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Edge Cases #3
The Meaning of Life: A LitRPG Adventure
Monsters and mysteries challenge everything four friends think they know about their crumbling magical world as this fantasy-adventure series continues.
There’s a crisis in Elyra, and the Adventurers’ Guild has dispatched a team of four heroes to address it. With both magic and the system that dictates the nature of everything malfunctioning, the world is in jeopardy. Unfortunately for the world, the heroes aren’t doing so well either.
Following a challenging battle, the foursome is regrouping in a reality not unlike their own, where magic, instead of the system, saved the world. Sev, the team’s human priest, is still trying to figure out how his history plays into everything that’s been happening. The normally brave half-orc Misa is grappling with failure and fear. Lizardkin wizard Vex is haunted by his past as he works to pave a path to the future. And sentient suit of armor Derivan must navigate both the mysteries of days gone by and his new relationship with Vex. At least they’re closer to discovering the root of Elyra’s troubles—if only they could get back there.
Meanwhile in Elyra, the seeds of resistance are beginning to sprout. Not everyone—even amongst the nobles—is fine with the status quo. But can a rebellion succeed when the kingdom itself is on the verge of falling apart?
The third volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with almost two million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
There’s a crisis in Elyra, and the Adventurers’ Guild has dispatched a team of four heroes to address it. With both magic and the system that dictates the nature of everything malfunctioning, the world is in jeopardy. Unfortunately for the world, the heroes aren’t doing so well either.
Following a challenging battle, the foursome is regrouping in a reality not unlike their own, where magic, instead of the system, saved the world. Sev, the team’s human priest, is still trying to figure out how his history plays into everything that’s been happening. The normally brave half-orc Misa is grappling with failure and fear. Lizardkin wizard Vex is haunted by his past as he works to pave a path to the future. And sentient suit of armor Derivan must navigate both the mysteries of days gone by and his new relationship with Vex. At least they’re closer to discovering the root of Elyra’s troubles—if only they could get back there.
Meanwhile in Elyra, the seeds of resistance are beginning to sprout. Not everyone—even amongst the nobles—is fine with the status quo. But can a rebellion succeed when the kingdom itself is on the verge of falling apart?
The third volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with almost two million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2024
30 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 11, 2024
I would have rated this higher but if I heard the phrase “a small smile” one more time by the time I finished the book, I was going to throw my phone across the room.
October 10, 2025
I started this book two months ago, and dropped it because I wasn't connecting with it. Having finished the book. I'm glad I did; I found it much more entertaining this time around.
I think I understand the problem I had: this was nominally a light and cozy LitRPG series, but with this volume, it has become more of a surrealistic, apocalyptic story.
The challenges facing the characters have completely changed, and this is now a book about a universal existential threat. That switch in tone caught me out, and I found myself in entirely the wrong mindset for reading it.
The first half (2/3? more?) of this book is functionally an extended training montage in what is basically a dreamscape (though it's more complicated than that). Only in the last part of the book do we get back to the world of the first two books, and with that return, every relationship that was previously established has radically changed.
I'm planning to read book 4, but I definitely wouldn't recommend this series for every LitRPG reader. It has the indicia of LitRPG, but the style is something very different. For some, that will be a wonderful thing, but it's best to know that before starting, I think.
I think I understand the problem I had: this was nominally a light and cozy LitRPG series, but with this volume, it has become more of a surrealistic, apocalyptic story.
The challenges facing the characters have completely changed, and this is now a book about a universal existential threat. That switch in tone caught me out, and I found myself in entirely the wrong mindset for reading it.
The first half (2/3? more?) of this book is functionally an extended training montage in what is basically a dreamscape (though it's more complicated than that). Only in the last part of the book do we get back to the world of the first two books, and with that return, every relationship that was previously established has radically changed.
I'm planning to read book 4, but I definitely wouldn't recommend this series for every LitRPG reader. It has the indicia of LitRPG, but the style is something very different. For some, that will be a wonderful thing, but it's best to know that before starting, I think.
December 26, 2024
THIS BOOK ANSWERED SO MANY QUESTIONS! And in such a cool way that made perfect sense with all the previous foreshadowing - without spoiling, this is the book where the characters find out what the world needs saving from, and personally, I loved the direction it went in for that.
Also, more adorableness from the very obvious endgame couple of Vex and Derivan - I've loved reading how their romantic relationship evolves over the series, as well as the deepening friendships between the four leads and other characters around them.
Also, more adorableness from the very obvious endgame couple of Vex and Derivan - I've loved reading how their romantic relationship evolves over the series, as well as the deepening friendships between the four leads and other characters around them.
November 8, 2024
I loved the first book. The second book was interesting. This one, however, did not hold my interest anymore. I started it, but unfortunately did not finish. It might have been too much exposition in the beginning about how the world works, I prefer to discover it "naturally" through the story. The other books have some exposition as well it seems to increase with each book.
I will admit though that I did not read very far into the book before DNF'ing it, it might get better.
I will admit though that I did not read very far into the book before DNF'ing it, it might get better.
October 24, 2025
I absolutely fell in love the characters. Although you have to read the whole series to get through the big questions in the plot, I couldnt stop reading this series because of how much the characters grew in each book. This series was, for me, all about character growth and I loved it (though I was a bit tired of the plot by the end of the series).
*copy pasting this review for all books in the series
*copy pasting this review for all books in the series
December 30, 2024
I love this series a lot! The characters are so loveable and and the plot very imaginative and refreshingly different than so many other LitRPGs. <3
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews