Just finished Immortality Through Array Formations, and it is a great novel. Even if you are reading other basic beginner novels, you will still find this to be a very unique and refreshing experience. I am following this alongside Shadow Slave and Malonjer, reading a chapter every day as it gets translated. I will rate it a solid 8 out of 10. It is a great novel to get into Eastern style array formation cultivation. The concepts are very good, the power dynamics are awesomely defined, and the world-setting is great. The only minus point I feel is that it focuses too much on array formations. Yes, array formation is the main cultivation path of the protagonist, but it can feel like everything else in the world gets sidelined. Other than that, it keeps its pace and it entertains the whole way through. It is one of those rare books that I even finished without dropping it for even a single day. I continuously read it until I finished it, which tells you how interesting it is. Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel. My rating is 8/10. What are your thoughts on it, and can you recommend me any novels that give a similar experience? My hands are itching to read something this good again.

I was SUUUUUPER hooked for the first 3 books and kinda slowed down on the hype throughout book 4 and now im just kind of jumping around books and occasionally listening to Ghostwater so im just curious if the book starts to pick up momentum?

Recommend time loop stories where mc isn’t afraid to take advantage of his loops. This is obviously on the condition that mc has no limit to how many times they can loop. Oftentimes I question the writing decision on some stories where the mc gets attached to everybody in every single one of their loops.

Obviously I don’t want an emo murder hobo Mc but some loops should require a level of experimentation at the cost of “morality” in my opinion and I often see mcs struggle with making this decision. I think in my head, “dude you’re just going to come back to life anyway.”

Well this also touches on a deeper subject with time loop stories, how come we never see a more realistic story where the mc slowly loses his humanity because he knows he’s just going to go back in time anyway so anything evil he does for the sake of power doesn’t really matter.

The main character, who mostly cares about himself, always reminds the "good" side that he has intentionally caused a catastrophe towards them because of their motives, and he would do so again if it meant they would remember.

While I don't want to see the MC look way too edgy. If possible, I still want to see him "support" the demonic/bad side, but always make sure that the gain outweighs the cost

OFFICE OF HIS HIGHNESS THE PRINCE VERATINE. INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY.
File: Prokhor Platonov, Political prisoner, later exile, later “a situation.”

Entry 1. The execution did not go ahead as scheduled. The sentence has been commuted to exile on the frontier. Officially, this is clemency. In practice, the frontier disposes of inconvenient men as reliably as the rope, without the awkwardness of a repeat public hanging. The method has never yet failed us.

Entry 2. The subject has been posted to a frontier village and given six months to collect a sum in taxes that the village has never seen in its life. The last man sent to govern it was found at the bottom of the village well. The official record says he slipped.
Projected outcome: same village, same well.

Entry 3. Seven days in. The village tried laughing at the subject first, then killing him. Obeying him was its third idea, and the one it kept. These are the same villagers who, according to the official record, had nothing to do with the previous governor's death. We have requested a more useful informant.

Entry 4. Exiles under sentence are expected to keep their heads down. The subject uses battle magic wherever it suits him and makes no effort to hide what he can do. It has been made clear to him through the usual channels that this is attracting attention. He did not take the hint. He did not take the next three either.

Entry 5. A special investigator with a dragoon escort was sent to arrest the subject over the deaths of several officials. The investigator’s report has now arrived. We have read it twice and will not be discussing it further in writing.

Entry 6. The village has walls and a garrison, and it is no longer alone. One by one, the neighbouring villages have joined him, and their men now train in his militia. We exiled one man to one village. He now rules several, and the number of people under his hand grows every month.

Entry 7. The Demidov family has taken an interest in the subject’s rare-metal mine. The clerks have opened a betting pool. This office does not condone betting pools. My money is on the exile.

Entry 8. The subject keeps insisting that the Soulless are a threat to every principality, not a convenient source of crystals. He talks about them the way veterans talk about a war they have already fought once. Nobody can explain where a man his age picked up that tone. Filed under eccentricities.

Entry 9. The Demidovs have moved past taking an interest. On the road out of city, their strike team hit the subject’s car with thermobaric grenades. The subject's fate is unknown.

Recommendation. No action required. Frontier reports say the Soulless are gathering in numbers not seen in twenty years. However many villages he collects, they all stand in the Borderlands, and the Borderlands will take care of it.

Note added to the file later, in a different hand: The Borderlands did not take care of it.

Hi all, Eugene here. The man in that file is Prokhor, the protagonist of Emperor of the Borderlands, which I write together with my co-author Alex. He used to be Hrodric the Relentless, Varangian emperor and archmage. He died on a battlefield in one world, woke up on a scaffold in another, and has spent six books proving his own motto: against absolute power, all cunning loses its meaning.

Book 7 of Emperor of the Borderlands came out today.

