Top products from r/litrpg
We found 143 product mentions on r/litrpg. We ranked the 656 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
4. First Song, Book One (Anthem of Infinity 1)
Sentiment score: 9
Number of reviews: 7
5. The Land: Founding: A LitRPG Saga (Chaos Seeds Book 1)
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 7
6. Re-Start (Level Up Book #1) LitRPG Series
Sentiment score: 4
Number of reviews: 7
7. Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension Book 1)
Sentiment score: 4
Number of reviews: 6
9. The Crafting of Chess: A LitRPG adventure
Sentiment score: 4
Number of reviews: 6
11. One More Last Time: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Good Guys Book 1)
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 5
12. Reborn: Apocalypse (Volume 1): (A LitRPG/Wuxia Story)
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 5
13. Advent: An Apocalyptic LitRPG Series (Red Mage Book 1)
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 5
14. Ruins of Majesta: Vol. 1 - Blood and Cupcakes
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 4
17. Limitless Lands: Book 1: The Commander's Tale (A LitRPG Adventure)
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 4
18. Life in the North: An Apocalyptic LitRPG (The System Apocalypse Book 1)
Sentiment score: 4
Number of reviews: 4
My native fantasy world litRPG recommendations:
Dante's Immortality has a strong zero to hero theme for a native to his fantasy world. The MC is worse off than a beggar at the start. Has some magic academy parts. Well written. Some of book 2 is on Royal Road but the author has been re-writing book two for a long time so it may or may not ever be completed.
Threadbare is a quirky litRPG story about a stuffed bear and his attachment to his girl and the friends he makes along the way. This story is full of puns, some clever and some more on the nose but I had a good chuckle several times and had a lot of fun reading this series. As lighthearted as this story appears at first, it does have some grimdark elements and tells a good story. The series actually has a conclusion which is rare enough in this genre so it gets major points for that.
The City and the Dungeon has one of the more interesting magic systems I have seen in litRPG. The characters are all native to the fantasy world. This series is a bit different in that it is written in the form of the MC retelling past events to his sister kind of like how Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are written as a flashback. The story itself features old school dungeon diving party mechanics which I happen to really like. The fairly original magic system and strength ranking system are very interesting. I did find myself wishing that the author would give more details on stats, character builds, etc., but the plot skips events and advances too quickly. At the same time it over-explains superfluous details like various branches of dungeon religion theory and courtroom law procedures. That was my main complaint, but overall I enjoyed the story. Not sure on status of book 2.
Arcane Ascension This one is strongly represented on the r/ProgressionFantasy subreddit but has some light litRPG elements too. No user interface and on the soft end not having many stats. The world is a native fantasy world with tall RPG like puzzle towers that people try to climb. These books feel more polished and professionally written than most books in the litRPG genre. It is a hybrid story that bounces back and forth between school life (magic academy) and dungeon (tower) diving. I really loved the focus on the Tower exploration and the puzzle solving that was required. The magic academy part of the book is cool as well but I think for specifically litRPG readers it won't be the main appeal.
The magic system is pretty deep, with over 50 different "classes" of magic ability called attunements. For example, Guardian attunements are melee fighters who can strengthen themselves, while Elementalists wield Fire, Air, and Lightning. It is also possible to gain more than one class as well and we see glimpses of characters that are god-like in power while the MC, a first year student, is incredibly weak in comparison. The MC makes the most of his attunement though and crafts clever items to help cover his weaknesses and relies on his friends to fill the other gaps. Crafting magic items is a major focus for the MC which I found entertaining and satisfying.
Kick-started my KU trial with:
Arcane Ascension
Completionist Chronicles (easy buy)
Divine Dungeon (easy buy)
Awaken Online
Ascend Online: lots of profanity, not enough character development but I'll give book 2 a shot and see if that improves. I wasn't strongly hooked in the beginning but decided to give it a shot.
I just read Changing Faces: New Game Minus, and the MC is a former NPC that becomes a "player", but doesn't know it's a game world. So he's dealing with nonsensical game mechanics (getting exp, getting stronger at a level up, etc.) and fully aware of how ridiculous it would be in a realistic world.
Definitely not clueless or stupid/bashful.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Faces-Game-Minus-Book-ebook/dp/B07KMMT9TX
Some other recs:
Drew Hayes' series: Spells, Swords, & Stealth - "NPCs" in a Dungeons and Dragons-esque world have to become adventurers. The main characters definitely are aware of D&D tropes and aren't stupid. This is a really good series, and it's a good time to get into it as the next book is coming out next month.
https://www.amazon.ca/NPCs-Spells-Swords-Stealth-Book-ebook/dp/B00KB2RLKO
Hero of Thera: The MC gets sucked into a new world with game-like mechanics (leveling up, picking classes, new skills, new gear, etc.). So that I guess is an Isekai book. What sets it apart is the great writing and worldbuilding.
