What do you think?
Rate this book
The Apocalypse is a Side Quest #1
The Apocalypse Is a Side Quest: Book One
Sometimes the best way to save the world is to ignore it completely.
Nathan Lee has exactly three overthinking social encounters, avoiding responsibility, and farming in video games. When the apocalypse hits, he accidentally dumps all his rare skill points into… fishing. Just his luck.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the kind of apocalypse he can dodge by hiding in his room. Humanity has been ripped from Earth and dropped into a colossal multidimensional dungeon—a nine-realm gauntlet straight out of a nightmare. Legends armed with [Gigantic Sword of Doom] and [Fireball Barrage] are fighting to carve a path home. Nathan? He’s busy maxing out [Ability to Sit Quietly in a Boat]. He’ll leave the hero stuff to someone who doesn’t get queasy at the sight of blood.
Too bad the universe has other plans.
On his first day in the tutorial, he accidentally deletes a monster from reality thanks to a system bug. Then he feeds a snail radishes and gets a rare skill. Now he's taking down ogres with his fishing rod!? It turns out that side quest rewards and weak classes are more powerful than anyone expected.
So grab your tackle box and buckle your overalls. It's sink or swim in this side-questing calamity!
Nathan Lee has exactly three overthinking social encounters, avoiding responsibility, and farming in video games. When the apocalypse hits, he accidentally dumps all his rare skill points into… fishing. Just his luck.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the kind of apocalypse he can dodge by hiding in his room. Humanity has been ripped from Earth and dropped into a colossal multidimensional dungeon—a nine-realm gauntlet straight out of a nightmare. Legends armed with [Gigantic Sword of Doom] and [Fireball Barrage] are fighting to carve a path home. Nathan? He’s busy maxing out [Ability to Sit Quietly in a Boat]. He’ll leave the hero stuff to someone who doesn’t get queasy at the sight of blood.
Too bad the universe has other plans.
On his first day in the tutorial, he accidentally deletes a monster from reality thanks to a system bug. Then he feeds a snail radishes and gets a rare skill. Now he's taking down ogres with his fishing rod!? It turns out that side quest rewards and weak classes are more powerful than anyone expected.
So grab your tackle box and buckle your overalls. It's sink or swim in this side-questing calamity!
- GenresFantasy
Audible Audio
Published June 17, 2025
271 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 23, 2025
Faster paced than expected
For a book about side questing, and a cozy background gamer, this was surprisingly fast paced and aggressive. The fishing as a fighter reminded me of The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor and the fishing fighter with high constitution and luck. Interested to see where this goes.
For a book about side questing, and a cozy background gamer, this was surprisingly fast paced and aggressive. The fishing as a fighter reminded me of The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor and the fishing fighter with high constitution and luck. Interested to see where this goes.
August 13, 2025
It was okay. I liked it fine.
October 17, 2025
A rare LitRPG that attempts humor and actually achieves it. Several times while reading I chuckled out loud, saying, "Wow, this is so dumb." But, like, in a good way. Sometimes you need a stupid-funny read, y'know?
October 29, 2025
Read a few of the reviews, and yeah they are all right, both the 5 and 1 starts.
A very simple premise, system glitches, mc becomes op, systems gets mad, system goes berserk, yada yada yada.
The one thing I can assure you of, is that the book does the whole reluctant hero trope master fully, the mc remains a constant pushover and a completely incompetent person throughout the books, no aspirations, no goals, and the whole "i just wanna fish" trope is basically a bait and switch by the author,fishing is done like 4 times combined in the 2 books, and everytime it's a sort of plot progression moment, but they feel extremely lackluster and frankly u can replace them in your head with any plot progression trope and it won't make a like of diffrence.
The side characters are very one dimensional, but then again kinda hard to make side characters unique in book, barely enough space for the main character let alone 4 others,which is why I never like to criticize that point, they serve their roles perfectly,except streamer chad, quite a character and very well done one.
The story is super lame, the villains are super boring and extremely generic, and as usual the villian has managed to make a super organisation while the rest of the people are super lame as usual, can't have complexity, other wise how would our reluctant hero get a bunch of lost puppies to care for.
It a very passive book, both in action and plot, and reading wise, i use audiobooks, and listen to them while playing games, would have quit in like 2 hours other wise.
