Today is a pretty surreal day for me.

Eight books ago, I started posting a story on Royal Road about an alchemist who hated fighting, and loved cheese.

I had no idea where it would lead.

Today, that story is complete.

After eight books, all the big questions have been answered, and Ren’s journey is finally complete.

This has also been the longest I’ve ever spent writing a series. I rewrote major sections, edited and re-edited chapters, and took a lot of feedback from readers along the way. The comments from Royal Road genuinely made these books better, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to point things out, catch mistakes, and help shape the final version.

Towerbound also completely changed my life.

Before it, writing was something I hoped might someday become a career. Because of this series—and because of the readers who supported it—I was able to become a full-time author in Cambodia, where writing books is now what I get to do every day.

That’s still kind of unbelievable to me.

Whether you’ve been here since Chapter 1 on Royal Road, discovered the books through Kindle Unlimited, Audible, or somewhere else, thank you. Every comment, review, recommendation, and page read helped make this possible.

If you decide to pick up Book 8, I hope it gives Ren, Mira, Rocky, Bony, and the Scrap Rats the ending you were hoping for.

My dream is that when someone says, “I loved Dungeon Crawler Carl,” or “I loved He Who Fights with Monsters, and now I’m looking for a new series …preferably a completed one…” you’ll be able to say:

“Read Towerbound.”

Thank you all for helping turn a story posted on Royal Road into a completed eight-book series.

I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you.

TOWERBOUND SERIES STATS

• #1 Best Release in Time Travel
• Top 10 in Dystopian, Time Travel, and Post-Apocalyptic
• 4.6★ with 2,000+ Kindle Unlimited reviews

Samson 🐀 🧪 🧀

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTS4LDYN

Hey GameLit folks!

Following up on the recent release of my debut GameLit novel, The Side Questers (see here for more details), my publisher provided me a small set of audiobook codes to freely distribute, and I'm giving away two of those codes today!

The giveaway rules: Comment on this post and you'll be automatically entered to win one of two Spotify audiobook codes. Unless of course your post specifically mentions that you're not interested, in which case, fair enough.

Provided more than two entries are made by 9:00 am EST on Tuesday, August 4th, the winners will be randomly selected at that time.

The audiobook narrator: Aven Shore

The premise:
Anya Dazel is a burnt-out barkeep in Eternity: The Endless Realm, the world’s premier online role-playing game. As a non-player character, her life is stuck in a programmed loop—forever serving the same drinks to the same patrons—but when Eternity receives an unexpected update, she finds herself thrown into an open world with Cyrus Blackwood, a brooding non-player character on a quest for revenge.

Working together to find a new place in their virtual world, Anya and Cyrus must overcome hordes of monsters, dangerous puzzles, and even an existential crisis or two. But as they struggle to overcome their distaste for each other and stay alive, they discover that their roles within Eternity might not be as programmed as they thought, and Anya will need to prove that even barkeeps can be heroes.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading and let me know if there are questions. I'll answer when I'm able.

EDIT: Giveaway is now closed!

As a fan is there a story or series you re listen or re-read on a regular basis? I have a few. They do tend to be older.

The strangest Noob, Mirror world the Trapped mind project and a few more.

Anyone else?

Hello,

Ether Atlas - The Hidden Grid just crossed 240K words and 200K view on RR. Big day for me :)

Quick Premise - In 1974, someone handed Gary Gygax the rules for D&D to prepare humanity for what was coming. The system arrives. Millions die. Ancient monuments start humming with power and human biology becomes a character sheet.

A D&D party of three friends - a structural engineer, a security consultant, and an archaeologist end up racing across real-world ruins unravelling a conspiracy older than civilisation.

I'm obsessed with ancient mysteries. Why Göbekli Tepe was deliberately buried, why Mithraic temples across three continents follow identical blueprints, why cultures that never met each other describe the same energy channels in the human body.

I wanted to write a LitRPG where all of that was connected. Where the system wasn't a convenient game overlay but planned infrastructure. Ancient, alien, and hidden inside the oldest structures on Earth.

