Book Review: The Beginning by Joshua Kern (The Game of Gods Book 1)

 Genre: LitRPG • Progression Fantasy • Apocalypse Fantasy

Tropes: System Apocalypse, Mythology-Inspired Gods, Chosen Champion, Survival Quest, Animal Companion, Anti-Social MC, Leveling System, Divine Challenges, Found Family, Road Trip Adventure

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook

Series: The Game of Gods Book 1

    The gods are tired of being forgotten. After centuries of fading into myth and legend, they decide to remind humanity exactly who they are. Their solution? End the world and turn survival into a game. Some gods choose human champions. Others choose monsters. 

    Charles, however, misses the announcement entirely because he sleeps through the apocalypse. The punishment is immediate and brutal: he loses the ability to sleep until he completes twelve divine challenges. His first task seems simple enough—travel from Colorado to Maine and find his sister, potentially the last surviving member of his family. The problem? The world is overrun with monsters, everyone else can grow stronger while sleeping, and Charles can't. Armed with a few divine gifts and accompanied by a loyal canine companion named Alley, Charles sets out across a shattered world where surviving one day at a time is an accomplishment in itself.

    I stumbled across this audiobook while browsing Audible's included catalog and looking for something to fill the void while waiting to continue another series. I've been on a massive LitRPG kick lately, and this one ended up being exactly what I was hoping for. The apocalypse setup grabbed me immediately. Instead of the typical system arrival, we get gods actively participating in humanity's downfall and transformation. The mythology elements add a fun twist to the genre, especially because the gods aren't distant figures—they are directly involved in shaping the world and influencing the people trapped inside it.

    Charles makes for an interesting protagonist as well. He's an anti-social computer programmer who suddenly finds himself navigating a world where social skills might actually be useful. Watching him adapt to impossible circumstances while dealing with the curse of sleeplessness creates a constant sense of urgency throughout the story. 

    The real star of the book, however, is Alley. Give me a giant husky companion that gets bigger, stronger, smarter, and more powerful as she levels up, and I am immediately invested. I will never get tired of animal companions gaining intelligence and becoming full-fledged characters. Every scene involving Alley was a highlight for me, and she easily stole the show.

    Beyond the action and monster fights, I also appreciated the character development. Along the journey, Charles gains new allies and encounters challenges that force him to grow beyond the isolated life he lived before the apocalypse. One particular storyline involving a new companion added a surprising amount of emotional depth and helped develop both characters in meaningful ways. The pacing stays consistently strong throughout, with plenty of combat, progression, and system-based advancement to keep things moving. By the end, the major characters feel well established, the world has expanded considerably, and the groundwork has been laid for future books.

    While the story does end on a cliffhanger, it feels like a satisfying first installment because so much time is spent developing the characters and setting up the larger journey ahead.

    As for the audiobook, I thought the narration was excellent. The narrator delivered clear character voices, handled the action sequences well, and—most importantly—never had any distracting pronunciations that pulled me out of the story. It's a single-narrator production, but I never struggled to follow conversations or identify who was speaking.

    At this point I've already read Book 2, which should tell you everything you need to know about how much I enjoyed this one. And yes, Book 3 is absolutely on my TBR.

You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• System apocalypse stories
• LitRPGs with strong progression systems
• Mythology-inspired fantasy worlds
• Gods interfering directly with humanity
• Animal companions that level up
• Survival adventures across post-apocalyptic landscapes
• Anti-social protagonists forced to grow
• Monster hunting and dungeon-style combat
• Road trip fantasy adventures
• Audiobooks with strong narration

A highly entertaining LitRPG apocalypse featuring divine challenges, nonstop progression, memorable characters, and one of the best animal companions I've read in a long time. Alley alone is worth the price of admission.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Game Master’s Legacy by Michael D Bridges

Genre: LitRPG • Sci-Fi Fantasy • Cyberpunk Adventure

Tropes: Full-Immersion VR, Disabled MC, Sentient NPCs, Evil Corporation, Glitch-Walker, Virtual Reality Survival, Inherited Legacy, AI Consciousness

Spice Level: None

Format: ARC / eBook

Series: Potential Series Starter

    Kade’s real world is painfully small. Confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator for most of his life, his only true escape exists inside Aethelgard, the fully immersive VR world his father created before his death. In the game, Kade isn’t weak or fragile—he’s a legendary speedrunner and glitch-walker capable of bending the world’s rules.

    But now the corporation Neosy wants control of the system. And Kade refuses to let them take it. Aethelgard is more than just a game. It’s the only place Kade has ever truly felt free, and his father left him the keys to protect it. There’s just one problem: every code alteration comes with a cost under the Law of Conservation of Code. And Kade himself is the price.

    Meanwhile, Neosy has unleashed EGO to “optimize” the system and recover the mysterious soul-data hidden within the game. They won’t stop until they control everything—including the sentient NPCs who may be far more alive than anyone realizes.

    I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author.

