Throne Hunters: Book 1

Throne Hunters #1

by Phil Tucker

Harald Darrowdelve has squandered every gift life gave him—until he enters the dungeon beneath Flutic and receives a demon’s dark blessing.

Weak, privileged, and directionless no more, Harald now commands powers forged in darkness. But each new ability and hard-won level drags him deeper into the ruthless politics of noble houses, shadowy rivals, and the celestial war burning beneath the city’s streets.


With every victory, the dungeon reshapes him—but at what cost? As Harald ascends the path of power, will he remain master of his fate, or become a servant to the darkness within?

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook

ebook

Published April 22, 2025

About the author

Thanks for visiting my page! I'm Phil Tucker, a Brazilian/Brit who currently resides in Asheville, NC, where I resist the siren call of the forests and mountains to sit inside and hammer away on my laptop.

Reviews

[Morwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ RELEASE DAY!! ✨

A short video of this review is now available here 👉🏻 IG review reel (graphics only, no blabbering)

Know hunger, human child. Know endless, insatiable, ravenous hunger. Now go forth, and consume the world.

For those unfamiliar with progression fantasy yet, here is what this book feels like:
🔸Laughing out loud while riding a rollercoaster
🔸Uplifting fantasy on crack
🔸A build-up of tremendously satisfying 'in your face' moments

The author managed to coat that all up on a layer of seriously wholesome, sparkling, personal-improvement and reflection bits, so you can also feel less guilty about having fun.
It's EDUCATIONAL!

He basically used the above 3 points to write a fantasy motivational book.
🔹Spurred me to get my ass off the couch even while I was sick (not to Harald levels though 😅)
🔹Made me feel validated and reassured by reminding me of important life lessons and words I think most of us should be told every now and then.
It's honestly eerie how much I needed to read these right now.

I really loved all the MCs:

Harald: our primary MMC, our little ball of nothing that will become our big ball of overpowered madness soon.
A Triple U starter hero. Unlikely, unlovable, unremarkable.
All the worst secondhand pity and feeling of utter failure at life.
It's quite relatable for those of us who have been, or occasionally/situationally are, in part, insecure pushovers.

Sam: Our smart, strong, primary FMC, trying to grow out of her lifelong support-based role. Her own journey will be to find her own voice, and who she is now that she can put herself first.

Nessa: Our beautiful broken doll, victim of her own talents. Her personal fight is against addiction and self-sabotage. Her strength is a double edged sword. Pun intended.

Vic: Our crunchy cookie with a soft gooey inside somewhere. The gooey part could be either cute or NSFW. Consume at your own peril. He's actually very wise when he takes breaks from drinking his own weight in alcohol and other debaucheries.

“Friends. Bosom companions. I suppose these changes explain the new way you’re looming, Harry-boy. You look bulkier. But in a pleasingly intimidating manner. Less of a melting dessert and more of a…” He paused, searching for the right word. “A monolith about to tip over and crush me. It’s a good look."

The magic system and world building are already so beautiful and we haven't even scratched the surface! RPG game based, with Angels and Demons I hope we will know more about soon!!



Other things that I love about this book:
🔹 Phil's usual counter-misoginy in a genre that has been targeted to the male audience for so long!
His heroines are freaking badasses and his MMCs are always so respectful, they sure don't suffer of small-dick complexes

Finally cleaned, he tossed his sweaty training clothes into the hamper in his bathroom and then paused. Who would do his laundry now that Sam was free?
“Guess I’ll have to ask her to teach me,” he mused."

🔸The way the sword lessons are described is so well rounded that you could almost try yourself. The level of detail and depth put into everything said or done makes it feel very realistic and well researched.

🔹Compared to Bastion, the tone of voice and the themes have a bit more of an adult edge, without crossing a line. The crudeness is hilarious and doesn't make it feel cheap. Vic is both so annoying and so lovable under that thick exterior. Reminds me of Breeze from Mistborn

“As awful as you look you hardly have the appearance of a glory addict at all. What went wrong?”
“Rot before you die,” said Nessa sweetly.
“The angels preserve me from the rot,” said Vic genially. “I’ve yet to dip my wick in a poisoned well, but I suppose it’ll happen sooner than later."

🔹Soft trigger warning:
This book deals (in a quite tactful and constructive way though) with topics such as drug addiction, children being mistreated by parents, slavery, obesity, parent death, co-dependent relationships. One character is also always drinking but his liver seems to be okay still 😅
They are all very light and minor, and I'm listing them more as a compliment for the author for what he's included than anything else.

🔸“I thought I was helping.”
“Beyond a certain point, help becomes a promise. But you didn’t stop to consider what it meant to make that promise, did you? Or the terms of that promise, from where she was standing?”
Harald wanted to protest. To argue that his intentions had been true.
'You lied, Nessa had hissed. You told me you changed. But that’s not the truth, is it? You were changed.'

