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Step 1: Limbo: A LitRPG Adventure
An ex–pro gamer’s body and mind are on the line as he fights for his life in the Hell level of a mysterious “Tutorial” in this dark fantasy LitRPG.
Lo Fennrick is going to die. Maybe later this month, maybe this very week. Either way, the homeless ex–pro gamer is only going to avoid starving if he freezes to death first.
On a snowy New Year’s Eve, Fennrick negotiates one last hurrah in a seedy internet cafe, but at the stroke of midnight, he receives a tantalizing “You have been invited to join the Tutorial.” And when presented with the available difficulty levels, he makes the obvious Hell.
Soon, Fennrick finds himself in frenzied, violent combat, and it’s a toss-up as to which he’ll lose his life or what little sanity he has left. With his criminal record, estranged family, and nonexistent future, he’s ready to accept death.
But with monsters lurking in every corner, he’s surprised to find himself battling all comers—human or otherwise—in a desperate attempt to save his own worthless self. Can Fennrick emerge from Hell with a single shred of his sanity intact—or will it be game over?
The first volume of the hit LitRPG horror series—with more than 750,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Lo Fennrick is going to die. Maybe later this month, maybe this very week. Either way, the homeless ex–pro gamer is only going to avoid starving if he freezes to death first.
On a snowy New Year’s Eve, Fennrick negotiates one last hurrah in a seedy internet cafe, but at the stroke of midnight, he receives a tantalizing “You have been invited to join the Tutorial.” And when presented with the available difficulty levels, he makes the obvious Hell.
Soon, Fennrick finds himself in frenzied, violent combat, and it’s a toss-up as to which he’ll lose his life or what little sanity he has left. With his criminal record, estranged family, and nonexistent future, he’s ready to accept death.
But with monsters lurking in every corner, he’s surprised to find himself battling all comers—human or otherwise—in a desperate attempt to save his own worthless self. Can Fennrick emerge from Hell with a single shred of his sanity intact—or will it be game over?
The first volume of the hit LitRPG horror series—with more than 750,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
356 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 4, 2025
DNF 40% Very much in the vein of Dungeon Crawler Carl
Grind-core / LitRPG / torture / unlikable MC / grim derp / edgy bullshit
The entire point of this book is to push you out of your comfort zone, and then go a little further.
So like an idiot I stuck around to show they couldn't run me off so easily. Who was I flexing for?
I've been DNFing too many books, This had very vocal fans (No, I did not read their reviews all the way to the end -or even the next sentence ) someone called it "One of the best litrpgs in the genre" so I gave it a try. Funny thing is I went back and re-read that review and the very next words are "The mc isn't very likeable when he interacts with other people" well that's an understatement.
This thing starts with an unlikable MC. The premise is that in his arrogance the MC selects HELL difficulty because he is a superior gamer. The HELL difficulty is so brutal, and physically painful that the MC is basically insane by lvl 2.
Remember, this book is meant to push your buttons. It's like licking a 9volt battery, or peeling back a scab.
I usually quit these things as soon as I realize what I've stepped in, but this time I kept reading up to the child murders.
Wish I could say that's where I quit. I skipped to the next chapter where the MC was skinning the children.
That's where I quit, and wish I had sooner.
**the next day**
What I failed to say yesterday was that the MC is the cause of his own suffering throughout the story. He insults all who try to help him, slaps away every hand of friendship, and is driven to a rage at the sight of others cooperating. The only person he shows a modicum of respect to is some one who abuses him first. Those who try to help are held in contempt.
The MC literately chooses to go to hell (mode) to validate his very mistaken sense of self superiority. Up until that point the MC could have chosen any other path. There are flashbacks that show moments where avoiding this end would have taken less effort than continuing to be aggravation to all around him.
A clear message I took was this:
The suffering in this book is VOLUNTARY. and you can make it stop at any moment.
..and then the light bulb (Finally) when on over my head, and I took the book's lesson to heart and stopped self-inflicting this misery on myself by walking away.
Grind-core / LitRPG / torture / unlikable MC / grim derp / edgy bullshit
The entire point of this book is to push you out of your comfort zone, and then go a little further.
So like an idiot I stuck around to show they couldn't run me off so easily. Who was I flexing for?