And only read the 2nd one since it was like in some super cheap bundle or something.
A very simple premise, system glitches, mc becomes op, systems gets mad, system goes berserk, yada yada yada.
The one thing I can assure you of, is that the book does the whole reluctant hero trope master fully, the mc remains a constant pushover and a completely incompetent person throughout the books, no aspirations, no goals, and the whole "i just wanna fish" trope is basically a bait and switch by the author,fishing is done like 4 times combined in the 2 books, and everytime it's a sort of plot progression moment, but they feel extremely lackluster and frankly u can replace them in your head with any plot progression trope and it won't make a like of diffrence.
The side characters are very one dimensional, but then again kinda hard to make side characters unique in book, barely enough space for the main character let alone 4 others,which is why I never like to criticize that point, they serve their roles perfectly,except streamer chad, quite a character and very well done one.
The story is super lame, the villains are super boring and extremely generic, and as usual the villian has managed to make a super organisation while the rest of the people are super lame as usual, can't have complexity, other wise how would our reluctant hero get a bunch of lost puppies to care for.
It a very passive book, both in action and plot, and reading wise, i use audiobooks, and listen to them while playing games, would have quit in like 2 hours other wise.
And only read the 2nd one since it was like in some super cheap bundle or something.
October 25, 2025
Bad start but okay finish.
Right off the bat, the main character is a loser. Worse part is, he sort carries the stink with the with the whole book. He gains all these powers but his mentality still stays the same. He feels like he doesn't deserve it; as it almost feels like he has imposter syndrome. He completes these impossible and painful challenges against all odds, yet he still lacks the motivation and pride of his accomplishments. What's worse, the other other characters adjust and accepts better than him. They all think he is a crazy person, yet but deep down they feel the main character's hesitation and reluctance.
The "System" makes the story unpleasant. The system is designed to make sure all the participants either lose or gets enslaved. It's the the extreme version of, "The house always wins". Which makes the story...difficult to enjoy as the MC is either super lucky or is getting carried all the way by a secrete patron. What we expected was David vs Goliath and what we got was a single ant beating an elephant. It made it difficult to enjoy the story. I did enjoy the various different abilities and the unorthodox fishing class. However, even as the MC wins the various challenges thrown by the system and the subversion of a cult...it's wasn't fun watching impossible odds gets jumped over such hurdle.
It was a funny enjoyable story and some of the characters are a riot. It just lacks the minor believeability to truly enjoy it.
Right off the bat, the main character is a loser. Worse part is, he sort carries the stink with the with the whole book. He gains all these powers but his mentality still stays the same. He feels like he doesn't deserve it; as it almost feels like he has imposter syndrome. He completes these impossible and painful challenges against all odds, yet he still lacks the motivation and pride of his accomplishments. What's worse, the other other characters adjust and accepts better than him. They all think he is a crazy person, yet but deep down they feel the main character's hesitation and reluctance.
The "System" makes the story unpleasant. The system is designed to make sure all the participants either lose or gets enslaved. It's the the extreme version of, "The house always wins". Which makes the story...difficult to enjoy as the MC is either super lucky or is getting carried all the way by a secrete patron. What we expected was David vs Goliath and what we got was a single ant beating an elephant. It made it difficult to enjoy the story. I did enjoy the various different abilities and the unorthodox fishing class. However, even as the MC wins the various challenges thrown by the system and the subversion of a cult...it's wasn't fun watching impossible odds gets jumped over such hurdle.
It was a funny enjoyable story and some of the characters are a riot. It just lacks the minor believeability to truly enjoy it.
June 15, 2025
This book is hilarious, Nathan the main character is really clueless, and it is ironic that it is he who seems to be targetted to save the world. He tries to learn during his tutorial stage, however it is through clueless bumbles that he gains his stats. Luck seems to be on his side, and though he never does manage to acquire magical skills he still ends up exiting the tutorial and gaining a soul bound town full of mushroom people, who he vowes to protect and defend. He also ends up gaining a team of unlikely heroes, made up of 2 other humans, an elf and an orc who happen to be longtime enemies, but he somehow seems to be the glue that keeps them together and going. They are searching for the pandora stone, which supposedly could give Nathan his arm back, the arm he had lost whilst doing battle with the gliding eel, a monster of massive size and power. The system was playing games with them, and the group of the harrowed hand seemed to be part of the system, and they were hounding him and his town. Can the group survive the battles thrown at them and can they get to the first circle in order to proceed and advance? They are in a system world with nine circles, but they are still at the beginning of their adventure, and considering how naive Nathan is, it is amazing that he has already gained so many powers, is it just luck or what? Onward to book 2 of this fun LitRPG series.