🔹"On some twisted level, I’d come to love the old bastard. To anticipate his needs, to understand his crankiness, to forgive the endless abuse I suffered at his hands. When he made me that offer I almost accepted. But I didn’t. You know why?
Because that bastard wasn’t my father, and he wasn’t my friend. The love I felt for him was that of a beaten dog that’s grateful each night his master forgets the whip."

🔸“This time, journal your thoughts. Your feelings. Interrogate them. Eat, drink, write, sleep, and just be. Breathe a little with no place to go.”
Sam nodded slowly. The very idea felt… revolutionary. “All right. But Harald won’t know -”
“Listen to me, Sam.” Furthak leaned forward, his stare as intimidating as the void. “This is your time. Harald can fucking wait.”

Oh, boy, I've also just seen the author define this series a SLOW BURN, replying to a reddit comment... I can't imagine how big the blast will be if this is his idea of slow burn 😂

This review is also on my new Bookstagram ❤️

GIF reacts list for alternative summary of book experience











Pre-read
I got the ARC!! 🤩 So I'm going to prioritize this for now ✨
____

While we wait for Bastion #4, New series by the author in a similar genre/style!! I have high hopes for this one!

Using the author's words:

What is Throne Hunters about?
In short, this is a 150k word progression fantasy with some light LitRPG elements. It team oriented, features plenty of self-improvement, training, dungeon delving, and figuring out the dangerous politics that runs the city of Flutic.

Expected release date: 22 April 2025 (It will be available on Kindle Unlimited upon release)

The second book should be out in June!

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

New series by Phil Tucker? Yes please! Firmly in the lit-RPG world but without blocks of stats. Love the VERY flawed characters in this book. The MC is such a jerk but it's so satisfying to see him become something more. Book 2 is even better.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a great series

Phil's work is always phenomenal, but this is among his best. If you enjoyed Bastion, or just love tower climbing adventures with well-written casts, I strongly recommend this.

[Matthew Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not included in my Throne Hunters Book 1 was the pre-workout, D.A.R.E shirt, and boot straps that must have gotten lost in the mail. There are things about the author that surprised me with this book, and I worry that the lens put on them will affect my enjoyment of the Bastion series. Phil Tucker seems to like writing about broken, unsavable and self-destructive women and angry, betrayed men.

Interestingly Tucker does a lot of calling himself out in this series, generally in dialogue between two characters… and does it anyway? An example would be making the main character act as a male savior figure for a broken, drug-addicted women (you just have to want it enough to stop), saying that he knows that’s what it may appears he is acting as a personal Jesus but actually isn’t, and then… does the exact thing he’s saying it’s not anyway. It really felt like this is how criticism in this book might have been handled. Pointed out, called out, and then done in a way that it is addressed in dialogue or an aside “actually this isn’t this..,” but it still very much is. I kept waiting for the series to turn on its head. I wanted all of this to be a setup for the promised betrayal and Harald’s descent promised by his curse, but it just never happened. Instead, the power of friendship (not against this but… eh) and the main character shepherding and saving his misfit support cast (which the main character calls himself out on and then does anyway) to the future he desires (which he calls himself out on and does anyway. I guess he pays them and gives them the artifacts. Him not selling the artifacts means little to nothing, as it would have been counter to his character in the book to do so anyway) .

Some of the criticism about Bastion seems doubled down on here. Specifically issues with the supporting cast’s character development. Of the main cast, the main character is a man reborn, cursed (but mostly blessed?) by a demon in exchange for power. The other main male character, Vic, is intended to be the humor element of the group, but accomplished the most serious sin of just not being funny. it mostly fell flat- as did his character. A lot of the humor is pretty juvenile (word for word “dont stick your dick in crazy” when referring to the broken woman character of the main cast, and constantly referring to his dick, conquests, and sexual ability in a variety of ways). There was no real development here. The character immediately falls into the role that he has for the rest of the book pretty early on and doesn’t deviate from it. Every other word he says is “darling” which is grating after awhile.

The maid-become-comrade who is very much a sister but also wants to do “very unsisterly” things to the main character adapts to her new freed reality by doing pretty much the same thing. She is bound for her first 18 years in servitude to the main character. She has a coming into herself moment that sorts itself out in… three days. Maybe? I have a guess that she’ll fall into her role in the next book and not deviate from that. She has dealt with the main character for the entirety of her life and appears to have Stockholm Syndrome. She’s kind of a doormat, and her ability to stay with the main character after a lifetime of abuse and mistreatment transitions easily into the month or so that this book occurs during.

There is a larger problem here with the beginning part of the book not being long enough (even though paradoxically the first three quarters were too long). We don’t see enough of Harald pre-transformation, and I don’t think Sam (the maid character) would work at all if we did. Instead we see a single day of old Harald waking up possibly still drunk. The book needed to have this section longer to provide more context. I originally believed it was due to space constraints, but after finishing the book I truly believe it’s because Sam’s character would be even less believable.

I’m hesitant to even write about the character, Nessa. She is an addict and the expert swordswoman. I have tried to keep this largely spoiler free, so I will continue with that. Her salvation is continually pointed out to be just willing herself or wanting it enough. The main character tells us that he cannot save her, that she needs to make her own decisions, and yet. And yet. There is a pretty big betrayal here by the main character that the author seems to gloss over, and the main character sees it as needing to weather her anger and not say the wrong thing in response.

This is the context of the Vic line, “don’t stick your dick in crazy.” The main character essentially acts as a Jesus figure here, and there are parallels here to Naomi in the relationship between broken women and the main, angry, reborn male character. Almost every description of the women is their shirts so sweaty it’s sticking to their body or their body and/or beauty otherwise being remarked on. Or their psychological problems that they must fix themselves that the main character totally can’t fix. Every woman is beautiful and covetable. Repeatedly any male character outside the main group- and one within- make comments to the affect they would like to take them into an alley and have their way with them. A small aside, again- the word “darling” is used entirely too much in this series.

Overall, a lot of nothing really happens this book. The cast is presented, their roles are assumed, their roles are discussed, they have conflict, and they stick together and it’s resolved. I’m expecting Nessa to take a similar exit to Naomi and the main character to respond about the same. It felt like the author had a successful series and thought he could write a book about his personal philosophy, his humor, his attitude and view of women, men’s anger and overcoming impotence, betrayal, and a crazy amount of workout tips. The magic system seemed vaguely interesting with the item used as currency also being able to be consumed to grant power.

There seems to be a larger story at play that is just a vehicle for Tucker opining. It’s tough to know how interesting the magic system will be, though, with a lot of explanation from a character that happens to be an encyclopedia, but little practical use or application. Honestly, I wish this book was better. I hope this doesn’t effect how I read Bastion, but things that seemed unique in that series now seem routine for Tucker after reading Throne Hunting. It might make an interesting read depending on how you view life, trauma, women, personal growth, and exercise. As stated, I spent most of the book waiting for it to turn on it’s head. Maybe it will in a later book. After finishing the book, however, I’m not sure I’ll give the series the benefit of the doubt.

[Michael Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

This is a genre I've always been interested in, a progression RPG with light gaming elements. I thought this book would be right up my alley, but I was bowled over by how unequivocally GREAT this book is!

One of the biggest drawbacks of this genre are characters who exist to further the plot along, and then they are left at the wayside while the main hero continues their inevitable climb to glory. But here, Tucker is able to humanize these characters and make you ache for their plights. On top of that feat, these situations the characters find themselves in make you echo their own drive to get stronger and gain more mastery over their abilities, and even more importantly, themselves.

The characters are fantastic, and the setup towards the next book gave me goosebumps! The original party our main hero fell out with have completely believable reasons for the falling out. I really appreciated that.

As for the world, where do I even begin!? The world feels ALIVE and dripping with potential, with in-depth world-building that challenges you, while not feeling overwhelming (I LOVE Malazan, but the sheer scope of the world is hard to grasp at times). Throne Hunters hits that perfect medium.

I love the prose in this book as well. Nothing too flowery or ornate, nor overly conversational either, a great balance.

I love everything about this book, prepare to get sucked into a fantastic world with even more fantastic characters!

However, there is one thing that mars the perfection of this read, and that is (the admittedly very infrequent) character dialogue that doesn't work in the setting for me. One such time that took me out of the immersion was Harald (our main protagonist) saying, "Right on" which bamboozled me quite a bit.

One other thing (that is even more minor) is Samantha's character. Discovering her own agency as a free woman and growing alongside Harald was fantastically displayed, and she became my favorite character! Now, I am not in Tucker's mind, but I think it would behoove him to take a look at making her a deuteragonist with Harald. Their relationship is incredibly interesting and multi-faceted, and I felt like she did some growing off-page while focusing on Harald. Is it because the growing she's doing was alone, signifying that by having her drop out of the narrative? Or was it to focus more on Harald? I've read this book 4 times to write this review, and I still don't know if I love the choice or not. The implications I received when they attained their classes (in an absurdly incredible and refreshingmanner might I add) was that they would focus on growing together. Having more chapters dedicated to Samantha's point-of-view would be fantastic, showing the reader that these two are somewhat equals. I think it would do wonders for their character interactions, especially given how...complicated their relationship is.

In closing, this may be one of my favorite books in the genre, and possibly tops the Immortal Great Souls in enjoyability, although it depends on the day. Fantastic read, fantastic characters, fantastic progression, and fantastic world-building. Phil Tucker has done it again, and I could feel the passion dripping off of every page. Incredible job, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

[Cody Tiffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure where exactly to start, this book took me by surprise. First off I was one of those lucky enough to get an ARC of this new offering from Phil Tucker. I have enjoyed his past works like Bastion and Krieg Chess, so I knew going in roughly what I was going to get, at least stylistically from this novel.