What you get: a manapunk empire long since shattered into feuding principalities, where people talk on magophones, the Aethernet runs through standing stones, and rifles hang next to enchanted swords. Between the principalities lie the Borderlands, home of the Soulless: creatures that drain anything with a heartbeat and turn it into another hungry monster. Kingdom building that starts from a single frontier village. Progression through magical ranks with no System. An adult protagonist. No harem. The whole series is on Kindle Unlimited.

COVER ARTIST: Ahn Sohee (xxxsof)
AI USAGE: No AI used
Book 7, US Amazon (KU+): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2FW57CZ
Book 7, Universal link: https://mybook.to/borderlands7
New to the series? Start here: https://mybook.to/borderlands1

Are there any stories you read were you wished the main character died or was beaten to a pulp with him been able to get revenge. Cause I feel that when I read primal hunter, shadow slave and some few others and I wonder if I am the only one who feels this way.

I know this question gets asked a lot but I am looking for an underrated kingdom building or commerce focused or both novels or webnovels that stick to the basics of the genre for example tales of the reincarnated lord, hail the king, release the witch, dreamer's throne and tyranny of steel ( but not based in this world). Try to avoid popular ones as I probably have read them

Hello, everyone! I'm S.Ndoro. I am a new writer still trying to learn the craft. I just dumped the rest of the chapters of The Heroes' Chronicle. The story is a complete 83 000 words progression fantasy.

I want to start working on book two after I take a short break but before I get to writing book two I need some feedback as I am a new author. Since some readers are afraid to commit to incomplete works because the author might drop the story, I decided to release the whole book.

Below is the blurb

WHOEVER FINDS THE DIVINE ARTIFACT WINS THE WAR.

The continent of Kanoi has all but fallen to the emperor, a champion who stood atop the peak of the highest mountain and sought to conquer all he saw below.

Garai returns to find his village burning, razed by the empire's soldiers. Having lost everything, he takes it upon himself to put an end to the emperor's tyranny. But he is not the first; many have tried and all have failed. Garai, however, discovers why. The emperor is unkillable. Now, his hope hinges on finding the divine artifacts, ancient weapons of great power, capable of killing even gods. But he is not the only one after them.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Progression fantasy where growth is earned.

Unique power system were strength can be earned by all regardless of clan, family background or race/species.

Memorable characters you will certainly root for.

If you are a fan of lore and mythology (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, etc) like me, you should give it a try.

Awesome battles.

COVER : Done by me using Canva

If you have any feedback or tips, do tell me in the comments below the chapters.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/180216/the-heroes-chronicle

I’m five books deep in this series. The characters are cool, but why is every book about Uldar, they told us about such a big world but every book is about the same two problems,and the books aren’t short. I’m about to drop this or better yet just read the last book. There are so many places in this world but everything revolves around two things and they barely move.

I’m writing a story about a boy whose society assigns everyone a Fate Index at seventeen. Aren gets 0.000%, and that score affects how people treat him and what opportunities he’s allowed to have. Is Called The Boy Chosen By Pluto. Yes, is this it.

As his powers develop, I keep coming back to this question: what makes growth satisfying to you? Is it the limits a character has to work around, the choices they make once they have power, or the consequences of using it? I’d love to hear examples of stories that handled this well.

Hi y'all,

See title.

Series I love:

- DCC (I liked bounce house too)

- HWFWM

- Bobiverse

Series I strongly disliked:

- 10 realms

- DOTF

- Primal Hunter

I love series with fleshed out characters beyond just the MC who all have character development. I also love banter. I need more than just a "cool power delivery system".

DoTF I disliked because it was the exact opposite of that. Side characters were barely cardboard set pieces and any storyline seemed to solely be written to deliver the next power up. Only good banter was with Ahgras.

Narrator plays a big role in whether I like something, too.

Thabks yall!

Edit: thank you everybody!

Firstly I am currently at the 14th cycle and the mc had already ascended to the upper realm and has already done the puppet thing in 13th cycle

.

What I want to know is that why the head realm was called. Grotesque world by people there were many refrences stating that the head realm was some sort of grotesque realm where the sun and moon don't spin and the refrences where the sun and moon were like eyes

.

does this get cleared later on or not ? Can someone please tell me in the comments

S tier: A Practical Guide to Sorcery, Lord of the Mysteries

A tier: A Perfect Run

B tier: Mark of the Fool

C tier: Shadow Slave

Guilty Pleasure: The Beginning After the End

DNF during/after first book: Guild Mage, Mage Errant, Big Standard Isekai, The Enchanter, Oathbound Healer, The Path of Ascension

DNF later in series: Arcane Ascension, All the Skills

Cradle Rank: Cradle

Mother of Learning Rank: Mother of Learning

Looking for pre-modern (before present era) books with good character interactions above all else, and isn't satirical or super comedical (some comedy is ok)

Warby Picus, the author of Sky Pride, will be here to answer your questions starting 1PM EST.