November 3, 2025
I almost didn't finish the first chapter
A trope that I would like to see disappear entirely, and forever, is the 'pathetic loser' mc. And this book dives headfirst into that trope and makes you say 'why am I supposed to care about anything that happens to this guy?' The guy accidentally panic selects fishing to put his ridiculous number of skill points into, and then panic picks confirm instead of cancel. There isn't even some kind of time crunch forcing him to move quickly.
After that first chapter things improve, but... I feel like I was promised a story where our hero kind of stumbles through the apocalypse doing all of the side quests while the 'real action' is happening somewhere over there. It kind of starts like that (once the apocalypse gets going) but as soon as the tutorial is done, bang! No more 'I'm going to do all this little stuff' story.
There is also the incredibly stereotypical group of misfits. And for some reason a poorly written town building subplot.
For some reason I stuck with it to 71%. I guess I kept hoping that the side quests would start at some point. Foolish me.
Three stars because it wasn't terrible, and the Amazon rating algorithm. For me it was really 2 stars, but maybe someone wants to read a pathetic loser to slightly less pathetic loser story. Tom out
A trope that I would like to see disappear entirely, and forever, is the 'pathetic loser' mc. And this book dives headfirst into that trope and makes you say 'why am I supposed to care about anything that happens to this guy?' The guy accidentally panic selects fishing to put his ridiculous number of skill points into, and then panic picks confirm instead of cancel. There isn't even some kind of time crunch forcing him to move quickly.
After that first chapter things improve, but... I feel like I was promised a story where our hero kind of stumbles through the apocalypse doing all of the side quests while the 'real action' is happening somewhere over there. It kind of starts like that (once the apocalypse gets going) but as soon as the tutorial is done, bang! No more 'I'm going to do all this little stuff' story.
There is also the incredibly stereotypical group of misfits. And for some reason a poorly written town building subplot.
For some reason I stuck with it to 71%. I guess I kept hoping that the side quests would start at some point. Foolish me.
Three stars because it wasn't terrible, and the Amazon rating algorithm. For me it was really 2 stars, but maybe someone wants to read a pathetic loser to slightly less pathetic loser story. Tom out
June 18, 2025
Title: Reading This Series - A New Main Quest
Content Ratings: Language – R; Violence – PG13; Other – PG
Here's yet another new(ish) author knocking it out of the park. In addition to the things you expect from LitRPG/Isekai/Progression, the book is loaded with humor and a kind of silliness that can really shine in LitRPG. From the initial character generation, to the radically different assortment of characters, to the skills, to the obligatory snarky system messages, there are laughs from start to finish. That said, there is still a solid story here. The concept is interesting; the progression is good; the pacing is good; and the writing is good. As a bonus, I didn't notice any grammar/spelling/word-choice errors - something that can be quite distracting. I read a lot, and I don't always make it a priority to read the next book ASAP for every series I start (which frequently means waiting for it to be released), but I'm definitely keeping an eye out for book 2 of this one - it's a main quest, not a side quest.
Content Ratings: Language – R; Violence – PG13; Other – PG
Here's yet another new(ish) author knocking it out of the park. In addition to the things you expect from LitRPG/Isekai/Progression, the book is loaded with humor and a kind of silliness that can really shine in LitRPG. From the initial character generation, to the radically different assortment of characters, to the skills, to the obligatory snarky system messages, there are laughs from start to finish. That said, there is still a solid story here. The concept is interesting; the progression is good; the pacing is good; and the writing is good. As a bonus, I didn't notice any grammar/spelling/word-choice errors - something that can be quite distracting. I read a lot, and I don't always make it a priority to read the next book ASAP for every series I start (which frequently means waiting for it to be released), but I'm definitely keeping an eye out for book 2 of this one - it's a main quest, not a side quest.
August 19, 2025
This author definitely has comedy down. Some of the situations and lines had me cracking up. Overall the story is a mix between a cozy isekai and the standard LITRPG elements. It definitely focuses more on the LITRPG aspect though.
