How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps Book Chat

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps Book Chat

Author: MJ Munoz March 12, 2026 Duration: 11:57

I usually dislike first person narration in fantasy books. But Andrew Rowe’s How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps completely won me over.

In this Fortress Fiction book chat, I talk about why this Zelda-style fantasy parody works so well, and what it taught me about two different styles of first person storytelling.

It turns out not all first person narration is the same. Some books use a confessional style that focuses heavily on internal thoughts and emotions. Others feel more like someone telling you the story of an adventure.

Andrew Rowe’s book uses that second approach, and it makes all the difference.

I also talk about:

• why Yui Shaw is such a compelling narrator

• how the book cleverly plays with classic Zelda-style adventure logic

• a great example of suspense created through first person narration

• why the final battle still feels exciting even though we know the narrator survives

If you enjoy fantasy parody, game-inspired worlds, or clever adventure stories, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Book:

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe

Question for you:

Do you like first person fantasy novels, or do you usually avoid them? And what are some first person books that actually work?

BONUS LoZ ALTTP - https://mjmunoz.com/2021/01/25/the-legend-of-zelda-comic-showcases-shotaro-ishinomoris-mastery-celebrateishinomori-2021-stc-56/


Hosted by aspiring author MJ Munoz, Fortress Fiction is a quiet space built for anyone fascinated by the architecture of a good story. Here, the focus isn't just on what happens in books, films, or television, but on how those stories are built from the ground up-the careful craft of making a reader or viewer invest in something they know isn't real. Each episode feels like a shared notebook, where MJ studies narratives of transformation and heroism, breaking down what makes them resonate. You'll hear his personal reflections on the creative process, reviews that dig into the mechanics of storytelling across different media, and chronicles from his own writing endeavors. This podcast is for those who find equal magic in a perfectly turned phrase, a compelling character arc, or a well-framed scene. It’s an ongoing conversation about the alchemy of art, offering both analysis and a candid look at one writer’s journey to build something meaningful, sentence by sentence.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Fortress Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Maniac Magee Chapter by Chapter 4 |CXC 22 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:56
What did you think of Maniac Magee Chapter 4?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #ChapterXChapter #ManiacMagee #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/27/cxc22/SOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category…
Maniac Magee Chapter by Chapter 3 |CXC 21 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:27
What did you think of Maniac Magee Chapter 3?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #ChapterXChapter #ManiacMagee #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/26/cxc21/SOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category…
Maniac Magee Chapter by Chapter 2 |CXC 20 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:29
What did you think of Maniac Magee Chapter 2?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #ManiacMagee #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/24/cxc19/SOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
Maniac Magee Chapter by Chapter 1 |CXC19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:49
What did you think of Maniac Magee Chapter 1?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #ManiacMagee #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/24/cxc19/SOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
Maniac Magee Chapter by Chapter Introduction |CXC18 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:49
What did you think of the introduction to Maniac Magee?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #ChapterXChapter #ManiacMagee #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/23/cxc18/SOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.co…
Peter Pan - Fortress Fiction 14 |SOE 062 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:46
Does JM Barrie's Peter Pan hold a place of honor or scorn in the Fortress Fiction? What do you think and why?#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #Fantsy #ChapterXChapter #PeterPan #FOTRESSFICTIONSOURCE - https://mj…
Keruv: Midnight Angel |Short Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:19
What did you think of my noir superheroine Keruv?#Keruv #MJMunoz #FOTRESSFICTION #ShortStory #Noir #Superhero SOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/18/mjmss1/
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:55
What did you think of Peter Pan Chapter 17?How do you like the ending? Is it what you expected?Show notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/17/cxc17/#amreading #PeterPan #chapterbychapter #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #FOTR…
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 16 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:29
What did you think of Peter Pan Chapter 16? Does JM Barrie dislike children or does he just understand them?Show notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/16/cxc16/#amreading #PeterPan #chapterbychapter #middlegrade #bookrevie…
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 15 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:54
What did you think of Peter Pan Chapter 15? Did the Lost Boys win only by a fluke?Show notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/13/cxc15/#amreading #PeterPan #chapterbychapter #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE…