Demon World Boba Shop: Vol. 1

Demon World Boba Shop #1

by R.C. Joshua

A relaxing slice-of-life escape into a new world of magic and boba tea.

After a hard life cut short, Arthur is given another chance at happiness in a demon world. Here, he finds solace in brewing tea, forging friendships, and living the tranquil life he never knew he needed.

Arthur's journey takes him through delightful and unexpected adventures. Along the way, he builds a community with a mother-son sparrow-demon duo, a bulky infernal, and a captivating water elemental. For the first time in two lives, Arthur is finally finding out what life is really about.
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The first volume in a delightful LitRPG series, Demon World Boba Shop promises to bring warmth to your heart and a smile to your face. Thousands of Royal Road readers have praised the story for its wholesome narrative, well-crafted plot, likable characters, and overall coziness. In a world that often feels overwhelming, Demon World Boba Shop is a the perfect read for anyone needing a breather.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Slice Of Life, Magic, Romance, Fiction

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2024

Reviews

[Cilla Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So, then, this. What we have. It's the kind of thing that goes unsaid? It's fine if we both just know it?" He felt her face get warmer on his shoulder, and could almost imagine the palette of blues washing across it. Moments passed. Finally, he felt her hand slip into his.
"Yes."

Super cozy, very sweet and just an all around lovely time!

[Mikarah Voster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happily surprised! I thought it was going to be more of a romance because I don’t like to read about the book I like to be surprised when I get into it. It was more about the characters and friendship helping others and just being the kind of world that would be amazing to live in. There was a bit of a romance piece to it but I’m glad it wasn’t the entire focus of the book. The best part of the writing was the fact that when things about society was explained it was explained by characters unlike other books were the writer is creating a new world and shoving all the details down your throat in a boring or overwhelming way. This writer did it perfectly for me and I can’t wait to read the second book! Would recommend for a good light hearted read:)

[H Boorda · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC

Read this on RR. Amazing series. Great slice of life- a perfect mix of the mundane and extraordinary to keep you hooked. Great book!

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for something sweet and uncomplicated, and I got what I asked for I suppose.

TL; DR: A slice of life litRPG that doesn’t get too complicated while simultaneously thriving on the little nuances it creates between worlds.

I think that this is about as close to an adult kids book as you could get; there’s no complicated topics or relationships, and the story isn’t out of this world. There’s not a lot of progression, rpg-wise or character-wise, and it isn’t deep in any way. That being said, it’s sweet and simplistic. Nothing is spectacular, but nothing is bad either. It just is what it is.

Characters: There isn’t a lot to talk about here; side characters are pretty one-note and not too exciting or memorable, while Arthur is a good person. That’s it; there’s no great development or understanding, it’s just…yeah.

Setting: The demon world is, I’m thinking, just a catchy title. Monster world may have been taken, as demon just seems to be a placeholder for the word “monster.” It’s a “nice” place, but uncomplicated and rather unsatisfying in quite a few respects.

Story: Eesh, there really isn’t much of one; “guy gets used to being isekaied into a career” is another good title I think. While things like the romance and all the nice people were good, it’s not like you’re getting a super innovative idea for a story. It’s not even the…I guess “kindest” of the isekais that I’ve read. Strange how that worked out.

Writing: It’s a little rough; there’s a lot of repetition and it really doesn’t go anywhere. There’s no setup or payoff or anything resembling a major plot point, but I didn’t hate it, I just got tired of hearing how good everyone was sometimes.

I didn’t laugh for any part of this, but I didn’t roll my eyes either. I don’t think I smiled once, but I didn’t turn up the speed to fast forward through the boring parts either. It was fine.

2.5 🌟

[Tiny Dragon Books~ Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ideal book for lovers of cozy fantasy reads. Definitely a low stakes plot, of a human given a second chance on a Demon world. With so much foodcore and elements of friendship, wholesome interactions and the story arc of a benevolent Society, this was a sweet and lovely read.
While it tickled all of my cozy needs, I would not give this a five star rating as I didn’t connect as well with Arthur as I did with other main characters of cozy fantasy.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cozy

I read this as a palette cleanser in between my usual gore-soaked and violent stories, and it worked out great. There was se very light drama, and it was very slice of life, and honestly I needed thay from a story.

[Michael Schwartz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg so much Doh

Omg wow the main character is an imbecile, he says he was an adult from a different world (earth) but acts more like a 15 year old child with little to no sense, reason or much Intelligence.

[Kayley Helman]

Cute concept, but very slow and just not what I want right now.

[Abby Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an untimely demise, Arthur finds himself able to start a new life in a new world. He decides on a "nice" one and quickly find himself thrown into a world filled with would be monsters. He soon learns that the demons of this world are, in fact, nice!

