LitRPG Forum discussion

As LitRPG author Daniel Schinhofen pointed out in his monthly Goodreads blog post, we are now five months into 2021. At this point, I am 33 books into my goal of 100 for the year. Killing it, right?

Then there's LitRPG Forum member Travis. Who has ... holy moly... 151 books read towards his goal of 500. Goals, people. This guy utterly destroys them.

Comparisons aside, I want to know what LitRPG you've been reading this month. We have some good stuff coming our way or already out and keeping our eyeballs busy.

I am currently reading Eric Ugland 11th book in his Good Guys series.. which has Montana locked in a fierce battle for the survival of his mountain holding. And a mysterious egg about to hatch. What's in the egg? Don't spoil it for me, it will hatch, it better hatch! I love this authors high-octane action-fueled stories, and I can't get enough.

So I ask you, which LitRPG are you reading? Leave your book below and as always, thank you fellow readers for sharing your passion towards LitRPG.

I just finished the Ugland book, marking my 30th LitRPG book of the year. I also finished re-reading the New Era Online series since the final book came out recently.

But my favorite series of 2021 so far has to be Dungeon Crawler Carl. Great series that any fans of LitRPG should check out.

Still hoping we'll see an update to the Nightmares of Alamir series as that remains one of my favorite LitRPG of all time.

Dungeon Crawler Carl was a real standout for me too. Televised apocalypse? Otherworldly sponsorships, feet-obsessed AI, non-stop action? Sign me up. I even went so far as to follow the author on Twitter so I can keep abreast of Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk updates. Count me as one of her avid stream fans.

I checked for Noam Oswins releases just the other day. Books 1 and 2 were released 10 months apart. So we should have gotten ours by Feb/March if that pattern were to hold true. It's late!! Nothing to do but soldier on and in the meanwhile there is plenty else to read.

I finished the latest Good Guys book and wooo boy, that climactic battle. Soooo good. The author spoils us :)

Next up I have Towers of Heaven 3 to dive into. Hear it's a complete trilogy and this marks the final book of the series. Looking forward to it.

Just finished the Towers of Heaven and while it felt really rushed it was still pretty awesome. Check it out!

Currently reading Alpha Physics! and enjoying the character progression. The stats are a little harder to follow but overall good stuff.

Looking forward to reading the Good Guys latest!

Oh Great! I was Reincarnated as a Farmer: A LitRPG Adventure

Oh, this one is so fun. 15% in and I didn't want to put it down before bed last night.

All signs point to this being a book that does not fall short of it's hype :)

Travis of the LitRPG Forum group had this to say in his review the farming LitRPG: This falls directly into the range of stories I like to read. Building stories always seem to hold a special allure for me. This one has the main character not only building what basically amounts to a settlement, but also traps, and of course, exploiting the system for all it's worth. Now, that's something I can get behind. The story is funny as well as entertaining, and I look forward to more in the series. - Travis

I just finished Manufacturing Magic: An Epic LitRPG Series It is decent, at least the payoff in the end was good. I tried the first chapter of Curious Beginnings, I am not sure about that one. Of course I am still ongoing with the Wandering Inn, she needs to write faster.
But really there isn't much that I find interesting lately. If you guys come across anything great be sure to add it to the Masterlist. That is where I have been searching for new books since no one is updating the monthlies anymore.

Thanks for the tip on Oh Great! Travis. I am starting it now. - Sylvia

Reading the Good Guys series; now on Four Beheadings and a Funeral, Book 9. Truly glad others convinced me to read this book!

Just finished with book three of the Darkthorn Academy series. Waiting on the next book, and yet I have so many GameLit/LitRPG books that I am waiting to finish that I might just have to start over on some of the ones that I began two or three years ago!

I finally convinced my 16 year old son to read it Darkthorn Academy. This will be his second book outside of school. Seriously. (Why oh why did I encourage his gaming at 9 months old as he sat in my9ô lap and "played" Everquest!) His first book --outside of school--was another that I begged him to read: Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw. Not GameLit or LitRPG, but the book that literally changed my son's life.Helped him decide to become a writer, epic fantasy. That book is absolutely incredible. Well researched, world building, complex characters, astonishingly artful details. Quickly overthrew my favorite book of over thirty years with Dawn of Wonder in no danger of losing its newly earned throne anytime, ever.

If you haven't had a chance to read Dungeons of Strata, I highly recommend it. Book two is coming out soon. Author is not a fast writer, but most of the greatest books take time. (Dawn of Wonder: 10 years in the making. The best things come to those who wait!)

If you liked the Good Guys series, try the Bad Guys series as well...

