Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Asperides, a demon sword, has been leading a quiet life for the last 200 hundred years. While his physical form is guarding his last master who was pure evil, his consciousness is resting in the demon world. However, when an attempt to revive his last master succeeds, Asperides crosses paths with Nack Furnival and thus begins their journey together.

Nack Furnival has been cast out by his family and wants to prove himself by becoming a knight and earning his angel blade. For a main character, Nack is gullible, honest and innocent to a fault. But this becomes his strength when dealing with the situation unfolding around him. Nack makes many friends and acquaintances along this journey. And although Nack and Asperides started their journey with a lie they become great friends by then end.

There are quite a few supporting characters introduced throughout their journey. The story provides a good enough background and understanding for each additional character however it’s not enough to create a liking or bond with them. I wish we could have had more interactions with them at a deeper level where the focus is to build and strengthen the bond. It might’ve been better if the story focused on just a few supporting characters.

The story is action packed and filled with Asperides witty remarks. However, the story lacks descriptions and fails to highlight key scenes that would otherwise make the story more interesting. For example, the revival of Asperides last master, or Nack’s side quests. This makes the pacing of the book uneven and as a reader we lose out on experiencing key events and memories.

The writing is clever and is able to adjust perspectives easily such as, from Nack’s POV to Asperides’ POV seamlessly. It’s also able to introduce new characters while providing a simple background without overloading the reader with too much information. The dialogues between the characters were smooth and brought out the characters personality from the pages.

Overall, this was a good book and a complete adventure. I felt the book tried to do too much all at once which created a complex web of relations and near the end it all came crashing down suddenly. The ending is bittersweet which made me cry but I’m sure there are still a lot more adventures to come! I hope we get to see the continuation of Nack and Asperides journey.

It made me think of Terry Pratchett as he could have written something like this. As he's one of my fav writers please consider it a compliment.
The blurb is a pale image of the fun and the well plotted story. I laughed and loved this story since the first pages.
Humour, quest, a very original world building, and a tightly knitted plot.
Please let us read more stories featuring the Demon Sword and Nick, they're a great pairs
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Clever, funny, and a great story, this book is another great hit from Horowitz. Demon sword Asperides has been living in semi-retirement for about 200 years, ever since the death of his last master (an evil sorcerer), but this soon comes to an end when someone breaks the seal and brings the sorcerer back to life. Meanwhile, Nick is a knight in training seeking a quest to prove himself, despite not being all that great at being a knight. All he's missing is a sword. The two meet and make a pact, going on a quest to stop the evil sorcerer and save the world. This was a fun book to read, the characters were especially interesting and engaging. The dialogue, particularly from Asperides was great and added a lot of humor to the story. There were parts where things dragged out a bit, but otherwise, this was a fast-paced book.

An ancient, sentient demon sword with an attitude? Check.

A boy so petrified of failing his family that he takes unbelievable risks to attempt to do what's right, even if, when it comes down to it, he's mostly unable to complete his actions? Check.

A world about to be overrun by demons that only these two can stop? Check.

Talk about dire stakes.

The Demon Sword Asperides is a thrilling, fast-paced, rollicking adventure chock-full of imagination. It takes places in a strangely familiar fantasy world, a relative of the other clever worlds Horwitz has written, and presents a truly tragic young protagonist in young Nack. This underdog hero tries so hard to fulfill his role as a knight of his family, and just isn't that kind of person—at least on his own. With Asperides, a sword that he mistakes initially as an angel blade—the kind of sword carried by the bravest of knights—Nack can be the demon-destroying hero of which he's always dreamed.

Which is an interesting role for Asperides, the demon sword, to play. And doesn't make him friends in the underworld. Asperides's frequent narration reveals his own arc as he seeks to avoid his greatest fear—being "undone" when the door to the demon underworld is opened—and for the first time in his ancient existence, tries to do good. His growth from a delightfully grim presence to something a little more human lends this story a particular depth.

The plot of this story hums along nicely, and with a fantastic supporting cast. It includes a strangely endearing necromancer whose use of undead birds adds some disgusting funny moments to the story; a serious, thoughtful young seer who wields her own moon powers well; and two brave itinerant knights, a pair of married women whose charming casual affection is a refreshing touch of normality in this world.

Amidst the action runs a powerful internal quest as the two major characters—Asperides and Nack—attempt to fulfill their fates. Is one's destiny predetermined? Do you have to believe it when someone tells you what you are? What do you owe the world around you? This ambitious, epic story will pose these questions as it delights its hungry young readers.

What an awesome adventure. I love books that instead of having one main character end up having a group of different personalities that add much to the plot. Knights, Seers, priestesses, necromancers, warriors...

The blurb says this is perfect for fans of Dianna Wynne Jones and Terry Prattchet. It has adventure, moon magic, and clever humor. I love that the sword sometimes needs a drink and visits the underworld tavern. He can't drink, but it's the intention that counts in his mood. There is also a very moody horse who is too grumpy for his name. You'll see it when you read it. Ahah.

I think this story is also for those who love fantasy with world-building (it is not portal fantasy), and fans of RPG and D&D. It's creative, fun, and fast-paced with multi-POV. A lot is happening and fast, but the plot-driven sections are well balanced with the character ones making it a fun read.

Perfect for young readers (9-12) or those wanting to try a fantasy read. There's adventure, quests, prophecy, evil trying to vanquish good and conquer the world, demons, talking swords with strong personalities, and a wannabe knight kid (Nack) with a paladin's true heart who ends up being tricked by a sword (Asperides who is my favorite character) into a contract. Each character has a goal but as they journey and team up they discover a higher purpose and their true destiny. Can be read as a standalone, but I hope there will be more featuring these characters.

I read this novel in one sitting and this is my favorite book so far of this author. I can't wait for more of this or other of her projects.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

This was such a fun book, with strong major characters and a unique plot. Nack, Therin…and Asperides were really enjoyable to travel with, but I could have used some more of the Clementine-ness of Cleoline. Maybe the time I have spent with Harrow and the Ninth house has given me a proclivity towards snarky necromancers?

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this ARC!

Smart, funny, and enchanting, this adventure will keep readers turning the pages. This book is filled with interesting characters including a lost knight, a sarcastic demon sword, and a partially resurrected villain looking for his soul. Horwitz's world-building is top notch and the adventure is quick-paced and far-roaming. Horwitz has given readers another smart, unique, and fun fantasy. A must read.