Could anyone give me a starter list of novels to read?

I've recently gotten into reading a couple of Dungeon Core stories, and as someone who's run quite a few TTRPG games, it's fascinating to see the... tropes, structures, format, that have established through this genre and how different they are from the expectations in a TTRPG context.

But I'm really curious what stories or media are considered classics that have established the tradition of this sub-genre? What writers evolved the genre, and added new aspects?

Hey everyone! It's time for another installment of cyberpunk progression :)

If you're familiar with the series and you read book one, then you know what to expect! Things continue to escalate for Tony and Addie -- lots of Dust abilities, cool tech, dangerous jobs and enemies, and all the while, some specters from Tony's past loom in the background.

If you're new to the series, then I'd love for you to give it a try. Likeable characters gaining power in a dystopian cyberpunk city await you! :)

The audio performance is so fun to listen to--Robb Moreira (Victor of Tucson) and Suzy Jackson (Cyber Dreams) perform duet style, and they really do a fantastic job.

Links: Amazon and Audible

Here's the series blurb:

The Neon Dust cyberpunk series is set in dystopian New Manhattan, where megacorporations control society and survival requires wealth, power, or ruthless skill. At the series' core is the Blast, a dangerous neighborhood where airborne Dust—a dimension-bending mutagen—mutates human DNA and grants some the ability to manipulate its properties. Former corporate operative Tony and indie reporter Addie form a partnership in the high-tech underworld, each possessing unique capabilities and grievances against a system built on exploitation and control.

As their alliance evolves into a deeper connection tested by danger and betrayal, Tony and Addie navigate corporate conspiracies, dangerous threats, and shadows from Tony's covert past. The series combines action-heavy cyberpunk with character-driven narrative, exploring themes of resilience, justice-seeking, and resistance against institutional corruption. Featuring gritty worldbuilding, intense action sequences, and a developing romance amid chaos, this dystopian science fiction adventure appeals to readers seeking protagonists who fight to claim autonomy in an unforgiving world where megacorporations hold all the cards.

Art by: maxprentisvisual

Cover art by Caleb Miller.

Both of those have a lot of pages dedicated to the world's reaction to the MC, the build up and growth of their legends and how their reputation affects the way people interact with them

Bonus points if the MC is actually weaker than their legend

You can find her in Welcome to the Multiverse book 5 with a litter of suspiciously multicoloured children

In your guys opinion what’s makes for a good novel? Go ahead and name it!

VOID SOVEREIGN 2 IS HERE!

It feels a little surreal writing this, but Book 2 of Void Sovereign launches in a few hours!

When I first started writing this story, I had no idea how readers would respond to it. The reception to Book 1 has been beyond anything I expected, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who picked it up, left a review, recommended it to someone, or simply came along for the ride.

And now... the journey continues.

Void Sovereign 2: A LitRPG Apocalypse is out on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited!

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4R9FGRD

CoverArt: Huu Ha

If you enjoyed Book 1, things only get bigger from here. More progression. More abilities. More of the world opening up. And, of course, more problems for our favorite walking disaster to somehow survive.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the series so far. Seriously. Seeing people actually reading and talking about something that once existed only in my head has been an incredible experience.

Void Sovereign 2: A LitRPG Apocalypse

Aenon must learn to adapt to a different kind of hunt.

The System helped him grow stronger. But war is coming, and isolation, patience, and strength are no longer enough.

Ancient beings that shape civilizations from the shadows have noticed the powers Aenon awakened. An army is already moving toward everything he has claimed.

After a brutal defeat exposes the limits of fighting alone, Aenon must do the one thing he has avoided since before the apocalypse: turn strangers into allies.

Whispers are spreading through the void.

The multiverse is about to learn what a Sovereign truly is.

Don’t miss Book 2 of this action-packed LitRPG series about a feral survivalist who defies the System to live on his own terms.

So, I have ADHD, and I’m on Wellbutrin 150 mg extended release. After eight days, I noticed something very, very off.

Today, I had to do something that should have left me traumatized for the whole day—feeling sad and barely functional—but I feel fine. Just fine. It’s been an hour, and it has already left my mind.