This book is my introduction into a new to me genre- LitRPG. I absolutely loved the magical, leveling up system, working exactly like a RPG video game or Dungeons and Dragons. It was a most clever way to showcase the progression of the characters as well as their need for each other's help.

This is a heartwarming tale of friendship. The characters are wholesome and peaceful. The conflicts are fairly low stakes and stress-free. Demon World Boba Shop is a perfect way to combat the stress of everyday life for its charming people and for us.

[S.R. Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was so insanely cute!!!

I fell in love with the idea as soon as I read about it on Amazon. The cover art hooked me too, but the idea of a cozy, nice world and a bunch of boba tea sold me.

It was a shot in the dark because I’d never heard of this book before, but I wanted something cozy and nice, and this popped up on my feed. To say I read a great book is an understatement. The plot was adorable. The world was well-designed. The pacing was perfect for a cozy with those stakes. And the isekai LitRPG aspect was very well-done.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves the LitRPG genre but also needs a sweet, funny read full of boba tea and simply the nicest demons you’ll ever meet.

[Jen Yonit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet and cozy story about a second chance for a better life. The world-building is charming, especially seeing how the MC introduces a modern comfort like boba to a demon-filled high-fantasy world. While I’m usually wary of LitRPG elements, the system here felt integrated into the MC's personal growth rather than just being about power levels. It’s a perfect 'palate cleanser' read for fans of Legends & Lattes or Can't Spell Treason Without Tea or anyone who wants a story where the main conflict is perfecting a recipe rather than saving the world.

I was left with a strong craving for boba.

[sanaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

This book is so cute.

The writing was a little choppy at times, but only occasionally and nothing to the extent that it takes away from immersion.

I enjoyed the whole theme of *nice*, which is pretty much the crux of the book. Doing good in different ways and for different intents, but doing good all the same and having it be acknowledged.

Also: there's Arthur at earth, tired and stressed. Then there's Arthur in the demon world, equally (if not more) tired and stressed. Except in the demon world, it's stress of his own making, that he chooses to create. I like that, a lot. He gets to go from working at a job he's not good at but has to nearly kill himself working at because he has been programmed to do so, to a world where he gets to really do what he wants to and instead *chooses* to nearly kill himself working on, happily, and with reason this time. That and a boba tea shop, complete with characters who just want to help him and don't understand why he's so weird about letting them help him because they're from a world so completely different from Arthur's earth, is the stuff of my dreams.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

this. was. so. goddamn. cute. the found family was everything and more. I just discovered this on kindle unlimited one day and I am so glad I did. I wasnt super sold on the romance but other than that, OMG MY HEART IS BURSTING WITH ALL THE FEELS. everyone helped everyone and UGH. such a precious cozy low stakes fantasy. highly recommend.

[Jim Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew what Boba was

Never wanted to find out either. This book makes it something I'd like to try. On the book I'm going with it was a fun read, just enough slice to make the life worth reading.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was beyond cute and cozy. I have been MEGA stressed out, I am talking panic attacks and such. This book was so cozy it actually transported my brain to this world along with our protagonist. If you like Legends and Lattes and Iseki anime, you'll love this. The relationships between everyone were beyond cute! I loved the nonromantic relationships even more than the romance. (The romance was still adorable though) There was even a part where I got so into the feels my eyes watered! (Arthur and Lily, if you know, you know) This book deserves more love, truly.

Bonus: If you have Kindle Unlimited, it's on there!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think boba lovers will need a trigger warning that the MC uses doughy baked bread as boba for a good 30% of the book before he experiments to make proper boiled boba. ;_;

Other than that, it's a great cozy read with a very wholesome cast.

Romance: human boba shop owner MMC with water elemental demon weller FMC

[Savannah Merchant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I could give 3.5 stars. It is such a fun cozy concept and has cute little characters and was honestly such a fun world to be in. Big themes of community, joy, and pursing passions. It was just a little too long for what it was. It’s a light fun cozy read but doesn’t have enough depth or complexities to be 350 pages and at times I lost momentum bc of it. Might have legit
been a 5 star read if it had been trimmed down a little tighter to about 250-275 pages. Still worth the read! Not everyone is ADHD and loses interest as easily as I do. lol

[Mariela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely cute and cozy

I love cozy fantasy with just the right touch of excitement sprinkled in. This is perfect if you need a break from deep brooding fantasy.

