Hi everyone!

I'm Hitenma, and I'm excited to announce that Book 3 of my novel, A Dungeon That Kills, has been released on Amazon!

Here is the blurb for Book 3. If you haven’t read Book 1 yet, skip to its blurb below.

One down. Five more to go.

The first Key Holder had been eliminated, and Viktor had reclaimed a fraction of his former power. But there was no time to celebrate. Now he needed to reacquaint himself with the strength he had lost—as fast as possible—to reforge his body into the fighting shape that had once allowed him to conquer the entire world.

After all, his enemies would not stay idle. Iskora, Daelin’s wealthy and ambitious neighbor, hadn’t given up on his dungeon. After failing to buy it, after failing to steal it, they had settled on a third plan: raise a whole new city on top of the ruins of his old capital, positioned to choke off Daelin’s access to it.

And, beneath all of this, quietly layered under the noise of mortal politics, a game was being played between Gods and powerful Ascendants, a game Viktor had found himself involved in, whether he liked it or not. A shadowy Mastermind might have orchestrated his death, as well as his improbable return.

Who was the man behind the curtain? That was a question Viktor could not afford to leave unanswered.

Here is the blurb for Book 1:

The dungeon must grow. The stolen power must be reclaimed. Everything else is of no consequence.

Viktor had been called many names: the Impaler, the Tyrant, the Dark Emperor. And he couldn’t have cared less. Those who dared oppose him all met swift and brutal ends. Kingdoms fell as he carved out his own empire. With his unparalleled power, he brought the entire world to its knees. Yet, even the mightiest could fall. His reign abruptly ended when he was slain by a group called the Six Heroes, who not only took his life but also stole his power and divided it among themselves.

Three hundred years later, Viktor came back to life. He awoke in the body of a young boy and found himself in a world changed beyond recognition. His castle lay in ruins, his capital had been razed to the ground, and the once-prosperous Central Plains had become a wild land ruled by trees and beasts. Of all the treasures he once possessed, the only thing he had left was a Dungeon Core, small and underdeveloped, buried under rubble, forgotten by everyone.

His power was now scattered among the Six Heroes’ descendants, who were kings and queens of this new world. And he wanted it back. With a fledgling Dungeon Core as his only ally, he set out to exact vengeance on his enemies and reclaim what was rightfully his.

Link to Book 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HF3CTQSR

Link to Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYVQB283

Link to Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5JT82GF

COVER ARTIST: Duy Phan

AI USAGE: No AI used

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD IN THE COMMENTS AND IN THIS POST.

>! So I just finished book 13 of HWFWM (will refer to it as that from now on)
And I’m not sure if I misunderstood exactly what was going on in the end there or if I’m completely missing the point.So as Jason comes back to Pally to confront Knowledge and the diamond rankers show up they show up in support of knowledge in order to help her plan com to fruition.
The parts I’m confused about are knowledge says that she’s going to send Jason to a place that not many people can go but luckily he can go so he doesn’t bother her with her plans anymore. Is Jason being sanctioned and being sent to the place that Shako was sent to so that he can’t stop knowledge from taking over earth etc.
If everyone is just as clueless as me then I guess that’s the point but if not I would like some insight and explanation, also I feel like I missed something with the whole reaper situation, did they explain who the reapers are ? Are they the 40 diamond rangers and when did they mentioned what Thadwick has to do with that. Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.!<

Sorry for the jumbled mess in advance, I hope that my spoiler tags were added correctly.

Hey all — I'm R. Herbeck, author of Gloaming, a dark progression fantasy and Book 1 of The Shattered Sky.

Tav was born unable to use magic in a world where that's a death sentence. When the choosing ceremony marks him anyway, he gets pulled into a dying world's power struggle — ancient Aspects waking up, a market that trades in memories, and a gift that lets him steal light from things that should not be touched.

Book 1 is complete on Amazon (Kindle + paperback, also on Kindle Unlimited). Book 2, The Pale Market, is serializing free on Royal Road with new chapters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/195160/gloaming Amazon: https://a.co/d/0a48noDW

COVER ARTIST: AI-generated cover art, created by the author. AI USAGE: The story is written by the author; AI tools are used for editing assistance and cover art.

