitement of the adventure Yui is embarking on.
This was a fun listen that is perfect for all ages. The Princess Bride meets Ready Player One. Rowe refers to it as an “affectionate parody” and that’s exactly what he delivers. While only my second litRPG story, we’re a family of gamers so I was familiar with all the references and it was easy to be immersed in this charming world. I love that Rowe chose a female protagonist while also excluding any romantic element. This is pure action/adventure/fantasy.
I’m looking forward to more of Rowe’s work and to diving further into the litRPG and GameLit genres.
Narration:
While technically a Duet narration, Steve West has very few lines – only serving as the “game voice” announcing when Yui gains XP, items, skills, and unlocks achievements. No disrespect to his talent and it’s definitely a fun addition, however it’s really Suzy Jackson who brings this story to life. I adored her voice for Yui including the personality and delivery. Jackson gives all of Rowe’s delightful characters a unique sound and accentuating the humor. This was a fun listen.
About the author:
Andrew Rowe is a professional game designer. He’s also worked at awesome companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Cryptic Studios, and Obsidian Entertainment. When he’s not crunching numbers for game balance, he runs Shades of Venaya, a swords and sorcery themed live-action role-playing game. In addition, he writes for pen and paper role-playing games. Aside from game design and writing, Andrew watches a lot of anime, reads a metric ton of fantasy books, and plays every role-playing game he can get his hands on.
You can connect with Andrew Rowe here:
Narrators:
You can connect with Suzy Jackson here:
You can connect with Steve West here:
My Favorite Quotes
Are you just going to steal everything in here? – How to Defeat a Demon King in 10 Easy Steps by @TaelienSalaris #Audiobook narrated by @SuzyOpeningAct with @SteveWestActor #litRPG #YoungAdult #Comedy #AudibleOriginal
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Taking magic seriously and handling it responsibly is important, kids. Just ignore the fact that I started out my journey by throwing random spells at a divine artifact. – How to Defeat a Demon King in 10 Easy Steps by @TaelienSalaris #Audiobook narrated by @SuzyOpeningAct with @SteveWestActor #litRPG #YoungAdult #Comedy #AudibleOriginal
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I responded with a mighty battle cry, to the tune of, “Aaaaah why are there wall hands?!” – How to Defeat a Demon King in 10 Easy Steps by @TaelienSalaris #Audiobook narrated by @SuzyOpeningAct with @SteveWestActor #litRPG #YoungAdult #Comedy #AudibleOriginal
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