Also a good time to get into this, as book 2 should be coming out next month.
https://www.amazon.ca/Hero-Thera-LitRPG-Eric-Nylund-ebook/dp/B0719CYNCG
Full disclosure - I edited book 4 of Spells, Swords & Stealth and book 2 of Hero of Thera. But I'd recommend them even if I hadn't.
first, I have to mention Stork Tower which features a girl who kicks ass in both game and the real world with the help of her AI (ok, and a lot of luck)
There is one other litrpg that comes to mind, Ruins of Majesta about a girl genius trapped in a litrpg ("M.I.T. calls her a genius, her mother calls her Cupcake, her buddies call her Princess Cuddle Fluff and she’s here to kick butt and blow stuff up."), but it is very intentionally written to be kid friendly if that bothers you
since most of the litrpg side (Siphon, Metaworld Chronicles, etc) has already been covered, I'll give a few non-litrpg recommendations that I think might scratch that itch.
available on KU
not on KU but should be available through your library (and if they don't have it, they should be able to get it through InterLibrary Loan if you request it)
other
The Crafter by Outspan Foster. I haven't read this one yet, but I'm pretty pumped. Ordered the paperback. Set in a non-vr world.
Dante's Immortality. Highly recommended on this sub. Book 2 probably won't happen. Probably once a week asks about book 2. Still, so good that it's worth reading book 1 of an unfinished series. I think that's pretty high praise for it.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic. Another sub favorite. People argue whether or not it's LitRPG, most important thing is: it's dope.
Adventures on Brad. Nice slice of life in a non-vr fantasy world with game mechanics. Fun stuff.
A few others:
Adventurer Academy andIs It Wrong to Try and Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon.
Enjoy!
Recommendations with amazing world, amazing MC, amazing challenges. These are not 100% pure litrpg
Good MC and challenges. Good world. 100% litrpg
Ok-ish MC. Good challenges a bit undermined by OP MC. Good world. 100% litrpg
Here are a few that I find myself recommending often, which also seem to fit what I think you're looking for:
I typically read, not listen, so I can't speak to the quality of the audiobooks, but I enjoyed all of these a lot.
​
Edit: Cleaned up links
I will recommend you probably one of the greatest and most realistic LITRPG book I've listened to recently. It's on my top 5 favorites right now
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Re-Start Level Up Book 1
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKRMLJB
So addictive, very refreshing with a solid narration. You just can't wait just how the mc develops and improves himself.
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It will probably even inspire and motivate you on how to be a better person in real life.
I can even say that many will probably relate to the scenario if this ever happened to you.
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It's that good
this is my favorite series i just started reading this one.
the first one is here https://smile.amazon.com/Land-Founding-Chaos-Seeds-Book-ebook/dp/B0172GEB68?ie=UTF8&qid=1465083761&ref_=sr_1_3&s=digital-text&sr=1-3
book teaser for the first one so you don't have to look
Getting eaten alive is the worst! Stabbings, maimings, and corrosive black magic are not that great either, but you really don't want to be a wolf treat!
That is the kind of hands on, “teeth on,” education you get when you are summoned to The Land.
James did not want to be summoned!
Not really... well a maybe, just a bit!
But he had certainly not AGREED to be summoned!
…
Well technically speaking he HAD agreed, but good god, who had the time to read all of that fine print when there was epic gaming to be done!
When DangerZone Industries had released the latest and greatest VRMMORPG, James, and millions of other virtual reality players, had sought purpose and self-definition in this new world. The tag line "Live the life your soul was meant for," had captured the hearts and minds of his entire generation.
"The Land," was the largest and most dynamic virtual reality game of all time. James and his friends had devoted countless hours, and become one of the top teams in the game. They were at the brink of greatness, but then there was this light! (it was predictably white, but whatever!)
When he was actually summoned to The Land, it was both disturbing and exhilarating. When he then became entangled in the eternal war of sprites and goblins, the unsavory practices of the local king, and had a memorable night at the inn called the Whistling Hen, he came to one clear conclusion: Again, getting eaten alive is really REALLY the worst!
While uncovering such deep philosophical knowledge, James will forge a place in this new world, and hopefully avoid the machinations of those who want him to destroy it. What does it mean to be a Chaos Seed anyway???