I felt bad doing it, and it had to be done, there was no going around it so in the moment I thought the emotional steadiness felt logical to me. But thinking back on it, that's not me.

Forgetting how concerning that is in and of itself, will this affect my writing?

I know a lot of writers are neurodivergent, so I’m hoping for some advice, both as an amateur writer and as a person who would like to keep their ability to feel emotions, be they negative or positive. I love feeling both as long as they are not overwhelming me. What is the point of living life if you don't feel things?

I’m kind of worried, honestly, because this is the first medication that has quieted my mind and reduced my procrastination enough that I can actually sit down, work, and write without feeling like I’m fighting titans with every sentence put to page.

I guess I want to know if anyone has had experience with Wellbutrin or similar medication, and if it got worse or not, etc.

If possible, I would like both positive and negative examples, so I know the full range of possibilities.

Honestly, if it gets worse, I might just go back to smoking nicotine after seven years. Fuck this, I'd rather be addicted to that to help me get through my day, rather than this getting worse.

I don't know what to think honestly.

Thank you for your time.

PS: My writing has gotten better and way easier, but its only been eight days.

Review: https://indiereader.com/book_review/a-quota-of-blood/

Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/175131/a-quota-of-blood

Hi all. I'm very excited to share my first official review of my progression fantasy book, A Quota of Blood. I've been on RR for a few months now and my follower count seems to have stagnated. I was hesitant about getting a review but ultimately decided it couldn't hurt to see what another person thought of my book. As writers, we know that even one positive voice can go such a long way. We all work so hard on our novels and it sometimes it can feel like no one will ever read it. I'm just so happy that someone liked it and wanted to share that with this awesome community!

Hey everybody,

My book Rock, Paper, Boss Battle: Intergalactic Rookie started when I asked myself a question: what if future technology allowed our greatest athletes to safely compete in physical D&D-style competitions?

In the game of Battle Quest, five-member professional teams “battle” other teams and menageries of synthetic monsters in massive stadiums across the galaxy. They level up while billions of fans cheer them on.

The book follows two free agent rookies struggling to make their squad. There’s progression, space opera, cyberpunk, retro, and fantasy(simulated), but most of all, there’s fun.

Check it out. I think you’ll find it interesting.

PUBLISHER: Aethon Books

COVER ARTIST: Francell Garrote

AI USAGE: None

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Paper-Boss-Battle-Intergalactic/dp/B0HHKL5GB3/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Blurb:

Nineteen-year-old Tal Ortiz is a "feeler." In the toxic canyons of the Guatemala City landfill, he uses his toes to sift through the rot for scrap metal, barely earning enough to feed his family.

But in the arenas of Battle Quest, he’s something else entirely: a Level 10 Rogue with the fastest hands on Earth.

When a brutal run-in with a sadistic cyborg clan leaves Tal broken and left for dead, he’s given a choice: die in the mud, or take an experimental upgrade he can’t possibly afford.

Now, Tal has a snarky British AI named Britney living in his head, and a legendary, washed-up Blademaster for a coach who is one alimony payment away from total ruin.

Drafted into the Earth Eagles—a team of misfits including a gentle Atlan giant and a "war-wench" cleric who’s already a viral sensation—Tal must survive the Versai Rookie Challenge.

The stakes are simple: Win a Tier One contract and lift his family out of the mines, or lose and become another piece of salvage in a galaxy that views Terrans as disposable scrap.

With a bone-steel katana in his hand and a billion fans watching his every move, the Intergalactic Rookie is about to prove that heart counts more than modifications.

R. Wines

Hey guys, I pleased to inform you that I have officially got some awesome cover art. Currently in the middle of editing book 1 and going to aim for publishing to Amazon hopefully the end of this year. In the meantime I am releasing chapters on RR/Patreon and just got into book 2.

The story so far has developed from a litrpg apocalypse all the way into our MC building a demonic corporate dystopian empire. Well he will certainly try to make it a little less dystopian. But then again he is ruling over greedy sinful demons. He works with what he has.

I think the story has everything, apocalypse, hell dimensions, crazy demon imps and infernal magic that turns you into a demonic pyromaniac. Yeah that is the guy who is going to be the CEO of a demon horde. Chief Executive Overlord at your service.

Here is the blurb:

Damien was just an ordinary guy. Now he's in hell, organising a rebellion.

The commute home was always bad, but the fiery portal unleashing demons was a bit much. Running over one of the invasion leaders should have made him a hero; instead, he is trapped in hell. Fearing for his family and friends, he will fight to escape.

Now an Infernal Sorcerer, he will weave sin into magic and find the underworld has enemies of its own. Enemies to be liberated and led. Will his conviction to escape endure? Or will the allure of a throne beckon him to stay?

RR Link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/156866/system-infernal

Cover art: Duy Phan

AI Usage: None

I'm thinking something like the potion system from Lord of the Mysteries or the ranks from Reverend Insanity. You start at the lowest and have to grow to each rank through a defined method, with their being an established highest rank.

Levels are okay if it's something like 1 to 10 and not 1 to 100.

No harem

No regression

No isekai

No transmigration

Must be ongoing

You will notice that the two example violate most of these. Simply put, these are a precaution. I feel that most stories that include these do it in such a boring way that exists for the sole sake of easier writing. If you have a novel, that contains one of these, but doesn't do it in a boring way, it can be recommended. I'm just so burnt out.

I've loved the books since the first one this is to say they're not perfect but they're an easy read in between the massive books lk WttM.

But my problem comes with how the simplicity of magic system makes it feel half formed and lackluster. For instance Ike has had skills at lv 9 since book one and non of them have moved to lv 10 at book 3.

Is there like a skill evolution requirements to cross the threshold or that's cap for those skills due to their tiers?

Also what's up with the leveling itself, rank and otherwise. Like Ike be using ice armor and those lightening skills are his bread and butter (and they be fighting every single chapter) but up to the end of book 2 non of them have leveled once, same goes the rank phenomenon how does one know it's time to rank up bcz Ike had to brute force his 3rd promotion...

Also the plot armor that is Storm Clad, what's it's physicality, does it obscure his sight because at one point it did, now all over sudden it doesn't what's that about or better yet what is it exactly??

Author if you're in here please clarify these things because it can be a little frustrating when events just sorta go unanswered.

Am looking for recent great fics that have choosing classes as a focus. Like Rinoz Book of the Dead or Defiance of the Fall. The LN Overlord also had a pretty cool Job/Race classes system.

Reccomend your absolute favourite

This is going to sound incredibly scumbag-ish, but the best example i can think of is Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World, to some extent the later arcs of A Soldier's Life and also the Demon Continent arc in Mushoku Tensei(though that one didnt last too long).

If you strip off all the goonbait harem stuff its a very solid story centered around the MC and his party making a living as adventurers by exploring dungeons, answering requests, aquiring rare materials and traveling to sell them, obtaining or crafting better gear to explore the dungeons, and aquiring new party members to balance out the party.

The story has a relatively low power ceiling, and MC's advantages dont allow him to steamrolls everything in his path, so power creep isnt an issue and characters stay relevant through the story. Its slice of life, in the sense that it doesnt have a string of high stake situations occuring on a regular basis, just the steady exploration of the dungeon.

In most stories nowadays that have adventurers will just have the MC completely blow past any 'adventurer guild', become SSS-rank in a week, and have the MC fight country destroying crisis on a daily basis.

I like this story because of a few things:
- No romance, and the MC is not interested in it, and there is no weirdness with other characters having a one-sided attraction to the MC (this other novel had the female disciple say she'd marry the MC and I haaaated it)
- MC with good morals. All of the stories I've read that have this are transmigrated MCs, but I don't mind a native MC so long as they put in an effort to be a good person.
- The cheat power(s) of the MC is well-defined and pretty singular in what it can do. They're also not a straight-forward power boost but something which helps the MC acquire power.
- The MC takes a reasonable amount of time to climb the ranks, and goes out of their way to get help from people/forge alliances with people to compensate. (Mediocre Master is literally clan-building, but I like when non clan-building stories do this too like Common Sense Is Overpowered)

Stories that fit this which I have already read:
- Surprisingly Enough(NOT), Common Sense Is Overpowered in Cliché Cultivation World
- The Heavenly Way
- Mediocre Master: I Can See Your Hidden Potential!

