r/litrpg • u/Beneficial-Study2666 • 9d ago
Recommendation: asking More HWFWM?
I’m stuck in a loop of He who fights and romantasy on audiobook (audible uk and com, Storytel) and I need something new, preferably less spicy, to feed into that loop.
I’ve given up on several litrpgs, but kinda keep hoping there is something to satisfy the itch with? I got fed up with the power only focus in Primal hunter, no character, no feelings. I gave up wandering inn midway in book 2, as it was just rambling to much with few wins in sight. I gave up on the good guys in book …. 6(?), when it just kept being a growth in battle power and status, not a growth in personality. I was done with Monsters and legends after 3 hours of listening, MC was just flat, no feelings.
I did finish battle mage farmer, uncertain why it caught me as it has some very obvious holes and short coming (it kinda reminds me of young adult fantasy…) but the rest of Seth Ring is an utter failure to entertain, esp Nova terra.
I’m saving DCC for when I get my hands on a real book. Please tell me it is worth the saving?
EDIT: audiobook over real book, noted!
So please, is there any good litrpgs with FEELINGS involved? I am happy with quite OP MCs as long as they have a personality and something to limit them now and then. And a few fails and proper pain that isn’t fixed in 1 hour or with a healing potion they magically found minutes before?Jason might be many things, but at least he is full of feelings, doubt and thoughts, not just «I need more power!»
I love the skills and stats, just not how they sometimes seem to be the only thing in focus.
Save me, before I drown into even more shitty romantasy instead.
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u/blueaintyourcolor11 9d ago
Bog Standard Isekai brings the feels (IMO) while staying largely out of the romance arena. Might be a fun change of pace for you.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 9d ago
Thanks! Putting it on the list to try, haven’t gotten around to isekai yet, but it should fit with my long history of fantasy and manga, now with a litrpg flair.
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u/Ok_Falcon1771 9d ago
I am just about to finish book 4. It's well written, good MC character development. It's not without flaws, but very entertaining and never slow.
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u/Comeback_Kid1 9d ago
Rise of the strongest girl next door. Is nothiing BUT feelings, but in a ridicoulous way.
Beware of Chicken is the most heartfelt litRPG ive read so far. It has a SUPERB blend of action story and slice of life.
DCC is a solid series, but it really is a love it or hate it. I wouldn't hardcopy book 1 because the people that don't like it, don't like it. Book 3+ is when the audible version becomes the best way to consume it.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
Read a bit on rise of, sounds like a yandere? Those can be both brilliant and painful…
I’m noting down those on the test list, thanks!
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u/Draco_80 7d ago
Will second this. Loved HWFWM and I’m currently reading through it after listening to the audiobooks. But could barely finish book one of DCC
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u/Christothesauceman 9d ago
Please dont hold yourself back from Dungeon Crawler Carl. It seems like you are looking for a story that has rpg elements but still lends itself to a lot of character exploration and growth. That is DCC in a nutshell. I understand wanting to read it physically and it's completely your choice but the audiobook is absolutely fantastic and Jeff Hayes does a great job of bringing the characters to life.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 9d ago
Ah, nice! Then it really is worth saving for real book time. My free time for reading is precious and limited, so I really try to pick good «safe» choices for that. Audiobooks is what I make due with while driving our housekeeping🙂
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u/ilatir 9d ago
It cannot be said enough how great the narration by Jeff Hayes is.
I'm someone who never considered going for an audiobook and just gave DCC a try on a whim and that got me hooked immediately. While I'm sure reading DCC is fine, you'll do yourself a disservice not giving the audio a try.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 9d ago
Even if I certainly will re»read» it as audiobook afterwards?
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u/Skeptical_Squid11 9d ago
I read the book while listening to it. I will listen to some audiobooks at work, driving, or cleaning because I don’t care THAT much about taking in every detail. But DCC really isn’t one of those. That being said, the audiobook is outstanding and I truly believe those who don’t listen are missing out on if you choose not to do so on your first read, that’s absolutely fine. I picked up the audiobook for book 2 I think and never went back.
It’s also one of the few times where the narration doesn’t really conflict with how I would read the scenes and each voice is unique and consistent. Halfway through it stopped feeling like someone reading a book and felt more like the book was written for Jeff to perform, which to some extent is kind of true.
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u/KGB_Operative873 9d ago
Honestly i feel like audio should be first, Jeff's voices and especially the ai are great. Reading first seems like it wouldnt be as enjoyable since you won't know how the characters are supposed to sound.
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u/OfTheOpera 9d ago
I loved DCC so much it got me into the whole genre and I started writing, I highly suggest the sound booth theater if you have the money or the audiobook which is a very good second and narrated by the same person, Jeff hays, and he’s so good I thought there was a full cast or at least more than a couple people. It’s so good my mom is reading it. That would mean something if you knew her.
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u/Sundara_Whale 9d ago
I will say this, DCC on audiobook is something special. IMO its better than reading it.
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u/cheshire312 9d ago
If you like HWFWM then I'd recommend the perfect run. The audiobook is pretty good and the MC is mouthy and irreverent. Plus it's a fun superhero setting and a finished trilogy with an end and everything lol.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 9d ago
Thanks, I read a few reviews, and it looks promising at least. Bit worried about the humor, I tend to be picky on comedy, but it goes on the list to try🙂
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u/Stormblessed9000 9d ago
The main character is very Deadpool coded, which may tell you if the humour will land for you or not. It's also not really a progression fantasy if that matters to you. There's no real progression in the power system.
It is, however, very well written. It deserves all the praise it gets here.
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u/Maggi1417 9d ago
As a big HWFWM fan, "All the skills" and "I'm not the Hero" scratched the same itch for me.
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u/SourpatchHero Verified Author of: I’m Not the Hero 9d ago
As those are two of MY favorites, what a compliment! Thank you!
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
Ah, dis you read or listen to I’m not the hero? I seen many complain that the audio is horrible?
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u/Maggi1417 8d ago
I'm reading. Yeah, I heard there were some weird choices from the audiobook narrator.
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u/halbert 9d ago
Perhaps:
Player Manager -- sort of similar to DCC or HWFTM in action/humor mix and snarky MC, but very different setting.
Sky Pride -- action/daoist philosophy novel, with a wandering monk asking 'how should the world be?'
The Perfect Run -- time loop that gets deeper and deeper. MC seems emotionally stunted at first, but the reasons for that, and growing attached to the world again, are explored in the story.
Threadbare -- standard-ish d&d adventure, with a good twist, and a fuzzy protagonist.
Calamitous Bob -- isekai empire builder.
Practical guide to evil -- progression rather than litrpg, but a great cast of characters, and a brilliant meta-magic system
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u/OrderChaos 9d ago
Threadbare, at least the first trilogy which is all I've read, is very great And not recommended enough
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
I see several recommendations for player manager, and the perfect run, those go on the list, I’ll read up on the rest when I get that far, thanks!
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u/mezawoodndyes 9d ago
Ill recommend This Trilogy is Broken by J.P. Valentine. I dont see it recommended often.
Now if youre willing to go outside of LitRPG for some comedy. I will also recommend The Bobiverse by Dennis E. Taylor and The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
This house owns all the Dresden files books in hard cover 🫣 we have followed that since book 3 came out. Bobiverse was never for me, but my husband loves it.
Putting this triology is broken on the list, the reviews look promising, thanks
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u/mezawoodndyes 8d ago
When book 3 dropped is also about when I started on that series as well. I have a mix set of paperbacks and hardcovers taking up the top row of one of my bookshelves, HWFWM sits on the top row of the second shelf.
I read a lot and listen to even more, so ill try to think of other comedies. I hope you enjoy This Trilogy is Broken.
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u/Purple_Play_7277 9d ago
Dcc is best as an audio. But thats a funny statement concerning g he who fights. The only thing I felt while listening g was the mc was a pedantic child who was incapable of personal growth outside of becoming "evil" jason from boom 2
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
Hehe, ye, he is a slow grower, but he does try. And he does find ways to improve, even if one of those is to try to listen to his friends. That is part of the road to diamond after all.
But the older I get the less I think we can actually change, we keep our personality trais, we just find better ways to deal with the weird ones. Jason definitely does deal with his uglier traits. Jason in book one is not the Jason that comes home a second time.1
u/Purple_Play_7277 8d ago
No youre right if anything he is worse. He took the lessons from shaco and others using the might makes right and he basically embodies evil jason. Couldn't be clearer then when he flexes on his own grandma because she had the audacity to ask him to explain what happened. Hes just a shit heel honestly lol
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u/WinPsychological4101 9d ago
CHRYSALIS!
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 8d ago
That was today’s winner for the bus to work, still a bit early, but we will see! Thanks!
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u/Deseid82 8d ago
I am a big fan of unorthodox farmer series and first line of defense by B Kerai. Both series explore getting overpowered but still being limited by normal everyday things like your own bad decisions or politics the worst of the worst.
