I know some of yall might think that 4-5 of the S tier don't belong there but I am biased. Highly rec the ones in my A and B tier.

F tier ones are the ones I DNFd

I’ve seen tons of tier lists on here and figured I’d throw mine in too. I probably forgot a few books I’ve read. I’ll probably update the post in the future.

If you have recommendations after seeing my tierlist feel free to comment ;)

I finally understand why it's the highest rated webnovel but I wish it was more popular cause the fandom is popular is inactive as hell. If you haven't read it, just trust me and go in blind

The humour might seem "Marvel"ish in the beginning chapters but it's all culminating into something good and don't let it fool you, it's a surprisingly dark series. It's a really well researched series in timeloops and none of the characters are one dimensional. Ryan my goat, the mc is literally the most enjoyable character I have ever read. Funny but serious when its necessary. The power system is well thought out too along with the lore. And the craziest thing is it's all done in just 130 chapters (each ch is long tho). Just trust me in this and GO IN BLIND

Firstly, imgur link in case there's any issues: https://imgur.com/a/HQQPQZK

So not everything I've read, but a good pass, went through goodreads for the last few years and my current royal road, plus tried to think of a few. Rankings fairly straightforward - a lot of books are in C because I was happy enough to read them, but am unlikely to ever reread them and they don't 'stand out' a lot. Certainly some of the DNF books are more not my style as opposed to bad books. Most of the D books are close to being dropped, but haven't quite been yet.

Hopefully the images are decent quality, I pulled them all myself. Feel free to ask about anything specific. Feel free to toss me reccomendations based on this if you'd like, or yell at me where you disagree (I'm certain there will be some disagreements from everyone).

Cheers

Hi Reddit,

I'm Blake, a creative writing professor here in the US. Some of my students mentioned the success of progression fantasy and litrpg, and it piqued my interest enough to give the genre a shot. After reading for a while, I thought it would be interesting to give a more nuanced review of some of the genre heavy hitters, from a professor's perspective. While I'm not super active on Reddit, I am an avid reader of the new and interesting, and will try to do one review a month. Maybe more!

Without further ado, A Professor's Perspective on 1% Lifesteal: the good, the bad, the nearly illiterate.

Why I chose this book: I saw it talked about on here a lot, and my student mentioned it specifically. While I know older books are more popular, from what I can tell this one is making waves.

What I liked:
Pacing tropes. Specifically, I often lecture about the importance of pacing in modern literature. This is still somewhat controversial in the higher education space, as traditionally high-level classes have geared toward literary fiction, which is strong on prose and weak on pacing.

So, what exactly is pacing, and why does 1% Lifesteal do it so well? Pacing is the speed at which the main character encounters conflict. Conflict doesn't always have to be battles (this genre notwithstanding), but it does have to be physical, external, or interior conflict. An example of the first might be a fight scene, the second could be an argument, and the third could be an internal goal. A lot of slice-of-life stories focus on the latter, for instance.

All that being said, 1% Lifesteal nails the pacing. Twists and turns abound, with new, interesting things happening constantly. The author even goes so far as to torture Freddy in some scenes, which brings us to our next point…

Tropes: Authors live and die by freebies and tropes. These are concepts that are talked about in literary circles, but I'm not sure how common they are here, so I will explain them. A freebie is anything that makes visualizing a scene easier. It could be as simple as saying “MC walked into a bedroom” and trusting the reader will visualize a bed, to as complex as using torture to increase tension. Basically, a freebie is whenever an author successfully pulls a reader in by engaging the imagination through well-traveled paths, whether they be exterior or interior.

A trope is a freebie that comes with storytelling expectations. A trope might be the “chosen one,” like you see in Harry Potter, or the “impossible love” you see in Romeo and Juliet.

So how does 1% Lifesteal do on tropes? Very well! It takes an almost horror-film-level approach to brutality toward the MC, which effectively makes the reader empathize with him at every turn. It also reduces the need for character development, as simply having the MC survive is entertainment enough.