Carbon Cowboy: A SciFi Harem Adventure Crash Tanner 2018/9/11 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9HZFJ3
Initiate (Animus Book 1) Joshua Anderle and Michael Anderle 2018/9/11 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H997V1F
The FPS Deity: A Fantasy LitRPG Series- Book 1 Cobyboy 2018/9/12 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HB8KDX1
Half-Breed Hunter: Arrival David Aries 2018/9/12 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HB8HSY9
Infinite Exodus: A SciFi LitRPG (Infinite Exodus Book 1) Noah Whitaker and Remy Whitaker 2018/9/12 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9J2NDZ
Live Like a God: big adventure in a tiny world Taylor Kole 2018/9/12 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HBKGRH3
XXX Fantasy Online Part One: A LitRPG Harem Fantasy Adventure John Harem and David Belwick 2018/9/13 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HCQSH6S
XXX Fantasy Online Part Two: A LitRPG Harem Fantasy Adventure John Harem and David Belwick 2018/9/13 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HCRV6FR
The Revived: A MMORPG and LitRPG Online Adventure (Second Age of Retha Book 3) A. M. Sohma 2018/9/14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H78W9WR
First Song, Book One (Anthem of Infinity 1) Blaise Corvin and Outspan Foster 2018/9/14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HD2VQ9W
XXX Fantasy Online Part Three: A LitRPG Harem Fantasy Adventure John Harem and David Belwick 2018/9/14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HD3HP2J
XXX Fantasy Online 4: A LitRPG Harem Fantasy Adventure John Harem and David Belwick 2018/9/14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HDG91KL
How To Tame Your Dragon I: A Litrpg Harem Adventure Kimiko Petaway 2018/9/14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HD656JK
Conquer: An Epic Fantasy Harem (Conquering the Kingdom Book 1) Aron Stone and Caterina Kalymniou 2018/9/15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HDM2VBQ
Eburnean Passage: A LitRPG Mystery Richter Solaire 2018/9/15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVQ7MM4
Kill Code: A Gamelit Adventure Jamie Hawke and Justin Sloan 2018/9/16 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HF9KFC9
XXX Fantasy Online 5: A LitRPG Harem Fantasy Adventure John Harem and David Belwick 2018/9/17 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFMLW7N
Hero's Dungeon: A Superhero Dungeon Core Novel Nick Ryder 2018/9/17 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFZ2F7F
The Wang is the Hardest Part (Caverns and Creatures) Robert Bevan and Joan Reginaldo 2018/9/17 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGLWJ4L
Welcome to Gorgoth (How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis Book 7) V. Moody 2018/9/17 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2R2L3Q
Vampire Hunter (Superheroes Online Book 2) Dante Steel 2018/9/18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HH3K64Q
Southern Kingdom: Evolution Online II D. L. Harrison 2018/9/18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZ7DPFT
The Great Game J. Conrad Matthews 2018/9/18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HHM4MT6
The New Magic (The Outworlders Book 2) Joseph Malik 2018/9/18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GCVHZGW
Bunker Core (Core Control Book 1) Andrew Seiple and Amelia Parris 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HKV8BRN
Cavern of Spirits: A LitRPG and GameLit Adventure (Stonehaven League Book 3) Carrie Summers 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HB6L6X9
Killdozer (Arbiter Core Book 1) Cory Gaffner 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HK54JHL
Blademage Shadowstalker (Blademage Book 3) Deck Davis 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HKT1PZ6
Enthralled: Book 4: System Ascension Prax Venter 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HDQ796C
The Handsome Menace: A LitRPG Adventure (Scar Tours Book 1) S.R.R. Saint 2018/9/20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HH511H6
If you like Savage Divinity and don't like MMO-ish rulesets, you might considering checking out Xianxia. I'd consider it kind of a LitRPG-adjacent genre, I guess? Clear stages of power progression without any sort of Game Mechanics or blue boxes at all. There a quite a few web novels translated from Chinese you might like, but the starting point I recommend is Coiling Dragon (on the web here or on KU here), and if you like it you have a TON of web-based reading material ahead of you my friend. If you want an English-native take on the genre /u/Will_Wight is doing a great job with his Cradle series.
Just powered through First Song, and was pleasantly surprised. Very lite on the RPG bits, but I think that may change in later books (literally the only distributable stat point occurs in the last chapter or two). 99% of book 1 is setting up for what will hopefully be kick-butt future books, with only 2 real action scenes in the whole book (one right at the beginning, one very near the end), but it was still enjoyable.
MC is basically a bard with social skills, living a redemption arc in an attempt to set up a chance for humanity not to be completely wiped out by some very OP aliens. Great for fans of town-building/society-building.
Been keeping up with Towers of Heaven, a relatively new RR fiction that comes from the author of Desire (which is great) and Zombie Slayer! (which is bad enough that I'm not linking).