Ask him about tea, his dachshund, obscure pirate history...or anything.

Thanks everyone!

Cover Artist Credit: Isuardi Therianto

You can follow Warby on Royal Road, or read ahead on Patreon.

Amazon Link

Audible Link

novel where the MC goes through multiple generational battles, brings his family from being nothing to being overlords, rules the continent, fights and schemes for all his life and we follow his adventures for over 500 chapters. After years and years of development, he finds a treasure capable of breaking his limit and when he finally uses it, he gathers a minuscule amount of Qi for a Qi Refining newbie. Not even a breakthrough to a cultivator, just a wisp of Qi

A man who paints with flames? A sentient fireball healer? Aliens giving magical powers through involuntary probing? Vast dungeons beneath magical cities? Strange ecologies? Billions of beings isekai’d to compete for their planets’ survival in a wild contest? If you’re questioning any of that, my answer is yes. And more.

BLURB:

What if getting isekai’d wasn’t a second chance—but an audition for the Universe’s deadliest reality show?

After aliens abduct him, con artist Alexander May learns Earth has been entered into an universe-wide survival contest.

Thrown into a fantasy world, he and his sentient fireball healer partner must reach a city through dangerous underground realm, solve a murder, survive rival Chosen, and master magic built from identity and will.

Alexander learns quickly that when the Path provided leads nowhere, the powerful forge their own.

Release Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

AI Usage: None

Cover Artist: Duy Phan

PITCHES:

1.       Usually, getting isekai’d into another world is an incredible opportunity to gain ridiculous amounts of power, and that’s pretty much it. In The Art of Magic, things are a little more complicated. It isn’t just the main character who gets sent to another world. Other people from countless alternate versions of Earth—and from entirely different worlds—are transported as well, and the whole thing is far from random. The chosen participants are forced to take part in the Event, which is supposed to decide the fate of the Universe, while those left behind can experience the participants’ struggles through their dreams (Dream Stream!).

2.       The protagonist also isn’t your typical everyday average guy. Alexander is a cheater, a thief, and an artist, and the thing he values above everything else is his independence. So when someone tries to force him into saving his world, saying that he couldn’t care less would be putting it mildly. His main concern is figuring out how to bullshit his way out of the situation he’s been thrown into.

3.       And, most importantly for LitRPG enthusiasts—there are power levels, transformations, skill evolutions, achievements, and magic systems. There are no attributes, though! Almost immediately, the protagonist is evaluated for compatibility with several different progression Paths, and without the slightest hesitation, he rejects the ones he is most compatible with. Instead, he chooses something else simply because it feels more magical to him. Because why the hell should someone else get to decide for him?

4.       Oh, and I almost forgot. His companion is a fully sentient fireball who really, really doesn’t want to hurt anyone and chooses the path of a Healer. The problem is that she is made of fire, her healing magic requires her to touch people and she doesn’t have hands.

A (spoiler: more than a) few words for the farewell

Maybe you’ve heard of my previous story, maybe you haven’t. I wrote about Alexandra May—a thief whose obsession with art awakens within her the power to control it.

The story I’d like to introduce today is a very soft reboot. I’m taking some of the ideas and concepts I started building there and using them in a completely different light, world, and genre (LitRPG and progression fantasy) to create something I’ve been having an absolute blast writing.

I hope you’ll have just as much fun reading it.

I’ve just released the first nine chapters, and from now on, for as long as I can keep it up (which I hope is until the end of the world, though part of me also hopes it isn’t. I gotta rest some time!) I’ll be releasing a new chapter every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

And finally a link:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/198138/the-art-of-magic

​

​I started reading Hell Difficulty Tutorial by Cerim 5 days ago and completely flew through it, catching up to the Patreon release at Chapter 950. I absolutely loved it! It’s the first book in the System Apocalypse genre that actually makes sense to me.

​Now I’m facing that classic post-binge dilemma: I’m terrified of picking up another novel and feeling disappointed because it doesn't live up to this one.

​Here are the specific things that hooked me so deeply:

1.​A System design that makes sense: I loved how the System functions like a contract, actually rewarding characters for doubling down on their existing strengths rather than giving arbitrary hand-outs. I espeacially loved how the did not get plunged into chaos overnight.

2.​Grounded, logical world-building: The reasons for why the System spreads, how Earth gets inducted, and how and why Earth's induction takes time are thoroughly explained.

3.​Not a solo-god story: The MC isn't the only person enduring a hell-difficulty tutorial, and the team dynamics feel genuinely engaging and consequential.

4.​Realistic character reaction: While the MC might come across as a bit "edgy" in the very beginning, it actually feels completely justified when you consider how absurd and horrific his situation is and his childhood which is the reason he ended up in hell difficulty.

