Book picks similar to
God of the Climb by Simon Archer


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Crimson Sands


J. Arthur Klein - 2020
    Join James, our intrepid adventurer, streamer, and bug hunter as he jumps head first into the first true immersion VRMMORPG game and explores the digital reality that the dev's have kept under lock and key.No previews? No class or race info before launch? What could possibly go wrong? Especially starting in the empire inspired by ancient Egypt.Rolling a character reminiscent of an old school D&D Cleric, James takes on the world of Sosaku Online with spear, shield, and holy fire.Features: VR, Cursing, Violence, Slice of LifeNo: Harem, Explicit, Telemarketers.

The Aussie Mana Apocalypse


Christopher J. Timms - 2020
    Then the monsters showed up.Isolated in the Aussie outback with his best mate Nugget, Nugget's sister Mel (who he definitely did not have a thing with), Mel's new latte-sipping boyfriend, and a British backpacker, why isn’t Keat panicked?Because Keat’s a gamer.And every gamer knows, there’s always a way to power level. (also...because he has a giant wombat).You’ll love this LitRPG Western, set in the Australian Outback, because it reminds us how people change on a gap year, and because it takes the piss. Get it now.

Gates of Thunder


Alex Kosh - 2014
    It's a place where magic spells, enchanted artifacts, steam-powered machines, firearms and mechanical golems are a part of everyday life.Gamer Andrew Falk begins his journey in a small village on the border of Orcish territory. The locals are the keepers of many secrets, but their behavior is too realistic for characters in a game; so realistic, in fact, that Andrew starts to treat them as if they were real people. Maybe because of the way he plays, or maybe just thanks to good luck, he becomes one of a mysterious class of people known as "sliders,” and Elenia, the goddess of fate, sends him on an epic quest. But he quickly comes to understand that it's not just his stats as a gamer that are at stake here, but his real life. The virtual goddess turns out to be capable of affecting the real world in order to force Andrew to complete her assignments within the game.Now Andrew's going to have to turn Arktania upside-down in his quest for five ancient swords. But the "Loner" curse means that he won't have anyone to rely on but himself.

Tower of Ruin: Volume I: A Dark Dungeon Realm LitRPG


Wolfe Locke - 2021
    His life has one purpose - survive floor after floor of enemies determined to destroy him. But when a Dark Lord with his own agenda arrives offering a second chance at life, everything changes.Bestowed the Godhand, Daniel has but one mission, survive and climb the tower to overthrow its master and claim the tower as his own.But the journey will be perilous.Every floor of the tower contains unique challenges. Each revealing apocalyptic perversions of humanity.In the monster ridden realm of Pandemonium, Daniel has but one choice. He must become one.He must become a monster. Yes. I can.

Meet the Alexes: A Dungeon Core Adventure


Burt Wrenlaw - 2021
    

Microbrewer Alchemist


Jon Svenson - 2021
    After his parents died in a horrific car crash, he uses the inheritance money to start a brewery and gets married.Happiness doesn't last very long. The brewery is struggling, and his marriage is rocky. Still, he has his team at work supporting him. Until he doesn't.Microbrewer Alchemist is the story of a man who stumbles upon a secret that he is still trying to understand while turning his life around at the same time. There are no intimate scenes or harems, but there is a bit of swearing.

Exceed System: The Gambler


JL Huang - 2020
     He has failed every single induction ceremony and it is his last chance to Exceed to a higher class. At his wit's end, he desperately tries one last time at Exceeding, putting all his chips on the table. ...except something was different this time. Time freezing, a mysterious voice, and a new Exceed Mark? Had lady luck finally given him a boon? Had he received a class the world had never seen before? One thing is for sure, he's changed. And now he has something called . . . the Gambler's System. Join Axel and his companions as he journeys through this game-like world of the Five Kingdoms! Disclaimer: Please keep the book updated for the latest version!

Beginnings (Peaks of Power Book 1)


Paul Campbell Jr. - 2018
    Bored with his life as a casual player, he slipped easily into the lifestyle of a professional gamer. After reaching the pinnacle of success, an email arrived from the mysterious Beta Academy. With his best friend and self-proclaimed bodyguard, Dimitri, he decides to take a chance and accept the strange offer contained within. Overconfident in his skills, Ryan thinks he’ll defeat this game as easily as every other, but that confidence is shaken and shattered within the first fifteen minutes. This wasn’t a standard game with haptic chairs or gloves; this was the real thing. Ryan and Dimitri must learn the heights of the Peaks of Power… and what it will take to achieve their summit.

Tales from the Dead Man Inn (NPC's Lives Book 1)


Daniel Schinhofen - 2019
    These collected stories cover well known and loved characters, as well as some lesser seen NPCs. Into the Deadlands: Alistern, Grimgar, Almira, Stewart, and Flora take their first trip into the sands. The longest story in the anthology, and a harrowing tale of heroics. Lilith’s History: How did Lilith come to be with Alistern and raise five wonderful daughters? Bob’s Tale: Everyone’s favorite Imp is featured in this story. Stewart’s Upbringing: How does a Half-blood Infernal grow up in a city that despises his kind? Erin’s Story: How does the barmaid come to love a noble’s son? A story of love and acceptance. Deirdre’s Story: What is one to do when her sister’s are finding love? Find her own, of course. Marian’s Story: With the other three sisters having found love, Marian yearns to find her own soulmate. Demon Lord’s Armor: The tale of how the infamous Demon Lord Armor set was created. Skippy’s Tale: Simmer down, we know most people hate him. Understand him so you can hate him even more. Bob’s Tale Part two: Bob is back with more story to dig into. Magiblood: The story of Rolland and Kim, never before seen anywhere. I hope you will enjoy reading these stories as much as I did writing them.

Caesar's Shadow


Anthony Wright - 2020
    Now he can. The newest VRMMORPG Gods & Kings is the closest thing to a time machine he’ll ever get.With the powers of his Warrior Priest class Matt must build his army, level his followers, and discover new battle formations that will help him defeat his enemies and become a true Roman general. More victories means more glory and more men – so Matt must use all his knowledge of history to give his fighters the edge in battle, as well as buffing his troops with ancient magic and even summoning mythic beasts to fight alongside his men. It’s awesome!But his carefree attitude soon earns the scorn of a serious competitor who has made it his mission to rewrite history and see Matt and his allies destroyed. To see the version of Rome he loves come to life, Matt must use all his skill to defeat his nemesis and save the empire.

An Old Man's Journey


Gregory Allanther - 2021
    He'd lived a good life, been a decent man, but now that his wife was gone he was... Lonely.Until his old friend Bert introduced him to Crossroads, the new VR sensation. In this virtual world he can move without pain, explore new lands, and most importantly - see his family again. For as long as he can hold their interest, in this fast-paced modern world of instant gratification and VR thrills.The solution: Build a place his family wants to visit. Armed only with a magic stick with game-breaking powers that should be nerfed, Charles sets out on a journey to find a place to call his own. Along the way, he will be mistaken for an NPC quest giver, become the antagonist in epic questlines, and attempt to teach the next generation proper behavior - even if he has to beat it into them.This is the story of one man's search for belonging in his second virtual life. A search for a place to belong, and what it takes to get there. It's also a hilarious romp through online fantasy cliches that will appeal to fans of Ready Player One, The Wandering Inn, and slice-of-life comedies.Because at the end of a man's life: What's more important than family?"Hilarious!" "Amazing!" "Few things better!" - Royal Road readers.

Mage Initiate (Magical Lifeform, #1)


D.R. Rosier - 2021
    He also has half a leg thanks to an IED cutting his career short at twenty-four, and he works as a security guard in a high security government building. They’re doing some cutting-edge research and testing on weapons technology and other scientific breakthroughs.Not that it mattered to him, he was no scientist. At least, it didn’t matter until they ripped open a hole in time and space, and it sent him hurtling toward an alternate world. One of magic and swords, but a magic based in science. One of the five universal forces as opposed to the four we currently know about.It’s going to be a crazy ride, in a very strange land and dynastic empire with a very different culture, and he’ll have to do his best merely to survive.Warning: This is a full-sized erotic epic fantasy novel that contains a small number of explicit sex scenes. It also has a mixed harem and polyamory theme, if that isn’t for you than don’t buy this book. This book is told in the first person from William’s point of view, and is the first book of a three novel series.

Heaven's Gate: Volume 1 (A LitRPG Adventure)


DragonTreasures - 2019
     In fact, it wasn't technically a video game. Alfred had somehow ended up on a planet millions of miles away from Earth, but with dungeons, hot girls, and strange creatures appearing at every turn. Just like a video game he could complete missions for experience, and even join a guild and play with friends. It almost seemed like a normal world until he discovered that in the planet, Heaven's Gate, your dreams could come true if you were brave enough to enter into the hardest dungeons. He runs into some friends and foes in the game, and tries his hardest to conquer the legendary dream dungeons where all your dreams can come true if you can just survive. If you wish to revive someone, or learn a few 'broken' skills, you can do it at the apex of Heaven's Gate. Luckily, he's been training in martial arts since he was a kid, and seems to have a natural advantage in the game thanks to his martial prowess and sharp mind. Warning: Contains Harem Elements, Gore, and LitRPG elements...

The Dwarf, The Mine, and The RPG Apocalypse: Dwarf Smith From Earth


Constantin Step - 2021
    

Memory Seal: Volume 1


Insane Mooncake - 2018
    His desperation, his regret, his sorrow shaped his soul as he was murdered. But the world is just; As the world he knows fades before his eyes, he finds himself reincarnated in the body of a newborn baby. He now has a second chance at life, to avoid his previous life’s tragic ending. But is the world really so kind?