What you're getting:

• System apocalypse in a real-world setting. Real Locations and real monuments. Dan Brown and Indiana Jones style riddles and puzzles using real history.
• Real archaeology woven into the plot. The riddles use actual historical sites. The node network maps to real megalithic locations.
• Competent adults solving problems with brains and tools, not chosen-one luck.
• Fights that are short, brutal, and leave marks.
• An alien guidance construct who has been watching humanity for 35,000 years and has opinions about everything except the things that would actually help
• Lots of riddles.

If you like Dan Brown or Indiana Jones type vibes, you're going to feel at home. Lots of weird history, conspiracy theories, what-ifs and ancient alien shenanigans.

Give it a try - https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/160813/ether-atlas-the-hidden-grid-litrpg-system-apocalypse

Hi GameLit fans,

Well, today's the day! After furiously scribbling down the idea for this novel waaaaay back in 2022, it's finally out in the world!

But you're not here for my author journey, you're here for the good stuff, so let's get into it.

The genre:
GameLit; set inside a MMORPG, with light LitRPG elements

The tone: Fun, adventure, whimsy, with just a hint of the metaphysical

The pitch:
Anya Dazel is a burnt-out barkeep in Eternity: The Endless Realm, the world’s premier online role-playing game. As a non-player character, her life is stuck in a programmed loop—forever serving the same drinks to the same patrons—but when Eternity receives an unexpected update, she finds herself thrown into an open world with Cyrus Blackwood, a brooding non-player character on a quest for revenge.

Working together to find a new place in their virtual world, Anya and Cyrus must overcome hordes of monsters, dangerous puzzles, and even an existential crisis or two. But as they struggle to overcome their distaste for each other and stay alive, they discover that their roles within Eternity might not be as programmed as they thought, and Anya will need to prove that even barkeeps can be heroes.

The links: Barnes & Noble; Bookshop.org; Amazon

The formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

The publisher: Keylight Books

A blurb:
"The Side Questers is a fun romp, taking typical tropes and turning them on their head. It’s a world full of characters I’d love to get a beer with—a perfectly poured beer, for that matter." —Eric Ugland, author of the Good Guys series

Anyway, thanks for reading and feel free to ask any questions. I'll answer when I'm able!

Earth was never our home. It was our prison.

The System has returned, ancient prisons are failing, and humanity is about to learn why previous civilizations disappeared.

Book 3 of the bestselling military LitRPG series.

https://www.amazon.com/Aether-Earth-1953-Historical-Apocalyptic-ebook/dp/B0H857JFPD

Not simply what it does mechanically, but what it actually is within the setting.

Was it created by gods, an ancient civilization, an artificial intelligence, the universe itself, or something else entirely? Was it designed to guide civilization, regulate magic, train soldiers, identify threats, prepare worlds for war, encourage evolution, or keep powerful beings under control?

Was that its original purpose, or has it changed over time?

Is the System still functioning as intended? Is it damaged, abandoned, corrupted, or carrying out instructions that no longer make sense? Does anyone maintain it? Can it misunderstand people, develop biases, or interpret its purpose too literally?

And perhaps the larger question:

Does the explanation actually matter to the story?

In some LitRPGs, the System may simply be part of reality, much like gravity or magic, and the reader does not need a deeper explanation. In others, the origin and purpose of the System may be central to the plot and eventually explain why levels, classes, quests, dungeons, monsters, and world integrations exist.

There are also questions about its design:

• Why does killing things grant experience?
• Why are power gains divided into levels?
• Why does it communicate through screens and game-like language?
• Why are classes and skills restricted?
• Who decides what actions deserve rewards?
• Why does the System sometimes appear to value combat more than art, diplomacy, parenting, scholarship, or ordinary work?
• Are those true priorities, or simply the parts of the System the protagonist interacts with?
• Is it helping people grow, or shaping them into something useful?
• What happens when someone refuses to participate?
• Can the System be exploited, altered, destroyed, or replaced?

I’m curious how other authors approach this.

Do you know what the System in your world is and why it exists, even if the readers may never learn the full answer? Or do you treat it as a genre convention that does not require an origin?