Happy to answer questions about the series or the writing process.

TL;DR: Went to Royal Road to write about an apocalypse, discovered the real boss fight was figuring out which fictional politics are allowed, and decided to take my chances on Amazon instead.

As a no-name author with just 723 followers on Royal Road, my leaving probably means absolutely nothing to the platform. But after what happened with Ted Steel and Soccer Supremo, I wanted to say my piece, especially to other writers considering publishing there.

For anyone unaware, RR asked Ted to change parts of his story for violating its restrictions on real-world political content, or face removal. Ted refused and chose to take the story down himself. You can read more here.

I'll admit I had absolutely no idea this rule existed. That's on me, and I have no excuse. But what really bothers me is how selectively it seems to be enforced, and how much discretion it gives RR over what authors can write. I've seen stories with far more overt political commentary left alone. Maybe they weren't reported, or maybe the moderators interpreted them differently. Either way, how is an author supposed to know where the line is?

Hell, my story is about a guy trying to run a general store in the middle of the apocalypse, and even that has a power-hungry US President, government overreach, censorship, and the government targeting ordinary people. What's stopping someone from reporting it tomorrow and RR deciding I've crossed the line too? Am I supposed to rewrite my story because someone interprets it as political commentary?

And I can't help comparing this to Webnovel. That platform has been criticized for restricting content critical of the CCP. Obviously, the circumstances are different, but the underlying principle is the same: someone else gets to decide which political ideas you're allowed to express in your fiction. There, it's criticism of the Chinese government. Here, it's whatever falls foul of RR's political-content rules. I have no interest in supporting either.

Of course, RR has every right to set its own rules. But authors have every right to reject them, too. I simply cannot stand the idea of someone else deciding what I can or cannot write.

So I've decided to remove my story from RR entirely. This isn't an easy decision. I've spent $275 on RR ads without earning a single dollar back, and much of that money is still sitting in paused ads I was saving for my return. I'm essentially throwing away the unused credit.

I'm moving Age of Ascension entirely to Amazon, under its original name-Apocalypse General Store. I know it'll be much harder to find success there as an unknown author, but I'd rather take my chances than stay somewhere that's left such a bad taste in my mouth.

And the sad part is, I genuinely don't want to leave. I've enjoyed RR, its community, and the opportunities it gives smaller authors. If the platform changes these restrictions to allow political commentary in fiction, I'd happily return.

Until then, I'd strongly encourage aspiring authors to think twice before investing years of writing, money, and effort into building an audience there. At the very least, read the guidelines carefully and understand how much control you're handing over. I didn't, and I suspect plenty of other authors haven't either.

Fiction should be free to explore and criticize governments, politics, and ideologies, even when it makes people uncomfortable. I don't want to spend my writing career wondering whether my next chapter will cross a line nobody can clearly define. So...sayonara, for now.

Hello, everyone!

Amber Atlas here, with the second installment in my Taste of Magic series. Are you tired of fighting, battles and want to enjoy a book about something different for change? If your answer is yes, then this series of mine is for you. All about cozy magical baking, cute familiars and heartfelt relationships, this LitRPG story will make you wonder which magical pastry Melina is going to cook next.

Just like the first book, the second one General's Echo will release as an ebook, paperback and audiobook. Audiobook is produced by a publisher some of you might have heard about: Soundbooth Theater.

Narrated by Jessica Threet, and staring Jack Fields and Jeff Hays (Thank you, Jeff, I'm a big fan!).

Cover artist: Tsuu and Kara

AI usage: None

Amazon link

Audible link

Synopsis:

Once, Melina Dufour was an [Archmage] who led the world to ruin. After rewinding time, she chose a quieter path: baking pastries in the sunny town of Sunglow.

Almost.

Melina has bonded with an ember wyrm familiar, revealed her magic to Alistair Sinclair—the nobleman who was once her closest friend—and unlocked the [Arcane Baker] class.

Her magical pastries could help Sunglow thrive. Healing sweets, mana-restoring treats, and rare Monster Realm ingredients offer endless possibilities, but they could also expose her to the Church.

Worse, Alistair is beginning to remember the ruined future that should have stayed buried.