    As someone who absolutely loves LitRPGs and full-immersion VR stories, this immediately grabbed my attention—but what surprised me most was how different it felt from most books in the genre. Kade’s physical disability fundamentally shapes both the emotional core of the story and the stakes within the game itself. In most VR LitRPGs, the virtual world is simply an escape or power fantasy. Here, Aethelgard is deeply personal. It’s the one place where Kade can move freely, feel independent, and connect to the legacy his father left behind. That emotional weight made the story hit harder than I expected.

    The concept behind the “Law of Conservation of Code” was one of the coolest parts of the book. Any change to the game must be balanced with a cost, and because Kade is considered the most unstable variable, he absorbs the consequences physically. It added genuine tension to every major action and made the coding mechanics feel dangerous rather than convenient. That said, the phrase itself was repeated a lot throughout the story—twenty-three times, according to my count—and it occasionally became distracting. Similarly, Kade consistently referring to his father by his full name instead of simply “Dad” during emotional moments felt a little unnatural to me.

    But honestly? Those were very minor complaints in an otherwise incredibly engaging read. I finished the book within 24 hours because once it gets moving, it’s hard to put down. The battle scenes are intense, the emotional moments land well, and the sentient NPCs completely stole my heart. I will always love stories where artificial beings blur the line between programming and personhood.

    And the revenge? Absolutely deserved. Vane got off far easier than I personally would have allowed. The ending leaves room for future books with a small cliffhanger that feels intriguing without being frustrating, and I would absolutely continue this series if the author expands the world further.

---

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG and VRMMO stories
• Full-immersion virtual reality worlds
• Disabled protagonists in fantasy/sci-fi
• Sentient NPCs and AI consciousness
• Cyberpunk corporations and conspiracies
• Emotional sci-fi adventures
• High-stakes coding and game mechanics
• Fast-paced action with emotional depth
• Ready Player One-style vibes
• Stories where virtual worlds truly matter

A fast-paced and emotionally grounded LitRPG that blends immersive VR gaming, corporate intrigue, and heartfelt character stakes into a genuinely compelling sci-fi adventure.

This book will be published June 1, 2026, but I do not yet have price points or if it will be available with Kindle Unlimited. I will update this page when I know more. 

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1)

 Genre: LitRPG • Sci-Fi Fantasy • Apocalypse Adventure

Tropes: Dungeon Crawl, Alien Invasion, Survival Game, Talking Animal Companion, Dark Humor, Reality TV Apocalypse, Leveling System, Found Family

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1

    When The Flattening happened, Carl was outside in nothing but boxers, a jacket, and his girlfriend’s too-small Crocs trying to coax her prize-winning cat out of a tree during the coldest night of the year. Then every building on Earth vanished. Aliens have arrived, civilization has collapsed, and the only chance humanity has to survive is entering massive underground dungeons scattered around the globe. If humanity can clear every level, they get to keep Earth.

    Simple, right? Now Carl and Princess Donut—yes, the cat—must descend floor by floor through a televised apocalypse filled with monsters, traps, insanity, and an AI host that may be having entirely too much fun watching humanity suffer-and a weird fetish.

    Welcome to the dungeon, crawler.

    I absolutely love LitRPGs, and this series had been floating around my book group forever before I finally gave in and started it. My husband had technically started it first but never finished… until I bullied him into continuing because I needed someone else to witness the chaos. And chaos is truly the best word for this book.

    Princess Donut Queen Anne Chonk, Best in Dungeon is hands-down one of the greatest characters I’ve ever encountered in a LitRPG. She starts off delightfully obnoxious, overly dramatic, and completely ridiculous—but somehow becomes impossible not to love almost immediately.

    Book one mainly establishes Carl, Donut, and Mordecai while throwing them headfirst into complete madness. Between murderous monsters, explosive combat, bizarre dungeon mechanics, and an AI obsessed with feet for reasons I genuinely do not want explained, the humor in this series is unmatched. The dark comedy absolutely lands.

    One minute you’re laughing at Donut demanding proper recognition and the next you’re witnessing horrifying dungeon brutality. Somehow the series balances absurdity and violence perfectly without losing momentum.

    I listened to this on audiobook and immediately started book two the second it ended. The narration is phenomenal. The narrator gives Carl this Kronk-esque energy that somehow works perfectly, and now I genuinely cannot imagine Carl sounding any other way. Donut’s voice is equally iconic.  And yes—Donut talks. A magical pet biscuit gives her sentience, and from that point onward the series becomes even more unhinged in the best possible way.

    This book ends with Carl and Donut descending to the next floor, already mildly traumatized and wildly underprepared for what’s coming next. Unfortunately for them—and fortunately for us—it only gets worse from there. The combination of nonstop action, dark humor, ridiculous dungeon mechanics, explosive violence, and genuinely lovable characters makes this one of the strongest LitRPG starters I’ve ever read. Add in the unusual detail of Carl being former Coast Guard instead of the typical overpowered military archetype, and the whole thing just feels fresh.

