pf
Filters
Status
Power system
Setting
Progression
Protagonist
Tone
Relationships
Content warnings
Drugs
Gore
Profanity
Sexual Content
Clear all filters

Browse

33 series

Warformed: Stormweaver

Bryce O'Connor, Luke Chmilenko

S+98/100
Reidon Ward will become a god.He doesn't know it yet, of course. Reidon was born weak, sickly and small. Afflicted with a painful disease and abandoned by his parents because of it, he has had to fight tooth and nail for every minor advantage life has allowed him.His perseverance has not gone unnoticed, however, and when the most powerful artificial intelligence in human history takes an interest in him, things began to change quickly. Granted a CAD—a Combat Assistance Device—with awful specs but an infinite potential for growth, Reidon finds himself at the bottom of his class at the Galens Institute, one of the top military academies in the Collective. Along with his best friend, Viviana Arada, Reidon will have to start his long climb through the school rankings, and on to the combat tournament circuits that have become humanity's greatest source of excitement and entertainment.So begins the rise of a god. So begins the ascent of the Stormweaver.
Goodreads4.58· 18.9K
Hard MagicLitRPGSchoolWeak to Strong

Weapons and Wielders

Andrew Rowe

S86/100
It doesn’t take a legendary sword to make a legendary swordsman, but it certainly helps. Keras Selyrian is already well on the way to cutting his name into the annals of legend. He’s fought false divinities, thieving sorcerers, and corrupt demigods — and left them defeated in his wake. But he’s a long way from home, and Kaldwyn offers a different brand of danger than he’s used to. He’s already got a sword of unfathomable power, but it’s damaged and leaking world-annihilating mana, so he’s in the market for a new one. Possibly six. The more the better, really. The Six Sacred Swords are Kaldwyn’s most famous artifacts, forged as the only means to defeat the god beasts. Each sword must be earned by a worthy champion, and no single person has ever managed to collect them all. Not yet, at least. Keras is just getting started. Additional Info: Six Sacred Swords is a light-hearted fantasy adventure inspired by Japanese game series like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Fire Emblem. It takes place in the same universe as the Arcane Ascension novels, but years earlier and with a different protagonist. While the books are interconnected, they can be read on their own in any order.
Goodreads4.31· 6.7K
Competent MCHard MagicSecondary WorldWeak to Strong

Return of the Runebound Professor

Actus

S85/100
Lives are a currency, and Noah Vines is rich.After standing around in the afterlife for thousands of years, Noah is all out of patience. So, when the opportunity to steal a second chance at life arises, he doesn't hesitate.Reincarnated into the body of a dying magic school professor, Noah finds that he got more than just a second chance — he got infinite. Every time he dies, his body reforms.With countless variations of runic magic to discover and with death serving as only a painful soul-wound rather than a final end, Noah finally has a chance to wander the lands of the living once more.This time around, he plans to get strong enough to make sure that he never has to wait around in the afterlife again.
Goodreads4.47· 3.5K
Hard MagicOlder MCReincarnation

Frith Chronicles

Shami Stovall

A84/100
The Frith Guild. The Second Ascension. The end of an era.Volke Savan has sworn he’ll bring the Second Ascension to justice, but as the Autarch amasses power, it becomes apparent Volke’s task might not go as originally planned. God-arcanists gather on two sides of a brewing war, and the outcome of the arcane plague will determine the fate of the world.With Evianna at his side, Volke must not only find the last of the god-creatures, but he must locate Luthair, defeat the Autarch, and save his friends from the ultimate corruption. As the tasks mount, so does Volke’s determination.But the legends of the magic-destroying apoch dragon may change everything. The Autarch has made sure of it.
Goodreads4.37· 4.4K
Competent MCHard MagicMilitary

Millennial Mage

J.L. Mullins

A83/100
The Wilds relentlessly reclaim all things. Humanity shelters within their ever-dying cities. Mages create the only path forward.Tala had to fight tooth and nail in the Magic Academy to forge a path to power that was her own. She knows it’s her duty to use that power to serve humanity, defending them against the creatures of the untamable wilds. However, she skipped a few steps in her education, like apprenticing to someone who actually knows what they’re doing.Now, Tala has to balance learning as fast as she can with paying off the veritable mountain of debt the Magic Academy dropped on her shoulders for the opportunity; not to mention staying alive.Even though she should only be a Mageling, the world considers her a Mage. Bless the stars she directed most of her magic toward survival.
Goodreads4.47· 2.2K
Hard MagicSecondary WorldWeak to Strong

Kingmaker, Kingbreaker

Karen Miller

A83/100
Enter the kingdom of Lur, where to use magic unlawfully means death.The Doranen have ruled Lur with magic since arriving as refugees centuries ago. Theirs was a desperate flight to escape the wrath of a powerful mage who started a bitter war in their homeland. To keep Lur safe, the native Olken inhabitants agreed to abandon their own magic. Magic is now forbidden them, and any who break this law are executed.Asher left his coastal village to make his fortune. Employed in the royal stables, he soon finds himself befriended by Prince Gar and given more money and power than he'd ever dreamed possible. But the Olken have a secret; a prophecy. The Innocent Mage will save Lur from destruction and members of The Circle have dedicated themselves to preserving Olken magic until this day arrives. Unbeknownst to Asher, he has been watched closely. As the Final Days approach, his life takes a new and unexpected turn ...
Goodreads3.72· 20.5K
Competent MCHard MagicSecondary World

Schooled in Magic

Christopher G. Nuttall

A83/100
Emily is a teenage girl pulled from our world into a world of magic and mystery by a necromancer who intends to sacrifice her to the dark gods. Rescued in the nick of time by an enigmatic sorcerer, she discovers that she possesses magical powers and must go to Whitehall School to learn how to master them. There, she learns the locals believe that she is a "Child of Destiny," someone whose choices might save or damn their world... a title that earns her both friends and enemies. A stranger in a very strange land, she may never fit into her new world... and the necromancer is still hunting her. If Emily can't stop him, he might bring about the end of days.
Goodreads4.24· 6.2K
GrimdarkHard MagicIsekaiSchool

Magical Fusion

Jonathan Brooks

A82/100
A young man and his axe, along with a magical life he never asked for…Larek Holsten is different from most people, living in the Kingdom of Androthe where his 7-foot-tall frame is looked at with suspicion and anger from its shorter residents; but as long as it helps him become the best Logger he can be, he doesn’t let it bother him all that much. He and his best friend, an axe with a powerful Fusion that causes it to become sharper and stronger than a normal tool, are feared by the trees in the magical forest north of his home, as he can fell the quickly growing monoliths faster than anyone else in the community.Unfortunately, after visiting the local village, a deliberate misunderstanding lands Larek in trouble; as a result, he is taken away from his family and the only home he has ever known. Along the way, his dormant magical potential is discovered by those more knowledgeable than him, and he is ordered to attend some sort of academy for Mages.The problem? Contrary to many who might jump at the chance of wielding powerful magic to fight the monsters that threaten the towns and cities around the Kingdom, Larek has absolutely no desire to become a Mage, especially when he has no choice in the matter. All he wants is to be allowed to return home to his family and to chop down the trees in the Rushwood Forest.But once he discovers a unique talent that stems from his newly unlocked latent power, he might just have to stick around to see what he can do…This weak-to-strong MC story contains LitRPG elements such as character progression and statistics, as well as a heavy crafting emphasis. No explicit sexual content or harems.
Goodreads4.45· 3.1K
Crafting PowerHard Magic

The War of Broken Mirrors

Andrew Rowe

A81/100
Some say that in the city of Orlyn, godhood is on sale to the highest bidder. Thousands flock to the city each year, hoping for a chance at immortality. Lydia Hastings is a knowledge sorcerer, capable of extracting information from anything she touches. When she travels to Orlyn to validate the claims of the local faith, she discovers a conspiracy that could lead to a war between the world's three greatest powers. At the focal point is a prisoner who bears a striking resemblance to the long-missing leader of the pantheon she worships. Rescuing the prisoner would require risking her carefully cultivated cover - but his execution could mean the end of everything Lydia holds dear.
Goodreads4.05· 7.2K
Hard MagicIsekaiSecondary World

The Ultimate Passive Paradigm

Triopals

A80/100
A fatal flaw is his only path to power.For two years, Nathan has been a failure. Cursed with an abysmal energy absorption rate, he's the weakest disciple in the Verdant Spire Sect and faces certain expulsion. His dream of returning to Earth to save his ailing mother is about to die. He's a talentless cultivator at the bottom of the food chain, with one day left to change his fate.Just when all hope is lost, his long-dormant System awakens, granting him a bizarre and unique The Passive Paradigm.His flaw is no longer a curse. It's the key to a new kind of advancement where endurance is strength, and survival itself is a source of explosive growth. By discovering loopholes and turning the rules of cultivation on their head, Nathan forges a new path. But this power comes at a cost, forcing him into a brutal tournament where he is the underdog and a deadly forest that wants him dead.Experience an Epic Cultivation LitRPG where the grind pays double. Perfect for fans of Cradle and He Who Fights with Monsters, this adventure features a clever underdog, a unique skill system, brutal martial arts combat, and a progression from outcast to alpha.---"This story is a real gem in a genre plagued with poorly executed attempts." – A Royal Road Reviewer"Fast paced and keeps you hooked!" – A Royal Road Reviewer"The system is also very unique and makes it exciting whenever he gets a new ability." – A Royal Road Reviewer"...interesting with a fun and twisted system." – A Royal Road Reviewer
Goodreads4.51· 374
Class SystemCultivationHard Magic