I was so wrong. I was unprepared for just how into this book I would get. The concept of the dungeon being the corpse of a fallen angel?! Amazing, it was so novel that I began to wonder just how deep the lore would get on that front and I was not disappointed.

I think the high point for me was that Phil is either a swordsman or knows someone who is and got their input on the book. It's a rarity in the genre for an author to put much focus on the actual weapon skills characters use, beyond simply telling us they're good at X weapon without showing us in any way. When Harald started using the "Dungeon Square" and he explained what it was, my sword nerd brain immediately yelled, "It's Meyer's Square" to my wife.

Honestly 10/10 or 5/5 this book had me wanting more to the point I devoured what was available of books 2 and 3 on Royal Road as well.

If you love progression fantasy with a certain amount of gritty realism, you'll love this book.

[Rob Quarton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is a rare thing to find a book that you start and actually struggle to put down, but that is what happened to me with Throne Hunters.

I started reading before bed and the next thing the birds were singing and it was light!

The protagonist of the book starts off, quite unusually, as fairly unlikeable but throughout the story he grows and by a quarter of the way in, you find yourself rooting for him.

Similarly the supporting cast are wonderfully rounded out, avoiding the usual clichés and feel real with their own flaws, agendas and personal growth.

The action scenes are gripping and the world building seems natural without being intrusive or overly laboured.

This is book one of what promises to be an amazing new series and I cannot wait for the next one!

[Austin Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been craving a proper dungeon crawl for a while, and hadn't been following progress on this book until it was ready for release. I can't begin to express the satisfaction and genre-defying surprises that this book offered in tandem when I read through it. Harald sucks, until he doesn't. At his worst, I still wanted to like him, and at his best I admire him greatly. Have you ever squandered your potential, only to find yourself along the way?

Phil Tucker continues to impress with his top notch world building, his ability to humanize characters I don't expect to love, and fantasy that feels like waking up with a splash of cold water in your face as you stare into the mirror.

I think you'll have just as much of a blast as I did reading this!

[PunkHazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars!

Ok this book gives me complex feelings for a lot of reasons. It definitely has the high quality I expect from Phil Tucker, who is definitively my favorite author. The part that feels complex for me is everything I loved about this book is the opposite of what I usually enjoy about a book. Everything that I usually like I didn't really care for and everything that I usually don't care for was really well done and engaging. I'm a plot reader over a character reader, but in this book I found myself finding the plot just adequate but the character work phenomenal. I'll break it down a below

Plot:
So the plot of this book was very different from Phil Tucker's other series. It was a lot slower paced by his own admission. There were points where I thought the story was about to explode in momentum but instead it crept along steadily for the sake of character development and exploration. The book primes Harold for greater things down the line, basically the tutorial part of the series. There was greater care into Harold's based build and even the stuff with his dad and the demon in the Labyrinth forgoed usual plot accelerants to really establish that relationship between Harold and the world around him. Sometimes I did think the demon handed things to easily to Harold but I can appreciate the care that went into crafting that dynamic. I do think the training scenes went on a little too long. The exercising and sword lessons got a little stale for me especially since I didn’t love the action in general(more on that below). I'll say the parts of the book I enjoyed the most was when Harold and sam went down to the 47th floor. It was the most plot relevent section even if the pacing was still a bit slow.

Worldbuilding:
We didn’t get a whole lot in this department but I can tell we’ll slowly get more information about the labyrinth itself, the demons and angels, the different factions and noble houses in the city and the wider world surrounding the city. One thing I’ll point out is that the labyrinth seems more complex than I initially thought. I thought it was going to be like the gauntlet in his Immortal Great souls series but there is definitely more of an ecosystem and entire world down there. I find that so interesting and I can’t wait till we get to the point where Harold goes down there and doesn’t have to come back up.

Magic system/Action
One thing I love about Phil Tucker is his magic systems. Usually I’m not a fan of Litrpg systems but Dawn of the Void and now these are the notable exceptions to that rule. Of course there are some standard ideas present but the introductions of thrones, the currency being connected to leveling, and how the Classes are implemented are all ways this system stands out.

Another thing I find interesting is the scale everything operates at. His other series tend to introduce god-like figures who can destroy entire cities with a wave of their hands but this series focuses on a much more technical magical combat. He was going for a more grounded approach and I think it pays off. We got more intimate examples of how magic is used in very close and human-like situations. I find it hard to imagine how big the scale gets in this series but if I had to guess the characters will max out at building destroying fighters.

Now I’ll be honest, the action scenes themselves weren't my favorite. I tend to prefer bigger displays of action and magic but instead we got a more grounded realistic take on fantasy action scenes(think John Gwyne or Joe Ambercrombie). The action focused a lot more on the physical condition of a normal human and the technical aspects of sword fighting with different sword forms and counters. To use an anime example; this book was more Grimgar of fantasy and ash rather than Sword Art online combat. I appreciate the attention to detail but it wasn’t necessarily the most fun thing to read for me.

Characters:
Now this is the part of the series that really spoke to me unexpectedly. Like I said before I’m not really a character reader but Phil Tucker really went all out on the characterization in this book to the point that if you didn’t like the characters then there is a real chance you won’t like the book at all. Luckily I enjoyed the characters immensely.
Harold: Now this guy is the poster child for character development as far as I’m concerned. I’ve seen the transformation from spoiled nobel to good guy before but never have I seen it done so succinctly and thoroughly while also being believable and respectable. After his shift in perspective he turned to a guy with such good intentions that it bothered me when the other characters didn’t see that. The scene where Vic was lecturing him because of Sam and Nessa’s issues bothered me cause it felt like he was unfairly putting the blame on Harold when he’s done everything he can to do right by them. I think that's the sign of good character writing when I can feel that frustration on behalf of a character. I’m not saying Harold is perfect but he’s clearly able to see his faults and try to do better for the sake of those around him and if anything everyone else failed living up to that.
Sam: I liked her and I see the direction her development is going. She loves Harold but has to learn to live in her world without him. I can appreciate that but I definitely like them better as a duo rather than trying to forge a wedge between them for the sake of her individualism. And again I don’t want the story to double down on what Harold is or isn’t doing to her to exacerbate her issues since I don’t think it's his responsibility.
Vic: Genuinely the most hilarious and witty character Phil Tucker has ever written. Laughed out loud multiple times and his responses and anecdotes were transcendent. With that being said I don’t know if I liked him as a person, especially as a friend for Harold. He seemed too ok with being a transactional friend who has used and taken advantage of Harold all this time. Harold is way too understanding and forgiving of him too. Maybe his character journey will be him making amends for that so I’ll wait to see what comes from it. I do enjoy his perspective and vibe as a character and I want him to stay around in the main group.

Overall I enjoyed the book even if it is not exactly what I was expecting from it. I’ll continue to read the series but I do hope the book picks up in pacing a bit. I think fans of series like Super supportive and Wanderin In would really enjoy this series.

[Pierson Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dungeon delving progression fantasy adventure

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of Phil’s latest book, Throne Hunters after having read the first draft on Royal Road. If you are looking for an awesome progression fantasy focused on a dungeon diving party then look no further. Most of Phil's books center around revenge at their core and this book is no different. Our protagonist, Harald Darrowdelve (elite dungeon hunter name), is left for dead by a party of mercenaries who were just using his family name and the riches earned by his legendary father. Harald stumbles on a second chance inside the dungeon and is determined to make the most of it. Joining him on his mission are friends from his old life who are all fighting demons of their own.

If you are looking for:

-Zero to hero protagonist
-Fleshed out adventuring party with deep and varied relationships
-Dungeon delving through a multitude of different levels
-Clear progression without convoluted system explanations

Then Throne Hunters is the book for you!

[Yahya Alshetairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

استمعتُ له صوتي، ومشكلتي مع الصوتي أني ما أركز كثير فاحتاج لأعمال خفيفة اسمعها
وهذا أحد الكتب التي أدت الغرض وكفاية.

أحد النبلاء يحدث له حادث، يغير مستقبله وشخصيته فيصبح كل همه نزول الدنجن والأزدياد قوة.
يحيط بهذه الأحداث البناء المعتاد لنظام القوة والعالم والشخصيات.

لا شيء جديد.

[Lachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars
Phil Tucker has done it again. I was thinking to myself: "Do I like this book even more than Bastion?", and to be honest I can't consider Bastion separately from the other two installments in the Immortal Great Souls series, with all the things we learned etc., but the fact I'm even asking myself that is a great sign, since The Immortal Great Souls series is among my favourite ever.

Throne Hunters is progression fantasy, akin to the anime/manhwa/light novel Solo Levelling in a certain way that I won't spoil, but should be evident quite early on if you've watched/read Solo Levelling.

However, unlike so many other progression fantasy stories, the characters flaws, growth and relationships feel like the main focus of this story. We all have our favourite characters in fantasy, from the likes of Kaladin and Dalinar to Anomander Rake, and for some (like me) Scorio is definitely in there. Then there's relationships and friendships between chatacters that are even more memorable for the emotions they draw forth, with the prime example on my mind being Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. I can see Harald, Sam and the rest of the crew that I won't reveal for spoilers sake, having the emotional impact to elevate this series above just it's plot, which I did love, to something like the Realm of the Elderlings which evokes true passion and love in its fans.

Thank you Phil for the Advanced Reader Copy, and please keep writing, we need the next Throne Hunters as well as the rest of the series you're writing.

[Amadeus Lackmanec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll open by saying that I first found Phil Tucker’s work with his Immortal Great Souls series and fell in love. Throne Hunters #1 has done nothing but grow my admiration for his work. His writing style and character development kept me on the edge of my seat and has caused me to lose more than a little sleep while trying to stay up just a little longer to finish the next chapter.

On the whole I am not a fan of the LitRPG fantasy genre as I feel it’s been oversaturated with too many similar stories: i.e., guy wakes up in a new world and gets stat window, finds really hot girl(s) and proceeds to wipe the floor with everyone he encounters. It always felt too easy and unbelievable.

Phil takes some of my favourite parts of the LitRPG system (levelling up and getting stronger) and incorporates it into a well flushed out world. The characters are believable, the motivations relatable and the lore behind the world is enticing.

I honestly think that one of the strongest part of this book (aside from the story itself) is how Phil managed to write believable characters who don’t just exist as placeholders for the protagonist to use and move on from - providing them with three dimensional personalities, ambitions and motivations.

I’m a sucker for a good progression fantasy series and I cannot wait for Throne Hunters #2 to release.

Please do yourself a favour and pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time when much of the genre is drowned in a hundred shades of Gary Stu and the Exponential Power Creep, Throne Hunters offers a genuinely character driven story with emotional depth, exciting stakes, and an epic scope for the story yet to come. A worthy entrant into the genre, this is a system-lite litRPG with enough numbers-go-up to satisfy the itch without getting bogged down in spreadsheets and meaningless lines of endless skill descriptions.

I would caution anyone going in that the cast of characters are not immediately easy to love, but are nonetheless worth getting to know. Harald and his companions are all broken in some way shape or form, rampantly self-destructive, and at times overtly hateful. Stick with them, they do get better and that's the whole point.

The world building is interesting with the setting breaking free from many of the tired dungeon-town-adventurer-party tropes to offer something new and refreshing. If you have read and enjoyed any of Phil's other work or if you just enjoy the litRPG genre, read this book.

[Mbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Received an ARC from the author, spoiler free review

When I received my copy of Throne Hunters my plan was the read it on an upcoming vacation. However, I ended up devouring the book in 2 days before my vacation even started!

Dungeon diving progression fantasy stories have always had a special place in my heart. Throne hunters is a fantastic addition to the genre. It has really interesting world building with a hint of mystery and fantastic character progression.

Not only do we get to see Harry progress but we also get to see a solid group of friends form. It's always refreshing when a progression fantasy protagonist wants to grow with a team instead of alone.

Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of progression fantasy! Eagerly awaiting book 2 but luckily Phil Tucker is a writing machine and the first four books are already written and will be released this summer and fall. Definitely a plus if you are impatient like me!

[Stefan · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10

Well written prose wise etc but I’m really not a fan of these zero to hero’s with cheat powers. I felt like we were supposed to admire his willpower and determination which is normally the primary positive of similar characters but frankly he didn’t do anything all that tough compared to what his peers were doing. Additionally, his willpower was given to him by a demon so he literally cannot be credited for it.

The interpersonal relationships were fairly shallow although I did like Vic as a character. I felt like Sam didn’t make sense as a character, and nessa was literally just a stepping stone drug addict character.

In short, the characters got too much too quick with too little challenge and it felt extremely unreasonable to me. In exchange for money equivalent to a dukedom, and classes and talents of a divine (just the highest grade) level they killed a few zombie equivalents and then got handouts. Honestly a frustrating read.

[Chris Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Tucker has always been a master at bringing complex characters to life in difficult situations, and he has certainly done it again.

Throne Hunters is an action packed and fast paced dopamine rush, all while making you question exactly how far you would go in the pursuit of power. Do ends justify the means? Would you be willing to drag your friends into horrifying situations just for a chance at personal growth? Does power change you, and is that okay? Is your soul just something to be used for advancement?If any of that interests you, join Harald and his friends on a dungeon raiding adventure.

[Derek Salfen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid entry into the LitRPG genre! Just when I think the concept has been mined dry, someone comes in with something new (to me at least!). Written as a whole book rather than week over week like most of the entries I've consumed, Phil is able to craft a cohesive story with all the LitRPG elements, yet seems solidly a Phil Tucker product. I found myself wondering if this is in a shared universe with his other books, Tuckerverse? Highly recommended!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few chapters were a struggle, mostly because I didn’t connect with the protagonist. But then—something shifted. A pivotal moment changed not just the character, but my entire perspective. From that point on, I was hooked.

Now, I’m impatiently counting down the days until Book 2. If the rest of the series is this good, we’re in for an incredible ride.

[Andrés · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The story is engaging, but what really stood out to me was how the characters interact.

The main character feels extremely “human”, just a regular person thrown into something bigger, and that makes his journey feel more relatable.

It’s an easy book to follow, very well written, and hits everything I love in this genre.

I highly recommend it!

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had a slow start and honestly I was considering dropping it. The main character was so pathetic it became irritating. I stuck with it though and the way the character grows as the book progresses made it worthwhile. Would recommend it and I'm excited about the sequels.

