Main Book List
He/Him
[Note: As this is more or less a rec thread, traditional necro rules don't apply. If you have a rec to add to my list, or you have a significant review of one of the existing entries (something considerably more then 'I liked this' or 'this sucked') then please feel free to post regardless of thread status.]
[Note 2: I've been thinking about this for a bit, and rather than having the deciding factors for whether or not you're interested in one of the entries on my list being restricted to the amazon summary, amazon reviews, or my rather shallow bits of research I'm going to steal an idea from the Ranma fanfiction rec thread and include in each entry a list of Spacebattlers who like it or dislike it. Just so I don't put someone's name on something they didn't intend please use this specific format so I know for sure you want your name on it.
Title: insert title here
Recommended by: your name here
or
Scorned by: your name here]
Main Article
The litRPG genre was recently brought up in the Copacetic thread over in Creative Writing and made me aware that Spacebattles doesn't have anything on this new genre. Frustratingly it's not officially recognized as an actual genre anywhere but Russia so finding good info on it is difficult. Since I went to some effort to outline the genre and in a later PM form a fairly comprehensive list of existing works I thought I might make a thread here so others can share in the info.
In a nutshell this genre is fiction about people: a) in Virtual Reality MMORPGs, trapped or otherwise (a la Sword Art Online), b) mysteriously transported into traditional MMORPG worlds (a la Log Horizon), c) transported into random fictional worlds that happen to run on vaguely RPG like rules, or d) the real world starts operating on RPG logic (a la The Gamer). Mostly type A. It's popular in Korea, Russia, and to a lesser extent Japan but unfortunately this genre is basically unknown in the English speaking world. Thankfully someone took a gamble and the better ones are starting to be translated into English, or at least the Russian ones are.
One other thing I should mention about litRPG. There are two major schools of thought on it, the Korean one and the Russian one. Korean style litRPG are all about the grind. Don't expect the character of a Korean style litRPG book to hit double digit levels by the end of the first book. Russian style books on the other hand are all about the end-game, much like a lot of American MMORPGs these days. Expect some series of unlikely events and/or a timeskip to catapult the main character's level up into the at least the thirty's very quickly. Both have their pros and cons, and really depend on personal preference.
The defining feature that sets litRPG fiction apart from other fiction that makes use of gaming and/or virtual reality is the focus on the fictional game's mechanics. Use of interactive gaming language, such as the inclusion of various system messages, players' stats, items' characteristics, and other elements appreciated by gamers are common. Two of the primary ways of judging a work's quality that are unique to litRPG are how reasonable the fictional game's mechanics are, and how believably the author bends them for and against the protagonist.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that wish fulfillment is a staple of this genre. This is hardly new for escapist fiction, but some litRPG books can be rather heavy handed about it.
Below is a fairly comprehensive list of litRPG novels written in, or translated into, English. I haven't read them all so I have minimal information on a lot of them. All links are for Amazon.ca since I'm Canadian and favor the kindle format. If you favor another format then you can paste the titles into your preferred format's webstore to see if they have a copy. Alternatively you can convert kindle format to your own. Calibre is a free software that will allow you to convert any ebook format into any other format. Though you'll possibly need a DRM stripper first since DRM will prevent conversion. I use epubsoft for that. Not free, but worth the price in my opinion.
Changelog
Table of Contents
Play to Live series by D. Rus
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new pandemic - the perma effect - has taken over Earth of the near future. Whenever you play your favorite online game, beware: your mind might merge with the virtual world and dump its comatose host. Woe be to those stuck forever in Tetris! And still they're the lucky ones compared to those burning alive eternally within the scorched hulls of tank simulators.
But some unfortunates - the handicapped and the terminally ill, shell-shocked army vets, wronged crime victims and other society misfits - choose to flee real life willingly, escaping to the limitless world of online sword and sorcery MMORPGs.
Once a seasoned gamer and now a terminal cancer patient, Max grasps at this final chance to preserve his life and identity. So he goes for it - goes for the promise of immortality shared with a few trusty friends and the woman he loves. Together they roam the roads of AlterWorld and sample its agony and ecstasy born of absolute freedom.
My comments:
First and foremost I'd recommend this. It's fantasy based and of the 'stuck in a VR Game' sub-type. It's of the Russian school, so rapid leveling, but unlike some others I've read this author makes it believable. The only real complaints I have are the author is a little sexist, and the latter books start moving away from the RPG stuff and towards traditional fantasy. The first three books are amazing but it starts going a bit down hill after that. I still strongly recommend it though. This series is now complete.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - AlterWorld
Book 2 - The Clan
Book 3 - The Duty
Book 4 - Inferno
Book 5 - The Battle
Book 6 - The War
Book 7 - The Ultimation
The Way of the Shaman series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Barliona. A virtual world jam-packed with monsters, battles - and predictably, players. Millions of them come to Barliona, looking forward to the things they can't get in real life: elves and magic, dragons and princesses, and unforgettable combat. The game has become so popular that players now choose to spend months online without returning home. In Barliona, anything goes: you can assault fellow players, level up, become a mythical hero, a wizard or a legendary thief. The only rule that attempted to regulate the game demanded that no player was allowed to feel actual pain.
But there's an exception to every rule. For a certain bunch of players, Barliona has become their personal hell. They are criminals sent to Barliona to serve their time. They aren't in it for the dragons' gold or the abundant loot. All they want is to survive the virtual inferno. They face the ultimate survival quest.
My comments:
After Play to Live I'd probably recommend this. Another Russian one. Fantasy based, stuck in VR, and Russian school. The pacing of the first book, and the way the author bends the game mechanics for and against the protagonist, is not quite as smooth as in the Play to Live series, but there also doesn't seem to be any inclination to move away from the RPG stuff like Play to Live did either. Things improve in book two and even more in book three and four. A solid read and I definitely recommend it.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Survival Quest
Book 2 - The Kartoss Gambit
Book 3 - The Secret of the Dark Forest
Book 4 - The Phantom Castle
Book 5 - The Karmadont Chess Set
bonus story (after book 5) - The Hour of Pain
Mirror World series by Alexey Osadchuk
Amazon summary (of first book):
The ads enthused, “The virtual lands of Mirror World await you! Live out your most secret dreams in our world of Sword and Sorcery! Become a Great Wizard or a Famous Warrior! Build your own castle, tame a dragon, conquer a kingdom! All those desperate, lonely and insecure - Mirror World offers you a chance!”
But Oleg isn’t meant to become a great wizard or a famous warrior. He’ll never have a castle of his own. Neither will he ever tame a dragon. And he’s definitely not the type to conquer a kingdom, however virtual it may be.
Oleg is doomed to toil away in the recesses of Mirror World’s mines. His goal is to raise enough money for a heart transplant for his dying six-year-old daughter. The clock is ticking. Will he make it?
My comments:
My third recommendation would be here. Another Russian author following the Fantasy based, VR type, Russian school path. What makes this one interesting is the protagonist isn't in it for fun or glory or even survival, he's a father trying to raise money for a heart transplant for his young daughter. The other interesting aspect of this series is the protagonist isn't a combat specialist, and in fact there's virtually no combat at all (at least so far). He's a non-combat skiller, mining specifically. It's really interesting and well done. Two books currently available. I might even rank this above The Way of the Shaman series. Once it gets a few more books I probably well. Update: Book 3 moves away from the non-combat skilling aspects and into the more traditional combat focus aspects. I didn't particularly care for this change but I know a lot of readers will like it.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko, Grist, auduni, heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Project Daily Grind
Book 2 - The Citadel
Book 3 - The Way of the Outcast
Galactogon series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Twelve players set off through the online world of Galaktogon, lured by the game owners' promise of an enormous payoff. The question is, who will survive to tell the tale? Which of the twelve is a potential hero - or a traitor in the making? Which of them will defend the weak and who will become the ultimate evil overlord?
A knight or a coward? Each of the twelve will have to choose his or her path. Each will keep a poker face. But if the billion-pound prize calls your name, you can't conceal your choice. And you will do everything to lay your hands on it.
My comments:
Next on the list is a little different. It's another by Vasily Mahanenko so Russian school and VR is a go. But in a slight departure, the game is sci fi based rather then fantasy. Personally I favor the fantasy based ones but there seem to be more and more of the sci fi ones coming out. Only one book so far. Much like with The Way of the Shaman series, the first book's pacing is rushed, even worse here. There aren't any stats or levels in this game, it's all gear based and the protagonist stumbles from one set of increasingly powerful gear to the next in leaps that strain suspension of disbelief at times. But hopefully like The Way of the Shaman the pacing will settle down after the first book. I still think it's worth a look at.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Start The Game
The Universe Online series by Ryan 'Viken' Henning
Amazon summary (of first book):
My name is Allec Renn, and I was born with ALS.
Even with our modern technology, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cannot be treated or cured. I've been bed or chair bound since I was a kid. The advent of Virtual Reality technology has given me a chance for a new life. Or rather dozens of them. Heh.
I'm an avid gamer, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
In the games I could be what I wanted to be, who I wanted to be. A mighty warrior, a powerful spellcaster, the charming rogue. The crafter. The builder. All of those and more have helped to greatly alleviated my problems.
But a new game is coming out; one with the power to change the world. It uses a brand new technology, based around the first ever deep immersion Dive Pod. With it there is no more game lag or graphical limits. It is being heralded as the greatest breakthrough in Virtual Reality technologies since its founding.
And the first and only game for it: Universe Online.
No longer will players be stuck on a single large world to explore. No longer will there a limit to what you can do, what you can be. Fly spaceships between the stars, conquer planets, create custom technology. Mine, Build, Destroy. Explore. Rule.
This is my story, and my path in Universe Online.
My comments:
Next up is the first of the American entries. Sci fi based and VR, but what school it's going to follow is still up in the air. Seems to be leaning more towards the Korean school than the Russian, if only by virtue of it still actually being in question by the end of the first book. The author releases this series as a part 1 and then later a part 2, then releases a complete edition. This feels like a cash grab to me. The first book complete edition is out, as is part 1 of the second book. The series didn't really grab me strongly enough to indulge the author in his greed so I've only read the first book. The writing is good quality and the fictional game is very interesting, I'd like to play it if it existed. What places this series so far down the list is the protagonist is too perfect, almost Sue'ish, and never really feels challenged any time in the book.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Enter the game (complete edition)
Book 2a - Rise of Rex: Part 1
Book 2b - Rise of Rex: Part 2
The Game Master series by Andrei Levitsky and Alex Bobl
Amazon summary (of first book):
As a shady blackmarket programmer, Ivan "Attila" is never short of customers. The gaming world of MMORPG always needs his services: all those knights and thieves, vendors and vagabonds, monsters and the undead populating the dangerous forests and castles of Gryad Online.
For Attila, things are looking up: the God's Eye, his latest cheat device, is awaiting its buyer. Now Attila can afford a costly virtual suit for a full immersion online experience. Provided the buyer - a burly half-orc Barbarian nicknamed Beast - sticks to his part of the deal.
But how much does he know about Beast, really? And what evil force is playing with
Gryad, disrupting its flow and locking thousands of players inside the game? Who is messing with the world's gears, summoning the spawn of the Dark from their underground tunnels and lairs? And how can Attila and his reluctant companions stop evil from taking over their new world?
My comments:
Next up is back to the Russians. Only one book so far. Fantasy based and trapped in VR. School-wise it goes it's own way, more interested in the adventure than in traditional game play. More cyberpunk, less litRPG. That is in my opinion to its detriment. The other thing that puts this so far down my list is the main characters aren't very likable. It's only a border-line rec.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Lag
End Online series by D. Wolfin
Amazon summary (of first book):
Is a second chance possible?
After being involved in a terrible accident I was left in a wheelchair, with the only modern treatment costing more than I could ever imagine. The society I live in is a segregated one, where it may not spoken aloud but everyone knows their place.
In my turmoil, I turned to virtual reality, a brand new virtual reality MMO game called 'End Online' where I could once again walk. Perhaps in this second world I will get another chance.
Only, things never go as planned.
-Hollis Silvester
My comments:
Next up is an Australian rather than the more common Russian. Fantasy based and VR. This is the first on my list that is definitely the Korean school, this is all about the grind. This is also a web serial that's being self-published by the author. There are six books of which five have been published. (I own and have read the first two) The books are short (~200 pages) and kinda expensive (~$5). I like the characters and the plot, but on a technical level it could use another coat of polish. Maybe I'm just a snob, but I need my fiction to be above a certain technical level or I just can't enjoy it and this one falls just a little short. Maybe it improves in later books, and I probably will eventually give them a try, but I doubt I'll be paying for them. I would personally advise if you're interested in this to just go read the web serial, which is free, and pay later if you enjoy it.
Recommended by: Grist
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - Volume 4
Book 5 - Volume 5
Book 6 - Volume 6
The Web Serial
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor series by Nam Hi-Sung
Wikipedia summary:
Tells the story of Lee Hyun, a hardworking young man suffering from a life of poverty. Forced to work throughout his childhood and adolescence, his most redeeming trait is his perseverance. His tenacity is reflected in a once immensely popular game called Continent of Magic. A game in which his character "Weed" is undisputed as the absolute best. When he decides to focus on working, he sells his character online, and sparks a bidding war that concludes at 3,090,000,000 won (about 3,000,000 usd). As soon as he finds out, nearly all the money Lee Hyun earns is taken by debt collectors. This triggers him to vows to single-mindedly devote himself to making money in the new virtual reality game, Royal Road.
My comments:
The one that started it all: The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. I really liked everything about this except for the very amateur translation. I can't really blame them since it's just a fan translation but the lack of technical polish just killed any enjoyment for me. Maybe your standards in this area are less than mine.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor fan translations (link removed do to possible conflict with the SB warez rule)
NextWorld trilogy by Jaron Lee Knuth
Amazon summary (of first book):
The never-ending wars, pollution, and overpopulation of the near future have caused the outdoors to become uninhabitable, and the government is forced to create a new world, a virtual existence that allows civilization to continue. Shopping malls, schools, concert venues, and religious gathering places all exist in the infinite confines of this new reality, yet the most popular domain for most teenagers is the one that houses the endless array of digital games.
When the sequel to a popular title is released to the public for a special beta test, a group of players eagerly log in to try out the new experience. What seems like harmless violence quickly turns all too consequential when the players realize the game's biggest error: They can't log out. Forced to battle their way through an endless army of monsters programmed to kill their avatars, the players must fight against the clock and find a way out of the game before the real world catches up to them.
My comments:
I really didn't care for it, primarily because the main character is an unlikable brat at the start and is only barely tolerable by the end. It's also based on a FPS with a smattering of RPG elements rather than the pure RPG of other litRPG books. The reviews on Amazon are generally favorable so it might just be me though. There are three books for this series, of which I've only read the first. The standard blending of sci fi and fantasy elements you get in a lot of shooters. Trapped in VR type. Much like The Game Master series, this is more concerned about exploring its adventure plot than in game mechanics, at least in the first book.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Kuro_Neko
Book 1 - Level Zero
Book 2 - Spawn Point
Book 3 - End Code
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Amazon summary:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
My comments:
Despite hearing a lot of good things about this, I haven't gotten to it simply because the publisher is being greedy. $11 for a five year old ebook? Actual paper books are cheaper than that. So this will probably languish on my to be read list for a while. It's VR and Russian School.
Recommended by: Grist
Scorned by: heridfel
Ready Player One
Phantom Server series by Andrei Livadny
Amazon summary (of first book):
He is a cyber dweller. A gamer who's grown up in the web of virtual illusion woven from hundreds of phantom worlds. His biggest dream is to dump the real world for good.
His desperate hunger of new experiences forces him to take a risk and become one of the first proud owners of a neuronet implant. The new gadget becomes part of him - but soon it's not enough. If only he could finally burn all his bridges and make a step beyond the real world!
He soon gets this opportunity. A new universe, overflowing with mystery and unimaginable, mind-blowing authenticity, opens up before him.
This is Phantom Server. The game of the future where your pursuit of an adrenaline rush soon turns into a battle for survival. But the most terrifying mystery lies ahead when you gradually start to realize: this is a road of no return. Your every decision may become your last. Your every step leads you further along the abyss between life and death.
My comments:
Sci fi based and trapped in VR. Russian school as well.This is probably number one on my to be read list. I've read the first book in this now and have purchase the second. It's solid, but it tends to minimize the use of game mechanics a bit more than most litRPG in favor of space opera themes. I liked it well enough to finish the first and purchase the second, but I'm not in any hurry to read it. Second book read. It was a little dull in the first quarter but picked up nicely after that, right up until the end where they throw in a twist that makes no sense. Third book bought, just to see if they can recover from this train-wreck. Update: third book read. In my opinion the author did not recover at all from the train-wreck, in fact he doubled down.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Edge of Reality
Book 2 - The Outlaw
Book 3 - Black Sun
The Gam3 series by Cosimo Yap
Amazon summary (of first book):
The Earth is changing. The alien invasion brought social upheaval, advanced technology, and an armada of peacekeeping robots. But Alan, a college student pursuing a now-useless degree, cares little about all of this. He has only one thing on his mind: the Game.
A fully immersive virtual reality, the Game appears to be a major part of the invading civilization. Alan can't wait to play, recklessly diving into the digital universe. Soon though, Alan realizes the Game is anything but simple, and the stakes are higher than he ever imagined.
My comments:
Sci fi based and VR. Don't know anything about the author or what school they follow. This looks interesting and is probably number two on my to be read list. This is also a self-published web serial which is still available for free. Try it there and then buy if you enjoy it. Thanks to Wizig for the web serial link.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Opening Moves
Web Serial
Perimeter Defense series by Michael Atamanov
Amazon summary (of first book):
A strange body that refuses to obey you; a weird game you can't quit until your contract expires; a world teeming with powerful and very real enemies. The game in which your reputation and faction relationship are the only things that matter.
These are the conditions of the agreement Ruslan signs without reading. The only thing he remembers is that he's been contracted to command a space fleet in a brand new game he knows nothing about. Objective: to survive for six months. After having made some inevitable newb mistakes, Ruslan has to rethink his strategy, dropping traditional gaming conventions. But what will it cost him? What new trials and tribulations await him that even the game designers have failed to anticipate?
My comments:
Another Russian series. Sci fi based. VR style. No idea of the school, but probably Russian considering the author. I'll probably read this eventually simply because the premise looks interesting, but everything I've heard about it says its very light on the litRPG elements and heavy on the Space Opera.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Sector Eight
Book 2 - Beyond Death
Book 3 - New Contract
Chronicle of the Eternal series by D. Wolfin
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the year XX, the human population exhausted the world’s resources, leading to cataclysmic environment changes and the imminent extinction of all life on the planet. Frantic space exploration became the world's focus, but failed to find a new world for the human race. In desperation, humanity went digital. Minds were scanned, encoded, and transferred to the virtual world of Grandosa. Manual labor and power production were entirely automated. Reproduction among those once human is now a cold, sterile affair fraught with new complications.
Regal is a young boy who was born 222 years after the inception of Grandosa. He is what is referred to as a Soulless; someone accused of lacking a soul due to diminished emotions and driven by logic. His parents abandoned him, choosing the Eternal Rest. He is left with no one to rely on other than himself as a series of unfortunate events force him to adjust his outlook on life.
Regal's school years teach him that there is more to this world than meets the eye. What he doesn't yet realize is that his future is full of turmoil that will threaten his very existence. His only path through these trials is to rise above, to stand and defend a life that no one other than himself can see.
My comments:
This is another web serial turned self-published book series by the Aussie D. Wolfin. It was second after End Online so perhaps the writing quality has improved. Certainly the length of the book vs the cost has. I'll give it a try eventually, probably in web serial form first.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Web Serial
Hell's Glitch series by Belart Wright
Amazon summary (of first book):
A brand new LitRPG adventure for fans of dark adventure games. Inspired by a dark masterpiece.
Twenty years into the future, an independent virtual reality developer named Fulton Milner creates a VR program that is so immersive that it truly fools the mind. His program, a virtual resort, created such pleasurable immersion that he is soon recruited by a renown games studio. Here, one of Milner's projects, a virtual fantasy game, catches the eye of some investors and he is finally given the approval he needs to begin the project that would define his career. It's a dark fantasy adventure simulator known only as Project DH.
Sam Nagai thought testing videogames would be a dream job until he got saddled with a ton of barely playable mobile games that used very wonky holographic gimmicks. The lack of fun in these games and small pay makes Sam typically reluctant whenever he gets a call for a new gig, but customers for his art commissions have been scarce and Sam needs all the money he can get. He finally gets a call for a new gig with potential bonus pay, but not much else is known about the game itself. From what he does know, it sounds sort of interesting. Virtual reality, dark gothic fantasy world, role playing game mechanics, and uber hard difficulty? Sam's all in for that. After all, even if he gets in over his head, the simulation isn't truly real so there's not really any danger.
Join Sam in a virtual sword and sorcery role playing adventure where the main goal is survival at all costs. It's an adventure that's filled with diverse starting classes, customizable combat options, upgradeable weapons and armor, upgradeable statistics, open ended questlines, realistic NPCs with classically trained voice actors, a dark and atmospheric immersive game world, multiplayer content, eye popping creature designs, and so much more. Players say its the perfect blend of simulation and fantasy, where their imaginations can truly run wild.
**Note to readers: If any of you are sensitive to swearing, then this book isn't for you. There is copious swearing from the main character, Sam, that's mainly played as a character flaw/trait for laughs and dramatic effect.
My comments:
Dark fantasy based. VR. School unknown. Pretty obviously heavily based on Dark Souls. Looks alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Into a Dark Adventure
Book 2 - The Glitch Fiends Part 1
Origin A.R.S. series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
The life of a soldier can be a harsh and lonely existence. When a soldier leaves the service to be with the woman who he loves only to find out that she is pregnant with the child of another man, his story will usually end on a sad note. However, sometimes events occur that will send that man down an unexpected path in life...
Scott Jacobs, mentally and emotionally exhausted by a lifetime of people simply changing their minds in regards to how much they care about him, accepts an offer to play a game. However, that game turns out to be a true existence where people can become as strong as they desire if they are willing to work toward their dreams.
In this new world of opportunities he will gain levels, fight humorous monsters, and listen to interesting background music! It is the adventure of a lifetime, and he is ready to get that party started.
Danger and love await him around every corner, but what is the truth of this strange and interesting reality that works so much like an old school role playing game? In time, he may find out, but until then he will have to find a new place and a new purpose.
This story is slightly related to the story series known as Freelance Saga.The connection is a minor thing, but it is part of a related concept that will include several different world settings with a similarly named main character.
Consider these stories to be 'alternative universe settings' with a similar main lead. They are a collection of "What if" stories with a main character that has a lot in common with the other similarly named main characters, but each is their own existence with their own unique back story.
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. Author is American. It's VR. Has a fair bit of romance. Seems to be Russian school.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - Volume 4
Book 5 - Volume 5
Book 6 - Volume 6
Realm of Arkon series by G. Akella
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new update arrives to the ultra-popular online game, Realm of Arkon. With Patch 17, the level of immersion experienced by players in their gaming capsules has made virtual reality indistinguishable from the real world. But every gamer's dream becomes a nightmare for Roman Kozhevnikov after he gets confined to Arkon against his will. And not just to Arkon, but to its deadliest zone--Demon Grounds. Playing, or rather living as his character Krian, it's not just about survival for Roman. He longs to exact revenge for his banishment to the virtual world where the sensation of pain has reached one hundred percent...
My comments:
Another Russian entry. Fantasy based. VR. Probably Russian school. Looks interesting. Number three on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Patch 17
Book 2 - The Cursed Princedom
Book 3 - Steel Wolves of Craedia
Book 4 - Shadows of the Great Forest
Chaos Seeds series by Aleron Kong
Amazon summary (of first book):
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???
My comments:
Another American entry. Fantasy based, VR. School seems to be Russian at first glance. Number four on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Land: Founding
Book 2 - The Land: Forging
Book 3 - The Land: Alliances
Book 4 - The Land: Catacombs
Book 5 - The Land: Swarm
Book 6 - The Land: Raiders
The Dragon's Wrath series by Brent Roth
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Brent Roth suffered a workplace accident that rendered him temporarily immobile, he found himself lying in bed dreaming of a better life. He dreamed of a life where maintaining his health was no longer a daily struggle and then when he had lost all hope, he had discovered a new virtual reality game on the horizon. A VR-MMORPG that offered him everything he lacked in real life, everything that had eluded him.
A world where he could find adventure, companionship, and success all wrapped up in the singular package of The Dragon's Wrath. The game offered him a chance, a chance for salvation... a glimmer of hope.
It was better than a dream, it was a virtual dream.
My comments:
Another American Author. Seems Fantasy based. VR. Don't really know more.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - A Virtual Dream
Book 2 - Ashes of the Fallen
Book 3 - Shadows in the Flame
The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series by Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue
Amazon summary (of first book):
Death came on swift wings. A soul, blessed by a goddess, falls to the land and enters his new life. He clings to a single memory, the defining moment of his previous life. Now, he learns how to succeed in his new life, as a new dungeon heart. To become the best dungeon he can be, he partners with the one existence all dungeons need: his bonded Dungeon Pixie.
My comments:
This is one of the rarer types, person transported to a world with rpg rules, rather then the more common VR-MMORPG. Apparently has quite a few technical errors, I'm not sure if I'll be able to enjoy it, but the premise sounds interesting.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Slime Dungeon: Book 1
Book 2 - The Dungeon's Town
Book 3 - The Dungeon's Child
The Selfless Hero Trilogy by William D. Arand
Amazon summary (of first book):
Runner has a problem. He and 499,000 men and women are trapped in a game. He also just happens to be the only person from IT who could log everyone out safely. And he doesn't remember his password.
He, like everyone else in this nightmare, had their memories scrambled or lost in the process of being loaded into the game. A single garbled message is his only clue on how to save everyone.
The problem is that whoever loaded them into the game, loaded their minds completely. If they die, their brain gets wiped.
Now it's time for Runner to flex his skills as a power gaming min maxer and see what he can do. Because every time he levels, he might gain the memory of the password. Time to go Hardcore.
My comments:
Another American. Fantasy based as far as I can tell. Trapped in VR. Seems to be Russian school. Possible technical quality issues. Don't really know anything else.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Otherlife Dreams
Book 2 - Otherlife Nightmares
Book 3 - Otherlife Awakenings
Alternative Reality series by A. Uscila
Amazon summary (of first book):
Alternative Reality - the worlds’ first virtual reality game. A massive multiplayer online one. An opportunity for many to try out different things - to fill the void inside. Luke is no different. An average young adult, struggling with everyday life - living from one day to the other. Only partially employed, living alone.
In Alternative Reality though, he’s Wail. A slightly insane adventuring magician, enjoying a life full of challenges and innocent fun. How will his attempts at finding fulfillment inside virtual reality end?
My comments:
Very short books, but also very cheap. Fantasy based. VR. School unknown. Interesting for the fact that the protagonist has no interest in being a hero, he's after the loot and nothing more. Looks ok.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Vol 1; Part 1
Book 2 - Vol 1; Part 2
Book 3 - Vol; Part 3
Zectas series by John Nest
Amazon summary (of first book):
At eighteen years old, Nash Smoak maintained three jobs. He worked as an assistant to the cook in a small diner, he was shadily hired as a construction worker, and worked as an attendant at a game arcade. Nash needed to take on these jobs in order to support his two brothers and sickly Grandma. Ever since the tragic accident of his parents’ death, he took it upon himself to support his family. After being worked to the bone, Nash found a sacred place, his paradise of relief - the virtual reality world of Zectas. However, his only sanctuary was destroyed when a group of high-level players used him as bait in one of their quests. Nash was captured and tortured by a sadistic Boss monster! Little did they know that this incident would cause the birth of the Legendary User Smoke!
My comments:
This is another self-published work. I believe it was originally a web serial but I can't find any information on it. A translator is listed in the writing credits so it was probably in another language. Everything I've heard about this is it's a good story creatively but horribly edited and/or translated. I'm including this here for completeness sake, but I doubt I'll ever look at it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Enigmatic Village of Nanahuatl
Book 2 - The Heraldic City of Coatl
Book 3 - Malediction of Veneficatl Valley
Book 4 - The Salubrious City of Centzo
Book 5 - The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn
Book 6 - The Delusive Realm of Mictlan
The Chaos Wave series by Justin Johanson
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2055. Virtual Reality has been around for nearly forty years, and the Full Sensation Dive System has been around for about thirty. The various countries of Earth have long since given up on Warring against each other in this dimension when it turned out that with the FSDS (Full Sensation Dive System) virtual worlds became real, especially once Richard Alonzo Albeque’s AIQNPC (Artificial Intelligence Quest and Non-Player Character) System was released and spread like a wild virus across all the active MMOs.
People vanished from their Dive system, leaving nothing behind of the person they were, and the Characters they were in game become locked out, and no longer responsive to the System. In addition to this, they are suddenly showing up on ALL servers of a game at the same time, almost as if they were now an NPC. The governments put a stop to all distribution of FSDS Technology, and keep an eye on these ‘Digitized Players’.
Ten years pass and one of the first ever Digitized Players, a Level 500 Catgirl by the name of Atreya the Dawnbirth, created a stable portal between their MMO and Earth. With the return of one of the players, the governments remove the bans on FSDS Technology, which has still been researched heavily while under the ban. Wars break out over control of Virtual Worlds, but these wars are all fought ON the Virtual World, so the Earth isn’t polluted further.
Immortality is now available to all who seek it, if you can find a World to call your own. Of course, nobody paid attention to one of the few warnings Atreya brought back with her… The NPCs sometimes became sentient and disobeyed coding laws.
My comments:
Can't find anything about this author. From the summary, this seems to base its start point on a mingling of the real world and game worlds, which is an aspect many readers, myself included, don't really care for. Can't say this one appeals to me very strongly.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Divine Adventure: Part 1
World at War Online series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new world awaits! Step into the virtual reality of World at War, and experience a revolution like none other. Explore a vast open world and shape it how you wish. From a soldier on the front lines, to a master strategist at the rear, to a crafter making ammunition to feed the insatiable hunger of battle, all will have a part to play. Band together with other players to conquer regions and create virtual empires of your own. But beware: others may have the same designs as you, and they may not be eager to share...
World at War is the most ambitious virtual world game in history. Virtual reality games have existed for years, but this will be the first with a true virtual world. Financial commentators have called it an insane risk. Scientists have hailed it as the beginning of a new technological revolution. To gamers, it was one thing: amazing. For three long years, they have waited with anticipation for its release, and now the new world is upon them. But a new frontier comes with many unknowns, and players will need to learn how to survive in the game's harsh virtual world. And what influence is the game having on their real world selves?
Zach Wofford was a beta player, and knows first-hand what an amazing experience World at War will be. Together, with just a small band of his friends, he will make something great in the virtual world, or go down fighting in the attempt. But he knows that just a few players will never do; they will need a bigger group to survive the myriad of enemies hoping to pick their bones. A lone wolf will be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, but a pack, that's something to be feared.
Join the members of Black Wolf Company as they experience the early days of World at War. Battles will be fought, friendships will be formed, trust will be broken. Their lives in two worlds will be changed forever. But through all this, one question will still remain.
In a World at War...
What's your battle?
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. American author I think. VR. War sim. A lot of books at very reasonable prices. Beyond that, nothing.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Black Wolf
Book 2 - Howl
Book 3 - Fang
Book 4 - Werewolf
Book 5 - Deception City
Book 6 - Carnage City
Book 7 - Commando City
Book 8 - Dead City
Book 9 - Victory City
Short Story Anthology - Hydra
Short Story Anthology 2 - Hydra 2.0
World at War Online: Companions
Book 1 - Knight
The Bathrobe Knight series by Charles Dean
Amazon summary (of first book):
Darwin, a video game addict, was sitting in his bathrobe and slippers playing his favorite MMO on a Christmas night when an uninvited guest breaks into his house to steal his belongings. After the scuffle is over he finds himself transported into one of the sword and magic RPG-style MMOs that he has always loved to play, albeit one he has never heard of, where he has to overcome trials and tribulations at every turn as he fights for his life alongside new companions.
My comments:
Another web serial turned self-published novel series. This is one of the rarer 'transported to a world with rpg rules' type. Don't know anything more. Give it a try for free then buy if you want to.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - The Merchant of Tiqpa
Web Serial
Continue Online series by Stephan Morse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The future is filled with self-driving cars, virtual realities, chore completing machines, and super fast internet connections. Yet all these technological innovations cannot prevent tragedy. Three years ago Grant Legate lost that which he loved most. His carefully built life fell apart in the wake of depression.
Now Grant spends most days working endless hours as a companion to an AI. Their mission is simple, to repair broken machines that humanity uses to visit virtual realities. Unintended hard work pays off as his boss forces Grant to take a vacation and try the latest game craze Continue Online, a fantasy world with the freedom to play any role one might choose.
Upon entry into the game, he meets the AIs who rule over this digital world and they’re nothing like what he expected from a video game world. Grant starts his journey into the virtual world from a very different perspective, and he is only one part of an AI agenda that will end up impacting all of humanity.
My comments:
This is yet another self-published web serial, though from the reviews the writing quality seems higher than your average web serial. They also seem to imply that this might not actually be litRPG at all, more like Snow Crash or Otherlands in that it uses VR to explore the human condition. *shrug* The reviews are split on that. So I'll throw it on this list just in case.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Memories
Book 2 - Made
Book 3 - Realities
Book 4 - Crash
Book 5 - Together
World of Valdira series by Dem Mikhaylov
Amazon summary (of first book):
A world full of adventures, ancient mysteries and monsters hungering for your demise. A world where anyone can achieve their greatest dream, and become who they wish – a successful trader, a wise anchorite, a brave warrior or a battle mage who can control disastrous elemental powers. But don’t expect that the path to your dream will be simple! The path to the top is long, if ever you can reach it.
My comments:
Another Russian entry. Fantasy based. Very poor translation. Don't know anything more. Probably not something I'll try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Way of the Clan
Book 2 - The Way of the Clan 2
Book 3 - The Way of the Clan 3
Book 4 - The Way of the Clan 4
Book 5 - The Way of the Clan 5
Book 6 - The Way of the Clan 6
Shepherd's Wolf by M. Andrew Reid
Amazon summary:
Verdia is the greatest game ever played - a virtual world that blurs the line between imagination and reality. Many play for power and fame; others play to escape the pain and loneliness of real life.
One boy, paralyzed at birth, knows no other world. For Ben Shepherd, Verdia is home.
The Shepherd is Verdia’s most famous and mysterious blacksmith, constructing armor and weapons for elite and wealthy players while hiding from public view. Players ponder the Shepherd’s true identity, and Ben creates his masterpieces in isolation.
Ben discovers friendship in the form of an enormous white wolf - a creature unique in all of Verdia. As news of the boy and his wolf spreads, Ben becomes the target of greed, envy, and fear; Ben’s tranquil life is shattered.
A band of strangers, united by compassion, will battle a perilous landscape and unrelenting enemies to deliver the Shepherd and his wolf to a new home.
To succeed, they must enlist the help of an enemy - a player who is as powerful as he is hated.
They will discover that a small group of friends can face impossible odds, and that a hero can hide beneath a villain’s mask.
My comments:
Fantasy based and VR. Stand alone novel. Can't really say anything else. Looks alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Shepherd's Wolf
Seeds of Chaos series by Azalea Ellis
Amazon summary (of first book):
My name is Eve Redding, and I am the new god.
I didn’t want this. I would have fled from it, if I could. The monstrous creators of the Game forced me to play, fighting for my life on a beautiful, vicious alien planet. When a Player wins, the miraculous rewards allow us to upgrade the things that make us weak. At first, I was enamored by the ability to augment everything about myself—to be come smarter, stronger, prettier…better.
But after that first Trial, I would have done anything to escape the Game. I needed power to protect myself and those I care about. So I took it.
They say there is no escaping the Game, except through death.
But I’m the type to cling to life by the tips of my bloody fingernails.
My comments:
This looks quite good and as a bonus it seems to be the rare type d. With type d specific settings basis and schools of writing go out the window, they're pretty unique. Which is one of the reasons why there are so few of them compared to the other types. Thanks to TheLastOne for bringing this to my attention, definitely going on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Gods of Blood and Bone
Ingame series by Kieron Uchee
Amazon summary:
Ingame
A world where magic is real. Where being Human just means you are not a Dwarf or an Elf. See a cynical young man who is working towards getting past level one. Add some rich powerful old people trying to take over the Ingame world. Throw in a abandoned haunted orphanage, a mysterious dragon and Gods that cannot be trusted. Add a huge city and young Donators buying their way through the game. Ingame, anything might happen. This story has adult content, please be aware of this.
My comments:
This is an American author. It's VR, Russian school, fantasy based, and self-published. Every review says basically the same thing, that this is pretty obviously someone who read a bunch of the Russian litRPG books, got real excited and immediately wrote their own. Unfortunately he apparently did it without bothering with things like editing... Or plot structure... Or characterization... Yeah, this doesn't seem like it's going to be worth reading. But I'm adding it to the list anyway, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To be fair, several of the reviewers mentioned that there is potential here if the author would just slow down and properly explore it and that the book did improve somewhat in the last twenty-five percent.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Virtual reality enabled
Book 2 - Homeland
Avatar Chronicles series by Conor Kostick
Amazon summary (of first book):
Generations ago, violence was banned on New Earth. Society is governed and conflicts are resolved in the arena of a fantasy computer game, Epic. Everyone plays. If you win, you have the chance to go to university, get more supplies for your community, and fulfill your dreams; if you lose, your life both in and out of the game is worth nothing.
When Erik, seeking revenge for the unjust treatment of his parents, dares to subvert the rules of Epic, he and his friends find themselves up against with the ultimate masters of the game: the Committee. If Erik and his friends win, they may have the key to destroying Epic’s tyranny over New Earth. But if they lose . . .
My comments:
With the confirmation that this is indeed litRPG (thanks to Shadowdrakon for that), on the list it goes. It's VR and fantasy based. School-wise I don't know, seems to go its own way. The basic premise is not that appealing to me. I might have given it a try anyway if not for Penguin's greed. This is a habit with them, charging way too much for their ebooks. In this case the ebook is actually ten cents more expensive than the paperback, despite the lack of materials cost. I refuse to indulge Penguin in their naked greed.
Recommended by: Shadowdrakon, kitsune9
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Epic
Book 2 - Saga
Book 3 - Edda
Solarversia: The Year Long Game by Toby Downton
Amazon summary:
It’s the 29th February 2020 and Nova Negrahnu cannot wait to start playing Solarversia, a year-long game based in a virtual world that’s modelled on the real world solar system. Given three lives, three vehicles, and told to master the Science of Solarversia to stand a chance of winning, players compete against 100 million people for the £10m grand prize, and a place in the history books.
Solarversia starts three months before Nova’s A-levels, the life-changing exams that could see her win a place at Nottingham, the university that Charlie attends, the second-year student she falls for on an open-day visit. As she strains to balance her addiction to the game with her mounting schoolwork, Nova’s world is unexpectedly turned upside down when the Holy Order, a mysterious cult-like organisation sets its sights on the game and Spiralwerks, its creator.
Told from three different perspectives - Nova the gamer, Artica Kronkite, the CEO of Spiralwerks, and Casey Brown, a newly-initiated member of the Holy Order - Solarversia is a game that author Toby Downton hopes to make for real, to launch in 2020, so that people can actually play it.
My comments:
The game here seems more Mario Party'ish than a traditional RPG: puzzles and platformers. It's VR. Basic premise seems alright but going by the reviews the execution falls a bit flat. I might still eventually try it, if for no other reason then the protagonist is female, which is vanishingly rare in this genre.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Solarversia: The Year Long Game
Omegaverse series by G.R. Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Duncan Sheriden enters, at the bidding of several friends, into the virtual universe; the Omegaverse. As he explores the alien races, star systems and planets, he discovers a rich, vast, limitless expanse of possibilities.