I've been DNFing too many books, This had very vocal fans (No, I did not read their reviews all the way to the end -or even the next sentence ) someone called it "One of the best litrpgs in the genre" so I gave it a try. Funny thing is I went back and re-read that review and the very next words are "The mc isn't very likeable when he interacts with other people" well that's an understatement.
This thing starts with an unlikable MC. The premise is that in his arrogance the MC selects HELL difficulty because he is a superior gamer. The HELL difficulty is so brutal, and physically painful that the MC is basically insane by lvl 2.
Remember, this book is meant to push your buttons. It's like licking a 9volt battery, or peeling back a scab.
I usually quit these things as soon as I realize what I've stepped in, but this time I kept reading up to the child murders.
Wish I could say that's where I quit. I skipped to the next chapter where the MC was skinning the children.
That's where I quit, and wish I had sooner.
**the next day**
What I failed to say yesterday was that the MC is the cause of his own suffering throughout the story. He insults all who try to help him, slaps away every hand of friendship, and is driven to a rage at the sight of others cooperating. The only person he shows a modicum of respect to is some one who abuses him first. Those who try to help are held in contempt.
The MC literately chooses to go to hell (mode) to validate his very mistaken sense of self superiority. Up until that point the MC could have chosen any other path. There are flashbacks that show moments where avoiding this end would have taken less effort than continuing to be aggravation to all around him.
A clear message I took was this:
The suffering in this book is VOLUNTARY. and you can make it stop at any moment.
..and then the light bulb (Finally) when on over my head, and I took the book's lesson to heart and stopped self-inflicting this misery on myself by walking away.
January 3, 2025
Hated this with every fibre of my being. Abandoned.
January 20, 2025
Step 1: Limbo: A LitRPG Adventure
by Palt
Introduction
Genre Context
Plot and Narrative Structure
Character Development
Themes and Literary Elements
Personal growth and adaptation in unfamiliar environments
The blurring of lines between virtual and real-world identities
Strategic thinking and problem-solving in game-like scenarios
The nature of reality and perception in digital worlds
Comparison to Contemporary Works
Progression System: The complexity and originality of the leveling and skill acquisition system compared to other works in the genre.
Narrative Focus: Whether the story leans more heavily on action, strategy, or character relationships compared to works like "Advent (Red Mage, Book 1)" by Xander Boyce.
Real-World Integration: How much emphasis is placed on the protagonist's life outside the game world, as seen in "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.
Writing Style and Pacing
Conclusion
Introduction
"Step 1: Limbo: A LitRPG Adventure" by Palt is an entry into the burgeoning LitRPG genre, a subgenre of fantasy that combines elements of role-playing games with traditional narrative storytelling. This novel invites readers into a virtual world where game mechanics and character progression are integral to the plot, offering a unique blend of adventure and strategic gameplay elements.
Genre Context
LitRPG, short for Literary Role-Playing Game, is characterized by stories set in virtual worlds where characters are aware of their in-game existence and progress through levels, skills, and attributes in a manner similar to video game RPGs. "Step 1: Limbo" follows this tradition, placing it alongside contemporary works like Aleron Kong's "The Land: Founding" and Rick Scott's "Dodge Tank: Crystal Shards Online".
Plot and Narrative Structure
While specific plot details for "Step 1: Limbo" are limited in the available research, the novel likely follows the genre conventions of a protagonist navigating a virtual world, facing challenges, and progressing through a game-like system. The title's reference to "Limbo" suggests a setting that may serve as an introductory or transitional space within the game world, possibly indicating that this is the first step in a larger journey or series.
Character Development
In LitRPG novels, character development is often closely tied to the progression systems inherent in the game world. While we don't have specific character names or backgrounds for "Step 1: Limbo," we can infer the likely presence of the following character types based on genre conventions:
The development of these characters is likely to be intertwined with the game mechanics, with their growth and relationships evolving as they face challenges and progress through the virtual world.
Themes and Literary Elements
"Step 1: Limbo" likely explores common themes found in LitRPG works, such as:
Personal growth and adaptation in unfamiliar environments
The blurring of lines between virtual and real-world identities
Strategic thinking and problem-solving in game-like scenarios
The nature of reality and perception in digital worlds
The novel probably employs literary devices common to the genre, such as detailed descriptions of game interfaces, skill trees, and character stats, which serve both narrative and world-building purposes.
