Book picks similar to
Black Dawn by Nathan Ameye


litrpg
fantasy
lit-rpg
litrpg-historical-fiction

Defender of Gallowind


J Donald - 2019
    In the industrial wasteland of future America, Solomon Herrick spends his day wandering the streets and getting into trouble. Staying one step ahead of the local PD, his life is mostly spent immersed in history or aimless exploring -- until Shyft comes along. Whether that's a good thing or not is still up in the air... Shyft 2.0, an immersive open-world RPG, just entered beta, and though Solomon Herrick wasn't on the list, his friends knew a guy who could get them in. A chase and a gunfight later and Sol is deposited into the world with nothing but a few rags on his back and a nearby stick to defend himself. With his friends gone, no knowledge of the game world and zero guidance available, Solomon will have to rely on his ability to learn fast if he wants to not only figure out how to play the game, but figure out how to get out - if he even can. Shyft is a new Gamelit / LitRPG series created by Mike Kraus and Justin Bell, writing under the M Kraus and J Donald pen names. Defenders of Gallowind is the first in a 3-book crunchy LitRPG series in the world, though two more shorts (available for free through signing up for the Shyft newsletter at www.shyft.gg) exist and a range of soft and crunchy stories are already planned for this vast, varied and complex universe.

Trojan Nightmare


Blaise Corvin - 2022
    Post-Apocalypse America is unrecognizable from the past. Jake survives by working as the leader of a scavenging adventuring team. A former mage, now he follows the strange path of cultivation, taught to him by a mysterious traveler. As far as he knows, he is one of the only people on Earth with this power. Events will unfold that change Jake's life forever. Jake might even lose his very humanity while trying to do the right thing. But in return, perhaps he will grasp a second chance to save himself and others, to correct the past. He is about to be caught up in something much greater than himself. Will he be consumed by the machinations of greater powers? Only one thing is for certain. No matter how terrible the odds, Jake doesn't give up. Experience the start of the next hit LitRPG series from bestseller Blaise Corvin. This is a cultivation story with elements of eastern fantasy, but also includes LitRPG and GameLit tropes.

The Birth


Paul Kite - 2018
    An impossible to miss new explosive release sure to catch the eye of all the fans of Sword Art Online and Log Horizon! The Fate has to lead you to a stone dead! The body languishes in the captivity of the regeneration capsule; the mind is connected to the virtual game of the new generation. Well, you could take it, but a strange system error has deprived you of the connection with reality and outside help. Now for NPCs you are one of them, and for the players you are one of NPCs. There is the only chance to recover your body, crippled by the catastrophe. It is to survive in this superfluously cruel world! To survive here--you need to become stronger. But who could make you stronger but the 'Shadows', the most famous assassin guild in Noria? 'The Birth' is the first book by Paul Kite (real name - Pavel Korshunov) - one of the most popular Russian LitRPG series 'Realm of Noria'. Paul Kite is one of the top-rated of the new wave gamelit-author. He has created the story of Kraven, a person who accidentally became a captive of the virtual world and fought not only for his freedom, but also for his life.

Game Break: Hayden's Book 1


G.S. Hodgson - 2016
    Seek out a comfortable chair to marvel at the sight of two setting suns or revel in bloody battle on the Plains of Deadalon, destroying skeleton warriors with your devastating magic. Whatever your heart desires, Waara will provideeeeeeeeee Error304, Error 6799, Report! Critical Failure! Click here for customer support. That is unless your name is Hayden and you wake up in a pitch black mine, with no idea how you got there and are thrust into an unimaginable world of pain and heart attack inducing adventures/catastrophes. “Waara will provide ‘MY ASS’. Can you believe that PR ‘crap’? Come and find out what happened to me and we will see if you still want to play, ‘The Land of Waara,’ ” Hayden griped. “What the hell is that? Get it off me Spike. A little help would be nice.” Game Break is a LITRPG Series There is some swearing and a bit of nudity, but all in good taste, I hope.

The Pioneer


A.R. Holloway - 2019
    A world that operates similar to the video games Daniel has always enjoyed, Ethria is a place where power can be found in many forms, both light and dark, and whose true purpose is unknown even to most of its denizens. Taking the long way home, Daniel will make another choice, to help a group of persecuted people whose story mirrors that of his pioneer ancestors. But In a time when Gods are changing, the people of every race suffer, the foundations of nations shift, and change and danger are in the very air, what can one under-leveled, foreign wizard do? All the while at the roof of the world, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains a darkness grows, a creature plots, and an ancient evil from the foundations of the world seeks to re-emerge onto Ethria.”

The Academy: A Cultivation Novel


Colin Daumen - 2020
    But instead of waking up in the afterlife, Favian finds himself reincarnated into a fantasy world where magic is real, monsters exist, and a bloodthirsty secret organization will stop at nothing to hunt him down.Struggling to survive in a bizarre world beyond his wildest dreams, Favian must master the unique World of Exile game system to rise through the ranks of this land and embrace his destiny. But at his heart lies a secret power – one that will get him killed if anybody discovers it…Can Favian find a new place for himself on the continent of Ortu Solis? Or will he face death a second time?Dive into the gripping debut novel in an epic sword & sorcery saga with this page-turning LitRPG adventure. Perfect for fans of Warlock of the Magus World, Age of Adepts, and The Wizard World, you won’t want to miss The Mage of Shadows. Grab your copy now!

A New Fate


Stuart Grosse - 2020
    A world where monsters spawned and preyed on the weak. A world where men became monsters to stand against them.The Black Knight was one such monster of a man, facing down the hordes with his loved ones and allies. Together, they struck down many powerful warlords and monsters, to protect the people. But, at the moment of his greatest triumph, he was betrayed by his lover and his closest friend, struck with a cursed blade that would end him once and for all. But he refused to go quietly.The explosion cast him back in time, in the body of his former self, before the System Apocalypse began. And, in that moment, he thought about the life he had led. He had been a hero, a Black Knight to stand against the darkness. All that had earned him was betrayal and death. If that was the case, then he would become the darkness, itself, and bend it to his will.His new fate may be a dark one, but he will never be betrayed like that again!----------------------Author's Note: This is a story set in a world where everything we knew suddenly got turned upside down by a System coming online. This is not a tale of heroics. This is the tale of a man who has chosen to throw away his humanity and embrace his inner demon, to put himself beyond betrayal. This story features cursing, gore, enslavement, mind control, non-consensual acts, and more. If you were hoping for a tale of a white knight in the midst of the apocalypse, you're going to be disappointed. If you have triggers, consider this your warning.

The First Tower


Tristan H. Brown - 2020
    Dragons flew across the never-ending skies, roaring toward the heavens. Elves grew trees and tended to the flowers. Dwarves crafted armor and weapons to use for battle. Demons started wars for fun.It was chaotic, yet it was still a home. Then, when things were just starting to look up, the cataclysm struck. Only one man could face the imminent disaster, but he still failed in the end. Bradley Crowe let down all of those who he loved; everyone who relied on him. Regrets? He had many. As his eyes closed, falling into an eternal slumber, he was given a second chance.

City of Goblins (In the System Book #1): LitRPG Series


Petr Zhgulyov - 2020
    Ivan has an interface, a spear, and basic weapon skills. All he has to do to return to Earth is complete a simple quest and reach the second level. But experience points are only awarded for kills in this game, and the clock is ticking. Whoever doesn’t score within 24 hours will remain in the location forever.The game takes places in the ruins of a massive city, where the undead lurk in the central districts and the outskirts are raided by the descendants of past owners. The undead are strong, while the goblins rarely move around alone and aren’t worth much XP. The most valuable prey under these conditions are formal allies, i.e. the other players. If a player is capable of killing a fellow human, of course. Even if they aren’t planning to go against their own nature by murdering innocents, who said that they will have a choice? It’s kill or be killed!Those who complete the quest will be returned to Earth, where they can rest and prepare for the next attempt. Beyond the local objective is also a global one. In the center of the city stands a temple to a fallen god, and until one of the players captures the Altar, the mission will be repeated again and again. But when all you’re holding is a spear, your allies can’t be trusted, and resurrection is nearly impossible, this isn’t much more than a delayed death sentence…For the first seven players, who become the Earth Gods, this mission is a chance to rapidly gain power and take charge of a united Pantheon. A chance to escape death and protect our world from invasion. Although there is only one altar and the Gods make others do their work. Ivan must make a choice and decide whose pawn he will become. Or should he take a risk, refuse their patronage and keep his options open?

The Wraith of Valenastrious


Jared Mandani - 2017
    A promising e-sports competitor, he’s lost everything—his career, wife and kid—to alcohol and gambling. Today, the once famous gamer is but a shadow of his former self, struggling to keep his head out of the water and the loan sharks at bay. Because Harrison is not only broke, he owes a lot of money to the wrong people. Unable to pay off his debt, he’s sent to spy on a revolutionary game that will make its creator rich beyond belief and forever change the face of the gaming world. Harrison will use those skills that made him a champion to navigate these new intriguing lands where demons roam free, and steal the software running the simulation. But as he gets deeper into the game, connects with a few other players and rediscovers the meaning of friendship and loyalty, he’s going to have to betray the trust of his friends to save his own life. Will Harrison be able to escape the clutches of the loan shark and his goons? Is he forever doomed to repeat the same mistakes and hurt those close to him? When the virtual becomes real and the lines between good and evil become blurred, it gets increasingly difficult to make the right decision.

Fragment of Divinity


Jamey Sultan - 2020
    But he knows he has to adapt quickly, as ending up in a spider’s belly was never high on his to-do listWith only a vague quest, a mysterious brand, and promises of help from a cantankerous old lady to guide him, James must level up into the warrior this strange, yet beautiful world so desperately needs. New allies join him on his journey, as they venture to the Dwarven City high in the Crimson Mountains in pursuit of the first clue.Can James figure out the rules of this land in time to save it from its prophecy? Or will the dark secrets contained in his mysterious brand consume him?Check out Fragment of Divinity to find out.

Merchant System: Book 1: Growing Stronger While Getting Rich


Cobyboy - 2018
    Equipped with the power to become the best merchant, our hero ventures forth in an adventure unlike any other. The Merchant System-3rd edition— revised and reformatted (9/30/2018) Jacob Rolfe's life took a turn for the worse after being abandoned at a very young age. Persecuted by his home village and cursed by misfortune, the only fortunate turn in his melancholic existence appeared when he became a slave to a noble house. Good things didn't last for Jacob, though. One fateful day– his short, sad life ended at the tender age of 14. But even death wasn't the end of it for him. Awakening, Jacob feels just the same as ever, except for one minor change... "Ding... System Initializing... Now activating the [Merchant's Hack]."

Second Chance - A Battle Mage Reborn (Book 1): An EndWorld Everlasting Saga


R. Brady Frost - 2019
    An answer he isn't willing to accept: life everlasting in a game world of fantasy, swords, and magic.EndWorld Everlasting. A man-made afterlife. It goes against everything he's always believed in.But there might still be hope. And hope is a very dangerous thing.Far below their headquarters in Dallas, Texas, Cyberternal has been working on a secret medical program. A program made available to Denton though his personal, if not complicated, connection to an Assistant Vice President at the powerful company.After agreeing to undergo the procedure, Denton finds himself awakening to a strange, new world. A world he never wanted. Second Chance is the first book in the series: A Battle Mage Reborn, and is a GameLit Fantasy Adventure with soft LitRPG elements set in the digital world of EndWorld Everlasting.

The Curse of Hurlig Ridge: 1st Dive


M.A. Carlson - 2018
    Enter the World Tree Online, a fully immersive virtual reality experience. Join Byron in his first 30 days of a non-stop fantasy adventure in the cursed province of Hurlig Ridge, a land filled with monsters, mysteries, murderers and treasure. The people of the province have been tormented for centuries by a pack of voracious wolves. Now, with the arrival of the adventurers, dark forces have begun to stir, accelerating their dark plans. Can Byron unravel the mystery of this curse before it’s too late? Adventure and excitement await anyone brave enough to join the World Tree. Will you be one of them?

The Shattered Sword


T.J. Reynolds - 2020
    A deadly online world. Can Dhalia level up fast enough to keep the debt collectors at bay?Dhalia has to pay off her dead father’s bills or risk her life in the lithium mines. Which...no thank you. Besides, the world is run by tech, and this gamer girl is determined to explore the virtual world her father was so obsessed with and get rich while she’s at it.So, she sells everything and rents a premium VR pod to play Eternal Online.Enter the toughest realm available? Check.Discover the fastest way to loot without dying...in progress.But when Dhalia finds an epic quest chain that others have overlooked, she thinks she’s struck gold. What she doesn’t expect is to make friends with two deadly warriors and one powerful creature, or find a world boss gunning for them all.Experience the start of an Epic LitRPG adventure perfect for fans of Travis Bagwell, Carrie Summers, and Outspan Foster.