[Mathieu Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great start to new series from Phil Tucker. After reading the first book I'm curious to see what the future will hold. This book definitely left me wanting more!

[Jason Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what makes these books so bingeable. I burned through the first couple of these in just a few days. Throne hunters ticks off all the boxes for a fun but generic LitRPG. The personalities in his crew are diverse and you find yourself rooting for them to become real friends. The action is really well done even if there is perhaps too much of it. Unfortunately there is nothing that really stands out or makes it remarkable. I'll still probably finish the series though since I seem to be able to devour them so quickly.

I wanted to try a different series from this author. I liked Immortal Great Souls, but the main character is a complete buffoon. A total nincompoop. Eventually IGS explains why the MC is such an idiot, and it makes sense but I would rather have a MC who is smart. Harald from Throne Hunters isn't a genius by any means, but at least he's not stupid. However this difference still didn't change the fact that the MCs in both books are slaves to their emotions and only become strong by having power ups fall into their lap over and over again. My favorite Progression Fantasy's are about people who are intelligent and actively choose their paths to power. Sure there's always gonna be some luck involved, but it shouldn't be 100% luck. Literally every single one of Harald's opportunities has been handed to him on a silver platter. Some of them were difficult to accomplish, but he is just following the script that was handed to him.

This feels like a lazier effort from the author. Instead of a new imaginative world, it's just a generic litrpg. He copy pasted the idea for the money from Bastion but with different names. So much of the book is just generic training scenes. Several of the characters feel like copy pastes from Bastion. He's barely bothering to separate the stories into individual books. Most of the world and monsters are just generic LitRPG elements.

You can feel the Royal Road lack of editing. The author regularly brags about the crazy high word counts he posts per day on this novel, but wow it could use a 2nd draft. It's also incredibly simple. I usually can only listen to an audiobook at 1.75x speed before losing comprehension, but I can listen to this at more than 3x without missing anything. Because the next thing to happen is always exactly what you expect.

Some spoilers from here:

The MC's training arc doesn't feel earned because hes under demonic compulsion to train. The demon claims he's just making Harald into the person he should have been, but we are regularly told that Demons always lie. The thing that makes the most sense is that his personality change is a result of demonic compulsion. Also the high "ego" stat that gives Harald super willpower is the most unreal part. Willpower should be a result of constant effort and practice. If a demon can hand you willpower then it's not your willpower. It belongs to the Demon. All of Harald's accomplishments belong to the Demon.

I'm not sure where Mr. Tucker is going with his damaged women. He is going out of his way to show that it's unhealthy for slave girl to be friends with Harald. We'll see if this goes anywhere or if all the Sam chapters were just the author trying to understand that viewpoint by writing about it. It could also be a build up to a plot point where they break up before getting back together in the next book (just like IGS). And Nessa's drug addiction feels like a plotline that will conveniently be dropped when it's no longer needed. But hey, maybe I'll be surprised.

Finale where he fights poor Yeorick seemed forced. Harald had no good reason to challenge him to a duel or to accept the ridiculous time frames that Yeorick added on randomly. Also the duel wasn't really ever a worry. Yeorick was weak. The fight was just a victory lap.

[Robert Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Tucker is back! I first came to know his work from his “Immortal Great Souls” series, which I absolutely love.

From the first chapter, I was hooked by the brutal tension, the clever power system, and a cast of underdogs you can’t help but root for.

The story centers on Harald, a disgraced noble who dives into the corpse dungeon beneath Flutic not for glory, but for survival—and what follows is a relentless climb filled with demonic bargains, desperate alliances, and the raw pulse of progression fantasy at its best. Tucker doesn’t waste time with fluff. Every chapter advances the stakes, develops the team dynamics, and layers in subtle worldbuilding without slowing the pacing for a second.

What makes this novel sing, though, is the chemistry between its core cast—Harald, Vic, Nessa, and Sam. Each brings a distinct energy to the group, from tactical brilliance to raw emotion to explosive power. Their banter feels natural, their conflicts real, and their growth deeply earned.

This is not just about dungeons and delving—it’s about rising from the ashes, clawing your way back when no one believes in you, and forging a new family in the darkest places.

If you’re a fan of tight writing, fast action, and characters with bite, Throne Hunters is unmissable.

Final Verdict:
An elite-level entry in modern progression fantasy. Tucker is a master of momentum, and Throne Hunters delivers it in waves.

[Paul Clendenen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a well written, fun progression fantasy saga look no further. A story filled with self improvement and epic advancement, you won’t be able to put it down once you’ve started.

With a painfully relatable main character, and a delightful cast of supporting characters, Phil takes Harald, the main character, on a journey of riches to rags, and presumably back to riches.