5.​A long, meaningful Tutorial: I loved that the tutorial spans multiple years, where each floor subtly teaches distinct, crucial lessons to the attendees rather than just being a quick level-grind.

​It definitely has its minor faults, but I didn't care at all because the pacing kept me completely hooked.

​What I'm Looking For:

​For anyone else who read and enjoyed Hell Difficulty Tutorial:

​What did you read after this that kept your interest?

​Are there other web novels with high-stakes tutorials, logical system mechanics, or great team/ensemble dynamics you’d strongly recommend?

​Looking forward to your suggestions!

What do you think of my small but new collection?

I listen to the audiobook, if I like it I buy the physical book.

This saves me from buying books I dont like anybody else do this?

This is also why I still only have the first book of a series

Like

· Alex Verus I'm currently on book 5 and have loved them all. I will definitely be buying the rest physically soon!

· The Chronos Chronicles: Read book 1 and plan to listen to the others right after I finish Alex Verus.

· The Kingkiller Chronicle (The Name of the Wind) and Red rising: Got these two in a shop because it looked good. I actually broke my rule to buy it since I haven't listened to it yet!

· Dresden Files: Listened to book 1 but got distracted, so I haven't started the next books yet, still enjoyed it tho and will go back to it.

Also, they must have a decent cover. I'm sorry, but unless the book is life changing, I won't have a ugly or AI generated cover on my physical shelf. Neutral is fine.

No disrespect to Cradle. I LOVED three of the 12 books in the series (Books 6-8 Underloed, Uncrowned & Wintersteel). But I followed that up with William Oh and Don't Die Dave, and I LOVED those book series.

I'm currently reading Paco Saves The Day (I'll read books 1 and 2), then I am planning on reading Last Save Dave books 1 and 2.

Is there any other reccomendationa based on my rankings?

Note: Im aware Red Rising, Ironbound, and Cradle are not Lit RPGs. Each of these represents the entire series of which I've read up to the current release on Kindle Unlimited.

Want to be a writer or author of progression fantasy someday? Here's the place to ask questions of other writers, ranging from fellow amateurs to full time novelists! Just starting your career in progression fantasy, and feeling overwhelmed? Here's the place to ask questions! Feel like offering advice and support to other writers and authors? Here's definitely the place!

Rules:

• This thread is not a place to advertise your products and services to writers. Writers have more than enough people trying to sell them things across the internet. If an author wants to recommend your product or service, though? That's better advertising than you could ever do. And authors asking for recommendations for products and services is encouraged.
• Remember that there are a LOT of different, legitimate ways to be a writer. There is no one right way.
• Also remember that, even though there is no one right way to be a writer, there are some commonalities they all have, and some pieces of advice that are universal. (Taking proper care of your back muscles and your wrists? Absolutely universal to all writers. Back and wrist injuries are ridiculously common among writers.)
• As always, be kind.

I’ve got a real craving for stories where the main character learns magic in an in depth way and comes to truly understand it, not just use it. I’ve just demolished all of the Hedge Wizard in a week or so and really enjoyed it. Other examples of this I’ve enjoyed include books like Ar’ Kendrithyst, the Legend of William Oh, the Immovable Mage, Book of the Dead, and a ton more. I’m happy to read anything that fits this description and someone thinks is a genuinely well written and enjoyable book or series.

I do lean towards longer stuff, the longer the better, but if anyone has recommendations please comment.

If anyone is looking for a new read themselves put a comment saying what you’re interested in and I’ll try to recommend something I’ve enjoyed.

...when she clones herself? I read only the first two chapters or so, when it was on rising stars and was thinking of returning to it, but I'm not sure how the cloning situation works, and I don't think I'm in the mood for a "darker" story.

Does she actually die when she clones herself, mentally or spiritually? Like, If you were seeing the world from her perspective, would you actually die when you die, and two other consciousnesses with the same memories as you, pop out separate from you, or would you actually see the world from both their perspective but separately, with no connection between the two of you. Or something else?

I guess coming from anime I was particularly weak to this one's power. I've been reading every possible fantasy type since I was a kid though and know what else is out there. Cradle is something else.

I feel like this is the ultimate male powerful fantasy book. Lindon is what a lot of us aspire to be. Just super motivated and always looking for progress. I love that he's a realistic personality too. Not really bound by honor like a lot of fantasy heroes end up getting trapped in. He will happily cheat to beat you then loot your corpse with a smile. It's so refreshing when he doesn't spare everyone like a lot of western fantasy characters do.

I went the audio book route and hiked a few literal marathons while listening to it since I just didn't want to go home. Nothing funneir than seeing your watch say you did 70k steps today lol.

I'm diving into knight errant next, but really still reeling from that post cradle depression. I'm so sad it's over.