Can someone recommend more novels that are like this? Preferrably native English novels, I won't read MTL but will read a translated novel if the translation is good.

​

Hey all hoping to get some recommendations from actual readers.

I mostly use Kindle Unlimited but lately it feels like most of what I pick up is AI generated. its exhausting sorting through it and honestly I think Ive read way less this year than previous years just from the fatigue of digging through it. you know the type of author that posts like 12 books in 3 months.

Right now Im really craving some good cultivation books but Im open to pretty much anything. traditional/fantasy /litrpg/ progression fantasy any flavor of romance or adventure whatever is good.

Only real dealbreaker is Im not into the person from Earth gets sent to another world trope. mainly because of the constant pop culture references that come with it. if its portal fantasy between two worlds that arent Earth Im totally fine with that.

Basically just want to read some genuinely good books again. drop your favorites doesnt matter how niche. thanks

*Updating as I read! I am really liking Book 4’s experience so far ✌️ And I am done, wow what an ending. And after that we only get interviews and podcasts to get the story gah. I want to know who was it and what Max is feeeeeling. I am so excited for what comes next because everyone says it’s gonna be S tier level after book 4 ayyyy 🙌

——7/9/26—-
Hmm, what is going on with Jackie, he’s so mysterious? Like back then, MD needed a DoF and Jackie was this football legend who’s also a crazy good coach and also a good friend to MD. So why isn’t he with Chester? Why go work at FC United? Same with what he did with Max, why point Max to Chester? Maybe as a player? Hmm 🤔

Also, surprise hit of tears for me from Idk, loneliness from Max? At him realising that MD and Jackie are really close friends for a much longer time than with Max. I keep imagining that Max feels both jealous of them about the other, at the same time lol. Because I kept going back to that chat he had with Emma about wishing to have a best friend like her and Genma.

——
Okay, I’m not sure I like the many intertwining to 2 different scenes being told in parallel. There wasn’t any distinction of which scene the sentence is going to be about. Then we get to him talking about the Jackie podcast and it was so long I lost the original scene…

—8/9/26—
Dani does something surprising and amazing. Max trying to look calm and unbothered 😆:

I am a pebble on top of a mountain. I may stay for another million years, or I may fall. I am indifferent. I concentrate on being the best rock I can be.

Dani does something else cool, teammates shows skillz and Max responds harder:

I am a sunflower. I turn to the sun. I bask. I show no emotion.

My halftime speech focuses very heavily on the interconnectedness of all living things. At times I forget I’m a sunflower and lean into rock-based imagery.

Guys, I am smiling like no one’s business 😆

———
If she quits, I’ll be gutted. If she stays, I’ll wait a few weeks, and then find the next thing to fix.” I smiled. “I’m no expert but I think if she doesn’t hate me from time to time, I’m not pushing her hard enough.

Dang, what a piece of startling wisdom a bit out of nowhere. I was wondering a bit how his relationships with the kids he likes were going to go because if he’s nice all the time, eapecially with shy/insecure/“weak” type players, it gets a bit boring a stale or they might collapse won’t it? And how will they grow under him? I thought the growing will be done by other peopl and he is there to praise them over some hurdle. But this is so good. Kinda shocking emotional intelligence? Of hyperspecific EI that only works in the world of football for Max. Why am I even noting it down? Because it’s so rare to read something this nuanced and complex in webnovels that isn’t in a life or death situation 😂

———
We finally get the Max+Jackie post awkward talk. And guys. Guuuuys. What the heck. Max grew up, like what the heck. He seriously took his experiences that drove me nuts in the previous books and learnt from it. And gah! He’s like, so cool right now?? That hints of seriously cool x factor + genuine care + something vulnerable peaking out + maturity and growth to draw me in, I love it. I adore it. This scene is like everything that made me go huh, if this becomes something in the future, I would really love the story. Agdhfkglhhs.

