I have a weird feeling this week. It’s like I overlooked something or forgot some bill, and I keep checking to see what I missed and can’t find it. And it’s Thursday already. How? How?
Gordon’s surgery is next week. They will clean the scar tissue from his shoulder, and he will have to immediately go into physical therapy. If we miss an Inheritance installment, that’s probably why. Hopefully we will stay on track. I am going to try to get the next three posts lined up so Mod R can just click Publish and then do the hard work of moderating.
To people asking about craft projects: I haven’t been able to knit or crochet because the hands are not cooperating. Especially the wrist rotation with the hook is a no go. I haven’t been able to see a neurologist either. I can’t even get on the schedule. It is a bit frustrating. Okay, it’s very frustrating.
I need to get back to workouts. I chickened out this week because we are having a heat wave. It’s overcast today and it cooled off to 96, wooo! We were at 101F (38C) yesterday. It’s hot and humid. I think lifting weights was helping a little or maybe it’s my imagination.
Since I can’t knit or crochet, I’ve been trying to play a little bit of computer games, although I have to limit that, too. Both Planet Crafter and the Enshrouded are releasing updates: the Enshrouded one already came out, and the Planet Crafter is coming on 16 or 19th.
I have been playing the Humble expansion in Planet Crafter in preparation for the expansion. It’s a neat game where you are a convict dropped off on a barren rock of a planet, and the only way to escape is to terraform it into a garden planet.
Right now I’m breeding butterflies in different colors. The game is pretty, although Humble isn’t my favorite. I like a lot of water at my base locations, and the centrally located lake is more like a puddle.
The new update is supposed to let you terraform more moons in this alien solar system. I’m excite!
Finally, we have gotten a couple of puzzled comments – mostly from international readers – regarding the widespread use of dishwashers in US. About 75% of US households have them. They are convenient, and we are encouraged to purchase them because they use less water. A typical modern dishwasher will use 3-4 gallons for a load of dishes, while washing the same load by hand uses 15-27 gallons. It also saves energy, because most people wash their dishes in hot water and heating that water adds up. To that one commenter who wondered why an off-the-grid home in the Southwest would need one – their water is likely limited. They are trying to conserve their resources. A small dishwasher can ran off solar, and washing dishes is not optional.
To the person who is now vigorously typing how their handwashing never uses that much water: Having a dishwasher doesn’t make you lazy, not having one doesn’t make you a dirty planet polluter. It’s a convenient appliance. Some people have space for it, some don’t, and there is no reason to have a moral superiority battle over it.
I’m trying to figure out what to read next. LitRPG is my new military SF. I usually read outside of the genre I’m working on and I’m unlikely to ever write a strict LitRPG. I am sadly out of the Azarinth Healer. I have Bushido Online in my library for some reason. Maybe I will try that one next.
Best wishes for your health and fingers crossed Gordon’s surgery and subsequent physical therapy goes smoothly.
I also grew up in a household without a dishwasher and since doing dishes is one of the few chores I actually like (kind of) I resisted buying one as an adult. Never used the ones in places I’ve rented until my landlord asked me to as the water usage tripled since I have moved in. Now I do have one in my home and I accept it’s cheaper and more environmentally friendly but I suppose it’s a personal choice with many variables.
Regarding Azarinth Healer, thank you for recommending it! I read the first three books in the series and enjoyed them a lot. Thank you for all you do for us, the serial, the snippets, posts and the book recommendations!
Glynn Stewart’s Starship’s mage series is great and I recommend. I like the broad world building.
LITRPG is my favorite genre that’s not Ilona Andrews. You could join r/Litrpg on reddit for tons of reviews and reccs. Here are some of my favorites, just in case.
1. Litpocalypse/System Apocalypse
Tons of great options here. Here are some (mostly) lesser known gems. Two a little off the beaten path are “The Aussie Mana Apocalypse” by C Timms. Here a SA hits Australia and great action and humor meets a very indigenous system which seems deeply rooted in Aussie and Aborigine culture.
A more global one is the Tall Tales of Bronwic by Mike Parsons., in which an ex-hockey enforcer is in the wrong place at the right time (a trope) and ends up in terrific anti-monster and invader action.