Comparison to Contemporary Works
When compared to other contemporary LitRPG novels, "Step 1: Limbo" likely shares similarities in its focus on character progression and game mechanics. However, without more specific details, it's challenging to pinpoint how it might differentiate itself. Some points of comparison could include:
Progression System: The complexity and originality of the leveling and skill acquisition system compared to other works in the genre.
Narrative Focus: Whether the story leans more heavily on action, strategy, or character relationships compared to works like "Advent (Red Mage, Book 1)" by Xander Boyce.
Real-World Integration: How much emphasis is placed on the protagonist's life outside the game world, as seen in "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.
Writing Style and Pacing
The writing style of "Step 1: Limbo" is likely to be descriptive and detail-oriented, particularly when it comes to explaining game mechanics and character stats. The pacing may alternate between action-packed sequences and more reflective moments of character development or strategic planning, a common structure in LitRPG novels.
Conclusion
"Step 1: Limbo: A LitRPG Adventure" by Palt appears to be a promising entry into the LitRPG genre, offering readers a blend of fantasy storytelling and game-like progression. While specific details about the plot and characters are limited, the novel likely adheres to many of the genre conventions that have made LitRPG popular among fans of both literature and gaming.
As the first step in what may be a larger series, "Step 1: Limbo" sets the stage for an adventure that promises to immerse readers in a virtual world of challenges, growth, and strategic gameplay. Its success will likely depend on how well it balances the technical aspects of game mechanics with compelling character development and an engaging narrative.
For fans of the LitRPG genre, "Step 1: Limbo: A LitRPG Adventure" offers another opportunity to explore the intersection of gaming and storytelling. As the genre continues to evolve, works like this contribute to the ongoing conversation about virtual worlds, character progression, and the nature of reality in digital spaces. Readers who enjoy the strategic elements of RPGs combined with traditional narrative structures will likely find "Step 1: Limbo" to be an intriguing addition to their LitRPG library.
April 19, 2026
Not sure what to say re this. Suspect it will be a 3+ star for some, but 1 for others. The protagonist is a totally reprehensible edgelord loser, and continues suffering primarily through his own doing. Hopefully there is some level of character growth, but haven’t yet seen it. On the other hand, the worldbuilding is fantastic. So …? I keep reading because I do want to see where this is headed.
September 14, 2025
This is a rough one to recommend... But an untrustworthy narrator/unlikeable protagonist is a hard sell in litrpg. Palt somehow nails it, creating maybe the best first person perspective of a man dealing with impossible odds to the point of having a broken mind, body, and spirit. And body. And body. And body.
For the bad. See what I did above, repeating words for an impact? That happens a lot in this book. To the point it almost becomes an abstract sort of art(?). The book is a bit gruelling and relies heavily on body horror to establish the broken unredeemable protagonist. But, while this is going on, we also get 1337 speak chatroom vernacular which is annoying at best, and takes me out of the story every time.
For the praise. I think that Kitty is a "truer" version of Jason Asano (he who fights with monsters) during his "scary arc" or Nathaniel (hell difficulty tutorial). An unredeemable unreliable narrator who doesn't see the horror of their actions.
At some point, the over-the-top awfulness becomes funny. I've gotten more genuine laughs, from sheer shock or otherwise, from this book than anything in recent memory. ("You have to use your reds to cover the white.").
It's unhinged, uncomfortable, and somehow hilarious and captivating. I won't call it a hidden gem, since I don't think this story has wide appeal, but it's certainly a hidden something. Probably something good even.
For the bad. See what I did above, repeating words for an impact? That happens a lot in this book. To the point it almost becomes an abstract sort of art(?). The book is a bit gruelling and relies heavily on body horror to establish the broken unredeemable protagonist. But, while this is going on, we also get 1337 speak chatroom vernacular which is annoying at best, and takes me out of the story every time.
For the praise. I think that Kitty is a "truer" version of Jason Asano (he who fights with monsters) during his "scary arc" or Nathaniel (hell difficulty tutorial). An unredeemable unreliable narrator who doesn't see the horror of their actions.
At some point, the over-the-top awfulness becomes funny. I've gotten more genuine laughs, from sheer shock or otherwise, from this book than anything in recent memory. ("You have to use your reds to cover the white.").
It's unhinged, uncomfortable, and somehow hilarious and captivating. I won't call it a hidden gem, since I don't think this story has wide appeal, but it's certainly a hidden something. Probably something good even.
January 23, 2025
One of the best depiction of someone going insane under pressure I've read in awhile. This is not for the squeamish. Some parts are down right diabolical that I worry a bit for the author. You will hate the MC if you don't realize that he broke mentally in the first floor and all morality is cast aside in favour of surviving. Finish the book! The hate you feel may turn to pity. Audiobook reader is perfect too.
February 10, 2025
I hate rating self-published stories harshly but this one was really tough. The main character was insufferable, which I believe was the intention of the author. He was honestly awful with no redeeming qualities. His antics in the chat room were poor and him going full murder hobo in the game was crazy.
June 10, 2025
Such a uniquely grotesque spin on the LitRPG genre. I love this book for its extremes, we need more books that are willing to not have a likeable or good MC. He's crazy, homicidal, but still we can understand him through his hardships and maybe see just what makes him persevere.
October 26, 2024
A descent into madness. Overall an amazing book and well written. But I did notice a few mistakes; as in gaps the continuity.
However, I did really enjoy the book. One of my favourites in genre.
However, I did really enjoy the book. One of my favourites in genre.
January 16, 2025
3.5 A Gamer's Guide to Beating the Tutorial isn't like any LitRPG I've read. This is a series where the protagonist is a psychotic freak, or rather a mentally ill, homeless, Swedish man who used to be a pro gamer and message board troll. It is a novel about the tenacity of the cockroach.
Lo Fennrick, down on his luck and possibly dying, bribes an internet cafe owner with some crystal meth to let him have a session for old-time's sake. However, something magical occurs and he finds himself in a world where he is given a choice of game difficulty. Naturally, being a hardened gamer he chooses the ultra-hard Hell difficulty where there are only four other players and everyone except him dies almost immediately, but somehow, by sheer hardened gamer grit he survives. The game world has challenging levels, it's structurally a single-player-only horror LitRPG. But then, here's the thing- Lo Fennrick is not well. His idea of 100%-ing a level includes disassembling every monster he comes across for hides and meat. Except that this is not that kind of fantasy world, it appears many of the monsters are intelligent, and that this is MEANT to be a game about diplomacy but a poor untreated schizophrenic from a broken home decides the only solution is to one hundred percent murder hobo run it. He has deep, personal antisocial issues and the book is from his point of view. It's a single-player death-mode RPG.
Thankfully, he fulfills his gamer's responsibility by providing a walkthrough. Most of his interactions with other players occur between levels in message board conversations. Still, since Lo is the only living player playing Hell difficulty, he automatically becomes a representative and is noticed by several mercurial gods. News gets around about his brutal challenge solutions, and some of his walkthroughs end up doing some good. Could a self-loathing, delusional, mass-goblin murdering psychopath who is doing anything to survive, become a hero?
This is dark stuff. The protagonist is disturbed and it made me genuinely emotional as it worked through self-destructive and suicidal themes. I'm not kidding when I say this book bummed me out, but in a really cathartic way that I was not expecting. Could there be redemption for such a wretch as Lo Fennrick?
Amazing audio performance from Daniel Wisniewski and I went ahead and bought the second book right away. I got to see if Palt can up it up. As to what keeps it from being a four-star review? It's got the typical LitRPG problems, it's too long, some of the action can be hard to follow, the RPG rules are vague, it could use some editing. But it's a super dark comedy, a depressed edge lord odyssey, a goblin murder porn and internet troll epic.
Lo Fennrick, down on his luck and possibly dying, bribes an internet cafe owner with some crystal meth to let him have a session for old-time's sake. However, something magical occurs and he finds himself in a world where he is given a choice of game difficulty. Naturally, being a hardened gamer he chooses the ultra-hard Hell difficulty where there are only four other players and everyone except him dies almost immediately, but somehow, by sheer hardened gamer grit he survives. The game world has challenging levels, it's structurally a single-player-only horror LitRPG. But then, here's the thing- Lo Fennrick is not well. His idea of 100%-ing a level includes disassembling every monster he comes across for hides and meat. Except that this is not that kind of fantasy world, it appears many of the monsters are intelligent, and that this is MEANT to be a game about diplomacy but a poor untreated schizophrenic from a broken home decides the only solution is to one hundred percent murder hobo run it. He has deep, personal antisocial issues and the book is from his point of view. It's a single-player death-mode RPG.