From gritty fights for control of colonies with hostile alien and human forces, to interstellar trade, to thrilling hunts to eradicate space piracy, to epic battles between star-ships, Duncan finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the virtual world.
As Duncan gains and evolves his online power, his 'real world' friends and activities take smaller and smaller roles as Duncan is, unbeknownst to himself, being targeted for special attention by forces he doesn't even realize exist.
My comments:
Amazon's suggestion algorithms strike again. American author, VR, Sci Fi based, no idea on the school. Self-published amateur author, but unlike most of the rest of that type, reviews universally say it has good editing and good plotting. The first book at least is a pretty short at 171 pages, but it's also pretty cheap. I'll certainly give this a try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Shepherd Moon
Book 2 - Shepherd's Crook
Book 3 - Shepherd's Cross
Book 4 - The Kings of Edonis
Book 5 - The Marches of Edonis
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
Amazon summary:
In the virtual reality game Heir Apparent, there are way too many ways to get killed--and Giannine seems to be finding them all. Which is a darn shame, because unless she can get the magic ring, locate the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win.
And she has to, because losing means she'll die--for real this time.
My comments:
This is an older stand-alone novel. It's trapped VR style and fantasy based. The game here appears to be more of an adventure style rather then an RPG but the premise looks interesting regardless. Reviews are promising. Also to its benefit is having a female protagonist, which is very rare in this genre. Thanks to Aehriman for bringing this to my attention.
Recommended by: kitsune9
Scorned by:
Heir Apparent
Death by Cliché by Bob Defendi
Amazon summary:
“Where are you taking me, and why can’t I open this door?” -Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Blood of the Cosmos.
“I totally didn’t just make up this quote without reading the book.” -Dan Wells, Author of The Devils Only Friend
“I told Bob I would heartily recommend this book, and he said I could have Mister Whiskers back.” -Dan Willis, Coauthor of Dragons of the Confederacy
About Death by Cliché:
To Sartre, Hell was other people. To the game designer, Hell is the game.
Damico writes games for a living. When called in to rescue a local roleplaying game demo, Damico is shot in the head by a loony fan. He awakens in a game. A game full of hackneyed tropes and clichéd plots. A game he was there to save, run by the man who murdered him just moments ago. A game that has just become world-swap fantasy. Damico, to his horror, has become the heart of the cliché.
Set on their quest in a scene that would make Ed Wood blush, Damico discovers a new wrinkle. As a game designer, he is a creative force in this broken place. His presence touches the two-dimensional inhabitants. First a peasant, then a barmaid, then his character’s own father…all come alive.
But the central question remains. Can Damico escape, or is he trapped in this nightmare? Forever.
Wait, what? This is a comedy? Ignore all that. Death by Cliché is a heartwarming tale of catastrophic brain damage. Share it with someone you love. Or like. Or anyone at all. Buy the book.
Based on a true story.
My comments:
This is a stand-alone novel and one of the rarer type b. It doesn't seem to have been intentionally aimed to fit the litRPG genre but just sort of fell into the genre purely by accident. Reviews are favorable and it looks interesting. Thanks to Grist for bringing this to my attention.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Death by Cliché
Avalon Ravens series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the highly competitive e-sports league of Avalon Online, Silver Star has stood atop the ranks for almost three years. Their dominance has won them fame and fortune, and they appear invincible. But one stunning betrayal and a harsh punishment later, and their place at the top is gone.
The remaining members of Silver Star have one choice: form a new team and climb their way back to the top, fighting through every obstacle that lays in their path. But the journey back will be anything but simple. Starting from the bottom is never easy, and old comrades may have some unfinished business to attend to...
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. American author I think. VR. Same author as the World at War series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Avalon Rebirth
Psy-Hunters by Belart Wright
Amazon summary (of first book):
From the author of Hell's Glitch: Into a Dark Adventure comes:
Death, Adventure, LitRPG.
Troy Warwick has a fairly good life thanks to the support of his family and his closest friend, Dana. He lives with no regrets, except one. Why did he treat his ex-girlfriend so poorly? As Troy delves into a fun new game with his nephews, a mystery unfolds in the virtual realm, a mystery that involves his ex.
Join Troy in the virtual game, Psy-Hunters, a game world where the power of the mind trumps all.
Ueden-Ter is a world on the brink of extinction. A powerful race of mechanized behemoths, known only as Overlords, have forever changed the future of the human race. A new race of genetically altered humans have joined together, led by the powerful Psychics. Psychics, Beasts, Cyborgs, Androids, and Humans alike all band together under the banner of the Psychic Hunters' Association or the Military Police Faction to protect Ueden-Ter from the tyranny of the Overlords. Will their combined might be enough to push back the threat of extinction?
Join the battle in the virtual role playing game Psy-Hunters. Ages 10 and up.
My comments:
Same author as Hell's Glitch: Into a Dark Adventure. This came out just today so there's no real word on its quality.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Psy-Hunters
The Dive series by Justin Miller
Amazon summary (of first book):
What happens when a game becomes your life? What happens when your life becomes a game? Follow Christopher Weston as he dives too deeply into the newest hit game, learning the skills needed to survive in this brave new world.
My comments:
Got nothing, sorry. Can't find anything about this author and very little about this book. Just enough to know it's litRPG.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Birth of a Wordsmith
World Seed series by Justin Miller
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2245, and the world has undergone explosive growth in multiple industries. The age of Virtual Reality came long ago, opening up new fields for people to enjoy and seek employment. There were even those that chose to sacrifice their physical bodies, becoming digital existences that lived within internet communities.
But with the age of VR, everyone still dreamed of that next step, the next level of adventure. And after a hundred years, it has finally arrived. The first consoles, known as Seeds, mass distributed among the people, with such realism that they no longer qualified as a Virtual Reality, but as an Artificial Reality. But what happens when things become too real?
My comments:
Same author as the one above. Still got nothing.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Game Start
Book 2 - New Rules
Book 3 - Expansion
Omnia Online Series by Christopher Booth
Amazon summary (of first book):
For hundreds of years Sol has been under careful observation and protection as required by the rules of the Imperial Cultural Protection Act. The people of Earth were considered to be too primitive to be useful members of the Imperium. But, now a new member of the Department of Cultural Development has an idea that could bring the people of Earth into the Imperium... "Let’s ask them to play a game…”
I would like to invite you on an adventure with me, as we explore the potential of a Fully Immersive Virtual Reality Massive Multi-Player Online Roleplaying Game (FIVR-MMORPG) to change lives. Not just a game, but also as a tool for physical and mental development. Omnia Online is soon to be released, the first ever of its kind in Kevin’s world. Join him, as he experiences just how big and complex his universe really is.
Warning: This book contains adult content and language…
My comments:
VR. Sci Fi based. American author. Editing is a little rough and the pacing is a little slow as far as reviews are concerned. Seems like it might be an alright read.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Omnia Online
Book 2 - Making the Grade
Last Horizon series by Daniel Schinhofen
Amazon summary (of first book):
Advances in technology have led to the creation of ever more realistic virtual reality games but now Full Immersion Virtual Reality is finally coming true. Join David and his oldest friends as they sign up to beta test the first game of it's kind. Last Horizon will give the old gamers the chance to live out one last adventure together.
My comments:
Self published, first time author. VR. School and setting unknown. What info I've found says it has a more editing errors than it really should have but still readable, and that the story was quite good.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Beta
Book 2 - Live
Ascend Online series by Luke Chmilenko
Amazon summary:
Enter Marcus, a twenty-nine-year-old independent game designer, and slightly jaded MMORPG addict looking for his next gaming fix. When a friend tells him about a revolutionary Virtual Reality game that’s set to be released in less than 24 hours, he can barely believe his eyes. Without a second’s hesitation, Marcus and his friends leap at the chance to escape Reality and start an entirely new life in a world of mystery and wonder
My comments:
Canadian author. Self published. VR, fastasy based, school unknown. Editing seems solid as does the story. Might be worth checking out. Update: I've finished the first book in this and I enjoyed it quite a bit. School is closer toKorean than Russian. It focuses a bit more on group play rather than the solo act a lot of litRPG has.
Recommended by: heridfel, jacobk, Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Ascend Online
Book 1.5 - Hell to Pay (note: set in the same world as book 1 but completely different location and characters)
The Permadeath Legacy series by Jeff Sproul and Zoey Rivera
Amazon summary (of first book):
Fortune Favors the bold, but one man’s greed sets him down a path for which there can be no escape.
Eden was built as the perfect fantasy reality. Instead of being a means of entertainment for its players, it became a world where the rich extort the poor to fight and die for their own amusement.
As a pawn, your life is your own. But death in the game doesn't mean you reload and start over. When you die in Eden, you die in the real world. Sometimes survival comes at the cost of another's life.
What will you leave behind when the only certainty in life is your death?
My comments:
Self published. VR, fantasy based, school unknown. These books are short and expensive, each being less than one hundred pages and four dollars each. There's an omibus that includes all five current books for eight dollars but it's still only five hundred pages, for a first time self published work that's way too high for me. Reviews say decent editing, average story.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Blacksalt Slayer
Book 2 - Crimson Nightmare
Book 3 - Killing Pawns
Book 4 - Gilded Obsession
Book 5 - Manmade Monsters
Books 1-5 - The Permadeath Legacy: Omnibus
Electric Shadows series by S R Witt
Amazon summary (of first book):
I didn’t set out to destroy the world.
Honest.
Dragon Web Online promised its players a virtual world filled with simulated adventures and real treasures. Play games, get rich. It seemed like the perfect way to make the cash my family needed to keep us off the streets. It seemed too good to be true.
It was.
I made a terrible mistake and stumbled into the truth behind the world’s most popular Virtual Reality game.
Now I’m marked for death and the most powerful people in the world want to hang their crimes around my neck.
They call me a thief. A murderer. The killer of worlds.
The people who know the truth call me the Saint of Shadows.
I didn’t set out to destroy the world, but somebody had to do it.
Somebody had to set you free.
My comments:
Self published. VR. Maybe fantasy based. School unknown. Short at one hundred and sixty-five pages and a bit expensive at that length at four dollars. Reviews are mixed, some saying amazing, some saying mediocre. Might be worth checking out.
Recommended by: jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dragon Web Online: Inception
Book 2 - Dragon Web Online: Dominion
The Rise of Resurgence series by Joshua W. Nelson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Pay to play. Since the beginning of online gaming this has always been the norm; you paid the company and they let you play their game. So it's no surprise that Alex Stanton was living every gamer's dream. It was the opposite for him. He was getting payed to play.
The latest generation of virtual reality gaming, in both appearance and hardware, was being beta tested by the largest retailer of online gaming, AltCon. Never before seen graphical detail, joined with a first-time, fully functional, whole body immersion system was likely to put AltCon entirely out of reach of their competitors. But before they could go live, they wanted Beta testers. Serious Beta testers. So serious, AltCon was willing to pay a salary to each tester, ensuring their lives revolved around the Beta, and the Beta only.
Beta testers join for one reason, to experience new content never seen by another player. Alex, along with his group mates Dan, Jason, and Wayne will experience every nuance the game has to offer, and all before the rest of the world.
The entire scenario is unreal; from the tests to be selected as a Beta candidate, to the six month wait to qualify, to the almost life-like quality of the game itself. The company pulled out all the stops. If there was a heaven for gamers, it would look exactly like this game: Resurgence.
But odd things start happening from the outset. Things Alex can't explain. But like every hard-core gamer, Alex has no problem ignoring the little things to focus on the grander design; winning the game. Whether that be discovering new content, finishing epic quests, or finding the rarest of items.
In time, even the littlest of things can pile up, and Alex is forced to ask himself, “What’s really going on in Resurgence?”
My comments:
Self published. VR, probably fantasy based, seems to be leaning more towards the Korean school. Decent length, decent price. Looks solid.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Resurgence
Towns and Towers series by Shawn Kass
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Sam’s new video game system arrives in the mail, he unexpectedly finds that it isn’t the one he sent in for repairs, and instead he has received some sort of limited edition model. He soon finds out how unique the model is when after downloading his newest game he is transported into the system and expected to play through the role of his character without access to the real world, or any of the informationally packed strategy guides he is used to using.
Handicapped by his own impatience to start playing, Sam is left to figure out the new world which he has fallen into. He has no weapons, no armor, no save points, and no way home. The only thing he has going in his favor is his experience, and his willingness to game more.
My comments:
Self published, this author has been putting out books for a few years now. one of the rarer type b stories. Reviews report decent editing and a decent story. Price is a little high for its length. I probably won't be looking at it, but if the summary catches your eye I'd say go for it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A New Land
Awaken Online series by Travis Bagwell
Amazon summary (of first book):
Jason logs into Awaken Online fed-up with reality. He's in desperate need of an escape, and this game is his ticket to finally feeling the type of power and freedom that are so sorely lacking in his real life.
Awaken Online is a brand new virtual reality game that just hit the market, promising an unprecedented level of immersion. Yet Jason quickly finds himself pushed down a path he didn't expect. In this game, he isn't the hero. There are no damsels to save. There are no bad guys to vanquish.
In fact, he might just be the villain.
My comments:
Self published. VR. Fantasy based. School unknown. A little expensive but decent page length. Reviews are mediocre to good. Might be worth a look at.
Recommended by: heridfel, jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Catharsis
Book 2 - Precipice
Age of Steam series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
The Iron Guild reigns supreme. The massive organization dominates the virtual reality MMO world of Age of Steam, using their vast wealth, military might, and their control of the all-important trade routes. Outsiders must bow to their demands, or invite destruction down on their heads.
But some continue to resist the Iron Guild's influence. And when the latest demands push them too far, four players decide to push back. They will use any method to break the Guild's stranglehold, whether it be smuggling, conspiracy, or outright violence. The trade war will be fought in the back alleys of the cities, on the open seas, in the markets and exchanges, and in the workshops and factories.
In the world of steel and steam, only one side will triumph. For a rising tide lifts all ships, but it may also drown those caught in its path...
My comments:
VR. Steampunk by the looks of it. A bit light on the rpg elements. Same author as the World at War Online series and the Avalon Ravens series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rising Tide
Sigil Online series by Jeff Sproul
Amazon summary (of first book):
Loss was nothing new to an orphan like Riley. But when the online persona he'd spent years building, was ripped away by a monster with unbelievable power, everything changed.
As a gamer who made a living from Sigil Online, losing his character meant losing his job and any means he had of paying his bills.
Now, he had to start from the beginning just like any other player joining Sigil Online for the first time. All the fame and fortune of a high-level character, was gone.
Experience the harrowing quest that will leave Riley changed forever, as he's molded by the pursuit of the monster that took everything from him.
My comments:
VR. Superhero based. Same author as The Permadeath Legacy series. Just came out four days ago so no reviews yet.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Paragons
The Crucible Shard series by Skyler Grant
Amazon summary (of first book):
Gamers are celebrities. Superstars. Idols to the masses.
Only a few ever make it out of Piper's Mill, most toil their lives away in the small town just dreaming of a better life.
Liam thought he had a comfortable life all worked out when it winds up wrenched away from him. Drawn into other's schemes to hack the game and steal some spotlight he never expects to find himself playing in a game nobody has ever heard of.
He never expects to find himself deep in a dungeon at level one with no gear and barely any skills.
He certainly would never anticipate suddenly being tied to forces that promise not just to reshape his life, but the world outside the game.
Time to level up.
My comments:
Seems to be VR. Seems to also be Fantasy based. American author. First time publishing. One review states it's a good start. Price is a little steep ($5) considering a first time author and the page length (201 pages). Might be alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Dungeon Crawl
Book 2 - Spawn Campers
Book 3 - Corpse Run
Book 4 - Gank
Adventures on Terra series by R.A. Mejia
Amazon summary (of first book):
Armon Ellington is nineteen year old kid that always felt out of place. He’s an orphan, a gamer, and a role playing game geek. When he dies after a seventy-two hour gaming marathon, instead of going to an afterlife he’s transported to a new world governed by rules that are eerily similar to the RPG games he loves. On this new world, Terra, he can be anything he wants, a warrior, mage, or even a crafter. Only, Armon wants more than that, he also wants friends and family.
Join Armon on his journey through this amazing new world where he’ll go on adventures, explore dungeons, slay monsters and hopefully find the friends and family he never had on earth.
My comments:
One of the rare 'transported to a world with rpg rules' type. Fantasy based. Good length. Price point for that length is a bit high ($6.63 for 555 pages). First time author. Only came out five days ago so no reviews so far. Originally a web serial. Looks like it might be alright.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Beginnings
The Strength Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nick Stanners has no money. No job. No prospects. He lives in one of the most crime-ridden apartment blocks on the west coast. His girlfriend uses him for a place to stay. His father is on life support. Rent is due next week…
Games are Nick’s passion. He's played them all - well, the old screen ones anyway. He's never been able to afford an Immersion tank and the amazing games that come with them, but he's seen the web casts. He knows the names of every superstar pixel runner. His heroes.
So when he's picked out of the crowd to participate in a competitive, quest-driven dark fantasy RPG, his brain melts. Could this be his opportunity to get ahead? Or will he be chewed up by the machine, just another failed pixel runner by the side of the road?
My comments:
First time author. VR. Fantasy based. Game is dark fantasy a la Dark Souls. Really short. Each book is only about forty-five pages. There's an omnibus for all four books but it's still only one hundred and sixty-two pages. At $4 it's a little steep as well. Reviews say it's solid.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - STRENGTH BUILD +1: The Fields of Durandor
Book 2 - STRENGTH BUILD +2: Duskstar Forest
Book 3 - STRENGTH BUILD +3: The Great Sands of Bariz
Book 4 - STRENGTH BUILD +4: The Tomb of the Fallen
Omnibus (Books 1-4) - The Complete Strength Build Cycle
Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
The Dexterity Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nick Stanners is back.
Fresh from his victory against The Spiderling, he must now prepare for a new series of Oakshield Junction. Only this time, he knows the sinister corporation behind the RPG is actively trying to kill him.
Not only must Nick contend with the deadly creatures of Tyrennia, his human rivals will be targeting him for the largest bounty the game has seen.
Worst of all, he can no longer rely on his favored strength build. He must adapt or die.
That means lifting a longbow for the first time in his gaming life. Strange days indeed …
DEXTERITY BUILD is a LitRPG serial that follows on from the completed STRENGTH BUILD cycle.
My comments:
Sequel to The Strength Build Cycle. VR. Fantasy based. Game is dark fantasy a la Dark Souls. Really short. Each book is only about forty-five pages.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dexterity Build +1: Lavora High Temple
Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
Squadcom-13 series by D. Rus
Amazon summary (of first book):
The near future. A UFO appears on Earth’s orbit. Ignoring all contact attempts, it showers the planet with priceless artifacts. Choose: perfect health, ten million dollars, or seven years in prison as per the new amendment.
The night of the Meteor Shower, Paul and his friends run around the city, engaging in quick fights with citizens gone crazy, trying to obtain one of the artifacts.
But is it really selfless help the mysterious aliens are offering? What awaits a human who holds a precious crystal in his hand? Where will he wake up tomorrow? What if the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes will be the blinking line of text: “Loading location: virtual training ground Kubinka-Digital. Welcome, cadet! You’re now space fighter pilot!
My comments:
A new entry from the (in)famous D. Rus. This one is a sci fi based and VR. Reviews I've read say this is very different from Play to Live and doesn't even get into the litRPG elements until nearly a quarter of the way through the book. That said, I've already bought it. I'll report back when I'm finished reading it. Update: I've finished it and I'm read to give my final thoughts. Editing was good. Translation was fine. Sci fi based. VR (kinda). The first book comes across as Korean school until the last ten pages in which a time skip happens and suddenly everyone is much higher level. This is very sexist. There was sexism in Play to Live, but it was infrequent and mostly subdued. In this book its very frequent and very blatant. It doesn't help that it takes nearly half the book for them to actually reach the litRPG elements. The only redeeming quality (and I use that term loosely) is apparently Russian sexism believes women should be fierce and strong, just not as fierce and strong as men, and they should follow their man's lead in all things. If you have any investment in the female half of the battle of the sexes then I suggest you give this series a pass, it's just going to piss you off. I certainly won't be buying any more books in this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Kuro_Neko
Book 1 - The Cadet
The Gold Farmer series by Liam Arato
Amazon summary (of first book):
2050, AI has taken over the vast majority of jobs in the world. However, one new job appeared that was humans-only; gold farming in VRMMOs (Virtual Reality MMO). Ken worked as a gold farmer in the popular fantasy VRMMO Avantheim Online. However one day, while gold farming in AO, he was suddenly teleported into another VR world, where he soon realizes that he and his NPC allies are far stronger than anyone else in this new world.
After discovering a forest full of unimaginable treasures, Ken takes his first step in conquering the world and becoming the greatest gold farmer ever.
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Short and relatively expensive. Reviews say it's pretty good. I might give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Treasure Forest
Unbound Deathlord series by Edward Castle
Amazon summary (of first book):
When virtual reality becomes real enough that people feel as if they’re being transported to another world, Valia Online arrives.
A man running from his past joins the game to forget it all. Calling himself Jack Thorn, he chooses an undead race, Deathlord.
A mage by choice, and a swordsman by necessity, he soon finds out that he’ll need to use much more than magic and steel to survive; strategy, creativity, and carefully chosen words can often accomplish what simple attacks can’t.
As the game becomes too real and touches a part of him that he’d rather leave buried, he is faced with two questions:
Who is he, really?
And who should he become?
My comments:
VR and Fantasy based. Originally a web serial. Self-published. Good length, but price is a little high for a first time author. Reviews say it's well written and enjoyable.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Challenge
The Divine Dungeon series by Dakota Krout
Amazon summary (of first book):
For eons, conquering dungeons has been the most efficient way to become a strong adventurer. Although, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Several questions have always plagued the mind of those that enter these mythical places of power: Why are there so many monsters? Where does the amazing weaponry and heavy gold coins come from? Why does the very air fill with life-giving energies?!
Cal has all of the answers to these age old questions, for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Heart, a soul forced against his will into a magical stone. After several lonely years, Cal was able to regain sentience, allowing him to form new memories while slowly growing a dungeon around himself. With help from a friend, Cal learned how to create monsters and traps, increasing his power and size quickly.
When a threat to his existence rears its head, Cal decides that he will do anything to stay alive and become stronger. Unfortunately for treasure-seekers, the fastest way for Cal to achieve his goal... is to eat anyone that enters his depths.
My comments:
Another 'transported to a fantasy world with rpg rules' type. Very similar to The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series, the protagonist becomes the heart of a dungeon. Reviews are very promising.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dungeon Born
Book 2 - Dungeon Madness
A Second Chance series by Ned van der Drift
Amazon summary (of first book):
Imagine a device that completely changed the world. Every major organisation had a foothold in the digital world, children no longer had to leave home to receive an education while still being able to run play with their friends, and the last war ended in 2083.
What if this world totally screwed you over?
Sydney Shaden was barely scraping by paying for his university fees when the VR Pod was released. At first, he thought it was something to celebrate - before his school went virtual. Sydney couldn't afford the prices to buy his own Pod, and the young man was forced to drop-out of university.
He saved up for years, until he finally bought the parts to build his very own Virtual Reality Pod, as well as the only game released for it - Archae. How could he resist being able to battle dragons and throw fireballs?
The young man assembled it all, loaded up his first virtual reality game and that's when it went all wrong.
This is my first book, and I apologize if there are any typos, errors or mistakes, but there is an edited copy coming out soon! The next book is being written, with plans for more books still coming!
Please rate and review, and let me know what you think!
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Short and the price point is a bit high. Editing issues.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Archae, Volume 1
Shadow For Hire series by Adam Drake
Amazon summary (of first book):
An impossible quest for a legendary item.
I love questing for loot.
And the more difficult the quest, the greater the reward.
So when I'm offered a chance to retrieve the ultimate treasure of all, I signed up.
Yet no one warned me the task would be impossible. Against overwhelming odds I'm also expected to defeat an ancient evil - one with the power of a god.
But you know what?
Some loot is worth risking it all.
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. Self-published. This author has been putting out books for awhile now. I can't locate any reviews for this series though. Reasonable length, reasonable price point.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Shadow Gambit
Book 2 - Shadow Hunting
Book 3 - Shadow Wars
Omnibus (Books 1-3) - Shadow For Hire
Artificial Dream State series by I.M. Waugh
Amazon summary (of first book):
Snow Storm Entertainment presents
SPINWARD
A breakthrough in lucid dream game sensation, immersion and freedom.
Fight, build, explore and conquer to make your mark on the galaxy.
Launching March 2036
Only available on Dream Box
Snow Storm were being uncharacteristically quiet about their new product, only releasing concepts, hints and grandiose claims about it, all that was known is it set in Outer Space, it is skill based and it’s the most immersive game ever created. Opinion was divided, is it vapour-ware, is it over-hyped, is it under-hyped, will it fail to deliver, will it be the best game ever created or will it be the worst game in history. Anticipation was at an all-time high, the streams, boards, vlogs and pages where all buzzing with excitement.
All Su knew is that she really really wanted to play it.
My comments:
VR. Sci fi based. Female protagonist. First time author. Self-published. Good length and good price. Reviews are promising.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Spinward
Book 2 - Back in the Game
Reborn series by D.W. Jackson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Unwanted, orphan, poor these words were common to Derrick who if asked would had said the world is a cold place. He went to school and worked while moving from foster home to foster home. No friends and no family he had little in life. The other kids in school often talked about the new games but he would never have enough money to buy something like that but after saving up his money he bought an old outdated game system and found enjoyment in playing RPG's. After buying a new game at a pawn shop Derrick ran home to play it though as soon as he turned it on his life came to an abrupt end. Transported into another world Derrick found himself in a world not unlike an rpg. Felling no loss at the world he left behind he started to move in his new world as his guides helped him.
My comments:
This is one of the much rarer 'transported into a traditional RPG video game world' type. This author has been self-publishing for awhile now. These books are very short and very expensive. Omnibus editions improve this a bit, but not really enough. Reviews say good story but poorly edited.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - God's Game
Book 2 - New World
Book 3 - Gambler's Game
Book 4 - Devil's luck
Book 5 - Devil's Blood
Book 6 - Demon Core
Book 7 - Knight’s Code
Book 8 - Demon’s Heritage
Book 9 - Demon’s Legacy
Book 10 - Demonic Valor
Book 11 - Flames of War
Book 12 - War's Nightmare
Omnibus (Books 1-5) - Reborn Vol. 1-5
Omnibus (Books 6-10) - Reborn Vol. 6-10
Adventures of a Scribe by Michael Deyhim (PeliusAnar )
Amazon summary:
Edward Monteger has grown up in a family of scribes learning about the world around him through books in his family’s shop. Not wanting to be consigned to his fate scribbling away all day or managing a shop, he takes matters into his own hands. Striking forth into the wide world, he makes friends on his journey, and experiences the joy of victory to the agony of defeat.
Set in a Fantasy LitRPG world there is balance of all aspects one might expect to find from crafting, mana, and fighting. Discovering the forces that control his world Edward is a scientist at heart without knowing the word or even the concept behind it. Struggling against monsters, humans, and the forces of necromancy, he overcomes hardship to grow as an individual and as an adventurer.
My comments:
This is one of the rarer fictional world operates under RPG logic types rather than the more common VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Page length is decent. Price point is decent. The author has provided me a free copy in return for an honest review so I'll update this once I've finished it. Update: I've finished it. Editing is solid, plot is good, pacing is good, characterization is good, prose flows well. Protagonist is very morally grey. I enjoyed it. Korean style, which is a nice change of pace.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Adventures of a Scribe
The Viridian Gate Archives series by James Hunter
Amazon summary (of first book):
October, 2042
An extinction-level asteroid, 213 Astraea, is cannonballing toward Earth. Collision, imminent. An international team of scientists is working around the clock to avert the cataclysm—few are optimistic. World governments are preparing for impact with deep earth bio-dome bunkers, but only a select few lottery winners will be saved.
Jack Mitchel, a thirty-two-year-old EMT living in a tiny studio apartment on the West Coast, isn’t one of those winners.
Still, there might be a way for him to survive Astraea: a slim chance, requiring a radical leap of faith. Through a connection at Osmark Technologies, Jack’s acquired a NexGenVR capsule and with it, a one-way ticket to the brand-new, ultra-immersive, fantasy-based VRMMORPG, Viridian Gate Online. Taking that leap of faith, though, means permanently trapping his mind in the game, killing his body in the process.
Worse, one in six die during the transition, and even if Jack beats the odds, he’ll have to navigate a fantastical world that’s home to vicious monsters, domineering AIs, and cutthroat players. And when Jack stumbles upon a secret conspiracy to sell off virtual real estate to the ultrawealthy—transforming V.G.O. into a new feudal dark age—the deadly creatures inhabiting Viridian Gate’s expansive dungeons will be the least of his concerns.
If Jack can’t game the system, he’s going to be trading in a quick death for a long, brutal one …
My comments:
This author has been writing for awhile, and this book is being released by an actual publisher so the editing is likely to be top notch. It's VR, fantasy based. Length is reasonable as is the price. Reviews are positive. Might be worth a look see.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Cataclysm
Book 2 - Crimson Alliance
Book 3 - The Jade Lord
Difficulty: Legendary series by Gregg Horlock
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the world of Re:Fuze, anything is possible. Fortunes can be made, and the unlikeliest of people can find glory in a land of swords and magic.
With low Job Qualification (JQ) scores and 2 years of national service looming, Eric Templeton knows he is doomed to a life of poverty. When he is given a chance to enter the game, he knows he has the opportunity to save his family from their desperate situation.
But when he enters the game, Eric isn’t spawned into the newbie camp of Blundow. Instead he is sent to the darkest regions of the map, filled with creatures beyond his level. He stumbles across a conspiracy that no newbie should ever see, and he knows that he can’t hope to survive.
My comments:
First time author, self-published. VR, fantasy based. First book is short (135 pages), but also quite cheap, second book is nearly 400 pages and is cheap for that length. Reviews almost universally say the first book had potential but was weak in execution but that the second book improves considerably. Considering how cheap the first book is, if the premise interests you give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Difficulty: Legendary
Book 2 - Tinker, Tailor, Giant, Dwarf
Delvers LLC series by Blaise Corvin
Amazon summary:
Henry and Jason led normal lives in Seattle before they were abducted to another world. Their kidnapper, the vain, self-styled god Dolos refuses to send them back unless they can accomplish an impossible task. Oddly, Dolos doesn’t seem to care if they succeed or not.
Luckily, Henry and Jason studied Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) on Earth. Unfortunately, a Japanese American EMT and a geeky IT programmer don’t have many other useful skills on a sword and sorcery world like Ludus.
Stranded in the middle of nowhere on an alien world, the friends have no real direction and only a few possessions including magic-granting orbs from an apathetic god. Undaunted, the two begin their insane adventure to return home... but basic survival and eventually paying rent will have to take priority.
My comments:
First time author, self-published.One of the rarer transported to a fictional world with RPG rules. [Update: fictional world yes, rpg rules not so much. Apparently it's quite light on the rpg elements, which is something I had originally feared when I first came across it, which is why I didn't add it to the list until heridfel recommended it.] Length is very nice, price is a bit on the high side. Reviews are generally positive. I might give it a try a some point. With the above update this is now off my to read list. I want those rpg elements, otherwise I'd just go read regular fantasy fiction. Thanks to Glimmervoid for the Web serial link.
Recommended by: heridfel, Glimmervoid
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Welcome to Ludus
Book 2 - Obligations Incurred
Web Novel version
Stalwart Souls Online series by Kaye Fairburn
Amazon summary (of first book):
When a mysterious Player Killer with the ability to cause his victims to die in real life appears in the fully immersive massive multi-player online roleplaying game (MMORPG) Stalwart Souls Online, administrators shut down the game servers to find the criminal.
What they didn't count on was the system being hijacked. Stalwart Souls Online is rebooted, a new patch applied. All players online at that time revert back to Trainee level, their hard work erased. They soon discover that the log out function has been disabled, and that that isn't the only thing that has changed in the game...
In the midst of this is someone who must cope and survive in this updated RPG world while avoiding becoming the Player Killer's next target. Roy will face dark dungeons, go on adventures, compete in player versus player battles, navigate the difficulties of guild politics, and learn a more realistic definition of good and evil.
The Player Killer’s Mark is the first book of the Stalwart Souls Online fantasy LitRPG series.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. VR. Good length (400 pages) but very high price ($8 CAD), especially for a first time self-published author. The summary reads like a straight rip-off of Sword Art Online. Only released a couple of days ago so no reviews yet. The blatant rip-off of SAO does not fill me with high hopes for this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - The Player Killer's Mark
The Actuator series by James Wymore and various other authors
Amazon summary (of first book):
On a secret military base tucked in a remote desert mountain, a dangerous machine lies hidden from the American public.
Known as “The Actuator”, this machine is capable of transforming entire communities into alternate realities. In theory, these often terrifying realities are reversible. The scientists in charge of this machine employ operatives called Machine Monks, who attune their minds to manifest single ideas from the realms of fantasy and science fiction. These ideas are then superimposed upon sparsely inhabited areas for testing.
For a while, the enigmatic Actuator cooperates with the experiments, using dampeners to limit the affected area. But those in charge of the project eagerly anticipate exploring the full potential of this amazing device. Experiments progress to where they feed more than twenty different genre ideas simultaneously into the Actuator’s database.
Meanwhile, an unknown saboteur dismantles the dampeners. The effect is catastrophic. The entire world is plunged into chaos, and familiar landscapes become a deadly patchwork of genre horrors. Overnight, the Actuator becomes the worst menace the earth has ever seen, claiming lives in staggering numbers.
Can a few surviving Machine Monks band together to set things right again? It all depends on whether Red McLaren and the Monks can survive their journey through the various realms that separate them from the Actuator, where ever-present orcs, aliens, pirates, and vampires seek to destroy them.
They must move quickly, as time is running out to stop the Actuator and the villain who controls it and the earth’s destiny.
My comments:
The primary author of this series has been publishing for years now and this series is being released by an actual publishing house. So at least decent writing and good editing can be expected. This is one of the very rare 'the real world starts following RPG rules' type. The series seems to be at least half made up of loosely connected stories collected in anthologies. Lengths are decent (200-300 pages) but the price point is rather high (~$8 CAD). I'm not personally wild about anthologies and the high price point doesn't help. Despite this being one of the rare 'real world follows RPG rules' type which I'd like to read more of I'll probably be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Fractured Earth
Book 1.5 - Borderlands Anthology
Book 2 - Return of the Saboteur
Book 3 - Chaos Chronicles
The Rune series by Hugo Huesca
Amazon summary (of first book):
Begin Deep Dive Immersion?
{Yes}
Welcome to Rune Universe. Connecting to the game servers...
Faceless Corporations. Neon lights that hide rampant crime underneath. The year is 2041.
Cole Dorsett is a Script Kiddie, a thief of information with a chip against the system.
Rune Universe is a game with a billion worlds. With great interstellar alliances, unending adventure, spaceships
that dance around black holes.
And it hides a secret the CIA would love to crack. A secret many are willing to kill for.
Inside Rune Universe, Cole will stumble upon real, mortal danger. To avenge a fallen friend, he must risk it all.
And make a decision that will change the face of the world... forever.
My comments:
This is the second book released by the author (the first being a sci fi anthology) and is self-published. Sci fi based. VR. Plot seems reminiscent of Ready Player One. Length is very good (502 pages) and price is good (~$4 CAD). What little I could find on it says it's a bit light on the RPG elements and decent in the plot. Might be worth a look see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rune Universe: A Virtual Reality novel
Dream State Saga series by Christopher Keene
Amazon summary:
After a terrible car accident puts seventeen-year- old Noah Newbolt into a coma, he is hooked up to the innovative Dream Engine—a virtual reality helmet that immerses the player in an online fantasy game. The Dream Engine keeps Noah’s mind alive while doctors frantically work to heal his body, but dying in the game could send Noah back into a coma, forever.
Meanwhile, Noah’s girlfriend, Sue, is suffering injuries from the same car crash, and the doctors grow confused when she seemingly fails to connect to the game. Then Noah encounters a mysterious avatar who suggests the last remnants of Sue’s consciousness are being held prisoner in the most dangerous part of the game.
Noah takes it upon himself to rescue Sue, allying himself with a group of high-level players. But as he rises through the ranks, his high status earns him the ire of top players across the world. Can Noah stay alive—and awake—long enough to save Sue and escape the game?
My comments:
First time author. Being released by an actual publishing house, so good editing can be expected. VR. Russian school. Unclear whether it's sci fi or fantasy based. No reviews so far, only just released. Decent length and decent price. Summary doesn't really grab me and my to read list is growing rather long so no idea if or when I'll get to this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Stuck in the Game
The Dark Herbalist series by Michael Atamanov
Amazon summary (of first book):
Would you be prepared to work for free? How would you like to bust your hump for a large corporation 60-plus hours a week without a wage or a single day off for the vague promise of some mysterious perks in the distant future?
You'd refuse point blank, wouldn't you?
But what if the job in question was playing a state-of-the-art fantasy MMORPG game? And what if this was the only thing you're really good at? Especially considering that your in-game partner is someone really special to you - and this person already lives a virtual life?
Knowing all this, would you consider the mysterious future bonus worth your while? I dare you to try it!
My comments:
This is by the same author as the Perimeter Defense series. Russian author. Being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based. VR. Probably Russian school considering the author, but that's just an educated guess. This was only just released today so no reviews yet. If you liked the Perimeter Defense books and wanted to see the author's take on fantasy then here you go. The Perimeter Defense books are on my to read list, depending on how I like them this might go on there as well. I might even start here since I tend to favor the fantasy based litRPG more than the sci fi based.
Recommended by: heridfel, Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Video Game Plotline Tester
Book 2 - Stay on the Wing
Game Break series by G S Hodgson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Welcome to The Land of Waara, a virtual world designed to cater to your every desire. Seek out a comfortable chair to marvel at the sight of two setting suns or revel in bloody battle on the Plains of Deadalon, destroying skeleton warriors with your devastating magic. Whatever your heart desires, Waara will provideeeeeeeeee Error304, Error 6799, Report! Critical Failure! Click here for customer support.
That is unless your name is Hayden and you wake up in a pitch black mine, with no idea how you got there and are thrust into an unimaginable world of pain and heart attack inducing adventures/catastrophes.
“Waara will provide ‘MY ASS’. Can you believe that PR ‘crap’? Come and find out what happened to me and we will see if you still want to play, ‘The Land of Waara,’ ” Hayden griped. “What the hell is that? Get it off me Spike. A little help would be nice.”
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. VR. Reviews say decent story but poor editing. Book has been updated as of two weeks ago and now lists an editor so that may have changed. Good length and good price. Can't really tell you anything more about it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Hayden's Book 1
Kingdom series by Adam Drake
Amazon summary (of first book):
A broken kingdom for a reluctant king.
Robert was content with his life as a night-shift janitor. No stress, no worries, and no responsibilities. But this idyllic existence is turned upside down when he suddenly finds himself trapped inside a fantasy Role Playing Game.
Confused and alone he must find a way to escape back to his own world and, more importantly, to his daughter. But to do that he must take up the biggest responsibility of all:
To rule a kingdom.
My comments:
This author has been putting out books for several years now at a pretty frenetic pace. Author of the previously listed Shadow For Hire series. Self-published. Fantasy based. One of the rarer 'transported into a traditional MMORPG' type. Good length (300 pages), excellent price point ($1.34 CAD). That kind of price point is how you sell books. I've already bought a copy simply because of that alone (though the premise is interesting in its own right). Only came out two weeks ago, no reviews yet.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Level One
Book 2 - Level Two
Game Alive by Trip Ellington
Amazon summary:
Jake And His Friends Must Fight for Survival When His Virtual World Takes On A Mind Of Its Own
In the near future, virtual reality games are indistinguishable from the real world. Players can take on the role of a star quarterback or rule as the king of a virtual kingdom.Thirteen-year-old Jake prefers to spend his free time building Xaloria, a virtual world he created from scratch where he and his two best friends, Des and Kari, spend their afternoons completing quests and collecting treasure.
