The Demon King started off dreadfully slow. You don't really get a sense of the plot until Chapter 12. It focused a lot on character development (a former streetlord who doesn't know his place in the world, and a princess who desperately wants to do good in the world) and world-building (politics, conflict, war, treason, etc.). The Demon King is obviously building towards an exciting and action-packed second book. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book of this series, The Exiled Queen.