What did you think of my noir superheroine Keruv?

#Keruv #MJMunoz #FOTRESSFICTION #ShortStory #Noir #Superhero

SOURCE - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/18/mjmss1/

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/

Chapter 10 of The Book of Three is packed so densely with lore, lineage, and quiet setup that I had to listen to it three times—and I still found more to unpack.

BONUS CONTENT - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/02/06/the-book-of-three-chapter-by-chapter-10/

In just one chapter, Lloyd Alexander weaves:

-The legend of Dyrnwyn

-The role of bards in Prydain

-Fflewddur’s hidden past and truth-binding harp

-Eilonwy’s lineage and moral tension

-Seeds that clearly point toward Taran’s future, without spelling anything out

What impresses me most is how effortlessly this information is folded into the story. No lectures. No lore dumps. Just meaningful details that deepen the world and quietly prepare the reader for what’s coming.

This is why Prydain works. It trusts the reader, respects the story, and plants ideas that bloom later.

Let me know your thoughts on Chapter 10 so far AND whether you caught some of these threads on your first read.