Loner Series

Gamer Andrew Falk begins his journey in Arktania — a steampunk virtual world where magic, steam-machines, and mechanical golems are everyday life. His treatment of the locals as real people earns him the mysterious "Slider" class and a divine quest from Elenia, goddess of fate. But he soon discovers the goddess's power is not confined to the game: she can reach into the real world. With the "Loner" curse ensuring he can rely on no one but himself, Andrew must pursue five ancient swords across Arktania.

Andrew continues through Arktania, mastering electrical energy and developing his unusual profession — glassblowing. Elenia's quest presses on, and the necessary artifacts are hidden in high-level locations. The Loner curse means he can never form a proper group, so he must find other ways to pay back the Steel Rats clan for any help they offer — and figure out how a low-level player can stay relevant in an increasingly dangerous world.

Falk never obtained the first sword due to the Steel Rats' treachery. Its new owner — the head of the Unnameables clan — won't sell, but is willing to trade for a favor in the real world: a burglary at a secure location. Meanwhile in Arktania, Falk has been accused of murdering his brother. Accompanied by an Imperial Necromancer who is also his virtual uncle, he must return to his starting village, prove his innocence, and dig deeper into his mysterious Slider class.

With the first sword secured, Falk's path leads to Arkem — the subterranean city of the Gremlins. Negotiating with these chaotic creatures is always dangerous, but their worship of the Ancients' mechanisms is somehow tied to his Slider class, giving him a chance at the second sword. Complicating matters: a breach to the Inferno opens in Arkem, and in the real world, mysterious people keep trying to kidnap Andrew — while the game's menu has started appearing in his real life.

With the second sword in hand, Falk's path leads to the lands of the Elves. But first there is unfinished business in Arkem — using the Mechanisms of the Ancients to defend the Gremlin city from a demonic army. In the real world, Andrew has met his first "colleague" — another person whose in-game powers have transferred to reality. Friend or enemy? And how far along is he in completing his own divine quest?

Falk has only a few days to obtain the Wood Sword in the Lands of the Elves, and must also make a trip to the capital to report the completion of his quest and learn why the Empire needs a specialist in the Mechanisms of the Ancients. In the real world, more and more emissaries from Arktania's gods are appearing, and the confrontation between them is growing more intense.

The next book of the series!The Sands of Eternity (Loner Book #8): Falk has only a few days to obtain the Wood Sword in the Lands of the Elves. And he also has to make a trip to the capital to report the successful completion of his quest, and find out why the Empire needs a specialist who can control the Mechanisms of the Ancients in the first place.In the real world, meanwhile, more and more emissaries from Arktania’s Gods are appearing all the time, and the confrontation between them is only getting more intense.

It's time to set off for the Orc lands in search of the fourth sword. But first, Falk and his friends must bring someone back from the dead — a friend who recently died in the real world, who will become the Emissary of the God of the Dead in Arktania. To make it happen, the dead man's girlfriend — who has never played a game in her life — must search flying coffins above the capital to find his character. Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Hunt clan controls Katar and represents a serious threat in both worlds.

Falk and his friends have succeeded: Artyom has returned to life in Arktania as the Emissary of the God of the Dead. But Falk himself is now locked inside the game, trapped in a pocket dimension where he must repeat his first days over and over. His life is in danger — but the strange dimension also offers him the chance to recover lost levels and prepare for his quest to obtain the fourth sword.