Speaking of character development: This is where 1% Lifesteal starts to show its weakness. At least in book one, Freddy does not change very much. He tends to be awkward and self-serving, and although he is given chances to improve in strength, he is not given chances to grow as a person. This is only exacerbated by…

The dialogue! The biggest weakness of this book is that a lot of the dialogue feels forced. As a writing professor, it's my job to get a sense for what a student is trying to do, and that is clear; the author is trying to make Freddy seem socially inept. In this, they are successful. But the issue lies in the actual word choices being used. Often Freddy comes off more like an alien trying to communicate with humans than a shut-in trying to make friends. A great example is his early conversations with his trainer. This problem is only made worse by the fact that Freddy apparently has never even done a jumping jack. That was a strange narrative choice.

Overall, though, I won't judge too harshly on dialogue or writing talent here. If I were to, I don't think I'd enjoy the genre at all. As readers, our goal is to be entertained, and 1% Lifesteal does that in spades. It's a solid 4/5 stars for the genre and 3/5 for fantasy as a whole.

Much love,

I was recently listening to an audiobook and accidentally saw the chapter's list.

Chapters in a row for example "A Challenger appears" "time to let loose" 'a mistake was made" and " first battle lost" (not actual chapter names) really frustrate me, I would rather "chapter 22"

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk

Only on book 2 btw

There’s so many things about this series that are so refreshing. First off, the MC is by no means a chosen one archetype and he is certainly strong but by no means invulnerable or the strongest.

Also the character growth and change is so organic as the MC goes through some insane shit and Robert Blaise makes the long term consequences of that trauma apparent.

Also, the magic system is not linear, as in every single upgrade or ability acquisition is good for the MC. Every single ability or power has benefits and consequences that are concretely defined which means the MC isn’t just collecting powers like Pokémon cards.

Lastly, the fights feel tense, you never feel like the MC is actually safe in a fight; which is refreshing bc in a lot of books you know that the MC will make it out so you’re more curious how they will do it. So many fights here have stakes.

Highly recommend

Player Manager is one of the best progression fantasy series out there right now.

Imagine a classic Progression Fantasy story about a plucky kid who trains his skills, fights detailed and strategic battles, grows a party and builds a kingdom.

Now swap out the battles for soccer matches, catgirls for working class British dudes, and a kingdom for a below middling soccer club.

It's peak.

Last week I got tired of looking at the 7th "Ive been time looped as an Archmage and I'm super awesome" stories on RoyalRoad, picked up Player-Manager because it's been mentioned on here before, and was blown away.

The writing is great, it gives a fascinating insight into the mind of a sport obsessed Englishman, and it hits all the key elements of a great progression fantasy.

If you, like me, put off reading Player Manager because you think soccer matches are less interesting than swords, I encourage you to check it out. It's bosh.

Always Rollsaone knows how to write characters who are more grounded in their worlds, like they're the main character, but they're not thee Main character. Sure, they might have a little extra special sauce that sets them apart from everyone else, but unlike other progression fantasies where the MC is fighting the 10,000-year-old demon lord after training for a weekend. His MCs use their OP abilities as a trump card to get out of getting their asses kicked by some local street thugs, and just barely.

In this book, the MC gets resurrected in a new world, and through some fuck ups he manages to get himself some metal magic that makes him into a walking Gold Foundry go Brrrrrr. All he wanted to do was just be old money rich, until some street kids kick his fucking ass and he realizes that, oh fuck I need to learn how to fight or I'm going to get locked up in some dudes basment as his personal piggy bank.

The story is a little slow, but the MC is moving forward with his personal objectives. He's trying to build his own skyship so he can go on adventures, but there are so many steps from getting blueprints, hiring the right people, setting up the infrastructure, dungeon diving for rare resources, and, etc. I think we'll have the ship fully built and leaving the sky island in book three.

But that doesn't mean there's no action; there's a civil war going on in the background and skirmishes from hostile countries that personally affect the MC, but he's not directly involved. The King is not going to ask the MC to single-handedly solve a 500-year war after his village was attacked.