[Jessica Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5, 10 out of 10! I loved this book so much! It was so cute and cozy! A fantasy world I never knew I needed

[Samantha Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF@33%

It's not that the book is bad; I just don't think it's for me. Rather than slog my way through the rest of it, I will be moving on to other books I want to read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title got me...I thought that was a hilarious idea, but I like quirky reads. It was delightful! Fully enjoyed it and will definitely keep reading the series

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic little slice of life litrpg that I didn't realize I needed in my life. Onto the next ones!

[Erin Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this

I love everything about this book. It was exactly what I was looking for in a book. I can’t wait to start the next one!

[Nicole Vredenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

A slow easy read for in between intense books. Nothing complex just a cozy rpg type book. I enjoyed it

[Stephanie Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice 4.5!

Because this was a cozy book I decided to do something I don't normally do and just....save the story. I read it slower than I would normally so I could really develop the world in my head, not that I don't do that normally, but this one felt like it needed more attention to me.

This book left me feeling so warm and fuzzy on the inside after finishing! I loved every single character and the relationships they all had with each other. This book was like, getting a big, warm hug that you just NEEDED. I loved it and I'll definitely be buying it to add to my collection for a rainy day ❤️

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all the tropes you expect from a cozy slice of life: isekai, everyone being overly nice and helpful, and great success from the main character by taking something from their world and bringing it here.

What is slightly different about this book and is nice and refreshing is that the main character isn't a genius in his craft. There is a lot of experimentation throughout the book in order to get the Boba tea just right.

What I didn't like is the lack of character personality from most of the characters in this book and there are a lot. The major problem is the main heroine has this issue and is reduced to weird greeting and being pretty.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, fun and cozy. Blazed through it in one day!

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really, really good book. The only thing is that the word 'demon' is sort of misleading as in this case it means beings that are a combination of human and animal or human and something else but they are not nasty or evil.

In fact you will find that the characters are really neat and the whole approach of the town is kind of the one for all and all for one approach.

Anyhow, the book starts with Arthur who has a heart attack and dies. Yep, right off he's dead.

He ends up in this 'demon' world younger and in better shape. Adjustments have to be made, though, as he is now in the presence of forms of life that don't exist on Earth. He's new, doesn't know what is going on and doesn't know what is going to happen to him.

Which is when we find out just how great the town is as he is taken in, taken care of, and is helped to figure out just how he will fit in. He needs to find what he is passionate about and take that as his livelihood.

Which turns out to be different forms of tea. He learns to make it, improve it, get a food cart, expand his business and continue to innovate and improve his product while all the time finding a great way to fit in and to get the help of others.

What is also neat is that this is like a fantasy role playing format. Each individual can call up a screen with their stats on it, showing where their strengths and weaknesses are, showing improvements and giving a general evaluation of what is going on.

A really neat thing the book says is that chefs book for the food and try to make it perfectly while cooks cook for the people and try to help them become better through food.

Being a fantasy role playing format there are things that attack the town which is surrounded by walls and it's up to the people to defend the town. Again, it's everyone working together for the benefit of every single person living there. Arthur plays a major role in this and is rewarded.

We also learn who is behind this entire system of how things are run. The book also includes a few short stories about some of the characters.

This is most definitely a feel-good type of book with all the characters being really interesting.

[Mathia Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But just because something is weak doesn't mean that it comes with no rewards. In the end, it's your decision whether those rewards are worth it."

Demon World Boba Shop is probably the most wholesome book I've ever read. When a modern man is transmigrated into the demon world, he has no clue whatsoever what the direction of his second life will be. However, true to his key word, everything about this story screamed, "NICE".

The author did a great job in establishing the world even if it was set in one city. He takes you through each step about how the system works and introduces you to classes, crafts, and culture of the people who just band together as a community. It makes the reader feel like they are in Arthur's shoes who basically knows nothing and each discovery is a joy and an adventure all at once.

I know that this is a slice of life book and it for sure started kinda slow but I really liked how his journey as a Teamaster progressed. More than simply just running a business, it highlights all the unique abilities that a craftsman class can do and how they play different roles in uplifting the community - from being a food scientist, a medicinal brewer and it also shares how useful the other classes are, like blacksmiths, librarians, cooks, potters, wellers and others, typical roles that aren't usually given much attention in other fantasy books and games.

Before I knew it, I was totally absorbed in the story. I felt like I belonged in the community where everyone is nice and just helps each other progress and I shared their happiness and their dilemmas. The romance subplot was also kinda cute. I didn't expect a delicate water elemental to make ominous threats as greetings 🤣.

Overall, Demon World Boba Shop is perfect for fans of Legends and Lattés, Studio Ghibli, and RPGs, indeed, reading this book felt like being wrapped in a warm hug where everything in life just felt right. It also made me crave a cup of delicious boba.🧋