After years of training as a powerful magic assassin, Darien the half-elf breaks into the Demon King’s vault and steals the mythic Demon’s Blade. A failed attempt at murdering the Demon King forces Darien into a life always on the run as the mythic blade slowly corrupts him. Before long, an ancient prophecy comes into focus and draws allies to his side including a naïve apprentice, a warrior sworn to kill Darien, and an omniscient old man. This unlikely fellowship avoids the Demon King’s wrath while seeking to understand and fulfill their destiny.
THE DEMON’S BLADE is the first book in a proposed series. Drake does a decent job of constructing a world, layering in some mythology, and populating it with somewhat interesting characters. The overall story is fairly standard fantasy fare with some engaging variations but otherwise a straight forward plot. There’s too much that is glossed over such as Darien’s time with the Demon King, training, and decision to murder the Demon King that is incredibly fascinating but cut short. Despite pages of info dumps that bog the story down, especially one where Darien and his apprentice discuss magic for way too long on a barren road; THE DEMON’S BLADE shows promise for the series. The overall story is polished, engaging, and ultimately a fun read for fantasy fans.
THE DEMON’S BLADE kicks off a promising fantasy epic with a unique magic system, engaging characters, and a looming showdown.
~ IndieReader