Gregory, I have already borrowed the first book on KU. First, I have to find out how Fiend's Night goes! . . .

I’m reading Astral Pet Store. I am really loving these system books. Such a new concept for me. Over 100 chapters in and still loving it!

It goes like you might expect...Montana just bulls his way through...

@Gregory: Yup. He does. Has a bit of growth there at the almost end, though, doesn't he? Thank goodness for a high Luck stat!

@Devon: Is Astral Pet Store on Amazon?

Just finished Dungeon Crawler Carl, and reading The Realms book one now. Not sure what to read after yet.

Nah, Astral Pet Store is a free web novel. I am reading it on boxnovel.com. Make sure you download an Adblock app like Norton adblocker. It trims away all the distracting stuff. @Rebeka

Thanks Devon! I will try that. Once I finish that Bad Guys series!

The Good Guys is better...

Not a book, but I have spend the last month reading Chrysalis on https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/225.... Great monster evolution series...

Just a heads up: I finished Beserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris not too long ago. Had a hard time getting into the first chapter, but the author is a great guy, so I persevered. Ended up thoroughly enjoying the books!

He could use the reviews as well.

It would be...interesting... to have Montana (Good Guys) meet Clyde (Bad Guys)...

@Gregory: I figure that they have to cross paths sooner or later. Or, at least, each one's actions will be felt by the other in a major way. I mean, I do believe having the same patron will have a huge impact.

Well, this is now June, but I just finished Dimitrios Gkirgkiris's 3rd book, King, in the Apocosmos Multiverse series. Awesome. Has several typos still, but the series is so worth reading!

Found out about the author through a LitRPG group, but it is more like GameLit. Truly talented. Nice guy, too. The first book, Bessemer has a few reviews. The 3rd book has at least one, now, but he could use a few more. If possible, could y'all pass a heads up for his books to your other groups?

(Btw, I just "met" the author. I just believe good writers with natural talent, especially in this subgenre, should be given a chance.)

I just finished The Demonic Games (Disgardium Book #7): LitRPG Series which is the very best book in the series so far.

I just finished Dungeons of Strata. The next one isn't out yet...it's very different...

Gregory Bradburn wrote: "I just finished Dungeons of Strata. The next one isn't out yet...it's very different..."

I have Dungeons of Strata marked as 5 stars myself. The next book just came out.

Well, it is July 1st and Dungeon Carl has a new book. Yay So that is what I am going to read now.

Enjoy! I just checked that out on KU along with Pyresouls 2.

Fel, LitRPG Devotee wrote: "Enjoy! I just checked that out on KU along with Pyresouls 2."

I prefer the Pyresouls series to the Beasborne series.

Taking a short break from LitRPG at the moment to read another type of fantasy: book four of the Stariel series, The King of Faerie by AJ Lancaster. Great Imaginative series. Reading Nate Temple series right now as well (by Shayne Silvers) while listening to The Host. So, these books may not be LitRPG (am I breaking a group rule posting about it here?), but it is what I am reading at the moment!

Right now, I'm finishing up the last book of the Delvers LLC Series. After that, I'm not sure I still have 2 points on audible i can use.

Hi
I'm new to this group.
I'm a sci-fi fan and discovered litRPG a few month ago. Well, I guess we can say that Ready Player One (that I've read few years ago) is litRPG.
I'm a big fan of He Who Fights with Monsters.
I've also read Defiance of the Fall: A LitRPG Adventure
And now I'm reading The Wandering Inn: Volume 4
I found an interesting topics about sci-fi litRPG that will help me choose my next books.
I noticed you make a difference between LitRPG and Gamelit, what is it ?

Hey Ally! The big difference is that LitRPG is crunchy. There is a short list of things that a LitRPG needs to have in order to qualify. Most of the time it will include a leveling system, a damage system, a tier system for loot and other quantitative calculations. Gamelit is a book that has game like features, but doesn't adhere to a strict game engine. Maybe the MC is in a game, but there isn't any levels or experience. I prefer Gamelit and Cultivation novels myself. Portal fantasy is another similar thing that encompasses any story about going to another world.

litRPG is my wheelhouse...

Thank you Matthew for the explanation. But it leads to another question: what is a Cultivation novel ? I trying to narrow down my preferences and put the right word to it.
I started ”Beware of Chicken” and I understand it’s a xianxia novel ?

Beware of Chicken is more of a parody of a cultivation novel.

If you want a good western take on cultivation/Xianxia, I recommend Will Wight's Cradle series.

