The Demon Sword Asperides

May 22, 2023
The demon sword Asperides, a sentient weapon, has spent the past 300 years physically pinning his most recent wielder, the dark knight Amyral Venir, inside a sarcophagus, when Asperides feels Amyral’s soul mysteriously vanish. Asperides is soon drawn from his physical resting place by 13-year-old Nack Furnival, a disgraced knight-in-training seeking a heroic quest that will redeem him to his family of accomplished swordfighters; the only thing he needs is a virtuous angel blade. Asperides conceals his demonic nature and offers Nack a deal: he can wield Asperides, but in return, Nack must forfeit his soul to Asperides upon his death, to be used as a means of restoring the sword’s power. Boy and sword forge an unlikely partnership, fighting evil across the kingdom. But even as the two gain helpful allies and discover what it means to be true heroes, Amyral’s villainous might grows stronger, and Asperides dreads the day they’ll be forced to face him. Employing thoughtful subversions of classic fantasy tropes to explore themes of good vs. evil and the power of change, Horwitz (The Dark Lord Clementine) crafts a clever adventure that is at once humorous, thrilling, and touching. Human characters read as white. Ages 9–12. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Literary.

Starred review from May 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* The demon sword Asperides is in semiretirement, and it suits him just fine. He spends most of his time hovering in a dark pub booth in the underworld, a space populated by all kinds of supernatural entities and wicked humans. In the daylight world, his physical self sits stabbed through a coffin containing the body of his last master, the truly terrible Amyral Venir, and has been for centuries. Asperides is in no hurry to vacate that post and work on tricking yet another person into trading their soul for the sword's unlimited power, but events force his hand--er, blade. Amyral is resurrected by an admiring necromancer (she considers him the "coolest evilest sorcerer knight of all time"), and a disgraced young knight, Nack, nabs the demon sword in a desperate fight, though he has no concept of the dangerous power that he wields. Everyone has a different quest, but they'll all collide in the race to save, or destroy, the world. This rollicking story is endlessly inventive and terrifically funny, and the chatty text is suffused with sarcasm and silliness, though kindness beats at the heart of it all. The setting feels vaguely like medieval Europe, though this is a world with multiple moons, married lady knights, plenty of magic, and, well, a talking demon sword. Fantasy fans will adore the hilarious but incredibly heartfelt adventure.

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Starred review from June 1, 2023
A motley crew must stop an undead villain from opening a portal to the underworld. Asperides is a 2,000-year-old semiretired demon sword whose power is sourced from the imprisoned souls of his previous masters. Despite lacking a mouth or hands, he enjoys spending his days in a dark corner of the Wet Fang, an underworld pub, nursing a warm drink. One day, Asperides feels the trapped soul of his last master, Amyral Venir, go missing. Unbeknownst to him, 18-year-old dark sorcerer Cleoline has attempted to fully resurrect Amyral but finds her spell did not go exactly as planned. Meanwhile, across the kingdom, Nack Furnival has been banished from his knightly family. He is determined to complete a quest, receive an angel blade, and return to their good graces. Nack meets Asperides, who hides his true demonic nature, impersonating an angel blade to win his trust and claim his soul. The duo encounter Sister Dawn Therin, a 12-year-old Seer who shares a significant prophecy that will bring them all together. Horwitz's middle-grade fantasy is quirky and fun but also nuanced and complex. Chapters shift in point of view as the narrative threads are woven together with masterful dexterity. Readers are clued in before the characters, and the journeys to their various places of self-discovery are wholly enjoyable. Asperides is delightful, imbued with hilarious snark and a gray moral compass. The main cast reads White; there are some queer secondary characters. An exciting and well-wrought romp. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 2, 2023

Gr 4-7-The Demon Sword Asperides has been enjoying his retirement in the underworld, hard-earned after centuries of reaping the dark souls of those who wielded him in life. So he is not thrilled to feel the tug of his last master, infamously evil Amir Venir, whose mortal body Asperides's physical sword form has been keeping pinned securely to its tomb. Newly risen, Venir sets out on the search for his soul, and Asperides uses deceit and magic to find help to stop him. Coming to his aid are Nack Furnival, struggling to find his path to knighthood after being cast out; young necromancer Cleoline, undead Venir's aide who realizes too late the terrible force she's let into the world; and seer Sister Dawn Therin, who works with the two to understand the world-altering prophecy she's been handed. Their personal quests culminate in the final attempt at stopping Venir. Unlikely heroes abound, along with plenty of wit, humor, and thrills. The characters drive this story, including the darkly hilarious talking sword who is a great foil to the honest and good Nack. This magical quest book is more likely to work as an independent read for stronger readers at the lower end of middle grade. VERDICT A good next read for fans of Cressida Cowell and Jessica Townsend, recommend this one to fans of funny fantasy with a setting that rings of medieval Europe.-Jill Shepard

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