Wasteland Warlords 3: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG Adventure

Wasteland Warlords #3

by James A. Hunter, Eden Hudson

“If you’re not ready to lay it all on the line out here, you won’t make it a week. The wasteland’ll chew you up and spit you out.”Clay Jaeger finally has the chance to become the spellslinger he always wanted to be—the one his family needs him to be to survive the dangers of the wasteland. A teacup pig claiming to be a cursed Great Blue Wyrm has offered them a quest to take out a Dungeon Lord with the exact power set Clay’s been looking for. There’s just one problem. The Dungeon Lord can steal the souls of his enemies and summon them to fight his battles for him. Clay is more than willing to lay down his life to protect his family, but is he willing to risk his eternal soul on a gamble that might not pay off? Time to roll the dice and find out…

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Novella, Humor, Comedy, Urban Fantasy

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2024

About the author

James Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Bibliomancer (The Completionist Chronicles Expanded Universe), and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, an industry leader that specializes in publishing LitRPG, Fantasy, and selection Science Fiction.

James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.

Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I am so onto this fun series that I read this book in one sitting, the characters and their banter are hilarious, but the adventure and the quests are getting more difficult. Bacon Bits the pig who had joined the Jaeger squad wanted to get her dungeon back, and gave a quest to the rest of the team. This quest might be what Clay needed since he was the only one still not an incant, and he felt like the weakest link in the squad. Apart from that if he managed to take down the lizardman who stole souls through voodoo spells he could become the spellslinger the team needed. So they dove right into the next quest, however after one failed attack they knew they had to seek some help. So they went in search of Diebolt, the frogman who gave Clay a set of three labours he had to undertake, and with each successful one he would grant him a boon. Once these were tackled the squad felt more prepared to face the lizardman and save poor Bacon Bits who had been captured by him. I love that the strongest person in the squad is Alex, a woman who had in real life been dying of cancer, but that Clay still wants to protect her. The pace of the book is really fast and full of action, there is never a dull moment but as Clay becomes an incant all hell is let loose on the family and the Sooq who were harbouring them. Onward to episode 4!

[Andy Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasteland Warlords 3

Clay and his family have their next target in their sights. The voodoo shaman that cursed Bacon Bits. Hopefully they will be a quick take down. What could go wrong?

This series is fast moving and funny. There have been quite a few laugh out loud moments. The book was rather short at just over 3 hours long, but all six of the books are included with the Audible subscription. Well worth the listen. Travis Baldree does an amazing job with the narration.

Content warning: language

[Tom Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty bad

I had a hard time finishing this one.
While I get that this series is a combination of serious and humor, the humor was over the top, and frequently not funny.
The thing that really bothered me was the fights: the first time they fight the big bad the plan was to hit hard with everything they had... And the guy whose super power is 'Mech' doesn't use it. In the second fight the big bad was more than twice as powerful. For...reasons (?) I guess. Never explained, just happened.
Too much for me. I'm out of this series. Tom out

[Timothy Frandsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read in this series. It was provided free from Shadow Alley Press.
Now that I have been introduced to this series I will be reading other books in this series and by these authors.
It is funny with great characters and catchy dialogue. With the quick pace and entertaining story it can be a quick read.
It isn’t common so when there is a strong female character I hope it is a good read. This book doesn’t disappoint.

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great LitRPG!

Wasteland Warlords is awesome, clean (but brutal) entertainment with plenty of action and surprises! I love the post-apocalyptic trials and tribulations that the main characters have to fight through. The protagonist group has grown since book 1 and I like each and every one of them. Wow, is it a multi-faceted team! I hope you enjoy the series as much as I do. Now, I have to go get book 4.

Read via Kindle Unlimited

[Adam Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

woohoo! Clay is finally an Incant!

Title says it all! Clay finally gets his Incant powers and they’re super fitting! Can’t wait for the next book and the meeting between the crew and the Warlord of the West! Does he still go by Pwnr I wonder? Love these books! Normally I wouldn’t pick them up cause of how short they are, but I make an exception for them!

[Jeremy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty expected progression of the story and character development piece here, but the method and journey this short novella takes us on with our family dynamic and the depth that the author has added to the items and skills truly set this work apart from others in the genre. Definitely a must read, and as short as it is I was able to finish it in a single afternoon.

