I have been hooked on LITRPG/PF for 2 years now. I have listened to 30+ series now. I operate heavy equipment and run a construction crew and am lucky enough to need ear protection 5+ hours a day. Im looking for adult themed audiobook series with good writing. I cant handle harem stuff because its so forced, unrealistic and thus cringe IMO. Basically, I want Game of Thrones, Cyberpunk2077 or GTA not PHub. But I also dont want Marvel MCU. I want vice but as part of a realistic story, not a meh story in service of vice.
That said I just listened to Arise by Jez Caijo and loved it. I loved the ancient earth myths getting tied into our religions and beliefs. I loved the technical explanation of what would appear to be "magic". I loved the explanation and origin story of "The System". I loved the "Illuminati" type immortal stuff.
The more I listen to these books the more I want deep lore that explains why the end of the world is happening, or the invasions etc. Why are we unaware of the multiverse, what makes us special or just discovering this now etc. Also im a sucker for Progression Sci-Fi and he did a great job mixing all this. Basically 1-2 were monster hunters. 3-4 was taking over earth and immortals 5-6 was building a fleet and taking over. Had everything I love and didn't feel to scattered or like he was forcing it.
I loved the adult themes of sex, violence, crime, greed and finally wanting to be better.
Lately I found multi narration and its a game changer. I want female and male voices. It keeps me in my disbelief unless done really well. I hope this trend takes over.
Some of my favorite series so far are similar.
Path of the Berserker, explained post apoc earth very well and loved the Chinese and cultivator themed society but with his unique powers.
Path of Ascension is an amazing team story and shows how badly the MC needs his Girl and Bond to be complete.
1% Lifesteal and Tower of Jack were hilarious and awesome with such broken and tortured MCs that are actually funny and not just annoying.
Lately Apocalypse Breaker. I love the multi narration and Whitty evil system.
All of these I would consider adult. Cussing, Sex, adult humor or very violent. All great Writing and dialogue.
Some great but lacking or bugging me in 1 area...
DOTF [My first series but the dragging it on and acid tripping mental stuff got weird]
Unbound, was great but I wish it had more adult themes.
Voidknight Ascension was great but so far no romantic relationships. Welcome to the multiverse is great but I wish it had more edge.
Ultimate LVL 1, same want more edge.
Primal Hunter got old and is now a cash grab. He never struggles and always wins and now nothing really happens.
So anyone have anything else? I love M and F narators but unfortunately its mostly harem. [I would even take harem if that wasnt the main point.] Will also take ancient ships and straight Scifi if the MC gets stronger and it has deep lore and is LITRPG / Multiverse / System adjacent
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This is the only answer for what you’re looking for. And this narrator is so good that you won’t need dual or multiple narration. This guy is the very best. He can actually do great women’s voices as well as men. I guarantee that this will be your all time favorite narrator when you’ve finished the series. Google “Jeff Hays DCC voices” and watch a couple videos of him changing voices on the fly.
Doesn't DCC also have some of the first few books as a full cast narration? Or am I hallucinating that?
But yeah, OP, Dungeon Crawler Carl should hit most of your targets here.
Yes. Book one is there. Book 2 is dropping, 1st episode is out but the rest don’t come out till mid February then a new episode drops weekly. Through book 2 and 3.
Thank you - I wasn't 100% sure, and while I guess I could've searched for it myself, I appreciate that now I don't have to!
You can get the 1st episode and pre-order book 2 now. The preorder for each episode is pretty funny.
12 Miles Below sounds right up your alley, OP. It's a post-post-apocalypse on a frozen wasteland, with a pseudo hollow Earth underneath that's full of "sufficiently advanced" lost technology and murderous robots. The star is a bookworm prince in a family of fighters, so there's a focus on both studying the magic and big action scenes. All of it using some really cool power armor, and some of the best worldbuilding I've seen in the genre! (The worldbuilding is also most of book 1, all the juicy progression starts in book 2)
That's what I came to the comments to recommend. What's a fantastic world with great writing humour, character progression and fuking amazing fights
Basically everything from Aethon Audio has amazing dual audio narration. As for specific recs, I don't know about the audio books but the series themselves...
Cyber Dreams
Mark of the Fool
Beneath the Dragon Eye Moons
Mage Tank
Runic Artist
Stray Cat Strut
Very much second Cyber Dreams by Plum Parrot and Mage Tank by Cornman.
This sounds like the perfect time to suggest Dungeon Crawler Carl. It’s exactly what you’re looking for.
I agree.... Great series.
Yeah. It is very adult. Funny as hell sometimes. Other times it’ll make you cry. Not really any sex going on Carl’s way too busy for that. Or maybe just too broken.
It has one of the best audio versions ever made.
Recently I read Calamitous Bob. It was really solid, not childish, and had a good bit of history packed in.
I have one other suggestion, but it’s not litrpg. Have you tried Malazan? Some of the most grown-up, thoughtful, violent series ever. But the biggest reason I think you might like it is that you said you want something that delves into the past and why things are the way they are. The author doesn’t hold your hand on this. You will slowly piece things together. Things covering a lot of different cultures and their histories. And the history you are learning is millenia long. The scope is breath taking. And you will probably never figure it all out.
I get ya on the two years of straight litrpg though. I’m doing that right now too.
Malazan is kind of like lord of the rings right? The author being a linguist and historian?
It can be pretty hardcore at times but it’s definitely on the weaker end but I would highly recommend Cyber Dreams by Plum Parrot
Idk if I'd say its adult themes but he who fights with monsters can get pretty heavy and the mc does get a fair bit of mental/soul torture.
Though I guess it is lsnt dual narration. I do second dungeon crawler Carl it is fantastic and you feel like you're progressing the story through the books so its not stale. Also check out a world of bloody evolution its a dark twisted world and the MC goes through hell. :)
If you ever have ever enjoyed Skyrim, I recommend Jackal Among Snakes.
The premise is basically: What if a UESP wiki article writer got sucked into Skyrim and was put in the position of having to stop Alduin on a time frame, starting as a universally despised character like Sibbi Black-Briar.
In more generic terms, protag is intimately familiar with the lore and mechanics of a very complex open world RPG (very much not the same flavor of generic VRMMO as a ton of other LitRPGs), has a timetable to prevent the end of the world, and has to leverage all their know-how of the game world to try to make it happen despite considerable odds being against them from the get go.
Lots of political intrigue and exploiting deep lore knowledge and game mechanics.
It's one of the more unique LitRPGs out there and by god I wish there were a dozen more like it.
This sounds amazing
The first book is great and I don't hate book two or three but they definitely felt like the author didn't spend as much time plotting. There's a whole lot of finding the McGuffins.
Still pretty good but the first book will make you think that this should be one of the best-selling series in the genre and then you'll read the ones that follow and realize why it isn't mentioned all the time. They are not bad. Just disappointing compared to the amazing first book.
Still a very solid recommendation though.
Have you tried The System Apocalypse? The MC is a little angsty in book 1. I haven't finished it yet so idk if he gets better but I would say it might meet your requirements. It's got some fantasy & sci-fi elements. There's 3 books I think. All three were on sale in an $11 bundle on audible the other day. Not sure if they still are.
Another series I'd recommend is Discount Dan. It's probably my second favorite series after Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Do you mean by Tao Wong, the inventor and trademark owner of the term system apocalypse? /s
Dungeon Lord and any thing by soundbooth theater. Check out all the voice actors for book 5 (which has sick cover art).
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isnt it dropped?
The author did take a few years off due to an injury, I think. But book 5 came out about a half a year (?) ago and book 6 is confirmed to be coming out soon. It keeps getting better!
Relict Legacy
Stitched Worlds
I'd suggest Red Mage if the release schedule were more reasonable. But I guess the dude has a day job.
why do people like stitched worlds so much, THE MC LITERALLY HAS ONE FOOT
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that book was nice :), why would someone downvote this????? show yourself
I'm sure it was a damn bird! Always up to no good with their styrofoam brains and floof.
Something not recommended yet If you haven’t listened to some of the classical fantasy books you might consider stuff like Kingkiller chronicles or the stormlight archives. If you like stormlight you can get into other stuff for Brandon Sander mistbourn series
kingkiller chronicles were fun series and fits the other requirements, but OP requested litrpgs
Are you a bot or did you not read the OP's post? OP asked for GOT-like LITRPG, with an emphasis on showcasing human vice.
That's the actual opposite of Brandon Sanderson. Kingkiller is closer to some adult themes, but it's not LITRPG.
don't read Kingkiller Chronicles until its complete. In other words, sometime after the heat death of the universe.
Aether’s Revival series
OP specifically said not harem
Bad guys and good guys books are fun and should fit what you are looking for also.
Second DCC. For more good prog fantasy always recommend Cradle and Mother of Learning. Adult themes are there, but early stuff might seem a little less adult because of the ages of the MC.
I am reading cowboy necromancer right now and been enjoying it, system apocalypse style story with wild west theme and my favorite "old western voice" narrator.
Stray cat strut audio is very good, cyber punk and adult themes a plenty. Has Yuri in it but not harem.
Hollow by Travis Bagwell is a fun pysco story with litrpg/prog fantasy elements. The audio is great and the MC is certifiably insane. Adult themes aplenty.
Challengers call audio is dual narration and has adult themes in the sense it has some really heinous bad guys and intresting world building. The MC is on the younger side and I would say it's semi harem with slow burn romance. Semi harem because the love interest is one woman with multiple bodies. Mainly putting this here because I love the story and the dual narration is great, and think it's 3 for 1 credit deal.
Mimic and Me is good multi cast audio, soundbooth does alot of multi cast stuff so good to look into those guys productions. Litrpg setting mixed with a MC who bonds with a mimic Venom style.
Non litrpg/prog fantasy but good audio books imo. Joe Acreombie's first law and the devils series. Very adult fantasy stories with great writing and entertaining listens. Red rising by Pierce brown for sci-fi series. Both stories are very adult with some of my favorite POV characters, villians, and morally Grey characters aplenty.
Think that's it from a quick scroll of my audible.
I’d rec savage awakening by adastra339, very much a more adult take on sysapoc, berserker MC, but with the classical concept of Laws, MC has one relationship with one woman, who grows with him, he is special, but not the overarching strongest, has mentor figures, and has to make the hard choices in regards to his home
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some people would literally just downvote for self promotion, others would downvote for you supporting Jez Cajiao who is extremely sexist and racist, and the books barely deserve to be called litrpg, its just the MC going around shooting people to save helpless women
Extremely sexist and racist?? Oof, I've never spotted any basis for either claim in the Arise installments I read. Pretty extraordinary claim to make against anyone, and particularly someone well known here like u/jezcajiao.
I know Jez well. Not only is he neither of those things he's one of the kindest and friendliest people I know. I made a comment here about a Cyberpunk universe we did together with two other authors and sadly it was hijacked with hate. Funny how some people who crusade for justice for one set of people are quick to tear down others.
Daughter's Defender is good bet. About a dad protecting his newborn daughter during the apocalypse and its a bit messed up at times. Though, if you only do audiobooks then you'll have to wait a few months for it to release.