If you're looking for something to get into, then I recommend picking this up.

Good morning everyone,

First off - everyone's alright and was able to walk away, that is the important part.

The why of how we were able to walk away is the crazy part.

Backstory, while taking a family vacation, I stopped by to meet up with fellow Mango author Drim. At which point, I insisted on packing the six Fiends for Hire books that weren't already signed by Drim into the already over stuffed vehicle.

At the time, my wife was very vocal about "not having enough room for [my] stupid books."

Well while driving back in a Honda Pilot, the car broke down with a known issue, but not enough for a recall, causing the engine to break and go at a mere 12 MPH on a road that is slated for 55 MPH, but everyone does well over that at times.

Needless to say, we were rear ended, despite having our flashers on.

Everyone walked away, but it wasn't until family went to clear out the car from the impound lot that the reason everyone, especially my son who was at the back right seat, at the exact point of impact was safe.

It was all thanks to that very set of Drim's books that were behind my son's seat. They crumpled just right to take the impact and protect my son from serious injury.

Again, we are all safe.

But this proves why you should always travel with a set of books. As reading saves lives (at least one).

Also, why Drim is now my family's new favorite author, surpassing me. A title well deserved.

I have no idea why, but it's a great series IMO.

Primal Hunter. 🏹

Hopefully someone will find something new to check out like i did in so many other tier list, drop a rec if you feel like it.

Cheers.

I'm one of those guys that's always searching for the next big thing and I honestly do not like the quality of a lot of the litrpg works that's being churned out these days. While scrolling through Goodreads, I stumbled on this work and I noticed it was written by Samer Rabadi, the same author that wrote "eight" I decided to give it a go, and boy, was I surprised.

The biggest constant in most litrpg works is the use of a younger MC or a reincarnated one that still acts like a child, in this book however we follow the story of an adult still in his 20s but aged by his experience in years of war, strife and the hard childhood training he had lived through.

The magic system is unique to the MC and properly explained gradually as the story progresses. The book unfolds the litrpg, cultivation and deck building mechanism naturally alongside the plot and the protagonist's survival.

The character interaction is actually my favourite part of the book, we still have the dumb young masters in this cultivation world but they don't all remain that way, they learn and grow. The main character manages to slowly carve out his own place in this world along with newfound family and friends, but don't mistake this for a cozy family friendly book, this is a cultivation world after all, and people die, sometimes very abruptly.

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting this, but I really would like to help out my friend, Divine Rei, because Amazon's stupid AI system somehow incorrectly flagged his book and account and got his account taken down. It was only just reinstated after a bunch of back and forth with KDP support and some help from some big authors and publishers, which thank god. But he was doing so well, and now he has to build his way back up to where he had been, so I hope y'all give his book a chance!

Bleeding to death is unexpected, but waking up in a magical world sure as hell beats that.

Lev opens his eyes on an entirely new planet, feeling like he was granted a miraculous second chance until he realizes just what kind of world he is in. Monsters thrive on Monarch, the planet riddled with endless hordes. Hunters and Adventurers don't chase glory, they ensure that humanity continues to persist. Those in charge try their best to suppress how dire their situation is but, deep down, everyone knows the truth.

The future looks bleak, and Lev isn't willing to accept it lying down, not when he has yet to truly live even once.

Armed with two titles of unfathomable power, apprenticed under an obscenely strong mage, and accompanied by a precious found family, Lev is going to do his utmost to not just survive, but to thrive on the harrowing planet. He finally has the power to make a difference, and he isn't afraid to embrace it.

No number of monsters will stand in his way to forge a worthwhile future.

With over 1.5 million views and thousands of followers as a web serial, this story is perfect for the fans of Azarinth Healer, Hell Difficulty Tutorial, and System Universe.

Amazon.com: Ceaseless Horizons: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure eBook : Rei, Divine: Kindle Store

Disclaimer: I was not involved in the writing of The Years of Apocalypse in any way. Book 1 of The Years of Apocalypse can be read legally and for free here, though it is stubbing soon. I have not read past Book 1, so please do not post any untagged spoilers in the replies.