However, all in Xaloria is not what Jake expected. When Jake discovers that the world he built is growing and changing on its own, he and his friends uncover a secret that could change the world forever…
Join Jake and His Friends As They Journey Into a Fantasy World of NPCs and Intelligent AI!
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for years now though this is his first litRPG. VR. Fantasy based. Good length and good price. I can't find any reviews on it despite it having been out for over three years, which doesn't fill me with hope.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Game Alive
Lore Online series by Trip Ellington
Amazon summary (of first book):
Virtual Reality has never been so real with fantasy game, Lore Online
Rob Salter is a college drop-out with no job prospects in an automated world that has left him behind...Even with a basic income, he can't make ends meet to stay in his tiny apartment. His former roommate and only friend moved to another city for work, leaving him alone. Rob only has an older brother, Brad, who he hasn't heard from in years. Rent is due next week and he has no food...
Games are Rob's passion and he's played them all - all the old screen-based ones, that is - He's never been able to afford a VR Room despite having a neural implant, but he 's a huge fan of the streamers who broadcast their gameplay in Lore Online. They're his heroes.
So when a top-of-the-line Immersion Enhancing Sequencer addressed to him is delivered to his door in an unmarked box with no explanation, he is confused who would send him such an expensive gift, but he sets it up in his room and creates an avatar in Lore Online, a quest-driven dark fantasy RPG played by his favorite streamers. Could this be his opportunity to get ahead by selling the gold and items he receives as rewards for quests to cover his rent?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for many years now and this is his second litRPG after Game Alive. VR. Fantasy based. Length is very short (50 pages) and far too expensive for that length ($4 CAD). This author has made the baffling decision to name both his litRPG books with the same title, no idea what he was thinking there. No reviews. The plot summary seems pretty run of the mill litRPG. At that length and price point no way am I buying this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Game Alive
Digital Shadows series by Ethan Crow
Amazon summary (of first book):
Todd Heller has always tried hard to control his fears. Afraid of a boring life, he escapes to the one place where he and his friends can make a difference. A place where he can fight his fears and pit his survival skills against the best. A place called Digital Shadows.
Digital Shadows is the latest craze in Virtual Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing games. The game is based in a virtual world of horror, mystery, secret societies, monsters and shadowy nightmares.
Todd has dreamed of this game since its first introduction. An avid fan of the horror genre, Todd and his friends take the plunge to explore the dark world and fight the terrors within.
But when a glitch effects Todd's ability to log out, the player soon discovers there is something more then a simple game simulation running. Sinister forces converge on the player, eager to claim him for their dark designs and it is up to Todd and his friends to survive the nights ahead of them.
My comments:
Self-published. Second book published. VR. Horror genre based. Length is ok, price is ok. Reviews are ok. If the horror genre of games is your cup of tea then this might be worth checking out.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Digital Shadows
Book 2 - Witch Town
Warscapia by Garrett Boggs
Amazon summary:
Sparrow wants to be the greatest warrior in all of Warscapia. But he’s not. He’s just a kid with mediocre magic skills.
When he’s asked to team with axe bro Rock and ninja girl Jade, he will have to fight for his life and much more as the crew takes on some of the most brutal and fantastic monsters in the land of Warscapia—a videogame fantasy universe like none other.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. One of the rarer 'fictional world runs on RPG rules' types. Length is pretty short (129 pages) but the price point is good for that length ($1.31 CAD). No reviews and the summary is kinda minimal so I don't know what to really think about this one. I personally like my literature as long as possible so I can really sink my teeth into it. I rarely do stand-alone novels, preferring series, let alone novellas so I'll probably be giving this a pass absent some stellar reviews.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Warscapia
You're in Game! by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Michael Atamanov, Alexey Osadchuk, Pavel Kornev, Andrew Novak
Amazon summary:
This fast-paced collection of novellas and short stories from leading Russian LitRPG authors sheds new light on their signature worlds. New works by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Alexey Osadchuk, Michael Atamanov, Pavel Kornev and Andrew Novak!
Table of Contents:
Vasily Mahanenko. Shamanic Rites. A tale from The Way of the Shaman series
Andrei Livadny. Purgatory. A tale from Phantom Quest and The Neuro series
Michael Atamanov. Throne World. A tale from the Perimeter Defense series
Andrew Novak. The Best Quest. A tale from the new Alterra series
Pavel Kornev. Countdown. A LitRPG short story
Alexey Osadchuk. The Date. A tale from the Mirror World series
Vasily Mahanenko. The Story of a Raid. A tale from the Galactogon series
Expect your favorite heroes to play second fiddle to an array of new main characters; once-minor plot lines to lead you in unexpected directions; familiar story events to take new surprising turns.
Six unique writing styles. Seven meticulously conceived gaming worlds, two of which come from authors new to LitRPG but who are already experts in the craft of genre fiction.
Each story pushes the boundaries of suspense and intrigue. An adventure roller coaster in the new LitRPG anthology You're In Game!
My comments:
This is an anthology from some of the better Russian litRPG authors. You can expect good editing and good translations, and the plots are likely to be solid. However at 150 pages it's rather short, and $5.28 CAD is kinda expensive for that length. I've never been fond of anthologies, though it helps that most of these are set in the authors' existing worlds. I'll likely be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
You're in Game!
Dark Paladin series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Is it easy to survive in the game world? You could say yes, if you didn’t know what the additional conditions were. They are unusual: it’s the real world in which you have lived all your life. The enemy, craving to destroy you. Your own class who couldn’t care less about you. Are you still sure that survival is easy? Then welcome to THE GAME! It will prove you wrong.
My Comments:
This only came out two days ago so I don't really have anything to go on other than the author's previous works The Way of the Shaman series and Galactogon series, and heridfel's review which, well his active scorn says it all, but it's in the threadmarks if you want to read it.
Update: I've just finished this. Real life starts following RPG rules type (though the first book is more like a transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type). Fantasy based. Editing and translation were a little rough in places, which is disapointing considering this is being released by an actual publishing house with experience in this sort of thing. But that said, neither of those problems were bad enough to get in the way of enjoying the story, and enjoy it I did. I read it all in one sitting and will be buying the next book as soon as it comes out.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - The Beginning
Lion's Quest series by Michael-Scott Earle
Amazon summary (of first book):
Leo "The Lion" Lennox is the 10 year world champion of Astafar Unlimited, the best virtual reality game of all time. However, Leo has become bored with his success, and wonders where his next challenge will lie.
Then he meets the mysterious Zarra, and she tempts the champ to try her cutting edge game. Leo soon discovers a virtual world that is beyond fantastic. Can he resist the lure of this amazing game and the beautiful woman that has asked him to quest on her behalf?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing for a couple of years now but this is his first entry into the litRPG genre. VR. Fantasy based. Probably Russian school, but that's just an educated guess. Several of his amazon entries claim he's a New York Times Best Seller. I was not able to confirm this at all, and I somehow doubt someone who apparently made it onto the New York Times Best Seller list would still be self-publishing, so that seems like a false claim to inflate his ego and/or justify the high prices of his books which are ~$10 CAD each. That's way too high in my opinion, though I'll admit that his books do have a very good page length at ~700 pages. Reviews for the first book are generally positive even if they say it spends a lot of time outside of the game for a litRPG book. Reviews of his other works tend to also be generally positive though there are mentions of some of his writing being a little uneven. The ego stroking lie plus the high price point means I'm unlikely to bother with this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Undefeated
Book 2 - Dual Wield
Book 3 - Trinity
Secret of the Old Ones series by Blaise Corvin
Amazon summary (of first book):
Secret of the Old Ones is a deep dive VR game the likes of which the world had never seen.
Trent Noguero, a hardcore gamer, has been playing for a year and is about to get his big break. He is about to catapult himself into the ranks of the most powerful players in the world.
However, power comes with a price, and celebrity creates enemies. Trent has the keys to massive success, but he also accidentally painted a target on his back…both in, and out of the game.
My Comments:
Self-published author. Previously wrote Delvers LLC: Welcome to Ludus. VR. Fantasy based. Seems like Russian school, but that's just an educated guess. Price point is ok at $4 CAD but the page length is on the short side at 153 pages. I'd be more open to it if it was at least a dollar cheaper for that length. Reviews for both this and Delvers LLC are very positive. If you liked Delvers LLC or if the (minimal) Amazon summary caught your eye then it might be worth giving a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Luck Stat Strategy
Eden's Gate series by Edward Brody
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Gunnar Long is transported into the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he finds himself in a new world filled with magic, mystery and adventure.
No more 9-to-5 job. No more studio apartment. No more reality TV.
Finally, he's in a place where he can call home, a place with people he can call friends.
But as more people want to trade their real world lives to get inside Eden's Gate, the government of the outside world wants the "game" shut down at all costs.
Gunnar must learn to survive, grow in power and find a way to send a message back to his old home.
"We're fine. We're alive. Eden's Gate is real."
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR. Fantasy based. No idea as to school. Page length is good, though the price is a bit high for a first time self-published author. Premise looks ok. Only came out a week ago so no reviews other than jacobk's (which you can find in the threadmarks here) but his active rec says a lot. This is going on my to be read list.
Update: Finished the first book in this. It was quite enjoyable. I liked the first half more than the second half and neither of them enough to give an active rec, but I'll be buying the next book when it comes out.
Recommended by: jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Reborn
Book 2 - The Sparrow
World of Ruul series by J.A. Cipriano
Amazon summary (of first book):
Aaron Hope plays video games, like a lot, just not professionally. When he entered the EpiX! Games! PVP World Championship on a lark, this college senior never expected to make it to the final round, nor to get drugged and shoved into the alpha test for World of Ruul.
The premise for this virtual reality MMO is simple. Find all eight treasures scattered throughout the world before the maelstrom’s forces devour everything in sight. The only catch? You can’t log off, and if you die… well, let’s just say what happens in the game doesn’t stay in the game.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books a pretty high pace for several years now. This is VR and Fantasy based, no indications on school. Page count is good (350), but the price is rather high ($7 CAD). Premise is pretty standard. Reviews are generally positive on both editing and story. The higher price tag will probably keep this off my to be read list for a while.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Soulstone: Awakening
Book 2 - Soulstone: The Skeleton King
Emerilia series by Michael Chatfield
Amazon summary (of first book):
Austin Zane leaves behind his CEO position with RB Corp to play Dave, a half-dwarf in the Virtual reality game Emerilia, trying to escape his life.
What Dave doesn’t know is that Earth as he knows it, is really a virtual reality simulation and Emerilia is a world imbued with futuristic technologies to mimic early MMORPG’s.
He just wanted peace and quiet, to build a house, do some fishing, to take some time to find himself once again. What he found out instead was a cause, he found out the biggest lie of his life. He found out the truth about Emerilia and the lies of Earth.
What's the best way to control slaves? Make them think that they're free.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing for about a year now at an incredible pace, thirteen books so far, though this is the first litRPG. This is Fantasy based and sorta VR. Page counts for the two books out so far are good, the price for the first book is reasonable but the second's price jumps up. Reviews are generally positive. Despite the price shenanigans I might have to give this a look-see just on the strength of that unique premise. In case you skipped the amazon summary, in this series Earth is actually VR, unbeknownst to its inhabitants, and the game world is actually a real world enhanced with very advanced technology to make it work like a modern MMORPG. The idea being to make people so bored with their lives on Earth that they'll work hard in the game (which is actually real) to the benefit of their unknown alien masters. I've never seen anything like that in litRPG so far and I'm curious where the author is going to go with it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Grist
Book 1 - The Trapped Mind Project
Book 2 - Benvari Mountains
Book 3 - For The Guild
Book 4 - New Horizons
Book 5 - This is Our Land
Book 6 - Stone Raiders' Return
Ancient Dreams series by Benjamin Medrano
Amazon summary (of first book):
istina awakened after millennia of dormancy, her memories in tatters and born anew. Residing in the ruins of an ancient city, she finds herself drawn into a war between two elven nations and the slaver kingdom of Kelvanis when she rescues a princess from slavery. With her domain containing hints of forgotten knowledge, Sistina becomes a dungeon, stronghold, and source of hope all at once. And perhaps, just perhaps, she could finally find love in her new life.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. Fictional world running on RPG rules type. Good page length and price. Reviews are very favorable. May be a little light on RPG elements. Similar in premise to the Divine Dungeon series with the protagonist as the heart of a dungeon.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Ancient Ruins
The Feedback Loop series by Harmon Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Quantum Hughes is the type of guy who doesn't back down from a fight.
Trapped in an online VR world with a limitless inventory list, Quantum lives his days on repeat, fighting the same killer NPCs and hashing out the same gritty story lines again and again.
Then he receives a message from an actual human player, his first message from a real person in two years, which sparks an epic adventure across multiple online fantasy worlds.
But everything isn’t fun and games for Quantum Hughes.
Suddenly he’s being hunted by a murder guild known as the Reapers; suddenly he’s no longer the toughest guy on the block; suddenly, his real world body is no longer safe.
My Comments:
This author has been self-publishing for a few years now. This is his first litRPG. VR. Sci Fi based. Both page lengths and prices are reasonable. A bit more cyberpunk a bit less litRPG. Involves a groundhog day style loop. Reviews are positive. I might check this out at some point.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Feedback Loop
Book 2 - Steampunk is Dead
Book 3 - High Fantasy
Book 4 - Reapers and Repercussions
Book 5 - The Mechanical Heart
Book 6 - Cyber Noir Redux
Book 1-3 - The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set)
Sucked into an RPG series by Dee J. Stone
Amazon summary (of first book):
Critics call it “The most immersive open world fantasy RPG the world has ever seen. Players feel like they are actually in the game.” Little did fifteen-year-old Jamie know how literal that statement is.
In the middle of attacking a difficult boss, Jamie gets sucked into the game. It’s not long before he learns there’s no way back home and that the only people around him are NPCs. He spends his days completing quests, hoping one will lead him back to reality. But the days go on and he wonders if he will ever see his family and best friend again.
Then he meets her—another player. She got sucked into the game months ago and has been stuck there ever since. Together, they embark on the journey back to Earth. But is there a way out of this fantasy world or are they doomed to live there forever?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for four years now, mostly romance novels, with some young adult superhero works mixed in. Fantasy based. One of the rarer transported into a traditional MMORPG types. School unknown, summary implies it might be going its own way in that regard. Length is decent, price is a little on the high side. I couldn't find a single review for any of the author's books except for one on this book which was not positive. I'll probably be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Sucked into an RPG
Book 2 - Stuck in an RPG
The Nine Circles series by P. Joseph Cherubino and Amy Hopkins
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the MMORPG Realm of the Nine Circles, things are not as they should be. NPC behavior is a little too realistic, and the game's ultimate bad guy, Lord Mylos, is acting weird and killing heaps of players just for fun.
Dante is an entry-level game developer for Plexcorp, the company that owns and runs the game. He knows the secret to the strangeness lies near. Will the answers be in the cavernous depths of the Plexcorp building, owned by the man who created the game? Or is the answer deep within the Nine Circles itself? One thing is certain: asking questions might get him killed.
To figure it all out, Dante must lead a band of adventurers into a virtual reality world where he has to play the game to save not only his own life but the entire Realm itself.
My Comments:
This author has been self-publishing for awhile though this is the first litRPG. VR and fantasy based. Reasonable length and reasonable price. Reviews are generally favorable but point to weaknesses in the RPG side of things as well as a lot of the story playing out in the real world. Characterization has also been mentioned as a possible issue. Personally I don't care about the real world conflicts a lot of litRPG put in their books so the fact that a lot of this story happens in the real world immediately puts me off; I'll be passing on this. But if the summary looks good to you I wouldn't actively discourage purchase.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Realm of the Nine Circles
Press X to Loot series by Gregg Horlock
Amazon summary (of first book):
A revolutionary game called Pana Reborn. An escape from reality, a place of plentiful loot and dark powers, drawing would-be heroes from across the world.
After his brother's accident, Chris is holding the family together. When he runs into money troubles, he finds an answer in an unlikely place.
It's a land of adventure, fighting, spells, and skills. Most importantly, somewhere fortunes can be made. Chris is going to the new island of Artemis, but it won't be simple. The developers have created Artemis with the toughest of adventurers in mind, and nobody knows what happens there at night....
He chooses a less-popular class: scout. If he's to survive, he'll need to learn new powers, battle monsters, forge alliances, and most of all, discover how to master the game. Chris will need his wits and his courage if he's to beat the game and become the Scout of Artemis.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Difficulty: Legendary series. Fantasy based and VR. Decent page length and very good price. Reviews are generally negative though, mostly quoting a very weak story. Even with the low price I'm probably passing on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Scout of Artemis
Tower of Gates series by Paul Bellow
Amazon summary (of first book):
Ever dream of being trapped in a virtual reality video game?
Craving ONE MORE QUEST?
Read on, adventurer!
Sarah, Eric and Josh secretly log onto the new Tower of Gates VRMMORPG and stumble on a world unlike any they have seen before. Swords, sorcery, and intrigue abound. While not planning on staying in the unreleased game long, life happens.
They soon learn the stakes are even higher than they imagined. To survive, they will need all their strength, courage, and wisdom, not to mention help from friendly NPCs, magic items, and everything else uncovered as they delve deeper into the game.
One more level becomes a matter of life and death.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's first litRPG novel, and only second novel period. Fantasy based and VR. Page length is very good but the price tag is on the high side. Reviews are mostly negative, referencing poor plotting and inconsistent characterization. I'm gonna pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Goblin
Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev
Amazon summary (of first book):
The future is already here, and Harry has been given a chance to experience it first-hand. He, of all people, knows that VR can become larger than life—and a computer game can be More Than a Game.
Being a society columnist means mixing with all elements of humanity—except that now, Harriton Nikiforov (a.k.a. Hagen the Warrior) is busy updating his day planner with the names of elves, orcs, goblins, and other out-of-this-world MMORPG characters. Instead of free champagne, this time around, he is given unlimited playtime in Fayroll, a virtual reality game.
He is also given explicit orders to write a series of fluff pieces on the game and its developers. He grudgingly accepts the assignment, but soon finds himself enthralled by the virtual fantasy world and its amazing quests, unpredictable challenges, and nearly endless possibilities. Will he still dare to claim that…it's all just a game? And will his real life ever be the same again?
My comments:
Russian author. Actual publishing house with a professional translator, and editor. First book by this author released in English. Fantasy based and VR. Page length is good but price is way too high. While the premise looks interesting the reviews almost universally agree the best descriptor for this book is mediocre; mediocre writing, mediocre editing, mediocre translation. If the price of this was one third what it actually is I might have taken a look, but as it stands now it's a definite pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - More Than a Game
Book 2 - The Road East
Questing by Kieron Uchee
Amazon summary:
A LIRTRPG novel that has the protagonist Anon making his way through a new virtual game world, There are no gold farmers, no alts and no overpriced economy, at least not yet. Anon is not in a hurry to level but is content to enjoy the game and explore the new world at his own pace. But like all new games, there are bugs and problems. As he quests and explores he also begins to change. Is he changing the game, or is the game changing him.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Ingame series. Fantasy based and VR. page length is very short (this is listed as a novella) and the price is a little on the high side for its length. Reviews are generally positive but mention that it could use a bit more polish and that it cuts off very abruptly. I'm not really fond of stand-alone novels, let alone novellas. That plus the price means I'm passing on this one.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Questing
Nagant Wars series by Jayden Hunter
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Rhith Corp releases Nagant Wars, its latest VR-MMO, Dale Brown cannot wait to put on his Rhith-Suit and experience the most vivid, full-immersion world ever created.
With pleasure and pain set to mimic reality, Dale must navigate the dangers of war, face his personal failings, and learn who his friends truly are.
Set on the planet Almaach, the swords and sorcery aspect of the game is starkly contrasted to the potential dystopian nature of Dale's real life, which in 2040, contains the ever-increasing chance of global disaster.
My comments:
This is this author's third book. It's being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based and VR. The length is excellent and the price is reasonable for that length. This is a second edition of a series that was released last year then withdrawn when the author didn't feel it was the best it could be. In a bit of a twist, the game is used in place of real war, with the military conscripting players. Reviews are generally positive with the occasional comments about chaotic story flow. This might have to go on to my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Pawn's Dilemma
The Neuro series by Andrei Livadny
Amazon summary (of first book):
Alex is one of us. An office rat during daytime, he spends sleepless nights playing his favorite MMO game: a familiar, predictable world which is about to collapse. A new virtual universe arrives to replace it, aggressively devouring all others: the Crystal Sphere.
Alex gets involved in testing new technologies which promise to revolutionize gaming. Fitted out with a neuroimplant which provides a 100% authenticity of experience, he has to survive in the Crystal Sphere against all odds. What is he turning into? Will he become yet another expendable test subject - or the first player to transcend reality?
My comments:
This is by the same author as the Phantom Server series and is set in the same universe as that series. Fantasy based and VR. Very good page count, price is a little high. This is a Russian author but has an actual publishing house behind it, and going by the author's previous work you can assume good editing and translation. Reviews are generally favorable so far (this only came out four days ago). The previous series by this author left a very sour taste for me so I will be giving this a pass absent some very positive reviews from others in this thread.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Crystal Sphere
Travail Online series by Brian Simons
Amazon summary (of first book):
When an overpowered NPC goes off the rails and starts killing players — even in safe zones — Coral, Daniel, and their friends accept an impossible quest: Stop him. At all costs.
Coral joined the immersive MMORPG Travail Online because her waitressing job, like so many other jobs, was automated by a growing robot workforce. She starts the role-playing video game as a Seamstress, hoping to craft useful clothing in-game to sell for real life cash. The game, however, has other ideas. What starts off as job replacement quickly launches an adventure of epic proportions through a virtual reality world filled with magic, intrigue, and betrayal.
Daniel has played for longer, but the game changes him to a new class that doesn’t actually seem to exist. How can he maximize his skills when his class is completely uncharted? How can he avoid dying at the hands of a madman and losing all of his inventory and gold? Can he, Coral, and their friends stop the murderous NPC before Travail comes crashing down, taking the world economy with it?
My comments:
Self-published, first time author. Fantasy based, VR. Length and price are decent. Female protagonist. Reviews are very meh, in particular mentioning poor game design. While female protagonists are rare and I usually try them for that reason, I'll be giving this one a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Soulkeeper
Book 2 - Resurrection
BladeDust Online series by Corey Thompson
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Cody signs up for the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he is amazed at how real the game world is. Unable to pay rent, Cody and his best friend join BladeDust Online as a job replacement. But, they quickly realize it is much more than just a job. It's a world full of magic, mystery and adventure.
In a world where you can be anything, Cody decides to be everything. But, Cody soon finds out all is not right in BladeDust Online. A glitch has trapped the players in the game, and something dark is going on behind the scenes. Cody must grow and become more powerful in this unforgiving game world. Who can he trust? How powerful can he become? And will he ever find love? Only time will tell. Enjoy this LitRPG Adventure.
Welcome To BladeDust Online!
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for a few years now, with several books already released. Fantasy based and VR. Length is good, price is a little high. Reviews are generally negative, with most mentioning that they only made it about a third of the way into the book before they gave up in boredom. I think this is pretty solidly a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - BladeDust Online
Tactical Phantasia series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
Drawn forth from Earth by forces most bodacious, a young man must learn to fight for survival against ridiculous opponents while navigating a bizarre landscape of gaming tropes, JRPG oddness, and epic boobery.
Can a normal man from Earth survive the machinations of those who summoned him, and find his place in the world? Only time will tell...
This story is part of an ongoing multiversal project known as Project Scott. It features a main protagonist with a similar name in each story, Scott, and is part of a vast tapestry of stories that intersect and intertwine in the strangest of ways.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Origin A.R.S. series. This is one of the rarer transported to a world with RPG rules type. And even rarer the RPG rules appear to be turn-based. Length is very short, but price is also very low. Reviews are generally positive but imply that the story may be pretty juvenile. Probably a pass for me, even though the turn-based aspect is interesting.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Episode 1
The Greenwood series by Galen Wolf
Amazon summary (of first book):
Who I am in real life doesn't matter; who I am in the game is what counts.
Before it happened, I bumbled my way through the virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game "The Greenwood," made crap builds and wasted my time.
Then I got murdered. A shadowy figure took my hard-accumulated possessions and left me to die. I admit, I did a rage quit and deleted my character.
Then I wondered what kind of person that rage quit made me? Maybe I was a quitter? And maybe I really was someone who would let a bully get away with disrespecting me?
But then again, no: I respected myself too much for that. I rolled a new character, I vowed to get good and re-entered The Greenwood.
I took on the name Barcud and the profession of ranger. I vowed to rise through the levels, hone my skills, hunt down the shadowy figure, and grind his face in the dirt.
This is my story.
My comments:
This is the author's fifth book though first litRPG. Actual publishing house releasing it. Fantasy based and VR. Length is decent and price is very good. Reviews pretty consistently say good game design but poor story-telling and very unlikable protagonist. I'm getting Level Zero flashbacks -- pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Player in the Greenwood
Book 2 - Plague in the Greenwood
Book 3 - War in the Greenwood
Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen
Amazon summary (of first book):
Seamus is facing life in prison without parole. While doing his time he's given an option by the Department of Justice and the biggest virtual game maker around, Mindblown Entertainment. If he will help them test long term immersion he will get the chance to play the latest game from Mindblown, Alpha World. All he has to do is sign away his legal rights and sign an NDA.
Now exploring Alpha World, Seamus becomes the Summoner Alburet. Follow Alburet on his journey of exploration and questing in the latest game to hit the market. He will summon demons, befriend players and NPCs alike all while trying to find a little happiness in his life.
He's the first gamer to be sentenced to life imprisonment in a virtual world. What could go wrong?
(This book contains some adult themes, this was suggested by a few readers and I listen to those who have enjoyed my work.)
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Last Horizon series. Fantasy based and VR, seems like Korean school. Length is very good, price is a little high. Reviews are generally positive. Might be worth a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Gamer for Life
Death Portal Online by Clay Rankin
Amazon summary:
Blake Blaster is in for the ride of his life when he (underhandedly?) secures a spot in a virtual reality contest.
Death Portal Online is a madcap romp through a virtual reality video game fantasy land. Blake isn’t particularly smart or that good at games, but he does have one thing going for him: he’s not afraid to kill everything that moves. Fast-paced and none too serious, his journey through the MMORPG’s dark fantasy world is full of humor and surprises.
Is Blake a couch potato with nothing left to lose, a reprehensible hack turning the game world inside out, or a lovable slob who just wants to be a better man? Click “buy now” to start reading and decide for yourself!
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based and VR. Length is short and price is too high for that length. Reviews are generally negative. Probably a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Death Portal Online
Caverns and Creatures series by Robert Bevan
Amazon summary (of first book):
What if you and your friends got to live the game for real? What if you and your friends were assholes?
After relentlessly mocking their strange new Game Master, Tim and his friends find themselves trapped in the bodies of their fantasy game characters, in a world where the swords, the magic, and the gastrointestinal issues are all too real.
They learn hard lessons about tolerance and teamwork, and a new meaning for the term “dump stat”. Ha ha. Just kidding. They don't learn shit.
Never before have comedy and fantasy come together so much like a train wreck, in which each train was carrying a shipment of burning dumpsters. You just can't help but continue to stare.
My comments:
This author has been writing a for a good while now, mostly this series, but also a couple of others. Self-published. A transported to a fictional world running on rpg rules type. Fantasy based. Doesn't seem like it's taking itself too seriously. Reviews are very positive. Page length is decent but the prices, other than the first book, are on the high side. The short stories are so expensive for their length that in my opinion they're not worth bothering with unless you have Kindle Unlimited and can read them for free, even in omibus form. I'll probably pick up the first one (since it's cheap) and go from there. Though honestly it doesn't really seem like my cup of tea, I tend to prefer more serious stories.
Recommended by: jacobk, Grist
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Critical Failures
Book 2 - Critical Failures II
Book 3 - Critical Failures III
Book 4 - Critical Failures IV
Book 5 - Critical Failures V
Caverns and Creatures: Volume I (Books 1 - 4)
Self-contained short stories
Cave of the Kobolds
Zombie Attack!!!
Orcs, Bears, and Assholes
Shipfaced
Dungeon Crawl
The Creep on the Borderlands
Nymph-O-Maniacs
Buzzkill
Cooper's Christmas Carol
Sticky White Mess: A Love Story
Clerical Error
Cornholed
House of Madness
Naga Please
Elf Inflicted
The Land Before Tim
A Fistful of Gold Pieces
The Minotard
B.Oar Guests
Djinngle Bells
Genital Harpies
The Unwashed Asses
Probing the Annis
Wight Trash
Potty Mouth
Short story omibuses
D6
2D6
3D6
4D6
Destined Realms series by Kellee L. Greene
Amazon summary (of first book):
I wasn't the girl that cowered in the back waiting for her knight in shining armor, I was the girl that wore the armor.
Joely Quinn woke up in a strange room, and she couldn't remember how she'd gotten there. In fact, she couldn't remember much of anything at all.
When she strikes out in search of answers, she's thrust into a fantasy world filled with swords, sorcery, and enemies that want to kill her just because they can. Joely must not only quest to find the answers she seeks, but she must also survive in this world of untold dangers.
With the help of others like her, will Joely and her new friends be able to survive the fantasy world they are trapped inside of? Or will they be destined to stay there forever?
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for about a year, has a half dozen or so other books out but this is the first litRPG. Transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. No page count listed and price is rather high. Reviews are mixed, some loved it, some were bored with it. A pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Destined
The Weirdest Noob series by Arthur Stone
Amazon summary (of first book):
Something quite odd is happening in Second World—the planet’s foremost MMORPG. Something that’s causing alliances to be broken, and friendships, forgotten. A worthless low-level mine becomes the stage of vicious battles, its burned ruins suddenly contested by the game’s toughest clans. Every border is controlled, and every road in the province blocked off. The weak players and NPCs alike are subjected to non-stop violent raids courtesy of Eastern invaders. And the strong… The strong are scouring the virtual world for the culprit—the weirdest noob the game has ever seen.
My comments:
Self-published. Russian author. Both translator and editor listed in credits. First book (in english anyway). VR type. Fantasy based. No page count listed. Price is reasonable. Reviews are very positive. I'm definitely going to be trying this one.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Weirdest Noob
World of Ga'em series by Dhayaa Anbajagane
Amazon summary (of first book):
Do you fear the darkness?
Do you fear the pain and terror within?
It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t mean to look for things I wasn’t supposed to. I didn’t mean for death to come after me. I really didn’t.
But it still happened.
I’m Zoran and my name is the only thing I remember about myself; not why I woke up in a forest, not why I taste blood in my mouth, and certainly not why I see weird screens in front of me. Ever since I first woke, all I wanted to do was find out who I really was. But what I didn’t expect, was for my search to spark something that was never meant to happen.
It has started now. I can see it. Cities will burn and towers will fall. Chaos will descend the heavens and ravage the earth. The darkness is coming, and the world will tremble in its wake.
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for about a year now with several other titles out, but this is the first litRPG. Transported to a fictional world with RPG rules type. Russian style. Fantasy based. Page length is decent, price is a little on the high side. Reviews are mixed, citing poor characterization and uneven pacing. I'm probably going to pass on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Awakening
Book 2 - The Eternal: Dragonborn
The Goblin's Shadow series by Kyle Vauss
Amazon summary (of first book):
After his fiance deserted him and took his dog, Tom spends his days at the office and his evenings in Infarna Omega, a full-immersion fantasy game. He makes a side-living levelling up and selling characters to order.
When he gets an order for a Shadow Walker, a class he’s never played before, it seems strange. Things get even stranger when, just as he’s about to kill a goblin NPC, it talks.
Tom and Gabber the goblin embark on a quest to get Gabber to safety. They're pursued by Crawford, a creature hunter with an immense knowledge of the game and resources to match. He’ll never give up, never stop, and Tom must use his courage, skills and ingenuity to outwit him.
This starts an epic quest of swords, magic, and monsters, while an unlikely friendship develops. Tom can’t let the hunter catch Gabber. Unlike the players, if the goblin dies, he won’t respawn.
My comments:
Self-published. First time author. VR and fantasy based. No page length given, reasonable price. Reviews are generally positive. Premise looks interesting, I think I'll pick this one up.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Goblin's Shadow
Armchair Safari by Jonathan Paul Isaacs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Would you still play an online game if you knew the monsters were real?
Lots of students work to put themselves through college, but Megan Evans' job is far from typical. Every night she logs into the world of Armchair Safari, an online fantasy game where players upload and compete for real money. It's grinder work. So when Megan gets the chance to join some friendly adventurers on a quest for a massive jackpot, she hopes she's found a way to free herself from the crushing debt of bills and tuition.
But as Megan is soon to find out, not everyone in her party is who they say they are. And the sinister nature of the treasure they're after could put her in danger that is anything but virtual.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's third book and first litRPG. VR. Fantasy based. Female protagonist. Page length is very good, price is a bit high. Reviews are generally positive. Looks promising but I'm not usually into stand-alone novels.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Armchair Safari
Soul Linked series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Elle Kirkland wakes up to find herself trapped in a strange new world alongside a hundred-thousand others, with no memory of how she got there. Dumped into an isolated valley with few resources at their disposal, the newcomers must quickly find a way to survive this harsh new reality that mimics so many games they have played before.
But survival is not the only thing that will confront them. The world they have come to is old, with a long history. All manner of dark secrets may be hidden away, waiting to be discovered...
My comments:
Same author as the World at War series. Actual publishing house. Transported to a world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. Female protagonist. Page length is good but price is high. Reviews are mixed. If this was cheaper I'd probably check it out, but not at that price.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Origin
Arcadia series by Alyssa Archer
Amazon summary (of first book):
As a code monkey for Goliath Corp., Trent Webb feels like a cog in the machine. He wants nothing more than to visit the newly discovered magical continent of Arcadia. But the price is too steep for mere mortals like him, so Trent settles for the next best thing … Arcadia VR.
The virtual reality vacation outfitters at VR World have a package that provides an MMORPG experience in Arcadia—complete with elves, mythical creatures like griffins and unicorns, and lads and lasses in distress—in short, everything Trent needs to become the hero he yearns to be.
However, once he’s in the game, Trent discovers a much larger quest, one that may actually affect the real world as he knows it. Total Recall meets World of Warcraft in this fun LitRPG adventure.
Arcadia Unlocked is the first book in the Arcadia LitRPG series.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's third book. VR. Fantasy based. No page length listed and the price is quite high. Reviews are favorable. Feedback is this is a fantasy version of the plot to Total Recall, with a chunk of standard litRPG shoved in the middle. Personally it doesn't appeal.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Arcadia Unlocked
Valhalla Online series by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Amazon summary (of first book):
More than just a game, Valhalla Online was designed as a permanent repository for the uploaded minds of mortals afraid of death. An artificial afterlife.
Samantha’s world is turned upside-down when she arrives in Valhalla - because as far as she knows, she isn’t like the other people uploaded there.
She isn’t dead. At least...she hopes she isn’t.
Now Sam must solve the mystery of her own abduction - or murder! - while trapped inside a virtual world, cut off from communication with the outside. To do this she must do more than simply survive Valhalla - she needs to win the game!
My comments:
This author has been writing for about five years now and has a dozen or so books out, this is the first litRPG. This is being released by an actual publishing house. VR and fantasy based. Female protagonist. No page length given, price is reasonable. Reviews are positive. I'm not generally a fan of the Viking setting, but the positive reviews and the rare female protagonist means I'll be giving this a try.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Valhalla Online
Book 2 - Raiding Jotunheim
Spells, Swords, & Stealth series by Drew Hayes
Amazon summary (of first book):
What happens when the haggling is done and the shops are closed? When the quest has been given, the steeds saddled, and the adventurers are off to their next encounter? They keep the world running, the food cooked, and the horses shoed, yet what adventurer has ever spared a thought or concern for the Non-Player Characters?
In the town of Maplebark, four such NPCs settle in for a night of actively ignoring the adventurers drinking in the tavern when things go quickly and fatally awry. Once the dust settles, these four find themselves faced with an impossible choice: pretend to be adventurers undertaking a task of near-certain death or see their town and loved ones destroyed. Armed only with salvaged equipment, second-hand knowledge, and a secret that could get them killed, it will take all manner of miracles if they hope to pull off their charade.
And even if they succeed, the deadliest part of their journey may well be what awaits them at its end.
My comments:
This author has been writing for a few years now and has a lot of books under his belt. This is also being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based. Good length and reasonable price. Reviews are mixed. Despite the recomendation of heridfel I'll probably be passing on this, the premise just doesn't grab me.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - NPCs
Book 2 - Split the Party
Book 3 - Going Rogue
Dominion of Blades by Matt Dinniman
Amazon summary:
For over thirty years, Dominion of Blades has been the hottest online role-playing game in the world. Any gamer with an immersion rig can enter the world of sword and sorcery, of goblins and dragons, and they can hack and slash their way to glory. But the game is too real for some, and after an epidemic of real-life fatalities, public use of the immersion technology has been banned, causing the game to be shut down.
Jonah wakes to find himself in-game, level one, with no memory of how he arrived and no way to eject. With only two companions, trapped in a world that once hosted millions, Jonah must battle his way across a treacherous landscape, fighting virtual monsters, all-too-real pain, and a very human enemy in a desperate bid to survive.
My comments:
This author has been writing for about a decade and has four books to his name, this being the first litRPG. Being published by an actual publishing house. VR and Fantasy based. Very good length and good price. Reviews are positive and indicate a twist the summary doesn't, that the people trapped in the game are in randomized avatars (including gender) which could be interesting. I may have to give this a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Dominion of Blades
Fjorgyn series by RJ Castiglione
Amazon summary (of first book):
Michael was proud of his life and his accomplishments. During the day he was Michael Semione. He worked, spent time with his family, and did everything young professionals were meant to do. At night, he became Creighton Dian-Cecht, a druid healer in Fjorgyn Online. He was head of a company of crafters and adventurers known throughout the game.
Things changed, however, when Michael was killed in real life while playing the game. He was reincarnated in a world based on Fjorgyn a level one, alone and naked in the woods. When he played the game, all he wanted to do was craft and heal. Follow his new life and his new adventures and challenges. See how he reconciles his desire to only heal in this dangerous, new world.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. One of the rarer transported to a traditional RPG world type. Fantasy based. Length is short and the price is somewhat high for that length. Strong LBGTI elements (the protagonist is at least gay and might be trans). Reviews say decent but could have been better. Considering the length, price, and mediocre reviews I'll probably be passing on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Rebel Rises
Spectres & Skin series by RJ Creed
Amazon summary (of first book):
Imagine the look on everyone's faces when I tell them that I'm not the intended chosen one -- that the gods would never have picked a loser or an outsider like me -- I just happened to apply the right cheat code at the right time. And now I have to save the world.
When the biggest game developers on a dying Earth create their latest VRMMORPG, it takes on a life of its own. Impossible to control, and even harder to predict, the game world in Spectres & Skin is officially classed as a parallel universe, and people clamor to escape the horrors of overpopulation and pollution by moving over.
Recent graduate Matthew Blake is down on his luck. A climbing accident has robbed him of the use of his legs, his best friend is better than him in every way, and he just cannot find a job. VR is his only escape from a life he can't stand. When he is invited to peek into the exclusive new game world, he can't resist. Is his luck about to change?
No. No it isn't.
S&S: Exodus is a LitRPG novel, meaning it is extensively inspired by gaming mechanics and includes a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ calculations. It contains scenes of a graphic nature, permadeath, a really judgmental user interface, and a prophecy hat warns of the destruction of both universes — and that's just week one.
This is not a book about a superhero, or even a true hero at all. It's the story of the first step a perpetual sidekick takes on his long path towards Champion; a path he perhaps doesn't feel he deserves. Though he does progress, and take on challenges, the first step is always the hardest on a long journey. If you're looking for a story about an overpowered killing machine from page one, you've got the wrong book!
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR and Fantasy based. Length is very good but price is a bit high. Reviews range from mediocre to good. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Exodus
Galactic Fist of Legend series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the year 2018 a bright star appeared near Earth. Humanity as a whole was briefly introduced to a race of beings far beyond their understanding. During that brief interaction a proclamation was made, Defeat the Grand Emissary or become the eternal slaves of those who had arrived at Earth.
The only chance for victory was for people all across the globe to make a choice. When prompted to become a champion and a play a bizarre game of life or death they could choose yes or no. Those who chose no, went about their lives afterward. All memory of the event was lost despite the fact that their very existence as a free species hung by a single thread.
Will those who said yes manage to survive the horror of the game and become strong enough to defeat the Grand Emissary. Can one of them become... The Galactic Fist of Legend.
Also, it's a comedy with significant parody elements. Pretty obvious, right?
This litrpg story takes place in a setting that involves hopping between worlds. One moment the protagonist is fighting zombies, and the next he is facing down platform hopping challenges in a world where a single misstep could send him plummeting down through what appears to be an endless sky. Part of a multiverse project known as Project Scott, it features a main protagonist who's name is similar across multiple books but who is not the exact same character each time. It is a labor of love, and of goofy humor. Other stories in the project include Freelance Saga, Galataea Crystallim, and Origin ARS.
My comments:
This author has been writing litRPG for awhile now, being the author of the Origin A.R.S. series and the Tactical Phantasia series. Self-published. Both length and price are decent. Story is a comedy and involves the protagonist jumping through a bunch of different game types. This Project Scott thing sounds very much like self-insert fanfiction which I have rarely liked. Reviews are generally positive. My dislike of self-inserts plus not being a fan of comedies means this is a definite pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series by Cristian Madalin Dragomir
Amazon summary (of first book):
An ominous message puts everyone on Earth into a state of panic, and not long afterwards millions are kidnapped from their homes by a God-like entity. After being gifted with powers and abilities beyond their wildest dreams, they were left to fend for themselves in a strange and dangerous new world.
Unlike the others, Alkelios Yatagai is one of the few who find themselves alone and separated from everyone else. With only a ridiculous amount of Luck and a unique skill to help him survive, he travels through a land teeming with dangerous monsters and... dragons.
My comments:
This is the author's eighth book and first litRPG. Self-published. Transported to an original fiction world running RPG rules type. Fantasy based. Length is decent, price is a little high. Reviews are average to good. Might be worth a look-see, but I'm probably going to pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dragons can be cute too!
Virtual War series by Steven J. Shelley
Amazon Summary (of first book):
Humans have been at war with the Irians for twelve years.
With heavy casualties and depleted resources on both sides, opposing military leaders come up with a novel solution.
It is agreed that the newly-discovered Alpha Centauri system will be fought virtually, inside a dynamic role-playing game.
Using cutting-edge Immersion technology, human and Irian engineers unite to design the game. The rules are simple: two armies of 100 pixel runners will compete for each of the three habitable planets in the Alpha Centauri system.
The species with the most victories will be permitted to colonize the system for real, putting them in a strong position to win the war.
For Major John Talbot, chosen leader of the human virtual army, the chance to play such an amazingly detailed game is a dream come true.
The price of failure, however, doesn't bear thinking about ...
My comments:
This is the same author as for The Strength Build Cycle series and The Dexterity Build Cycle series. Published by an actual publishing house. VR and sci fi based. RTS game type. Page length and price are both decent. Reviews are mediocre to poor, citing poor characterization and plot, with the focus being almost entirely on the action. The RTS aspect is the only thing that catches my eye with this title, and it's not enough to balance out everything else. A pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Alpha Centauri
Veilwalkers series by Isaac Winter
Amazon Summary (of first book):
Enter the Veil? [Yes/No]
Winston Beckett is a linguistic scholar, poring over musty manuscripts and ancient translations. That is, before he finds a book of ancient runes. Before people start disappearing.
When he deciphers the strange book, Winston discovers a secret so big it throws him into a different world. Literally.
No more grading papers. No more research. No more work. Just him and The Veil, the eerily realistic game world he falls into.
Desperate to find his missing colleagues, Winston must navigate this strange new world, using only his wits to survive. Quests, skills, and loot await him…if he’s up to the task.
Along the way, he’ll need to fight enemies, recruit allies, and go on a journey of magic and adventure. And at the end? Well, let’s just say he won’t be the same person he started as.
My comments:
First time author. Actual publishing house. Transported to an original fiction world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. No page length given but reviews imply it to be quite short. Price would be ok for a decent length book but not for as short as reviews indicate. Reviews are mediocre, stating a lot of world building (mostly stats and game rules) but little plot. Some say what plot there was was decent, others say poor. Despite the summary looking interesting, the lack of page count, plus the price, plus the poor reviews mean it's a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Lost Archive
Nigmus Online by Noah Barnett
Amazon Summary:
Virtual Dive technology is coming out of the workplace and into homes. Nigmus Online is the first MMO to use this new device. The only caveat to the game; there is no manual. The only instruction the player gets is how to interact with the user interface. That's it. Nobody is going to hold their hand or give out rare items. Players begin life as a level zero commoner. Its entirely up to them what class they become. Explore a world that spans five continents.
~Story Summary~
Liam is tricked into trying an expensive and innovative online MMO. On his first trip into the game he stumbles upon a hidden class. The Undead Necromancer. Intrigued by this turn in events he continues to explore this mysterious world.
In another part of the country Kathrine(Kat) suffers from a debilitating and paralyzing disease. Taking part in an experimental research could offer her a new lease on life (of a sort).
Even further afield Russia and China are undergoing a massive spike in suicide rate. What could be causing so many young adults to dire ends?
My comments:
First time author. Self published. VR and fantasy based. Length is good but price is too high, especially for a first time self published author. Reviews frequently mention poor editing. The price tag plus the poor editing makes this a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Nigmus Online
The Crystal Crusade by Mars Dorian
Amazon Summary:
In the near future, robots have wiped out jobs for ordinary humans. Dashiell, a former tech employee, is one of the many casualties.
He returns penniless to his mother’s trailer and drowns in darkness. During his struggle, he discovers the Crystal Crusade, a popular VRMMORPG played by over fifty million gamers around the planet.
In the game world, a mysterious crystal plague called the Reepo infests the lands and mutates organisms into vile creatures. To make matters worse, a powerful syndicate has found a way to harvest the Reepo and uses the crystals to fuel their airships and mechanized army.
Dashiell has to ally with rival players and build his unique character skills to battle both the crystal plague and the deceptive syndicate.
In his epic quest, Dashiell will uncover the mysterious origin of the plague while fighting to survive in the virtual AND real world.
My comments:
This author has been releasing books for about three years now, though this is the first litRPG. This is being published by an actual publishing house. It's VR and a mix of sci fi and fantasy (a la Final Fantasy). Page length is good as is the price. Reviews are generally positive.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
The Crystal Crusade
Territoria series by Vic Connor
Amazon summary (of first book):
Immigrant. Criminal. Genius.
Abandoned as a child and fostered around a foreign city, Nikolay Somov had little hope of a successful life. Then he was wrongly convicted of a heinous crime and all hope was dashed.
Imprisoned and awaiting execution, Nikolay receives an offer: Go on a mission inside the secret, government-controlled virtual world known as Territoria or die.
Within the virtual world, Nikolay enrolls in the mysterious Ravenscroft Academy alongside humans, ogres, faeries and gargoyles. As he continues to explore his new home, Nikolay discovers a conspiracy wrought with inhumane actions, driven by his captors’ boundless lust for power.
What he thought was a school for the gifted turns out to be something else altogether. Surrounded by avatars, under constant surveillance, and fearing his mind has been infiltrated, Nikolay must escape or never see the real world again.
My comments:
This is the author's eighth book and first litRPG. Published by an actual publisher. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, and price is excellent. Reviews are average to good, stating that the story was good but the litRPG elements felt a little random and forced, as if someone had retro-fitted a standard magical academy story with game elements. I'm not too encouraged by the reviews but at that price I'll give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Immortality Experiment
Gabria Online series by Neil Bimbeau
Amazon summary (of first book):
After a terrible accident ruins his life, Daniel finds a new one inside of Gabria Online, the world's first Virtual Reality MMORPG. Inside of Gabria, Daniel is a Mesmer: a support class that uses hypnosis and mind control to weaken enemies before Charming them into turning against their compatriots. He loves exerting control and dominance almost as much as he loves being able to walk again, and his tactical skills make him excellent at turning battlefields into total chaos.
But when Daniel finds a strange tower in the woods that leads to a secret developer-built treasure room, he patches the ENTIRE GAME WORLD into a shocking new form. Suddenly players are able to hurt each other with swords and spells - and death has more consequence than a simple respawn! And Daniel discovers that Mesmers have the ability to use their powers to control other players - like the gorgeous elf girl he's been lusting after for weeks...
Master of the Game is the first chapter in a 18+ LitRPG series by Neil Bimbeau. It mixes fantasy action with adult themes like hypnosis, mind control, bimbofication and more! Daniel's journey will contain scorching-hot MF and MFF scenes as he builds his perfect fantasy harem: this series is strictly adults-only!
My Comments:
This author has a ton of self-published works on Amazon, though this is the first litRPG. It's VR and fantasy based. Page length is extremely short, and the price is definitely too high for that length. All the other works by this author on Amazon are explicit erotica focusing on the mind controlling or otherwise dominating women, not only completely controlling their every action but also reducing them to mindless sex toys. Reviews indicate this series is no different, just set in a VR game. Serious sexism abounds. A definite pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Master Of The Game
Book 2 - Lord Of The Game
Terra Reforma series by L.S. Halloway
Amazon summary (of first book):
Terra Reforma. The virtual game world set in the time period after humanity hit the reset button. A time after the bombs dropped, and before society was able to reform into the tech-driven megacities it consists of now. For many players, the grind of the game is more than just a brief escape from the real world. It's the perfect drug. It's their way into the next rung of society. It's the answer to the question of life.
Phase Gannon and Kym Bit are both looking for their own answers. Even though their paths cross in the city of New San Diego, it's Terra Reforma that holds vindication for the both of them.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR and sci fi based (a la Fallout). Page length is good but price is a bit high. Reviews are generally positive but note that only half the book is litRPG. There are two protagonists (who never meet, at least in this book) and only one of them is in the game. The other is following a cyberpunk adventure. Even though a Fallout style litRPG interests me, I'm probably going to give this a pass. I like my litRPG to be mostly litRPG, not split like this one.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Terra Reforma
Dragon Mastery series by Garrett Boggs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Blake Frostdeth dreams of becoming the first player ever to recover Captain Ravencrest’s cursed treasure. To do so, he must collect three clues. One big problem: each clue is heavily guarded by high-level monsters and lethal traps. After failing repeatedly to retrieve the very first clue, Blake gets so discouraged that he nearly calls off the quest. All seems lost until he lucks upon a young Shadow Dragon that he raises as a pet named "Ravage". With Ravage at his side, Blake may now stand a chance to become the first player to set eyes on the legendary treasure.
My comments:
Second book for this author, with his first being the litRPG Warscapia. Self-published. Fictional world running on RPG logic type. Fantasy based. Page length is good, price is a bit high. Reviews are generally negative, with a couple of middle of the road ones mixed in. Probably a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Daybreak
Level Dead series by Jake Bible
Amazon summary (of first book):
From Bram Stoker Nominated Author Jake Bible comes an exciting new LitRPG adventure series!
In the 23rd century, the world is at an end, and a group of gaming and programming friends decide that their only way to survive is to discard their bodies and send their minds into the quantum matrix of a virtual gaming world. They have created the Domains and there they plan to reside forever.
Except, the nightmares of reality have followed them into their new quantum dimension and those nightmares threaten to destroy it all!
Now it is up to one of them to help navigate the quantum platform known as EverRealm, a fantasy MMORPG of epic proportions, in order to complete a quest he neither wants to complete nor knows how. With the help of his friends, and a lot of luck, he will have to face trials and tribulations like he's never faced as a player! Because now it is no longer a matter of Game Over, but of life or death!
Can he survive it all and come out a winner? The only way he'll know is if he plays the game to the bitter end!
My comments:
This author has been releasing books for almost a decade at a good clip though this is his first litRPG. VR and sci fi based (more zombie apoc). Page length is decent and the price is ok. Reviews are generally positive though they frequently comment that the litRPG elements are very light. It seems more zombie apoc survival with a touch of sci fi framed with VR. Might be alright but I think it's a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - EverRealm
Rules-Free VRMMO Life series by Stuart Grosse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2076, and mankind has perfected VR technology, using the Chip, an implant that interfaces directly with the human brain, using it like an organic computer. Age of Anarchy Online (AAO) is the newest game released by Icestorm, makers of the legendary World of Destiny (WoD).
Unlike VR games before it, AAO promises a 110% 'Better Than Life' realism experience, and to showcase this, Icestorm announces that AAO will have no 'Out of Character' rules, save for actions like hacking or exploiting system errors. Players can do anything to NPCs and even other players, and there will be no consequences save what one may suffer in game. "Do what thou wilt, but it may be done to you in turn."
Mike Greene, better known in WoD as Torgan, a max level Paladin and leader of the Lords of Light, one of the top 'light side' guilds in WoD, now sets off on a new adventure in AAO.
--------------------
Author's Note: If you haven't guessed, there's going to be all kinds of nastiness in this story. Violence, language, racism, sexism, sex, gore, vore, and more! If you have triggers of any kind, this is your warning. If you're looking for a nice, heartwarming tale like Sword Art Online, keep looking. There will be 'good guys' as well, but this is a story where Might IS Right. However, if you've read Watchmen and Wanted, and like what you read (READ, not the movies!), then you just may find this story in your strike zone. And for f*ck's sake, this is just a story! Don't take this as an endorsement of any of the actions in this story.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a while now with this being the second litRPG series (the first being Into the Black). VR and fantasy based. Page length is quite short, but at the same time the price is also very low. Reviews generally say the same thing: well executed but content is not palatable. At least for the first book. All the reviews for the second book are positive. Which makes sense, since the issue is the subject matter and only those who like that sort of thing would have made it to book 2. In case you skipped the Amazon summary above, this book has the protagonist playing a villain character in a game with zero rules and he plays it to the hilt. Rape, slavery, cannibalism; you name it it's in there. If that sort of dark content isn't for you as it isn't for me then give this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Tutorial
Book 2 - Beginning the Journey
Fantasy Online series by Harmon Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nineteen-year-old Ryuk Matsuzaki and his best friend Tamana decide to start over with new avatars. When Tamana is suddenly killed right in front of him in a Tokyo subway, Ryuk knows there is only one place he can search for answers –Tritania, the world’s most popular online fantasy world. Standing in his way are a mysterious guild known as the Shinigami, and his older brother, a Yakuza crime lord hell-bent on squashing his dreams.
As a lowly Ballistics Mage, Ryuk must quickly recruit guild members, level up, loot and shoot his way across Tritania to discover the dark and sinister secret behind Tamana’s untimely death. Joining him in his quest are a famous Swedish gamer, a powerful half-dragon half-human female assassin, and a devious ax-wielding goblin.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books at a fast pace for a few years now and this will be their second litRPG, the first being The Feedback Loop series. VR and Fantasy based. Page length is very good and the price is decent. Reviews are overwhelmingly exceedingly positive. I may have to give this one a try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Hyperborea
Elements of Wrath Online series by J.A. Cipriano and J.B. Garner
Amazon summary (of first book):
Unlike real life, Max is pretty good at playing games, so when a new limited time dungeon opens up in the virtual reality game he plays boasting a huge cash prize, Max knows he needs to try and complete it if he wants to be able to pay rent this month.
Fortunately, the only guild strong enough to attempt to take it on before the timer runs out needs a tank.
There’s just one problem, he’s never played with them before, and even if he convinces the Sisters of Artemis to let him join in time to tank the dungeon and collect the prize money, if they wipe, it’s all over.
That would be bad because without that prize money, both he and his baby sister will be sleeping in a cardboard box under a bridge, and Max really hates sleeping in cardboard boxes. Been there, done that, sold the T-shirt.
My comments:
Both these authors have been publishing for a few years now and have quite a few titles under their belts. This is Garner's first litRPG but is Cipriano's third, following the World of Ruul series, as well as the Kingdom of Heaven series. VR and fantasy. Page length is good, though the price is on the high side. Reviews are generally positive, with some mentions of a bit of a rough start. Might be worth a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Ring of Promise
Kingdom of Heaven series by J.A. Cipriano and Conner Kressley
Amazon summary (of first book):
The skull throne sits empty and the Kingdom of Heaven is in turmoil.
Enter "iron" Jack Russo. able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games. At least he used to be before his sister got pregnant, and he had to get a job to help take care of them.
But when a particle accelerator explodes, causing Jack to get stuck in his favorite game “Kingdom of Heaven” he'll have to conqueror Heaven and seat himself on the skull throne. If not, he'll be trapped in the game forever.
My comments:
Both these authors have been publishing for a few years now and have quite a few titles under their belts. This is Kressley's first litRPG but is Cipriano's third, following the World of Ruul series, as well as the Elements of Wrath Online series. VR and fantasy. Page length is decent and the price is good. Reviews are middle of the road, mostly referencing a somewhat unlikable protagonist. Also mentioned is the litRPG elements are quite light in this one. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Skull Throne
Into the Black series by Stuart Grosse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The first truly immersive Virtual Reality system has just been announced. Made by NERV, the EVA-series immersion pods promise a Better Than Life experience, unlike anything that's been seen before. Gone are clunky goggles and wired controls. Now you simply lie down, and the machine does all the work.
Following up on their previous hit games, NERV has created the first true VRMMORPG, a sci-fi offering called Dreams Amongst the Stars. Because of the impressive display he made during the closed Beta of the game, one player has been offered a contract as a paid streamer, and the chance to play the game on the highest difficulty possible. Watch as he forges his own path, into the black.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a while now with this being the first litRPG series (the second being the Rules-Free VRMMO Life series). VR and sci fi based. Page length is quite short, but at the same time the price is also very low. Reviews generally say it starts suspiciously similarly to the Universe Online series and has a fair bit of filler padding out it's already short page count. Opinion is very middle of the road. There are also hints of darker elements, though nothing to the degree of the author's other work. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Game Start
Book 2 - Choson Ring
The Shadow Legacy series by Aiden Avery
Amazon summary (of first book):
Rex has never really fit into this world. He always felt like the odd man out except when it came to video games, more specifically, he related to the back stories and literature he encountered while playing the games. While attending college, a computer science instructor named Professor Stone introduced Rex to a hidden pocket deep in the internet that contained a tantalizing opening sequence to a new game called Shadows Online. Not much is known about the game except to access it requires massive power and cutting edge computer hardware.
While watching the opening sequence on Professor Stone’s experimental computing system, Rex finds himself oddly drawn to the character of Thulen. Not only does the character look like a younger version of himself but he also begins to have flashes of memories from the young boy’s perspective. Professor Stone explains that in the real world Rex is safe while playing his video games, but there is nothing safe in the shadows! Rex is drawn into the simulation as the fantasy world beckons to him. A step, a surge of power, and Rex awakens as Thulen playing for his life in the game of Shadows Online.
Do you think you are safe?
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. The type of this one isn't very clear on whether it's transported into a traditional RPG or to a fictional world running on RPG logic. It's fantasy based. Page length is short and price is rather high. Reviews are meh at best. Stating light litRPG elements, confusing character motivations and wonky dialog. Definitely a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Spellbinder
Hero of Thera by Eric Nylund
Amazon summary (of first book):
BE A HERO IN THE ULTIMATE GAME
Are you a top-rated gamer?
Then you might have the skills to play the Game … where players are sponsored by actual demon lords, gods and goddesses, or Lovecraftian nightmares.
Enter Thera, a real kingdom at the crossroads of many other worlds, but with all the augmented-reality interfaces, character progression, and game mechanics that players know and love.
And the stakes of The Game?
Nothing less than Creation—every world in every universe and reality.
So … no pressure.
Thus Hector Savage, gamer extraordinaire, comes to Thera. Nothing can prepare him, though, for the schemes of Abyssal Lords,
rampaging barbarian ghosts, and a host of nefarious forces who want him dead—before he can even make fifth level!
My comments:
This author has been publishing for nearly ten years now and if his name rings a bell then you've probably seen it in your local bookstore on the cover of one of the Halo tie-in novels, of which he's written a bunch. This is self-published, but I don't think that's going to be much of a problem considering this author's writing chops. It's fantasy based and transported to a fictional world running on RPG logic type. Page length is very good, but price is a kinda high. Reviews are uniformly very positive. This is definitely going on my to read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Hero of Thera
Solaria Online series by Ryan Koskey
Amazon summary (of first book):
Three days before his high school graduation, Jacob Milroy learns that the military draft has been reinstated. With a war raging on the other side of the world, he realizes that he might soon be thrust into battle.
But then a groundbreaking contest within the immersive virtual reality game, Solaria Online, is announced by its visionary creator, a man who has grand plans for the human race. The prize for four lucky winners: recruitment into the Mars Colonization Initiative (and exemption from the draft).
Will Jacob be able to assemble his dream team in time to compete in the first round of the contest? With so much at stake and so many players vying for the adventure of a lifetime, he’ll have to rely on his wit and ingenuity to have a fighting chance.
My comments:
First time self-published author. VR and fantasy based. Page length is decent but price is is a little high. Reviews pretty much agree it's mediocre at best. Pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Launch
Afterlife Online series by Domino Finn
Amazon summary (of first book):
Tad Lonnerman is having a crappy day stuck in crappy traffic late to a crappy meeting. On the bright side, his game development career is the only non-crappy thing he has going for him, so life isn't all bad.
At least until he dies.
Now Tad finds himself uploaded to a beta test of Haven, an unannounced hyper-immersive MMO where the dead have a second chance at life. It's not virtual reality, it's digital reality. A true afterlife online.
Except Haven isn't exactly blissful paradise. Tad bumbles into a pagan blood feud, crosses paths with fallen angels, and gets lied to by saints. His only allies? A frat boy with a penchant for dying and a pixie who won't give him the time of day.
Second chances be damned. All Tad wants is to return to his old life, and he'll do anything for the opportunity. Even make a deal with the devil.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a few years now and has over a dozen out. This is their first litRPG. VR and fantasy based. Page length is good, price is rather high. Reviews are generally good, with some mentions that character motivations could use some work. Might be worth a look, though I think I'm going to pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Reboot
World of Samar series by Jared Mandani
Amazon summary (of first book):
Heroes vs Villains: What Side Are You on?
Harrison Harper has hit rock bottom. A promising e-sports competitor, he’s lost everything—his career, wife and kid—to alcohol and gambling. Today, the once famous gamer is but a shadow of his former self, struggling to keep his head out of the water and the loan sharks at bay. Because Harrison is not only broke, he owes a lot of money to the wrong people.
Unable to pay off his debt, he’s sent to spy on a revolutionary game that will make its creator rich beyond belief and forever change the face of the gaming world.
Harrison will use those skills that made him a champion to navigate these new intriguing lands where demons roam free, and steal the software running the simulation. But as he gets deeper into the game, connects with a few other players and rediscovers the meaning of friendship and loyalty, he’s going to have to betray the trust of his friends to save his own life. Will Harrison be able to escape the clutches of the loan shark and his goons? Is he forever doomed to repeat the same mistakes and hurt those close to him?
When the virtual becomes real and the lines between good and evil become blurred, it gets increasingly difficult to make the right decision.
My comments:
First time self-published author. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, price is a bit high. Reviews are guardedly positive but state that there's not many original ideas here. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Wraith of Valenastrious
AlterGame series by Andrew Novak
Amazon summary (of first book):
THIS IS ALTERRA, where you can be the master of your own castle... or a field hand on a farm.
And this is Jack, who wants to make his way to a different continent, hidden in the virtual mist.
And this is an ancient quest line, buried under new versions of the game.
Jack's goal: create his own guild. Buy a ship. And set off on the Great Journey. The journey of his life. The dangerous Gravediggers are not the only ones opposing him. Necromancers from sinister Nightmare, elite alpha-citizens, and relic hunters are only a small fraction of the enemies that the First Player will have to face.
In the perilous Wasteland, the drifter Jack finds an abandoned truck, where an old-world game console is hidden. This moment marks the beginning of Jack's path to the lost continent, hidden in the virtual depths of the colossal Alterra. He still isn't aware of the enemies standing in his way. Not only are the guild of Gravediggers and the sinister necromancers of Nightmare against him, but also the secret masters of the game world themselves. The discoveries of ancient quest lines, long buried under new versions of the game, give Jack access to the Dark Service. This is a special branch of character development, which is no longer available in the modern version of the game. Now Jack, the messenger of a great Goddess, possesses a Night Weapon, and is venerated by an entire race of NPCs...
Just how will this road end? And it does indeed have an end...
My comments:
First time author. Actual publishing house. Russian translation. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, price is a touch high. Reviews are generally positive, but remark on the lack of game details, especially compared to the arcs in the real world. Might be worth a look.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The First Player
Earth Tactics Advance series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
An ordinary day in the life of Scott Keen suddenly turns tactical as the laws of physics are rewritten to force the world to adhere to an apocalyptic change in the very nature of existence. Those who manage to survive the first day of the new world must survive in the wake of a new reality, life lived as a turn-based tactical role playing game.
Feel the horror, and revel in the humor, as battles take place one turn at a time. Can one man survive a world gone tactical? Will he ever understand the need for background music and strange announcer voices? It's your turn... to find out!
My comments:
This author is no stranger to the litRPG genre, being the author of the Galactic Fist of Legend series, the Origin A.R.S. series, and the Tactical Phantasia series. This is quite different: first, it's one of the rare real life starts following RPG rules type, and second the RPG rules it starts following is turn based strategy. Doesn't seem like it takes itself too seriously, think Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Page length and price are both decent. Reviews are all very positive, with the above caveat about it not being very serious. I like my fiction serious so this is probably a pass for me, but if you like that sort of thing then this is likely a good pick.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Digital Realms series by Black Lyte
Amazon summary (of first book):
A lone young man awakens in a forest, not even his memories intact. Who is he? How did he get here? Where is "here"? He sets out with questions and soon finds himself in a world of wonder - "Atmos". A realm created by Gods and Guardians where adventurers flourish and every day is like living a video game--or is it?
Soon Izack realizes that not everything is as it seems, and that the dream like world may really end up being a nightmare. Experience the journey as Izack and his companion Cho explore and seek to escape the curse Zero God : Awakening.
My comments:
First time self-published author. Fantasy based, and transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type. Page length is extremely short and the price is way too high for that length. Reviews state that it has potential if given another coat of polish and some more substance but as is it's not worth the look.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Zero God
Reternity Online series by Baron Sord
Amazon summary (of first book):
Logan Byrne didn’t want to play Reternity Online, but he didn’t have a choice.
Logan hated full-immersion virtual reality MMORPGs like Reternity Online. He’d watched his younger brother Jason and countless friends throw away their lives because of their addiction to playing RO. He vowed he would never put on a NeuraLink headset and waste his life like they had.
Then he received an anonymous email from kidnappers demanding a real world ransom payment of $150,000 USD to release his sister Emily, who they held in an undisclosed location. To keep her compliant, the kidnappers used a NeuraLink headset to log her permanently into RO. In-game, Emily’s character was locked away where no one would ever find her.
They called it mind-locked.
If Logan didn’t pay up, the kidnappers would sell her real body on the black market for organ harvesting.
Logan had no idea where Emily might be and he didn’t have $150,000.
He only had one choice.
Go inside Reternity Online himself, level up, and try to find his sister in-game to gather clues to her whereabouts before they murdered her in the real world.
My comments:
First time self-published author. Fantasy based and VR. Good page length and price is decent. Reviews on the other hand are mediocre, stating unlikable protagonist and questionable story decisions. Pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rescue Quest
That's all of the ones I've found so far. There might be more out there though. The fact that litRPG isn't a recognized genre makes it difficult to find them easily. If anyone has any entries not on my list, or has read some of these and would like to comment on their quality you're very welcome to.
[Note 2: I've been thinking about this for a bit, and rather than having the deciding factors for whether or not you're interested in one of the entries on my list being restricted to the amazon summary, amazon reviews, or my rather shallow bits of research I'm going to steal an idea from the Ranma fanfiction rec thread and include in each entry a list of Spacebattlers who like it or dislike it. Just so I don't put someone's name on something they didn't intend please use this specific format so I know for sure you want your name on it.
Title: insert title here
Recommended by: your name here
or
Scorned by: your name here]
Main Article
The litRPG genre was recently brought up in the Copacetic thread over in Creative Writing and made me aware that Spacebattles doesn't have anything on this new genre. Frustratingly it's not officially recognized as an actual genre anywhere but Russia so finding good info on it is difficult. Since I went to some effort to outline the genre and in a later PM form a fairly comprehensive list of existing works I thought I might make a thread here so others can share in the info.
In a nutshell this genre is fiction about people: a) in Virtual Reality MMORPGs, trapped or otherwise (a la Sword Art Online), b) mysteriously transported into traditional MMORPG worlds (a la Log Horizon), c) transported into random fictional worlds that happen to run on vaguely RPG like rules, or d) the real world starts operating on RPG logic (a la The Gamer). Mostly type A. It's popular in Korea, Russia, and to a lesser extent Japan but unfortunately this genre is basically unknown in the English speaking world. Thankfully someone took a gamble and the better ones are starting to be translated into English, or at least the Russian ones are.
One other thing I should mention about litRPG. There are two major schools of thought on it, the Korean one and the Russian one. Korean style litRPG are all about the grind. Don't expect the character of a Korean style litRPG book to hit double digit levels by the end of the first book. Russian style books on the other hand are all about the end-game, much like a lot of American MMORPGs these days. Expect some series of unlikely events and/or a timeskip to catapult the main character's level up into the at least the thirty's very quickly. Both have their pros and cons, and really depend on personal preference.
The defining feature that sets litRPG fiction apart from other fiction that makes use of gaming and/or virtual reality is the focus on the fictional game's mechanics. Use of interactive gaming language, such as the inclusion of various system messages, players' stats, items' characteristics, and other elements appreciated by gamers are common. Two of the primary ways of judging a work's quality that are unique to litRPG are how reasonable the fictional game's mechanics are, and how believably the author bends them for and against the protagonist.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that wish fulfillment is a staple of this genre. This is hardly new for escapist fiction, but some litRPG books can be rather heavy handed about it.
Below is a fairly comprehensive list of litRPG novels written in, or translated into, English. I haven't read them all so I have minimal information on a lot of them. All links are for Amazon.ca since I'm Canadian and favor the kindle format. If you favor another format then you can paste the titles into your preferred format's webstore to see if they have a copy. Alternatively you can convert kindle format to your own. Calibre is a free software that will allow you to convert any ebook format into any other format. Though you'll possibly need a DRM stripper first since DRM will prevent conversion. I use epubsoft for that. Not free, but worth the price in my opinion.
Changelog
Changelog
06/13/17
*Updates:
-The Crucible Shard Book 3
-The Crucible Shard Book 4
-Kingdom Book 2
-Lion's Quest Book 3
-Travail Online Book 2
-Sucked into an RPG Book 2
-Fayroll Book 2
-The Dark Herbalist Book 2
-The Way of the Shaman bonus story (after book 5)
-Eden's Gate Book 2
-Valhalla Online Book 2
-Emerilia Book 5
-Emerilia Book 6
-Electric Shadows Book 2
-World of Ga'em Book 2
-The Viridian Gate Archives series Book 3
-The Greenwood series Book 2
-The Greenwood series Book 3
-Dream State Saga series Book 2
*Additions:
-The Crystal Crusade
-Territoria series
-Gabria Online series
-Terra Reforma series
-Dragon Mastery series
-Level Dead series
-Rules-Free VRMMO Life series
-Fantasy Online series
-Elements of Wrath Online series
-Kingdom of Heaven series
-Into the Black series
-The Shadow Legacy series
-Hero of Thera
-Solaria Online series
-Afterlife Online series
-World of Samar series
-AlterGame series
-Earth Tactics Advance series
-Digital Realms series
-Reternity Online series
05/07/17
*Updates:
-Ascend Online book 1.5
*Additions:
-Nigmus Online
04/28/17
*Updates:
-Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
*Additions:
-Virtual War series
-Veilwalkers series
04/16/17
*Updates:
-Delvers LLC book 2
-Emerilia book 4
-Caverns and Creatures book 5
*Additions:
-Dominion of Blades
-Fjorgyn series
-Spectres & Skin series
-Galactic Fist of Legend series
-100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series
04/08/17
*Updates:
-Way of the Shaman Book 5
*Additions:
-Spells, Swords, & Stealth series
03/31/17
*Additions:
-Arcadia series
-Valhalla Online series
03/30/17
*Additions:
-Caverns and Creatures series
-Destined Realms series
-The Weirdest Noob series
-World of Ga'em series
-The Goblin's Shadow series
-Armchair Safari
-Soul Linked series
03/17/17
*Updates:
-World of Ruul book 2
-Realm of Arkon book 4
*Additions:
-Death Portal Online
03/14/17
*Updates:
-Lion's Quest book 2
-The Crucible Shard book 2
-Awaken Online book 2
-Continue Online book 5
-Hell's Glitch book 2
-The Slime Dungeon Chronicles book 3
-Zectas book 6
-World of Valdira book 6
-World Seed series book 3
-Emerilia book 3
*Additions:
-Press X to Loot series
-Tower of Gates series
-Fayroll series
-Questing
-Nagant Wars series
-The Neuro series
-Travail Online series
-BladeDust Online series
-Tactical Phantasia series
-The Greenwood series
-Alpha World series
02/27/17
*Additions:
-The Nine Circles series
02/25/17
*Updates:
-Viridian Gate Online Book 2
*Additions:
-Sucked into an RPG series
02/21/17
*Additions:
-The Feedback Loop series
02/19/17
*Additions:
-Ancient Dreams series
02/16/17
*Updates:
-The Divine Dungeon Book 2
*Removed:
-How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis series -- not litRPG
02/14/17
*Additions:
-Eden's Gate series
-World of Ruul series
-Emerilia series
02/12/17
*Additions:
-How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis series
02/09/17
*Updates:
-Chaos Seeds Book 6
*Additions:
-Dark Paladin series
-Lion's Quest series
-Secret of the Old Ones series
01/22/17
*Additions:
-You're in Game!
01/10/17
*Updates:
-Last Horizon Book 2
*Additions:
-Game Alive
-Lore Online series
-Digital Shadows series
-Warscapia
01/04/17
*Updates:
-World of Valdira Book 5
*Additions:
-Stalwart Souls Online series
-The Actuator series
-The Rune series
-Stuck in the Game
-The Dark Herbalist series
-Game Break series
-Kingdom series
12/26/16
*Additions:
-The Viridian Gate Archives series
-Difficulty: Legendary series
-Delvers LLC: Welcome to Ludus
12/22/16
*Updates:
-Mirror World Book 3
12/10/16
*Additions:
-Adventures of a Scribe
12/09/16
*Updates:
-The Way of the Shaman Book 4
-Alternative Reality Book 3
-The Bathrobe Knight Book 4
-Omegaverse Book 5
-World Seed Book 2
*Additions:
-Age of Steam series
-Sigil Online series
-The Crucible Shard series
-Adventures on Terra series
-The Strength Build Cycle series
-The Dexterity Build Cycle series
-Squadcom-13 series
-The Gold Farmer series
-Unbound Deathlord series
-The Divine Dungeon series
-A Second Chance series
-Shadow For Hire series
-Artificial Dream State series
-Reborn series
10/20/16
*Added Table of Contents
*Added Changelog
*Added Anchors to all entries
*Added Recommend by/Scorned by system
10/16/16
*Updates:
-Omnia Online Book 2
*Additions:
-Last Horizon series
-Ascend Online
-The Permadeath Legacy series
-Electric Shadows series
-The Rise of Resurgence series
-Towns and Towers series
-Awaken Online series
10/09/16
*Updates:
-Continue Online Book 4
-World of Valdira Book 3
-World of Valdira Book 4
-Ingame Book 2
-End Online Book 6
-Realm of Arkon Book 3
-Chaos Seeds Book 5
-The Slime Dungeon Chronicles Book 2
-The Selfless Hero Trilogy Book 3
-The Universe Online Book 2b
*Additions:
-Avalon Ravens series
-Psy-Hunters
-The Dive series
-World Seed series
-Omnia Online Series
09/08/16
*Additions:
-Death by Cliché
09/01/16
*Additions:
-Heir Apparent
08/20/16
*Additions:
-Omegaverse Series
08/13/16
*Updates:
-Mirror World Book 2
07/16/16
*Additions:
-Solarversia: The Year Long Game
07/15/16
*Additions:
-Ingame series
06/13/17
*Updates:
-The Crucible Shard Book 3
-The Crucible Shard Book 4
-Kingdom Book 2
-Lion's Quest Book 3
-Travail Online Book 2
-Sucked into an RPG Book 2
-Fayroll Book 2
-The Dark Herbalist Book 2
-The Way of the Shaman bonus story (after book 5)
-Eden's Gate Book 2
-Valhalla Online Book 2
-Emerilia Book 5
-Emerilia Book 6
-Electric Shadows Book 2
-World of Ga'em Book 2
-The Viridian Gate Archives series Book 3
-The Greenwood series Book 2
-The Greenwood series Book 3
-Dream State Saga series Book 2
*Additions:
-The Crystal Crusade
-Territoria series
-Gabria Online series
-Terra Reforma series
-Dragon Mastery series
-Level Dead series
-Rules-Free VRMMO Life series
-Fantasy Online series
-Elements of Wrath Online series
-Kingdom of Heaven series
-Into the Black series
-The Shadow Legacy series
-Hero of Thera
-Solaria Online series
-Afterlife Online series
-World of Samar series
-AlterGame series
-Earth Tactics Advance series
-Digital Realms series
-Reternity Online series
05/07/17
*Updates:
-Ascend Online book 1.5
*Additions:
-Nigmus Online
04/28/17
*Updates:
-Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
*Additions:
-Virtual War series
-Veilwalkers series
04/16/17
*Updates:
-Delvers LLC book 2
-Emerilia book 4
-Caverns and Creatures book 5
*Additions:
-Dominion of Blades
-Fjorgyn series
-Spectres & Skin series
-Galactic Fist of Legend series
-100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series
04/08/17
*Updates:
-Way of the Shaman Book 5
*Additions:
-Spells, Swords, & Stealth series
03/31/17
*Additions:
-Arcadia series
-Valhalla Online series
03/30/17
*Additions:
-Caverns and Creatures series
-Destined Realms series
-The Weirdest Noob series
-World of Ga'em series
-The Goblin's Shadow series
-Armchair Safari
-Soul Linked series
03/17/17
*Updates:
-World of Ruul book 2
-Realm of Arkon book 4
*Additions:
-Death Portal Online
03/14/17
*Updates:
-Lion's Quest book 2
-The Crucible Shard book 2
-Awaken Online book 2
-Continue Online book 5
-Hell's Glitch book 2
-The Slime Dungeon Chronicles book 3
-Zectas book 6
-World of Valdira book 6
-World Seed series book 3
-Emerilia book 3
*Additions:
-Press X to Loot series
-Tower of Gates series
-Fayroll series
-Questing
-Nagant Wars series
-The Neuro series
-Travail Online series
-BladeDust Online series
-Tactical Phantasia series
-The Greenwood series
-Alpha World series
02/27/17
*Additions:
-The Nine Circles series
02/25/17
*Updates:
-Viridian Gate Online Book 2
*Additions:
-Sucked into an RPG series
02/21/17
*Additions:
-The Feedback Loop series
02/19/17
*Additions:
-Ancient Dreams series
02/16/17
*Updates:
-The Divine Dungeon Book 2
*Removed:
-How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis series -- not litRPG
02/14/17
*Additions:
-Eden's Gate series
-World of Ruul series
-Emerilia series
02/12/17
*Additions:
-How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis series
02/09/17
*Updates:
-Chaos Seeds Book 6
*Additions:
-Dark Paladin series
-Lion's Quest series
-Secret of the Old Ones series
01/22/17
*Additions:
-You're in Game!
01/10/17
*Updates:
-Last Horizon Book 2
*Additions:
-Game Alive
-Lore Online series
-Digital Shadows series
-Warscapia
01/04/17
*Updates:
-World of Valdira Book 5
*Additions:
-Stalwart Souls Online series
-The Actuator series
-The Rune series
-Stuck in the Game
-The Dark Herbalist series
-Game Break series
-Kingdom series
12/26/16
*Additions:
-The Viridian Gate Archives series
-Difficulty: Legendary series
-Delvers LLC: Welcome to Ludus
12/22/16
*Updates:
-Mirror World Book 3
12/10/16
*Additions:
-Adventures of a Scribe
12/09/16
*Updates:
-The Way of the Shaman Book 4
-Alternative Reality Book 3
-The Bathrobe Knight Book 4
-Omegaverse Book 5
-World Seed Book 2
*Additions:
-Age of Steam series
-Sigil Online series
-The Crucible Shard series
-Adventures on Terra series
-The Strength Build Cycle series
-The Dexterity Build Cycle series
-Squadcom-13 series
-The Gold Farmer series
-Unbound Deathlord series
-The Divine Dungeon series
-A Second Chance series
-Shadow For Hire series
-Artificial Dream State series
-Reborn series
10/20/16
*Added Table of Contents
*Added Changelog
*Added Anchors to all entries
*Added Recommend by/Scorned by system
10/16/16
*Updates:
-Omnia Online Book 2
*Additions:
-Last Horizon series
-Ascend Online
-The Permadeath Legacy series
-Electric Shadows series
-The Rise of Resurgence series
-Towns and Towers series
-Awaken Online series
10/09/16
*Updates:
-Continue Online Book 4
-World of Valdira Book 3
-World of Valdira Book 4
-Ingame Book 2
-End Online Book 6
-Realm of Arkon Book 3
-Chaos Seeds Book 5
-The Slime Dungeon Chronicles Book 2
-The Selfless Hero Trilogy Book 3
-The Universe Online Book 2b
*Additions:
-Avalon Ravens series
-Psy-Hunters
-The Dive series
-World Seed series
-Omnia Online Series
09/08/16
*Additions:
-Death by Cliché
09/01/16
*Additions:
-Heir Apparent
08/20/16
*Additions:
-Omegaverse Series
08/13/16
*Updates:
-Mirror World Book 2
07/16/16
*Additions:
-Solarversia: The Year Long Game
07/15/16
*Additions:
-Ingame series
Table of Contents
Table of Contents, Alphabetical by Series Title
#
100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series by Cristian Madalin Dragomir
A
The Actuator series by James Wymore and various other authors
Adventures of a Scribe by Michael Deyhim
Adventures on Terra series by R.A. Mejia
Afterlife Online series by Domino Finn
Age of Steam series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen
AlterGame series by Andrew Novak
Alternative Reality series by A. Uscila
Ancient Dreams series by Benjamin Medrano
Arcadia series by Alyssa Archer
Armchair Safari by Jonathan Paul Isaacs
Artificial Dream State series by I.M. Waugh
Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko
Avalon Ravens series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Avatar Chronicles series by Conor Kostick
Awaken Online series by Travis Bagwell
B
The Bathrobe Knight series by Charles Dean
BladeDust Online series by Corey Thompson
C
Caverns and Creatures series by Robert Bevan
Chaos Seeds series by Aleron Kong
The Chaos Wave series by Justin Johanson
Chronicle of the Eternal series by D. Wolfin
Continue Online series by Stephan Morse
The Crucible Shard series by Skyler Grant
The Crystal Crusade by Mars Dorian
D
The Dark Herbalist series by Michael Atamanov
Dark Paladin series by Vasily Mahanenko
Death by Cliché by Bob Defendi
Delvers LLC series by Blaise Corvin
Destined Realms series by Kellee L. Greene
The Dexterity Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Difficulty: Legendary series by Gregg Horlock
Digital Realms series by Black Lyte
Digital Shadows series by Ethan Crow
The Dive series by Justin Miller
The Divine Dungeon series by Dakota Krout
Dominion of Blades by Matt Dinniman
Dragon Mastery series by Garrett Boggs
The Dragon's Wrath series by Brent Roth
E
Earth Tactics Advance series by Scottie Futch
Eden's Gate series by Edward Brody
Electric Shadows series by S R Witt
Elements of Wrath Online series by J.A. Cipriano and J.B. Garner
Emerilia series by Michael Chatfield
End Online series by D. Wolfin
F
Fantasy Online series by Harmon Cooper
Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev
The Feedback Loop series by Harmon Cooper
Fjorgyn series by RJ Castiglione
G
Gabria Online series by Neil Bimbeau
Galactic Fist of Legend series by Scottie Futch
Galactogon series by Vasily Mahanenko
The Gam3 series by Cosimo Yap
Game Alive by Trip Ellington
Game Break series by G S Hodgson
The Game Master series by Andrei Levitsky and Alex Bobl
The Goblin's Shadow series by Kyle Vauss
The Gold Farmer series by Liam Arato
The Greenwood series by Galen Wolf
H
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
Hell's Glitch series by Belart Wright
Hero of Thera by Eric Nylund
I
Ingame series by Kieron Uchee
Into the Black series by Stuart Grosse
J
K
Kingdom series by Adam Drake
Kingdom of Heaven series by J.A. Cipriano and Conner Kressley
L
Last Horizon series by Daniel Schinhofen
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor series by Nam Hi-Sung
Level Dead series by Jake Bible
Lion's Quest series by Michael-Scott Earle
Lore Online series by Trip Ellington
M
Mirror World series by Alexey Osadchuk
N
Nagant Wars series by Jayden Hunter
The Neuro series by Andrei Livadny
NextWorld trilogy by Jaron Lee Knuth
The Nine Circles series by P. Joseph Cherubino and Amy Hopkins
O
Omegaverse series by G.R. Cooper
Omnia Online Series by Christopher Booth
Origin A.R.S. series by Scottie Futch
P
Perimeter Defense series by Michael Atamanov
The Permadeath Legacy series by Jeff Sproul and Zoey Rivera
Phantom Server series by Andrei Livadny
Play to Live series by D. Rus
Press X to Loot series by Gregg Horlock
Psy-Hunters by Belart Wright
Q
Questing by Kieron Uchee
R
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Realm of Arkon series by G. Akella
Reborn series by D.W. Jackson
Reternity Online series by Baron Sord
The Rise of Resurgence series by Joshua W. Nelson
Rules-Free VRMMO Life series by Stuart Grosse
The Rune series by Hugo Huesca
S
A Second Chance series by Ned van der Drift
Secret of the Old Ones series by Blaise Corvin
Seeds of Chaos series by Azalea Ellis
The Selfless Hero Trilogy by William D. Arand
Shadow For Hire series by Adam Drake
The Shadow Legacy series by Aiden Avery
Shepherd's Wolf by M. Andrew Reid
Sigil Online series by Jeff Sproul
The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series by Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue
Solaria Online series by Ryan Koskey
Solarversia: The Year Long Game by Toby Downton
Soul Linked series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Spectres & Skin series by RJ Creed
Spells, Swords, & Stealth series by Drew Hayes
Squadcom-13 series by D. Rus
Stalwart Souls Online series by Kaye Fairburn
The Strength Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Dream State Saga series by Christopher Keene
Sucked into an RPG series by Dee J. Stone
T
Tactical Phantasia series by Scottie Futch
Terra Reforma series by L.S. Halloway
Territoria series by Vic Connor
Tower of Gates series by Paul Bellow
Towns and Towers series by Shawn Kass
Travail Online series by Brian Simons
U
Unbound Deathlord series by Edward Castle
The Universe Online series by Ryan 'Viken' Henning
V
Valhalla Online series by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Veilwalkers series by Isaac Winter
The Viridian Gate Archives series by James Hunter
Virtual War series by Steven J. Shelley
W
Warscapia by Garrett Boggs
The Way of the Shaman series by Vasily Mahanenko
The Weirdest Noob series by Arthur Stone
World at War Online series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
World of Ga'em series by Dhayaa Anbajagane
World of Ruul series by J.A. Cipriano
World of Samar series by Jared Mandani
World of Valdira series by Dem Mikhaylov
World Seed series by Justin Miller
X
Y
You're in Game! by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Michael Atamanov, Alexey Osadchuk, Pavel Kornev, Andrew Novak
Z
Zectas series by John Nest
#
100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series by Cristian Madalin Dragomir
A
The Actuator series by James Wymore and various other authors
Adventures of a Scribe by Michael Deyhim
Adventures on Terra series by R.A. Mejia
Afterlife Online series by Domino Finn
Age of Steam series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen
AlterGame series by Andrew Novak
Alternative Reality series by A. Uscila
Ancient Dreams series by Benjamin Medrano
Arcadia series by Alyssa Archer
Armchair Safari by Jonathan Paul Isaacs
Artificial Dream State series by I.M. Waugh
Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko
Avalon Ravens series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Avatar Chronicles series by Conor Kostick
Awaken Online series by Travis Bagwell
B
The Bathrobe Knight series by Charles Dean
BladeDust Online series by Corey Thompson
C
Caverns and Creatures series by Robert Bevan
Chaos Seeds series by Aleron Kong
The Chaos Wave series by Justin Johanson
Chronicle of the Eternal series by D. Wolfin
Continue Online series by Stephan Morse
The Crucible Shard series by Skyler Grant
The Crystal Crusade by Mars Dorian
D
The Dark Herbalist series by Michael Atamanov
Dark Paladin series by Vasily Mahanenko
Death by Cliché by Bob Defendi
Delvers LLC series by Blaise Corvin
Destined Realms series by Kellee L. Greene
The Dexterity Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Difficulty: Legendary series by Gregg Horlock
Digital Realms series by Black Lyte
Digital Shadows series by Ethan Crow
The Dive series by Justin Miller
The Divine Dungeon series by Dakota Krout
Dominion of Blades by Matt Dinniman
Dragon Mastery series by Garrett Boggs
The Dragon's Wrath series by Brent Roth
E
Earth Tactics Advance series by Scottie Futch
Eden's Gate series by Edward Brody
Electric Shadows series by S R Witt
Elements of Wrath Online series by J.A. Cipriano and J.B. Garner
Emerilia series by Michael Chatfield
End Online series by D. Wolfin
F
Fantasy Online series by Harmon Cooper
Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev
The Feedback Loop series by Harmon Cooper
Fjorgyn series by RJ Castiglione
G
Gabria Online series by Neil Bimbeau
Galactic Fist of Legend series by Scottie Futch
Galactogon series by Vasily Mahanenko
The Gam3 series by Cosimo Yap
Game Alive by Trip Ellington
Game Break series by G S Hodgson
The Game Master series by Andrei Levitsky and Alex Bobl
The Goblin's Shadow series by Kyle Vauss
The Gold Farmer series by Liam Arato
The Greenwood series by Galen Wolf
H
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
Hell's Glitch series by Belart Wright
Hero of Thera by Eric Nylund
I
Ingame series by Kieron Uchee
Into the Black series by Stuart Grosse
J
K
Kingdom series by Adam Drake
Kingdom of Heaven series by J.A. Cipriano and Conner Kressley
L
Last Horizon series by Daniel Schinhofen
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor series by Nam Hi-Sung
Level Dead series by Jake Bible
Lion's Quest series by Michael-Scott Earle
Lore Online series by Trip Ellington
M
Mirror World series by Alexey Osadchuk
N
Nagant Wars series by Jayden Hunter
The Neuro series by Andrei Livadny
NextWorld trilogy by Jaron Lee Knuth
The Nine Circles series by P. Joseph Cherubino and Amy Hopkins
O
Omegaverse series by G.R. Cooper
Omnia Online Series by Christopher Booth
Origin A.R.S. series by Scottie Futch
P
Perimeter Defense series by Michael Atamanov
The Permadeath Legacy series by Jeff Sproul and Zoey Rivera
Phantom Server series by Andrei Livadny
Play to Live series by D. Rus
Press X to Loot series by Gregg Horlock
Psy-Hunters by Belart Wright
Q
Questing by Kieron Uchee
R
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Realm of Arkon series by G. Akella
Reborn series by D.W. Jackson
Reternity Online series by Baron Sord
The Rise of Resurgence series by Joshua W. Nelson
Rules-Free VRMMO Life series by Stuart Grosse
The Rune series by Hugo Huesca
S
A Second Chance series by Ned van der Drift
Secret of the Old Ones series by Blaise Corvin
Seeds of Chaos series by Azalea Ellis
The Selfless Hero Trilogy by William D. Arand
Shadow For Hire series by Adam Drake
The Shadow Legacy series by Aiden Avery
Shepherd's Wolf by M. Andrew Reid
Sigil Online series by Jeff Sproul
The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series by Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue
Solaria Online series by Ryan Koskey
Solarversia: The Year Long Game by Toby Downton
Soul Linked series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Spectres & Skin series by RJ Creed
Spells, Swords, & Stealth series by Drew Hayes
Squadcom-13 series by D. Rus
Stalwart Souls Online series by Kaye Fairburn
The Strength Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Dream State Saga series by Christopher Keene
Sucked into an RPG series by Dee J. Stone
T
Tactical Phantasia series by Scottie Futch
Terra Reforma series by L.S. Halloway
Territoria series by Vic Connor
Tower of Gates series by Paul Bellow
Towns and Towers series by Shawn Kass
Travail Online series by Brian Simons
U
Unbound Deathlord series by Edward Castle
The Universe Online series by Ryan 'Viken' Henning
V
Valhalla Online series by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Veilwalkers series by Isaac Winter
The Viridian Gate Archives series by James Hunter
Virtual War series by Steven J. Shelley
W
Warscapia by Garrett Boggs
The Way of the Shaman series by Vasily Mahanenko
The Weirdest Noob series by Arthur Stone
World at War Online series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
World of Ga'em series by Dhayaa Anbajagane
World of Ruul series by J.A. Cipriano
World of Samar series by Jared Mandani
World of Valdira series by Dem Mikhaylov
World Seed series by Justin Miller
X
Y
You're in Game! by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Michael Atamanov, Alexey Osadchuk, Pavel Kornev, Andrew Novak
Z
Zectas series by John Nest
Play to Live series by D. Rus
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new pandemic - the perma effect - has taken over Earth of the near future. Whenever you play your favorite online game, beware: your mind might merge with the virtual world and dump its comatose host. Woe be to those stuck forever in Tetris! And still they're the lucky ones compared to those burning alive eternally within the scorched hulls of tank simulators.
But some unfortunates - the handicapped and the terminally ill, shell-shocked army vets, wronged crime victims and other society misfits - choose to flee real life willingly, escaping to the limitless world of online sword and sorcery MMORPGs.
Once a seasoned gamer and now a terminal cancer patient, Max grasps at this final chance to preserve his life and identity. So he goes for it - goes for the promise of immortality shared with a few trusty friends and the woman he loves. Together they roam the roads of AlterWorld and sample its agony and ecstasy born of absolute freedom.
My comments:
First and foremost I'd recommend this. It's fantasy based and of the 'stuck in a VR Game' sub-type. It's of the Russian school, so rapid leveling, but unlike some others I've read this author makes it believable. The only real complaints I have are the author is a little sexist, and the latter books start moving away from the RPG stuff and towards traditional fantasy. The first three books are amazing but it starts going a bit down hill after that. I still strongly recommend it though. This series is now complete.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - AlterWorld
Book 2 - The Clan
Book 3 - The Duty
Book 4 - Inferno
Book 5 - The Battle
Book 6 - The War
Book 7 - The Ultimation
The Way of the Shaman series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Barliona. A virtual world jam-packed with monsters, battles - and predictably, players. Millions of them come to Barliona, looking forward to the things they can't get in real life: elves and magic, dragons and princesses, and unforgettable combat. The game has become so popular that players now choose to spend months online without returning home. In Barliona, anything goes: you can assault fellow players, level up, become a mythical hero, a wizard or a legendary thief. The only rule that attempted to regulate the game demanded that no player was allowed to feel actual pain.
But there's an exception to every rule. For a certain bunch of players, Barliona has become their personal hell. They are criminals sent to Barliona to serve their time. They aren't in it for the dragons' gold or the abundant loot. All they want is to survive the virtual inferno. They face the ultimate survival quest.
My comments:
After Play to Live I'd probably recommend this. Another Russian one. Fantasy based, stuck in VR, and Russian school. The pacing of the first book, and the way the author bends the game mechanics for and against the protagonist, is not quite as smooth as in the Play to Live series, but there also doesn't seem to be any inclination to move away from the RPG stuff like Play to Live did either. Things improve in book two and even more in book three and four. A solid read and I definitely recommend it.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Survival Quest
Book 2 - The Kartoss Gambit
Book 3 - The Secret of the Dark Forest
Book 4 - The Phantom Castle
Book 5 - The Karmadont Chess Set
bonus story (after book 5) - The Hour of Pain
Mirror World series by Alexey Osadchuk
Amazon summary (of first book):
The ads enthused, “The virtual lands of Mirror World await you! Live out your most secret dreams in our world of Sword and Sorcery! Become a Great Wizard or a Famous Warrior! Build your own castle, tame a dragon, conquer a kingdom! All those desperate, lonely and insecure - Mirror World offers you a chance!”
But Oleg isn’t meant to become a great wizard or a famous warrior. He’ll never have a castle of his own. Neither will he ever tame a dragon. And he’s definitely not the type to conquer a kingdom, however virtual it may be.
Oleg is doomed to toil away in the recesses of Mirror World’s mines. His goal is to raise enough money for a heart transplant for his dying six-year-old daughter. The clock is ticking. Will he make it?
My comments:
My third recommendation would be here. Another Russian author following the Fantasy based, VR type, Russian school path. What makes this one interesting is the protagonist isn't in it for fun or glory or even survival, he's a father trying to raise money for a heart transplant for his young daughter. The other interesting aspect of this series is the protagonist isn't a combat specialist, and in fact there's virtually no combat at all (at least so far). He's a non-combat skiller, mining specifically. It's really interesting and well done. Two books currently available. I might even rank this above The Way of the Shaman series. Once it gets a few more books I probably well. Update: Book 3 moves away from the non-combat skilling aspects and into the more traditional combat focus aspects. I didn't particularly care for this change but I know a lot of readers will like it.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko, Grist, auduni, heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Project Daily Grind
Book 2 - The Citadel
Book 3 - The Way of the Outcast
Galactogon series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Twelve players set off through the online world of Galaktogon, lured by the game owners' promise of an enormous payoff. The question is, who will survive to tell the tale? Which of the twelve is a potential hero - or a traitor in the making? Which of them will defend the weak and who will become the ultimate evil overlord?
A knight or a coward? Each of the twelve will have to choose his or her path. Each will keep a poker face. But if the billion-pound prize calls your name, you can't conceal your choice. And you will do everything to lay your hands on it.
My comments:
Next on the list is a little different. It's another by Vasily Mahanenko so Russian school and VR is a go. But in a slight departure, the game is sci fi based rather then fantasy. Personally I favor the fantasy based ones but there seem to be more and more of the sci fi ones coming out. Only one book so far. Much like with The Way of the Shaman series, the first book's pacing is rushed, even worse here. There aren't any stats or levels in this game, it's all gear based and the protagonist stumbles from one set of increasingly powerful gear to the next in leaps that strain suspension of disbelief at times. But hopefully like The Way of the Shaman the pacing will settle down after the first book. I still think it's worth a look at.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Start The Game
The Universe Online series by Ryan 'Viken' Henning
Amazon summary (of first book):
My name is Allec Renn, and I was born with ALS.
Even with our modern technology, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cannot be treated or cured. I've been bed or chair bound since I was a kid. The advent of Virtual Reality technology has given me a chance for a new life. Or rather dozens of them. Heh.
I'm an avid gamer, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
In the games I could be what I wanted to be, who I wanted to be. A mighty warrior, a powerful spellcaster, the charming rogue. The crafter. The builder. All of those and more have helped to greatly alleviated my problems.
But a new game is coming out; one with the power to change the world. It uses a brand new technology, based around the first ever deep immersion Dive Pod. With it there is no more game lag or graphical limits. It is being heralded as the greatest breakthrough in Virtual Reality technologies since its founding.
And the first and only game for it: Universe Online.
No longer will players be stuck on a single large world to explore. No longer will there a limit to what you can do, what you can be. Fly spaceships between the stars, conquer planets, create custom technology. Mine, Build, Destroy. Explore. Rule.
This is my story, and my path in Universe Online.
My comments:
Next up is the first of the American entries. Sci fi based and VR, but what school it's going to follow is still up in the air. Seems to be leaning more towards the Korean school than the Russian, if only by virtue of it still actually being in question by the end of the first book. The author releases this series as a part 1 and then later a part 2, then releases a complete edition. This feels like a cash grab to me. The first book complete edition is out, as is part 1 of the second book. The series didn't really grab me strongly enough to indulge the author in his greed so I've only read the first book. The writing is good quality and the fictional game is very interesting, I'd like to play it if it existed. What places this series so far down the list is the protagonist is too perfect, almost Sue'ish, and never really feels challenged any time in the book.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Enter the game (complete edition)
Book 2a - Rise of Rex: Part 1
Book 2b - Rise of Rex: Part 2
The Game Master series by Andrei Levitsky and Alex Bobl
Amazon summary (of first book):
As a shady blackmarket programmer, Ivan "Attila" is never short of customers. The gaming world of MMORPG always needs his services: all those knights and thieves, vendors and vagabonds, monsters and the undead populating the dangerous forests and castles of Gryad Online.
For Attila, things are looking up: the God's Eye, his latest cheat device, is awaiting its buyer. Now Attila can afford a costly virtual suit for a full immersion online experience. Provided the buyer - a burly half-orc Barbarian nicknamed Beast - sticks to his part of the deal.
But how much does he know about Beast, really? And what evil force is playing with
Gryad, disrupting its flow and locking thousands of players inside the game? Who is messing with the world's gears, summoning the spawn of the Dark from their underground tunnels and lairs? And how can Attila and his reluctant companions stop evil from taking over their new world?
My comments:
Next up is back to the Russians. Only one book so far. Fantasy based and trapped in VR. School-wise it goes it's own way, more interested in the adventure than in traditional game play. More cyberpunk, less litRPG. That is in my opinion to its detriment. The other thing that puts this so far down my list is the main characters aren't very likable. It's only a border-line rec.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Lag
End Online series by D. Wolfin
Amazon summary (of first book):
Is a second chance possible?
After being involved in a terrible accident I was left in a wheelchair, with the only modern treatment costing more than I could ever imagine. The society I live in is a segregated one, where it may not spoken aloud but everyone knows their place.
In my turmoil, I turned to virtual reality, a brand new virtual reality MMO game called 'End Online' where I could once again walk. Perhaps in this second world I will get another chance.
Only, things never go as planned.
-Hollis Silvester
My comments:
Next up is an Australian rather than the more common Russian. Fantasy based and VR. This is the first on my list that is definitely the Korean school, this is all about the grind. This is also a web serial that's being self-published by the author. There are six books of which five have been published. (I own and have read the first two) The books are short (~200 pages) and kinda expensive (~$5). I like the characters and the plot, but on a technical level it could use another coat of polish. Maybe I'm just a snob, but I need my fiction to be above a certain technical level or I just can't enjoy it and this one falls just a little short. Maybe it improves in later books, and I probably will eventually give them a try, but I doubt I'll be paying for them. I would personally advise if you're interested in this to just go read the web serial, which is free, and pay later if you enjoy it.
Recommended by: Grist
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - Volume 4
Book 5 - Volume 5
Book 6 - Volume 6
The Web Serial
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor series by Nam Hi-Sung
Wikipedia summary:
Tells the story of Lee Hyun, a hardworking young man suffering from a life of poverty. Forced to work throughout his childhood and adolescence, his most redeeming trait is his perseverance. His tenacity is reflected in a once immensely popular game called Continent of Magic. A game in which his character "Weed" is undisputed as the absolute best. When he decides to focus on working, he sells his character online, and sparks a bidding war that concludes at 3,090,000,000 won (about 3,000,000 usd). As soon as he finds out, nearly all the money Lee Hyun earns is taken by debt collectors. This triggers him to vows to single-mindedly devote himself to making money in the new virtual reality game, Royal Road.
My comments:
The one that started it all: The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. I really liked everything about this except for the very amateur translation. I can't really blame them since it's just a fan translation but the lack of technical polish just killed any enjoyment for me. Maybe your standards in this area are less than mine.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor fan translations (link removed do to possible conflict with the SB warez rule)
NextWorld trilogy by Jaron Lee Knuth
Amazon summary (of first book):
The never-ending wars, pollution, and overpopulation of the near future have caused the outdoors to become uninhabitable, and the government is forced to create a new world, a virtual existence that allows civilization to continue. Shopping malls, schools, concert venues, and religious gathering places all exist in the infinite confines of this new reality, yet the most popular domain for most teenagers is the one that houses the endless array of digital games.
When the sequel to a popular title is released to the public for a special beta test, a group of players eagerly log in to try out the new experience. What seems like harmless violence quickly turns all too consequential when the players realize the game's biggest error: They can't log out. Forced to battle their way through an endless army of monsters programmed to kill their avatars, the players must fight against the clock and find a way out of the game before the real world catches up to them.
My comments:
I really didn't care for it, primarily because the main character is an unlikable brat at the start and is only barely tolerable by the end. It's also based on a FPS with a smattering of RPG elements rather than the pure RPG of other litRPG books. The reviews on Amazon are generally favorable so it might just be me though. There are three books for this series, of which I've only read the first. The standard blending of sci fi and fantasy elements you get in a lot of shooters. Trapped in VR type. Much like The Game Master series, this is more concerned about exploring its adventure plot than in game mechanics, at least in the first book.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Kuro_Neko
Book 1 - Level Zero
Book 2 - Spawn Point
Book 3 - End Code
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Amazon summary:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
My comments:
Despite hearing a lot of good things about this, I haven't gotten to it simply because the publisher is being greedy. $11 for a five year old ebook? Actual paper books are cheaper than that. So this will probably languish on my to be read list for a while. It's VR and Russian School.
Recommended by: Grist
Scorned by: heridfel
Ready Player One
Phantom Server series by Andrei Livadny
Amazon summary (of first book):
He is a cyber dweller. A gamer who's grown up in the web of virtual illusion woven from hundreds of phantom worlds. His biggest dream is to dump the real world for good.
His desperate hunger of new experiences forces him to take a risk and become one of the first proud owners of a neuronet implant. The new gadget becomes part of him - but soon it's not enough. If only he could finally burn all his bridges and make a step beyond the real world!
He soon gets this opportunity. A new universe, overflowing with mystery and unimaginable, mind-blowing authenticity, opens up before him.
This is Phantom Server. The game of the future where your pursuit of an adrenaline rush soon turns into a battle for survival. But the most terrifying mystery lies ahead when you gradually start to realize: this is a road of no return. Your every decision may become your last. Your every step leads you further along the abyss between life and death.
My comments:
Sci fi based and trapped in VR. Russian school as well.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Edge of Reality
Book 2 - The Outlaw
Book 3 - Black Sun
The Gam3 series by Cosimo Yap
Amazon summary (of first book):
The Earth is changing. The alien invasion brought social upheaval, advanced technology, and an armada of peacekeeping robots. But Alan, a college student pursuing a now-useless degree, cares little about all of this. He has only one thing on his mind: the Game.
A fully immersive virtual reality, the Game appears to be a major part of the invading civilization. Alan can't wait to play, recklessly diving into the digital universe. Soon though, Alan realizes the Game is anything but simple, and the stakes are higher than he ever imagined.
My comments:
Sci fi based and VR. Don't know anything about the author or what school they follow. This looks interesting and is probably number two on my to be read list. This is also a self-published web serial which is still available for free. Try it there and then buy if you enjoy it. Thanks to Wizig for the web serial link.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Opening Moves
Web Serial
Perimeter Defense series by Michael Atamanov
Amazon summary (of first book):
A strange body that refuses to obey you; a weird game you can't quit until your contract expires; a world teeming with powerful and very real enemies. The game in which your reputation and faction relationship are the only things that matter.
These are the conditions of the agreement Ruslan signs without reading. The only thing he remembers is that he's been contracted to command a space fleet in a brand new game he knows nothing about. Objective: to survive for six months. After having made some inevitable newb mistakes, Ruslan has to rethink his strategy, dropping traditional gaming conventions. But what will it cost him? What new trials and tribulations await him that even the game designers have failed to anticipate?
My comments:
Another Russian series. Sci fi based. VR style. No idea of the school, but probably Russian considering the author. I'll probably read this eventually simply because the premise looks interesting, but everything I've heard about it says its very light on the litRPG elements and heavy on the Space Opera.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Sector Eight
Book 2 - Beyond Death
Book 3 - New Contract
Chronicle of the Eternal series by D. Wolfin
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the year XX, the human population exhausted the world’s resources, leading to cataclysmic environment changes and the imminent extinction of all life on the planet. Frantic space exploration became the world's focus, but failed to find a new world for the human race. In desperation, humanity went digital. Minds were scanned, encoded, and transferred to the virtual world of Grandosa. Manual labor and power production were entirely automated. Reproduction among those once human is now a cold, sterile affair fraught with new complications.
Regal is a young boy who was born 222 years after the inception of Grandosa. He is what is referred to as a Soulless; someone accused of lacking a soul due to diminished emotions and driven by logic. His parents abandoned him, choosing the Eternal Rest. He is left with no one to rely on other than himself as a series of unfortunate events force him to adjust his outlook on life.
Regal's school years teach him that there is more to this world than meets the eye. What he doesn't yet realize is that his future is full of turmoil that will threaten his very existence. His only path through these trials is to rise above, to stand and defend a life that no one other than himself can see.
My comments:
This is another web serial turned self-published book series by the Aussie D. Wolfin. It was second after End Online so perhaps the writing quality has improved. Certainly the length of the book vs the cost has. I'll give it a try eventually, probably in web serial form first.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Web Serial
Hell's Glitch series by Belart Wright
Amazon summary (of first book):
A brand new LitRPG adventure for fans of dark adventure games. Inspired by a dark masterpiece.
Twenty years into the future, an independent virtual reality developer named Fulton Milner creates a VR program that is so immersive that it truly fools the mind. His program, a virtual resort, created such pleasurable immersion that he is soon recruited by a renown games studio. Here, one of Milner's projects, a virtual fantasy game, catches the eye of some investors and he is finally given the approval he needs to begin the project that would define his career. It's a dark fantasy adventure simulator known only as Project DH.
Sam Nagai thought testing videogames would be a dream job until he got saddled with a ton of barely playable mobile games that used very wonky holographic gimmicks. The lack of fun in these games and small pay makes Sam typically reluctant whenever he gets a call for a new gig, but customers for his art commissions have been scarce and Sam needs all the money he can get. He finally gets a call for a new gig with potential bonus pay, but not much else is known about the game itself. From what he does know, it sounds sort of interesting. Virtual reality, dark gothic fantasy world, role playing game mechanics, and uber hard difficulty? Sam's all in for that. After all, even if he gets in over his head, the simulation isn't truly real so there's not really any danger.
Join Sam in a virtual sword and sorcery role playing adventure where the main goal is survival at all costs. It's an adventure that's filled with diverse starting classes, customizable combat options, upgradeable weapons and armor, upgradeable statistics, open ended questlines, realistic NPCs with classically trained voice actors, a dark and atmospheric immersive game world, multiplayer content, eye popping creature designs, and so much more. Players say its the perfect blend of simulation and fantasy, where their imaginations can truly run wild.
**Note to readers: If any of you are sensitive to swearing, then this book isn't for you. There is copious swearing from the main character, Sam, that's mainly played as a character flaw/trait for laughs and dramatic effect.
My comments:
Dark fantasy based. VR. School unknown. Pretty obviously heavily based on Dark Souls. Looks alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Into a Dark Adventure
Book 2 - The Glitch Fiends Part 1
Origin A.R.S. series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
The life of a soldier can be a harsh and lonely existence. When a soldier leaves the service to be with the woman who he loves only to find out that she is pregnant with the child of another man, his story will usually end on a sad note. However, sometimes events occur that will send that man down an unexpected path in life...
Scott Jacobs, mentally and emotionally exhausted by a lifetime of people simply changing their minds in regards to how much they care about him, accepts an offer to play a game. However, that game turns out to be a true existence where people can become as strong as they desire if they are willing to work toward their dreams.
In this new world of opportunities he will gain levels, fight humorous monsters, and listen to interesting background music! It is the adventure of a lifetime, and he is ready to get that party started.
Danger and love await him around every corner, but what is the truth of this strange and interesting reality that works so much like an old school role playing game? In time, he may find out, but until then he will have to find a new place and a new purpose.
This story is slightly related to the story series known as Freelance Saga.The connection is a minor thing, but it is part of a related concept that will include several different world settings with a similarly named main character.
Consider these stories to be 'alternative universe settings' with a similar main lead. They are a collection of "What if" stories with a main character that has a lot in common with the other similarly named main characters, but each is their own existence with their own unique back story.
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. Author is American. It's VR. Has a fair bit of romance. Seems to be Russian school.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - Volume 4
Book 5 - Volume 5
Book 6 - Volume 6
Realm of Arkon series by G. Akella
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new update arrives to the ultra-popular online game, Realm of Arkon. With Patch 17, the level of immersion experienced by players in their gaming capsules has made virtual reality indistinguishable from the real world. But every gamer's dream becomes a nightmare for Roman Kozhevnikov after he gets confined to Arkon against his will. And not just to Arkon, but to its deadliest zone--Demon Grounds. Playing, or rather living as his character Krian, it's not just about survival for Roman. He longs to exact revenge for his banishment to the virtual world where the sensation of pain has reached one hundred percent...
My comments:
Another Russian entry. Fantasy based. VR. Probably Russian school. Looks interesting. Number three on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Patch 17
Book 2 - The Cursed Princedom
Book 3 - Steel Wolves of Craedia
Book 4 - Shadows of the Great Forest
Chaos Seeds series by Aleron Kong
Amazon summary (of first book):
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???
My comments:
Another American entry. Fantasy based, VR. School seems to be Russian at first glance. Number four on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Land: Founding
Book 2 - The Land: Forging
Book 3 - The Land: Alliances
Book 4 - The Land: Catacombs
Book 5 - The Land: Swarm
Book 6 - The Land: Raiders
The Dragon's Wrath series by Brent Roth
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Brent Roth suffered a workplace accident that rendered him temporarily immobile, he found himself lying in bed dreaming of a better life. He dreamed of a life where maintaining his health was no longer a daily struggle and then when he had lost all hope, he had discovered a new virtual reality game on the horizon. A VR-MMORPG that offered him everything he lacked in real life, everything that had eluded him.
A world where he could find adventure, companionship, and success all wrapped up in the singular package of The Dragon's Wrath. The game offered him a chance, a chance for salvation... a glimmer of hope.
It was better than a dream, it was a virtual dream.
My comments:
Another American Author. Seems Fantasy based. VR. Don't really know more.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - A Virtual Dream
Book 2 - Ashes of the Fallen
Book 3 - Shadows in the Flame
The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series by Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue
Amazon summary (of first book):
Death came on swift wings. A soul, blessed by a goddess, falls to the land and enters his new life. He clings to a single memory, the defining moment of his previous life. Now, he learns how to succeed in his new life, as a new dungeon heart. To become the best dungeon he can be, he partners with the one existence all dungeons need: his bonded Dungeon Pixie.
My comments:
This is one of the rarer types, person transported to a world with rpg rules, rather then the more common VR-MMORPG. Apparently has quite a few technical errors, I'm not sure if I'll be able to enjoy it, but the premise sounds interesting.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Slime Dungeon: Book 1
Book 2 - The Dungeon's Town
Book 3 - The Dungeon's Child
The Selfless Hero Trilogy by William D. Arand
Amazon summary (of first book):
Runner has a problem. He and 499,000 men and women are trapped in a game. He also just happens to be the only person from IT who could log everyone out safely. And he doesn't remember his password.
He, like everyone else in this nightmare, had their memories scrambled or lost in the process of being loaded into the game. A single garbled message is his only clue on how to save everyone.
The problem is that whoever loaded them into the game, loaded their minds completely. If they die, their brain gets wiped.
Now it's time for Runner to flex his skills as a power gaming min maxer and see what he can do. Because every time he levels, he might gain the memory of the password. Time to go Hardcore.
My comments:
Another American. Fantasy based as far as I can tell. Trapped in VR. Seems to be Russian school. Possible technical quality issues. Don't really know anything else.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Otherlife Dreams
Book 2 - Otherlife Nightmares
Book 3 - Otherlife Awakenings
Alternative Reality series by A. Uscila
Amazon summary (of first book):
Alternative Reality - the worlds’ first virtual reality game. A massive multiplayer online one. An opportunity for many to try out different things - to fill the void inside. Luke is no different. An average young adult, struggling with everyday life - living from one day to the other. Only partially employed, living alone.
In Alternative Reality though, he’s Wail. A slightly insane adventuring magician, enjoying a life full of challenges and innocent fun. How will his attempts at finding fulfillment inside virtual reality end?
My comments:
Very short books, but also very cheap. Fantasy based. VR. School unknown. Interesting for the fact that the protagonist has no interest in being a hero, he's after the loot and nothing more. Looks ok.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Vol 1; Part 1
Book 2 - Vol 1; Part 2
Book 3 - Vol; Part 3
Zectas series by John Nest
Amazon summary (of first book):
At eighteen years old, Nash Smoak maintained three jobs. He worked as an assistant to the cook in a small diner, he was shadily hired as a construction worker, and worked as an attendant at a game arcade. Nash needed to take on these jobs in order to support his two brothers and sickly Grandma. Ever since the tragic accident of his parents’ death, he took it upon himself to support his family. After being worked to the bone, Nash found a sacred place, his paradise of relief - the virtual reality world of Zectas. However, his only sanctuary was destroyed when a group of high-level players used him as bait in one of their quests. Nash was captured and tortured by a sadistic Boss monster! Little did they know that this incident would cause the birth of the Legendary User Smoke!
My comments:
This is another self-published work. I believe it was originally a web serial but I can't find any information on it. A translator is listed in the writing credits so it was probably in another language. Everything I've heard about this is it's a good story creatively but horribly edited and/or translated. I'm including this here for completeness sake, but I doubt I'll ever look at it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Enigmatic Village of Nanahuatl
Book 2 - The Heraldic City of Coatl
Book 3 - Malediction of Veneficatl Valley
Book 4 - The Salubrious City of Centzo
Book 5 - The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn
Book 6 - The Delusive Realm of Mictlan
The Chaos Wave series by Justin Johanson
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2055. Virtual Reality has been around for nearly forty years, and the Full Sensation Dive System has been around for about thirty. The various countries of Earth have long since given up on Warring against each other in this dimension when it turned out that with the FSDS (Full Sensation Dive System) virtual worlds became real, especially once Richard Alonzo Albeque’s AIQNPC (Artificial Intelligence Quest and Non-Player Character) System was released and spread like a wild virus across all the active MMOs.
People vanished from their Dive system, leaving nothing behind of the person they were, and the Characters they were in game become locked out, and no longer responsive to the System. In addition to this, they are suddenly showing up on ALL servers of a game at the same time, almost as if they were now an NPC. The governments put a stop to all distribution of FSDS Technology, and keep an eye on these ‘Digitized Players’.
