What do you think?
Rate this book
Deathstalker Demigods #1
Rise of the Night Stalkers
Previously published as Rise of the Night Stalkers by Kurtis Eckstein LitRPG / GameLit, Post-Apocalyptic, Adventure Fantasy A male Deathstalker regains consciousness... Waking up to discover the apocalypse had begun, and to find that I was no longer human, was not how I thought my day would go. But then again, I supposed I was thankful to just have another day to begin with, considering I’d apparently been a mindless monster for the last several months. The city was a mess, with many buildings destroyed by massive black towers that rose into the sky like enormous thorns. And yet, despite all this, I was about to discover that the monsters and bizarre landscape weren’t the strangest things about the apocalypse. At least, not if the visual hallucination that displayed game-like stats counted. This book contains content that may not be suitable for all audiences, including excessive profanity and some violence/gore.Prologue As she got into position to strike, I quickly realized that stalking must truly come naturally to our kind, because the little demon proceeded to expertly sneak up on the man like a ninja, leaping onto his back and sinking her teeth into his neck. I could hear the snap from here, as she broke his spine at the base of his skull, dropping him to the ground in an instant. However, the fact that I could hear it so loudly also meant that the other man did too. He whipped his head around, just in time to see a four-legged creature dash behind another car. Crying out in shock, he fired his gun a few shots after she had already vanished, only to run over to his partner in crime, continuing to point his weapon towards the car. Little did he realize that she was already on the move the moment he glanced away.Rise of the Deathstalkers is a full-length novel. LitRPG / GameLit, Post-Apocalyptic, Adventure Fantasy
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
About the author
Kurtis Eckstein
25 books204 followersKurtis Eckstein is a huge fan of books, anime, and energy drinks! He has always wanted to create his own stories, but never felt like he had the time to invest in a full book. Finally, he decided to settle with writing short-stories, only to discover he loved it so much that it became his primary hobby.
Interested in supporting the author? Check out the available rewards on Patreon.
Interested in supporting the author? Check out the available rewards on Patreon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 17, 2021
Mostly positive mixed review (both 2 stars And 4 stars)
How can a book be so engrossing, and so infuriating at the same time?
This LitRPG book is pretty good with one glaring problem. That problem is the main character Mason, who is a complete asshole. So that's a pretty major problem.
Mason is a pissy monster with a chip on his shoulder and going through and embarrassing case of 'Roid Rage. He thinks everyone is afraid of him and maybe so, but I suspect they are all feeling shame on his behalf for his infantile behavior and temper tantrums.
Imagine with me that some douche comes marching into your house and loudly proclaims that he doesn't care at all about interior decorating. Then this guy criticizes your curtains and your furniture, and starts shouting about how a cherry wood end table should never be in the same room as a redwood coffee table, but that he doesn't give a damn because "He doesn't care at all bout interior decorating". When this douche stomps back out in a huff, do you look to your friends and say "What a badass!"? Hell no. The lady doth protest too much. That's just the main problem with the MC. Oh, except that instead of interior decorating, homeboy won't shut up about how much he doesn't care about the value of human life. ...Also Dude is so frigging STUPID!
So, you'd think that I've give this book a bad review at best and DNF at worst, But Honestly I was hooked. I know, confusing right? I was seriously engaged with the story wile being disgusted with the MC. Yes this book has a lot of similarities with another game-lit book " Ravenous (Necrotic Apocalypse #1) by David Petrie" that came out five months previously, But Ravenous is a horror/comedy game-lit wile this one is not so... I'm gonna let that slide.
So what score do you give a book that held you riveted, but made you shout at the page?
Split the difference.
How can a book be so engrossing, and so infuriating at the same time?
This LitRPG book is pretty good with one glaring problem. That problem is the main character Mason, who is a complete asshole. So that's a pretty major problem.
Mason is a pissy monster with a chip on his shoulder and going through and embarrassing case of 'Roid Rage. He thinks everyone is afraid of him and maybe so, but I suspect they are all feeling shame on his behalf for his infantile behavior and temper tantrums.
Imagine with me that some douche comes marching into your house and loudly proclaims that he doesn't care at all about interior decorating. Then this guy criticizes your curtains and your furniture, and starts shouting about how a cherry wood end table should never be in the same room as a redwood coffee table, but that he doesn't give a damn because "He doesn't care at all bout interior decorating". When this douche stomps back out in a huff, do you look to your friends and say "What a badass!"? Hell no. The lady doth protest too much. That's just the main problem with the MC. Oh, except that instead of interior decorating, homeboy won't shut up about how much he doesn't care about the value of human life. ...Also Dude is so frigging STUPID!
So, you'd think that I've give this book a bad review at best and DNF at worst, But Honestly I was hooked. I know, confusing right? I was seriously engaged with the story wile being disgusted with the MC. Yes this book has a lot of similarities with another game-lit book " Ravenous (Necrotic Apocalypse #1) by David Petrie" that came out five months previously, But Ravenous is a horror/comedy game-lit wile this one is not so... I'm gonna let that slide.
So what score do you give a book that held you riveted, but made you shout at the page?
Split the difference.
October 19, 2021
Interesting story, I will star by congratulating the author in the system, he created. Nice character, with great interactions.
October 1, 2021
Interesting story but the worst MC possible… such an ass…. I’m surprised Kurtis wrote this since so far his stories have great guys as MC…. I like this story but I got so annoyed at MC that I am not sure if I’m going to continue the series…
June 22, 2020
So cool!!!
I really liked the atmosphere and the mystery. Im still wondering which i should read next The before or the after
I really liked the atmosphere and the mystery. Im still wondering which i should read next The before or the after
April 16, 2020
Let me be frank, holy crap!? This is a very interesting blend of post apocalyptic genre and LITRPG genre without one overtaking the other. A lot of these kinds of books that I read are one with a little dash of the other but very rarely do you find a perfect split between the two. And guess what? It was a hell of a good ride! I start it off with a sense of Warm Bodies but badass, with a feeling that the humans are not stupid, just ill matched and ill prepared for the battles they face. The main character is snarky, gritty, and doesn’t hold back, like a bad ass demonic Han Solo. Or, a grumbling, judgmental, semi-canabalistic, gamer Deadpool. If you get this book be prepared to read it in one sitting because if you stop you are liable to slap the person upside the head that made you put it down. This was a lot of fun and I am eagerly waiting to read the rest.
May 5, 2020
I'm not sure if this was the author's first foray into gamelit/mechanics but there were a lot in this book. I liked it overall but did find myself skimming some material as the MC went over build options, but that appeals to some people so YMMV.
I'm looking at the precursor books now, so I'll see how those shake out, although I expect them (at least the "one year before" books) to be more like the "Immortal Superhero" series than this one.
Edit: Tried the precursors, gave up on each of them in short order. I'm not interested in YA, being many years past the target demographic, and the MCs in each that I tried to read were too messed up. A bit of adapting to radically changed circumstances makes for a good story, and we see that in this book. Clueless teens asking themselves over and over again who they are or why do they feel the way they do is just not my scene.
I'm looking at the precursor books now, so I'll see how those shake out, although I expect them (at least the "one year before" books) to be more like the "Immortal Superhero" series than this one.
Edit: Tried the precursors, gave up on each of them in short order. I'm not interested in YA, being many years past the target demographic, and the MCs in each that I tried to read were too messed up. A bit of adapting to radically changed circumstances makes for a good story, and we see that in this book. Clueless teens asking themselves over and over again who they are or why do they feel the way they do is just not my scene.
August 9, 2020
Good concept, needs polish.
The idea is good but the writing is rough. There is a lack of flow to the story that makes it difficult to read. The addition of game stats, that are ponderous at best, further impede the reader and take away from the enjoyment.
The idea is good but the writing is rough. There is a lack of flow to the story that makes it difficult to read. The addition of game stats, that are ponderous at best, further impede the reader and take away from the enjoyment.
June 16, 2021
If your main character is an amoral monster who doesn’t care about anyone, that makes it hard to get involved with the story. I mean, the writing itself is decent? But I soon found myself skimming ahead to see if he’d become more interesting. (Not really a spoiler: he doesn’t.)
March 17, 2022
This book started of intriguing, then the main protagonist turned out to be an asshole for no reason and the store seems to be going a harem direction....meh...
January 25, 2021
A post-System Apocalypse, with one of the monsters as its focus.
It's an interesting riff on a classic setting for the genre, as the book features its main characters as being some of the transformed monsters springing from the System Apocalypse. As such, the MC has access to the System, but the humans do not. Sprinkle partial amnesia, justified paranoia, and kin-solidarity, and you get a good worldbuilding.