    At this point my ringtone, notification sound, and phone background are all Dungeon Crawler Carl themed, so I think it’s safe to say this series consumed my personality a little bit. No regrets. I don’t feel like I need to say that I will be reading on in this series, because who could possibly stop after book one? After all crawlers, we have to get out there are “Kill, Kill, Kill!” There isn’t a thing I would change about these books and will be sad when I run out of them. Side note. I MAY have a DCC tee shirt on that says "I AM YELLING, CARL" as I write this...

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG and dungeon crawl stories
• Dark humor mixed with brutal survival
• Talking animal companions
• Reality TV-style apocalypse settings
• Explosive action and nonstop chaos
• Alien invasion stories
• Video game leveling systems
• Audiobooks with incredible narration
• Found family dynamics
• Ridiculous humor alongside real emotional stakes

An absolutely chaotic LitRPG masterpiece full of explosions, monsters, dark comedy, and one unforgettable talking cat.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 2)

Book Review: Dungeon Incursions 3 by Adam Bright (Dungeon Incursions Book 3)

 Genre: LitRPG • Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy • Dungeon Crawl

Tropes: Dungeon Runs, Monster Portals, Team Progression, Apocalypse Survival, Leveling System, Government Control

Spice Level:  None

Format: Audiobook

Series: Dungeon Incursions Book 3

    Lance and his team have survived another brutal dungeon run and are steadily leveling up in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Once they’ve stopped “vibrating” enough for another incursion to be considered safe, they head toward a farm two hours outside the city. But outside the dungeons, the world is still changing. The government has issued a new directive that could drastically alter how survivors move forward—and Lance’s group will have to decide where they stand before the next portal opens.

    I’ve now read the first three installments in this series, and they absolutely need to be read in order. That said, I use the term “book” loosely here because these read more like episodic dungeon-crawling adventures than full-length novels.

    The primary focus is very clearly dungeon runs, combat sequences, monster encounters, and power progression.

    And honestly? The dungeon sections are the only fun bit. The portals themselves are one of the coolest aspects of the series. Each dungeon functions like a gateway into another world where monsters spill into Earth until the boss is defeated and the surviving humans are ejected back into reality. It’s a fantastic premise and creates nonstop tension whenever the team enters a new incursion.

    This installment’s dwarven enemies were especially well described, and the action scenes remain the strongest part of the series. The author clearly excels at combat and environmental descriptions.

    Where the series struggles a bit for me is outside the action. Even after three installments, there’s been very little character development, and I’m still not heavily invested in the cast themselves. The quieter moments often feel rushed—as though the story is eager to get back into the next dungeon instead of slowing down long enough to deepen the characters or world-building outside the incursions.

    Because of that, these feel more like “episodes” than fully fleshed-out novels. That isn’t necessarily bad—it just depends on what you’re looking for. If you want nonstop dungeon action and progression mechanics, this absolutely delivers. If you’re hoping for deep emotional arcs or heavy character-driven storytelling, it may feel a little thin.

    I already own the next two installments through the box set, so I’ll definitely keep going to see if the emotional investment catches up with the excellent premise.

---

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG apocalypse stories
• Dungeon crawling and boss battles
• Fast-paced action over heavy character drama
• Monster-filled alternate worlds
• Team-based leveling systems
• Episodic fantasy adventures
• Portal fantasy with survival stakes
• Continuous combat and progression mechanics

A fun, action-heavy LitRPG with an excellent dungeon concept that shines brightest when the monsters start pouring through the portals.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Dungeon Incursions Book 1

Dungeon Incursions Book 2

Book Review: Drone Ensign by Kyle Johnson (Drone Rising Book 1)

 Genre: Science Fiction / LitRPG / Space Opera

Tropes: Dystopian System Control, Leveling Up, False Memories, AI Companion, From Nothing to Captain, Willpower Awakening, Cliffhanger Ending

Spice Level:  None – Action-Focused

Format: Audiobook

Series: Book 1 

                Drone Benning Kidd serves very little purpose. She walks the tunnels, cleans mold, and walks on with her little ai assistant. She doesn’t think of anything or remember long term things. In fact, if she tries the system rewards her with a sharp dot of pain to curb her desire to further the pain by thinking. When she is offered 3 game credits to go on a second job for the day she doesn’t hesitate. 2 credits is rare, but 3 for 1 job is basically unheard of. When she arrives she is to be put into a chamber to be chosen for a Citizen to be respawned into. But, the system deems her willpower too high for a drone, moving her up to a Citizen herself. Now, with false memories in place Benning Kidd decides to take on her new life as a warrior and starship captain.

                I got this book with my audible credit of the month. I have been on a bit of a LitRPG kick recently and it seemed like a good idea. I haven’t read a lot of space opera’s but this one is decent. We have a character that was the lowest of the low, little more than a meat suit waiting for a Citizens respawning needs. She gains consciousness and her own Citizenship, but temporarily looses her memories in the process. With the system urging her to “move ever forward” and a new set of false memories to go with her desired plan for the future she is ready to become a starship captain and warrior.