If you want an accurate picture of the genre, I'd check out some of the translated novels on WuxiaWorld.com
Desolate Era and I Shall Seal the Heavens are classics for instance.

I recommend the 'Underverse' series...

Cultivation novels are slow growth novels. Basically you slowly improve yourself through absorption of power either through ambient means, or stolen from your enemies. I personally really like cultivation. You also get some world building cultivation like an MC who is building a city, or group. I have always liked this sort of story, but more recently discovered that it is an entire genre and other people really like it to. There is a lot of crossover between Cultivation, LitRPG, portal fantasy, and Gamelit. Basically everyone that likes one enjoys the rest to some extent, and a lot of those same people are into the same Anime and fantasy novels as well.

Matthew wrote: "Cultivation novels are slow growth novels. Basically you slowly improve yourself through absorption of power either through ambient means, or stolen from your enemies. I personally really like cult..."

Now if only 80% of the MCs were not extreme jerks who murder whole families because one kid called the MC's sister fat or rob innocent school kids of their hard earned ingredients...

Don't get me wrong, I agree with your statement. I like cultivation novels in principal. They share a slot of similarities with litRPG, after all, a controlled growth with clear increases, acquiring powers and items are exactly like litRPG. It is just that I am more often then not sorely disappointed in the MC and/or the world.

I absolutely agree Pieter. I was reading a book by Michael Head and found the same problems you mentioned here. I like it overall, but if the MC didn't use very small justification to kill lots of people.

I've noticed that as well. Another trope of the genre seems to be the use of hyperbole. MC walks 10,000 miles to get to his destination like it's nothing. It's a million miles from kingdom X to kingdom Y and he makes it there in a month, etc.
If the premise of the story hooks me, and the MC doesn't turn me off reading it, I just try to ignore the 'over the top' aspects of the stories, like the excessive killing, and hyperbole. If the MC's personality isn't good though, I won't stick with it. At least in most of the stories the story at least tries to give some justification for the wanton death, although it rarely seems adequate from a real life perspective.

Hello,
I’ve just finished Azarinth Healer, it’s long ! I’ve mixed feelings about it. The world builging is great but the characters lack depth. The MC progressed too fast. The author has a problem balancing descriptions of fights and the evolution of the story. I skipped a lot of fights.
I enjoyed The Primal Hunter.
I read Continue Online but DNF book 3.
I know now that I dislike VR.
I prefer a good System invasion or kidnapping in another universe Lit RPG.
Thank you for your advices.

It sounds like we have similar taste. Here are a few royal road ones that might work for you. The storm king, The new world, Randidly Ghosthound, Skyclad/Skybound, the Path of Ascension, Infine Realms by Ivan Kal. I will also throw in Metaworld Chronicles. That could be a hit or miss. I loved it, but some people just can't get into it.

Im also always looking for new books, so if this list seems similar to anyone else's, please pass them on.

+1 for Infinite Realms it's my current drug of choice.

I would also recommend Beware of Chicken that Ally mentioned above.

My most recent LitRPG reads were SHADESLINGER A Totally awesome series! AND DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL is also fantastic and humorous!

Thanks Matt for your list.

I read NPCs and (book #1 & 2 of the "Spells, swords ans stealth" series). It was nice and proper ... didn't read the other books.

I read Cat Core funny, nice and proper too.

I read book 1 & 2 of The last enclave series . Again nice and proper, too YA for me.

I read Natural Laws Apocalypse book 1, 2 & 3 soooo YA.

I read the 10 books of the Ten Realms series (there are more to come) . I've really enjoyed. Good LitRPG the way I like. The author is big fan of guns but I've skipped those parts. Nice worldbuilding.

I just finished The System Apocalypse. Ta DAaa!

I gave a try to all of Matt’s list.
There is only one I’ve really enjoyed : The Path of Ascension. Good worlbuilding, well written, different POV. There is no system per se but still a way to measure things. The MC is young but no YA vibe.

The others had an OP MC and/or a very 2D MC. I didn’t like the system sometimes.

I tried Chaos craftsman workships the Cube : too YA.

I’ve read a new one which is promising : Double-Blinded.

Finished The Divine Dungeon series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/1925.... Ending disappointed me, but overall was a decent read.

I've been reading a lot from KU, lately, since I just picked it up. It's been about one book every two days. Lovin' it.

I'm reading mostly related to psychology, spiritual, emotional health and life coaching. I think these topics are not too much covered in our life and despite they are very important for our lives.
http://thecoachtrainingacademy.com/

Right now i'm reading the discussion about pump sand under house cost becasue i want it badly and was curious about cost that's why
https://discusswisely.com/t/how-much-...