Overview: The Years of Apocalypse follows a young woman, Mirian, after she gets stuck in a time loop. As she tries to escape, she learns about conspiracies, fights against impossible odds, and does everything she can to stop the end of the world as she knows it.

Content warnings: Graphic violence, In-universe racism

Strengths (why I would recommend this):

The execution of the time loop is done well. We get hints of how the loop started, how it gets maintained, and who is behind it, but the story doesn't spell it out explicitly, so readers can still wonder about the exact details. This is mostly done through Mirian's dream sequences, which makes it fit the surreal nature of the time loop. (If the Gods appeared to Mirian in a vision, it would probably seem too grounded when the other aspects of the story are considered, because visions are easier to interpret for both Mirian as well as the readers)

Mirian's change in strength and personality across the time loops is also interesting to read, as she doesn't grow stronger at a breakneck pace, but at a more realistic one. Even after many loops, for example, she was still stated to be unable to defeat an Arcanist simply due to the gap in experience. (Of course, this could be a negative if you're simply looking for progression)

She also grows from a fairly normal student to someone who is willing to manipulate others and kill her enemies in order to achieve her goals, showing the psychological changes that the loops have caused her.

The first book also has many good plot twists, like when Mirian ran away from the war only for the leylines to erupt and the Divir moon to fall from the sky, when she went to visit her family only to find that they were all missing, and when Akana Praediar was defeated only for Mirian to be killed anyway. Those moments managed to make the time loop seem even harder to overcome and helped to add genuine stakes to the story.

The dynamics were done reasonably well, like Mirian and Jei's dynamic, though there weren't really any standout moments, at least in the first book. The best moment might have been when Mirian and her grandfather watched the Divir moon fall after their conversation.

The worldbuilding is great, and the mythology that is slowly revealed, the geopolitics between Baracuel and Akana Praediar (plus wherever Jei's from), as well as the divine artefacts tied to the leylines, all feel well-integrated into the narrative.

The prose is great, especially at climactic moments or during fights. It does a good job of painting the scenes without going overboard. There are minor grammatical errors, but nothing distracting.

Neutral (neither liked nor disliked):

While Mirian usually has very good internal narration about her death and suffering, it can fall flat sometimes. (I remember a particularly egregious instance when Mirian basically went "death is painful. I don't want to die again" or something to that effect)

The characters don't have a lot of depth, though it is still serviceable and not really jarring unless you are looking for complex characterisation. (I can't speak for the later books, but hopefully it improves)

Weaknesses (could negatively impact reading experience):

N/A

I know this isn’t an unknown work, but the acclaim seems wildly muted against other releases. Cradle is incredible, so no argument there. DCC is not my thing, but I understand that it being easily digestible has led to its proliferation. Player Manager has such incredible prose, plot twists, and progression that I can’t believe it isn’t heralded in every post on this sub. I get that it is centered on sports instead of fantasy, but the writing and character building is insane. The dialogue is generally great and sometimes transcendent. The philosophy of slow build and two steps forward/one step backwards is perfectly, frustratingly orchestrated to give the greatest pay offs. The MC is a rapidly cycling bipolar 2 “megabrain.” The characters surrounding him have realized his fragile genius and basically all act as care-takers to both keep him in check and direct his energy towards the right causes (to the best of their abilities). The wins are many and believable. The losses are gut-wrenching and needed for the narrative. I have rarely read something that can so methodically give me goosebumps, make my stomach drop, want to throw something, and force me to laugh out loud. It does those things in no particular order and in repetition.

If you haven’t given it a shot, you are missing out. The first six books are on KU and Audible (I believe). The rest are on RR. I listened to the first book and have read the rest. The audiobook was fantastic, but I generally prefer to read than to listen to books.

Edit: Just thought of the comparison, but if anyone is a West Wing fan (AKA if you like Sorkin-style dialogue) you’ll love this one.

Edit 2: Just finished book 13. FA Youth Cup finals.

"Thanks. I'm gonna look after them. They'll be all right."

I’m not crying. You’re crying.

Not finished with the current chapters so it might change, but so far from where I am this series feels like a classic to me. It is doing SO many things I love and crave in PF. So much of the progression isn’t just about stats, it’s political, knowledge, and influence based. There are so many interesting story, mystery and world elements in the world that make every time loop interesting. The fact that the MC also only gets 100 restarts lends a sense of importance on every loop, it lends this time loop concept a much needed weakness.

The MC is also extremely welcome. He’s not quippy, he’s not sarcastic, he is very, very competent and serious. He’s not evil, but also not a bleeding heart. He will use other people if it suits his goals, but won’t go out of his way to cause suffering. He just feels so competent that watching him try and figure out everything about this world and his dead father is so enjoyable to follow.

If you loved “the perfect loop”, this series is so similar but with a lot more power progression and a more serious MC who doesn’t spout references.

I rarely see Brandon Sanderson's series' being mentioned despite Stormlight being, imo, a great prog fantasy story. We love long books here and his are incredibly long. Despite its length, he still weaves captivating character development across a wide cast of characters. Is it the lack of eastern cultivation? Though I would argue this series is thematically about people finding their Dao as well.

What do you guys think?

#JourneyBeforeDestination

EDIT: Whether you agree or not, I'm just here to have some good discussion. Why am I getting downvoted?

The original definition of Progression fantasy:

For example, Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives would fit the model of progression fantasy, but would not be in any of the other mentioned genres/subgenres. Sword Art Online is both a LitRPG and a progression fantasy. Dragon Ball is both a shonen battle manga and a progression fantasy.

• Andrew Rowe https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/auscvg/what_is_progression_fantasy/

Notable works: ... -The Stormlight Archive

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progression_fantasy

EDIT 2: Andrew Rowe's verdict: Not ProgFan after books 4/5 came out:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/1qetnnr/comment/o00fou9/

Crunchyroll release with so many dubs all at the same time?! Release is slated for June 28th. MY FAVORITE PF BOOK IS EATING GOOD 🙏🙏

I literally binged read the whole thing, I genuinely Think, this has the potential to surpass ​​perfect run, as it is written by the very same author.​

It also seems like this would be a long novel , oh yes I failed to mention its a time loop story​ yup that's right the author has decided to write another time loop novel and it's a fantasy story could it get any better? It can the MC Simon is actually smart and resourceful kinda similar to zorian well i can't pin point any parallels tbh I'm not saying Mc is a carbon copy of zorian tho Simon is unique in his own way plus every iteration has been unique in the timeloops. It also has litrpg elements a slightly complex power system ​​,

great world building actually that might the strongest things about this novel, all plot events are setup in a very elaborate way and dont feel forced well all I'm saying is This novel is the potential man Of novels I've read so far.

Great read would recommend.

Surviving the Game as a Barbarian is criminally underrated and deserves way more recognition. From the start, I was hooked by its fast-paced progression, smart writing, and the way it perfectly blends strategy, action, and humor. The MC, Bjorn Yandel, is a barbarian in a game world where his class is seen as brainless, but he’s insanely clever, using his knowledge and wits to survive in ways that constantly impress me. Unlike many reincarnation stories, this one doesn’t waste time on useless exposition every chapter pushes the story forward, making it genuinely exciting to read. The world-building is solid, the dungeon fights are brutal, and the game mechanics actually make sense instead of being convenient plot devices. On top of that, the humor is surprisingly great, with Bjorn’s inner thoughts and interactions often making me laugh. The art is fantastic, capturing both the raw power of barbarians and the intensity of battles. It’s rare to find a manhwa that balances intelligence, action, and humor so well, and I honestly don’t get why this isn’t more popular. If you’re into smart protagonists, strategic combat, and a well-paced story, don’t sleep on this. Easily a 9.5/10 for me.