                This is a very action packed book although the audiobook left much to be desired. If I hear km and m physically said instead of meters and kilometers one more time I may just go insane. I almost stopped reading the book entirely because of it and my husband asked me if this was an ai generated read since surely no human narrator could be simple enough to literally say the letters instead of the metric reading system. Except according to google it’s a decently popular narrator. Now, I get to start looking for that narrator’s name to avoid.

                The story ends on a cliff-hanger and I might get the eBook to read on, but no way am I going near the audiobook again. Ignoring the audiobook I enjoyed the story. I won’t hold the narrator’s poor performance against the author. It really isn’t their fault. I really enjoyed the non-stop action in this book as well as how Ensign Benning Kidd was able to manipulate both the system and those around her. It made for an enjoyable read that kept you wondering what she would do next. Also, the amount of petty revenge in this book is just wonderful.

                This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $6.99 by clicking here. (eBook- not audio)

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG progression fantasy in space
• AI-controlled dystopian systems
• Strong female leads rising through ranks
• Starship captain arcs
• Non-stop action
• Strategic manipulation of rigid systems
• Cliffhangers that demand the sequel

A high-action sci-fi with a clever, evolving heroine—just maybe grab the eBook instead of the audiobook.

Book Review: Dungeon Incursions Book 2 by Adam Bright (Dungeon Incursions Book 2)

Genre: LitRPG / Dungeon Crawl Fantasy

Tropes: Dungeon Clearing, Progression Fantasy, Leveling System, Party Dynamics, Survival Strategy, Class Upgrades, Monster Waves

Spice Level: None

Format: eBook

Series: Dungeon Incursions Book 2

    After clearing the first dungeon, Lance and his newly formed crew prepare to tackle the next. With fresh upgrades and no real guide explaining how the system works, they hesitate over class choices—but survival doesn’t wait for perfect planning. The second dungeon raises the stakes with more intelligent enemies, stronger creatures, and increased danger at every turn.

    At the end of Book 1, I wasn’t a fan of Lance. He came across as unnecessarily abrasive. In this installment, he tones it down—but I’m not convinced it’s character growth. It feels more like situational focus than meaningful development. I’m still undecided on him as a protagonist.

    The bigger issue for me is structure. These aren’t traditional “books” so much as episodic dungeon runs. Each installment feels like a single instance within what could easily be one larger novel. By the end of Book 2, I was hoping to see a broader plot begin forming, but so far it’s mostly just sequential dungeon progression without much narrative depth.

    The premise works if you enjoy pure dungeon-crawl mechanics and incremental leveling. However, I’m still waiting for more story substance—some larger conflict, world-building expansion, or character evolution—to give the series more weight. Without that, I may not continue.

    There’s not much more I can say without spoiling the entire dungeon run.

📚 Availability:

Available on Kindle Unlimited, or purchase on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• Pure dungeon crawl LitRPG
• Class selection and skill upgrades
• Monster-wave survival progression
• Party-based combat mechanics
• Episodic, instance-style storytelling

⭐ You may want to skip if you prefer:

• Deep character development
• Expansive world-building
• Strong overarching plot arcs

Books by this Author: 

Dungeon Incursions Book 1 

Dungeon Incursions Book 3

Book Review: All Jobs and Classes! I Just Wanted One Skill, Not Them All! Book 1 by Comedian0 L

 

 Genre: LitRPG / Fantasy

Tropes: Reincarnation, System-Based Progression, Child Prodigy, Power Leveling, Skill Collection, Dungeon/Labyrinth Crawling, Found Family (Light), Slow-Burn Worldbuilding

Spice Level: None

Format: eBook

Series: All Jobs and Classes Book 1 (Ends on a cliffhanger)

    After dying, Ludger is reborn into a quiet, rural life—with a system no one else seems to have. He retains all memories from his past life and begins leveling up at an unusually young age. Determined to build a stable future for himself and his mother without drawing dangerous attention, Ludger focuses on controlled growth, careful planning, and skill acquisition. What could possibly go wrong?

    I strongly suspect this book is at least AI-assisted, if not fully AI-written. There really should be clearer disclaimers for AI-generated books. While it could be poor writing, the inconsistencies push me toward the AI explanation. The title itself is misleading—it implies Ludger doesn’t want to collect every class, yet throughout this nearly 800-page book, he repeatedly seeks out new masters specifically to gain more skills and abilities.

    Taken in broad strokes, the story is decent. A man dies in his twenties and is reincarnated into a world filled with labyrinths (their term for dungeons), fantastical creatures, and no modern conveniences. He keeps his memories and gains a passive leveling system that activates whenever he’s taught by someone skilled. Determined to make this life better than his last, Ludger devotes himself to leveling every skill he can find. The premise works—but the execution makes it a difficult read.

    The biggest issue is consistency. Errors repeatedly pulled me out of the story—most notably Viola’s grandfather being incorrectly referred to as Ludger’s grandfather multiple times, despite them not being related at all. These kinds of mistakes add up and seriously hurt immersion.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning:

    The book ends on a clear cliffhanger, with Ludger (now 7) and his half-sister Viola (12) walking into a battlefield camp, where they’re confronted by her grandfather and their father. I don’t personally feel this ruins the story, but I’m flagging it just in case.

    If this book were rewritten—by a human—I’d be more than willing to continue the series. As it stands, I don’t plan to read further.

📚 Availability:

Available on Kindle Unlimited, or purchase on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• LitRPG or Isekai with system-based leveling
• Reincarnation stories with child protagonists
• Skill collection and power progression
• Dungeon/Labyrinth fantasy settings
• Long-form worldbuilding (800+ pages)

⭐ You may want to skip this if you dislike:

• Writing inconsistencies
• Misleading titles
• Suspected AI-assisted prose
• Cliffhanger endings

Book Review: Dungeon Incursions by Adam Bright (Dungeon Incursions Book 1)

Author: Adam Bright

Genre: Apocalyptic LitRPG

Tropes: System Apocalypse, Dungeon Breaks, Party Formation, Real-World Setting, Skill Progression

Spice Level: None

Format: eBook

Series: Dungeon Incursions Book 1

    On the way home from archery practice, Lance and his friends witness monsters attacking their town and instinctively jump into action. When their kills immediately reward them with coins, it becomes clear that the world as they knew it is over. The apocalypse has begun—ushering in dungeon incursions and a game-like system in classic LitRPG fashion.

    This is a fun, fast-paced post-apocalyptic LitRPG that starts right at the moment everything falls apart. There are no system prompts, no lengthy explanations, and no dramatic speeches—just monsters suddenly invading a quiet town and chaos unfolding in real time. While I haven’t read a huge number of LitRPGs set in the modern real world, they remain some of my favorites, and this one fits squarely into that niche.

    That said, there were a few elements that felt odd to me. Most notably, there are no visible stat sheets. Characters can tell they’re improving their skills through use, but they can’t see numerical levels or progress bars. Additionally, all upgrades are coin-based, and arrows cannot be retrieved when looting, effectively making them single-use items. I personally would have liked to at least see an option to purchase stat sheets or system access through the in-game shop—even if that wasn’t available immediately.

    A quick heads-up: this is a very short read at just 112 pages. Book one focuses almost entirely on establishing the party, lightly sketching out the characters, and completing an initial dungeon run. Very little happens beyond setup. I do already have book two, so I’m hoping the story gains more depth and momentum as the series progresses.

    One final note: the MMC was my least favorite character in the book. He’s abrasive and honestly kind of a jerk, and I’m very much hoping for significant character development moving forward.

You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• System apocalypse stories that start immediately when the world ends
• LitRPGs set in the modern, real world
• Dungeon incursions and early party formation
• Fast, easy reads that focus on setup rather than deep lore
• Skill-based progression without heavy stat crunching

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Dungeon Incursions Book 2 

Dungeon Incursions Book 3

Book Review: A Sovereign’s Scorn by Luke W. Logan (Dragon's Dilemma Book 1)

Author: Luke W. Logan

Genre: Fantasy LitRPG

Tropes: Monster Protagonist, Underdog to Overpowered, Gender-Bender, Hidden Identity, Slow Burn Progression

Spice Level: 🌶🌶 – Moderately low spice with a few explicit scenes

Format: Paperback

Series: Dragon’s Dilemma, Book 1

 

   Typhoeus was born the runt of his dragon litter and cast out of the dragonspires into the foothills, forced to survive among the lesser monsters that Creation has populated the world with. Typhoeus is Level-capped until he reaches the age of 100, while human adventurers—unrestricted by such limits—regularly invade his cave in hopes of capturing the “evil dragon runt” for their guild.

    To survive, Typhoeus assumes an alternate form: a carefully designed human female body, crafted to appear unremarkable based on human artwork he sourced from passing caravans. As “Typh,” he must navigate the adventurers’ world from the inside, pairing up with another level-1 adventurer to level discreetly and avoid suspicion.

    I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The novel opens from the perspective of Typhoeus’s mother before quickly shifting focus to Typheous himself for the remainder of the story. 

    One notable element is the gender-bender aspect. Typh is male as a dragon, but his human form is female. Internally and in narration, Typh is always referred to as male, while other characters perceive and refer to him as female. Personally, I found this perspective split somewhat distracting and felt it took away from immersion at times.

    This is largely a low-spice LitRPG, though there are a handful of explicit scenes scattered throughout. These scenes are technically female/female in presentation, though Typh is still referred to as male internally. I chose to skip these moments, as they felt cringy to me—but more importantly, they are entirely skippable and do not impact the plot or character progression.

    Outside of that aspect, I loved this book. A LitRPG told from a monster’s perspective—rather than yet another human adventurer—is a refreshing change of pace. It’s a clear underdog-to-triumph story, even if Typh is already OP once in human form. I’m very interested to see where the series goes next.