The progression itself isn't as well done as the world, but it is enough to leave you wanting to know what happens after the massive cliffhanger at the end (yes, there is one hell of a cliffhanger).
It's an interesting riff on a classic setting for the genre, as the book features its main characters as being some of the transformed monsters springing from the System Apocalypse. As such, the MC has access to the System, but the humans do not. Sprinkle partial amnesia, justified paranoia, and kin-solidarity, and you get a good worldbuilding.
The progression itself isn't as well done as the world, but it is enough to leave you wanting to know what happens after the massive cliffhanger at the end (yes, there is one hell of a cliffhanger).
June 6, 2020
Excellent read
Told from the viewpoint of the transformed human who while cognizant lacks memory of both his human life as well as his early days as a nightstalker. No meta viewpoints, no other views, just his, dealing with both a ravaged world and an adapting system altering both.
Told from the viewpoint of the transformed human who while cognizant lacks memory of both his human life as well as his early days as a nightstalker. No meta viewpoints, no other views, just his, dealing with both a ravaged world and an adapting system altering both.
April 20, 2021
Incredible Action & awesome characters!
The two main characters in this book make an incredible team. And in the nightmare world that they find themselves in, teamwork is the only way to survive. The mind blowing adventures in this make me extremely eager to read book two in this series. Read this book, you’ll be VERY glad that you did!
The two main characters in this book make an incredible team. And in the nightmare world that they find themselves in, teamwork is the only way to survive. The mind blowing adventures in this make me extremely eager to read book two in this series. Read this book, you’ll be VERY glad that you did!
May 2, 2020
This was a good book! I haven’t read a book like this before and it was pretty cool to see how things progressed. I have lots of questions and can’t wait for the next book to help answer some of them.
July 22, 2020
Great story
A different take on the post apocalyptic world/monster. The lack of information is very refreshing. Instead of everything being explained up front you have live and learn.
A different take on the post apocalyptic world/monster. The lack of information is very refreshing. Instead of everything being explained up front you have live and learn.
September 9, 2021
A demon Gamelit Post apocalyptic adventure
A really interesting start to a book series. I cannot wait to see how this character evolves further. I am really interested in the future of this novel.
A really interesting start to a book series. I cannot wait to see how this character evolves further. I am really interested in the future of this novel.
September 27, 2021
Good start to an interesting Series.
Good beginning let’s see how it plays out as each of the new books come out. So far so good but I already see some areas where this series could fall flat.
Good beginning let’s see how it plays out as each of the new books come out. So far so good but I already see some areas where this series could fall flat.
June 1, 2020
Not bad
Pretty good book. Will probably read the sequel when it arrives. Would reccomend it, it is a pretty good read.
Pretty good book. Will probably read the sequel when it arrives. Would reccomend it, it is a pretty good read.
June 26, 2020
Highly surprised!
Overall I thought it was pretty great. Definitely a different twist and I enjoyed that. Looking forward to reading more of this authors works.
Overall I thought it was pretty great. Definitely a different twist and I enjoyed that. Looking forward to reading more of this authors works.
July 23, 2020
Great book
I really like this book. Great characters, fun plot, and lots of action. I can't wait for the next one.
I really like this book. Great characters, fun plot, and lots of action. I can't wait for the next one.
September 7, 2020
Great read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like litRPG type of books.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like litRPG type of books.
November 9, 2021
DNF 25%.
The MC has a major case of being an idiot. It's was just continually annoying enough that I gave up.
The MC has a major case of being an idiot. It's was just continually annoying enough that I gave up.
February 26, 2022
2.5 but closer to 2
May 28, 2020
This ended up being a let down. It started off with an interesting premise but as the story goes on it deteriorated. The previously call us protagonists main emotion turns into needlessly angry and the author uses sexual assault as a cheap plot device. All in all this ended up being wasted potential for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2020
I wasn’t too sure about this book at first. I didn’t really like the main character, but he grew on me the further I read, especially with his defense of Harper. The stat system and the point system was kind of confusing, so I just skipped over it. This book was different, which is partly why I enjoyed it as much as I did, I think. One thing that was a little annoying was the frequent stuttering of the characters, especially when they were frightened.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews