I don’t know about you, but I’m stressed. Gordon is stoic (but I know he is stressed out.) Our daughters are hella stressed out. Escapism. We need it. On that note, I’ve read 8 novels in one series, back to back.
THE GRAND GAME
One man. Assassin. Caster. A new world. And a Game that is as brutal as it is complex.
Michael finds himself in the realm of the Forever Kingdom, with no memory of how he got there and who he is. Even so, he must participate in the Grand Game and forge a new destiny for himself.
Dropped into a dungeon of monsters, and strange magics, would you survive in a Game where to lose means death?
Alone, and with little more than his wits to aid him, Michael must advance as a player, slay his foes, and gain experience. All while navigating the intrigues around him and discovering his purpose.
A world of Powers, Forces, and mysterious factions. A Game with endless opportunities for advancement and power.
Join Michael on his epic adventure as he deals with the Game’s challenges, the machinations of the Powers, and the ambitions of his fellow players.
The start of an exciting new portal fantasy epic!
The series is written by Tom Elliot, who has the coolest website ever. I’ve enjoyed this series. It’s very difficult for me to turn off internal editor that snags on things like what it believes to be unnecessary adverbs and creative dialogue tags, but this story was so engaging that I kept reading right over things that would normally trip me up.
I’m now reading HE WHO FIGHTS WITH MONSTERS by Travis Deverell, and I’m enjoying it a lot. Jason is insufferable at times but so endearing.
HE WHO FIGHTS WITH MONSTERS
Jason wakes up in a mysterious world of magic and monsters.
It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it’s hard to be good when all your powers are evil.
He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters…and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.
After cementing itself as one of the best-rated serial novels on Royal Road with an astonishing 13 million views, He Who Fights with Monsters is now available on Kindle.
About the series: Experience an isekai culture clash as a laid-back Australian finds himself in a very serious world. See him gain suspiciously evil powers through a unique progression system combining cultivation and traditional LitRPG elements. Enjoy a weak-to-strong story with a main character who earns his power without overshadowing everyone around him, with plenty of loot, adventurers, gods and magic. Rich characters and world-building offer humor, political intrigue and slice-of-life elements alongside lots of monster fighting and adventure.
Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of an overlap between the character builds. Both are stealth based. Both are using shadow teleport. The books are very different, though.
Michael accepts his reality relatively quickly and becomes very proficient and lethal almost immediately. Jason is the kind of character that has unbelievably high luck stat. He keeps stumbling from one disaster to another, and yet somehow he always triumphs. Not without getting his face bashed in first, but still, he comes out better than he went in and he is genuinely kind. I really liked the subtlety of characterization, because Jason is not well, but he is trying to get a grip.
On a side note, Rufus has morphed into Regé-Jean Page in my head. I blame the D&D movie. He was so good as a paladin and I can absolutely see him in this role.
I would love more recommendations along these lines. Looking for that progression of the character getting stronger in a magical RPG world.
I have a small request: please don’t leave book recommendations on The Inheritance posts. We work very hard on those installments, and we hope you will give us your undivided attention when they are up.
A LitRPG series by Terry Carter may be worth checking out. In book 1 the MC, who has been chosen to be the human test subject for Earth’s integration into the “System”, has six months to prepare himself and his family for his (permanent) translocation to a different universe. Book 2 covers his first year in his new reality. Plenty of warmth, plenty of dungeon action with a MC who’s just trying to do his best by the people around him while dealing with the pile of doggy doodoo he’s been handed.
Nova Terra series by Seth Ring
Thanks for the heads up …He who fights Monsters is very addicting. I find myself cringing and laughing at the situations Jason lands in.
I am very new to LitRPG and my only gaming was a Wii console …I know old school but I am old so it fits. haha
Can’t wait for Friday. … yay The Inheritance is super awesome.
It took me two thirds of the book to dicide that I like it. The game’s mental commentary just feels weird.
How addicting, ( this word really bothers me too. It’s not a word!! ), I mean addictive. Author C.Feehan uses addicting extensively, and other authors are now using it. It’s irritating”.
It took me two thirds of the book to decide I like it. The game’s mental commentary just feels weird. I’m still reading it and I’m getting used to the commentary.
I am very curious though. How long does it take for you to read one book. I can finish a book in one day, but I prefer to read more leisurely. If I’m caught by a really good book I usually finish it the same day though. HA books are always finished the same day😁😍
In Faith Hunter’s blog she mentions a series of books that she finished in significantly less than a day each, so my curiosity is stabbed.
Thanks for your recommendations and for the Inheritance. I love it. I’m going to get the pre order right now.
Try:
The Mark of the Fool — by JM Clarke nerfed MC works hard to overcome the disability. Great cast Last book out on Jul 30
The Path of Ascension by C Mantis — another nerfed MC who succeeds with intelligence and good support characters
Return of the Runebound Professor by Actus
This one is a bit different but “I ran away to evil” by Mystic Neptune is a hoot. The isekaied person is not the protagonist!
Weakest Tamer Began a Journey Picking up Trash is endearing, more reincarnation than isekai, no portals involved (yet, there’s still time).
Emberstone Farm is a fun farming progression story but no portals yet.
Lout of the Count’s Family is an interesting one, it’s somewhat isekai. The main character is a self proclaimed lazy bones who has no problem being weak. But trouble finds him at every corner so he needs to raise some nice bodyguards.
System Universe is a progression in a way but the main character is a bit overpowered. It’s fun to see him bumbling trying to reconnect with humanity. Instead of nerfing himself, he raises other people to his level or eliminates them. He’s very damaged and has learned to live with it, everyone else will have to adapt, including the system.
He who fights with monsters is great fun. I would also recommend Defiance of the Fall by JF Brink
Divine Apostasy by A F Kay is one of my favorites, I’ve read and listened multiple times. It’s a litrpg/cultivation blend. There are currently 11 books out. Shades First Rule: You only have yourself to blame.
Victor Of Tuscon by Plum Parrot. I think there are 8 books out. There is a sister series called Falling With Folded Wings. The world building is amazing. I’d totally live there.
Discount Dan by James A Hunter. There’s only one book (new one in July) but I’ve read it twice and I’ve bought the audio book too. It contains one man lost in the backrooms and one Totally Normal Human Dog. It might be my favorite new litrpg series this year.
I read so much I could easily make a list 100 books long. Enjoy!
I recommend Saintess Summons Skeletons by Mornn! As well as Return of The Runebound Professor by Actus (who writes other good things). Both are on RR with published novels.
When Ascension Fails, Time Travel to Try again is by Dragon or Rorchestre, often goes on pause, but is comedic and inverts many of the tropes.
have to bring in the spellmonger series by terry mancour it’s 20 some books in and the series is great
I’m binging He who fights monsters and I’m at book 9 at the moment, loving it
Only Villains Do That, D. D. Webb
Reborn as the Villainess, L. A. Holloway
Both are really fun, I reread for stress relief when I run out of new stuff. They don’t include stat points.
Lotus Lake, book one of Rise of the Mystic Mage by Jay Boyce. Grindy skill building but in a really soothing way. I’m waiting very very very patiently for book three
If you’re willing to go off the rails, then Everybody Loves Large Chests is a good one: monster MC – a mimic – done right. Full litRPG progression, from the very bottom to the top, without power creep breaking the world. Full character progression, from barely sentient dungeon monster to true depth and complexity (I don’t want to share spoilers on the exact directions the story is going to take later on, so I’m leaving this vague), while never giving up core character traits and motivation. And it’s done – years ago, actually – so no waiting for the end.
Ok, so I didn’t read the whole comments section but I scrolled through as much as I could & didn’t see any mention of Seth Ring!
I love all of his series, he’s on my auto-buy list at this point. Even with his latest series (Exlian Syndrome) which I didn’t think I’d like cause it’s too military/scifi, I ended up trying on KU & loving. He’s got like 5 or 6 series going (the man writes like Nora Roberts fast, I swear) & while all of his MCs are male, he writes the female characters just as well. And while none of them are “romance”, several of his MCs are in relationships that developed over the series.
Yes, to everything Seth Ring (can’t believe I forgot him). I want more Dreamer’s Throne (though I fear I won’t get it as he keeps working on everything else), and I’m looking forward to finishing Exlian Syndrome (from how close the release dates are and thorough the descriptions, I’m pretty sure he’s already got it all written).
Most of his series have the super-smart mastermind type protag (Dreamer’s Throne being an excellent example–bonus points for a disabled mc), though Exlian Syndrome breaks that mold a little, being more the reasonably smart genius of hard work as opposed to an actual genius. Both are excellent.
I have to say I love he who fights with monster I have read a few along these lines now (recommended by son ) but these are by car the best. Jason just keeps loloping along getting beat up and stronger each time. he’s such a great character. you can see yourself in him in so many ways and just hope that you have the same luck. I’ve just finished book 12 and can’t wait for book 13.
The Wandering Inn is the first of this type book I’ve read, and it is great. Lots of action and an interesting plot. Starts a bit slow but really picks up the pace.
Magical RPG progression fantasy sounds a lot like Selkie Myths Beneath the Dragon eye Moons to me. Interesting premise with an Isekai and a female MC.
I’d also throw in the original Cradle series by Will Wight, it’s what really introduced me to the genre and it’s fun. It’s very battle focused for much of it though, which would be my main criticism.
My Honorable mention would be Tao Wang A Thousand Li. Low on rpg elements, no direct leveling system though there is power progression. Really a lot of fun though and I believe the last book just came out or is about to come out so it’s complete now!
I have really enjoyed He Who Fights With Monsters. 😀
The Scholomance trilogy has elements of this. The characters are at a boarding school of sorts and trying to get the credits they need to graduate while monsters try to sneak in for a nice snack of underage wizard. The school is a partially sentient magical construct that can tell when they try to “cheat” by doing things the easy way and makes them suffer retribution.
He who fights with monsters was my first Lit RPG and has a special place in my heart. The first many books have really great plot twists and character interactions, that being said, Jason and those that talk about Jason, go on many repetitive rants about Jason.
If you like this series, you may also like the Primal Hunter series.
I know it’s not a book recommendation but my newest obsession is a game called Fantasy Life, the girl who steals time. My husband likes to say it’s like Skyrim and Animal Crossing had a baby.
YES! I just started playing this game and I’m hooked! It is so much fun and also so cozy. I really enjoy the crafting mini games. I think the Magician Life is my favorite fighting Life. What is your favorite Life?
My recommendations for Lit RPG\progression fantasy are: the wandering inn series by Pirate Aba, apocalypse parenting by Eric Ampersand, phantasm by Christopher Hall, town under by Tao Wong and KT Hanna, deadworld isekai RC Joshua, beware of the chicken by Casualfarmer.
For something lighter Demon world boba shop by RC Joshua.
Currently reading the last paladin by Roman Savarovsky and it seems like a lot of fun too.
I am curiously drawn into Plum Parrot’s Cyber Dreams series.
I hadn’t had a lot of luck with LitPRG but then I read Dungeon Crawler Carl and was completely wowed. He Who Fights Monsters is on my short list now, but I’ll have to try the Grand Game also.
DCC was my first (and currently only) dip into LITRPG. I have so many new books to read thanks to all the LITRPG recommendations here and on Fantasy Faction’s Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasyFaction/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
This Facebook group is one of the best places to get book recommendations, if you’re interested.
I recommend both “Beware of Chicken” and “The Primal Hunter”.
Both still have presences on Royal Road so you can get a taster of the first book and keep up with the latest (un-published) chapters.
“Beware of Chicken” is a laugh out loud funny xianxia for people who find xianxia a bit pretentious. Let’s just say a Canadian guy gets transmigrated into xianxia land, says “No thanks. I just wanna be a farmer,” and does his own thing. He ends up accidentally helping a bunch of farm animals awaken as spirit beasts (starting with the titular chicken), finding love, and getting mistaken as some sort of hidden master (despite being in his 20s and not really having any idea what he’s doing.)
It’s fun.
“The Primal Hunter” starts out a little slow, but it’s long-running for a reason. (There are over a 1000 chapters…or about 200 past what’s printed, currently up to book 12.)
Jake is an office worker with social anxiety who, on his way to lunch with some co-workers, gets pulled into the tutorial for the integration of the 93rd Universe into the Multiverse. Shenanigans ensue, particularly once he splits off from his co-workers (who tried hunting by committee) and stumbles upon a Challenge Dungeon created by an ancient god…who turns out to be one of the oldest beings in the entire multiverse, the Malefic Viper, Vilastromoz (Jake calls him Villy).
Like I said, it’s a little slow to start. Once you meet the Malefic Viper properly (halfway through the dungeon), it takes off. The first book and most of the second is the tutorial. After that is the return to Earth and expanding the cast a bit. (Jake makes friends with a hawk who gets so frustrated watching him try to fly that he bullies Jake into doing better, for example. Baby Sylphie (named by Jake) is the most adorably deadly eyas. Honestly, Jake is better at making friends with beasts than humans.)
Most chapters at least make me snort. Most make me giggle. Early Jake was annoyingly unsure of himself, but he gets over that and then some.
Definitely worth your time and, for what it’s worth, it’s the only thing I support on Patreon with my limited budget, just because I can’t wait to get the latest chapters.
Both series are available on Kindle Unlimited for my other limited budget bookworms…and I buy them both anyway.
So, full disclosure: I’m almost finished with the first book. Also, since I’m so late in replying, this may have been mentioned already. I’m liking Guild Master by Ivan Kal.
The main character, Morgan, is giving annoying but somehow still endearing Shonen anime boy vibes. I feel he’s getting more annoying as the book goes on (yelling when he should be quiet; slappable optimistic behavior and the like) but that could also just be recency theory at play.
It’s free on Audible right now, though that could be due to my membership tier. It appears to be at least 3 books long, and all are on Audible.
It’s been intriguing enough for me to keep reading. I’ve rolled my eyes at some of the cliches (elf girl falling in love with him, etc), but the story is solid enough.
I don’t know if this fits the assignment but Iron Prince is very good especially on audiobook.
The first sentence was right from the picture and was displayed on my screen as:
On
e
ma
n.
Ass
ass
in.
I’m afraid I will never be able to take an assassin seriously again.
I have read two books in the past year that fit this criteria.
How to Become the Dark Lord and die trying by Django Wexler and Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan. Both were very good.
Thank you all for so many recommendations! Completed HWFWM after starting with Beware of Chicken. Just finished Mark of the Fool series (up to the latest book 9) which I enjoyed – it’s light and fun and uplifting medieval magic school type progressive fantasy with a little light romance sprinkled in. All of them I’ve bought on Audible and then co-read thru KU. Looks like I should go for DCC next!
The Calamitous Bob by Mecanimus
badass funny girl gets accidentally isakied into one of the most dangerous starter points and has to rely on (probably not evil AI) to get back to civilization and figure things out while learning magic cool magic and taking care of a baby dragon.
eventually it turns onto a kingdom building story with our scrap protag trying to do her best for her people when they all have PEERSONALITY, and people keep picking fights with them becise they the are a rising power. With the fun flavoring of they used to be the evil empire and they for sure are not evil so don’t worry about it!!!!
it just finished recently on royal road and the books are coming to kindle. the audio books are great!
Ar’Kendrithyst by Arks
a middle aged guy gets isakied with his daughter and is just doing his best to figure things out and not die but also he really doesn’t want to fight becise he’s a pretty peaceful guy. That goes sideways pretty fast for him becuse science and technology mix pretty well woth thos world and he did part time as a teacher, but he keeps trying his best to help becuse he was a social worker and is incredibly community and social focused.
this one is only on Royal Road but it is completed even if it is pretty big.
I went into Shirtaloon’s series but then I started looking for female leads in RPGLit and now I am firmly stuck in The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba. I guess it’s because I identify with the main character who makes a couple kills and decides she doesn’t want to live that way, and instead focuses on bringing entertainment, good food, and good inter-species relations into a world of dungeons, the undead and inter-species wars. It’s not all cakes, chess games, and Shakespeare, there’s still plenty of slaying and mayhem because it’s still RPGLit, but I like the characters. Plus I am getting it all in audiobooks so all the voices as pretty entertaining.
I really enjoyed He Who Fights With Monsters a lot at first. However, as the series progressed, the stories became not as enjoyable for me. It’s been about a year since I read those books, so I can’t exactly remember why I became less enthusiastic about the stories. I do remember that Jason‘s personality changes as he sort of gets more powerful and gains influence with powerful people. I believe it was about number 9 or 10 where I stopped reading. Looking forward to trying the other one that you mentioned though. Happy reading!
…and I failed the assignment completely because I have none to recommend right now. 😂
Please try the Cradle Series from Will Wight! It fits perfectly and has captured me completely – bonus points for already being completed 🙂
Perfect Run and Mother of Learning are also Royal Road favorites.
Mother of learning has great weak to strong character progression.
Perfect Run has an insane character slowly becoming sane.
My favorite quote.
“Your file says your reliable but deranged.”
“Oh good, they got me half-right.”
A great new series is the Quest Academy by Brian J. Nordon. There are current four books out and five is on its way.
About a year ago I discovered LitRPG and since then have been devouring book after book. I’ll definitely be adding these two to my “want to read” list.
I’ve really enjoyed the ones that don’t have a standard character build.
Jonathan Brooks is my current favorite author in this genre. He has over 60 books out and I’ve read about half of them now!
The “Earthen Contenders” series is my favorite. Its about someone who gets stuck with a healer class, but the system is broken for him (his mana never runs out) allowing him to solo dungeon’s and be uber strong, but also limited as he only has healer abilities.
The “Magical Fusion” series is unique as it focuses on game mechanics around fusions, making magical artifacts, and a character who uses these fusions as his main focus.
If you want to dive into dungeon cores, he has 4 different series on that with a 5th that does a cross over and ties all their universes together. (very fun and unique and there are 25 books out with a concluded ending so its great for a long binge with out having to wait for the next book to come out. Note: All the others I’ve recommend are still being written and have 3-4 in each series out currently with more still being written)
2 other authors I’ve found that don’t focus on your typical hero progression but have a unique journey are the series “I’m Not the Hero” by Tommy Kerper, “Lord of the System” by Alex Toxic & Furious Miki
Enjoy!
Jez Cajiao. All of his books really! Good character building, plenty of love, gore and humour. Rise of Mankind is post apocalypse earth with looming dread of invasion and dungeon building. UnderVerse is isekai, first book was a bit slow but it picked up really nice after. Those two are still ongoing. Theres a few other shorter series that are done too, all are very good reads or listens, highly recommend!
I just bought Tom Elliot’s The Grand Game audiobook based off your recommendation. It sounds right up my alley. Thank you!
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is my new favorite audiobook series. Jeff Hays is one of the most talented audiobook narrators I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing and he does a superb job with Dinniman’s series. I highly recommend it.
I just finished Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils that Steven Pacey narrates and it was phenomenal. I hadn’t laughed so much and so hard since I discovered Dungeon Crawler Carl last year. I also highly recommend this book.
Currently, I’m listening to Never Flinch by Stephen King and read by Jessie Mueller. I’m only a few chapters in, but I’m loving it already. Holly Gibney is one of my favorite characters to revisit and I’m so thankful that King continues to write in her world.
Good luck finding your next favorite read!
I was surprised how much I enjoyed He Who Fights With Monsters. I especially enjoyed the voice narrator on audible.
Some others I’d recommend:
— Path of Ascension
— The Runic Artist
— Bog Standard Isekai
Unbound, by Nicoli Gonnella! I cannot stress how good this series is. I love the characterizations. POV switches occasionally and you can tell, because everyone has their own unique voice. Felix is just a dude, who gets isekaid, because no good deed goes un punished. he misses his mom, he worries about his sister, but he’s found he can get stronger, and he can help.
there’s also an adorable puppy monster. alien races. epic scaled history and world building. progression. SLOW burn romance, like it’s there, but don’t hold your breath for it, book 10 got us up to a dinner that was maybe winding up to an alternative dessert of a cuddly make out session… until they got interrupted.
I take a day off work for release days. this is a THICC series in all the best ways. (in all the ways we would be happy if your publisher let you fluff out your work) and I close the book still wishing for another chapter.
alsoBeastborn chronicals are good.
+1 for Heretical Fishing
+1 for Demon World Bobashop
Will the Iron Covenant series ever bring Deirdre back to the castle? It broke my heart when her aunt and uncle dragged her away. Their hold on reality was a bit shaky. Deirdre just wants to feel safe and kill monsters.
When I was younger, I read “la Quête d’Ewilan” – Quest of Ewilan. They are french books written by Pierre Bottero (who sadly passed away). The trilogy tells the story of Ewilan, who lives in our world (Paris) and suddenly when crossing the road, finds herself in another world, fighting monsters by drawing objects from thin air. She is originally from that world, but was adopted out in our world to protect her from the villains of that fantasy world. She decides to go back and find her family (and her identity), and drags her friend (who is one of 12 children, so he knows he won’t be missed) in her adventures. I loved these books when I was younger. I don’t think they were popular enough to be translated in English but Pierre Bottero wrote fantastic series (2 trilogies about Ewilan’s world and many other trilogies). Some he never finished before passing away… does not matter as his books stayed in my heart.
I’ve been listening to the He Who Fights With Monsters and am really enjoying them. I would recommend the Cooking With Disasters trilogy by Dakota Krout.
Thank you very much for the book recommendations. Other than my mild howl of pain upon realising around book 6 that the grand game is incomplete, I am enjoying both series a lot.