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• LitRPG with non-human or monster protagonists
• Underdog stories with steady progression and power growth
• Fantasy worlds with detailed leveling systems
• Hidden identity and dual-form characters
• A fresh twist on traditional adventurer narratives

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Nemesis by Anna Mocikat (Space Punks Book 4)

     Before heading to the tunnel Niemand  believes Hel and the crew should first go back to Ceres as the artifact previously found is part of a twin set. If that is true, the potential could be catastrophic. While thinking on this Hel and the crew travel to get supplies for the long journey through the tunnel. However, nothing with Nephilim's crew is ever cut and dry. Especially when an old lover turned foe is hot on their heels. 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have read every book that Anna has put out since I first found her and have yet to be disappointed by one. I will start by saying this is book 4 in an, as of yet, unfinished series. It cannot be read as a stand-alone and does end on a cliffhanger. The main purpose of this story has been accomplished while there is plenty more that still needs to be resolved. I will definitely be reading the next book whenever it comes out. On to this one. 

    I loved the writing and the scenery. We still have all of the same characters from the first 4 books along with 2 new characters from the last book. We have gained more information about the foes and about our puppies. Be that David or Grinder. Grinder has absolutely made his way to my favorite character spot, but of course how could a giant murderous cyber-dog not? 

    I can't wait to find out what this new information has in store for David and if the potential for a better future for the professor is there with his more recent attitude change. I love how the book left off right before the epilogue, although I do hope the one that was taken control of is going to survive and not be a vegetable afterwards. I am being very intentionally vague so as not to give anything away. 

    Absolutely loved everything about this fast paced and action filled book. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author:

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angels (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2) 

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3)

Last Stand (Behind Blue Eyes Book 4)

The Tigress (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)

Level 1 (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Level 2 (Cyber Squad Book 2)

Level 3 (Cyber Squad Book 3)

Nephilim Volume 1 (A Behind Blue Eyes Origin Story Book 1)

Nephilim Volume 2 (A Behind Blue Eyes Origin Story Book 2)

Nephilim Volume 3 (A Behind Blue Eyes Origin Story Book 3)

Space Punks (Space Punks Book 1)

Nightengale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Shadows of the Past (Space Punks Book 3)

Neon Nights (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 1)

Neon Dreams (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 2)

Neon Fever (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 3)

Book Review: The Mayor of Noobtown by Ryan Rimmel (Noobtown Book 1)

     After a fatal car crash Jim finds himself being cast as a new character for a demon's game of D&D. Except he is still cognizant and soon finds a way to travel to this new world under his own control. Unfortunately, there is no way back to his family and now he is stuck with an annoying shoulder demon whose only goal is to retrieve his levels and once more become the all powerful creature he was before. He has fallen into an old world style area in a noob area. Except the area has long since been abandoned and no one bothered to tell the creatures to take it easy. Can Jim and Shart team up long enough to survive? 

    My husband suggested this book to me as soon as he read that Jim named the demon Shart. Yup. It stands for EXACTLY what you are thinking. The verbiage is crass. The violence is at a ten. And the attitudes are real. So of course I LOVED this book. Seriously though, if you are a fan of the tabletop game, role playing games, and are fine with the type of talk that those games almost always have you'll love this book. 

    This is real world/game world combined. Death is real and permanent, but leveling up a character is also possible. We start out low level, but because he was offered a unique build Shart isn't very helpful other than by telling him he shouldn't be able to do some of the things he does. We follow Jim as he travels to a nearby abandoned town. Along the way he does some minor animal hunting and runs across some goblins that are a bit smarter than the wolves before them. Then the wolves of the goblins are even smarter. Defeating them will be a challenge, but the possible reward is more people for his new town. 

    The writing in this book is not awe-inspiring. There are typos, grammatical errors, and incorrectly used words. Still. The book was good and the quests we began and finished kept my interest and I would definitely be willing to read more on the series. I think my husband actually did finish the series and I heard no complaints about it. There are also stat sheets in the book. For some this is a good thing for others it is a detractor. Personally, I skipped them. It didn't take away from the story and I didn't feel like I was missing anything not knowing the information. 

    This book ties up the quests that had begun while being a bit of a cliff-hanger. There is still plenty of opportunities where this story will go and I hope for good thing. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Clattering by Joan Wendland

     With no memory of who you are or how you arrive you walk up to a group at a table in a bar. They tell you that people only come to a bar for two things to drink or for information and ask what you are there for. After a moment you hear yourself speaking, filling them in on your past and asking them to band together to travel on a quest. Suddenly, you remember these details about yourself and your past. As you travel every once in a while you hear a clattering before anything, or nothing at all, happens. What could this be and what could this mean for yourself and your newfound crew?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I say book, but honestly it is barely countable as a Novella. It is tiny. In fact, most of what I said above is most of the book. But, the author's blurb gave away more than I wanted to. In fact, it basically gave away the only mystery the book had it in. So, I am leaving it out. You'll probably still be able to guess what the clattering is, but maybe not. 

