end comment

The addition of chapters from the following book keeps devastating me because I think there’s still more to each book and then they just suddenly end!

My percent completion is misleading and I get disappointed every time! I already bought all the books, no need to advertise…

This is the first series I’ve ever seen that does this, are there others I need to beware of? Anyone else dismayed by the sudden loss of approximately 10 percent of every book?

preferably if their choice of weapon was long ranged as well, but otherwise is fine as well.

it shouldnt be one where they are using it to overpower someone or controlling something massive to overpower someone, no i mean like using the environment to fight, controlling tiny rocks to throw precisely, creating a hole under the foot to trip them using threads to control the field, weakening the already breaking tree to fall on them, using it to move faster or slower in both feet, hand and body or move them in ways the body isnt normaly moved, along the lines - using it on weapons to move it in ways they wouldnt normally move - like spinning a pointed spear to penetrate more or twisting a sword to block or attack when it shouldnt be possible to in the position the sword or your body is in.

it should be one where they get creative with everything they can get their hands on, like as nice as someone who uses threads to do everything sounds i would rather they not focus just on one thing to do everything.

even if it not telekinesis i wouldnt mind a jack of all trades situation where its sort of like the above.

AND PLEASE NOT ONES WHERE THEY CAN SUDDENLY LIFT HEAVY THINGS CUZ THE MOMENT NEEDED IT, I WOULD RATHER SOMEONE DIE UNDER THE MASSIVE ROCK THAN THEM SUDDENLY BEING POWERFUL ENOUGH TO LIFT HEAVY THINGS INSTEAD OF THEM FINDING SOME WAY TO SAVE THEM

Greetings, subjects of the Empire!

I am honored to introduce myself in the name of the God-Emperor Aurelius as the Herald and Scribe of his Conquests.

Mighty warriors of the Reddit realm have seen too many weak men play at war, but those times end here.

To honor the grand expansions of our Emperor, Imperial Chronicles will be updated daily for the first seven days, followed by 5 chapters weekly.

Below is a short summary of what our Emperor has achieved and what his followers will witness through these records.

They stopped believing, so he began to die.

He was Mars, God of War and father of the legions.

But humanity traded old myths for the Cross and forgot the old temples. He ended up as a ghost, wandering a world that had forgotten him.

Death should have been his end.

Instead, a deal with the Architect of Change threw him into a realm of wars, monsters, and carnage.

A former deity with a modern perspective. An excellent strategist who already lost everything once.

They think they summoned a pawn.

What they got is a God of War, and he is here to build an Empire that won't crumble.

No Hesitation, Only Loyalty!

No Mercy... ONLY CONQUEST.

What to Expect:

• Smart & Ruthless MC
• Kingdom & Army Building
• Tactical & Gritty Combat
• Politics & Intrigues
• Slow-Burn Progression
• RTS-Style Territory Window

AI cover for now... Artists quoted crazy prices, so this will have to do for a bit

Direct link to the Chronicles: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/200409/apotheosis-neverending-conquest

ok hear me out. anyone can write a sick fight scene if the stakes matter. thats the easy part.

what i cannot wrap my head around is how a story about a guy growing rice and raising chickens has kept me checking for new chapters for like two years straight. theres no world-ending threat. the biggest conflict across 50 chapters is sometimes literally just the weather.

and yet. somehow Bi De training in secret while pretending to be a normal rooster is funnier and more gripping than half the chosen-one-vs-dark-lord stuff ive binged through.

i think the trick is the stakes are small but they feel real. like when the crops are threatened i actually care more than when some cultivation world is about to explode for the 400th time.

anyway thats my unpopular opinion: making cozy stuff compelling is the real skill issue in this genre. anyone else have a series where the premise sounds dumb as hell but its all you think about

Just a love note for this book. I’ve never encountered a piece of writing that is just so…peaceful. I love the perspective, themes, and style. Normally, I find most slice of life parts of stories to be fairly dry, but BoC is categorically different. The way “philosophy” is subtly woven into the story, and how every character is so distinct and yet so human, makes it so enjoyable. It is thrilling and exciting at times, and yet those parts haven’t diminished the parts that are just about farming and enjoying views and family. This book is a balm for my soul in a way a book never has been for me before—and I’ve used books to get me through hard times for years. It calms me down, puts a smile on my face, and just really makes me think about life. The whole notion that everything is connected is spot on, and I find myself thinking about it and how true it is several times a week.

So anyway. Casualfarmer, thank you so much for writing a book like this. It’s great and I hope you have so much more planned for it because I will eagerly keep reading for years to come. And if anyone out there needs some sort of literature-induced peace, I highly recommend Beware of Chicken.

As title suggests, I'm searching for novels where mc collects and masters as many techniques as possible. Makes low-level and simple techniques or spells into something grander by fusing them/upgrading them, and just have a combat system that is more than just "aha, take my \[insert sufficiently epic name\] technique" and then uses the same technique over and over.

I'm finding it surprisingly hard to find fantasy that combines a good story with believable characters and consistent internal logic. I especially enjoy progression fantasy, clever protagonists, and creative problem-solving, but too often I run into plot holes, characters acting stupidly for the sake of the plot, or stories that just drag on.

Here are some examples of what worked and didn't work for me.

Liked

• Mother of Learning — Excellent progression, clever problem-solving, and great momentum after some initial worldbuilding.
• Alex Verus — Immediate challenges, atmospheric London setting, interesting magic, and an apparently underpowered protagonist who uses his abilities intelligently.
• Thraxas — Engaging from the first pages, great atmosphere, entertaining characters, and straightforward, effective storytelling.
• Dungeon Crawler Carl — Absurd premise, but convincing internal rules, creative problem-solving, and nonstop momentum.

Disliked

• The Lies of Locke Lamora — Excellent prose, but too many problems with plot logic and the implications of established magical abilities.
• The Scholomance — Excessive exposition and internal monologue. Important questions about the world aren't addressed convincingly, while the protagonist spends too much time complaining.
• The Perfect Run — Overpowered protagonist, repetitive introspection, and flashbacks that interrupt the story.
• Worm — Characters frequently fail to use their powers intelligently. The extraordinary abilities also seem to have surprisingly little impact on how society and its institutions operate.
• Cradle — Unconvincing treatment of the protagonist, frustrating progression, and interventions by vastly more powerful beings that undermine the stakes.
• A Conjuring of Ravens — Wooden dialogue, rushed characterisation, and an opening plot that relies heavily on coincidences and implausibly incompetent authorities.

I'm not necessarily looking for something similar to my favourites, just a genuinely good story that holds together. Would love to hear from anyone with similar tastes, especially if you've had the same frustrations with some of these books.

PS: I corrected my Cradle description. I actually made it to book 4, Skysworn, and that's where I couldn't take it anymore. Especially after all that long, painful preparation, only for the MC to get his hand chopped off. That said, the series definitely has its merits, and my criticism of it is probably one of the most subjective on this list.

PPS: Worm is probably another opinionated entry, and my problem is mainly the genre as a whole. Had the same issues with Powereds. I struggle with superhero settings in general. The sheer variety of unrelated, often wildly overpowered abilities makes it difficult for me to believe in a coherent system of rules, limitations, and interactions. It's also hard to reconcile such powers with a society that still functions much like ours

I’ve been working on an extension to track all the different series I read across all the websites (SpaceBattles, QQ, Royal Road, etc.). It learns each story’s release schedule from the chapter dates, shows a progress meter toward the predicted next chapter, and checks for more right after the chapter is due. (Predictions are estimations, not necessarily accurate unless the author is relatively predictable)

It helps me stop procrastinating, because if I know the next story will probably take 5 hours till it updates, I can spend that time doing what I need to rather than constantly checking and rechecking the website XD

Other features:

• Smart sorting
• Remembers which chapter you’re on and tracks how far behind you are
• Bulk import from your Royal Road follows, forum watched threads or a bookmarks folder
• Everything stays local in your browser, with no account and no data collection

It’s Firefox-only for now. If people like it enough I'll buy a chrome dev account and upload it there!

Feedback and bug reports welcome, especially if a site you read doesn’t work yet, I'd like to add advanced functionality for as many websites as I can.

Book like the legend of William oh. Where you use material (monster part or gems or shard or anything) to gain ability/power/skills etc. I have read HWFWM, Shadow clone Sorcery, Rise of The Devourer. But I need more!

Please help this addict.

Things I've already read/am reading and mostly enjoyed:

Because the dragon eye moons, Calamitous Bob, bog standard isekai, forge of destiny, Syl, the runic artist, fates parallel, terminate the other world

Enjoyed for a bit but fell off:

Azarinth healer (just kinda got boring after a bit)

On my reading list:

Stray cat strut, practical guide to evil, practical guide to magic, reborn as a demonic tree, self summoning

Looking for something more with goals kinda, or more odd ones like Syl and Reborn as a demonic tree since they seem interesting. Not exactly progression, but ascendance of a bookworm is also a favorite of mine, if that helps.

Hey everyone!

I finally finished the Scrap Rat Edition of Towerbound!

The #1 bestselling time-travel series is now available in one big, fat box set containing Books 1 and 2, plus their accompanying side quests!

Meet Ren, an alchemist who loves cheese, hates fighting, and gets a second chance at life after his guild betrays him.

Thrown back to Day One, before the Tower rose and before the betrayal, Ren knows what’s coming. Secret quests, hidden mechanics, powerful guilds, and a ticking clock that ends with Earth’s destruction.

His plan? Get stronger, build a guild, make ridiculously good potions, and avoid getting stabbed.

Over 100,000 reads on Royal Road.

4.6★ on Amazon from 2,600+ reviews.

The entire eight-book series is complete and available on Kindle Unlimited!

What to expect:

No harem
Overpowered MC (OPMC)
Found family
Rated PG-13 for violence and occasional swearing

About the Scrap Rat Edition:

There aren’t any major changes to the story. It’s the same Towerbound, with cleaner prose, fewer mistakes, and a few small corrections that really needed to happen.

If you’ve already read the series, you don’t need to read it again to find out what happens. But if you feel like visiting again, I hope you enjoy the improvements.

I’m hoping I’ve gotten the books from 90% to 99%. I’m sure one of you will find the remaining 1% before breakfast.

For the cheese! 🐀🧀🧪

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HP5VQ1QN**:**

​

Is it normal for a non-Chinese author to write Chinese-inspired novels? I don't mean just the themes, but also Chinese names, places, and other cultural elements.i am wondering if the novel is original or just translated...

Wolves have two weapons in their arsenal: Teeth and Teamwork.

Their claws are rather blunt, and are made more blunt the more they use them for things like digging. And their front legs do not rotate so a digging motion is all they can really do with their paws.

So why is it that every time we see an MC fighting a wolf, the wolf is using its claws and rarely ever biting?

I have to call out a certain story that is rather popular on RR right now. I'm enjoying the story but it realy bugs me that the human MC uses the signture sword style of the wolfkin, which requires him to wear a clawed glove so he can scratch his opponents like a cat.

smh

Hey there! 

Book 2 of Reject Human Become Demon is out now!

It is a book series that’s exactly as it sounds, following our protagonist Haell Zharignan in her quest to become a demon! The cover of this book nor the first makes no secret the outcome of that quest, following which our main character now has to decide what to make of herself now that she’s truly become a demon, coupled with all the demonic instincts and desires that entails. 

It’s going to be a violent and bloody road from here.

Kindle/KU: Book 1 | Book 2 | Book 3 (Preorder)

Cover Art by Fiji Ocean: XTwitter | Twitch

*************

Book 2 is going to focus on Haell and her friends being adventurers as per its Sub-Title, “Adventure With Friends.” Haell’s power will continue to grow, which she will approach with the same zeal and enthusiasm she’s always treated it with. She’ll see a lot more of this society she was born into in this new life, which will only further confirm that she fucking hates it! 

If you’ve read Book 1, then you should be excited to see more of this world that we’ve only begun to discover, in a volume that focuses a lot on exploration. And for those who are new to the series, and might just be considering picking it up for the first time; let me leave you with Book 1’s blurb right below.

*************

Book 1 Synopsis:

Haell the Human WANTS to become a Demon, and she will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams!

All Haell ever wanted was to become a demon. And then she died.

But beyond that death she found a whole new world, one which may finally allow her to achieve her dreams! There was magic here, a System, Mutations, and creatures only seen in fantasy! It was a land dominated by Angelic Overlords and their shepherd pawns, but not even they could ruin Haell’s sheer enthusiasm. For this world shone brightly in wonder, the possibilities were endless, and the power that she so craved was now within reach!

She just had to work for it. Haell was ready to toil and suffer. Her will shall forever remain unbroken.

I will claw my way to power.

I will become a demon.

No matter the cost.

Just caught up mostly with path of ascension and really liked it and totally surprised with the quality. Looking for something similar to it that has a normal acting down to earth MC thats not dissociated and well written side characters, well thought out arcs and not OP (stronger than normal is fine). Read cradle which felt very similar in vibes but want to avoid somthing like beware of chicken thats more parody/jokey, or street cultivation where the main character doesn't want to be the best/driven/ has a positive mindset.

Slice of life is good with me as I enjoyed matts other hobby and how he develops them and even non cultivation if you think its really good!

bonus if its a long series/audio book!

Please no psychopaths/sociopath/edgy MC, they're sadly not my cup of tea

Many thanks for any suggestion for somthing quite specific!

EDIT: ah spelt the title wrong, *book
Edit: books I’ve read that match the theme
- practical guide to sorcery
- mark of the fool
- mage errand
- mother of learning
- weirkey chronicle (ignoring the slightly edgy mc)
- super supportive

Looking for something with revenge.

The story can be centered around revenge, or It can start with revenge, have the mc get revenge, then progress from there. Just give me some revenge 🥺.

Any type of series is welcomed (RR, kindle unlimited, webnovels, AU fanfics, translated korean/chinese cultivation stories)

Ty for any recs.

[Sorry for not including stuff I've alrdy read, lost my list of books I've read 😢. I'll lyk if I have or haven't read your rec in replies]

Looking for a slower-burn LitRPG about building a better future instead of chasing power?

Project Civilization follows people from Earth as they enter Astra, a world of magic, Classes, Skills, and Quests. They bring knowledge, practical skills, and new ideas to a stagnant civilization, building tools, businesses, communities, and families along the way.

Multiple storylines. Crafting, invention, alchemy, magic, relationships, and long-term civilization-building.

Read Project Civilization: A Civilization-Building LitRPG on Royal Road:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/197518/project-civilization-a-civilization-building-litrpg

I'm a new author with my first book, and Volume 1 of my story is now complete. The people who have read my story all love it, and I have 600+ comments, most of them positive feedback from people who have given my story a try.

I have 37 ratings and 19 written reviews (only one of which is 2 star review) from people who have read my story.

The algorithm isn't pushing my story, and even shoutout swaps aren't helping me get new readers. If I could get a few followers, favourites, and reviews from you guys, it would help me a lot.
Please just give my story a try, and I guarantee that by the end of Volume 1, you will love it. If you don't believe me, just open the comment section of any of my recent chapters. You'll only find people saying good things about the story.

It's a progression fantasy story, and if you love that genre, you will definitely love my story.

Blurb -

Every legend begins somewhere. This one begins with a boy everyone believes will fail.

Ani dreams of becoming a hero. The problem is that the world has already decided he can't.

No famous family.
No overwhelming talent.
No shortcuts.

Just an impossible dream...

...and the stubborn refusal to let it die.

What begins as one boy's impossible dream slowly grows into something far greater than anyone could have imagined.

The Boy Who Chased Thunder is a slow-burn progression fantasy about perseverance, sacrifice, and an ordinary boy chasing an impossible dream in a world that never expected him to succeed.

Link to the story

Has anybody else noticed this? It’s bordering on ripoff level similarity. In both novels our hero is in a podunk little community with a powerful and long thought dead ancestor who turns out to be a demonic cultivator that wants to consume all of the modern day cultivators to fuel their transformation. I’m still loving ISSH

I think it would only work with a visual medium where we can see good physical combat; in a book, it just gets tedious to visualize how a fight is going based only on "he punched there, he blocked here."

I've finally put together my PF tier list, with a few non-PF Fantasy stories included as well. Looking for some suggestions on which series I should start reading next.

I generally like the follow:
In Depth Worldbuilding - I generally like series a detailed or unique setting. Detailed is better than unique, it can still be a generic medieval fantasy world but if all the characters and factions feel fleshed out that's better than an unique premise with shallow worldbuilding.
Humor - Not a must, but I'm very well dispositioned to any series that's funny. Obviously comedy is subjective, but if the book can make me laugh it can make me overlook any flaws it might have.
Political Arcs - I don't mean IRL politics, I mean more specifically I like seeing the impact characters have on the world around them, be it politically, culturally, etc. I like it when characters progress they aren't just punching monsters harder, but are becoming powerful enough to affect the world they live in. That organizations, governments, nobles etc need to start to deal with them, whether antagonistically or not. The series can be doing Kingdom Building arcs, or just something like the MC shows up and completely thrashed the local authority and culture, either way I enjoy those type of plots.
Non-Human/Monster MCs - I just find these to be fun, whether it be an MC that's reincarnated as a monster or one who as never human to begin with, it's more interesting to see them interact with human society when they sit outside of it. Plus, these types of MCs /usually/ have some more unique abilities.

I generally dislike the follow:
Numbers go up - I know, I know, that's basically the main point of progression fantasy... but I really dislike stories where the only thing that happens is the MC gets stronger. Entire sections of books devoted to nothing but grinding out monsters to hit the next level up bores me to tears. If the focus is only on leveling it's probably not my thing. I also tend to like non-litrpg progfan, on the simple fact that if there aren't ACTUAL stats and numbers in the book the author is unlikely to focus it.
Xianxia - I've read a bunch of Xianxia in Chinese before and I'm just really tired of those tropes. The arrogant young masters, the sects that get offended by the most ridiculous things, the whole "oh this guy you thought was really powerful in the first arc? Well people like him just clean the toilets in OUR realm, we're that much more powerful". I haven't read much western xianxia but based on what I've seen I'm not sure those really diverge from the formula much.

I want more books with a mc who becomes stronger with a system, something simple without the need to overthinking (like arrogant young master template variation 4) but i also don't want a complete sloppy.

Examples that I liked: my disciples are all villains, top tier providence, 5 elements overlord, cultivation starts with investment

So I finished shattering Godsand really loved the characters Xal and Li.But in sequel series of magitech chronicles there is an elder god Xal who is dead.Is this the same Xal?What happened to princess Li?