Thankfully, he fulfills his gamer's responsibility by providing a walkthrough. Most of his interactions with other players occur between levels in message board conversations. Still, since Lo is the only living player playing Hell difficulty, he automatically becomes a representative and is noticed by several mercurial gods. News gets around about his brutal challenge solutions, and some of his walkthroughs end up doing some good. Could a self-loathing, delusional, mass-goblin murdering psychopath who is doing anything to survive, become a hero?
This is dark stuff. The protagonist is disturbed and it made me genuinely emotional as it worked through self-destructive and suicidal themes. I'm not kidding when I say this book bummed me out, but in a really cathartic way that I was not expecting. Could there be redemption for such a wretch as Lo Fennrick?
Amazing audio performance from Daniel Wisniewski and I went ahead and bought the second book right away. I got to see if Palt can up it up. As to what keeps it from being a four-star review? It's got the typical LitRPG problems, it's too long, some of the action can be hard to follow, the RPG rules are vague, it could use some editing. But it's a super dark comedy, a depressed edge lord odyssey, a goblin murder porn and internet troll epic.
October 24, 2024
Recently I found myself looking for yet another book to read, a plight many of us share. Having previously *adored* the book Returning to No Applause, Only the Same, I figured I'd see what else good ol' Palt has written. Lo' and behold, something was released just a scant few months ago, with reviews stating, "I can't believe this book isn't getting more love. Honestly, this is one of the best litrpgs I've read in a long time.", "A descent into madness... One of my favourites in the genre, and "you’re completely on spot that your parents should not read this book."
I've never really been into murderhobos. It's not that I dislike violence or fucked up shit (hence my love of Kaiju:Battlefield Surgeon), I am just a dude who can't do a Dark Urge run in Baldurs Gate 3 because I don't wanna be mean to my friends. Enter 'Step 1: Limbo', the first book in this series.
Our MC is a broken, broken 17-year old - broken in spirit, broken in mind, broken in body. Upon dying at the beginning of the story, he is invited to The Tutorial and chooses the Hell difficulty, because he is simply a pro gamer - anything less wouldn't be worth it when he must prove his superiority. He is quickly humbled, beaten, and demoralized before using his experience to temper his resolve through a confluence of luck and stubbornness.
This isn't an MC you can really grow to love, or possibly even like. Hell, you may even drop the book before the 50% point. Why did I, and why should you, persevere, you ask? Well, if you've read Returning to No Applause, Only the Same, you might understand - Palt simply has a way with words. The author's prose bounces from eloquent to tortured to nerdy to hilarious - but always evocative and purposeful. You are along for the ride through the MC's descent into madness while trying to grab at the lifesavers of hope and companionship he finds along the way.
There is a 2nd book coming out in a few weeks, but I spent the weekend catching up on Patreon. I cried numerous times - happy tears and sad tears. There are some fantastic side characters (the magnanimous Moleman, the inquisitive Simel) that add to the layers of this Dante-inspired jaunt through Hell.
I feel like it is a mix of Dungeon Crawler Carl (floors, NPC involvement), Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon (themes), and surprisingly Azarinth Healer / Stubborn Skill Grinder in a Time Loop (skill and resistance training - I mean, who doesn't want to level their Organ Failure resistance?).
If anything I said resounds with you, I urge you to try this book. Just don't come complaining to me if it gives you nightmares!
Rating: 5/5 princess cakes
I've never really been into murderhobos. It's not that I dislike violence or fucked up shit (hence my love of Kaiju:Battlefield Surgeon), I am just a dude who can't do a Dark Urge run in Baldurs Gate 3 because I don't wanna be mean to my friends. Enter 'Step 1: Limbo', the first book in this series.
Our MC is a broken, broken 17-year old - broken in spirit, broken in mind, broken in body. Upon dying at the beginning of the story, he is invited to The Tutorial and chooses the Hell difficulty, because he is simply a pro gamer - anything less wouldn't be worth it when he must prove his superiority. He is quickly humbled, beaten, and demoralized before using his experience to temper his resolve through a confluence of luck and stubbornness.
This isn't an MC you can really grow to love, or possibly even like. Hell, you may even drop the book before the 50% point. Why did I, and why should you, persevere, you ask? Well, if you've read Returning to No Applause, Only the Same, you might understand - Palt simply has a way with words. The author's prose bounces from eloquent to tortured to nerdy to hilarious - but always evocative and purposeful. You are along for the ride through the MC's descent into madness while trying to grab at the lifesavers of hope and companionship he finds along the way.
There is a 2nd book coming out in a few weeks, but I spent the weekend catching up on Patreon. I cried numerous times - happy tears and sad tears. There are some fantastic side characters (the magnanimous Moleman, the inquisitive Simel) that add to the layers of this Dante-inspired jaunt through Hell.
I feel like it is a mix of Dungeon Crawler Carl (floors, NPC involvement), Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon (themes), and surprisingly Azarinth Healer / Stubborn Skill Grinder in a Time Loop (skill and resistance training - I mean, who doesn't want to level their Organ Failure resistance?).
If anything I said resounds with you, I urge you to try this book. Just don't come complaining to me if it gives you nightmares!
Rating: 5/5 princess cakes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
So yeah, this is the literary equivalent of a snuff film. I gave it 2 stars as it is fairly well written, which after a while becomes problematic as you realize the author likely tortured neighborhood pets as a kid to have written this. It starts out a little interesting as the MC is a deranged gamer and has a variety of gods judging his actions in an amusing way. However, after getting to 80% of the way through you come to the realization that there isn’t really a plot. Just floor after floor of the MC doing more and more deranged things. Jump off a cliff and spray your bowels and brains across the ground, yay, Bowel and Brain Damage resistance go up (not joking). So, chapter after chapter of this and no plot, no likable characters, and it isn’t interesting or seeming to go anywhere.
January 21, 2025
Very interesting take on meta gaming
This book is unique. It is weird, but that’s part of the appeal. The whole book is about how an actual hard gamer would react in a litrpg world. Just like how we used to jump everywhere we went in morrowind and oblivion because it trained the jump skill and we wanted to do everything we could to progress as quickly as possible, the MC breaks his own bones on purpose to build up his fracture resistance rather than relaxing or being idle. He eats parasite infested meat and when he realizes it, he eats more because it raised his parasite resistance, disease resistance, etc and in a game where if you die you are actually dead, you want any little edge you can get
This book is unique. It is weird, but that’s part of the appeal. The whole book is about how an actual hard gamer would react in a litrpg world. Just like how we used to jump everywhere we went in morrowind and oblivion because it trained the jump skill and we wanted to do everything we could to progress as quickly as possible, the MC breaks his own bones on purpose to build up his fracture resistance rather than relaxing or being idle. He eats parasite infested meat and when he realizes it, he eats more because it raised his parasite resistance, disease resistance, etc and in a game where if you die you are actually dead, you want any little edge you can get
September 8, 2025
This story had a lot of promise that was killed by how completely unlikable the MC was. Everything else was great. Great setting, great writing, great story all around... except for the MC. The MC at first just annoyed me, but as time went on, he just made me hate reading the story. When he was only fighting or figuring something out, it was as bad, but the moment he interacted with anyone, I just wanted to never pick up the book again. I'm sure the author made the MC to have as terrible of a personality as possible, but he went so far, that I can't even think to want to read the story.
If you can get past having a MC with a terrible personality, you will love this story, I personally could not.
If you can get past having a MC with a terrible personality, you will love this story, I personally could not.
January 20, 2026
There is a certain kind of person that conflates painful with meaningful or interesting. I am not one of those people. The premise is maybe cool, but the MC is a sad loser who gets less and less sane and is a dick to everyone he meets and especially himself. It feels like an exercise in how long you can read something before thinking "this book might legitimately be a hazard for it's readers" and not in a "your Christian mom who thinks lord of the rings is creepy" way, In a senseless descent into madness way. It's just lame and sad, reads like a thirteen year old trying to be as edgy as possible wrote it. I see the irony of writing a critical and perhaps cynical review after making that claim and will hit save regardless.
June 7, 2026
I read Kaiju battlefield surgeon. It was fantastic and emotionally draining and devastating. This book was recommended to me next. To say it’s been a disappointment is an understatement. I want to finish reading it but also I don’t. I’m 6 chapters in and I find it hard to read especially when it comes to that chats. The MC for being in the position he is, is well..entitled and self righteous and I get that’s probably what the author is going for, however this is presumably a grown man, chatting like they are 14 years old. With other 14 year olds. It’s just a book I cannot get into. The fact is was recommended to me after the head pain of Kaiju? I think I need to rethink that friendship because this isn’t even on the same playing field. Unfortunately.
