Golem Master

by T.J. Lombardi, Eric Stonx (illustrator)

Unleash the Power. Enter the Arena. Claim the Title of Golem Master.

In a world rebuilt after the Rift Wars, where steel titans and elemental magic collide in high-octane arena combat, one teenager dares to dream beyond the ruins.

Pepper Walker isn’t a hero. He’s just a high schooler working dead-end shifts at Rocket Burger, dodging bullies, and obsessing over Golem League matches. But when fate catapults him from fan to fighter, he'll need more than heart to survive—he'll need strategy, skill, and a golem of his own.

Welcome to The Golem League, where mechanical beasts powered by arcane runes clash in electrifying battles. Where legends are forged through grit and determination.

Packed with heart, humor, and pulse-pounding action, Golem Master is a LitRPG Arena thrill ride for fans of Pokemon, Pacific Rim, Reel Steel, and the underdogs who never stop fighting.

Gear up. The match has already begun.

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[Book 6 is currently being written and is roughly at 100 pages written. Book 5 will be going to editor by summer of 2026. You can also connect with me through various ways through my link tree. ]

#1 Rising Star in Contemporary on RoyalRoad

So what are some of the elements you can come to expect in this epic adventure?
- Slow Burn LitRPG elements
- Slice of Life pacing
- Pokemon Arena Battles
- Crafting
- High School Setting to Start With
- Demonic Threat Looming Around the "Rift Gates"
- Historical Lore Regarding the "Rift Wars"
- More Easter Eggs and full throttle cast of LitRPG community members than I can count.
- Post-Apocalypse (In the rebuilding stage)
- Rated T for Teen
- Young Love (Again, rated T for Teen.... not T for Trouble.)
- Currently looking at 10 books planned in the series.

Genres: Litrpg

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2025

Reviews

[Peter Whetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more. I knew to expect a mashup of the authors love of Pokemon and the movie Real Steel, and he captured that vibe perfectly. What I didn’t expect was the emotional depth of the story! This small town reeling from the aftermath of war. The loss of loved ones, the grief, and the PTSD. The older generation remembers the darkest days while the younger generation has cope living in a world constantly threatened by recurrent demon incursions. Add to that the story of a young man who isn’t just struggling to be the best Golem fighter and makes it to the professional leagues, he’s struggling to be a big brother to the only sibling he has left his little sister. His mom’s depression, anxiety, and hints of an alcoholic struggle after losing two of her children to the war. His father is barely holding everything together. I was shocked at the directions this first book took, and the lengths (stupid desperate decisions included) that the main character Pepper Walker goes to as he desperately tries to cope with everything. There is a lot of humor and some great golem battles, but what I loved more than anything was that added depth. Some people say the character doesn’t progress very far on his path to being a Golem Master in this first book, and that maybe true, however, that’s because there is a deeper story to tell here that is more than just Golem Match after Golem Match. I for one am glad the author is investing time to give all these characters depth and tell a good story with heart and not rushing the process. I’ll definitely be reading this entire series and telling others about it.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golem Master immediately scratched the same itch I had growing up watching Pokémon battles. If you loved the idea of forming a bond with a powerful creature, learning its strengths and weaknesses, and winning fights through strategy, not just brute force, this book hits that sweet spot!!!

What I appreciated most was the tone. There’s humor, heart, and a seriously satisfying underdog energy that kept me turning pages! Pepper’s setbacks actually matter, and his wins feel rewarding because you’ve watched him struggle for them. It’s the kind of book where you catch yourself thinking, okay, just one more chapter, and suddenly you’re halfway through another match.

If you ever dreamed of being a Pokémon trainer, but wished the battles were just…more?! Then Golem Master delivers that exact feeling!!! It’s a great underdog story with strong Pokémon vibes and enough action to kept me hooked from match to match.

[S.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does this book only have 30 ratings?

This was a real hidden gem, especially if you like litRPG (there were so many callouts and easter eggs). It's Pokémon meets Real Steel, with a dash of Pacific Rim thrown in.

Don't let the cover fool you; this is not a children's book. In the aftermath of a war against demons, humanity uses the technology that they developed to power these monstrous golems for entertainment. There are different tiers and regions that capture the Pokémon vibe.