Finally started Mother of Learning, after literally months of it being recommended on this sub. 3 chapters in, so I can't really say how I feel about it. Mostly excited that RR says it is 2.5k pages, I guess. Been awhile since I had a story I could really binge on, I keep finding little 2-3 hundred page stories that randomly get dropped.
Life Reset Book 1 and its sequel both have audiobooks (my favorite litrpg on Amazon currently).
Dungeon Heart doesn't have an audiobook format, but it is a personal favorite and I highly recommend it anyways.
Awaken Online has a series where most have audiobooks.
I personally enjoyed Rogue Dungeon and Dungeon Deposed (both audiobooks), but they might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Hope these are what you're looking for.
I'd go with Ascend Online if you're looking for a book with an actual game.
If you want more of a fantasy with game elements, Sufficiently Advanced Magic is where it's at. (While I admit that I know the author personally and have some bias, it's an Amazon Bestseller.)
If you prefer something modern-day and like a good zombie story, The Alpha Virus is a great read, though it's still a work-in-progress.
For a series with great characters and emotional impact, The Wandering Inn is an ongoing web serial of considerable length, and updates frequently.
I'm not well-read in the genre so I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but Will Wight's Cradle series sounds as though it might interest you. The series isn't complete, but there are five completed novels in it.
Amazon link for the first book, Unsouled
Amazon link for the first three as a package deal.
I would recommend it if you're a fan of cultivation, spiritual techniques, and the zero to god journey. It also has a more western style prose that for me was more enjoyable to read.
That's great! All my books happen to be free too! You can find them on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Ascend-Online-Luke-Chmilenko-ebook/dp/B01M01ET8E
It'll say that the book costs $6 there, but that's because I'm running a sale for the next forever. During this sale each book comes with a sense of pride and accomplishment for being able to help an author eat and warm his house this winter.
I hope you take advantage of it! This sale will only last until the end of time!
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/10073/the-wandering-inn
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/14396/the-snake-report
https://www.amazon.com/Unsouled-Cradle-Book-Will-Wight-ebook/dp/B01H1CYBS6
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/5701/savage-divinity
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/15935/there-is-no-epic-loot-here-only-puns
(guilty pleasure)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KZ41LHM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
The following each only have one book sadly as not many books in the genre have a lot yet, some have second books coming soon.
The Game of Gods by Joshua Kern
The Great Filter by Russell Wilbinski
Advent (Red Mage) by Xander Boyce
Core Punk by Paul Bellow
First Song (Anthem of Infinity) by Blaise Corvin
This next one has three books but it also has a lot of sex, the story is good if you can get past that or enjoy that sort of thing.
Apocalypse Gates by Daniel Schinhofen
This next one is post-apocalyptic but the world ended a long time ago, it has 2 books. I should note that the "system" aspect is new in the book, it didn't happen when the world fell.
Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel
Lastly an honorable mention because while you wouldn't think it's post apocalyptic from the description it absolutely is which may be a spoiler but not big one. Again those the world ended a long time ago. It has three books.
Threadbare by Andrew Seiple
Given time i could probably think of a few others but these were just the ones that came to me the quickest and ones I can say having read them are all good. I also avoided the ones you mentioned or other people have already recommended. Hope this helps!
You might like Unbound Deathlord - the MC is fairly amoral in that one.
Awaken Online might also be to your liking.
I also like to recommend Unsouled, which is basically a xianxia novel written by an American. IMO cultivation / xianxia novels are basically litrpgs, with weird names slapped on top of the numbers.
Another one that kinda sorta straddles the line of LitRPG is Super Sales on Super Heroes - it's a superhero novel, and the MC's power is that he can spend "points" to upgrade things.
What is interesting is that LitRPG is basically a sub-genre of the "Portal Fantasy", like Narnia or The Chronicles of Amber. There are a number of LitRPG examples where the story has the main character transported to a fantasy world where everyone has "levels".
The "Chaos Seeds" Series by Aleron Kong has the main character transported to a world where all people have stats, levels, and skills.
The Arcane Emperor web series has a similar conceit - everyone in that land has stats, levels, and skills and a "character sheet".
Hero of Thera and Worth the Candle also has the MC transported to a fantasy/sci-fi world with a character sheet. (Worth The Candle, BTW, is excellent and updates regularly.)
In Super Sales on Super Heroes the main character gets a super power where he has character sheet "in the real world" - this is sort of LitRPG adjacent (Harem warning, Slavery warning). Decent book, even if the MC is a bit amoral.
One of the things I like about the genre is that there a many roads to the "game". Some are just VR based, others are a portal fantasy, while still others have game-like elements in "real life". There are a ton of approaches.
I am excited to see how the genre grows as new authors enter the space and we move further from the "Light Novel" origins. I can't wait to get further away from Asian style grinding and Russian style misogyny and misanthropy.
Threadbare is my favorite example of this genre, though some of the violence in that is replaced by humor. If you're n audio book listener then I highly suggest getting these, if not then it's still more than worth it imo.
https://www.amazon.com/Threadbare-Stuff-Nonsense-Andrew-Seiple-ebook/dp/B078KGS4V4
Shameless plug for my own web-serial on Royal Road, it also takes place in its own world with an "RPGs magic system." Can't claim it's as good as Dante's, but it's free and I love hearing feedback!
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/19452/nameless-ascent
>quintessential LitRPG novel -- the best one that's also the best example of the genre and its style
A single one doesn't exist yet.
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Founding-LitRPG-Chaos-Seeds-ebook/dp/B0172GEB68 is often how most people find the genre based solely on marketing/promotions. However, if you read the book after reading high quality fantasy novels it's likely you'll be disappointed.
The best books are in sister genres. https://www.amazon.com/Unsouled-Cradle-Book-Will-Wight-ebook/dp/B01H1CYBS6 for cultivation, and https://www.amazon.com/Sufficiently-Advanced-Magic-Arcane-Ascension-ebook/dp/B06XBFD7CB for progression fantasy.
The System Apocalypse series might be what you're thinking of.
Advent (Red Mage Series) is a good first novel of the same type.
​
Myself and others actually refer to this sub-genre as "System Apocalypse" just because it describes it perfectly and I can't think of anything better, even though there was other stuff in this style that came before Tao Wong's series.
I really did it. It is a trilogy. The first book on Amazon, second - coming soon.
At thirty years old, Phil is an unemployed gamer who struggles to make ends meet. His only source of income is freelance writing (when he feels inspired enough to add another article to his less-than-popular blog). His wife has just walked out on him, leaving him without money, purpose, or food in the fridge.
On the day his wife dumps him, Phil receives a mysterious piece of wetware. A game interface seems to have been implanted in his brain which allows him to see the world through the eyes of an RPG player.
Now that Phil discovers his real-life stats, he can see they're far below average. With 4 pt. Agility, 6 pt. Strength and 3 pt. Stamina, his most advanced life skill is predictably gaming.
Luckily, real-life stats can be leveled up just like virtual ones. But will it help Phil get his wife back? Can he stop being such a couch potato? Would the new game help him become fitter? Or more successful? Can his gaming skills finally come in handy in real life?
Last but not least, can he find out who could have uploaded the mysterious game to his brain? And how is he supposed to deal with this unknown but apparently omnipotent force?
I have a couple that fall under this category:
Level Up - the world breaks and becomes a video game. This is more satirical and riffs on a lot of gaming tropes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079JFM67F
Grow Up - this one is closer to GameLit. A teenager finds himself kidnapped by aliens to fight in intergalactic legal battles using giant mechs. An alien is left on earth in his place and does his best to blend in...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VWLQL6N
A couple of other people have already mentioned Blood and Cupcakes (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRPGGCX), which also has a sequel (Creatures and cupcakes) which is great for YA.
Crystal Shards is also pretty YA friendly and there are four book in the series. The first book is Dodge Tank (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078LFBVB3/)
Hi All!
I’m really excited to tell you about a new story that just went live! This was my first collab, and I really enjoyed working with Outspan Foster.
First Song, Book One, is the first book of the Anthem of Infinity series. This is a completely new series in a different universe than any other book I've published.
The story is about Noah, a young man who has survived in post-apocalypse America, who is kind of a terrible person and knows it.
He hates himself, and he kind of should. But everything changes when he finds a mysterious orb and meets someone who teaches him to be a decent person again.
More importantly, he may get a crazy second chance at life, and to be a better human being.
First Song is like a cross between The Postman, Hot Tub Time Machine, Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game...but with a twist!
This story is definitely RPG GameLit/LitRPG. I really think you all are going to enjoy it, but either way, please leave a review : )
The links are here:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/
DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/
How about the Cradle Series by Will Wight? It's Xianxia as imagined by a Western author, and actually really good. Characters get stronger by 'cultivating' and using consumable spiritual aids to gain power.
I didnt mean to downplay how difficult and expensive it can be to get professionally done cover art. I was just trying to say that I personally much more prefer the usual plain cover/abstract art over a cover that looks like it was made by a 14 year old on deviantart. It doesnt even need to be an RPG related cover because most of MY favorite litrpgs have random covers, here a list of a few that come to mind:
Hero of Thera(a picture of a zodiac dragon)
https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Thera-LitRPG-Eric-Nylund-ebook/dp/B0719CYNCG
Awaken online(cover only has a silhouette of a cat)
https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Online-Catharsis-Travis-Bagwell-ebook/dp/B01J0E8Z8A
Crota, Gods Game(originally was a generic looking stock photo of storm clouds, now updated the cover to a blue colored gate)
Login Accepted: Incipere Online(simple blue background with a symbol focus that looks like it was made in MS Paint)
The Two Week Curse: Ten Realms(solid black background with random abstract blue symbol)
I've noticed from many of the recommended books on amazon have beautiful cover arts but if you bother to read a demo of it, youll see the majority of them lack the basic typography, formatting, and editing. I find these MUCH more important than a pretty cover because some stories are almost unreadable without them.
I cant speak for others but i mostly pick books by word or mouth, reddit/goodread, new monthly publish, what's new on audible, and sometimes even author's self promotions.
I didn't see my books in that list.
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Eye-Land-Dreams-Book-ebook/dp/B07GH9KXVW
Have you read the Apocalypse: Reborn book 1 yet? I liked it a lot. So much so that I went to Royal Road and read his in progress book 2 there.
https://www.amazon.com/Reborn-Apocalypse-LitRPG-Story-1-ebook/dp/B07RNNJB8K
It's one of those go back in time to save everybody stories, but the system and world is really interesting.
I would recommend The Land by Aleron Kong and Daniel Black by E. William Brown. Daniel Black can get a little raunchy, if that is not something you are looking for you might want to skip it. Both book series are excellent and worth a read.
The Cradle.
Good Western Wuxia, good writer and a good intro to the genre without the... oddities... of translations.
Life Reset, MC is a goblin who, do to circumstances, essentially becomes an NPC raid boss. Good book overall, some of it was pretty dry but the audio book was fun to listen to.
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reset-LitRPG-Novel-Online-ebook/dp/B074N1P685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505746503&sr=8-1&keywords=life+reset
I really enjoy Kit Falbo's The Crafting of Chess, and I don't feel like it gets a lot of advertising/talk. https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Chess-LitRPG-adventure-ebook/dp/B07P1YRHTX/
Also, Sarah Lin's trilogy New Game Minus https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Faces-LitRPG-Adventure-Minus-ebook/dp/B07KMMT9TX/
She has a superb Urban Fantasy Wuxiua coming out too.
I'd recommend "Life in the North", by Tao Wong.
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It belongs to a sub-genre of apocalyptic LitRPG in which, rather than people logging into a game, the game system is actually imposed over Earth as a whole (leading to an apocalypse, Tao's series is called "System Apocalypse" for that reason).
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"Life..." is not particularly long, but there are currently 6 or 7 books in the series, so assuming you like it, it should check your "boatloads of pages" box. =)
My favorite LitRPG read for 2019 so far has been The Crafting of Chess. IIRC the author has stated he couldn't afford an editor or to commission cover art, so he did everything flying solo. And boy, can you tell.The cover art is basically stick figures, he seems to think "martial" (as in law) should be spelled "marshall," (as in sheriff) and on and on...but if he'd not published it I'd have felt I was missing out. Dunno. 🤷♂️ But it sounds like he brought the book to market for effectively no money out of pocket, so it can be done.
Having said that, I think it was the cover art on Travis Bagwell's books that made me immediately gravitate to them. So different from typical LitRPG covers, yet so arresting in their own right. (I think he said his sister in law does them. Lucky him.)
The Crafting of Chess kind of fits from what I remember. There are plots about past situations, game company things, but most of what he MC does meets that description.
https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Chess-LitRPG-adventure-ebook/dp/B07P1YRHTX
Spinward an artifical dreamstate novel also works. It takes place almost entirely in the game.
https://www.amazon.com/Spinward-Artificial-Dream-State-Novel-ebook/dp/B01KQOSHYK
Also look at: You need a bigger sword, Battle Spire, Codename Freedom, Stonehaven league.
I feel like A Practical Guide to Evil would hands-down be number one on this list if more people agree'd with me that it was a litrpg piece. The main character class development and abilities are straight out of the genre in my opinion, but there is no overt acknowledgement of this in the text. I can't recommend all four of these enough. Worth the Candle and a Practical Guide are both available free via the author's websites, so they have that going for them also.
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/20451/who-says-this-ol-cant-become-a-splendid-slime
Office Lady reincarnated as a slime. A little worried that the author's slowing down is turning into the author stopping this series.