The protagonist is very much completely OP from the beginning because his luck stat is just very high. While there are stakes there really isn't when you look at everything. He is ridiculously strong for what he is and there isn't really anything that can stop him thus the cozy isekai comparison.
The description of this book makes you think he is fishing most of the time but this is a lie. He goes around fighting most of the time and gets a little murdery for some odd reason for a bit. I didn't think the murdery bit was needed but it is there and it goes away decently quickly making it more of a fun read. Overall while there is a lot of fighting the story is mostly very light hearted and silly while still having a serious plot.
The protagonist is very much completely OP from the beginning because his luck stat is just very high. While there are stakes there really isn't when you look at everything. He is ridiculously strong for what he is and there isn't really anything that can stop him thus the cozy isekai comparison.
The description of this book makes you think he is fishing most of the time but this is a lie. He goes around fighting most of the time and gets a little murdery for some odd reason for a bit. I didn't think the murdery bit was needed but it is there and it goes away decently quickly making it more of a fun read. Overall while there is a lot of fighting the story is mostly very light hearted and silly while still having a serious plot.
November 18, 2025
My reviews are my own. If you liked this book, I’m glad you enjoyed it. If not, I respect your opinion. This is merely my opinion, so let's keep it courteous. My review is honest and voluntary.
This book summary is a complete hoax. He barely fishes; it's more like he uses his fishing rod as a weapon. The characters are generic and lackluster. The plot, if any, is all over the place. Then, enter a good-looking elf, and horniness takes over an already dull MC. I don't mind passive stories if they make sense. This one doesn't make sense; it is confused, unsure whether it wants to be an action-adventure or a cozy adventure. I can't believe there is a second book. Not for me!
I believed this would be a mostly solo story in which the MC would complete a side quest and become OP by using fishing, and he would achieve the final goal....it is not.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
This book summary is a complete hoax. He barely fishes; it's more like he uses his fishing rod as a weapon. The characters are generic and lackluster. The plot, if any, is all over the place. Then, enter a good-looking elf, and horniness takes over an already dull MC. I don't mind passive stories if they make sense. This one doesn't make sense; it is confused, unsure whether it wants to be an action-adventure or a cozy adventure. I can't believe there is a second book. Not for me!
I believed this would be a mostly solo story in which the MC would complete a side quest and become OP by using fishing, and he would achieve the final goal....it is not.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
September 11, 2025
The hook (hehehe) of this story is a bit silly: during a system apocalypse, Nathan is given a ton of points and accidentally sinks them all into fishing. How is he supposed to survive, especially when the system, out of anger, sends him to a hell tutorial with nothing but a fishing pole?
Survive he does, and it's amusing how he does it. There are a lot of surprises here, including a much broader story, great variety of characters that are all well drawn, exciting obstacles to be overcome, and a fair mix of humor.
Survive he does, and it's amusing how he does it. There are a lot of surprises here, including a much broader story, great variety of characters that are all well drawn, exciting obstacles to be overcome, and a fair mix of humor.
August 26, 2025
First off, the Apocalypse is NOT a side quest. This is an OPMC story where he is very involved in the main apocalyptic narrative, this is not a slice of life story.
Other than that, this is an otherwise enjoyable OPMC story that is dragged down by the boring and unfun 'town building' (but not) aspect of the story. It dragged it down enough that I will not continue reading the series, despite liking everything else.
Other than that, this is an otherwise enjoyable OPMC story that is dragged down by the boring and unfun 'town building' (but not) aspect of the story. It dragged it down enough that I will not continue reading the series, despite liking everything else.
June 21, 2025
Enjoyable steady reading
As a fellow author, I often "skim read" books to just see how an author writes, plays out a subplot, and plays out the main plot and theme. I actually read more of this book than skimmed it. I greatly enjoyed the fact it kept my attention and made me want to keep reading.
As a fellow author, I often "skim read" books to just see how an author writes, plays out a subplot, and plays out the main plot and theme. I actually read more of this book than skimmed it. I greatly enjoyed the fact it kept my attention and made me want to keep reading.
July 22, 2025
Great book!