Density God

ToraAKR

A80/100
A planet stuck on hard mode set to devour everyone on its surface.Jiran is just a child when he receives shattered, imperfect memories of a past life. Nestled inside these emotionless visions is a magic very different to the density and mana he knows, the magic of science.The empire stands alone against the relentless beasts of Madra. Their only means of survival is harnessing the density that saturates her surface, a magic they cannot possibly understand. Will Jiran realize he holds the key to unlocking humanity's infinite potential before they are all wiped out?A slow burn cultivation LitRPG with a magic system that will blow your socks off, or your arm, or both your legs. Who knew magic+science could be so explosive?
Goodreads4.45· 2.4K
CultivationHard MagicWeak to Strong

Arcane Awakening

J. Parsons

A80/100
An age has passed, a blight curses the land, and one hero stands above the rest to restore the balance. Verdan Blacke is an Imperial Wizard, a researcher by preference but soldier by necessity. Surviving an intense battle, Verdan is cursed by a hex witch in her final moments. Without any good options, Verdan escapes the ever-increasing pain the curse inflicts by performing a self-made stasis ritual.When the spell fades, and he has awoken, Verdan finds a world completely different from the one he left behind. Dark things work in daylight with impunity, once common knowledge is a mystery, and even the nature of magic that humans use has changed. One wizard, a million problems, and the wrath of profound magic.
Goodreads4.35· 3.2K
Competent MCHard Magic

Spell Weaver

OverXelous

A78/100
An action-packed LitRPG Adventure featuring a detailed magic system and numbers going way up!Magic isn’t just a tool. It’s a path to power that few can fully grasp.Alex was just trying to escape his dead-end job and overbearing family. Then the System arrived, bringing with it magic, Rifts, and the chance for ordinary people to become extraordinary.Unfortunately for Alex, his stats start out as unimpressive as his old life. But when he gains the unique trait [Primordial Will], which only allows him to put his free points into one stat, everything changes.As he begins to study the art of Mana Threads and creates a revolutionary new magic system with Spell Circles, it becomes clear that mastery of magic is the route to power.But with the world’s governments struggling to contain the rising number of superhuman threats, Alex will have to navigate more than just monsters, magic, and Rifts. In a world where “might makes right,” who really calls the shots?Join Alex on his path to power in this action-packed new LitRPG adventure. Featuring high-octane action where the numbers go way up, slow-burn power progression, three-dimensional characters, a detailed magic system, runes, party-building, and so much more!
Goodreads4.46· 1K
Hard MagicLitRPGSystem Apocalypse

Academy of Outcasts

Larry Correia

A77/100
A brand new fantasy world from Larry Correia, bestselling author of Monster Hunter International! All Oz Carnavon ever wanted was to become a master mage. Except, to do so requires the natural gifts or wealth necessary to secure an appointment to one of the prestigious magical academies in the Core City at the center of the seven realms. Oz had neither.He was born without magical talent, serving in the elemental plane of fire, a nightmarish hellscape of treacherous lava and vicious monsters, where life is cheap, and escape is rare. But Carnavons never give up.When Oz fakes his death to get out of his family’s contract and crosses the Nexus gate to sneak into the Core, everything seems to be going according to plan… Until he gets blamed for an assassination attempt on the fire realm’s ambassador.Now, Oz must become a fugitive in a vast magical city, while trying to earn a place among the magical academies which have nothing but disdain for his kind.And the clock is ticking, because in one week, the most dangerous wizard in the realm of fire is coming to track him down and drag him back to hell. Experience this epic new saga from LARRY CORREIA, award-winning author of Monster Hunter International and Saga of the Forgotten Warrior. This progression fantasy epic features a D&D-inspired setting split by portals into elemental realms, slow-growth power progression, magic academies, and unforgettable characters!
Goodreads4.41· 2.4K
Hard MagicSchoolWeak to Strong

Mark of the Crijik

ThinkTwice

B71/100
Andross Silver has a nice life... Until he is pushed off a building and finds himself in a new world.Reborn into a family that wants to kill him, gifted with a System, and armed with determination, Andross must rise to the challenges of a strange new world he suddenly finds himself in.His only blessing is the Mark of the Crijik, a magical gift from a divine being that bestows great powers onto those that possess it.It also kills them at the age of twenty five.Andross must master magic to help him carve a path to greatness, and overcome the countdown of death that has been placed upon him.
Goodreads4.33· 2K
Hard MagicReincarnationWeak to Strong

Absolute Mastery: From Servant to Sovereign

XKarnation

B69/100
He was the world’s richest man. Now, he’s a servant with zero talent. But in a world of immortals, hard work beats destiny—especially when you can see the Progress Bar.Kael had it islands, armies, and a fortune that could buy nations. Then he died and woke up in the brutal Star River Sect. No longer a billionaire, he is now a lowly servant, stripped of dignity.To make matters worse, he is a "Hollow"—a mortal born with no Spirit Root. In this dog-eat-dog cultivation world, that’s a death sentence. He is destined to be cannon fodder, or worse, a lab rat for the sect’s twisted alchemy experiments.But fate gave him a parting gift.[System Absolute Mastery][ Every repetition increases Proficiency. Ignore Talent. Ignore Bottlenecks.]Swing a hammer? +1 XP.Kill an enemy? Level Up.While the "geniuses" meditate for years to gain a sliver of power, Kael just has to grind. With a hammer in his hand and a kill-count rising in the shadows, Kael is ready to shatter the hierarchy of the cultivation world.They call him trash. He calls them XP.Don't miss this progression fantasy combining the ruthlessness of Xianxia with the addictive mechanics of LitRPG. Perfect for fans of Cradle , Defiance of the Fall , and He Who Fights with Monsters .
Goodreads4.42· 810
CultivationHard MagicWeak to Strong

Words of Power

Shami Stovall

B67/100
A magic-fueled progression fantasy adventure from Dragon Award winning author Shami Stovall.Power is not given. It’s taken.In the Tze Empire, spirits and demons rule the wilds, but Ring Warlocks control civilization. For Rimon, the son of a courtesan and lowest in society, Ring Warlocks seem like gods.Each has their own magic drawn from Titans, and they can do whatever they please, regardless of how it affects the prefectures they rule.But when a chance encounter places one of the ancient and powerful rings in Rimon’s hands, everything changes. For there is a trick to the rings, and Rimon sees through the test given to him.Suddenly, he is no longer a player at the fringes of power; he is a Ring Warlock and granted his own territory.Determined to make sure his prefecture thrives, Rimon must contend with jealous rivals, demons seeking his ring for themselves, and forces he cannot yet name, all while mastering his new abilities. He will prove even the lowest can rise to challenge gods.Rimon will have to grow twice as strong as his rival warlocks just to survive in this new Progression Fantasy Adventure by Shami Stovall, the Dragon-Award winning author of Knightmare Arcanist!
Goodreads4.43· 345
Competent MCHard Magic

Fate's Anvil

Scott Browder

B64/100
Morgan Mackenzie had a very bad day. First at work, then at home, and then her bathtub fell through a portal to another world, with her in it. Now she's stuck thousands of miles from any sort of civilization with nothing but the bathtub and a lace puffball scrubby. But she learned magic, so that's sorta nice. Now if only she could find some clothes...
Goodreads4.30· 1.5K
Competent MCHard MagicIsekaiSecondary WorldSkill Collection

The Undying Immortal System

Greg Tolley

B62/100
A weak soul must not cultivate. Madness consumes the weak of mind. Eternal servitude awaits the weak of heart.Su Fang arrives in a realm of cultivation unprepared—no skills, no knowledge, and no backing. Like everyone else in this new world, he is given a blessing from the Heavenly Dao to help him succeed, but Su Fang's blessing isn't power over the elements or mastery of profound arts. No, it takes a brutal lesson to teach him that he’s been ‘blessed’ with repetition.Every time he dies, he returns to the moment of his arrival. The young cultivator uses each reset to grind skills, refine his inner essence, and empower his very soul, using only the memories of countless failures. Each death is another lesson, each life another chance. Yet the world is ruthless, and time alone won’t be enough for Su Fang to make his mark; especially when every reset washes away not only his mistakes, but his triumphs.In a land where even the strong perish, his fate is he’s an immortal destined to die. Over and over.
Goodreads4.38· 844
CultivationHard MagicTime Loop

Bards of the Broken Empire

Cooper Wai, Robyn Wideman

B62/100
They laughed when he brought a drum to a cultivation fight. They weren't laughing long. Max Stone's laid-back life ends abruptly when a foolhardy rescue attempt earns him a ticket to the afterlife. Instead of heaven or hell, his soul becomes a poker chip in a game between gods. Winning a second chance, Max chooses to keep his memories through an agonizing process, awakening reincarnated not as a baby, but in the frail, teenage body of a recently deceased boy on Eedan—a world of chi cultivation, magic, and monsters straight out of fantasy epics.Starting weaker than the lowest level cultivator and immediately attracting the ire of arrogant nobles, Max must leverage his Earth-born wits and a unique blessing to survive. He needs to learn the ways of chi, overcome his pathetic beginnings, and navigate a world where power reigns supreme.This LitRPG Cultivation Fantasy features a reincarnated MC starting from scratch, a unique magic system involving chi and elemental affinities, status screens, meddling gods, and a world full of peril and opportunity.
Goodreads4.41· 258
CultivationHard MagicReincarnation