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https://www.amazon.com/That-Reincarnated-Slime-light-novel-ebook/dp/B076H132D2/ref=pd_cp_351_1/131-0686409-1127854?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B076H132D2&pd_rd_r=1040ec8c-2170-481c-b955-6b04dc76527e&pd_rd_w=glHS3&pd_rd_wg=hzJUj&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=N3XZPC8B5H02AJQ4705Q&psc=1&refRID=N3XZPC8B5H02AJQ4705Q
Office Worker reincarnated as a slime. Really fun series, Eventually City management/politics with big battles.
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https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/20568/tree-of-aeons-an-isekai-story
Guy reincarnates as a sentient tree. Slow paced skill growth into city building/unit management.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQMYQT5/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
Reincarnated as a Lovecraftian horror: Yuri princess edition
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Oh, just noticed you also said born as a monster....
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/8894/everybody-loves-large-chests
MC is a monster, one of the best litrpg monster series I've read, HOWEVER, it does have lots of raunchy NSFW content mixed in there. The Amazon versions (starting with https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076NSQ6JT/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title ) toned down the sex scenes but it does still have a lot of them.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NNWZT9M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3
A skeleton from an world set up like an RPG gets teleported in space and begins a Sci-Fi adventure on an abandoned spaceport.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078KGS4V4?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_pwh_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
Toy Golem leveling up and fighting to rescue his owner.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071LHHY85/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
A goblin joins a camp of bandits.
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So, so many reincarnated as a dungeon core novels, but not sure if that fits in with your "monster" request.
https://www.amazon.com/Re-Start-Level-Up-Book-LitRPG-ebook/dp/B07CKRMLJB Is finished. Good read to, though i wish there was more!
The Dungeon Lord name kept me from reading the series for quite a while. The format of common noun + common noun usually heralds nothing good, but while the series is pretty mediocre, it's top-tier LitRPG because most LitRPG is trash.
For a while, I didn't read Mother of Learning, as the title puts me in mind of those translated light novels that are always rendered in broken, over the top, anime style English. The opening paragraphs and even the first chapter aren't really anything remarkable either, but once the story gets going it gets really good.
Cradle series by Will Wight
Good series, not sure if id consider it strictly pure litrpg but still has the idea of leveling and learning skills etc. Deffo worth a read though!
I recently finished Hero of Thera by Eric Nylund. I enjoyed the story and almost all of the plot threads were wrapped up in the end. Nylund's writing and experience from the Halo franchise shine here, differentiating it from most litrpg's.
If you like larger scale combat and a mc who commands soldiers with a roman army vibe, you might enjoy my Limitless lands series. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G7GWFFL. Book 1 is out on audio, book 2 should be done around the end of December/early January.
I recommend Threadbare which is a series of three books and about ~320K words. Completed and on Amazon, also available on SpaceBattles and Sufficient Velocity.
Ohh. I see.
Cradle Series
Overgeared
Red Mage
The Gam3
Limitless Lands
Divine Dungeon
Mirror World
The Good guys
War Aeternus
Dest March
Bushido Online
Dark Elf Chronicles
Djinn Tamer
Hero of Thera
Morning Wood
The Two Week Curse
Party Hard
Axe Druid
Ryan DeBruyn
Equalize: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG (Ether Collapse Book 1)
The way of the shaman
Galactagon
You forgot the link :) https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reset-LitRPG-Novel-Online-ebook/dp/B074N1P685
Crafting of Chess gives us a sense of the rl characters life and issues
https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Chess-LitRPG-adventure-ebook/dp/B07P1YRHTX/ref=nodl_.
Paradise Clash follows a pi who is hunting a missing person in a game
https://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Clash-Bounty-L-Price-ebook/dp/B07Q8WQPSR/ref=nodl_
the good guys series and delvers llc
Ruins of Majesta and sequel (more to come). Depends on if he's good with snark between the main characters.
The Good Guys: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HS2MP8D/
[The Crafting of Chess](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P1YRHTX/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1550725087&sr=1-1&keywords=crafting+of+chess)
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My book just got up. I would like it on this list.
I would highly recommend The Coiling Dragon series if you enjoy longer time scales. Fair warning, initially the time scales are not huge, but they get longer and longer as the MC progresses.
Coiling Dragon: Book 1 of the Coiling Dragon Saga https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FRGNGMJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qXCUDbEVVMBBS
Life Reset is my favorite Town Building book. Not sure if it matches the scale you are looking for as far as the building goes though.
I'd recommend Hugo Huesca's Dungeon Lord. It hits all/most of your likes, and very few/any of your dislikes.
Dungeon Lord might be worth looking into.
