Magic, mayhem, and hilarity lead the charge in the middle-grade fantasy The Demon Sword Asperides by Sarah Jean Horwitz (The Dark Lord Clementine), in which a sentient demon sword cons a hapless boy knight into a bargain that changes both their lives.
The demon sword Asperides's consciousness is spending semi-retirement pretending his immaterial form can drink magical brews at the Wet Fang, an underworld pub. His physical self is literally embedded in his last master, Amyral Venir, keeping the dark knight trapped in a sarcophagus--at least until Asperides realizes someone is trying to resurrect Amyral. Meanwhile, "skinny" knight Nack Furnival, recently banished from his knightly family for sparing the life of another boy in battle, searches for a quest to get back in good standing. His adventures lead him to Amyral's tomb and Asperides, who, despite the pleasures of early retirement, cannot resist the pull of a new master. Asperides disguises himself as an angel blade, the virtuous counterpart to a demon blade, and tricks Nack into signing over his soul. Once the contract is made, "Asperides simply ha[s] to train a thirteen-year-old boy to beat a several hundred-year-old zombie sorcerer knight." Simple.
Horwitz's wry narrative voice, and Asperides's sardonic personality bring a double helping of levity to this zany world-in-peril adventure that features powerful women and girls, including a married pair of woman knights and a teenage evil-queen-wannabe. Self-sacrifice and family drama add an emotional note. Middle-graders seeking humorous fantasy may find that their quest ends here. --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth experience manager, Dayton Metro Library