2. If you like Cozy, RC Joshua has a great range of emotionally moving series but the coziest is Demon World Boba Shop in which an Iseakai from our world ends up opening a tea shop in an animalistic demon world. It’s sweet without being saccharine.
3. Funny: The Good Guys series by Eric Ugland follows yet another traveler from our world, a Biker who escapes death and starts a new life in a fantasy world. All he wants to do is fish,. but yet he cannot escape the heroic life. He has two otter buddies who makes me laugh laugh laugh.
Vainqueur the Dragon by Maxime Durand is the story of a dragon who realizes that classes and stats and levels are the key to an even bigger hoard.
The last recc (I got a million of them) is the He Who Fights With Monster series by Shirtaloon. Probably the second most successful series after Dungeon Crawler Carl. This too has a dude from our world who is reborn in a brilliantly realized fantasy world which an amazing system. And it is so damn funny
If you enjoyed Demon World Boba Shop you might also like The Bee Dungeon on Royal Road by Icalos
Thanks!!
I transitioned into a pretty physically demanding career around 11 years ago and have not been without a dishwasher since. I love them and it’s a godsend to me.
Love 💕 my dishwasher
To the people puzzled over dishwashers. I have a phobia or something about unloading them. This has always puzzled me. I use it sure. I LOVE loading them..but. I will not unload and put clean dishes away. I grab clean dishes from it, then they get dirty and go in the sink, pile up and beget the oh must empty dishwasher anxiety. This is because maybe I am lazy? I need a second one to fill and wash the dirties while first (clean) is getting used up. I have enjoyed washing dishes with a buddy by hand… when I lived in Europe. When I went camping or sailing. One to wash one to rinse and dry lots of conversation and time together. I get it. But can you explain my strange resistance to unloading a clean one and putting AWAY the dishes daily? I just cant. And in an other unrelated note, please explain how a tiny bird got in my garage and entered my electric box, and got fried? I can’t. There are no visible ways to get into that box!! How?!! I now need an electrician to inspect the water heater which repair was effected today by replacing the heating rods and regulator. Power going in? Check. Hot water heating happening? Negative. Can’t get the electrician out till next week. Plumber to me this heater was from 2007 its like nearly 20 years old, and Florida water is very hard on elements: buy a water heater at Lowe’s or Home Depot and call us we can install it a bit cheaper that way. Me if I get it from you to install what’s it cost me? 1,600 dollars. Yikes!!! Happily I have a very good solar shower bag, and a fancy camping pump system – I can jury rig that hot water for 3-6 minute quickie shower, or longer depending on how much hot water my bucket can hold…. Or shower outdoors in my bathing suit, LOL. It is summer in Florida after all..
You asked about something to read. This morning, it was recommended to me that Emily Henry was a good writer. I confess that I have not tried anything by her.she is on the best sellers list and I find that my tastes are not the same.e as the best sellers list
Nope. Nope. I read from the library and it is not my style at all. I don’t recommend it it at all
Sorry to hear about the health issues, always a pain to have to deal with. I am in the middle of one at the moment too and won’t be out of it until early august 🙁 being stuck in bed is aggravating a previous shoulder injury and laying wrong aggravates the elbow and wrist tunnal i have and depending on which either my inner fingers or outer fingers or if both, all the fingers go numb. Which means I cannot hold my book or ereader. Very frustrating!
On the subject of dishwashers, I grew up in the house my grandfather built. It had no running water, in the kitchen we had a hand draw pump over the sink that we had to prime with water to get going. Once we did get water we had to heat it on the wood stove. So when we moved into our first “modern dwelling” with running hot water at the age of 12 I thought that was a luxury haha now years later I am thoroughly spoiled and totally loving my on the counter dishwasher. I wouldn’t give it up for anything 😀
I am addicted to 2 genres at the moment post apocalyptic disaster survival and LitRPG. I think it has to do with the idea of building and rebuilding alternatives. I have a bit of a book reading hangover at the moment, i am over 200 books read since eend of Jan, I am having trouble getting into/finding something that draws me in besides “The inheretance”
The last book I read was wake me after the apocalypse, about a comet world ending event and lifesaving cryosleep. Though I have taken note of the recommends mentioned here so thank you everybody for those. But until I get rid of this book funk I am going to reread the two series that make me laugh, Retha and Battle Trucker (even though it has a bit of wacko humour) the combo of potty mouth female lead, armour tank and world manipulation keeps my brain amused.
Speedy recovery to everybody having to deal with health issues!
So sorry to hear about the injuries situation! I had to spend a large part of last year on bed rest and it felt like I was dissolving as a person. Best wishes for entertainment and mental fortitude!
you should check out Dead World Isekai by R C Joshua. MC gets sent to “save” a planet, but it’s long past saving, and now he has to survive. The trilogy is a complete arc, though the author may write more eventually.
Hope everything goes well with Gordon’s surgery, and hope you get an appointment with a neurologist soon! Sending best wishes for speedy recovery!
I love planet crafter. it is amazing to watch the world go from a barren waste land to a a beautiful paradise. I hope you have let off multiple rockets at once.
If you’re looking for a LitRPG adjacent series may I recommend:
Iron Prince (series Warformed) by Bryce O’Conner.
It’s not true LitRPG but it has a lot of same elements. Stats/leveling up.
It’s more on the sci-fi side set in humanity’s future as they have expanded across the galaxy and ended up in a war with an AI alien race.
LiT RPG meets college academy war games.
World building is excellent. Characters have great development and fight scenes are * chefs kiss!*
I have no affiliation other than avid fan!
Neurologist here (far away from you in Maryland). I am sorry you’re having a hard time getting in to see one of my compatriots. I am connected to neurologists all over the place and could potentially see if I know someone in your area who could get you on their schedule sooner than the twelfth of never. Feel free to email me if you want me to ask around. (I dutifully followed the rules and didn’t send this as an unsolicited email through the contact form.)
I wish for Gordon to have something good to read in hospital. It goes without saying that all will go well but there’s nothing worse than being stuck in hospital without quality reading material.
You mentioned you are looking for LitRPG series. I recently got into LitRPG (just before you posted about it actually). My two favorites and they are REALLY good are:
Bog Standard Isekai by Miles English
This has become one of my all time favorite series. It is that good. And the voice acting for the audio book is possibly the best I’ve ever heard. It is simply outstanding.
“Sometimes dying isn’t even the worst part of your day.
Mark’s new life begins in the worst possible place—a burned-out village haunted by undead. Each morning these ravenous creatures disappear, only to return at night, driven by a relentless hunger. He’ll need to stay low and think quick, because trapped and alone in the body of a child, he can’t level up in this new world. At least not yet.”
—-
Mark of the Fool by JM Clarke
The writing and world building in this is outstanding. Everything about this is series is superb.
“After his parents died, Alex Roth had a plan: become a wizard. Through hard work, he was accepted into the world’s greatest university of wizardry—but fate had another plan.
On his eighteenth, he is marked as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the land’s great enemy. But his brand is ‘The Fool’, worst of the marks.
Rather than die or serve the other Heroes like Fools in the past, he packs up his little sister, his childhood friend and her cerberus, then flees for the university in hope of refuge, magic and to unravel the truth about his land’s evil.
There’s one small problem: The Mark tries to ruin magic while enhancing skills outside of divinity, combat and spellcraft.…
…that is, unless he can learn to exploit the hell out of it.”
—–
I hope Gordon’s surgery is even better than expectations and that little physical therapy will be needed. Also that your wrists improve soon!!!
For book recommendations, I just finished Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, which is her debut adult novel, and immediately hit the pre-order for Book 2. It’s a portal fantasy and was so well written and so much fun, it really helped to bridge the long wait till March 2026.
LitRPG recommendation, Calamitous Bob and the Saintess Summons Skeletons.
I loved Azarinth Healer and was introduced to the genre with He Who Fights With Monster, but the above 2 are a riot
Sending good, healing vibes to the both of you.
If you want read recommendations I will recommend Beware of Chicken (although I’m pretty sure *I* found it from you mentioning it on the blog) and Path of Ascension.
Path of Ascension I like in part because of the world building. It’s *big*. Also a lot of interesting characters.
+1 to path of ascension
and yep, BOC another fantastic recommendation from our authorlords lol
I don’t have any litrpg recommendations. I’m sorry about the hand pain. my comfort read while waiting for your books was the house witch, and burning witch series by delemhach. they’re “cozy” I guess. theres a new one out in the same world, name escapes me at the moment. wishing everyone good health.
Ooh, LitRPG recommendations… Has anyone tried Wraithwood Botanist on Royal Road? I find it awesome. Well written and good storyline. Good luck to you and Gordon, hope everything runs smoothly.
I grew up without a dishwasher until age 13, when my parents were finally able to buy a house and it came with one. I was the major dishwasher from 7-13, standing on a chair the first couple years. My brother was too young so he missed out on the “fun”. We got a washer and dryer the same year. So nice! A dishwasher is not as important to me as the washer and dryer, but I really really don’t want to go back to hand washing and drying everything. Spoiled!!
Best wishes for the surgery, Gordon! And don’t worry about the serial. We WILL survive if life gets in the way, promise.
if you’re looking for another fun series to start reading, I highly recommend Beware of Chicken.
Gordon – May your surgery go well and may PT not drive you insane 🤪
Ilona- I hope you get an appointment soon! Hands not working well is the pits – it’s been known to make grown women cry (I mean me – it makes me cry) Good luck and happy reading!
Your weather report makes me glad to have moved from Texas 🙂 it’s been 16 years but just thinking of summertime and the ac going out makes me have a hot flash!
Glad Gordon in good enough shape for shoulder procedure and IMMEDIATELY following PT. Very best for vigorous recovery from all annoying conditions, dear authors. 😊 For keeping up with Kids #1 & #2 — and not just BDH begging aka demands — you both need stamina 😉
While I have ancient arthritis in shoulders, orthopedic surgeons tell me I am not a candidate for any current procedure. 😝
We had a ‘pull over’ dishwasher in all the homes we lived in (dad was in the Navy so we moved a lot) growing up. Later in life, hubby and I were over at a friend’s new house and he said their dishwasher didn’t work and they were replacing it. I said “you don’t want a pull over dishwasher anyway”. He said, “whut?” So I showed him how you rolled the dishwasher over to the sink, pulled out the hose in the back and attached it to the faucet, turned the water on full hot, plugged it in, and pushed the button. He was flabbergasted. I was smug.
I hope your physical ills heal soon and you can get back to enjoying your favorite hobbies.
If it hasn’t already been mentioned I am enjoying Library System Reset by K T Hanna 🙂 and would highly recommend it!
Read the Calamitous Bob series! I loved Azarinth Healer (just finished the 5th book) and love Calamitous Bob even more.
This Quest is Broken! Was also a lot of fun to read
I have to say I’ve lived with and without a dishwasher and I definitely prefer the dishwasher! Last summer my fridge and dishwasher died within a week if each other (I replaced the fridge immediately obviously), the cook top and wall oven were slowly dying, the whole kitchen was blowing up. I figured it was a sign, so basically I ended up doing a full gut kitchen reno. Soooo happy with the results but we lived without a dishwasher for 4 months before the reno even started and it was getting old. I did use the old dishwasher rack to dry, very handy. Love my new Bosch.
So, I am totally fixated on Azarinth Healer. I raced through Book 1 and onto to the second book. I struggled through parts (Salt land) but on to killing thousands of demons. I love Ilea(sarcasm is my second language). Thank you for the recommendation!
Me too+
Best wishes to Gordon for rapid and complete healing.
That is frustrating when you feel like you’ve forgotten something. Don’t worry, it will all come rushing back eventually. Your Gordon’s surgery is enough to short circuit the brain. Lots of prayers for a perfect surgery and quick recovery, as well as for you!
My hubby also has hands that go numb (and lots of other weird symptoms he was tested for for years without finding anything- so annoying) anyway, I hope you find some answers soon and get some relief.
Having to wash dishes by hand doesn’t bother me as much near as much
not having working air conditioning. Now that really sucks!
I hope everything goes well with the surgery and that a specialist finds a solution for the hands.🍀🍀🍀
I’ve read Bushido Online, and it’s currently my absolute favorite in the LitRPG genre — a big recommendation from me.
Take care of yourselves, and as always, thank you for your hard work.
Another reason for a dishwasher is it can get hotter than human hands can stand and that kills germs. Until my family moved into a home with a dishwasher everyone got cold sores at least twice a winter and cold/flu viruses. After the dishwasher no cold sores. None and seasonal virus cut in half
LitRPG rec you should check out is Occultist by Oliver Mayes
you can always check Alvin Atwater LitRPG books, i find them very amusing
I certainly enjoyed his Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker.
