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Path of Violence: A LitRPG Apocalypse
When the world ends, some men find redemption in the ashes.
Aiden Wyatt was a drug dealer, a thief, and a lost cause—until the System descended on Earth. Now, in a world where stats mean survival and monsters roam the wilderness, Aiden’s criminal past is his greatest weapon. After winning the favor of a cosmic overseer, he is granted an ancient spirit of intellect and a leveling potential most can only dream of.
But power comes at a price.
Haunted by his past and driven by a hunger for more, Aiden carves a bloody path through the chaos, determined to become the most powerful warrior Earth has ever seen. He’s not the hero anyone asked for, but in a world ruled by violence, he’s the one we deserve.
Brace yourself for a LitRPG Apocalypse packed with brutal action, relentless leveling, and a flawed anti-hero who refuses to quit. If you crave overpowered protagonists, dark worlds, and progression at any cost, Path of Violence will keep you hooked from the first kill to the last boss.
The System has arrived. The strong will rise. And Aiden Wyatt will stop at nothing to claim his throne.
For fans of Road to Mastery, Savage Awakening, and Victor of Tucson, this LitRPG fantasy is raw, ruthless, and impossible to put down!
Aiden Wyatt was a drug dealer, a thief, and a lost cause—until the System descended on Earth. Now, in a world where stats mean survival and monsters roam the wilderness, Aiden’s criminal past is his greatest weapon. After winning the favor of a cosmic overseer, he is granted an ancient spirit of intellect and a leveling potential most can only dream of.
But power comes at a price.
Haunted by his past and driven by a hunger for more, Aiden carves a bloody path through the chaos, determined to become the most powerful warrior Earth has ever seen. He’s not the hero anyone asked for, but in a world ruled by violence, he’s the one we deserve.
Brace yourself for a LitRPG Apocalypse packed with brutal action, relentless leveling, and a flawed anti-hero who refuses to quit. If you crave overpowered protagonists, dark worlds, and progression at any cost, Path of Violence will keep you hooked from the first kill to the last boss.
The System has arrived. The strong will rise. And Aiden Wyatt will stop at nothing to claim his throne.
For fans of Road to Mastery, Savage Awakening, and Victor of Tucson, this LitRPG fantasy is raw, ruthless, and impossible to put down!
- GenresFantasy
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2025
69 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
James N. Cook
17 books255 followersJames N. Cook is a martial arts enthusiast, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former cubicle dweller, and the author of the Surviving the Dead series. He hikes, he goes camping, he travels a lot, and he has trouble staying in one spot for very long. He lives in North Carolina.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JNCookauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesNCook
Blog: https://survivingthedeadsite.wordpres...
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmLlKf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JNCookauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesNCook
Blog: https://survivingthedeadsite.wordpres...
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmLlKf
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 8, 2025
Very good
I was a bit hesitant to give this a shot, just because of the way the MC is described. While he is not a knight in shining armor, he is not really an anti-hero either. He is, at worst, a pragmatist. He might devolve into anti-hero territory in later books.
So, give this book a chance. It is quite a fun read.
Highly recommended.
Oh, and to the author. Kali is an awesome character. Keep it up.
I was a bit hesitant to give this a shot, just because of the way the MC is described. While he is not a knight in shining armor, he is not really an anti-hero either. He is, at worst, a pragmatist. He might devolve into anti-hero territory in later books.
So, give this book a chance. It is quite a fun read.
Highly recommended.
Oh, and to the author. Kali is an awesome character. Keep it up.
May 7, 2025
Potential
I liked the main character. The world that has been setup, the universe really, is quite creative an original. The initial action sequences started to get boring. I think the author is st his best when the story focuses on human inter actions. The human stuff and the values that are important to Cook as shown through his characters are what drive the stories for me. (I've read all from of the Surviving the Dead series.) Given all that I see why Cook did what he did in this initial book. He has created a new universe and had to explain how it worked. If he gets back more to the human interactions and still has the action sequences, it has the potential to be another 5 star series.
I liked the main character. The world that has been setup, the universe really, is quite creative an original. The initial action sequences started to get boring. I think the author is st his best when the story focuses on human inter actions. The human stuff and the values that are important to Cook as shown through his characters are what drive the stories for me. (I've read all from of the Surviving the Dead series.) Given all that I see why Cook did what he did in this initial book. He has created a new universe and had to explain how it worked. If he gets back more to the human interactions and still has the action sequences, it has the potential to be another 5 star series.
October 18, 2025
this was stupid.
Be nice to the ‘mentor’ one of the only people to ever do it so he’s given a level 50 plus boar to fight at the start, but the MC just cheeses it and let’s it fall of the cliff but this somehow counts as a kill? Don’t understand how an author can put this on a page and think ‘yer that sounds plausible’.
Considering it’s extreme in its depiction of the Game-lit genre with automatic wall and base building along with a system shop this aspect pissed me off. You wouldn’t get the kill count or exp in a game if you just happened to watch something fall off a cliff it doesn’t work like that.
Be nice to the ‘mentor’ one of the only people to ever do it so he’s given a level 50 plus boar to fight at the start, but the MC just cheeses it and let’s it fall of the cliff but this somehow counts as a kill? Don’t understand how an author can put this on a page and think ‘yer that sounds plausible’.
Considering it’s extreme in its depiction of the Game-lit genre with automatic wall and base building along with a system shop this aspect pissed me off. You wouldn’t get the kill count or exp in a game if you just happened to watch something fall off a cliff it doesn’t work like that.
May 7, 2025
excellent book, short, fast paced, hits all the RPG boxes.
This book ticks all the RPG boxes. Good character, probably OP, which I love. Good world building, POV centered on the MC. Mr. Cook did not write his character to be a dish rag or a meat shield, yes, the character takes some injuries, but he’s not turned into a dog chew toy. The only issues I have with the book are that won? The book is too short and two it could do with less profanity. Will read the next book when it comes out.
This book ticks all the RPG boxes. Good character, probably OP, which I love. Good world building, POV centered on the MC. Mr. Cook did not write his character to be a dish rag or a meat shield, yes, the character takes some injuries, but he’s not turned into a dog chew toy. The only issues I have with the book are that won? The book is too short and two it could do with less profanity. Will read the next book when it comes out.
August 5, 2025
Awesome!👍! I
I've read most if not all of Cook's books and loved them all. I'd never cared too much for LITRPGS because they seemed... I don't know, soft.Not this one though. Cook's such a good writer that he elevates the ideas and concepts above what you might think. I couldn't put it down. Must have more.
I've read most if not all of Cook's books and loved them all. I'd never cared too much for LITRPGS because they seemed... I don't know, soft.Not this one though. Cook's such a good writer that he elevates the ideas and concepts above what you might think. I couldn't put it down. Must have more.
October 27, 2025
some of the worst tropes gathered here. relentless info dumping, intrusive system with the long ass massage for every single action about 30% of the book is just status and massage screens, mc monologs, with the system with the mentor with the amulet it's just never ending. he kills a level 50 enemy with him being level 2 and just gets 2 levels?! overall really boring and bland.
November 16, 2025
Awesome Read
Just found Mr. Cook as an author; his skill, imagination, and real-world writing style I applaud. Can’t wait for the second book in the Path of Violence; gnawing at the bit in anticipation.
Just found Mr. Cook as an author; his skill, imagination, and real-world writing style I applaud. Can’t wait for the second book in the Path of Violence; gnawing at the bit in anticipation.
June 27, 2025
This caught me by surprise, well done sir.
August 12, 2025
awesome
Great story and character development.
Well written, engaging and just plan good. A little like defiance of the fall mixed in with primal hunter type lpg books
Great story and character development.
Well written, engaging and just plan good. A little like defiance of the fall mixed in with primal hunter type lpg books
October 7, 2025
Great Book
For those that like a steady leveling warrior Litrpg, this is a good one. Great blend of story building and carnage!
For those that like a steady leveling warrior Litrpg, this is a good one. Great blend of story building and carnage!
November 9, 2025
a pleasant surprise. the first half is good but I really enjoyed the last half better. looking forward to it continuation
November 25, 2025
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews