4.0 (1 rating)
How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps
The LitRPG bestseller releasing in a stunning new deluxe hardcover edition, now with a new Afterword.
“How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is an endlessly inventive and entertaining love letter to all of us underdogs who spent countless hours with a game controller in hand, daydreaming about how we would save the realm.” —Matt Dinniman, New York Times bestselling author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series
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.
“How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is an endlessly inventive and entertaining love letter to all of us underdogs who spent countless hours with a game controller in hand, daydreaming about how we would save the realm.” —Matt Dinniman, New York Times bestselling author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series
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.
Published: September 30, 2025
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781668209424
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Available in: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, Ebook
See all editions (7)Reader Reviews
4.0
1 rating
Carla B.
Feb 8, 2026
I picked this up partly because the title made me grin, and partly because I'm always curious how authors turn gamer logic into story logic. What I found was fun, clever, and charming.
Yui is a delight. She’s scrappy, curious, and not afraid to push boundaries. I liked seeing her wrestle with mechanics most characters take for granted. Her sidekick, Ken Sei, plays the more “by-the-rules” foil, and the tension between them is quietly fun. The fairy, Vex, steals scenes with all her angst and sass.
Plotwise, the story leans into predictability, but that’s sort of the point. It’s a parody, so it leans into the tropes to poke fun. Still, some twists surprised me, and I appreciated how Yui often found creative, not brute-force, ways through obstacles.
One thing: if you’ve never played RPGs or heard “leveling up” talk, some parts feel a little insider. The pacing is brisk. This is a novella-length thrill ride rather than a sprawling epic. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s not perfect, but in its own niche, it hits the notes I care about: fun, charm, a bit of cheek. Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
If you want something light, fun, and clever, especially if you’ve dabbled in RPGs or grew up loving Zelda, you’ll get a lot of joy from this. It’s not trying to be the next epic fantasy classic. But it does show that even an unlikely heroine with curiosity, grit, and a few odd talents can shake up a dying world. It’s not flawless, but it’s a great time.
Yui is a delight. She’s scrappy, curious, and not afraid to push boundaries. I liked seeing her wrestle with mechanics most characters take for granted. Her sidekick, Ken Sei, plays the more “by-the-rules” foil, and the tension between them is quietly fun. The fairy, Vex, steals scenes with all her angst and sass.
Plotwise, the story leans into predictability, but that’s sort of the point. It’s a parody, so it leans into the tropes to poke fun. Still, some twists surprised me, and I appreciated how Yui often found creative, not brute-force, ways through obstacles.
One thing: if you’ve never played RPGs or heard “leveling up” talk, some parts feel a little insider. The pacing is brisk. This is a novella-length thrill ride rather than a sprawling epic. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s not perfect, but in its own niche, it hits the notes I care about: fun, charm, a bit of cheek. Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
If you want something light, fun, and clever, especially if you’ve dabbled in RPGs or grew up loving Zelda, you’ll get a lot of joy from this. It’s not trying to be the next epic fantasy classic. But it does show that even an unlikely heroine with curiosity, grit, and a few odd talents can shake up a dying world. It’s not flawless, but it’s a great time.