Hey all, Sam here.
Today I wanted to try and do a little something different. We’ll see how this goes and I might explore some other fun sub-genres moving forward. There has been a massive rise in popularity for the LitRPG genre of books the past couple of years, although the format first achieved popularity more than a decade ago. And yet…it’s not a genre I’ve explored all that much, although I am certainly intrigued by it. So let’s talk a little bit more about it.
First off, what is LitRPG? Well, it means Literary Role Playing Game, and basically it is where storytelling meets game mechanics, such as what you would find in a video game. We already know I love to read books (this blog started off as solely a book blog for the first few years), but if you didn’t already know, I’m also a bit of a gamer. Yes, I do a lot more tabletop games than video games, but when I play video games, my focus is more on RPG style ones, because I like having more of a plot to my games.
So you would think that this is a genre of books that I would have already dove deep into, to where I’d have a bunch to say about it and a number of recommendations. Well, no. I’ve watched a few anime that would fit the vibes of a LitRPG adventure, but I haven’t really read many. I’ve read a handful of books where the main characters play a game like D&D in the book, but that isn’t technically a LitRPG. I can only think of two–well, three–right now. One I read a year or two ago thanks to NetGalley, one I read a month or two ago because I happened to find it on a book shopping trip, and the third I read like a week ago, so you’ll see that in my May Wrap-Up post. I’ve also realized that I’ve not yet reviewed those books, so I’m going to try and get those prepped up.
Anyway, here’s a few LitRPG books to get me (and us) started with the genre. Having said that, if you are already a fan of LitRPG, then let me know your recommendations in the comments, because I know I’m barely scratching the surface of what’s available out there.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson, The Wandering Inn: Book One, Part One by Pirateaba, How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe
Obviously I’m starting this list with one of the most popular current LitRPG book series: Dungeon Crawler Carl. The eighth book just came out and the final book (which will apparently be split into two actual books due to size) will be coming probably in the next year or so. David and I listened to the audiobook on this one during our drive to Ohio and then back home to Iowa. I’ll probably write up a review for it, so hopefully that is coming fairly soon. It was actually a very interesting story, and I understand the hype for the series now. It is rather action packed too, which keeps the pace moving fairly quickly.
Next up is another one that I’ve read in this selection, and that is the first book in the Heretical Fishing series. It is a lot cozier than DCC, though it still has its moments of action. The main character just wants to stop with the daily grind and just fish. Unfortunately he’s been brought into a world where fishing is seen as heretical.
After that is the Wandering Inn series, which is finally getting the trad pub treatment. Before this you could get physical copies as an indie pub, but the series had also been available in chapter by chapter installments online for free. Due to the trad pub deal, only the first chapter of the first book is still free online, and I’ve read that chapter. I’m intrigued by the rest of this story. It starts with our main character arriving to this other world and stumbling into a rundown abandoned inn. By starting to tidy it up, they start gaining levels as an innkeeper, but I think the story is going to get much bigger and adventure-y from there. I’ve heard that this is possibly the longest fantasy series out there, longer than any series by Brandon Sanderson or even the Wheel of Time series. I’m hoping to read this one soon.
Then there’s How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps. I picked this one up on one of my book shopping trips and just haven’t read it yet. The basic setup is that in this world there is a cycle where a Demon King rises to power, 100 years later a Hero is born to defeat them, and repeat. Only this time it’s only been 23 years and the Demon King has conquered more than half the world. If they wait for the Hero to be born, it might be too late. But our main character has a plan, a ten step plan for success. This sounds like a fun, quick read, and I think it might only be a standalone, so a lot easier to get into than most of the others on this list.
He Who Fights With Monsters by Travis Deverell writing as Shirtaloon, Sentenced to Troll by S.L. Rowland, Level: Unknown by David Dalglish, New Life as a Max Level Archmage by ArcaneCadence
Most of the rest of these are ones I have not read. I recently saw the first book of He Who Fights With Monsters at a book shopping trip, and it sounded interesting and a little more in line with Dungeon Crawler Carl, although more fantasy than sci-fi/post-apocalyptic. The first book is rather large, so I decided to pick up the e-book to start. If I enjoy it, then I’ll probably add the physical books to my collection.
Sentenced to Troll is an indie pub series, and I believe it is considered complete at six books. It follows a main character named Chad, who is basically a troll online, both in games and on social media. Apparently he goes too far during a televised stream and his punishment is 30 days of immersion therapy in an epic fantasy world. The twist is that he’ll be embodying a troll, one of the land’s most despised races. From what I can see of the book synopsis it seems like he might go on a redemption/heroic arc. It sounds interesting to me.
Then there’s Level: Unknown, which is the start of an Isekai LitRPG series. I have read the first one, and I don’t know if I’m going to continue reading it. While it was okay, it didn’t hook me as much as some other books I’ve read.
Finally there is an upcoming release, New Life as a Max Level Archmage which is expected November 10, 2026. This one follows a to-tier gamer who wakes one day in the body of her maxed out character, but a hundred years after the conclusion of the game she played, as it seems there might be another cataclysm coming. It sounds fun to me, so I’m looking forward to picking it up.
All right, well that is all from me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.
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