I don’t recall that much about your hand, but if relevant, Dr. Scott Barnett at Bone Drs. in Austin (south of the river) is an excellent hand/wrist surgeon. I know he also does nerve repairs. If you should see him, tell him the cat lady referred you :). Best of luck to you both.
Warlock by Daniel Kensington is excellent. It’s a guy who winds up at an all girl magic school. Lot of humor and subverted tropes. Two books out and third on pre-order.
Urgh; I hate that “What am I missing” feeling. All too often, I am. Best of luck with the surgery, and finding a neurologist.
I’m loving the story, but worry about taking care of yourselves first.
Sorry to hear that life is putting out road bumps!
I have read Farrr too much western webserial kindle litrpg, Thank you lock down and life with small disabled children!
My favourites aka as “The Ones I Have Re Read:
Super Supportive. I ADORE this. I re read it every day….
Second age of retha* This may not complete, as the author is ill and said that they make more money from Romance. They plan to though. I re read every year.
Apocalypse Redux, complete
First Line of Defense, Novella, tons of fun, its a tower defence game book!
The Calamitous Bob, complete!
The Path of Ascension
This Quest is Broken, complete
Apocalypse Parenting by Erin Ampersand, just read this book 4 and no plot collapse yet! Wow!
All The Skills
hm apparently I like my books with functional relationships and a REASONABLE of fight scenes! looking at you Primal Hunter
I think theres a real problem with LITRPG that books oven don’t finish well, its a fun set up ( new world! apoloypse! )but doesnt come to an easy conclusion. Often just stops or handwaving.
Writing this post has made me look at my litrpg addiction. Only slightly joking Litrpg combines games draw and story draws. I’ve read the first 200 on good read best list. Send help!
I was going to recommend Apocalypse Parenting – woman with three kids under 10 and a husband away on a business trip when the System shows up – I read a lot of LitRPG (because someone on this list recommended Super Supportive two years ago and all I can say is it’s a slippery slope!) – and this one is a bit different and made me laugh out loud.
Litrpg….a Soldiers life. Broken right wrist, couldn’t afford ortho, healed at angle to arm, numb hand but the numbness finally passed after a few months. Wish you well.
For book ideas. Beware of Chicken is really good. Also Primal Hunter. I am basically just reading litrpg right now so I feel you.
I’m really liking the numbers go brrr books at the moment too.
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons by Selkie is another one you might like though it is still going, different from Azarinth healer.
Loving Inheritance so far, has that litrpg feel.
I am really loving reading Azarinth Healer so thank you very much for the recommendation!
My fav LitRPG author of all time is Will Wight – unfinished series The Last Horizon is awesome so far (space AND magic, what more could you want!) and his finished series Cradle is just perfection (sacred arts meets turtle dragons).
It is always important to remember that our body is like appliances. They need fixed from time to time or replacement parts. So Gordon, good luck on the repairs, and know you will need to take it easy after them. I was the dishwasher in my house when I was a child. So when I got married, I asked my wife that we have a dishwasher in the house or installed. Well, it is 25 years later, and the dishwasher has breathed its last breath. It is time to replace it. I love reading your books, and keep it up with the suggestions for other books to read.
I had my shoulder replaced after a bad fracture, and the physical therapy was Very Useful. I had a change in insurance and did not do it as long as I should have, which prolonged the recovery phase, but I now have a mobile comfortable shoulder. Hope things go well for Gordon’s surgery!
I just finished a litrpg called The Wandering Inn by pirateaba on Audible. It was long and I enjoyed it. A nice easy read/listen with some action.
Good luck for Gordon’s surgery I hope it goes smoothly,and he heals well and quickly.
Book rec: A Warm & Cozy LitRPG – The Rover Powered Series by Drew Hays. There’s currently 3 of them and they are quick reads, but oh so fun and it stars an OP Corgi!
It’s more LIT RPG adjacent but I really like Tao Wong’s “A thousand li” series. It’s a nice cultivation fantasy but it doesn’t have a System (though I believe some of his other books do).
“Beneath the dragon eye moons” by Selkie Myth is more in line with conventional Lit RPG complete with levels and a system and class selections.
My favorite LitRPG so far is Beware of Chicken. Four books long currently.
Agreed! So fun!