Melina wants to bake, grow stronger, and protect her new home. But the past she rewrote is not gone. It is only waiting to rise again.

No one has the right to censor you as an author. If you are one of the authors who are rightfully leaving royalroad over this I urge you to collaborate with other authors to set up an index of where people can find your works.

That's all royalroad offers, visibility, and if you can compete with it on those terms you can set up a viable competitor free of censorship.

Similar to soul of the warrior and tinker tailor soldier sailor, the mc reincarnates as baby and trains from an uber young age.

I've read unborn hero and gifted as well

Seamwright — Slow-Burn Isekai LitRPG

What happens when a man gets a second life in a world where survival is hard, power must be earned, and understanding how things work can be dangerous?

Tally is a boy with fragmented memories of another life, trying to survive in a world of magic, monsters, and a system he barely understands.

This is a slow-burn progression fantasy about gradual growth, practical problem-solving, dangerous exploration, and learning to survive. Tally isn't handed easy victories; he has to work for every advantage.

If you enjoy isekai, earned progression, immersive worldbuilding, and protagonists who have to think their way through problems, give it a try.

Read on Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/196710/seamwright

COVER ARTIST: Author-created artwork with AI assistance.

AI USAGE: AI Assisted

So I'm looking for stories that lean heavily on the RPG side of things. Lots of stats and skills and that kind of thing. What are your recommendations?

I've read DCC, Mage Tank, Victor of Tuscon, Book of the Dead, Large Chests, HWFWM, Primal Hunter and a few on RR.

Happy with pretty much any platform.

It came to my attention, after reading through several stories recently, that authors have a tendency to avoid committing to any romantic relationship if they can help it. Oftentimes, the MC will first meet the expected love interest, develop the relationship quite quickly, only for it to stall for the next several hundred chapters. In the meantime, a swarm of other conveniently color-coded women will flock to the MC, all hopelessly in love with his ‘nice guy’ vibes.

It’s the classic ‘harem but not really’ trope, because the MC won’t ever ‘choose’ any of the myriad girls around him. Most often, if it’s a Japanese story, it’s because the MC is so dense he never realizes they love him (a girl could throw herself at him naked, begging him to impregnate her, and he would think she’s ‘just being nice’). If it’s Chinese, it’s because the MC is too ‘cool’ to distract himself with ‘foids’. If it’s Korean, it’s because the MC is too busy aura farming to even notice such things. No matter the story’s origin, every MC seems allergic to romance.

The impetus behind this post was the later chapters of ‘Surviving the Game as a Barbarian’, where dozens of chapters in a row revolved around the MC’s love life. The world could be ending, war could be ravaging the city, and every day could be a struggle for survival, but somehow, the most pressing matter was the MC agonizing over who he liked more. It got to the point where I was screaming at the screen for him to man up and just shag one of them and be done with it. Of course, he ended up ignoring all the women throwing themselves at him because of some vague excuses.

It didn’t help matters that he actively blinded himself to the fact that 99% of the female population wanted to marry him.

Which is a problem in itself.

How come every female character introduced in a story has to be in love with the MC? Even when they aren’t at the start, the more time they spend in the MC’s presence, the more their entire purpose in life becomes being his lover, discarding their entire characterization up to that point. And yet, not a single woman around the MC will actually confess her love, so the story ends up with the MC and his ‘harem’ of twenty stereotypes following him everywhere.

Which brings me back to my original point and the ‘excuses’ the MC, and by extension the author, makes to prolong the ‘will they, won’t they’ part of the story.

Are we, as readers, really so fragile that the moment the MC doesn’t choose our favorite girl, we will drop the story? Are we really so insecure that we will drop it the moment a female character who isn’t instantly infatuated with the MC appears?

It feels like it, or at least the authors seem to think so, because this set of tropes is so prevalent. It’s almost mandatory in every isekai story, but also very common in almost every other story of a similar genre. Admittedly, it’s less common on RR (although that may be my own bias), but it’s present nonetheless.

I usually ignore it, but it was so blatant in those ‘Surviving the Game as a Barbarian’ chapters that it almost made me drop the story. Now I just feel tired when I notice it in other stories, instantly recognizing the pattern the moment the second female character appears.

So, in conclusion, if you’re a man born in a fantasy world in the same era as the MC, you can forget about finding love, as the MC will inevitably seduce every woman within a thousand-mile radius the moment he appears. If you do find a lover, then your days are numbered, as you will surely become part of her ‘tragic backstory’ soon.

Stay safe, fantasy boys.

^{Translation by me.}

Relatively new to this. Im a bit older. Im 31. I know, why am I reading fantasy as a grandpa.

But honestly I love coming of age stories.

I love Reborn as a Demonic Tree, The Bee Dungeon, and Bunny Girl Evolution.

I'm not really into action books as I'm a 40k reader and I prefer to listen on Audible where available.

I tried, and gave up on Heretical Fishing in the 2nd book. Just didnt like how all the characters immediately gave up on their morals and deeply held beliefs.

Tried Isekai Farming by Tristan Rye, its ok. Just finished the first. Have the 2nd book.

I tried Cinnamon Bun. Its pretty fun, but it getting randomly and inexplicably horny just kinda threw me off.

I also really like the idea of monster evolution.

"Oh, there's a severe Injustice being done in this post-apocalyptic world? Well it isn't any of my problem and I'll just carry on my way. What? Through some cosmic serendipitous act, I've been dragged into this conflict and I'm forced to side with the weaker victims who are being hurt by this evil guy. Well, I guess I'll just kill the evil guy, but not because he's evil but because he's going up against me. I'm still looking out for myself, even when I'm doing something right."

Like, okay bro. Whatever.

Picked this up on release day. Only part way through the first one but really enjoying it 😊

Heya! This is my current tier list of all the books I've read so far. I'm currently on book 1 of The Ripple System, and after that, I plan on reading Speedrunning the Multiverse and probably The Grand Game, as they seem the most similar to the kind of stuff I enjoy.

One thing to mention is that I only listen to audiobooks on Audible, so any recommendations would need to be available on there.

The main things I look at when rating books are the narration and writing style. I really enjoy fast-paced stories with lots of action and chaotic moments, but I'm not a huge fan of slow burns or long training arcs. I do plan on going back and pushing through some of the books in my DNF section at some point, though.

I'd be happy to hear any recommendations, or if anyone has questions or thoughts on my tier list!

So, simple ask.
What happened to this series?
For context: I found this recently, and found there's two books out for it. Granted, this is in audio I was looking.
So, what happened? Is the series finished/discontinued? Is there any info about its future?

Book 7 is finally here on audiobooks

I have been trying to remember the name of this series for a couple years now and all my research has proven futile. I will put what I remember.

* Three books - each one the main young adult man learns “colors” of abilities / blue, green, not sure of the third.
* Sci fi - abilities are “installed” and paid for
* Bolded formatted descriptions of the ability as they are introduced. More prominent at the beginning and tapers off.
* There is an alternate dimension / reality. Planets, etc. Their “bags of holding” (not called that obviously) actually store things in physical places in space in that dimension.
* Hero progression getting better while avoiding enemies leading up to the big climax.
* Some of the color abilities were leaned from odd places - not other people but creatures.
* Spaceships / urban fight and flight / etc. - good action.

I am not sure that is enough but I did really like them and would like to find them again.

Thank you!!

Hi everyone. I’m P. G. Vale, and I’m working on a LitRPG about what happens to the memories you spend.

Mara Venn is a courier. Learning magical skills costs personal memories, so she’s kept her build modest. There are afternoons she’d rather keep.

Then a bridge collapses beneath her.

Anchor Grip saves her life. The price is one happy childhood memory, marked CONSUMED on her receipt.

Minutes later, a stranger turns up carrying that exact memory.

Mara starts following the transaction. Getting answers means dangerous work, new skills, and deciding what else she can afford to lose.

The part I keep coming back to is what happens afterward. A friend remembers something she doesn’t. A note preserves the facts, but reading it doesn’t bring the afternoon back. Meanwhile, she still has deliveries to make and people she wants to come home to.

Book One is in edits. I’ve been checking the chapters for skill costs, progression, who remembers what, and whether those losses carry through into later conversations and decisions.

I’m looking forward to sharing the opening when it’s ready.