The audiobook was great, narrated by Daniel Wizniewski and Jessica Threet! I highly recommend you check it out so that we can get more audiobooks in the future.

[Quilty Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely a blast. Not only did it have fun humor . Action packed battles but it also had life lessons and struggles that make you think. This book has been all the Rave in our house . Not only do I love it . My 12 year old kiddo is obsessed . The cherry on top, If you read or know the Litrpg community at all you will recognize the characters names very quickly and appreciate the fun cameos .

If you haven’t read it yet … whay are you waiting for ?

[Michael Hazan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️– This book definitely had a lot of heart and silly moments which I appreciated. I love things like giant robot battles and would've appreciated more descriptions of the actual Golems. It was sometimes hard to picture the actual Golems. There were some great action scenes of the professional Golem gladiators, but it would've been cool to see a bit more description of battles on Pepper & Co's side in the local tournaments. The same could have been said for the short GolemCon arc–I felt like it wasn't developed enough and I was sad to see that we didn't really get to interact with many other Rising Stars/newbies.

Furthermore I thought the dialogue was a bit cheesy at times. There were lots of Owen Wilson references, Big D jokes, and a couple other things that took me out of the book after their umpteenth mention. The characters did feel realistic. Despite all of the above, I did like this book and already purchased the second one. I'm excited to see how Pepper's adventures unfold!

[Andrew Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a slow burn, in a good way and provides humor, action, world building and an exciting combat system. At first the multitude of characters that are introduced seem to come at you fast and frequent, and when it starts to settle you realize that TJ does an excellent job of setting you up with a world and characters that you start to really care about by the end of the book. The daily grind of life, the lessons learned, the ups and downs all add to you wanting to root for Pepper even more, he’s not perfect and is figuring it out just like everyone else. The golem matches, the rune system, and the history of the world and how it will all progress forward are something I am excited to see more of through the eyes of Pepper and his golem master journey.

[Zettifar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I most certainly was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did!! Loads of fun, full of humour ,Owen Wilson references of days, multiple related relatable characters and choices and so much heart and soul has gone into the creation of this book by the Author T.J that had me in a few moments on the edge of tears.

Pepper Walker isn’t a hero. He’s just a high schooler working dead-end shifts at Rocket Burger, dodging bullies, and obsessing over Golem League matches. But when fate catapults him from fan to fighter, he'll need more than heart to survive—he'll need strategy, skill, and a golem of his own.

Think Pokemon battles meets pacific rim ..........WoooooooooW

[Scott Widener · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a soft LitRPG in my humble opinion as there is not a ton of "progression" of the MC. But what we do get is world building, character development, and a look into the life of our MC. This is the first book of TJ's, I have read but it will not be the last. I look forward to seeing where he plans on taking our MC and if there will be "progression" of our character or golem. I didn't mind the lack of true "progression" in this book because I started to really like the characters both big and small and the fight scenes between the golems brought in action to break up the ho-hum of daily life as it was scribed in this story.

[AnotherNerdyDad · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MOST FEEL GOOD BOOK I’VE EVER READ! I am rooting for Pepper on every level! This is a brilliantly thought out universe. The entire concept of the golems and the Golem League is incredibly immersive but couple that with deep and different characters, and an ever-existing otherworldly threat makes for an epic story. This is my very first LitRPG and I am staring down the rabbit hole of awesome, immersive literature. Plus T. J. Is a great guy. The depth of this universe is immense and I cannot wait to continue my journey. An absolute MUST read for all ages.

[Robert Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was all sorts of fun! Having never watched or played Pokémon I came in a novice! I immediately fell in love with Pepper, a teenage boy living in a crazy world. Pepper has a lot on his plate, having lost his older brother to war after a demonic attack, dealing with a mom who can’t fight through the loss of her son, not to mention never knowing when another attack may occur! With some great friends and a passion and skill, Pepper fights his way through the ranks of the local KBVS Golem league. Not everything goes to plan though. Great wins, a crippling loss and bad decisions all lead to unexpected things! Golem Master was such a great read! I am excited to dive into the rest of the series and follow Pepper on his path towards Golem Master! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this book is a mind blower, I was thoroughly entertained with the creative ideas of golems and the story of P Dub, the MC. I relived my childhood and youth reading this, epic battles with golems, entertaining trainers, I especially liked the Yeti lead by the great Stephen Landry. There's a ton of name-drops of littpg and gamelit authors.BTW if you like golden eggs, this book had many references to TJ's previous works that gave me chill and thrills. The antagonist, Tamin ....total douchebag, he fit the part perfectly. The golem battles range quite differently which gave a great variety. I totally recommend if ever interested in the nerd ways... For example if you like transformers, TMNT, Reel Steel, Pokemon, Yugi-OhD&D(there's only so many I can name)...hopefully by now you can recognize that this book has many epic cool moments.

[Reck · Rating 5 out of 5]

great narration! the story is pretty set in a teenager's perspective, but it's got real heart. Looking forward to the next installment!

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely had a blast with this story! Pokemon meets Pacific Rim. Two of my favorite things! Yes I'm old and yes this is still amazing! The humor is amazing! Captain Puddle Jumper and Ryan! Absolute Riot! 🤣 The story is also heartfelt and touching. It has everything! Highly recommended! I listened and read! The audio Narrators are fantastic and really bring the characters alive! Well done TJ, can't wait to start the next!

[Danielle Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of times I don’t read reviews or the synopsis on a book. I just take people’s word for it that it’s good. This book was definitely very, very good. It was like a breath of fresh air to me for some reason. One minute I was laughing and the next I was crying. This book is definitely a hidden gem that I wished more people knew about.

[Liz Hattaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for almost any age! It's a mix of Pokémon and Pacific Rim with some Real Steel mixed in for good measure. It's a coming-of-age story with an incredible character list! While this is definitely great for all ages, this is a perfect story to get your preteens/teenagers into reading! I can't wait to get into the next one!

[A Military Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golem Master was even better than I imagined!

For the first half of the book, I had it sitting comfortably at four stars. It was a fun read with a unique progression system, exciting arena battles, and plenty to enjoy. Then something changed. The story started adding emotional weight, Pepper began growing into a character I genuinely cared about, and I found myself far more invested than I expected. By the time I reached the final chapter, this had earned a full five stars.

What impressed me most was the balance. This book never forgets how to have fun, but it also knows when to slow down and tackle more serious subjects. It explores loss, resilience, and personal growth without losing the sense of adventure that made me pick it up in the first place.

The progression system was another highlight. Instead of watching one person endlessly climb in power, Pepper grows alongside his Golem. That made the progression feel different from most LitRPGs I’ve read and kept me looking forward to what came next.

As someone who’s spent over two decades in the military, I also appreciated the author’s background. You can see pieces of that experience in the way he writes about adversity, perseverance, and some of the emotional struggles the characters face. It felt authentic without drawing attention to itself.

Pepper is an easy character to root for, but Ryan was my favorite. Every time he showed up, I knew I was going to enjoy the chapter.

The pacing stayed strong throughout, though there were a few moments where I wanted the story to slow down and spend a little more time in certain scenes. I also would’ve liked to see Pepper face a few bigger threats along the way, but that’s more of my personal preference than a criticism. The challenges fit where he was in his journey.

The audiobook deserves special recognition. The narration is superb and made an already enjoyable story even better.

If you’re a fan of Pokémon style battles, progression fantasy, or series like Threadbare, Cradle, or A Thousand Li, I think you’ll enjoy Golem Master.

I finished the final chapter and immediately wanted to start the next book. That’s about the strongest recommendation I can give.

[Rosalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm frustrated Goodreads doesn't allow half-star ratings, because I feel like 2/5 despite technically being "It was Ok" is too low. That's a middle of the road 2.5 for me, but it didn't wholly deserve a 3-star score either. It's an enjoyable enough time for Pokemon and giant robot lovers, but it's very clearly kind of amateurish and could have used an editing pass. There are numerous times the author mistypes his own names for things, like calling "Astro Ape" "Astro Kong", which are small slips individually but do add up to be noticeable.