Ten years pass and one of the first ever Digitized Players, a Level 500 Catgirl by the name of Atreya the Dawnbirth, created a stable portal between their MMO and Earth. With the return of one of the players, the governments remove the bans on FSDS Technology, which has still been researched heavily while under the ban. Wars break out over control of Virtual Worlds, but these wars are all fought ON the Virtual World, so the Earth isn’t polluted further.
Immortality is now available to all who seek it, if you can find a World to call your own. Of course, nobody paid attention to one of the few warnings Atreya brought back with her… The NPCs sometimes became sentient and disobeyed coding laws.
My comments:
Can't find anything about this author. From the summary, this seems to base its start point on a mingling of the real world and game worlds, which is an aspect many readers, myself included, don't really care for. Can't say this one appeals to me very strongly.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Divine Adventure: Part 1
World at War Online series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
A new world awaits! Step into the virtual reality of World at War, and experience a revolution like none other. Explore a vast open world and shape it how you wish. From a soldier on the front lines, to a master strategist at the rear, to a crafter making ammunition to feed the insatiable hunger of battle, all will have a part to play. Band together with other players to conquer regions and create virtual empires of your own. But beware: others may have the same designs as you, and they may not be eager to share...
World at War is the most ambitious virtual world game in history. Virtual reality games have existed for years, but this will be the first with a true virtual world. Financial commentators have called it an insane risk. Scientists have hailed it as the beginning of a new technological revolution. To gamers, it was one thing: amazing. For three long years, they have waited with anticipation for its release, and now the new world is upon them. But a new frontier comes with many unknowns, and players will need to learn how to survive in the game's harsh virtual world. And what influence is the game having on their real world selves?
Zach Wofford was a beta player, and knows first-hand what an amazing experience World at War will be. Together, with just a small band of his friends, he will make something great in the virtual world, or go down fighting in the attempt. But he knows that just a few players will never do; they will need a bigger group to survive the myriad of enemies hoping to pick their bones. A lone wolf will be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, but a pack, that's something to be feared.
Join the members of Black Wolf Company as they experience the early days of World at War. Battles will be fought, friendships will be formed, trust will be broken. Their lives in two worlds will be changed forever. But through all this, one question will still remain.
In a World at War...
What's your battle?
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. American author I think. VR. War sim. A lot of books at very reasonable prices. Beyond that, nothing.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Black Wolf
Book 2 - Howl
Book 3 - Fang
Book 4 - Werewolf
Book 5 - Deception City
Book 6 - Carnage City
Book 7 - Commando City
Book 8 - Dead City
Book 9 - Victory City
Short Story Anthology - Hydra
Short Story Anthology 2 - Hydra 2.0
World at War Online: Companions
Book 1 - Knight
The Bathrobe Knight series by Charles Dean
Amazon summary (of first book):
Darwin, a video game addict, was sitting in his bathrobe and slippers playing his favorite MMO on a Christmas night when an uninvited guest breaks into his house to steal his belongings. After the scuffle is over he finds himself transported into one of the sword and magic RPG-style MMOs that he has always loved to play, albeit one he has never heard of, where he has to overcome trials and tribulations at every turn as he fights for his life alongside new companions.
My comments:
Another web serial turned self-published novel series. This is one of the rarer 'transported to a world with rpg rules' type. Don't know anything more. Give it a try for free then buy if you want to.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
Book 3 - Volume 3
Book 4 - The Merchant of Tiqpa
Web Serial
Continue Online series by Stephan Morse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The future is filled with self-driving cars, virtual realities, chore completing machines, and super fast internet connections. Yet all these technological innovations cannot prevent tragedy. Three years ago Grant Legate lost that which he loved most. His carefully built life fell apart in the wake of depression.
Now Grant spends most days working endless hours as a companion to an AI. Their mission is simple, to repair broken machines that humanity uses to visit virtual realities. Unintended hard work pays off as his boss forces Grant to take a vacation and try the latest game craze Continue Online, a fantasy world with the freedom to play any role one might choose.
Upon entry into the game, he meets the AIs who rule over this digital world and they’re nothing like what he expected from a video game world. Grant starts his journey into the virtual world from a very different perspective, and he is only one part of an AI agenda that will end up impacting all of humanity.
My comments:
This is yet another self-published web serial, though from the reviews the writing quality seems higher than your average web serial. They also seem to imply that this might not actually be litRPG at all, more like Snow Crash or Otherlands in that it uses VR to explore the human condition. *shrug* The reviews are split on that. So I'll throw it on this list just in case.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Memories
Book 2 - Made
Book 3 - Realities
Book 4 - Crash
Book 5 - Together
World of Valdira series by Dem Mikhaylov
Amazon summary (of first book):
A world full of adventures, ancient mysteries and monsters hungering for your demise. A world where anyone can achieve their greatest dream, and become who they wish – a successful trader, a wise anchorite, a brave warrior or a battle mage who can control disastrous elemental powers. But don’t expect that the path to your dream will be simple! The path to the top is long, if ever you can reach it.
My comments:
Another Russian entry. Fantasy based. Very poor translation. Don't know anything more. Probably not something I'll try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Way of the Clan
Book 2 - The Way of the Clan 2
Book 3 - The Way of the Clan 3
Book 4 - The Way of the Clan 4
Book 5 - The Way of the Clan 5
Book 6 - The Way of the Clan 6
Shepherd's Wolf by M. Andrew Reid
Amazon summary:
Verdia is the greatest game ever played - a virtual world that blurs the line between imagination and reality. Many play for power and fame; others play to escape the pain and loneliness of real life.
One boy, paralyzed at birth, knows no other world. For Ben Shepherd, Verdia is home.
The Shepherd is Verdia’s most famous and mysterious blacksmith, constructing armor and weapons for elite and wealthy players while hiding from public view. Players ponder the Shepherd’s true identity, and Ben creates his masterpieces in isolation.
Ben discovers friendship in the form of an enormous white wolf - a creature unique in all of Verdia. As news of the boy and his wolf spreads, Ben becomes the target of greed, envy, and fear; Ben’s tranquil life is shattered.
A band of strangers, united by compassion, will battle a perilous landscape and unrelenting enemies to deliver the Shepherd and his wolf to a new home.
To succeed, they must enlist the help of an enemy - a player who is as powerful as he is hated.
They will discover that a small group of friends can face impossible odds, and that a hero can hide beneath a villain’s mask.
My comments:
Fantasy based and VR. Stand alone novel. Can't really say anything else. Looks alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Shepherd's Wolf
Seeds of Chaos series by Azalea Ellis
Amazon summary (of first book):
My name is Eve Redding, and I am the new god.
I didn’t want this. I would have fled from it, if I could. The monstrous creators of the Game forced me to play, fighting for my life on a beautiful, vicious alien planet. When a Player wins, the miraculous rewards allow us to upgrade the things that make us weak. At first, I was enamored by the ability to augment everything about myself—to be come smarter, stronger, prettier…better.
But after that first Trial, I would have done anything to escape the Game. I needed power to protect myself and those I care about. So I took it.
They say there is no escaping the Game, except through death.
But I’m the type to cling to life by the tips of my bloody fingernails.
My comments:
This looks quite good and as a bonus it seems to be the rare type d. With type d specific settings basis and schools of writing go out the window, they're pretty unique. Which is one of the reasons why there are so few of them compared to the other types. Thanks to TheLastOne for bringing this to my attention, definitely going on my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Gods of Blood and Bone
Ingame series by Kieron Uchee
Amazon summary:
Ingame
A world where magic is real. Where being Human just means you are not a Dwarf or an Elf. See a cynical young man who is working towards getting past level one. Add some rich powerful old people trying to take over the Ingame world. Throw in a abandoned haunted orphanage, a mysterious dragon and Gods that cannot be trusted. Add a huge city and young Donators buying their way through the game. Ingame, anything might happen. This story has adult content, please be aware of this.
My comments:
This is an American author. It's VR, Russian school, fantasy based, and self-published. Every review says basically the same thing, that this is pretty obviously someone who read a bunch of the Russian litRPG books, got real excited and immediately wrote their own. Unfortunately he apparently did it without bothering with things like editing... Or plot structure... Or characterization... Yeah, this doesn't seem like it's going to be worth reading. But I'm adding it to the list anyway, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To be fair, several of the reviewers mentioned that there is potential here if the author would just slow down and properly explore it and that the book did improve somewhat in the last twenty-five percent.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Virtual reality enabled
Book 2 - Homeland
Avatar Chronicles series by Conor Kostick
Amazon summary (of first book):
Generations ago, violence was banned on New Earth. Society is governed and conflicts are resolved in the arena of a fantasy computer game, Epic. Everyone plays. If you win, you have the chance to go to university, get more supplies for your community, and fulfill your dreams; if you lose, your life both in and out of the game is worth nothing.
When Erik, seeking revenge for the unjust treatment of his parents, dares to subvert the rules of Epic, he and his friends find themselves up against with the ultimate masters of the game: the Committee. If Erik and his friends win, they may have the key to destroying Epic’s tyranny over New Earth. But if they lose . . .
My comments:
With the confirmation that this is indeed litRPG (thanks to Shadowdrakon for that), on the list it goes. It's VR and fantasy based. School-wise I don't know, seems to go its own way. The basic premise is not that appealing to me. I might have given it a try anyway if not for Penguin's greed. This is a habit with them, charging way too much for their ebooks. In this case the ebook is actually ten cents more expensive than the paperback, despite the lack of materials cost. I refuse to indulge Penguin in their naked greed.
Recommended by: Shadowdrakon, kitsune9
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Epic
Book 2 - Saga
Book 3 - Edda
Solarversia: The Year Long Game by Toby Downton
Amazon summary:
It’s the 29th February 2020 and Nova Negrahnu cannot wait to start playing Solarversia, a year-long game based in a virtual world that’s modelled on the real world solar system. Given three lives, three vehicles, and told to master the Science of Solarversia to stand a chance of winning, players compete against 100 million people for the £10m grand prize, and a place in the history books.
Solarversia starts three months before Nova’s A-levels, the life-changing exams that could see her win a place at Nottingham, the university that Charlie attends, the second-year student she falls for on an open-day visit. As she strains to balance her addiction to the game with her mounting schoolwork, Nova’s world is unexpectedly turned upside down when the Holy Order, a mysterious cult-like organisation sets its sights on the game and Spiralwerks, its creator.
Told from three different perspectives - Nova the gamer, Artica Kronkite, the CEO of Spiralwerks, and Casey Brown, a newly-initiated member of the Holy Order - Solarversia is a game that author Toby Downton hopes to make for real, to launch in 2020, so that people can actually play it.
My comments:
The game here seems more Mario Party'ish than a traditional RPG: puzzles and platformers. It's VR. Basic premise seems alright but going by the reviews the execution falls a bit flat. I might still eventually try it, if for no other reason then the protagonist is female, which is vanishingly rare in this genre.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Solarversia: The Year Long Game
Omegaverse series by G.R. Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Duncan Sheriden enters, at the bidding of several friends, into the virtual universe; the Omegaverse. As he explores the alien races, star systems and planets, he discovers a rich, vast, limitless expanse of possibilities.
From gritty fights for control of colonies with hostile alien and human forces, to interstellar trade, to thrilling hunts to eradicate space piracy, to epic battles between star-ships, Duncan finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the virtual world.
As Duncan gains and evolves his online power, his 'real world' friends and activities take smaller and smaller roles as Duncan is, unbeknownst to himself, being targeted for special attention by forces he doesn't even realize exist.
My comments:
Amazon's suggestion algorithms strike again. American author, VR, Sci Fi based, no idea on the school. Self-published amateur author, but unlike most of the rest of that type, reviews universally say it has good editing and good plotting. The first book at least is a pretty short at 171 pages, but it's also pretty cheap. I'll certainly give this a try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Shepherd Moon
Book 2 - Shepherd's Crook
Book 3 - Shepherd's Cross
Book 4 - The Kings of Edonis
Book 5 - The Marches of Edonis
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
Amazon summary:
In the virtual reality game Heir Apparent, there are way too many ways to get killed--and Giannine seems to be finding them all. Which is a darn shame, because unless she can get the magic ring, locate the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win.
And she has to, because losing means she'll die--for real this time.
My comments:
This is an older stand-alone novel. It's trapped VR style and fantasy based. The game here appears to be more of an adventure style rather then an RPG but the premise looks interesting regardless. Reviews are promising. Also to its benefit is having a female protagonist, which is very rare in this genre. Thanks to Aehriman for bringing this to my attention.
Recommended by: kitsune9
Scorned by:
Heir Apparent
Death by Cliché by Bob Defendi
Amazon summary:
“Where are you taking me, and why can’t I open this door?” -Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Blood of the Cosmos.
“I totally didn’t just make up this quote without reading the book.” -Dan Wells, Author of The Devils Only Friend
“I told Bob I would heartily recommend this book, and he said I could have Mister Whiskers back.” -Dan Willis, Coauthor of Dragons of the Confederacy
About Death by Cliché:
To Sartre, Hell was other people. To the game designer, Hell is the game.
Damico writes games for a living. When called in to rescue a local roleplaying game demo, Damico is shot in the head by a loony fan. He awakens in a game. A game full of hackneyed tropes and clichéd plots. A game he was there to save, run by the man who murdered him just moments ago. A game that has just become world-swap fantasy. Damico, to his horror, has become the heart of the cliché.
Set on their quest in a scene that would make Ed Wood blush, Damico discovers a new wrinkle. As a game designer, he is a creative force in this broken place. His presence touches the two-dimensional inhabitants. First a peasant, then a barmaid, then his character’s own father…all come alive.
But the central question remains. Can Damico escape, or is he trapped in this nightmare? Forever.
Wait, what? This is a comedy? Ignore all that. Death by Cliché is a heartwarming tale of catastrophic brain damage. Share it with someone you love. Or like. Or anyone at all. Buy the book.
Based on a true story.
My comments:
This is a stand-alone novel and one of the rarer type b. It doesn't seem to have been intentionally aimed to fit the litRPG genre but just sort of fell into the genre purely by accident. Reviews are favorable and it looks interesting. Thanks to Grist for bringing this to my attention.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Death by Cliché
Avalon Ravens series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the highly competitive e-sports league of Avalon Online, Silver Star has stood atop the ranks for almost three years. Their dominance has won them fame and fortune, and they appear invincible. But one stunning betrayal and a harsh punishment later, and their place at the top is gone.
The remaining members of Silver Star have one choice: form a new team and climb their way back to the top, fighting through every obstacle that lays in their path. But the journey back will be anything but simple. Starting from the bottom is never easy, and old comrades may have some unfinished business to attend to...
My comments:
Don't really know much about this one. American author I think. VR. Same author as the World at War series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Avalon Rebirth
Psy-Hunters by Belart Wright
Amazon summary (of first book):
From the author of Hell's Glitch: Into a Dark Adventure comes:
Death, Adventure, LitRPG.
Troy Warwick has a fairly good life thanks to the support of his family and his closest friend, Dana. He lives with no regrets, except one. Why did he treat his ex-girlfriend so poorly? As Troy delves into a fun new game with his nephews, a mystery unfolds in the virtual realm, a mystery that involves his ex.
Join Troy in the virtual game, Psy-Hunters, a game world where the power of the mind trumps all.
Ueden-Ter is a world on the brink of extinction. A powerful race of mechanized behemoths, known only as Overlords, have forever changed the future of the human race. A new race of genetically altered humans have joined together, led by the powerful Psychics. Psychics, Beasts, Cyborgs, Androids, and Humans alike all band together under the banner of the Psychic Hunters' Association or the Military Police Faction to protect Ueden-Ter from the tyranny of the Overlords. Will their combined might be enough to push back the threat of extinction?
Join the battle in the virtual role playing game Psy-Hunters. Ages 10 and up.
My comments:
Same author as Hell's Glitch: Into a Dark Adventure. This came out just today so there's no real word on its quality.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Psy-Hunters
The Dive series by Justin Miller
Amazon summary (of first book):
What happens when a game becomes your life? What happens when your life becomes a game? Follow Christopher Weston as he dives too deeply into the newest hit game, learning the skills needed to survive in this brave new world.
My comments:
Got nothing, sorry. Can't find anything about this author and very little about this book. Just enough to know it's litRPG.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Birth of a Wordsmith
World Seed series by Justin Miller
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2245, and the world has undergone explosive growth in multiple industries. The age of Virtual Reality came long ago, opening up new fields for people to enjoy and seek employment. There were even those that chose to sacrifice their physical bodies, becoming digital existences that lived within internet communities.
But with the age of VR, everyone still dreamed of that next step, the next level of adventure. And after a hundred years, it has finally arrived. The first consoles, known as Seeds, mass distributed among the people, with such realism that they no longer qualified as a Virtual Reality, but as an Artificial Reality. But what happens when things become too real?
My comments:
Same author as the one above. Still got nothing.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Game Start
Book 2 - New Rules
Book 3 - Expansion
Omnia Online Series by Christopher Booth
Amazon summary (of first book):
For hundreds of years Sol has been under careful observation and protection as required by the rules of the Imperial Cultural Protection Act. The people of Earth were considered to be too primitive to be useful members of the Imperium. But, now a new member of the Department of Cultural Development has an idea that could bring the people of Earth into the Imperium... "Let’s ask them to play a game…”
I would like to invite you on an adventure with me, as we explore the potential of a Fully Immersive Virtual Reality Massive Multi-Player Online Roleplaying Game (FIVR-MMORPG) to change lives. Not just a game, but also as a tool for physical and mental development. Omnia Online is soon to be released, the first ever of its kind in Kevin’s world. Join him, as he experiences just how big and complex his universe really is.
Warning: This book contains adult content and language…
My comments:
VR. Sci Fi based. American author. Editing is a little rough and the pacing is a little slow as far as reviews are concerned. Seems like it might be an alright read.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Omnia Online
Book 2 - Making the Grade
Last Horizon series by Daniel Schinhofen
Amazon summary (of first book):
Advances in technology have led to the creation of ever more realistic virtual reality games but now Full Immersion Virtual Reality is finally coming true. Join David and his oldest friends as they sign up to beta test the first game of it's kind. Last Horizon will give the old gamers the chance to live out one last adventure together.
My comments:
Self published, first time author. VR. School and setting unknown. What info I've found says it has a more editing errors than it really should have but still readable, and that the story was quite good.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Beta
Book 2 - Live
Ascend Online series by Luke Chmilenko
Amazon summary:
Enter Marcus, a twenty-nine-year-old independent game designer, and slightly jaded MMORPG addict looking for his next gaming fix. When a friend tells him about a revolutionary Virtual Reality game that’s set to be released in less than 24 hours, he can barely believe his eyes. Without a second’s hesitation, Marcus and his friends leap at the chance to escape Reality and start an entirely new life in a world of mystery and wonder
My comments:
Canadian author. Self published. VR, fastasy based, school unknown. Editing seems solid as does the story. Might be worth checking out. Update: I've finished the first book in this and I enjoyed it quite a bit. School is closer toKorean than Russian. It focuses a bit more on group play rather than the solo act a lot of litRPG has.
Recommended by: heridfel, jacobk, Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Ascend Online
Book 1.5 - Hell to Pay (note: set in the same world as book 1 but completely different location and characters)
The Permadeath Legacy series by Jeff Sproul and Zoey Rivera
Amazon summary (of first book):
Fortune Favors the bold, but one man’s greed sets him down a path for which there can be no escape.
Eden was built as the perfect fantasy reality. Instead of being a means of entertainment for its players, it became a world where the rich extort the poor to fight and die for their own amusement.
As a pawn, your life is your own. But death in the game doesn't mean you reload and start over. When you die in Eden, you die in the real world. Sometimes survival comes at the cost of another's life.
What will you leave behind when the only certainty in life is your death?
My comments:
Self published. VR, fantasy based, school unknown. These books are short and expensive, each being less than one hundred pages and four dollars each. There's an omibus that includes all five current books for eight dollars but it's still only five hundred pages, for a first time self published work that's way too high for me. Reviews say decent editing, average story.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Blacksalt Slayer
Book 2 - Crimson Nightmare
Book 3 - Killing Pawns
Book 4 - Gilded Obsession
Book 5 - Manmade Monsters
Books 1-5 - The Permadeath Legacy: Omnibus
Electric Shadows series by S R Witt
Amazon summary (of first book):
I didn’t set out to destroy the world.
Honest.
Dragon Web Online promised its players a virtual world filled with simulated adventures and real treasures. Play games, get rich. It seemed like the perfect way to make the cash my family needed to keep us off the streets. It seemed too good to be true.
It was.
I made a terrible mistake and stumbled into the truth behind the world’s most popular Virtual Reality game.
Now I’m marked for death and the most powerful people in the world want to hang their crimes around my neck.
They call me a thief. A murderer. The killer of worlds.
The people who know the truth call me the Saint of Shadows.
I didn’t set out to destroy the world, but somebody had to do it.
Somebody had to set you free.
My comments:
Self published. VR. Maybe fantasy based. School unknown. Short at one hundred and sixty-five pages and a bit expensive at that length at four dollars. Reviews are mixed, some saying amazing, some saying mediocre. Might be worth checking out.
Recommended by: jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dragon Web Online: Inception
Book 2 - Dragon Web Online: Dominion
The Rise of Resurgence series by Joshua W. Nelson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Pay to play. Since the beginning of online gaming this has always been the norm; you paid the company and they let you play their game. So it's no surprise that Alex Stanton was living every gamer's dream. It was the opposite for him. He was getting payed to play.
The latest generation of virtual reality gaming, in both appearance and hardware, was being beta tested by the largest retailer of online gaming, AltCon. Never before seen graphical detail, joined with a first-time, fully functional, whole body immersion system was likely to put AltCon entirely out of reach of their competitors. But before they could go live, they wanted Beta testers. Serious Beta testers. So serious, AltCon was willing to pay a salary to each tester, ensuring their lives revolved around the Beta, and the Beta only.
Beta testers join for one reason, to experience new content never seen by another player. Alex, along with his group mates Dan, Jason, and Wayne will experience every nuance the game has to offer, and all before the rest of the world.
The entire scenario is unreal; from the tests to be selected as a Beta candidate, to the six month wait to qualify, to the almost life-like quality of the game itself. The company pulled out all the stops. If there was a heaven for gamers, it would look exactly like this game: Resurgence.
But odd things start happening from the outset. Things Alex can't explain. But like every hard-core gamer, Alex has no problem ignoring the little things to focus on the grander design; winning the game. Whether that be discovering new content, finishing epic quests, or finding the rarest of items.
In time, even the littlest of things can pile up, and Alex is forced to ask himself, “What’s really going on in Resurgence?”
My comments:
Self published. VR, probably fantasy based, seems to be leaning more towards the Korean school. Decent length, decent price. Looks solid.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Resurgence
Towns and Towers series by Shawn Kass
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Sam’s new video game system arrives in the mail, he unexpectedly finds that it isn’t the one he sent in for repairs, and instead he has received some sort of limited edition model. He soon finds out how unique the model is when after downloading his newest game he is transported into the system and expected to play through the role of his character without access to the real world, or any of the informationally packed strategy guides he is used to using.
Handicapped by his own impatience to start playing, Sam is left to figure out the new world which he has fallen into. He has no weapons, no armor, no save points, and no way home. The only thing he has going in his favor is his experience, and his willingness to game more.
My comments:
Self published, this author has been putting out books for a few years now. one of the rarer type b stories. Reviews report decent editing and a decent story. Price is a little high for its length. I probably won't be looking at it, but if the summary catches your eye I'd say go for it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A New Land
Awaken Online series by Travis Bagwell
Amazon summary (of first book):
Jason logs into Awaken Online fed-up with reality. He's in desperate need of an escape, and this game is his ticket to finally feeling the type of power and freedom that are so sorely lacking in his real life.
Awaken Online is a brand new virtual reality game that just hit the market, promising an unprecedented level of immersion. Yet Jason quickly finds himself pushed down a path he didn't expect. In this game, he isn't the hero. There are no damsels to save. There are no bad guys to vanquish.
In fact, he might just be the villain.
My comments:
Self published. VR. Fantasy based. School unknown. A little expensive but decent page length. Reviews are mediocre to good. Might be worth a look at.
Recommended by: heridfel, jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Catharsis
Book 2 - Precipice
Age of Steam series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
The Iron Guild reigns supreme. The massive organization dominates the virtual reality MMO world of Age of Steam, using their vast wealth, military might, and their control of the all-important trade routes. Outsiders must bow to their demands, or invite destruction down on their heads.
But some continue to resist the Iron Guild's influence. And when the latest demands push them too far, four players decide to push back. They will use any method to break the Guild's stranglehold, whether it be smuggling, conspiracy, or outright violence. The trade war will be fought in the back alleys of the cities, on the open seas, in the markets and exchanges, and in the workshops and factories.
In the world of steel and steam, only one side will triumph. For a rising tide lifts all ships, but it may also drown those caught in its path...
My comments:
VR. Steampunk by the looks of it. A bit light on the rpg elements. Same author as the World at War Online series and the Avalon Ravens series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rising Tide
Sigil Online series by Jeff Sproul
Amazon summary (of first book):
Loss was nothing new to an orphan like Riley. But when the online persona he'd spent years building, was ripped away by a monster with unbelievable power, everything changed.
As a gamer who made a living from Sigil Online, losing his character meant losing his job and any means he had of paying his bills.
Now, he had to start from the beginning just like any other player joining Sigil Online for the first time. All the fame and fortune of a high-level character, was gone.
Experience the harrowing quest that will leave Riley changed forever, as he's molded by the pursuit of the monster that took everything from him.
My comments:
VR. Superhero based. Same author as The Permadeath Legacy series. Just came out four days ago so no reviews yet.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Paragons
The Crucible Shard series by Skyler Grant
Amazon summary (of first book):
Gamers are celebrities. Superstars. Idols to the masses.
Only a few ever make it out of Piper's Mill, most toil their lives away in the small town just dreaming of a better life.
Liam thought he had a comfortable life all worked out when it winds up wrenched away from him. Drawn into other's schemes to hack the game and steal some spotlight he never expects to find himself playing in a game nobody has ever heard of.
He never expects to find himself deep in a dungeon at level one with no gear and barely any skills.
He certainly would never anticipate suddenly being tied to forces that promise not just to reshape his life, but the world outside the game.
Time to level up.
My comments:
Seems to be VR. Seems to also be Fantasy based. American author. First time publishing. One review states it's a good start. Price is a little steep ($5) considering a first time author and the page length (201 pages). Might be alright.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Dungeon Crawl
Book 2 - Spawn Campers
Book 3 - Corpse Run
Book 4 - Gank
Adventures on Terra series by R.A. Mejia
Amazon summary (of first book):
Armon Ellington is nineteen year old kid that always felt out of place. He’s an orphan, a gamer, and a role playing game geek. When he dies after a seventy-two hour gaming marathon, instead of going to an afterlife he’s transported to a new world governed by rules that are eerily similar to the RPG games he loves. On this new world, Terra, he can be anything he wants, a warrior, mage, or even a crafter. Only, Armon wants more than that, he also wants friends and family.
Join Armon on his journey through this amazing new world where he’ll go on adventures, explore dungeons, slay monsters and hopefully find the friends and family he never had on earth.
My comments:
One of the rare 'transported to a world with rpg rules' type. Fantasy based. Good length. Price point for that length is a bit high ($6.63 for 555 pages). First time author. Only came out five days ago so no reviews so far. Originally a web serial. Looks like it might be alright.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Beginnings
The Strength Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nick Stanners has no money. No job. No prospects. He lives in one of the most crime-ridden apartment blocks on the west coast. His girlfriend uses him for a place to stay. His father is on life support. Rent is due next week…
Games are Nick’s passion. He's played them all - well, the old screen ones anyway. He's never been able to afford an Immersion tank and the amazing games that come with them, but he's seen the web casts. He knows the names of every superstar pixel runner. His heroes.
So when he's picked out of the crowd to participate in a competitive, quest-driven dark fantasy RPG, his brain melts. Could this be his opportunity to get ahead? Or will he be chewed up by the machine, just another failed pixel runner by the side of the road?
My comments:
First time author. VR. Fantasy based. Game is dark fantasy a la Dark Souls. Really short. Each book is only about forty-five pages. There's an omnibus for all four books but it's still only one hundred and sixty-two pages. At $4 it's a little steep as well. Reviews say it's solid.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 2 - STRENGTH BUILD +2: Duskstar Forest
Book 3 - STRENGTH BUILD +3: The Great Sands of Bariz
Book 4 - STRENGTH BUILD +4: The Tomb of the Fallen
Omnibus (Books 1-4) - The Complete Strength Build Cycle
Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
The Dexterity Build Cycle series by Steven J Shelley
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nick Stanners is back.
Fresh from his victory against The Spiderling, he must now prepare for a new series of Oakshield Junction. Only this time, he knows the sinister corporation behind the RPG is actively trying to kill him.
Not only must Nick contend with the deadly creatures of Tyrennia, his human rivals will be targeting him for the largest bounty the game has seen.
Worst of all, he can no longer rely on his favored strength build. He must adapt or die.
That means lifting a longbow for the first time in his gaming life. Strange days indeed …
DEXTERITY BUILD is a LitRPG serial that follows on from the completed STRENGTH BUILD cycle.
My comments:
Sequel to The Strength Build Cycle. VR. Fantasy based. Game is dark fantasy a la Dark Souls. Really short. Each book is only about forty-five pages.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Oakshield Junction - an omibus collection of The Strength Build Cycle and The Dexterity Build Cycle
Squadcom-13 series by D. Rus
Amazon summary (of first book):
The near future. A UFO appears on Earth’s orbit. Ignoring all contact attempts, it showers the planet with priceless artifacts. Choose: perfect health, ten million dollars, or seven years in prison as per the new amendment.
The night of the Meteor Shower, Paul and his friends run around the city, engaging in quick fights with citizens gone crazy, trying to obtain one of the artifacts.
But is it really selfless help the mysterious aliens are offering? What awaits a human who holds a precious crystal in his hand? Where will he wake up tomorrow? What if the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes will be the blinking line of text: “Loading location: virtual training ground Kubinka-Digital. Welcome, cadet! You’re now space fighter pilot!
My comments:
A new entry from the (in)famous D. Rus. This one is a sci fi based and VR. Reviews I've read say this is very different from Play to Live and doesn't even get into the litRPG elements until nearly a quarter of the way through the book. That said, I've already bought it. I'll report back when I'm finished reading it. Update: I've finished it and I'm read to give my final thoughts. Editing was good. Translation was fine. Sci fi based. VR (kinda). The first book comes across as Korean school until the last ten pages in which a time skip happens and suddenly everyone is much higher level. This is very sexist. There was sexism in Play to Live, but it was infrequent and mostly subdued. In this book its very frequent and very blatant. It doesn't help that it takes nearly half the book for them to actually reach the litRPG elements. The only redeeming quality (and I use that term loosely) is apparently Russian sexism believes women should be fierce and strong, just not as fierce and strong as men, and they should follow their man's lead in all things. If you have any investment in the female half of the battle of the sexes then I suggest you give this series a pass, it's just going to piss you off. I certainly won't be buying any more books in this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Kuro_Neko
Book 1 - The Cadet
The Gold Farmer series by Liam Arato
Amazon summary (of first book):
2050, AI has taken over the vast majority of jobs in the world. However, one new job appeared that was humans-only; gold farming in VRMMOs (Virtual Reality MMO). Ken worked as a gold farmer in the popular fantasy VRMMO Avantheim Online. However one day, while gold farming in AO, he was suddenly teleported into another VR world, where he soon realizes that he and his NPC allies are far stronger than anyone else in this new world.
After discovering a forest full of unimaginable treasures, Ken takes his first step in conquering the world and becoming the greatest gold farmer ever.
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Short and relatively expensive. Reviews say it's pretty good. I might give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Treasure Forest
Unbound Deathlord series by Edward Castle
Amazon summary (of first book):
When virtual reality becomes real enough that people feel as if they’re being transported to another world, Valia Online arrives.
A man running from his past joins the game to forget it all. Calling himself Jack Thorn, he chooses an undead race, Deathlord.
A mage by choice, and a swordsman by necessity, he soon finds out that he’ll need to use much more than magic and steel to survive; strategy, creativity, and carefully chosen words can often accomplish what simple attacks can’t.
As the game becomes too real and touches a part of him that he’d rather leave buried, he is faced with two questions:
Who is he, really?
And who should he become?
My comments:
VR and Fantasy based. Originally a web serial. Self-published. Good length, but price is a little high for a first time author. Reviews say it's well written and enjoyable.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Challenge
The Divine Dungeon series by Dakota Krout
Amazon summary (of first book):
For eons, conquering dungeons has been the most efficient way to become a strong adventurer. Although, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Several questions have always plagued the mind of those that enter these mythical places of power: Why are there so many monsters? Where does the amazing weaponry and heavy gold coins come from? Why does the very air fill with life-giving energies?!
Cal has all of the answers to these age old questions, for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Heart, a soul forced against his will into a magical stone. After several lonely years, Cal was able to regain sentience, allowing him to form new memories while slowly growing a dungeon around himself. With help from a friend, Cal learned how to create monsters and traps, increasing his power and size quickly.
When a threat to his existence rears its head, Cal decides that he will do anything to stay alive and become stronger. Unfortunately for treasure-seekers, the fastest way for Cal to achieve his goal... is to eat anyone that enters his depths.
My comments:
Another 'transported to a fantasy world with rpg rules' type. Very similar to The Slime Dungeon Chronicles series, the protagonist becomes the heart of a dungeon. Reviews are very promising.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dungeon Born
Book 2 - Dungeon Madness
A Second Chance series by Ned van der Drift
Amazon summary (of first book):
Imagine a device that completely changed the world. Every major organisation had a foothold in the digital world, children no longer had to leave home to receive an education while still being able to run play with their friends, and the last war ended in 2083.
What if this world totally screwed you over?
Sydney Shaden was barely scraping by paying for his university fees when the VR Pod was released. At first, he thought it was something to celebrate - before his school went virtual. Sydney couldn't afford the prices to buy his own Pod, and the young man was forced to drop-out of university.
He saved up for years, until he finally bought the parts to build his very own Virtual Reality Pod, as well as the only game released for it - Archae. How could he resist being able to battle dragons and throw fireballs?
The young man assembled it all, loaded up his first virtual reality game and that's when it went all wrong.
This is my first book, and I apologize if there are any typos, errors or mistakes, but there is an edited copy coming out soon! The next book is being written, with plans for more books still coming!
Please rate and review, and let me know what you think!
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Short and the price point is a bit high. Editing issues.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Archae, Volume 1
Shadow For Hire series by Adam Drake
Amazon summary (of first book):
An impossible quest for a legendary item.
I love questing for loot.
And the more difficult the quest, the greater the reward.
So when I'm offered a chance to retrieve the ultimate treasure of all, I signed up.
Yet no one warned me the task would be impossible. Against overwhelming odds I'm also expected to defeat an ancient evil - one with the power of a god.
But you know what?
Some loot is worth risking it all.
My comments:
VR. Fantasy based. Self-published. This author has been putting out books for awhile now. I can't locate any reviews for this series though. Reasonable length, reasonable price point.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Shadow Gambit
Book 2 - Shadow Hunting
Book 3 - Shadow Wars
Omnibus (Books 1-3) - Shadow For Hire
Artificial Dream State series by I.M. Waugh
Amazon summary (of first book):
Snow Storm Entertainment presents
SPINWARD
A breakthrough in lucid dream game sensation, immersion and freedom.
Fight, build, explore and conquer to make your mark on the galaxy.
Launching March 2036
Only available on Dream Box
Snow Storm were being uncharacteristically quiet about their new product, only releasing concepts, hints and grandiose claims about it, all that was known is it set in Outer Space, it is skill based and it’s the most immersive game ever created. Opinion was divided, is it vapour-ware, is it over-hyped, is it under-hyped, will it fail to deliver, will it be the best game ever created or will it be the worst game in history. Anticipation was at an all-time high, the streams, boards, vlogs and pages where all buzzing with excitement.
All Su knew is that she really really wanted to play it.
My comments:
VR. Sci fi based. Female protagonist. First time author. Self-published. Good length and good price. Reviews are promising.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Spinward
Book 2 - Back in the Game
Reborn series by D.W. Jackson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Unwanted, orphan, poor these words were common to Derrick who if asked would had said the world is a cold place. He went to school and worked while moving from foster home to foster home. No friends and no family he had little in life. The other kids in school often talked about the new games but he would never have enough money to buy something like that but after saving up his money he bought an old outdated game system and found enjoyment in playing RPG's. After buying a new game at a pawn shop Derrick ran home to play it though as soon as he turned it on his life came to an abrupt end. Transported into another world Derrick found himself in a world not unlike an rpg. Felling no loss at the world he left behind he started to move in his new world as his guides helped him.
My comments:
This is one of the much rarer 'transported into a traditional RPG video game world' type. This author has been self-publishing for awhile now. These books are very short and very expensive. Omnibus editions improve this a bit, but not really enough. Reviews say good story but poorly edited.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - God's Game
Book 2 - New World
Book 3 - Gambler's Game
Book 4 - Devil's luck
Book 5 - Devil's Blood
Book 6 - Demon Core
Book 7 - Knight’s Code
Book 8 - Demon’s Heritage
Book 9 - Demon’s Legacy
Book 10 - Demonic Valor
Book 11 - Flames of War
Book 12 - War's Nightmare
Omnibus (Books 1-5) - Reborn Vol. 1-5
Omnibus (Books 6-10) - Reborn Vol. 6-10
Adventures of a Scribe by Michael Deyhim (PeliusAnar )
Amazon summary:
Edward Monteger has grown up in a family of scribes learning about the world around him through books in his family’s shop. Not wanting to be consigned to his fate scribbling away all day or managing a shop, he takes matters into his own hands. Striking forth into the wide world, he makes friends on his journey, and experiences the joy of victory to the agony of defeat.
Set in a Fantasy LitRPG world there is balance of all aspects one might expect to find from crafting, mana, and fighting. Discovering the forces that control his world Edward is a scientist at heart without knowing the word or even the concept behind it. Struggling against monsters, humans, and the forces of necromancy, he overcomes hardship to grow as an individual and as an adventurer.
My comments:
This is one of the rarer fictional world operates under RPG logic types rather than the more common VR. Fantasy based. First time author. Self-published. Page length is decent. Price point is decent. The author has provided me a free copy in return for an honest review so I'll update this once I've finished it. Update: I've finished it. Editing is solid, plot is good, pacing is good, characterization is good, prose flows well. Protagonist is very morally grey. I enjoyed it. Korean style, which is a nice change of pace.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Adventures of a Scribe
The Viridian Gate Archives series by James Hunter
Amazon summary (of first book):
October, 2042
An extinction-level asteroid, 213 Astraea, is cannonballing toward Earth. Collision, imminent. An international team of scientists is working around the clock to avert the cataclysm—few are optimistic. World governments are preparing for impact with deep earth bio-dome bunkers, but only a select few lottery winners will be saved.
Jack Mitchel, a thirty-two-year-old EMT living in a tiny studio apartment on the West Coast, isn’t one of those winners.
Still, there might be a way for him to survive Astraea: a slim chance, requiring a radical leap of faith. Through a connection at Osmark Technologies, Jack’s acquired a NexGenVR capsule and with it, a one-way ticket to the brand-new, ultra-immersive, fantasy-based VRMMORPG, Viridian Gate Online. Taking that leap of faith, though, means permanently trapping his mind in the game, killing his body in the process.
Worse, one in six die during the transition, and even if Jack beats the odds, he’ll have to navigate a fantastical world that’s home to vicious monsters, domineering AIs, and cutthroat players. And when Jack stumbles upon a secret conspiracy to sell off virtual real estate to the ultrawealthy—transforming V.G.O. into a new feudal dark age—the deadly creatures inhabiting Viridian Gate’s expansive dungeons will be the least of his concerns.
If Jack can’t game the system, he’s going to be trading in a quick death for a long, brutal one …
My comments:
This author has been writing for awhile, and this book is being released by an actual publisher so the editing is likely to be top notch. It's VR, fantasy based. Length is reasonable as is the price. Reviews are positive. Might be worth a look see.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Cataclysm
Book 2 - Crimson Alliance
Book 3 - The Jade Lord
Difficulty: Legendary series by Gregg Horlock
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the world of Re:Fuze, anything is possible. Fortunes can be made, and the unlikeliest of people can find glory in a land of swords and magic.
With low Job Qualification (JQ) scores and 2 years of national service looming, Eric Templeton knows he is doomed to a life of poverty. When he is given a chance to enter the game, he knows he has the opportunity to save his family from their desperate situation.
But when he enters the game, Eric isn’t spawned into the newbie camp of Blundow. Instead he is sent to the darkest regions of the map, filled with creatures beyond his level. He stumbles across a conspiracy that no newbie should ever see, and he knows that he can’t hope to survive.
My comments:
First time author, self-published. VR, fantasy based. First book is short (135 pages), but also quite cheap, second book is nearly 400 pages and is cheap for that length. Reviews almost universally say the first book had potential but was weak in execution but that the second book improves considerably. Considering how cheap the first book is, if the premise interests you give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Difficulty: Legendary
Book 2 - Tinker, Tailor, Giant, Dwarf
Delvers LLC series by Blaise Corvin
Amazon summary:
Henry and Jason led normal lives in Seattle before they were abducted to another world. Their kidnapper, the vain, self-styled god Dolos refuses to send them back unless they can accomplish an impossible task. Oddly, Dolos doesn’t seem to care if they succeed or not.
Luckily, Henry and Jason studied Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) on Earth. Unfortunately, a Japanese American EMT and a geeky IT programmer don’t have many other useful skills on a sword and sorcery world like Ludus.
Stranded in the middle of nowhere on an alien world, the friends have no real direction and only a few possessions including magic-granting orbs from an apathetic god. Undaunted, the two begin their insane adventure to return home... but basic survival and eventually paying rent will have to take priority.
My comments:
First time author, self-published.
Recommended by: heridfel, Glimmervoid
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Welcome to Ludus
Book 2 - Obligations Incurred
Web Novel version
Stalwart Souls Online series by Kaye Fairburn
Amazon summary (of first book):
When a mysterious Player Killer with the ability to cause his victims to die in real life appears in the fully immersive massive multi-player online roleplaying game (MMORPG) Stalwart Souls Online, administrators shut down the game servers to find the criminal.
What they didn't count on was the system being hijacked. Stalwart Souls Online is rebooted, a new patch applied. All players online at that time revert back to Trainee level, their hard work erased. They soon discover that the log out function has been disabled, and that that isn't the only thing that has changed in the game...
In the midst of this is someone who must cope and survive in this updated RPG world while avoiding becoming the Player Killer's next target. Roy will face dark dungeons, go on adventures, compete in player versus player battles, navigate the difficulties of guild politics, and learn a more realistic definition of good and evil.
The Player Killer’s Mark is the first book of the Stalwart Souls Online fantasy LitRPG series.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. VR. Good length (400 pages) but very high price ($8 CAD), especially for a first time self-published author. The summary reads like a straight rip-off of Sword Art Online. Only released a couple of days ago so no reviews yet. The blatant rip-off of SAO does not fill me with high hopes for this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - The Player Killer's Mark
The Actuator series by James Wymore and various other authors
Amazon summary (of first book):
On a secret military base tucked in a remote desert mountain, a dangerous machine lies hidden from the American public.
Known as “The Actuator”, this machine is capable of transforming entire communities into alternate realities. In theory, these often terrifying realities are reversible. The scientists in charge of this machine employ operatives called Machine Monks, who attune their minds to manifest single ideas from the realms of fantasy and science fiction. These ideas are then superimposed upon sparsely inhabited areas for testing.
For a while, the enigmatic Actuator cooperates with the experiments, using dampeners to limit the affected area. But those in charge of the project eagerly anticipate exploring the full potential of this amazing device. Experiments progress to where they feed more than twenty different genre ideas simultaneously into the Actuator’s database.
Meanwhile, an unknown saboteur dismantles the dampeners. The effect is catastrophic. The entire world is plunged into chaos, and familiar landscapes become a deadly patchwork of genre horrors. Overnight, the Actuator becomes the worst menace the earth has ever seen, claiming lives in staggering numbers.
Can a few surviving Machine Monks band together to set things right again? It all depends on whether Red McLaren and the Monks can survive their journey through the various realms that separate them from the Actuator, where ever-present orcs, aliens, pirates, and vampires seek to destroy them.
They must move quickly, as time is running out to stop the Actuator and the villain who controls it and the earth’s destiny.
My comments:
The primary author of this series has been publishing for years now and this series is being released by an actual publishing house. So at least decent writing and good editing can be expected. This is one of the very rare 'the real world starts following RPG rules' type. The series seems to be at least half made up of loosely connected stories collected in anthologies. Lengths are decent (200-300 pages) but the price point is rather high (~$8 CAD). I'm not personally wild about anthologies and the high price point doesn't help. Despite this being one of the rare 'real world follows RPG rules' type which I'd like to read more of I'll probably be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Fractured Earth
Book 1.5 - Borderlands Anthology
Book 2 - Return of the Saboteur
Book 3 - Chaos Chronicles
The Rune series by Hugo Huesca
Amazon summary (of first book):
Begin Deep Dive Immersion?
{Yes}
Welcome to Rune Universe. Connecting to the game servers...
Faceless Corporations. Neon lights that hide rampant crime underneath. The year is 2041.
Cole Dorsett is a Script Kiddie, a thief of information with a chip against the system.
Rune Universe is a game with a billion worlds. With great interstellar alliances, unending adventure, spaceships
that dance around black holes.
And it hides a secret the CIA would love to crack. A secret many are willing to kill for.
Inside Rune Universe, Cole will stumble upon real, mortal danger. To avenge a fallen friend, he must risk it all.
And make a decision that will change the face of the world... forever.
My comments:
This is the second book released by the author (the first being a sci fi anthology) and is self-published. Sci fi based. VR. Plot seems reminiscent of Ready Player One. Length is very good (502 pages) and price is good (~$4 CAD). What little I could find on it says it's a bit light on the RPG elements and decent in the plot. Might be worth a look see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rune Universe: A Virtual Reality novel
Dream State Saga series by Christopher Keene
Amazon summary:
After a terrible car accident puts seventeen-year- old Noah Newbolt into a coma, he is hooked up to the innovative Dream Engine—a virtual reality helmet that immerses the player in an online fantasy game. The Dream Engine keeps Noah’s mind alive while doctors frantically work to heal his body, but dying in the game could send Noah back into a coma, forever.
Meanwhile, Noah’s girlfriend, Sue, is suffering injuries from the same car crash, and the doctors grow confused when she seemingly fails to connect to the game. Then Noah encounters a mysterious avatar who suggests the last remnants of Sue’s consciousness are being held prisoner in the most dangerous part of the game.
Noah takes it upon himself to rescue Sue, allying himself with a group of high-level players. But as he rises through the ranks, his high status earns him the ire of top players across the world. Can Noah stay alive—and awake—long enough to save Sue and escape the game?
My comments:
First time author. Being released by an actual publishing house, so good editing can be expected. VR. Russian school. Unclear whether it's sci fi or fantasy based. No reviews so far, only just released. Decent length and decent price. Summary doesn't really grab me and my to read list is growing rather long so no idea if or when I'll get to this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Stuck in the Game
The Dark Herbalist series by Michael Atamanov
Amazon summary (of first book):
Would you be prepared to work for free? How would you like to bust your hump for a large corporation 60-plus hours a week without a wage or a single day off for the vague promise of some mysterious perks in the distant future?
You'd refuse point blank, wouldn't you?
But what if the job in question was playing a state-of-the-art fantasy MMORPG game? And what if this was the only thing you're really good at? Especially considering that your in-game partner is someone really special to you - and this person already lives a virtual life?
Knowing all this, would you consider the mysterious future bonus worth your while? I dare you to try it!
My comments:
This is by the same author as the Perimeter Defense series. Russian author. Being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based. VR. Probably Russian school considering the author, but that's just an educated guess. This was only just released today so no reviews yet. If you liked the Perimeter Defense books and wanted to see the author's take on fantasy then here you go. The Perimeter Defense books are on my to read list, depending on how I like them this might go on there as well. I might even start here since I tend to favor the fantasy based litRPG more than the sci fi based.
Recommended by: heridfel, Kuro_Neko
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Video Game Plotline Tester
Book 2 - Stay on the Wing
Game Break series by G S Hodgson
Amazon summary (of first book):
Welcome to The Land of Waara, a virtual world designed to cater to your every desire. Seek out a comfortable chair to marvel at the sight of two setting suns or revel in bloody battle on the Plains of Deadalon, destroying skeleton warriors with your devastating magic. Whatever your heart desires, Waara will provideeeeeeeeee Error304, Error 6799, Report! Critical Failure! Click here for customer support.
That is unless your name is Hayden and you wake up in a pitch black mine, with no idea how you got there and are thrust into an unimaginable world of pain and heart attack inducing adventures/catastrophes.
“Waara will provide ‘MY ASS’. Can you believe that PR ‘crap’? Come and find out what happened to me and we will see if you still want to play, ‘The Land of Waara,’ ” Hayden griped. “What the hell is that? Get it off me Spike. A little help would be nice.”
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. VR. Reviews say decent story but poor editing. Book has been updated as of two weeks ago and now lists an editor so that may have changed. Good length and good price. Can't really tell you anything more about it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Hayden's Book 1
Kingdom series by Adam Drake
Amazon summary (of first book):
A broken kingdom for a reluctant king.
Robert was content with his life as a night-shift janitor. No stress, no worries, and no responsibilities. But this idyllic existence is turned upside down when he suddenly finds himself trapped inside a fantasy Role Playing Game.
Confused and alone he must find a way to escape back to his own world and, more importantly, to his daughter. But to do that he must take up the biggest responsibility of all:
To rule a kingdom.
My comments:
This author has been putting out books for several years now at a pretty frenetic pace. Author of the previously listed Shadow For Hire series. Self-published. Fantasy based. One of the rarer 'transported into a traditional MMORPG' type. Good length (300 pages), excellent price point ($1.34 CAD). That kind of price point is how you sell books. I've already bought a copy simply because of that alone (though the premise is interesting in its own right). Only came out two weeks ago, no reviews yet.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Level One
Book 2 - Level Two
Game Alive by Trip Ellington
Amazon summary:
Jake And His Friends Must Fight for Survival When His Virtual World Takes On A Mind Of Its Own
In the near future, virtual reality games are indistinguishable from the real world. Players can take on the role of a star quarterback or rule as the king of a virtual kingdom.Thirteen-year-old Jake prefers to spend his free time building Xaloria, a virtual world he created from scratch where he and his two best friends, Des and Kari, spend their afternoons completing quests and collecting treasure.
However, all in Xaloria is not what Jake expected. When Jake discovers that the world he built is growing and changing on its own, he and his friends uncover a secret that could change the world forever…
Join Jake and His Friends As They Journey Into a Fantasy World of NPCs and Intelligent AI!
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for years now though this is his first litRPG. VR. Fantasy based. Good length and good price. I can't find any reviews on it despite it having been out for over three years, which doesn't fill me with hope.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Game Alive
Lore Online series by Trip Ellington
Amazon summary (of first book):
Virtual Reality has never been so real with fantasy game, Lore Online
Rob Salter is a college drop-out with no job prospects in an automated world that has left him behind...Even with a basic income, he can't make ends meet to stay in his tiny apartment. His former roommate and only friend moved to another city for work, leaving him alone. Rob only has an older brother, Brad, who he hasn't heard from in years. Rent is due next week and he has no food...
Games are Rob's passion and he's played them all - all the old screen-based ones, that is - He's never been able to afford a VR Room despite having a neural implant, but he 's a huge fan of the streamers who broadcast their gameplay in Lore Online. They're his heroes.
So when a top-of-the-line Immersion Enhancing Sequencer addressed to him is delivered to his door in an unmarked box with no explanation, he is confused who would send him such an expensive gift, but he sets it up in his room and creates an avatar in Lore Online, a quest-driven dark fantasy RPG played by his favorite streamers. Could this be his opportunity to get ahead by selling the gold and items he receives as rewards for quests to cover his rent?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for many years now and this is his second litRPG after Game Alive. VR. Fantasy based. Length is very short (50 pages) and far too expensive for that length ($4 CAD). This author has made the baffling decision to name both his litRPG books with the same title, no idea what he was thinking there. No reviews. The plot summary seems pretty run of the mill litRPG. At that length and price point no way am I buying this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Game Alive
Digital Shadows series by Ethan Crow
Amazon summary (of first book):
Todd Heller has always tried hard to control his fears. Afraid of a boring life, he escapes to the one place where he and his friends can make a difference. A place where he can fight his fears and pit his survival skills against the best. A place called Digital Shadows.
Digital Shadows is the latest craze in Virtual Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing games. The game is based in a virtual world of horror, mystery, secret societies, monsters and shadowy nightmares.
Todd has dreamed of this game since its first introduction. An avid fan of the horror genre, Todd and his friends take the plunge to explore the dark world and fight the terrors within.
But when a glitch effects Todd's ability to log out, the player soon discovers there is something more then a simple game simulation running. Sinister forces converge on the player, eager to claim him for their dark designs and it is up to Todd and his friends to survive the nights ahead of them.
My comments:
Self-published. Second book published. VR. Horror genre based. Length is ok, price is ok. Reviews are ok. If the horror genre of games is your cup of tea then this might be worth checking out.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Digital Shadows
Book 2 - Witch Town
Warscapia by Garrett Boggs
Amazon summary:
Sparrow wants to be the greatest warrior in all of Warscapia. But he’s not. He’s just a kid with mediocre magic skills.
When he’s asked to team with axe bro Rock and ninja girl Jade, he will have to fight for his life and much more as the crew takes on some of the most brutal and fantastic monsters in the land of Warscapia—a videogame fantasy universe like none other.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. One of the rarer 'fictional world runs on RPG rules' types. Length is pretty short (129 pages) but the price point is good for that length ($1.31 CAD). No reviews and the summary is kinda minimal so I don't know what to really think about this one. I personally like my literature as long as possible so I can really sink my teeth into it. I rarely do stand-alone novels, preferring series, let alone novellas so I'll probably be giving this a pass absent some stellar reviews.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Warscapia
You're in Game! by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Michael Atamanov, Alexey Osadchuk, Pavel Kornev, Andrew Novak
Amazon summary:
This fast-paced collection of novellas and short stories from leading Russian LitRPG authors sheds new light on their signature worlds. New works by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Alexey Osadchuk, Michael Atamanov, Pavel Kornev and Andrew Novak!
Table of Contents:
Vasily Mahanenko. Shamanic Rites. A tale from The Way of the Shaman series
Andrei Livadny. Purgatory. A tale from Phantom Quest and The Neuro series
Michael Atamanov. Throne World. A tale from the Perimeter Defense series
Andrew Novak. The Best Quest. A tale from the new Alterra series
Pavel Kornev. Countdown. A LitRPG short story
Alexey Osadchuk. The Date. A tale from the Mirror World series
Vasily Mahanenko. The Story of a Raid. A tale from the Galactogon series
Expect your favorite heroes to play second fiddle to an array of new main characters; once-minor plot lines to lead you in unexpected directions; familiar story events to take new surprising turns.
Six unique writing styles. Seven meticulously conceived gaming worlds, two of which come from authors new to LitRPG but who are already experts in the craft of genre fiction.
Each story pushes the boundaries of suspense and intrigue. An adventure roller coaster in the new LitRPG anthology You're In Game!
My comments:
This is an anthology from some of the better Russian litRPG authors. You can expect good editing and good translations, and the plots are likely to be solid. However at 150 pages it's rather short, and $5.28 CAD is kinda expensive for that length. I've never been fond of anthologies, though it helps that most of these are set in the authors' existing worlds. I'll likely be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
You're in Game!
Dark Paladin series by Vasily Mahanenko
Amazon summary (of first book):
Is it easy to survive in the game world? You could say yes, if you didn’t know what the additional conditions were. They are unusual: it’s the real world in which you have lived all your life. The enemy, craving to destroy you. Your own class who couldn’t care less about you. Are you still sure that survival is easy? Then welcome to THE GAME! It will prove you wrong.
My Comments:
This only came out two days ago so I don't really have anything to go on other than the author's previous works The Way of the Shaman series and Galactogon series, and heridfel's review which, well his active scorn says it all, but it's in the threadmarks if you want to read it.
Update: I've just finished this. Real life starts following RPG rules type (though the first book is more like a transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type). Fantasy based. Editing and translation were a little rough in places, which is disapointing considering this is being released by an actual publishing house with experience in this sort of thing. But that said, neither of those problems were bad enough to get in the way of enjoying the story, and enjoy it I did. I read it all in one sitting and will be buying the next book as soon as it comes out.
Recommended by: Kuro_Neko
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - The Beginning
Lion's Quest series by Michael-Scott Earle
Amazon summary (of first book):
Leo "The Lion" Lennox is the 10 year world champion of Astafar Unlimited, the best virtual reality game of all time. However, Leo has become bored with his success, and wonders where his next challenge will lie.
Then he meets the mysterious Zarra, and she tempts the champ to try her cutting edge game. Leo soon discovers a virtual world that is beyond fantastic. Can he resist the lure of this amazing game and the beautiful woman that has asked him to quest on her behalf?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing for a couple of years now but this is his first entry into the litRPG genre. VR. Fantasy based. Probably Russian school, but that's just an educated guess. Several of his amazon entries claim he's a New York Times Best Seller. I was not able to confirm this at all, and I somehow doubt someone who apparently made it onto the New York Times Best Seller list would still be self-publishing, so that seems like a false claim to inflate his ego and/or justify the high prices of his books which are ~$10 CAD each. That's way too high in my opinion, though I'll admit that his books do have a very good page length at ~700 pages. Reviews for the first book are generally positive even if they say it spends a lot of time outside of the game for a litRPG book. Reviews of his other works tend to also be generally positive though there are mentions of some of his writing being a little uneven. The ego stroking lie plus the high price point means I'm unlikely to bother with this series.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Undefeated
Book 2 - Dual Wield
Book 3 - Trinity
Secret of the Old Ones series by Blaise Corvin
Amazon summary (of first book):
Secret of the Old Ones is a deep dive VR game the likes of which the world had never seen.
Trent Noguero, a hardcore gamer, has been playing for a year and is about to get his big break. He is about to catapult himself into the ranks of the most powerful players in the world.
However, power comes with a price, and celebrity creates enemies. Trent has the keys to massive success, but he also accidentally painted a target on his back…both in, and out of the game.
My Comments:
Self-published author. Previously wrote Delvers LLC: Welcome to Ludus. VR. Fantasy based. Seems like Russian school, but that's just an educated guess. Price point is ok at $4 CAD but the page length is on the short side at 153 pages. I'd be more open to it if it was at least a dollar cheaper for that length. Reviews for both this and Delvers LLC are very positive. If you liked Delvers LLC or if the (minimal) Amazon summary caught your eye then it might be worth giving a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Luck Stat Strategy
Eden's Gate series by Edward Brody
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Gunnar Long is transported into the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he finds himself in a new world filled with magic, mystery and adventure.
No more 9-to-5 job. No more studio apartment. No more reality TV.
Finally, he's in a place where he can call home, a place with people he can call friends.
But as more people want to trade their real world lives to get inside Eden's Gate, the government of the outside world wants the "game" shut down at all costs.
Gunnar must learn to survive, grow in power and find a way to send a message back to his old home.
"We're fine. We're alive. Eden's Gate is real."
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR. Fantasy based. No idea as to school. Page length is good, though the price is a bit high for a first time self-published author. Premise looks ok. Only came out a week ago so no reviews other than jacobk's (which you can find in the threadmarks here) but his active rec says a lot. This is going on my to be read list.
Update: Finished the first book in this. It was quite enjoyable. I liked the first half more than the second half and neither of them enough to give an active rec, but I'll be buying the next book when it comes out.
Recommended by: jacobk
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Reborn
Book 2 - The Sparrow
World of Ruul series by J.A. Cipriano
Amazon summary (of first book):
Aaron Hope plays video games, like a lot, just not professionally. When he entered the EpiX! Games! PVP World Championship on a lark, this college senior never expected to make it to the final round, nor to get drugged and shoved into the alpha test for World of Ruul.
The premise for this virtual reality MMO is simple. Find all eight treasures scattered throughout the world before the maelstrom’s forces devour everything in sight. The only catch? You can’t log off, and if you die… well, let’s just say what happens in the game doesn’t stay in the game.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books a pretty high pace for several years now. This is VR and Fantasy based, no indications on school. Page count is good (350), but the price is rather high ($7 CAD). Premise is pretty standard. Reviews are generally positive on both editing and story. The higher price tag will probably keep this off my to be read list for a while.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Soulstone: Awakening
Book 2 - Soulstone: The Skeleton King
Emerilia series by Michael Chatfield
Amazon summary (of first book):
Austin Zane leaves behind his CEO position with RB Corp to play Dave, a half-dwarf in the Virtual reality game Emerilia, trying to escape his life.
What Dave doesn’t know is that Earth as he knows it, is really a virtual reality simulation and Emerilia is a world imbued with futuristic technologies to mimic early MMORPG’s.
He just wanted peace and quiet, to build a house, do some fishing, to take some time to find himself once again. What he found out instead was a cause, he found out the biggest lie of his life. He found out the truth about Emerilia and the lies of Earth.
What's the best way to control slaves? Make them think that they're free.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing for about a year now at an incredible pace, thirteen books so far, though this is the first litRPG. This is Fantasy based and sorta VR. Page counts for the two books out so far are good, the price for the first book is reasonable but the second's price jumps up. Reviews are generally positive. Despite the price shenanigans I might have to give this a look-see just on the strength of that unique premise. In case you skipped the amazon summary, in this series Earth is actually VR, unbeknownst to its inhabitants, and the game world is actually a real world enhanced with very advanced technology to make it work like a modern MMORPG. The idea being to make people so bored with their lives on Earth that they'll work hard in the game (which is actually real) to the benefit of their unknown alien masters. I've never seen anything like that in litRPG so far and I'm curious where the author is going to go with it.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: Grist
Book 1 - The Trapped Mind Project
Book 2 - Benvari Mountains
Book 3 - For The Guild
Book 4 - New Horizons
Book 5 - This is Our Land
Book 6 - Stone Raiders' Return
Ancient Dreams series by Benjamin Medrano
Amazon summary (of first book):
istina awakened after millennia of dormancy, her memories in tatters and born anew. Residing in the ruins of an ancient city, she finds herself drawn into a war between two elven nations and the slaver kingdom of Kelvanis when she rescues a princess from slavery. With her domain containing hints of forgotten knowledge, Sistina becomes a dungeon, stronghold, and source of hope all at once. And perhaps, just perhaps, she could finally find love in her new life.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based. Fictional world running on RPG rules type. Good page length and price. Reviews are very favorable. May be a little light on RPG elements. Similar in premise to the Divine Dungeon series with the protagonist as the heart of a dungeon.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Ancient Ruins
The Feedback Loop series by Harmon Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Quantum Hughes is the type of guy who doesn't back down from a fight.
Trapped in an online VR world with a limitless inventory list, Quantum lives his days on repeat, fighting the same killer NPCs and hashing out the same gritty story lines again and again.
Then he receives a message from an actual human player, his first message from a real person in two years, which sparks an epic adventure across multiple online fantasy worlds.
But everything isn’t fun and games for Quantum Hughes.
Suddenly he’s being hunted by a murder guild known as the Reapers; suddenly he’s no longer the toughest guy on the block; suddenly, his real world body is no longer safe.
My Comments:
This author has been self-publishing for a few years now. This is his first litRPG. VR. Sci Fi based. Both page lengths and prices are reasonable. A bit more cyberpunk a bit less litRPG. Involves a groundhog day style loop. Reviews are positive. I might check this out at some point.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Feedback Loop
Book 2 - Steampunk is Dead
Book 3 - High Fantasy
Book 4 - Reapers and Repercussions
Book 5 - The Mechanical Heart
Book 6 - Cyber Noir Redux
Book 1-3 - The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set)
Sucked into an RPG series by Dee J. Stone
Amazon summary (of first book):
Critics call it “The most immersive open world fantasy RPG the world has ever seen. Players feel like they are actually in the game.” Little did fifteen-year-old Jamie know how literal that statement is.
In the middle of attacking a difficult boss, Jamie gets sucked into the game. It’s not long before he learns there’s no way back home and that the only people around him are NPCs. He spends his days completing quests, hoping one will lead him back to reality. But the days go on and he wonders if he will ever see his family and best friend again.
Then he meets her—another player. She got sucked into the game months ago and has been stuck there ever since. Together, they embark on the journey back to Earth. But is there a way out of this fantasy world or are they doomed to live there forever?
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for four years now, mostly romance novels, with some young adult superhero works mixed in. Fantasy based. One of the rarer transported into a traditional MMORPG types. School unknown, summary implies it might be going its own way in that regard. Length is decent, price is a little on the high side. I couldn't find a single review for any of the author's books except for one on this book which was not positive. I'll probably be giving this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Sucked into an RPG
Book 2 - Stuck in an RPG
The Nine Circles series by P. Joseph Cherubino and Amy Hopkins
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the MMORPG Realm of the Nine Circles, things are not as they should be. NPC behavior is a little too realistic, and the game's ultimate bad guy, Lord Mylos, is acting weird and killing heaps of players just for fun.
Dante is an entry-level game developer for Plexcorp, the company that owns and runs the game. He knows the secret to the strangeness lies near. Will the answers be in the cavernous depths of the Plexcorp building, owned by the man who created the game? Or is the answer deep within the Nine Circles itself? One thing is certain: asking questions might get him killed.
To figure it all out, Dante must lead a band of adventurers into a virtual reality world where he has to play the game to save not only his own life but the entire Realm itself.
My Comments:
This author has been self-publishing for awhile though this is the first litRPG. VR and fantasy based. Reasonable length and reasonable price. Reviews are generally favorable but point to weaknesses in the RPG side of things as well as a lot of the story playing out in the real world. Characterization has also been mentioned as a possible issue. Personally I don't care about the real world conflicts a lot of litRPG put in their books so the fact that a lot of this story happens in the real world immediately puts me off; I'll be passing on this. But if the summary looks good to you I wouldn't actively discourage purchase.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Realm of the Nine Circles
Press X to Loot series by Gregg Horlock
Amazon summary (of first book):
A revolutionary game called Pana Reborn. An escape from reality, a place of plentiful loot and dark powers, drawing would-be heroes from across the world.
After his brother's accident, Chris is holding the family together. When he runs into money troubles, he finds an answer in an unlikely place.
It's a land of adventure, fighting, spells, and skills. Most importantly, somewhere fortunes can be made. Chris is going to the new island of Artemis, but it won't be simple. The developers have created Artemis with the toughest of adventurers in mind, and nobody knows what happens there at night....
He chooses a less-popular class: scout. If he's to survive, he'll need to learn new powers, battle monsters, forge alliances, and most of all, discover how to master the game. Chris will need his wits and his courage if he's to beat the game and become the Scout of Artemis.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Difficulty: Legendary series. Fantasy based and VR. Decent page length and very good price. Reviews are generally negative though, mostly quoting a very weak story. Even with the low price I'm probably passing on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Scout of Artemis
Tower of Gates series by Paul Bellow
Amazon summary (of first book):
Ever dream of being trapped in a virtual reality video game?
Craving ONE MORE QUEST?
Read on, adventurer!
Sarah, Eric and Josh secretly log onto the new Tower of Gates VRMMORPG and stumble on a world unlike any they have seen before. Swords, sorcery, and intrigue abound. While not planning on staying in the unreleased game long, life happens.
They soon learn the stakes are even higher than they imagined. To survive, they will need all their strength, courage, and wisdom, not to mention help from friendly NPCs, magic items, and everything else uncovered as they delve deeper into the game.
One more level becomes a matter of life and death.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's first litRPG novel, and only second novel period. Fantasy based and VR. Page length is very good but the price tag is on the high side. Reviews are mostly negative, referencing poor plotting and inconsistent characterization. I'm gonna pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Goblin
Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev
Amazon summary (of first book):
The future is already here, and Harry has been given a chance to experience it first-hand. He, of all people, knows that VR can become larger than life—and a computer game can be More Than a Game.
Being a society columnist means mixing with all elements of humanity—except that now, Harriton Nikiforov (a.k.a. Hagen the Warrior) is busy updating his day planner with the names of elves, orcs, goblins, and other out-of-this-world MMORPG characters. Instead of free champagne, this time around, he is given unlimited playtime in Fayroll, a virtual reality game.
He is also given explicit orders to write a series of fluff pieces on the game and its developers. He grudgingly accepts the assignment, but soon finds himself enthralled by the virtual fantasy world and its amazing quests, unpredictable challenges, and nearly endless possibilities. Will he still dare to claim that…it's all just a game? And will his real life ever be the same again?
My comments:
Russian author. Actual publishing house with a professional translator, and editor. First book by this author released in English. Fantasy based and VR. Page length is good but price is way too high. While the premise looks interesting the reviews almost universally agree the best descriptor for this book is mediocre; mediocre writing, mediocre editing, mediocre translation. If the price of this was one third what it actually is I might have taken a look, but as it stands now it's a definite pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - More Than a Game
Book 2 - The Road East
Questing by Kieron Uchee
Amazon summary:
A LIRTRPG novel that has the protagonist Anon making his way through a new virtual game world, There are no gold farmers, no alts and no overpriced economy, at least not yet. Anon is not in a hurry to level but is content to enjoy the game and explore the new world at his own pace. But like all new games, there are bugs and problems. As he quests and explores he also begins to change. Is he changing the game, or is the game changing him.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Ingame series. Fantasy based and VR. page length is very short (this is listed as a novella) and the price is a little on the high side for its length. Reviews are generally positive but mention that it could use a bit more polish and that it cuts off very abruptly. I'm not really fond of stand-alone novels, let alone novellas. That plus the price means I'm passing on this one.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Questing
Nagant Wars series by Jayden Hunter
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Rhith Corp releases Nagant Wars, its latest VR-MMO, Dale Brown cannot wait to put on his Rhith-Suit and experience the most vivid, full-immersion world ever created.
With pleasure and pain set to mimic reality, Dale must navigate the dangers of war, face his personal failings, and learn who his friends truly are.
Set on the planet Almaach, the swords and sorcery aspect of the game is starkly contrasted to the potential dystopian nature of Dale's real life, which in 2040, contains the ever-increasing chance of global disaster.
My comments:
This is this author's third book. It's being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based and VR. The length is excellent and the price is reasonable for that length. This is a second edition of a series that was released last year then withdrawn when the author didn't feel it was the best it could be. In a bit of a twist, the game is used in place of real war, with the military conscripting players. Reviews are generally positive with the occasional comments about chaotic story flow. This might have to go on to my to be read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Pawn's Dilemma
The Neuro series by Andrei Livadny
Amazon summary (of first book):
Alex is one of us. An office rat during daytime, he spends sleepless nights playing his favorite MMO game: a familiar, predictable world which is about to collapse. A new virtual universe arrives to replace it, aggressively devouring all others: the Crystal Sphere.
Alex gets involved in testing new technologies which promise to revolutionize gaming. Fitted out with a neuroimplant which provides a 100% authenticity of experience, he has to survive in the Crystal Sphere against all odds. What is he turning into? Will he become yet another expendable test subject - or the first player to transcend reality?
My comments:
This is by the same author as the Phantom Server series and is set in the same universe as that series. Fantasy based and VR. Very good page count, price is a little high. This is a Russian author but has an actual publishing house behind it, and going by the author's previous work you can assume good editing and translation. Reviews are generally favorable so far (this only came out four days ago). The previous series by this author left a very sour taste for me so I will be giving this a pass absent some very positive reviews from others in this thread.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Crystal Sphere
Travail Online series by Brian Simons
Amazon summary (of first book):
When an overpowered NPC goes off the rails and starts killing players — even in safe zones — Coral, Daniel, and their friends accept an impossible quest: Stop him. At all costs.
Coral joined the immersive MMORPG Travail Online because her waitressing job, like so many other jobs, was automated by a growing robot workforce. She starts the role-playing video game as a Seamstress, hoping to craft useful clothing in-game to sell for real life cash. The game, however, has other ideas. What starts off as job replacement quickly launches an adventure of epic proportions through a virtual reality world filled with magic, intrigue, and betrayal.
Daniel has played for longer, but the game changes him to a new class that doesn’t actually seem to exist. How can he maximize his skills when his class is completely uncharted? How can he avoid dying at the hands of a madman and losing all of his inventory and gold? Can he, Coral, and their friends stop the murderous NPC before Travail comes crashing down, taking the world economy with it?
My comments:
Self-published, first time author. Fantasy based, VR. Length and price are decent. Female protagonist. Reviews are very meh, in particular mentioning poor game design. While female protagonists are rare and I usually try them for that reason, I'll be giving this one a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Soulkeeper
Book 2 - Resurrection
BladeDust Online series by Corey Thompson
Amazon summary (of first book):
When Cody signs up for the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he is amazed at how real the game world is. Unable to pay rent, Cody and his best friend join BladeDust Online as a job replacement. But, they quickly realize it is much more than just a job. It's a world full of magic, mystery and adventure.
In a world where you can be anything, Cody decides to be everything. But, Cody soon finds out all is not right in BladeDust Online. A glitch has trapped the players in the game, and something dark is going on behind the scenes. Cody must grow and become more powerful in this unforgiving game world. Who can he trust? How powerful can he become? And will he ever find love? Only time will tell. Enjoy this LitRPG Adventure.
Welcome To BladeDust Online!
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for a few years now, with several books already released. Fantasy based and VR. Length is good, price is a little high. Reviews are generally negative, with most mentioning that they only made it about a third of the way into the book before they gave up in boredom. I think this is pretty solidly a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - BladeDust Online
Tactical Phantasia series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
Drawn forth from Earth by forces most bodacious, a young man must learn to fight for survival against ridiculous opponents while navigating a bizarre landscape of gaming tropes, JRPG oddness, and epic boobery.
Can a normal man from Earth survive the machinations of those who summoned him, and find his place in the world? Only time will tell...
This story is part of an ongoing multiversal project known as Project Scott. It features a main protagonist with a similar name in each story, Scott, and is part of a vast tapestry of stories that intersect and intertwine in the strangest of ways.
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Origin A.R.S. series. This is one of the rarer transported to a world with RPG rules type. And even rarer the RPG rules appear to be turn-based. Length is very short, but price is also very low. Reviews are generally positive but imply that the story may be pretty juvenile. Probably a pass for me, even though the turn-based aspect is interesting.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Episode 1
The Greenwood series by Galen Wolf
Amazon summary (of first book):
Who I am in real life doesn't matter; who I am in the game is what counts.
Before it happened, I bumbled my way through the virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game "The Greenwood," made crap builds and wasted my time.
Then I got murdered. A shadowy figure took my hard-accumulated possessions and left me to die. I admit, I did a rage quit and deleted my character.
Then I wondered what kind of person that rage quit made me? Maybe I was a quitter? And maybe I really was someone who would let a bully get away with disrespecting me?
But then again, no: I respected myself too much for that. I rolled a new character, I vowed to get good and re-entered The Greenwood.
I took on the name Barcud and the profession of ranger. I vowed to rise through the levels, hone my skills, hunt down the shadowy figure, and grind his face in the dirt.
This is my story.
My comments:
This is the author's fifth book though first litRPG. Actual publishing house releasing it. Fantasy based and VR. Length is decent and price is very good. Reviews pretty consistently say good game design but poor story-telling and very unlikable protagonist. I'm getting Level Zero flashbacks -- pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Player in the Greenwood
Book 2 - Plague in the Greenwood
Book 3 - War in the Greenwood
Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen
Amazon summary (of first book):
Seamus is facing life in prison without parole. While doing his time he's given an option by the Department of Justice and the biggest virtual game maker around, Mindblown Entertainment. If he will help them test long term immersion he will get the chance to play the latest game from Mindblown, Alpha World. All he has to do is sign away his legal rights and sign an NDA.
Now exploring Alpha World, Seamus becomes the Summoner Alburet. Follow Alburet on his journey of exploration and questing in the latest game to hit the market. He will summon demons, befriend players and NPCs alike all while trying to find a little happiness in his life.
He's the first gamer to be sentenced to life imprisonment in a virtual world. What could go wrong?
(This book contains some adult themes, this was suggested by a few readers and I listen to those who have enjoyed my work.)
My comments:
Self-published. Same author as the Last Horizon series. Fantasy based and VR, seems like Korean school. Length is very good, price is a little high. Reviews are generally positive. Might be worth a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Gamer for Life
Death Portal Online by Clay Rankin
Amazon summary:
Blake Blaster is in for the ride of his life when he (underhandedly?) secures a spot in a virtual reality contest.
Death Portal Online is a madcap romp through a virtual reality video game fantasy land. Blake isn’t particularly smart or that good at games, but he does have one thing going for him: he’s not afraid to kill everything that moves. Fast-paced and none too serious, his journey through the MMORPG’s dark fantasy world is full of humor and surprises.
Is Blake a couch potato with nothing left to lose, a reprehensible hack turning the game world inside out, or a lovable slob who just wants to be a better man? Click “buy now” to start reading and decide for yourself!
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. Fantasy based and VR. Length is short and price is too high for that length. Reviews are generally negative. Probably a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Death Portal Online
Caverns and Creatures series by Robert Bevan
Amazon summary (of first book):
What if you and your friends got to live the game for real? What if you and your friends were assholes?
After relentlessly mocking their strange new Game Master, Tim and his friends find themselves trapped in the bodies of their fantasy game characters, in a world where the swords, the magic, and the gastrointestinal issues are all too real.
They learn hard lessons about tolerance and teamwork, and a new meaning for the term “dump stat”. Ha ha. Just kidding. They don't learn shit.
Never before have comedy and fantasy come together so much like a train wreck, in which each train was carrying a shipment of burning dumpsters. You just can't help but continue to stare.
My comments:
This author has been writing a for a good while now, mostly this series, but also a couple of others. Self-published. A transported to a fictional world running on rpg rules type. Fantasy based. Doesn't seem like it's taking itself too seriously. Reviews are very positive. Page length is decent but the prices, other than the first book, are on the high side. The short stories are so expensive for their length that in my opinion they're not worth bothering with unless you have Kindle Unlimited and can read them for free, even in omibus form. I'll probably pick up the first one (since it's cheap) and go from there. Though honestly it doesn't really seem like my cup of tea, I tend to prefer more serious stories.
Recommended by: jacobk, Grist
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Critical Failures
Book 2 - Critical Failures II
Book 3 - Critical Failures III
Book 4 - Critical Failures IV
Book 5 - Critical Failures V
Caverns and Creatures: Volume I (Books 1 - 4)
Self-contained short stories
Cave of the Kobolds
Zombie Attack!!!
Orcs, Bears, and Assholes
Shipfaced
Dungeon Crawl
The Creep on the Borderlands
Nymph-O-Maniacs
Buzzkill
Cooper's Christmas Carol
Sticky White Mess: A Love Story
Clerical Error
Cornholed
House of Madness
Naga Please
Elf Inflicted
The Land Before Tim
A Fistful of Gold Pieces
The Minotard
B.Oar Guests
Djinngle Bells
Genital Harpies
The Unwashed Asses
Probing the Annis
Wight Trash
Potty Mouth
Short story omibuses
D6
2D6
3D6
4D6
Destined Realms series by Kellee L. Greene
Amazon summary (of first book):
I wasn't the girl that cowered in the back waiting for her knight in shining armor, I was the girl that wore the armor.
Joely Quinn woke up in a strange room, and she couldn't remember how she'd gotten there. In fact, she couldn't remember much of anything at all.
When she strikes out in search of answers, she's thrust into a fantasy world filled with swords, sorcery, and enemies that want to kill her just because they can. Joely must not only quest to find the answers she seeks, but she must also survive in this world of untold dangers.
With the help of others like her, will Joely and her new friends be able to survive the fantasy world they are trapped inside of? Or will they be destined to stay there forever?
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for about a year, has a half dozen or so other books out but this is the first litRPG. Transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. No page count listed and price is rather high. Reviews are mixed, some loved it, some were bored with it. A pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Destined
The Weirdest Noob series by Arthur Stone
Amazon summary (of first book):
Something quite odd is happening in Second World—the planet’s foremost MMORPG. Something that’s causing alliances to be broken, and friendships, forgotten. A worthless low-level mine becomes the stage of vicious battles, its burned ruins suddenly contested by the game’s toughest clans. Every border is controlled, and every road in the province blocked off. The weak players and NPCs alike are subjected to non-stop violent raids courtesy of Eastern invaders. And the strong… The strong are scouring the virtual world for the culprit—the weirdest noob the game has ever seen.
My comments:
Self-published. Russian author. Both translator and editor listed in credits. First book (in english anyway). VR type. Fantasy based. No page count listed. Price is reasonable. Reviews are very positive. I'm definitely going to be trying this one.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Weirdest Noob
World of Ga'em series by Dhayaa Anbajagane
Amazon summary (of first book):
Do you fear the darkness?
Do you fear the pain and terror within?
It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t mean to look for things I wasn’t supposed to. I didn’t mean for death to come after me. I really didn’t.
But it still happened.
I’m Zoran and my name is the only thing I remember about myself; not why I woke up in a forest, not why I taste blood in my mouth, and certainly not why I see weird screens in front of me. Ever since I first woke, all I wanted to do was find out who I really was. But what I didn’t expect, was for my search to spark something that was never meant to happen.
It has started now. I can see it. Cities will burn and towers will fall. Chaos will descend the heavens and ravage the earth. The darkness is coming, and the world will tremble in its wake.
My comments:
Self-published. Author has been writing for about a year now with several other titles out, but this is the first litRPG. Transported to a fictional world with RPG rules type. Russian style. Fantasy based. Page length is decent, price is a little on the high side. Reviews are mixed, citing poor characterization and uneven pacing. I'm probably going to pass on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Awakening
Book 2 - The Eternal: Dragonborn
The Goblin's Shadow series by Kyle Vauss
Amazon summary (of first book):
After his fiance deserted him and took his dog, Tom spends his days at the office and his evenings in Infarna Omega, a full-immersion fantasy game. He makes a side-living levelling up and selling characters to order.
When he gets an order for a Shadow Walker, a class he’s never played before, it seems strange. Things get even stranger when, just as he’s about to kill a goblin NPC, it talks.
Tom and Gabber the goblin embark on a quest to get Gabber to safety. They're pursued by Crawford, a creature hunter with an immense knowledge of the game and resources to match. He’ll never give up, never stop, and Tom must use his courage, skills and ingenuity to outwit him.
This starts an epic quest of swords, magic, and monsters, while an unlikely friendship develops. Tom can’t let the hunter catch Gabber. Unlike the players, if the goblin dies, he won’t respawn.
My comments:
Self-published. First time author. VR and fantasy based. No page length given, reasonable price. Reviews are generally positive. Premise looks interesting, I think I'll pick this one up.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Goblin's Shadow
Armchair Safari by Jonathan Paul Isaacs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Would you still play an online game if you knew the monsters were real?
Lots of students work to put themselves through college, but Megan Evans' job is far from typical. Every night she logs into the world of Armchair Safari, an online fantasy game where players upload and compete for real money. It's grinder work. So when Megan gets the chance to join some friendly adventurers on a quest for a massive jackpot, she hopes she's found a way to free herself from the crushing debt of bills and tuition.
But as Megan is soon to find out, not everyone in her party is who they say they are. And the sinister nature of the treasure they're after could put her in danger that is anything but virtual.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's third book and first litRPG. VR. Fantasy based. Female protagonist. Page length is very good, price is a bit high. Reviews are generally positive. Looks promising but I'm not usually into stand-alone novels.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Armchair Safari
Soul Linked series by Mitchell T. Jacobs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Elle Kirkland wakes up to find herself trapped in a strange new world alongside a hundred-thousand others, with no memory of how she got there. Dumped into an isolated valley with few resources at their disposal, the newcomers must quickly find a way to survive this harsh new reality that mimics so many games they have played before.
But survival is not the only thing that will confront them. The world they have come to is old, with a long history. All manner of dark secrets may be hidden away, waiting to be discovered...
My comments:
Same author as the World at War series. Actual publishing house. Transported to a world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. Female protagonist. Page length is good but price is high. Reviews are mixed. If this was cheaper I'd probably check it out, but not at that price.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Origin
Arcadia series by Alyssa Archer
Amazon summary (of first book):
As a code monkey for Goliath Corp., Trent Webb feels like a cog in the machine. He wants nothing more than to visit the newly discovered magical continent of Arcadia. But the price is too steep for mere mortals like him, so Trent settles for the next best thing … Arcadia VR.
The virtual reality vacation outfitters at VR World have a package that provides an MMORPG experience in Arcadia—complete with elves, mythical creatures like griffins and unicorns, and lads and lasses in distress—in short, everything Trent needs to become the hero he yearns to be.
However, once he’s in the game, Trent discovers a much larger quest, one that may actually affect the real world as he knows it. Total Recall meets World of Warcraft in this fun LitRPG adventure.
Arcadia Unlocked is the first book in the Arcadia LitRPG series.
My comments:
Self-published. This is the author's third book. VR. Fantasy based. No page length listed and the price is quite high. Reviews are favorable. Feedback is this is a fantasy version of the plot to Total Recall, with a chunk of standard litRPG shoved in the middle. Personally it doesn't appeal.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Arcadia Unlocked
Valhalla Online series by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Amazon summary (of first book):
More than just a game, Valhalla Online was designed as a permanent repository for the uploaded minds of mortals afraid of death. An artificial afterlife.
Samantha’s world is turned upside-down when she arrives in Valhalla - because as far as she knows, she isn’t like the other people uploaded there.
She isn’t dead. At least...she hopes she isn’t.
Now Sam must solve the mystery of her own abduction - or murder! - while trapped inside a virtual world, cut off from communication with the outside. To do this she must do more than simply survive Valhalla - she needs to win the game!
My comments:
This author has been writing for about five years now and has a dozen or so books out, this is the first litRPG. This is being released by an actual publishing house. VR and fantasy based. Female protagonist. No page length given, price is reasonable. Reviews are positive. I'm not generally a fan of the Viking setting, but the positive reviews and the rare female protagonist means I'll be giving this a try.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Valhalla Online
Book 2 - Raiding Jotunheim
Spells, Swords, & Stealth series by Drew Hayes
Amazon summary (of first book):
What happens when the haggling is done and the shops are closed? When the quest has been given, the steeds saddled, and the adventurers are off to their next encounter? They keep the world running, the food cooked, and the horses shoed, yet what adventurer has ever spared a thought or concern for the Non-Player Characters?
In the town of Maplebark, four such NPCs settle in for a night of actively ignoring the adventurers drinking in the tavern when things go quickly and fatally awry. Once the dust settles, these four find themselves faced with an impossible choice: pretend to be adventurers undertaking a task of near-certain death or see their town and loved ones destroyed. Armed only with salvaged equipment, second-hand knowledge, and a secret that could get them killed, it will take all manner of miracles if they hope to pull off their charade.
And even if they succeed, the deadliest part of their journey may well be what awaits them at its end.
My comments:
This author has been writing for a few years now and has a lot of books under his belt. This is also being published by an actual publishing house. Fantasy based. Good length and reasonable price. Reviews are mixed. Despite the recomendation of heridfel I'll probably be passing on this, the premise just doesn't grab me.
Recommended by: heridfel
Scorned by:
Book 1 - NPCs
Book 2 - Split the Party
Book 3 - Going Rogue
Dominion of Blades by Matt Dinniman
Amazon summary:
For over thirty years, Dominion of Blades has been the hottest online role-playing game in the world. Any gamer with an immersion rig can enter the world of sword and sorcery, of goblins and dragons, and they can hack and slash their way to glory. But the game is too real for some, and after an epidemic of real-life fatalities, public use of the immersion technology has been banned, causing the game to be shut down.
Jonah wakes to find himself in-game, level one, with no memory of how he arrived and no way to eject. With only two companions, trapped in a world that once hosted millions, Jonah must battle his way across a treacherous landscape, fighting virtual monsters, all-too-real pain, and a very human enemy in a desperate bid to survive.
My comments:
This author has been writing for about a decade and has four books to his name, this being the first litRPG. Being published by an actual publishing house. VR and Fantasy based. Very good length and good price. Reviews are positive and indicate a twist the summary doesn't, that the people trapped in the game are in randomized avatars (including gender) which could be interesting. I may have to give this a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Dominion of Blades
Fjorgyn series by RJ Castiglione
Amazon summary (of first book):
Michael was proud of his life and his accomplishments. During the day he was Michael Semione. He worked, spent time with his family, and did everything young professionals were meant to do. At night, he became Creighton Dian-Cecht, a druid healer in Fjorgyn Online. He was head of a company of crafters and adventurers known throughout the game.
Things changed, however, when Michael was killed in real life while playing the game. He was reincarnated in a world based on Fjorgyn a level one, alone and naked in the woods. When he played the game, all he wanted to do was craft and heal. Follow his new life and his new adventures and challenges. See how he reconciles his desire to only heal in this dangerous, new world.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. One of the rarer transported to a traditional RPG world type. Fantasy based. Length is short and the price is somewhat high for that length. Strong LBGTI elements (the protagonist is at least gay and might be trans). Reviews say decent but could have been better. Considering the length, price, and mediocre reviews I'll probably be passing on this.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - A Rebel Rises
Spectres & Skin series by RJ Creed
Amazon summary (of first book):
Imagine the look on everyone's faces when I tell them that I'm not the intended chosen one -- that the gods would never have picked a loser or an outsider like me -- I just happened to apply the right cheat code at the right time. And now I have to save the world.
When the biggest game developers on a dying Earth create their latest VRMMORPG, it takes on a life of its own. Impossible to control, and even harder to predict, the game world in Spectres & Skin is officially classed as a parallel universe, and people clamor to escape the horrors of overpopulation and pollution by moving over.
Recent graduate Matthew Blake is down on his luck. A climbing accident has robbed him of the use of his legs, his best friend is better than him in every way, and he just cannot find a job. VR is his only escape from a life he can't stand. When he is invited to peek into the exclusive new game world, he can't resist. Is his luck about to change?
No. No it isn't.
S&S: Exodus is a LitRPG novel, meaning it is extensively inspired by gaming mechanics and includes a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ calculations. It contains scenes of a graphic nature, permadeath, a really judgmental user interface, and a prophecy hat warns of the destruction of both universes — and that's just week one.
This is not a book about a superhero, or even a true hero at all. It's the story of the first step a perpetual sidekick takes on his long path towards Champion; a path he perhaps doesn't feel he deserves. Though he does progress, and take on challenges, the first step is always the hardest on a long journey. If you're looking for a story about an overpowered killing machine from page one, you've got the wrong book!
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR and Fantasy based. Length is very good but price is a bit high. Reviews range from mediocre to good. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Exodus
Galactic Fist of Legend series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
In the year 2018 a bright star appeared near Earth. Humanity as a whole was briefly introduced to a race of beings far beyond their understanding. During that brief interaction a proclamation was made, Defeat the Grand Emissary or become the eternal slaves of those who had arrived at Earth.
The only chance for victory was for people all across the globe to make a choice. When prompted to become a champion and a play a bizarre game of life or death they could choose yes or no. Those who chose no, went about their lives afterward. All memory of the event was lost despite the fact that their very existence as a free species hung by a single thread.
Will those who said yes manage to survive the horror of the game and become strong enough to defeat the Grand Emissary. Can one of them become... The Galactic Fist of Legend.
Also, it's a comedy with significant parody elements. Pretty obvious, right?
This litrpg story takes place in a setting that involves hopping between worlds. One moment the protagonist is fighting zombies, and the next he is facing down platform hopping challenges in a world where a single misstep could send him plummeting down through what appears to be an endless sky. Part of a multiverse project known as Project Scott, it features a main protagonist who's name is similar across multiple books but who is not the exact same character each time. It is a labor of love, and of goofy humor. Other stories in the project include Freelance Saga, Galataea Crystallim, and Origin ARS.
My comments:
This author has been writing litRPG for awhile now, being the author of the Origin A.R.S. series and the Tactical Phantasia series. Self-published. Both length and price are decent. Story is a comedy and involves the protagonist jumping through a bunch of different game types. This Project Scott thing sounds very much like self-insert fanfiction which I have rarely liked. Reviews are generally positive. My dislike of self-inserts plus not being a fan of comedies means this is a definite pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Book 2 - Volume 2
100 Luck and the Dragon Tamer Skill! series by Cristian Madalin Dragomir
Amazon summary (of first book):
An ominous message puts everyone on Earth into a state of panic, and not long afterwards millions are kidnapped from their homes by a God-like entity. After being gifted with powers and abilities beyond their wildest dreams, they were left to fend for themselves in a strange and dangerous new world.
Unlike the others, Alkelios Yatagai is one of the few who find themselves alone and separated from everyone else. With only a ridiculous amount of Luck and a unique skill to help him survive, he travels through a land teeming with dangerous monsters and... dragons.
My comments:
This is the author's eighth book and first litRPG. Self-published. Transported to an original fiction world running RPG rules type. Fantasy based. Length is decent, price is a little high. Reviews are average to good. Might be worth a look-see, but I'm probably going to pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Dragons can be cute too!
Virtual War series by Steven J. Shelley
Amazon Summary (of first book):
Humans have been at war with the Irians for twelve years.
With heavy casualties and depleted resources on both sides, opposing military leaders come up with a novel solution.
It is agreed that the newly-discovered Alpha Centauri system will be fought virtually, inside a dynamic role-playing game.
Using cutting-edge Immersion technology, human and Irian engineers unite to design the game. The rules are simple: two armies of 100 pixel runners will compete for each of the three habitable planets in the Alpha Centauri system.
The species with the most victories will be permitted to colonize the system for real, putting them in a strong position to win the war.
For Major John Talbot, chosen leader of the human virtual army, the chance to play such an amazingly detailed game is a dream come true.
The price of failure, however, doesn't bear thinking about ...
My comments:
This is the same author as for The Strength Build Cycle series and The Dexterity Build Cycle series. Published by an actual publishing house. VR and sci fi based. RTS game type. Page length and price are both decent. Reviews are mediocre to poor, citing poor characterization and plot, with the focus being almost entirely on the action. The RTS aspect is the only thing that catches my eye with this title, and it's not enough to balance out everything else. A pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by: heridfel
Book 1 - Alpha Centauri
Veilwalkers series by Isaac Winter
Amazon Summary (of first book):
Enter the Veil? [Yes/No]
Winston Beckett is a linguistic scholar, poring over musty manuscripts and ancient translations. That is, before he finds a book of ancient runes. Before people start disappearing.
When he deciphers the strange book, Winston discovers a secret so big it throws him into a different world. Literally.
No more grading papers. No more research. No more work. Just him and The Veil, the eerily realistic game world he falls into.
Desperate to find his missing colleagues, Winston must navigate this strange new world, using only his wits to survive. Quests, skills, and loot await him…if he’s up to the task.
Along the way, he’ll need to fight enemies, recruit allies, and go on a journey of magic and adventure. And at the end? Well, let’s just say he won’t be the same person he started as.
My comments:
First time author. Actual publishing house. Transported to an original fiction world running on RPG rules type. Fantasy based. No page length given but reviews imply it to be quite short. Price would be ok for a decent length book but not for as short as reviews indicate. Reviews are mediocre, stating a lot of world building (mostly stats and game rules) but little plot. Some say what plot there was was decent, others say poor. Despite the summary looking interesting, the lack of page count, plus the price, plus the poor reviews mean it's a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Lost Archive
Nigmus Online by Noah Barnett
Amazon Summary:
Virtual Dive technology is coming out of the workplace and into homes. Nigmus Online is the first MMO to use this new device. The only caveat to the game; there is no manual. The only instruction the player gets is how to interact with the user interface. That's it. Nobody is going to hold their hand or give out rare items. Players begin life as a level zero commoner. Its entirely up to them what class they become. Explore a world that spans five continents.
~Story Summary~
Liam is tricked into trying an expensive and innovative online MMO. On his first trip into the game he stumbles upon a hidden class. The Undead Necromancer. Intrigued by this turn in events he continues to explore this mysterious world.
In another part of the country Kathrine(Kat) suffers from a debilitating and paralyzing disease. Taking part in an experimental research could offer her a new lease on life (of a sort).
Even further afield Russia and China are undergoing a massive spike in suicide rate. What could be causing so many young adults to dire ends?
My comments:
First time author. Self published. VR and fantasy based. Length is good but price is too high, especially for a first time self published author. Reviews frequently mention poor editing. The price tag plus the poor editing makes this a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Nigmus Online
The Crystal Crusade by Mars Dorian
Amazon Summary:
In the near future, robots have wiped out jobs for ordinary humans. Dashiell, a former tech employee, is one of the many casualties.
He returns penniless to his mother’s trailer and drowns in darkness. During his struggle, he discovers the Crystal Crusade, a popular VRMMORPG played by over fifty million gamers around the planet.
In the game world, a mysterious crystal plague called the Reepo infests the lands and mutates organisms into vile creatures. To make matters worse, a powerful syndicate has found a way to harvest the Reepo and uses the crystals to fuel their airships and mechanized army.
Dashiell has to ally with rival players and build his unique character skills to battle both the crystal plague and the deceptive syndicate.
In his epic quest, Dashiell will uncover the mysterious origin of the plague while fighting to survive in the virtual AND real world.
My comments:
This author has been releasing books for about three years now, though this is the first litRPG. This is being published by an actual publishing house. It's VR and a mix of sci fi and fantasy (a la Final Fantasy). Page length is good as is the price. Reviews are generally positive.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
The Crystal Crusade
Territoria series by Vic Connor
Amazon summary (of first book):
Immigrant. Criminal. Genius.
Abandoned as a child and fostered around a foreign city, Nikolay Somov had little hope of a successful life. Then he was wrongly convicted of a heinous crime and all hope was dashed.
Imprisoned and awaiting execution, Nikolay receives an offer: Go on a mission inside the secret, government-controlled virtual world known as Territoria or die.
Within the virtual world, Nikolay enrolls in the mysterious Ravenscroft Academy alongside humans, ogres, faeries and gargoyles. As he continues to explore his new home, Nikolay discovers a conspiracy wrought with inhumane actions, driven by his captors’ boundless lust for power.
What he thought was a school for the gifted turns out to be something else altogether. Surrounded by avatars, under constant surveillance, and fearing his mind has been infiltrated, Nikolay must escape or never see the real world again.
My comments:
This is the author's eighth book and first litRPG. Published by an actual publisher. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, and price is excellent. Reviews are average to good, stating that the story was good but the litRPG elements felt a little random and forced, as if someone had retro-fitted a standard magical academy story with game elements. I'm not too encouraged by the reviews but at that price I'll give it a shot.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Immortality Experiment
Gabria Online series by Neil Bimbeau
Amazon summary (of first book):
After a terrible accident ruins his life, Daniel finds a new one inside of Gabria Online, the world's first Virtual Reality MMORPG. Inside of Gabria, Daniel is a Mesmer: a support class that uses hypnosis and mind control to weaken enemies before Charming them into turning against their compatriots. He loves exerting control and dominance almost as much as he loves being able to walk again, and his tactical skills make him excellent at turning battlefields into total chaos.
But when Daniel finds a strange tower in the woods that leads to a secret developer-built treasure room, he patches the ENTIRE GAME WORLD into a shocking new form. Suddenly players are able to hurt each other with swords and spells - and death has more consequence than a simple respawn! And Daniel discovers that Mesmers have the ability to use their powers to control other players - like the gorgeous elf girl he's been lusting after for weeks...
Master of the Game is the first chapter in a 18+ LitRPG series by Neil Bimbeau. It mixes fantasy action with adult themes like hypnosis, mind control, bimbofication and more! Daniel's journey will contain scorching-hot MF and MFF scenes as he builds his perfect fantasy harem: this series is strictly adults-only!
My Comments:
This author has a ton of self-published works on Amazon, though this is the first litRPG. It's VR and fantasy based. Page length is extremely short, and the price is definitely too high for that length. All the other works by this author on Amazon are explicit erotica focusing on the mind controlling or otherwise dominating women, not only completely controlling their every action but also reducing them to mindless sex toys. Reviews indicate this series is no different, just set in a VR game. Serious sexism abounds. A definite pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Master Of The Game
Book 2 - Lord Of The Game
Terra Reforma series by L.S. Halloway
Amazon summary (of first book):
Terra Reforma. The virtual game world set in the time period after humanity hit the reset button. A time after the bombs dropped, and before society was able to reform into the tech-driven megacities it consists of now. For many players, the grind of the game is more than just a brief escape from the real world. It's the perfect drug. It's their way into the next rung of society. It's the answer to the question of life.
Phase Gannon and Kym Bit are both looking for their own answers. Even though their paths cross in the city of New San Diego, it's Terra Reforma that holds vindication for the both of them.
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. VR and sci fi based (a la Fallout). Page length is good but price is a bit high. Reviews are generally positive but note that only half the book is litRPG. There are two protagonists (who never meet, at least in this book) and only one of them is in the game. The other is following a cyberpunk adventure. Even though a Fallout style litRPG interests me, I'm probably going to give this a pass. I like my litRPG to be mostly litRPG, not split like this one.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Terra Reforma
Dragon Mastery series by Garrett Boggs
Amazon summary (of first book):
Blake Frostdeth dreams of becoming the first player ever to recover Captain Ravencrest’s cursed treasure. To do so, he must collect three clues. One big problem: each clue is heavily guarded by high-level monsters and lethal traps. After failing repeatedly to retrieve the very first clue, Blake gets so discouraged that he nearly calls off the quest. All seems lost until he lucks upon a young Shadow Dragon that he raises as a pet named "Ravage". With Ravage at his side, Blake may now stand a chance to become the first player to set eyes on the legendary treasure.
My comments:
Second book for this author, with his first being the litRPG Warscapia. Self-published. Fictional world running on RPG logic type. Fantasy based. Page length is good, price is a bit high. Reviews are generally negative, with a couple of middle of the road ones mixed in. Probably a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Daybreak
Level Dead series by Jake Bible
Amazon summary (of first book):
From Bram Stoker Nominated Author Jake Bible comes an exciting new LitRPG adventure series!
In the 23rd century, the world is at an end, and a group of gaming and programming friends decide that their only way to survive is to discard their bodies and send their minds into the quantum matrix of a virtual gaming world. They have created the Domains and there they plan to reside forever.
Except, the nightmares of reality have followed them into their new quantum dimension and those nightmares threaten to destroy it all!
Now it is up to one of them to help navigate the quantum platform known as EverRealm, a fantasy MMORPG of epic proportions, in order to complete a quest he neither wants to complete nor knows how. With the help of his friends, and a lot of luck, he will have to face trials and tribulations like he's never faced as a player! Because now it is no longer a matter of Game Over, but of life or death!
Can he survive it all and come out a winner? The only way he'll know is if he plays the game to the bitter end!
My comments:
This author has been releasing books for almost a decade at a good clip though this is his first litRPG. VR and sci fi based (more zombie apoc). Page length is decent and the price is ok. Reviews are generally positive though they frequently comment that the litRPG elements are very light. It seems more zombie apoc survival with a touch of sci fi framed with VR. Might be alright but I think it's a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - EverRealm
Rules-Free VRMMO Life series by Stuart Grosse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The year is 2076, and mankind has perfected VR technology, using the Chip, an implant that interfaces directly with the human brain, using it like an organic computer. Age of Anarchy Online (AAO) is the newest game released by Icestorm, makers of the legendary World of Destiny (WoD).
Unlike VR games before it, AAO promises a 110% 'Better Than Life' realism experience, and to showcase this, Icestorm announces that AAO will have no 'Out of Character' rules, save for actions like hacking or exploiting system errors. Players can do anything to NPCs and even other players, and there will be no consequences save what one may suffer in game. "Do what thou wilt, but it may be done to you in turn."
Mike Greene, better known in WoD as Torgan, a max level Paladin and leader of the Lords of Light, one of the top 'light side' guilds in WoD, now sets off on a new adventure in AAO.
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Author's Note: If you haven't guessed, there's going to be all kinds of nastiness in this story. Violence, language, racism, sexism, sex, gore, vore, and more! If you have triggers of any kind, this is your warning. If you're looking for a nice, heartwarming tale like Sword Art Online, keep looking. There will be 'good guys' as well, but this is a story where Might IS Right. However, if you've read Watchmen and Wanted, and like what you read (READ, not the movies!), then you just may find this story in your strike zone. And for f*ck's sake, this is just a story! Don't take this as an endorsement of any of the actions in this story.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a while now with this being the second litRPG series (the first being Into the Black). VR and fantasy based. Page length is quite short, but at the same time the price is also very low. Reviews generally say the same thing: well executed but content is not palatable. At least for the first book. All the reviews for the second book are positive. Which makes sense, since the issue is the subject matter and only those who like that sort of thing would have made it to book 2. In case you skipped the Amazon summary above, this book has the protagonist playing a villain character in a game with zero rules and he plays it to the hilt. Rape, slavery, cannibalism; you name it it's in there. If that sort of dark content isn't for you as it isn't for me then give this a pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Tutorial
Book 2 - Beginning the Journey
Fantasy Online series by Harmon Cooper
Amazon summary (of first book):
Nineteen-year-old Ryuk Matsuzaki and his best friend Tamana decide to start over with new avatars. When Tamana is suddenly killed right in front of him in a Tokyo subway, Ryuk knows there is only one place he can search for answers –Tritania, the world’s most popular online fantasy world. Standing in his way are a mysterious guild known as the Shinigami, and his older brother, a Yakuza crime lord hell-bent on squashing his dreams.
As a lowly Ballistics Mage, Ryuk must quickly recruit guild members, level up, loot and shoot his way across Tritania to discover the dark and sinister secret behind Tamana’s untimely death. Joining him in his quest are a famous Swedish gamer, a powerful half-dragon half-human female assassin, and a devious ax-wielding goblin.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books at a fast pace for a few years now and this will be their second litRPG, the first being The Feedback Loop series. VR and Fantasy based. Page length is very good and the price is decent. Reviews are overwhelmingly exceedingly positive. I may have to give this one a try.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Hyperborea
Elements of Wrath Online series by J.A. Cipriano and J.B. Garner
Amazon summary (of first book):
Unlike real life, Max is pretty good at playing games, so when a new limited time dungeon opens up in the virtual reality game he plays boasting a huge cash prize, Max knows he needs to try and complete it if he wants to be able to pay rent this month.
Fortunately, the only guild strong enough to attempt to take it on before the timer runs out needs a tank.
There’s just one problem, he’s never played with them before, and even if he convinces the Sisters of Artemis to let him join in time to tank the dungeon and collect the prize money, if they wipe, it’s all over.
That would be bad because without that prize money, both he and his baby sister will be sleeping in a cardboard box under a bridge, and Max really hates sleeping in cardboard boxes. Been there, done that, sold the T-shirt.
My comments:
Both these authors have been publishing for a few years now and have quite a few titles under their belts. This is Garner's first litRPG but is Cipriano's third, following the World of Ruul series, as well as the Kingdom of Heaven series. VR and fantasy. Page length is good, though the price is on the high side. Reviews are generally positive, with some mentions of a bit of a rough start. Might be worth a look-see.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Ring of Promise
Kingdom of Heaven series by J.A. Cipriano and Conner Kressley
Amazon summary (of first book):
The skull throne sits empty and the Kingdom of Heaven is in turmoil.
Enter "iron" Jack Russo. able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games. At least he used to be before his sister got pregnant, and he had to get a job to help take care of them.
But when a particle accelerator explodes, causing Jack to get stuck in his favorite game “Kingdom of Heaven” he'll have to conqueror Heaven and seat himself on the skull throne. If not, he'll be trapped in the game forever.
My comments:
Both these authors have been publishing for a few years now and have quite a few titles under their belts. This is Kressley's first litRPG but is Cipriano's third, following the World of Ruul series, as well as the Elements of Wrath Online series. VR and fantasy. Page length is decent and the price is good. Reviews are middle of the road, mostly referencing a somewhat unlikable protagonist. Also mentioned is the litRPG elements are quite light in this one. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Skull Throne
Into the Black series by Stuart Grosse
Amazon summary (of first book):
The first truly immersive Virtual Reality system has just been announced. Made by NERV, the EVA-series immersion pods promise a Better Than Life experience, unlike anything that's been seen before. Gone are clunky goggles and wired controls. Now you simply lie down, and the machine does all the work.
Following up on their previous hit games, NERV has created the first true VRMMORPG, a sci-fi offering called Dreams Amongst the Stars. Because of the impressive display he made during the closed Beta of the game, one player has been offered a contract as a paid streamer, and the chance to play the game on the highest difficulty possible. Watch as he forges his own path, into the black.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a while now with this being the first litRPG series (the second being the Rules-Free VRMMO Life series). VR and sci fi based. Page length is quite short, but at the same time the price is also very low. Reviews generally say it starts suspiciously similarly to the Universe Online series and has a fair bit of filler padding out it's already short page count. Opinion is very middle of the road. There are also hints of darker elements, though nothing to the degree of the author's other work. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Game Start
Book 2 - Choson Ring
The Shadow Legacy series by Aiden Avery
Amazon summary (of first book):
Rex has never really fit into this world. He always felt like the odd man out except when it came to video games, more specifically, he related to the back stories and literature he encountered while playing the games. While attending college, a computer science instructor named Professor Stone introduced Rex to a hidden pocket deep in the internet that contained a tantalizing opening sequence to a new game called Shadows Online. Not much is known about the game except to access it requires massive power and cutting edge computer hardware.
While watching the opening sequence on Professor Stone’s experimental computing system, Rex finds himself oddly drawn to the character of Thulen. Not only does the character look like a younger version of himself but he also begins to have flashes of memories from the young boy’s perspective. Professor Stone explains that in the real world Rex is safe while playing his video games, but there is nothing safe in the shadows! Rex is drawn into the simulation as the fantasy world beckons to him. A step, a surge of power, and Rex awakens as Thulen playing for his life in the game of Shadows Online.
Do you think you are safe?
My comments:
First time author. Self-published. The type of this one isn't very clear on whether it's transported into a traditional RPG or to a fictional world running on RPG logic. It's fantasy based. Page length is short and price is rather high. Reviews are meh at best. Stating light litRPG elements, confusing character motivations and wonky dialog. Definitely a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Spellbinder
Hero of Thera by Eric Nylund
Amazon summary (of first book):
BE A HERO IN THE ULTIMATE GAME
Are you a top-rated gamer?
Then you might have the skills to play the Game … where players are sponsored by actual demon lords, gods and goddesses, or Lovecraftian nightmares.
Enter Thera, a real kingdom at the crossroads of many other worlds, but with all the augmented-reality interfaces, character progression, and game mechanics that players know and love.
And the stakes of The Game?
Nothing less than Creation—every world in every universe and reality.
So … no pressure.
Thus Hector Savage, gamer extraordinaire, comes to Thera. Nothing can prepare him, though, for the schemes of Abyssal Lords,
rampaging barbarian ghosts, and a host of nefarious forces who want him dead—before he can even make fifth level!
My comments:
This author has been publishing for nearly ten years now and if his name rings a bell then you've probably seen it in your local bookstore on the cover of one of the Halo tie-in novels, of which he's written a bunch. This is self-published, but I don't think that's going to be much of a problem considering this author's writing chops. It's fantasy based and transported to a fictional world running on RPG logic type. Page length is very good, but price is a kinda high. Reviews are uniformly very positive. This is definitely going on my to read list.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Hero of Thera
Solaria Online series by Ryan Koskey
Amazon summary (of first book):
Three days before his high school graduation, Jacob Milroy learns that the military draft has been reinstated. With a war raging on the other side of the world, he realizes that he might soon be thrust into battle.
But then a groundbreaking contest within the immersive virtual reality game, Solaria Online, is announced by its visionary creator, a man who has grand plans for the human race. The prize for four lucky winners: recruitment into the Mars Colonization Initiative (and exemption from the draft).
Will Jacob be able to assemble his dream team in time to compete in the first round of the contest? With so much at stake and so many players vying for the adventure of a lifetime, he’ll have to rely on his wit and ingenuity to have a fighting chance.
My comments:
First time self-published author. VR and fantasy based. Page length is decent but price is is a little high. Reviews pretty much agree it's mediocre at best. Pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Launch
Afterlife Online series by Domino Finn
Amazon summary (of first book):
Tad Lonnerman is having a crappy day stuck in crappy traffic late to a crappy meeting. On the bright side, his game development career is the only non-crappy thing he has going for him, so life isn't all bad.
At least until he dies.
Now Tad finds himself uploaded to a beta test of Haven, an unannounced hyper-immersive MMO where the dead have a second chance at life. It's not virtual reality, it's digital reality. A true afterlife online.
Except Haven isn't exactly blissful paradise. Tad bumbles into a pagan blood feud, crosses paths with fallen angels, and gets lied to by saints. His only allies? A frat boy with a penchant for dying and a pixie who won't give him the time of day.
Second chances be damned. All Tad wants is to return to his old life, and he'll do anything for the opportunity. Even make a deal with the devil.
My comments:
This author has been self-publishing books for a few years now and has over a dozen out. This is their first litRPG. VR and fantasy based. Page length is good, price is rather high. Reviews are generally good, with some mentions that character motivations could use some work. Might be worth a look, though I think I'm going to pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Reboot
World of Samar series by Jared Mandani
Amazon summary (of first book):
Heroes vs Villains: What Side Are You on?
Harrison Harper has hit rock bottom. A promising e-sports competitor, he’s lost everything—his career, wife and kid—to alcohol and gambling. Today, the once famous gamer is but a shadow of his former self, struggling to keep his head out of the water and the loan sharks at bay. Because Harrison is not only broke, he owes a lot of money to the wrong people.
Unable to pay off his debt, he’s sent to spy on a revolutionary game that will make its creator rich beyond belief and forever change the face of the gaming world.
Harrison will use those skills that made him a champion to navigate these new intriguing lands where demons roam free, and steal the software running the simulation. But as he gets deeper into the game, connects with a few other players and rediscovers the meaning of friendship and loyalty, he’s going to have to betray the trust of his friends to save his own life. Will Harrison be able to escape the clutches of the loan shark and his goons? Is he forever doomed to repeat the same mistakes and hurt those close to him?
When the virtual becomes real and the lines between good and evil become blurred, it gets increasingly difficult to make the right decision.
My comments:
First time self-published author. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, price is a bit high. Reviews are guardedly positive but state that there's not many original ideas here. Probably a pass for me.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The Wraith of Valenastrious
AlterGame series by Andrew Novak
Amazon summary (of first book):
THIS IS ALTERRA, where you can be the master of your own castle... or a field hand on a farm.
And this is Jack, who wants to make his way to a different continent, hidden in the virtual mist.
And this is an ancient quest line, buried under new versions of the game.
Jack's goal: create his own guild. Buy a ship. And set off on the Great Journey. The journey of his life. The dangerous Gravediggers are not the only ones opposing him. Necromancers from sinister Nightmare, elite alpha-citizens, and relic hunters are only a small fraction of the enemies that the First Player will have to face.
In the perilous Wasteland, the drifter Jack finds an abandoned truck, where an old-world game console is hidden. This moment marks the beginning of Jack's path to the lost continent, hidden in the virtual depths of the colossal Alterra. He still isn't aware of the enemies standing in his way. Not only are the guild of Gravediggers and the sinister necromancers of Nightmare against him, but also the secret masters of the game world themselves. The discoveries of ancient quest lines, long buried under new versions of the game, give Jack access to the Dark Service. This is a special branch of character development, which is no longer available in the modern version of the game. Now Jack, the messenger of a great Goddess, possesses a Night Weapon, and is venerated by an entire race of NPCs...
Just how will this road end? And it does indeed have an end...
My comments:
First time author. Actual publishing house. Russian translation. VR and fantasy based. Page length is very good, price is a touch high. Reviews are generally positive, but remark on the lack of game details, especially compared to the arcs in the real world. Might be worth a look.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - The First Player
Earth Tactics Advance series by Scottie Futch
Amazon summary (of first book):
An ordinary day in the life of Scott Keen suddenly turns tactical as the laws of physics are rewritten to force the world to adhere to an apocalyptic change in the very nature of existence. Those who manage to survive the first day of the new world must survive in the wake of a new reality, life lived as a turn-based tactical role playing game.
Feel the horror, and revel in the humor, as battles take place one turn at a time. Can one man survive a world gone tactical? Will he ever understand the need for background music and strange announcer voices? It's your turn... to find out!
My comments:
This author is no stranger to the litRPG genre, being the author of the Galactic Fist of Legend series, the Origin A.R.S. series, and the Tactical Phantasia series. This is quite different: first, it's one of the rare real life starts following RPG rules type, and second the RPG rules it starts following is turn based strategy. Doesn't seem like it takes itself too seriously, think Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Page length and price are both decent. Reviews are all very positive, with the above caveat about it not being very serious. I like my fiction serious so this is probably a pass for me, but if you like that sort of thing then this is likely a good pick.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Volume 1
Digital Realms series by Black Lyte
Amazon summary (of first book):
A lone young man awakens in a forest, not even his memories intact. Who is he? How did he get here? Where is "here"? He sets out with questions and soon finds himself in a world of wonder - "Atmos". A realm created by Gods and Guardians where adventurers flourish and every day is like living a video game--or is it?
Soon Izack realizes that not everything is as it seems, and that the dream like world may really end up being a nightmare. Experience the journey as Izack and his companion Cho explore and seek to escape the curse Zero God : Awakening.
My comments:
First time self-published author. Fantasy based, and transported to a fictional world running on RPG rules type. Page length is extremely short and the price is way too high for that length. Reviews state that it has potential if given another coat of polish and some more substance but as is it's not worth the look.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Zero God
Reternity Online series by Baron Sord
Amazon summary (of first book):
Logan Byrne didn’t want to play Reternity Online, but he didn’t have a choice.
Logan hated full-immersion virtual reality MMORPGs like Reternity Online. He’d watched his younger brother Jason and countless friends throw away their lives because of their addiction to playing RO. He vowed he would never put on a NeuraLink headset and waste his life like they had.
Then he received an anonymous email from kidnappers demanding a real world ransom payment of $150,000 USD to release his sister Emily, who they held in an undisclosed location. To keep her compliant, the kidnappers used a NeuraLink headset to log her permanently into RO. In-game, Emily’s character was locked away where no one would ever find her.
They called it mind-locked.
If Logan didn’t pay up, the kidnappers would sell her real body on the black market for organ harvesting.
Logan had no idea where Emily might be and he didn’t have $150,000.
He only had one choice.
Go inside Reternity Online himself, level up, and try to find his sister in-game to gather clues to her whereabouts before they murdered her in the real world.
My comments:
First time self-published author. Fantasy based and VR. Good page length and price is decent. Reviews on the other hand are mediocre, stating unlikable protagonist and questionable story decisions. Pass.
Recommended by:
Scorned by:
Book 1 - Rescue Quest
That's all of the ones I've found so far. There might be more out there though. The fact that litRPG isn't a recognized genre makes it difficult to find them easily. If anyone has any entries not on my list, or has read some of these and would like to comment on their quality you're very welcome to.
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