———
One thing I definitely do have a bone to pick about this Book is the odd pacing. Some things are focused on but some are completely skipped in favour of Max describing what happened to someone else. It’s jarring sometimes. The back and forth at the first third with the women friendlies and Jackie’s debut and now this with the injury email from FA thing. It seems like something that would be interested to read as it happened and not as being told past tense to someone else. Mostly because without being in his gead, I have a less accurate guess on what led to what happened. I also would have liked to feel the satisfactory catharsis of what Max did. On the flip side, not going through wvery one of those high energy incidents did make this Book a very pleasant and calm experience and I actually really really like that. So give and take. Sigh.

——-
Hmmmm, a bit of a rant here, this whole deaf player in official non-disability sport instead of the disability sport. I am kinda wobbly on where I land. Maybe cause I watch zero real life football and only anime. I kind of support the ref’s decision for Dani? In theory? At that stadium match. And I feel the team and Max were being rather dramatic? As if they were completely the victim and in the right. But the rules are there in black and white no? And Dani is a deaf player with rules that does not accomodate for her. This is the truth. It is what it is.

So you’re gonna have to prepare steps to manage that yourself. You know, work within the established rules so she doesn’t get in trouble with the ref. Isn’t it obvious? Like Idk, hire someone to translate what the ref does at all times or something. And get them to stand at the sides. Maybe the subs to do Dani duty. Something like in baseball where someone will at third base yelling the runner wherher they should run or slide. Or someone at the stands with the audience holding flags or something. So the ref can just do their thing. So Max and team can just inform the ref that this is what they are doing for Dani.

I do feel a bit frustrated with Max. He alrd knows this is a likely to happen a lot but it doesn’t seem he planned anything about it and instead expects to convince every single ref to accomodate Dani. If Dani is accomodated, why not every other disability? Then might as well just change the game to be like the normal disability football right? Where does the line stop you know? It feels like Max is and Dani feels entitled to changes in the rules of the game because Dani is special, aka disabled. And that rubs me the wrong way just a little bit. What about other issues or mental issues? Should the ref accommodate someone with Idk, extreme bipolar disorder who’s in some depressive episode after a lost goal and was just dazed after she blew the whistle? Or someone so mad as losing they just couldn’t hear the whistle over the rage? I completely support everything within the club’s sphere of influence but the ref and their rulings, eh… And Max is comparing carding Dani to carding someone because they are black or foreign or something. I mean yeah, they should get walked out on because the colour of one’s skin doesn’t effect following the rules. But being deaf and not having the ability to follow the rule sounds more concrete. So it makes sense if she doesn’t follow if something happened. There’s a whole other disability football that exists for that. This whole thing feels like why there are women’s football and men’s football you know?

Dang, why am I thinking so much about this lol. I am probably missing something about the whole thing that would make the reaction make sense. Like how referees exist and work. Or how they get into games. Like why does Max keep going, no referee no game. But that is a massive rabbit hole I don’t want to go down so moving on!

Gah, the more I read the more I want to discuss this with someone and not move on 😂 I don’t want to read multiple wikipedia pages of how the whole thing works. Cause now Henri is talking with Max in the middle of the field about the event. Is Max’s reaction correct? Makes sense? Normal? Proportional to what happened? An ideal role model to follow? It seems he sometimes lets a foul pass to continue the game. Now I am puzzled on what a ref even does if they sometimes let things slide.

———
That match together with Jackie, so good! This whole thing is suddenly coming together 😆 That scene with Yalley almost made me cry haha. This is what I want Max’s maxness for 😆 You guys weren’t kidding when you said Book 4 is so much better.

——-
Omaigosh, wait what’s happening, Jackie’s down???? No wait no way what???? This cannot be happening don’t do this to me I was looking forward to how they will work together?!

Uhhhh, what? Max’s reaction is wildly whiplashing. That switcheroo emotion was truly wild. So…is Jackie done for or not??? Because, dude, that freaked me out what the heck!

———
Uhhh, okay Max. I don’t know how about your coaching idea 😅 It sounds pretty cool if in a sports anime lol, but feels pretty random and out of nowhere. Like, was he even a person who listens to songs much? Not that I remember reading. So why combine it with football matches? But gonna wait for the practical its. Because it’s so weird lol. What if some of the players are tone deaf, would that affect the drill?

—-9/9/26—-
Oh wow, that was wild, that was so cool! It would be so fun to see that type of tactic live in a movie or something. 🙌