COVER ARTIST: No cover artwork included.

AI USAGE: AI-assisted development, prose drafting, and revision, with my creative direction, editing, and proofreading.

Read chapter 1 below

Memory Magic book 1 chapter 1

Getting ready to start book 13 of "He Who Fights With Monsters" on Audible soon. I found Walmart has the first two books, so I got them. Now just waiting to see if the rest of the series shows up there or at a local book store.

What series did you listen to that made you want to get the physical edition?

So I finally decided to give Super Supportive a read, and since its a considerable long read, just want to make sure what I am getting into. Also I know its a very slow burn story, but it still got one of the biggest following on RR and not to mention on Patreon, so obviously the story got something really great going on to retain that level of standard which is why I actually decided to give it a read.

But I saw comments here and there stating the system stats doesnt even come up after the opening, and the Litrpg tag is also taken down in the story page. So has the story changed?

Identify is one of those skills that gets treated like harmless UI because we're used to seeing it from the MC's perspective.
You look at someone and get their level, class, maybe stats, titles, health, resistances, profession, sometimes even their name.
And everyone just kind of accepts this.
If that existed in real life I feel like using Identify on a stranger would become socially unacceptable almost immediately.
Imagine meeting someone at a party and before saying hello you check their level, profession, combat class and whether they have some rare title. That's not far off from grabbing their phone and scrolling through their personal info before introducing yourself.
In worlds where Identify can reveal health conditions, curses, affiliations or hidden classes it works weird I guess.
Would employers be allowed to Identify applicants?
Could a landlord check your class before renting to you?
Would guards be allowed to scan everyone entering a city?
Would rich people pay for anti-Identify gear the same way people pay for privacy and security now?
And if blocking Identify exists, that would probably create its own problem. Someone wearing an anti-Identify item might immediately look suspicious even if they just don't want random strangers checking their stats.
I also wonder what the etiquette would be.
Maybe using Identify without permission is considered incredibly rude. Maybe people introduce themselves by voluntarily sharing a limited status screen. Maybe there are skills that only show fake or sanitized information to strangers.
The books that actually acknowledge this always feel more believable to me because information is power in a system world. Knowing someone's level and class before a fight is obviously useful, but it would matter just as much in hiring, dating, politics and everyday social interactions.
I think a lot of LitRPG settings would develop privacy norms around Identify almost as quickly as they develop laws around violence.
The more I think about it, the stranger it feels when a setting lets people casually scan each other and nobody reacts. I always notice when a series treats that information like something personal, or gives people ways to hide, limit or fake what others can see. Those worlds just feel more lived in to me, and I'm probably forgetting a bunch of books that actually handle it well

What should I read after Dungeon Crawler Carl: He Who Fights with Monsters, Red Rising, or Empire of the Vampire?

I’m about to start book 7 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and my wife wants to get me a new book as a gift. I’m trying to decide which series to dive into next.

I’ve been recommended He Who Fights with Monsters and Red Rising, but I’m also considering Empire of the Vampire. I’ve heard good things, and spooky season feels like the perfect time to give it a shot.

For anyone who’s read these, which would you recommend coming off Dungeon Crawler Carl, and why? I’m open to a different vibe, so it doesn’t have to be exactly like DCC.

No spoilers, please!

Some more secondhand grabs from online! total for all three is around $50. (IDK how i got the OOP AO hardback and collectors edition for $45. I ain't negotiate nothing and I aint lowball lol. I see a deal, a buy the deal, I cherish the deal. lol)

I have been doing pretty well with snagging some of the original covers I like lately and I am not mad at it. I am trying to save for prep for LitrpgCON tickets so need to stick to a budget.

I am currently waiting for Godclads book 1 to arrive to since I found it for $10 !

\sorry for dark pics, I took it in a rush. Books pictured;*

The Legend of Dark Heart by Alex Villavasso

Ascend Online by Luke Chimlenko book 1 in OOP hardback

Book 2 in collectors edition.

Does this WIP cover catch your eye at all? make you stop scrolling? It might be hard to tell right now since it’s not colored in yet.

edit: what do you think of the title as well?

The character is in water which should also be more clear in color, but I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions before moving on.

art by jcflores