Phil Tucker has the best prose I’ve seen in the genre and that continues here. His work is always meticulously crafted, and adds to both the ambiance of the narrative and your vocabulary. The words he chooses adds a weight to his stories, that perfectly fits the world of Throne Hunters, just like in Bastion.

Phil Tucker’s world building is top notch, and the world of Throne Hunters is another knockout. Angels, demons and a whole host of interesting monsters abound in this LitRPG saga. The character sheets are justified in universe, in a very satisfying manner, and provide some unique elements to a genre staple.

If you’ve enjoyed Phil’s other works, you’ll love this latest entry, and if this is your first introduction to Phil Tucker, you’ve just hit a jackpot of a backlog to work through. Either way, I hope you enjoy Throne Hunters as much as I did, and that we get to go on adventures with Harald and gang for years to come!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept with a deep power system and deeper mystery that I'm looking forward to exploring in the next book. The combat and abilities are both well developed and fantastic to read about, the book as a whole felt like it zipped by. The mc's change was great and though I felt it was a little too abrupt even for the author's explanation, by the time Harald meets a certain character for a 2nd time a deeper explanation is offered which reinforced the change and felt much better and more cemented in the story, which I was happy with.

It wasn't perfect for me though. For example around the 80% mark things briefly fall apart for the characters, but it feels far too late in the story. It was like an abrupt and unfair turn onto the MC, which would have felt far more realistic and comfortable earlier into the story. It made him seem very manipulative, which as we've been reading from his pov, we knew he wasn't in this scenario, and it would have been far more natural earlier into his changes. Not a big deal, just a slight hiccup in pacing in my opinion and was resolved pretty quickly, which was still a good story beat just wrong timing, at least in my opinion.

Overall very good, a fun ride and one I'm looking forward to continuing in book 2.

[Nicholas Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the worst book...

It is easier to say what the author does wrong than right. It is obvious he is an amateur writer, and that manifests in two apparent ways. The first is being overly detailed as a general rule. The book takes place in a single month's time, with only two dungeon adventures and a duel, but is nearly 600 pages. It makes for some tedious reading much of the time.

The second issue is the author retconning in parts after the fact to explain away some dead end he wrote himself into, or for no apparent reason at all. The spider is probably the most glaring retcon. There is no need for it, it does nothing to fix or advance the plot, it is completely out of place, as there is no explanation ever given of why it was added in, and it was retconned into a continuous flow of events. The characters went from doing one thing to the next, but then later it is revealed that actually no, they did something else in-between, even though previously it was literally written as a continuous sequence of events.

This whole book could probably be a well written book about 2/3 the original length, and be something other than a disjointed borefest. It isn't so bad I didn't finish it, but if I had anything remotely better to read, I wouldn't have finished.

[Apellön · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s really more of a 3.5 for me, but since I enjoy Phil Tucker’s work, I’ll round it up to a 4.

Immortal Great Souls is a masterpiece—wildly original worldbuilding, unique powers, clever use of timelines, legends, twists… it’s a monster of a series.

Throne Hunter is very different. The story feels much more linear, and a big chunk of it focuses on the main character’s inner struggles. At times it almost read like the diary of a gym addict. The fantasy setting is fine—right now a bit on the generic side—but Phil does have a way of slowly shaping it into something that feels more his own. The problem is that by the end of book one, not a lot had happened and not much of the larger world was revealed. That slower pace, combined with the lack of big new ideas, made it harder for me to stay fully engaged.

That said, it’s not a bad book at all. There’s promise here, and I can see the potential. I’ll probably pick up the sequel eventually, but I’m more eager to continue with other books first ( looking at you IGS book 4)

[James Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is honestly fantastic. I've been a fan of Phil Tucker ever since I first read Bastion (also HIGHLY recommended).

Throne Hunters is typical of a Phil Tucker novel: fast-paced, incredibly exciting and with wonderful characters. However, it takes an interesting approach to a progression fantasy book that I've not seen before - rather than focusing purely on the "I need to get stronger" approach that is standard to the genre (and don't worry, there's plenty of it!), Throne Hunters focuses more on the changes in personality and decision making that the main character (and others) go through. I saw another review saying it's like a self-help book wrapped in a fantasy novel and I think that's actually relatively apt. But Phil is able to do this while also weaving a very engaging story.

I couldn't get enough and can't wait for the next one.

[Laeth George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best New Series in a While

Phil has outdone himself here. I’m willing to say that Throne Hunters is at least as good as Bastion (The Immortal Great Souls book 1), if not BETTER. I’m going to reserve the “if not better” decision until I read book 2, but this one is that good. The plot, characters, growth, power system, are all excellent, and I’d recommend to everyone. The system itself is fairly unique, and the history of the broader world seems rich and detailed. I haven’t been compelled to read (and not stop) like this in a while. I think Phil just put out a new staple of the genre, up there with Cradle, Bastion, Stormweaver, etc. Do yourselves a favor and read this book if you’re even remotely a fan of progression fantasy!