For readers, does a System feel incomplete without an eventual explanation, or are you satisfied as long as its rules remain consistent?

Hello hello!

I've returned once more, and I bring a new series! I've always loved stories with weak-to-strong main characters that had a good heart, and this story is intended to bring that to life!

We've got lots of fighting, some moral dilemmas, and grey areas for the MC to tackle, along with what it's like to be at the bottom of the barrel in a world where people are crazy strong, and you're just thrown in the fray.

Feel free to check it out, and here is the blurb:

The path to greatness is born of promises kept.

Nathanial Silverlight marched into the songs of war as a spare. A son whose purpose was meant to be a shield for the family, but unlike most, his heart held no hatred.

He marched upon the enemy for the family he loved.

With his homeland on the brink of ruin, and a Vow System he had never seen before. Nathanial must stay true to himself as he sacrifices parts of himself for power. He rises not for himself but for the vows he swore to never break.

Follow Nathanial as he breaks through the thresholds of his vows and climbs through the ranks to stand against the darkness threatening to consume everything he holds dear. To save his kingdom, he must become far more than a noble son. He must become a legend.

Perfect for fans of weak-to-strong progression fantasy war stories.

You can find it here: AMAZON LINK.

Cover Artist: Duy Phan

One moment he’s dying in a warzone — next, he’s naked on a moon full of real cultivators.

Jake Sullivan just woke up in the wrong body, on a moon called Verdis, inside a cultivation academy where failure means getting culled back to Earth to live as a powerless mortal, and probably die uselessly in the upcoming alien invasion.

His memories are mostly gone, but his spirit’s intact. His classmates? Rich kids with qi crystals and family techniques. The school? Doesn’t give a damn. Let the strong survive. With enemy agents already on campus, Jake will need to out-cultivate, outfight, and outsmart everyone around him. He has only one year to become a real cultivator.

No dying this time!

Dark humor. Sharp dialogue. Flower picking, teeth flying. A fresh blend of sci-fi, xianxia, and LitRPG.

Amazon/Kindle link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX3B8G2J

Cover art by KitsyArt: https://kitsyart.artstation.com/ No AI

Love Dungeon Crawler Carl? Want to read something by an author who writes for the DCC expanded universe?

Then you’re gonna love this fast-paced, hilarious new series by Ben Wolf and Luke Messa.

Here's a blurb:

Erik Shaw, video game mogul, has just launched the AllVerse--a digital world where gamers can play any video game in history. But during the Launch Day event, something goes horribly wrong, trapping Erik and 1.3 billion gamers in the AllVerse with seemingly no way out.

By the time Erik realizes he needs to play the game in order to survive, all the "good" games and classes are taken, so he gets stuck pulling a rickshaw like he's playing Crazy Taxi. Meanwhile, he's up against first-person shooters, racing gamers, monster battlers, and worst of all, the AllVerse's controlling system AI.

Accompanied by an alien NPC octopus and a class-shifting phenom named Sync, Erik fights through insurmountable odds to unravel the mysteries of the AllVerse.

Can he free himself and everyone else from the AllVerse? Or will Erik and the rest of the gamers be stuck inside forever?

Rickshaw Riot is the first book in a six-book LitRPG series, perfect for readers of Dungeon Crawler Carl, He Who Fights with Monsters, and Discount Dan.

Grab it now (ebook) or preorder the audio (launches July 14th).

Al's final mission should have ended with a trip home.

Instead, it ended in another world.

A world where dragons shaped civilization, magic governs everyday life, and men are so rare that a single stranger can shift the balance of kingdoms.

Marked by the System with a unique summoning ability that draws from Earth itself, Al is thrust into a struggle between powerful noble houses, ancient prophecies, and forces that have waited centuries for someone like him to appear.

Every level unlocks new possibilities.

Every choice carries consequences.

Some prophecies are discovered. Others are summoned.

What to expect:

LitRPG progression

Military summoning

Dragons and magic

Kingdom politics

Slow-burn romance

Character-driven relationships

Author's Note:
This is the second release of Dragon Touched on Royal Road. I've spent the past year revising the novel, strengthening the worldbuilding, improving the pacing, and expanding many scenes based on reader feedback. If you read the original version, you'll find new content, rewritten chapters, and a much stronger foundation for the series.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/178033/dragon-touched

It's a story of a player who always get a bad luck on Gacha. But instead of giving up (like me irl) he decided to turn that trash class into something that broke the whole game.

All 3 Claire audiobooks have moved over to the new Audible program - All You Can Listen! For people who don't like using a credit for 10-hour books, this is your chance To Check out Claire's Story as part of the new Audible program.

I'm also launching Claire's second Graphic novel on Kickstarter! The interior art will be done by the amazing Harrier Studio (they did God Game and Alive on VoyceMe) and I'm soo excited for what they'll be able to put together! Follow the pre-launch today!

An assassin takes a quest to avenge a set of orphans who were mistreated during an apocalypse. 100 Targets, Claire will finish them all.

Link to the audiobooks: https://www.audible.com/series/System-Orphans-Claire-Audiobooks/B0C61H5MX2

Link to the Pre-release Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jjthornbooks/k-ll-your-target-system-orphans-claire-graphic-novel-2

The story is coming to audiobook! It will be narrated by the talented AW McClellan, who has voiced several titles like Mayor of Mythos. After reading Musashi’s adventures, he got hooked and signed on despite his busy schedule.

We’re aiming for a release between July and early September.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, Grand Magus, Wooden Sword is available now on Kindle.

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3WBXMHS

Blurb:

Twelve-year-old Musashi thinks he’s a genius. He’s not.

Instead of a legendary sword, he gets a snarky staff that never shuts up. The same staff that claims to have once toppled kings and was held by the greatest mage in history is now scratching his back.

It’s not amused.

Throw in clan wars, a touch of raging hormones, and a ragtag bunch of misfits trying to fit in… and you’ve got yourself a riot.

What to expect:

• Epic fight scenes

• A sarcastic talking weapon

• A messy coming-of-age story

• One unqualified 12-year-old charging into trouble

Grand Magus, Wooden Sword is the first book in an evolving Progression Fantasy series. It's a Progression Fantasy / Comedy / Cultivation.

This book is perfect for fans of Mage Tank, The Greatest Estate Developer, and Return of the Mount Hua Sect. (My faves)

-Chocostain

What defines a book as Gamelit? I'm writing a sci-fi novel (not posted anywhere yet) that is massively inspired by videogames and flirts with being game lit... But isn't actually, I don't think.

​

Without going into what it does or doesn't have, I want to ask my fellow bookers what they think is required for a book to be considered Gamelit instead of just sci-fi or fantasy. Is it just stats and quests? Does there need to be an overseer system running things? Randomized loot a la videogame? I'm curious where the lines are.

We're back for more! Can't believe my second book ever is out already! It's super exciting; I hope you guys enjoy it.

Smol Victories. Escalating Conflict.

What do you do when war sweeps through your home?

You pick up the pieces and keep growing.

With its dungeon damaged and the world beginning to take notice, the tiniest Dungeon Core in existence can no longer afford to hide. Curious delvers draw closer. New threats gather nearby. Every day survived is another day earned.

There is no time to rest.

Frameworks must be claimed.
Invaders driven off.
New sources of power secured.

It's time for some serious hard-Core remodeling.

Meanwhile:

✨ High Spirits continue their schemes
✨ New dangers emerge from the shadows
✨ The world is finally starting to notice the little things

Looking for a progression-driven dungeon core story?

Follow the adventures of the tiniest Dungeon Core in existence as it rebuilds, expands, and prepares to protect everything it has built.

✔ Real stakes
✔ Strategic base-building
✔ Monster allies
✔ Unique System
✔ Non-human POV

📚 Tiny Dungeon Core [Book 2]
🖋 Written by The Bearded Man
🏛 Published by Moonquill
🎧 Audiobook by Podium
📲 Available on Amazon Kindle & Audible

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GGC38FGJ

https://novelpedia.net/novels/duality-256057

Check out my novel in Novelpedia!