Advent by Xander Boyce: https://www.amazon.com/Advent-Red-Mage-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07HMLK6JP/
Just read it, it's really good
edit: Hmm, the ebook was release October 5th but it seems to have been available on royalroad before that. Not sure if that counts as a october release then
Cradle series by Will Wight.
https://www.amazon.com/Unsouled-Cradle-Book-Will-Wight-ebook/dp/B01H1CYBS6/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=cradle+will+wight&qid=1563374918&s=gateway&sprefix=cradle+wil&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Last Horizon : Beta - https://www.amazon.com/Last-Horizon-Beta-Daniel-Schinhofen-ebook/dp/B01M1MUC76/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481679084&sr=1-1&keywords=last+horizon
Ascend Online - https://www.amazon.com/Ascend-Online-Luke-Chmilenko-ebook/dp/B01M01ET8E/ref=pd_sim_351_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01M01ET8E&pd_rd_r=1BDVG5RGH85K4YT0TXRN&pd_rd_w=hzRJZ&pd_rd_wg=k0sHQ&psc=1&refRID=1BDVG5RGH85K4YT0TXRN
Spinward - https://www.amazon.com/Spinward-Artificial-Dream-State-Novel-ebook/dp/B01KQOSHYK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1481679158&sr=1-1&keywords=spinward
Hero of Thera?
try "life reset"
https://www.amazon.com/Restart-Level-Up-Book-LitRPG-ebook/dp/B07CKRMLJB/ kinda sorta?
Also, Limitless Lands.
https://www.amazon.com/Limitless-Lands-Commanders-LitRPG-Adventure-ebook/dp/B07G7GWFFL
https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Song-Book-Anthem-Infinity-ebook/dp/B07HD2VQ9W
Cowritten by Blaise Corvin and Outspan Foster
It is, I think this should be the link for you Conor: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Advent-Red-Mage-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07HMLK6JP
Advent (Red Mage Book 1)
Shadow Sun: Survival maybe?
Life reset is the first
book in what looks like it will
be a revenge story: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B074N1P685
__
^^^-english_haiku_bot
Life reset is the first book in what looks like it will be a revenge story:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B074N1P685
the cover looks like it, but just stumbled across - no idea how it is
https://www.amazon.com/First-Song-Book-Anthem-Infinity-ebook/dp/B07HD2VQ9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1537126075&sr=1-1
First Song, Book One (Anthem of Infinity 1)
Reborn Apocalypse, sorry gave the wrong name.
And here's the link to Azyl Academy if you want to read it.
Oh boy I'm about to say some risky shit. Ok if you are new new to the genre I recommend "The Land: Founding" by Aleron Kong https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0172GEB68?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
The reason is he does quality work and you will probably enjoy them. The reason I said it was risky is many people have problems with him IRL. My suggestion is to ignore all of that and check out the books.
Try one more last time. https://www.amazon.com/One-More-Last-Time-GameLit-ebook/dp/B07HS2MP8D/ref=nodl_#
Short reads, coming out fast and furious
MC is stubborn and just doing what they want.
Ruins of Majesta .99 cents before book 2.1 release.
Hello all,
Ruins of majesta Vol 2.1 will be out on the 27th of September. it's up for preorder now. https://www.amazon.com/Ruins-Majesta-Vol-Creatures-Cupcakes-ebook/dp/B07Y28S36X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=majesta&qid=1569209274&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
if you haven't read Book one, it will be on sale for .99 cents until then. https://www.amazon.com/Ruins-Majesta-Vol-Blood-Cupcakes-ebook/dp/B07CRPGGCX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I'm a part-time author, 19 books, 20th out early next year. And although a long time ago I wrote a book that prefigures LitRPG in a lot of ways, I've been on a steep learning curve this year to catch up with where LitRPG is at. Firstly, as a reader, I've come to appreciate that the usual criteria for enjoying a book don't fully apply. I get hooked by following an MC in a gaming system, especially one with levels and skill tipping points and stay up much later than I intended to read on. This despite weak stories, poor writing, errors, etc. I'm into literary fiction as well and appreciate a book that leaves me deeply moved. But these days I'd rather read LitRPG. Of course, I prefer well-written LitRPG (Kit Falbo's Crafting of Chess and Travis Bagwell's Awaken Online spring to mind) but it's really interesting that there is a hook in LitRPG done right which is, frankly, new to fiction. If an author comes to the genre thinking they understand it (me a year ago) but don't deliver that sweet, addictive engagement with progressing in the game, then that author is going to disappoint readers, and see correspondingly negative posts. My experience here in the reddit community though, has been overwhelmingly positive and nothing like the territorial hostility and downright bullying I've seen in the LitRPG / GameLit Facebook groups. I think the reddit community is now so large that proprietorial authors and their epigones can no longer whip up a storm against new writers.
TL;DR: you should come back to the genre.