There's also bizarre passages of time, like a section where Pepper is taken out of the picture and upon his return to the main scene, things occurred that made no sense for the amount of time he was gone, like the Golem League completely restructuring its social media presence. I am also not really a fan of how much fight focus there was on the major league scenes. I don't particularly care about these characters, and ended up skimming over the chapters they took place during by 2/3rds through the book. Just because I like giant robot battling doesn't mean I enjoy it when the characters involved are no one you're given reason to be interested in!

That said, Pepper and the local fight scene were quite enjoyable, and the author did a decent enough job writing the numerous action scenes involved, so a plus for that. Overall though, the most enjoyable parts of the book for me were the cozy, small town sections--Pepper at his jobs, the local golem club, numerous coming of age moments like the prom (however brief it was), etc. I may or may not continue this since I got it free on sale, but I don't regret reading at least this first volume and may come back to the series at some point.

[Tales with Atticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a ridiculously good time with this book.

It has that same part of the brain lighting up as Pokémon and all those battle heavy stories I loved growing up, but with way more heart than I expected. I went in thinking I was going to have fun with the golem fights, the competition, and the underdog energy, and I did... but what got me was how much I actually cared.

Our MC was so easy to root for. He feels messy and real and so desperately human in a way that made me want to scream at the book and hug him at the same time. His struggles felt real, his setbacks actually mattered, and because of that every win felt so much more satisfying. I love an underdog story, and this one absolutely delivered for me.

THE BATTLES ARE SO FUN. Genuinely so fun. This book has that addictive quality where you keep saying just one more chapter and then suddenly you are way farther in than you meant to be because you need to know what happens next.

But the thing that made me love this was that it is not only cool fight after cool fight. There is so much heart in this book. Just... so much emotional weight underneath the action. That balance made the whole story hit so much harder for me.

This felt like one of those books that is just wildly easy to fall into. It is fun, emotional, exciting, and full of the exact kind of energy that makes me want to shove it at other people and say READ THIS.

[Denver C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOARING MECH ACTION AND CHARM BROWBEATS THIS STORY TO FOUR STARS!

Golem Master is a book that thrives on its charm.

Normally, I would have marked it at 3.5 Stars, largely because I believe the book could have done with another pass of edits and some of the prose was a little too repetitive or simple, combo'd with fairly slow pacing. That said, as you can see from my rating, that is NOT what I rated it.

I liken this book to its protagonist, Pepper - flawed, but full of heart and a stubborn drive that refuses to let it back down. Quite simply, I just had a good time with the read.

Who doesn't love some mech action? This quite literally felt like if Pokémon and Gundam had a baby, and it worked in a way I was not expecting. Given that it's an indie release and that it's just so dang charming, I had to bump it to four stars. Though I will also say that the humor and maturity of the characters means that it is definitely a book meant for an audience somewhere between YA and Middle Grade, so that is something to keep in mind if you don't tend to enjoy stories like that.

As for me? I've already downloaded Book Two!

[Mich McBuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by several friends from the LitRPG community of BookTok, Golem Master was an absolute blast from start to finish. It hit that perfect nostalgic sweet spot, reminding me of other popular YA series. At its heart, this is a compelling coming-of-age story about a young man living in a world scarred by the tragedies of war. Despite this, the protagonist, Pepper, remains steadfast in his goal to become a Golem Master. Watching him strive for his dream, supported by most of his family, friends, and the hope that he will one day earn the recognition of the Golem Master community, is incredibly moving. The writing really shines in its character work. Pepper’s relationships with his neighbors, teachers, employers, and family feel authentically like a teenager’s experience, grounded and relatable. And, of course, the Golem fighting sequences are just plain cool. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing the rest of Pepper’s journey and diving deeper into the lore as the series progresses. Highly recommended!

[A Wai · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Epic Blend of Heart and Imagination!

This book was such a great read. The worldbuilding is one of the highlights for me. It’s creative and immersive without feeling overcomplicated. You’re dropped into a world that’s clearly been through a lot, but it’s full of hope and innovation, which makes it so interesting to explore.

Pepper, the main character, is easy to root for. He’s determined, but he’s also human, making mistakes, learning as he goes, and pushing himself forward. The other characters add so much personality to the story, and their interactions feel natural and engaging.

The balance of action and quieter moments was perfect. The battles were fun and vivid without taking away from the emotional weight of the story. Everything felt like it had meaning, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you’re into stories with great characters and a world that feels alive, I’d definitely recommend this. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Dark Lord Drakkon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this one so much! The feelings and issues Pep has to work through and worry about and try to over come gets you in the feels. I had a hard time at work during a scene cause got hit with random case of "allergies" lol. Then the battles, they bring back such nostalgia of Pokémon and Yugioh. The golems, oh the golems remind me of zoids or even Gundams. I am an absolutely sucker for mechs and now I want a golem or at least Amp! One of the other things I love is how the author brings in the people hes interacted with into his stories. It makes me look forward to see what name I may see show up. I look forward to diving more into this world and continue Peps adventure. Its been one of my favorite books to escape into! I highly recommend this book and this series!!! Great for the whole family! 5⭐️ I know if/whenever I have kids, when they are old enough to read, I know what series I am gonna introduce them too!

[Torrie Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didnt realises i missed being the very best that know one ever was.. then i was given the opportunity to listen to GM on audio and it was Amazing. not lone becuase i could listen to it in the car with the spawn without the worry of her hearing scenes play out that are way to old for her little ears, but because the story was warming, full of nostalgia and gripping.

pepper out MC is a loveable teen going through normal teen problems with an extra edge after the rift wars.

The gollems are so fun you really want to create your own and the battles in the arena are amazing!

i recently purchsed the book as well for my shelf but decided my friends teen son would probably enjoy it so also the good soul in me passed it on to his hands and he demolished it in three days!

deffs a great litrpg to add to your list of must reads

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an Epic adventure that follows our boy Pepper, it’s a slice of life book that is paced out so naturally and the story flows so smoothly! The Golem matches are absolutely insane and I hope someday we get to see this as a show just so we can truly see these matches in all there epic glory! But the audiobooks and the writing combined paint such a unique and action packed story I would shout it from the roof tops we need more Golem Masters…. Psst good thing there are 5 more to go keep reading and join the Golem league it’s truly incredible!! Blew my Meatface off!!!! Such a savory story with so much meat on the bones!!!

[Amanda Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is slower in pace, but was a great blend action, character depth and world building. The further I read in the story, the more I came to enjoy this pallet cleanser from other books on my TBR. It was a nice escape, feeling like I was young again and discovering all my early childhood favorites, Pokemon, Monster Rancher, Mummies Alive, Power Rangers... this story is such a throwback and one I couldn't help but love. I'm excited to see where the story goes and will absolutely being continuing this series.

[Tess.turns.pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have not gotta into the world of LitRPG genre…you are missing out! This book is a great step into the LitRPG world. TJ has a 100% creative story that captives you from the beginning. If you are into Pokémon, Battle Bots, arena based games, etc this will be something you would like! It’s great that it is related for teen because my son was able to read this as well and get into the LitRPG world.
My 2 favorite golems had to be the Orc and the Pirate Captain! Such a good book. 5⭐️and I cannot wait to get into reading Golem Master 2!

[_teeny.reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first experience with LitRPG and I honestly loved every moment of it.

This took me right back to my childhood watching Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh or even playing beyblades and gave me all of that nostalgic excitement of the battles and showdowns.

This book also deals with some truly important themes like grief, bullying and life responsibilities which just made it so related and even more enjoyable.

I will fully be diving right into this world and continuing to immerse myself into these incredible books!

[Kat McNulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must read! It is a wonderful coming of age story that has action, heart, and hard learned lessons mixed in with some really cheesy but awesome dad jokes. Both myself and my eleven year old have utterly enjoyed it and love the Pokemon battle feel. The characters are relatable and lovable and if you are big in the LitRPG world you will enjoy the cameos that popup. I can't wait to read the next one and dive further into this series.

[Jordan Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. This book gave me the feeling like i was playing a GBA game with a deep story. Like I had woken up on a Saturday morning to watch Pokemon and Digimon. Like I was staying up too late to finish building a Gundam or Zoids model kit. Give this book a read if you like any of those things! TJ Lombardi, you absolute legend!

[Jojobean_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first experience with a LitRPG and honestly, I had the best time with this book. The narration was spot on Daniel & Jessica did an exceptional job and I am glad I took a chance on a different genre. This was great to listen to between all my usual dark and twisty books.