October 21, 2024
One of the best litrpgs in the genre
I can't believe this book isn't getting more love. Honestly, this is one of the best litrpgs I've read in a long time. The mc isn't very likeable when he interacts with other people, but he's really entertaining as the main pov.
I've read so many litrpgs that have the mc play solo, but it never works as well as it did in this book. Lo almost feels like he's made to be alone. At the same time, the author Palt writes the insanity of solitude very well.
I can't believe this book isn't getting more love. Honestly, this is one of the best litrpgs I've read in a long time. The mc isn't very likeable when he interacts with other people, but he's really entertaining as the main pov.
I've read so many litrpgs that have the mc play solo, but it never works as well as it did in this book. Lo almost feels like he's made to be alone. At the same time, the author Palt writes the insanity of solitude very well.
July 19, 2026
This book started out with good potential. It's got a protagonist that feels distinctive in his insanity. There's some entertaining humor as the author pokes fun at different tropes in a rather sardonic way.
Unfortunately, the humor starts to get repetitive and quickly gets stale. At the same time, the author starts taking steps to humanize the protagonist making them increasingly dull as well. The result is that the series loses appeal.
Unfortunately, the humor starts to get repetitive and quickly gets stale. At the same time, the author starts taking steps to humanize the protagonist making them increasingly dull as well. The result is that the series loses appeal.
September 4, 2026
Quite a unique book.
The MC is utterly batshit insane, and the setting he's in only furthers how broken he gets - mind and body - but he still has his moments of lucidity where he genuinely reflects on his actions, and even makes attempts at doing good. It also results in some genuinely emotionally poignant moments. His backstory is also quite good and woven into the story effectively. Despite how dark the book is sometimes it just loops so far into it you just have to laugh.
The MC is utterly batshit insane, and the setting he's in only furthers how broken he gets - mind and body - but he still has his moments of lucidity where he genuinely reflects on his actions, and even makes attempts at doing good. It also results in some genuinely emotionally poignant moments. His backstory is also quite good and woven into the story effectively. Despite how dark the book is sometimes it just loops so far into it you just have to laugh.
January 6, 2025
So bad and so good at the same time. I had to skip the goblin chapters. I think they could have had more character growth but definitely some of the better LitRPGs I've and that's saying something with how many I have read lol
February 19, 2025
Started out as an adventure, but the repetitive storyline got old in a hurry and could not sustain a 350 page ordeal. The descriptions of mass killings do not translate well from a gamer's screen to the written word either--somewhat horrific in plain language. Did not finish (75%)
March 19, 2025
DNF. STOP AT GOBLIN STORY.
Congrats you write a hateable MC. 10/10 writing chops. Want a medal or something? Not enjoyable at all.
More like a writing assignment for pretentious pricks that say suffering is beauty or something Shakespearean.
I hate this book.
Congrats you write a hateable MC. 10/10 writing chops. Want a medal or something? Not enjoyable at all.
More like a writing assignment for pretentious pricks that say suffering is beauty or something Shakespearean.
I hate this book.
April 20, 2026
This was honestly terrible. I did not get the authors vision at all. I can see what he was trying to achieve (maybe), but it really didn't land for me.
Honestly, I feel like I wasted some of my life on this. Really leaves a bad taste in mu mouth man.
Honestly, I feel like I wasted some of my life on this. Really leaves a bad taste in mu mouth man.
May 3, 2025
Can't deal with the mc he could start a band the way he was tooting his own horn. The mc ruined this for me dnf after skipping around.
August 5, 2025
What even is this?
Quite possibly the second worst thing I've read. It's weird and cringe, and only made it 15 pages. I don't recommend it.
Quite possibly the second worst thing I've read. It's weird and cringe, and only made it 15 pages. I don't recommend it.
January 19, 2026
Dark AF, I do not recommend, you have been warned the mc is a murder hobo in the worst possible way.
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February 16, 2026
i liked it. MC is interesting change for the genre. i don't recall any child killing as others say. he took out some goblings but they have it coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 28, 2026
I've tried. Couldn't really enjoy it. Had to force myself through it.
August 19, 2026
I didnt get it. Must not be my style. Odd time jumps i didnt follow, random stuff happening left and right, and too dark for me.
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