A review by elisa_menz
The Demon, the Hero, and the Secret of the Stones by A.E. Kincaid

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

We're back on the road with Mal & Reg! This book starts with some pretty shocking revelations and a handful of near-death experiences. While book one was all about laughs and eye rolls, this one has loads of amazing characters and character development. I'm not saying this lightly. Frilly, elegant princesses who ride bulls and cliff dive. Fragile-looking grannies who can beat anyone's ass in a fight. A wealthy dwarf merchant with more common sense than the entire dwarvish race in The Silmarillion. An academic chicken (you'll have to read the novella to figure that one out!).
The story is simple and their task clear, but since Mal & Reg can't do simple, we have ourselves an adventure with extra drama.
I loved the evolution these two are going through. Not only Mal, realizing he might have a place in Widdershins, but also Reg, coming to terms with the real world and its many ups and downs.
While the first book was leaning toward the absurd, this one feels more realistic and thus, more relatable. I mean... the bad guy rallying common people under the pretense of fighting for their rights, telling nothing but lies? Wasn't this supposed to be fantasy?
And it has dragons! This has to be the first dragon I'd be happy to invite for brunch!