Howdy! I'm quite fed up with LIT-RPG serving as filler text and extra math to lose me in the story. I'm fine with checking out some stories that does it well, but I really need some new books to read that break the boundaries a bit. Anyone got any suggestions? Also, preferrably stories with a few hundred pages, enough to binge it for a while or get into it enough where I'm actively waiting for new chapters. Thanks so much!

 - Turtle

GM_Turtle Wrote: Howdy! I'm quite fed up with LIT-RPG serving as filler text and extra math to lose me in the story. I'm fine with checking out some stories that does it well, but I really need some new books to read that break the boundaries a bit. Anyone got any suggestions? Also, preferrably stories with a few hundred pages, enough to binge it for a while or get into it enough where I'm actively waiting for new chapters. Thanks so much!

 - Turtle

Well, you can check out mine. Have about 2.5k pages worth of stuff.

However, right now I am on hiatus, since I am rewriting the last book in my trilogy. As well as rewriting a short collection. Until then, there are two books of the trilogy to check out. Quite a bit of short stories, deleted scenes, and three other books on top of this. They are organized in their own volume, so it’ll be pretty easy to navigate. 

I mean, most stories here are not LitRPG, so you're going to need to be a little more specific. 

My signature below has a link to my rather lengthy thread of recommendations, but offhand:

• Tori Transmigrated
• This Used to be About Dungeons
• Transmigrated? (by Andur)
• Sexy Sect Babes
• Beware of Chicken

Starts sliding signature onto the table.

Zearth Wrote: Starts sliding signature onto the table.

One usually executes a signature onto a table.  Signatures don't... move? I'm not even sure how to articulate this befuddlement. 

Zearth Wrote: Starts sliding signature onto the table.

Well, I've got a superhero story for you!

Features lots of, err . . . lots. If you want something new (and maybe unique?), give it a try. It's currently over 60k words and I intend to cap out at a million.

No Heroes There

I'm reading (very slowly) Paranoid Mage and Godslayers, both are quite good and not lit-rpg.

Slams signature onto the table.

Doesn't elaborate.

Leaves.

From my favorites list:

(hardcore level) Stories without LitRPG.

Scientific ReQuest Isekai Slice Of Life novel about ordinary teacher in fantasy world inspired by the MMORPG. Author, and the protagonist, very likely hates Isekai and LitRPG. Teacher teaches, and bitches about stuff, and doesn't do anything isekai. Relatively short.

Providence Essentially Percy Jackson with angels & demons. It certainly isn't LitRPG. Long.

An Light Novel, but no trace of LitRPG:

Nevermore: Enygma Files Very short. Written by professional artist, high quality illustration. Very short at this moment. Not Lit RPG.

(intermediate level) Stories with some LitRPG or GameLit influences, without actually being one:

Hidden Beacons Some LitRPG elements early on, there were a very few blue boxes early on, which are quickly forgotten. Essentially ordinary fantasy story about kung-fu magical girls. Not really LitRPG, Very long.

Rumble Circuit. Isekai. GameLit, but not LitRPG. Isekai about martial artist in another world. Zero LitRPG elements. Very long.

Valor and Violence by JE Payne. They are short stories, but they are epic. 

Meek by Ian Flat. Pretty long, haven’t read all of it, but have enjoyed what I’ve read so far. 

The Future that Never was by Space Pickle. Space Opera with a boatload of action. It’s a wild ride. 

Also second Rumble Circuit above. That ones a blast! 

Both of mine in sig below have 60-70 chaps complete first books. Saga of Steel and Bone is nearing second book completion, so plenty to binge.

Hope ya find the read you’re looking for! 

~Rhea

luda305 Wrote: I mean, most stories here are not LitRPG, so you're going to need to be a little more specific. 

My signature below has a link to my rather lengthy thread of recommendations, but offhand:

• Tori Transmigrated
• This Used to be About Dungeons
• Transmigrated? (by Andur)
• Sexy Sect Babes
• Beware of Chicken

Imo the first two are two of the best ongoing stories here.

Also Mark of the Fool which is progression and a fun adventure story but no numbers despite the protagonist getting strong as heck.

GM_Turtle Wrote: Howdy! I'm quite fed up with LIT-RPG serving as filler text and extra math to lose me in the story. I'm fine with checking out some stories that does it well, but I really need some new books to read that break the boundaries a bit. Anyone got any suggestions? Also, preferrably stories with a few hundred pages, enough to binge it for a while or get into it enough where I'm actively waiting for new chapters. Thanks so much!

 - Turtle

If you're interested in checking out what I call Fantasy/Attempted comedy, it's in the signature...

How about some sci-fi? In addition to The Privateer (Shameless self promotion! Link in the signature!), I'd recommend:

12 Miles Below https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/42367/12-miles-below

Super Minion https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/21410/super-minion followed by Industrial Strength Magic https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/57011/industrial-strength-magic
(Those two are part of a shared universe, and totally worth your time.

The Perfect Run https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/36735/the-perfect-run

Heretical Oaths 
A Travelling Mage's Almanac 
Millennial Mage 
Memoirs of Your Local Small-time Villainess has some game-like elements (skills and traits), but no stats or classes. And it's just the MC who has this system. 
Demesne 

My novel Origin of Evil sounds like it might be up your alley. It's primarily a hero's journey story from the mentor's perspective. It's not a litRPG, there's no magic, but there is tons of gore, violence and some other pretty heavy stuff. It's at 240 pages right now, and I release a new chapter weekly. Should end at around 350 pages. Check it out, if you like, I'd love to hear what you think about it.

How far to into breaking boundaries do you want?

If you feel the need to read something that mixes realism into a fantasy story that is also low-stake slow-burning, then I have the series for you.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/9687/the-brotherhood-archiveedictrevised

My works aren't litrpg :) they might be a gust of fresh air and as a bonus, almost all my stories are about 300-350 pages long. :D
 
A few recommendations:

Deal Maker - ongoing
Scavenger - complete

Recommendations that haven't been recommended yet (There are a couple like JE Payne's Valor and Violence that are awesome but already recommended).

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/50820/path-of-the-stonebreaker  (one of my favorites)

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/48970/in-dying-starlight-a-cyborg-sci-fi-adventure

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/52820/fragments-from-the-wildlands

And two you've probably already read since they are top rated on Royal Road, but are really good and I highly recommend trying if you haven't already:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/21374/epilogue

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/26675/a-journey-of-black-and-red


Also, everything in my signature is not litrpg. If you feel like trying it, it might also be something you enjoy. 

A bunch of the recommendations above are stories I’m reading too.

Adding to them:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/48893/the-dungeon-without-a-system

-dungeon progression fantasy with a lot of slice-of-life bits.


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/49755/the-thousand-kingdoms-interregnum

Contemporary/sci-fi progression story.  Good storytelling that doesn’t spoon-feed the reader.


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/57823/the-silver-curse

Fantasy adventure/mystery with a full ensemble cast of anti-heroes.  Great writing.


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/43938/silhouette

Sci-fi isekai.  Cool slice-of-life progression story.


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/53682/courier

Contemporary/near future adventure story.  


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/52842/warmage-a-progression-fantasy

Title says it all.  Great story & cast of characters.  Just finished volume 1.  Pls pls pls do volume 2, Rising Myth!  🙏


https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/58357/class-reptilia

Sci-fi/fantasy progression story.  Just getting started, but really good so far.