[Perla Gisselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaeger Gang Does it Again!

This litRPG is only getting better with each release. The stories are fun yet engaging, the plot is pretty damn ironclad, and the characters suck you in. Even the villains. Looking forward to book 4 at the end of the month!

[Robert & Kristen Giegling · Rating 5 out of 5]

They just keep getting better

Seriously I can't recommend this book series enough. Action, humor, great characters, and pop culture references. I am completely addicted. Perfect fun reads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like there was a lot of exposition, world building and character development in the first 2 books. In this book, I felt like there was more of a push in the plot development. I am enjoying the story and the characters over all.

[Daniel Read Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story isn’t great but it’s fun. Kinda how like when you find Drop Dead Fred is streaming on Netflix or Prime and can’t help but watch it. That’s how these books are. Short, fun, but I kinda feel dumber afterwards….

[Bill Philibin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars)

I'm getting used to the format, and the narration by Travis Baldree really brings the characters to life. The story is decent, and the "grand plan" seems to be coming together. I will complete this series.

[Michael Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of the same. Solid straight up popcorn litrpg. Slightly OP at times with a little plot armor here and there but still rock solid bread and butter litrpg. New characters, baddies, and settings keep it interesting and a fun but light romp.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

they just keep getting better!

What a fun romp through the wasteland! Action packed page turner that was extremely hard to put down.

I can’t wait to get started on the next and see what these folks get in and out of.

[Kyle Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent installment in the series. This one puts Clay on the path to becoming an incant like the others in his family and a mission to rescue bacon bits. As with the previous installments in the series, there's lots of humorous moments. I plan to make it through this entire series.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

So much fun. Super creative and funny. Great characters, and more of them with every book. Can't wait for the next one!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be fast paced and fun without sacrificing character!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continues to be an amazing series. So much fun and it doesn’t take itself too seriously which I love!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 short and sweet and free to listen to on audible

[Veronik Durocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Read all the series from book 1 to 6 and it stays true to itself all along. So, if you liked book 1, you'll like the complete series.

[Garrett Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid adventure. Storyline is solid at this point and look forward to the next.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continues to be an enjoyable, quick read

[Mikeal Gallaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Wasteland Warlords saga brings the trilogy to a thunderous, exhaust-choked conclusion. James Hunter manages to maintain the 4-star consistency that has defined this series, successfully threading the needle between a personal revenge story and a grand-scale war for the future of the wastes. This installment feels like the moment where the "warlord" aspect of the title truly comes to fruition, moving beyond small-team tactics into the brutal reality of commanding a revolution.

The narrative momentum in this volume is perhaps the strongest of the three. Hunter doesn't waste time on filler; the story moves with the speed of a nitro-boosted interceptor, jumping from one high-stakes engagement to the next. The expansion of the lore regarding the world before the collapse is handled with just enough restraint to keep the mystery alive while providing enough answers to satisfy long-term readers. It’s here that you can really see the blueprints for Hunter’s later success—his ability to manage a "home base" or a faction's growth while keeping the front-line action visceral and immediate is on full display.

What stands out most in this finale is the maturity of the protagonist’s arc. The moral gray areas that were introduced in book two are explored to their breaking point here. The cost of leadership is high, and the "hero" is forced to become just as ruthless as the villains he’s fighting to ensure his people’s survival. This grim, uncompromising look at post-apocalyptic leadership gives the book a weight that elevates it above standard pulp fiction. It’s a darker, more serious tone than the "Discount Dan" era, reminding us that Hunter can do "bleak and meaningful" just as well as he does "snarky and chaotic."

The reason this sticks at a solid four stars rather than a five is that the ending, while explosive and satisfying, feels a bit compressed. After the slow-burn buildup of the first two books, the final resolution of the central conflict arrives with such a rush that I found myself wanting a few more chapters to see the dust settle on the new status quo. However, as a capstone to a trilogy that helped define Hunter’s early career, it is an absolute win. It’s a gritty, high-octane farewell to the wasteland that leaves the reader fully satisfied with the journey.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

The brain cady rollercoaster picks up speed!