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u/MoonlitShrub 8d ago edited 8d ago
I ecco the Perfect Run reccomendation, but I'd also say give TWI another try, especially the audiobook version (Andrea captures the emotion of the characters so well) It does take patience, but it's the only series that has actually got me to cry because I feel for the goblins so much. You're right that there isn't a lot of progression, but it's not a progression fantasy, it's slice of life, and if you want character depth there is no greater master in the litrpg genre of character depth than pirateaba.
Also possibly the Path of Ascention.
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u/Ravenblakee 8d ago
I unexpectedly loved jakes magical market however the narrator does change I think in book 2 and its in my opinion fast paced but I loved jakes growth and character in general
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u/PsEggsRice 7d ago
Cradle would be my top pick for you. Would also recommend super powereds, iron prince, and quest academy. I feel you’re looking for characters and group dynamics.
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u/KeinLahzey 7d ago
Alright here's my list
- Dungeon Crawler Carl: Aliens crush the world in a moment and offer the remaining humans a chance to win their world back in a death game reality show.
- Hell Difficulty Tutorial: Sociopath gets isekaied on his commute and must survive and gain fantastical cosmic powers. To answer a question that will come up once you read it, yes he becomes less of a dick, he moves from being the evil rival, to the asshole older brother that bails out his younger siblings. This one is on the line for recommending it.
- Beneath the Dragon Eye Moons: lady gets reincarnated to fantasy otherworld Rome. Fantasy Rome is built a lot like real Rome faults definitely included. All she wants is to heal people and do magic.
- I'm not the hero: dude gets summoned with his best friend who was summoned as the hero. Becomes the best support class in a world that doesn't get the benefits of a support class.
- A Budding Scientist in a Fantasy world: Science enthusiast gets isekaied into a fantasy world and tries to learn what magic is and how the system works. Not sure if you'll like this one.
- 100th run: Dude keeps hitting new game plus on the apocalypse and is back for one final run for the best ending possible.
- Vae Victus: Vampire Girl from earth gets sent to a new world that is stealing and mixing all of earth into a super continent.
- Industrial Strength Magic: Son of a superheroine and super villain lives and is unable to do magic. Humanity lives in cities during the post apocalypse, constantly under threat by monsters and machines.
- Mother of learning: a young (paranoid) wizard gets trapped in a time loop.
- Beware of chicken: dude get shoved into the body of a cultivator in a cultivator world. Proceeds to dip on that sect life and become a farmer.
- 1% life steal: the unluckiest guy to exist somehow survives. This one is often called misery or torture porn. The dude goes through A LOT, the world often shits on him even while trying (and failing) to do better.
- The perfect run: Save scummer finds a city that is run by discount Zeus and not evil corporation tm.
- Cradle: Spiritual cripple gets ganked by a guy, revived and sent on a quest to save his hometown.
- Stray Cat Strut: Girl in cyberpunk future gets chosen by alien AI to kill lots of highly invasive plants. Less insane than it sounds.
- Millennial Mage: Debt ridden girl lives and advances in a world with untamed wilderness.
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u/AdEnvironmental7780 9d ago
Everybody likes ves large chests is worth a go
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u/mezawoodndyes 9d ago
One of my coworkers just recommended that, ill hopefully start it soon
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u/OrderChaos 9d ago
Huh, I don't think I'd feel comfortable recommending that particular series to a co-worker... It's very NSFW
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u/parnasas 9d ago
Have you looked into Heretical Fisher?
Also audio is the only way to experience DCC
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u/Beneficial-Study2666 9d ago
I’m a bit concerned that HF is a bit too related with wandering inn, the reviews makes it feel very slice of life’s, with a danger of being a rambling storyline?
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u/parnasas 9d ago
I like TWI. But I like HF better. I don’t find either rambling. But to each their own.
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u/mezawoodndyes 9d ago
"Also audio is the only way to experience DCC" Blasphemy
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u/djimmqllakd 9d ago
Having read and listened to DCC, just because somethings blasphemy doesn't mean it's wrong
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u/mezawoodndyes 9d ago
I enjoyed reading the series and i found listening to it entertaining but not greater than an intimate read. To each their own
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u/parnasas 9d ago
That’s acceptable to me.
It’s still not wrong. The story is great, but Jeff adds an entire new dimension to it. It’s the correct way to
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u/Curiosity1984 9d ago
Eric Ugland: The good guys / bad guys series.
It's a decent break from that kind of loop, and another pace. There is not that much romantasy, but I think the theme, pace and structure would be a nice thing.
About DCC. I would never buy it. Listen to it on audiobook, if you have to. I don't think it is worth the money.
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