    What little of a book there is to this it was decently written and the characters weren't bad. If there was more meat to the story it would have been more enjoyable. Instead, it felt a bit rushed and condensed. Not a bad thing if you are going for a short story, but for an actual book or even Novella it needs to be longer. Again, I am not saying I didn't like the story. It was good and I love D&D as much as the next girl, and LitRPGs are among my favorite. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: A Healer’s Gift by Tao Wong (Adventures on Brad Book 1)

     Daniel was gifted by the Gods at birth with the ability to heal even the most grievous wounds. However, this gift is not without great cost. Each time he heals he looses an equal amount of memories and experiences. While his gift is not something he advertises, he does use it when the need arises. With his goal of becoming an Adventurer Daniel travels to a nearby town, leaving his previous mining experience to go on Dungeon runs. Whether he succeeds or not will depend on the friends and decisions he makes along the way. 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book is a LitRPG where the main character lives the RPG without thinking it is a game. He levels, has gifts that have an exchange rate, and can obtain new skills. The characters within the book range in a wide variety of species, but they all work well together with their own skillsets. 

    This book is a nice change of pace from my normal readings. Normally I read the books that the character is entering into a VR world that is completely immersive versus this is their daily life. The change of pace was nice, and the book had a lot to offer. The dungeon runs and friendships along the way rounded out the book nicely.     

    The book does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger after the healing, but I don't want to spoil anything. It was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the future. 

    This book is available on Amazon for FREE by clicking here. 

Book Review: Crimson Sands by J. Arthur Klein

 

    James had been waiting on Crimson Sands to come out since he first heard of it. A new VR experience that was taken to the next level by new VR pods? When he learned that the local arcade would be adding a few of the pods in preparation for the new games launch, James was quick to reserve a spot. From the moment he entered the game he could tell this would be an experience unlike any other. No information about the game was released prior to launch, yet everyone couldn't wait to start the game, even with the bugs. How far into the game can James and his new friend go? 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. As an avid gamer I love VR and LitRPG books. I have a soft spot for them and very rarely turn down the opportunity to read one. This book is one that I personally would LOVE to read the next in the series of. 

    While there are in-game threats, this isn't a 'God in the Machine' mechanic that we see so often in these books. The gaming experience is fun and amazing while allowing the reader to get to know the characters. Then we get a little bit of real-world inside the pages as well, which is where the real threat lies. I will be completely straight-forward with you and let you know that this book does end on a cliff-hanger. BUT, trust me when I say that this is one book you just want the next one for, even if it does leave you hanging. 

    The characters are amazing. The world building is amazing. You get just enough information to feel like the pods are possible while enjoying the SciFi of it all. The book is well written and I look forward to more from this author in the future! 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Paladin Unbound by Jeff Speight (The Archives of Evelium Tale Book 1)

     Uhmbra the Peacebringer is shunned by society for being a half-orc. Plagued by tragedy as a young boy he sought refuge in a monastery whose monk trained him in the ancient, illegal, art of the Paladin. After achieving silver status Uhmbra leaves the church, becoming a mercenary with a band of trusted allies. When they travel to bid for a contract and are granted it Uhmbra's earlier training is called upon. A dark force is encroaching on Evelium and if he does not stop it his friends will not be the only casualty of this trapped god. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book ties together fantasy and LitRPG well. We start by getting some backstory on the "gods" of this world. Then we fast forward into what is considered present time following a half-orc merc with a secret. This secret ability could have him killed by the king, but he must decide if using these abilities are worth the risk to his life. 

    The main character deals with a lot of loss early on in this book, so try not to get too attached to characters right off the bat. That being said he overcomes it well, while still paying the needed tribute and does not allow this loss to impact additional relationships as the story progresses. 

    I will say that the other characters in the book are oddly understanding of situations. You will see what I mean. I don't know that I would realistically expect most in a position of power to be as understanding as these. I do understand that conflict in this instance would only have drawn out the book. It just didn't seem as realistic because of this. 

    I did enjoy the book and the main characters involved, though. I am sure there will be more exciting adventures to come for this ragtag band of individuals in the future. The setting is amazing and well described, as are the antagonists and battle scenes. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $6.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Guy Who Accidentally Started the Apocalypse by David Bushman

     When Cameron gave a coupon for a free sub to a homeless man and the self-proclaimed wizard gifted him a wishing-stone in return he thought it was nothing more than the ramblings of a crazy person. But, when he idly wishes to live a life like those in the post-apocalyptic LitRPG he was listening to his wish was granted. Now, most of Earth's population has been decimated by living plants intent to turn those that remain into zombie-like creatures. With the help of a higher sentient being Cameron begins upgrading himself with no real fear of dying, due to respawn abilities. Can the surviving members make a dent in the alien surge to reclaim their homes? 

    I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I adore this author's writings and was excited to receive this book. The desire to just read this and little else was strong, although I normally read multiple books at once. Still, I haven't had the time to sit and actually write up the review until now, even though the book was finished August 2nd. (Yes, I am the weird person who has a physical notebook filled with the exact dates that I read every book. It dates all the way back to July 2017.) 

    This book is a great combination of the real world LitRPG and VR gaming experience. I haven't read something quite like it within my delves into post-apocalyptic LitRPG and gaming books. I love all of these genres and a mash-up was a yes, please. The author did an amazing job of combining these along with adding in his own personal sense of humor we enjoyed in his other books. 

    Although there is plenty of meat to this story it will absolutely leave you wanting more. Unfortunately, the next book is not out yet and to my knowledge we have not received a pending release date. That being said, there is plenty of action in this book, of all types. 

    The only point of confusion I have in this book is the age of the main character. At the beginning he seems middle aged. While he does receive enhancements throughout the book, I don't know if they ever actually confirmed his age. It did not take anything away from the story by any means, but I was curious. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Darklands Online Book 1

Darklands Online Book 2

Darklands Online Book 3

Darklands Online Book 4

Leo's Game by Dalin J. Bradford

     Can an AI fall in love with a human or visa versa? While creating the story with an AI and prompts from it's human counterpart their interactions slowly bleed away from just the story to include...something more? The story Leo's Game that is being written is about an adventurer discovering magic and fighting to right an accident from years before. Will the story be completed along with more for our writers? 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I've read both of the other books by this author and I enjoyed them. This is probably rank 3 of 3 by him. That isn't to say it's bad, just not really for me. There are enough AI written books as is right now. This book isn't written by an AI, but it's about an AI writing a story. 

    The story within the story is decent. I like the interactions between the character Leo, his friend, and his mentor. While most of the fighting scenes are skipped within the book they are implied. Personally, I enjoy fighting scenes, but can understand how they'd get a bit redundant with how often the characters within this story would have been fighting. 

    The interactions between the human and the AI are odd. They start out purely working together human and machine then progress into glitches within the system and it talking about things not solely related to the story. 

    The book is well written, having only found one typo within it's pages. Each chapter is a new interaction between the two writers and you can clearly tell who is stating what at each time, which makes for a good read. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this Author (He likes to change his name based on genre, but I received permission to list all his books together like so): 

Savasana's Kiss by R.C. Robin

Five and Twenty by Chris Ramos

Book Review: Behind Blue Eyes: Last Stand by Anna Mocikat (Behind Blue Eyes Book 4)

 

    After Stavros had Nephilim tortured Metatron is out for blood. While taking his pound of flesh he finds out the delicious information that Nephilim's previous lover, Jake with Rosprom, had been working with this once seemingly powerful man. With war on the horizon every party involved, except the angels, believe Olympias will fall. Will the angels be enough to take on the biggest threat the corporation has ever faced or will the losses be too great? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. If you've been here a while Anna is one of the authors I have done reviews with for the longest time and is also someone I consider a friend. That being said, I don't wear rose tinted glasses when reading her works. I have sent her typos and errors in her books whenever I find them in order to help her. Still, she remains my favorite indie author to receive books from and I am not ashamed to say I have absolutely read her books prior to books I received first when I get hers.  Whenever I get a book from Anna it is always a treat, be it Behind Blue Eyes, Cyber Squad, Nephilim, the Dark City, or anything else she hasn't created yet. 

    With any of these series you are getting a new story that you can't compare to others in the same genre. They're unique and well thought out. I'll also state, with everything currently going on with AI written books, that while Anna is a big fan of cyborgs and machines her books are 100% human written. No machines involved there. 

    This is book 4 in the series and, no, you can't read it as a standalone. You will have absolutely no idea of what is going on when you plunge into the first pages which picks up as book three ends. You'll need to start with one and work your way through. Still, all of the books are exciting and engaging. Even though I had the pleasure of reading the books as they came out they are absolutely binge-worthy. Bonus for the fact that they are on Kindle Unlimited. 

    In Last Stand there are so many ways Nephilim or the war could have gone. I still love Jake. I have from the first book, but for now Neph is right where she needs to be. I want all of her memories to be unlocked so she isn't just looking at things from Metatron's perspective. But, we shall see because this is a story that isn't over. I'm not sure when we will get the next installment of Behind Blue Eyes, but I will update you when I do. 

    I loved the new additions in this book. While they could have easily have destroyed Nephilim as well as wiping out all of the Angel Corps they were exciting. I'd say more, but we wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. You'll just have to read it for yourself!

    My favorite character, Adriel, was in this book as well. We had a few scenes with him and their interactions are as loyal as they have always been. He's saved her before and he'd do it again. He totally deserves his own book at some point. Even if it's a novella. Adriel's Arousing Adventures or something less filled with As. Join him on some conquests and jump more into that brain. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes 1)

Fallen Angels (Behind Blue Eyes 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes 3)

The Tigress (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)

Nephilim 1 (Nephilim 1)

Nephilim Volume 2 (Nephilim Book 2)

Nephilim Volume 3 (Nephilim Book 3)

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Level One (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Level Two (Cyber Squad Level 2)

Level Three (Cyber Squad Level 3)

Space Punks 

Nightingale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Neon Nights (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 1)

Neon Dreams (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 2)

Neon Fever (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 3)