I really like the twists and turns in the book! Despite the first few chapters the system isn't giving the snarky quests like some books it's its own entity with its own reasons for why things happen. The MC is op but not in a way that is too fast or explained badly. It's a really good one and I wish the next book was out already!
I really like the twists and turns in the book! Despite the first few chapters the system isn't giving the snarky quests like some books it's its own entity with its own reasons for why things happen. The MC is op but not in a way that is too fast or explained badly. It's a really good one and I wish the next book was out already!
September 25, 2025
Dungeon Crawler Carl with a less-cruel system and a younger classic-decent-guy MC. Plenty of actually-funny jokes and realistic-for-a-fantasy social dynamics. Characters grow over time and the deus ex machina happens early in the plot - the rest follows logically.
I read the first 2 on KU and then felt compelled to catch up on Royal Road, so there you have it.
I read the first 2 on KU and then felt compelled to catch up on Royal Road, so there you have it.
August 25, 2025
A worthy read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and engaging. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and engaging. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
October 1, 2025
absolutely loved this, every twist n turn, every time you think nathan is going to fail or his comrades are going to die it all work out. and the mushroom ppl who can't love those plotting little shits
October 4, 2025
I liked the fishing skill and the relative lightness of the reading experience. Though it feels like it tries too hard to be funny and quirky (or let’s face it—to be DCCarl), I was won over enough to keep going.
October 24, 2025
Loved It
I love these stories where the MC is OP but you don’t mind because it happens in such an entertaining way. Loved following Nathan through his initial adventures and am looking forward to the next entry in the story!
I love these stories where the MC is OP but you don’t mind because it happens in such an entertaining way. Loved following Nathan through his initial adventures and am looking forward to the next entry in the story!
November 4, 2025
has potential but needs to be better
The story development is overly simple. There are grammatical errors in the content, for example, after the protagonist loses an arm, the author refers to hands in the plural. More work should go into editing and developing the literary work.
The story development is overly simple. There are grammatical errors in the content, for example, after the protagonist loses an arm, the author refers to hands in the plural. More work should go into editing and developing the literary work.
July 7, 2025
Hold on Tight!!!
It's a wonderful ride! Do yourself a favor and join Nathan as he traverses The Levels of The Circle you won't regret it!
It's a wonderful ride! Do yourself a favor and join Nathan as he traverses The Levels of The Circle you won't regret it!
July 22, 2025
Really good
This book was a lot of fun. It's pretty funny but avoids devolving into sheer silliness, like so many other books do.
Highly recommended.
This book was a lot of fun. It's pretty funny but avoids devolving into sheer silliness, like so many other books do.
Highly recommended.
August 7, 2025
Too funny!
This book is a riot. I've always wanted to see a Main Character with a massive luck stat. Got my wish! Epilogue needs work.
This book is a riot. I've always wanted to see a Main Character with a massive luck stat. Got my wish! Epilogue needs work.
August 13, 2025
Refreshingly funny
The first half had me cracking up it was so ridiculous. In the second half, I was both impressed and concerned, meaning its a good story.
The first half had me cracking up it was so ridiculous. In the second half, I was both impressed and concerned, meaning its a good story.
September 7, 2025
Good read
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
November 15, 2025
40% and DNF.
What a fucking lying book. There is nothing cozy, there is no side quests. Its just a clone of DDC with fishing and some terrible humor.
What a fucking lying book. There is nothing cozy, there is no side quests. Its just a clone of DDC with fishing and some terrible humor.
October 11, 2025
DNF 50%
The MC gets an unprecidented amount of starting capital for some unknown reason, then accidentally selects "fishing", and becomes the most OP fisherman ever.
Nearly everything becomes a one-hit fight, which gains him more power. When he meets an opponent, he hits them with the fishing pole once, and they die. Then he's rewarded with more power.
I enjoy a good power trip, but this was too unbalanced to enjoy.
The MC gets an unprecidented amount of starting capital for some unknown reason, then accidentally selects "fishing", and becomes the most OP fisherman ever.
Nearly everything becomes a one-hit fight, which gains him more power. When he meets an opponent, he hits them with the fishing pole once, and they die. Then he's rewarded with more power.
I enjoy a good power trip, but this was too unbalanced to enjoy.
September 19, 2025
leave your logic behind if you read this. it's a good book, but the author keeps forgetting he took one of Nathan's arms.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews