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Wayward #1
Wayward: Running: An Isekai LitRPG
A chronically ill teen trades her hospital bed for a world of adventure, intrigue, and magic in the first installment of this imaginative LitRPG series.
For as long as she can remember, Phoenix Fraser has been stuck. Stuck in the wrong body, losing both friends and family, and no future to plan for. So when a mysterious entity known as the Night Witch appears in her room, offering her a new start in a strange land, she can’t believe the opportunity to fulfill her ever-elusive potential.
At first, Phoenix is enraptured by the second chance at life into which she’s been transported. Equipped with a new body that matches her spirit and, with it, discovering exciting new abilities—like respawning—she’s suddenly on the sort of quest she’d only ever read about. But surviving the world of Makera isn’t all fun and MMO-style games . . .
True danger lurks in every namely, uncanny monsters, jealous nobles, and other cruel creatures who would destroy everything Phoenix cares about, including her very soul. Now, she’ll have to rely on her wit and intuition alone to determine who to trust and befriend—before she finds herself at the mercy of mages, mercenaries, rivals, and even gods.
The first volume of the hit LitRPG fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
For as long as she can remember, Phoenix Fraser has been stuck. Stuck in the wrong body, losing both friends and family, and no future to plan for. So when a mysterious entity known as the Night Witch appears in her room, offering her a new start in a strange land, she can’t believe the opportunity to fulfill her ever-elusive potential.
At first, Phoenix is enraptured by the second chance at life into which she’s been transported. Equipped with a new body that matches her spirit and, with it, discovering exciting new abilities—like respawning—she’s suddenly on the sort of quest she’d only ever read about. But surviving the world of Makera isn’t all fun and MMO-style games . . .
True danger lurks in every namely, uncanny monsters, jealous nobles, and other cruel creatures who would destroy everything Phoenix cares about, including her very soul. Now, she’ll have to rely on her wit and intuition alone to determine who to trust and befriend—before she finds herself at the mercy of mages, mercenaries, rivals, and even gods.
The first volume of the hit LitRPG fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
- GenresFantasy
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 9, 2025
Ok definitely need more
I dont know if its just me, but is anyone else trying to figure out if the boys in her party are "together"?
I dont know if its just me, but is anyone else trying to figure out if the boys in her party are "together"?
October 26, 2025
Liked the story but I’ve read it before
It is disconcerting to read what you believe is a unique story and then recognize several details that seem to be taken from a wildly popular series that you’ve read before. I feel like the author could use the notes at the beginning to let us know that this is basically HWFWM rewritten with a female MC. I’m not sure I can continue with the series since all of the world building elements of the story keep making me believe I’m on Pallimustus where everything is just a little off.
It is disconcerting to read what you believe is a unique story and then recognize several details that seem to be taken from a wildly popular series that you’ve read before. I feel like the author could use the notes at the beginning to let us know that this is basically HWFWM rewritten with a female MC. I’m not sure I can continue with the series since all of the world building elements of the story keep making me believe I’m on Pallimustus where everything is just a little off.
May 16, 2026
I'm giving it 3 stars, because i did get through it, but I'm not sure it deserves it. This book reads like it may have actually been fan fiction for He Who Fights With Monsters, before the author presumably went back and changed key details. The characters are different (definitely more YA-ish and not nearly as entertaining or interesting), but the magic system, game mechanics, world building, and even various scenarios seem to be ripped straight from Shirtaloon’s HWFWM series.
Sure, other litrpgs have game mechanics and cultivation etc, but this story is far more than just “inspired” by HWFWM….either that, or the author was somehow inspired by the very same books and games as Shirtaloon, and somehow ended up with the exact same (incredibly distinct) world building and magic system - just with different names for things... The author is lucky that Shirtaloon isn't a greedy AH, cause he could probably sue for plagiarism.
That said, I guess if you didn’t read HWFWM or only got through the first book, you might not care. Maybe you will even find this decent (the writing isn’t terrible and it IS trying to imitate one of the most popular series in this genre). While the MC technically begins as a trans female, she reincarnates as a female, so with that issue conveniently solved, it basically just becomes a very straight forward YA litrpg with a female MC who becomes a “chosen one” and develops overpowered magic.
If you aren’t familiar with HWFWM, you won’t notice all the glaring similarities. All the gods in this book, for instance, are from it - the author didn’t even bother to change their names or the way they work (even the whole scandal with the god of Purity betraying its followers happened in this world). You won’t notice that the way the magic is set up and works is also from HWFWM, just with different names slapped on it. This world also has "monster surges,” and just as in HWFWM, they are due for a really big one, only the monster surges are called something else here.
The lengthy recitations of all the characters spells and abilities during fight scenes? Also ripped straight from HWFWM (and out of all the things to rip off why this one?! Even Shirtaloon eventually realized how obnoxious it was!). What’s worse is this doesn’t even make sense! The MC does NOT have a “system” and neither do any of her team members (only a “communication” skill). She has a “guidebook” that appears before her, and the only way she can get info out of it is to PHYSICALLY READ its pages (something she cannot do during a fight), therefore the reader shouldn’t be subjected to the deluge of HWFWM style system windows giving exhaustive info on everyone’s abilities. But I digress. The author often seems to forget this isn’t HWFWM.
Anyways, while i didn’t think i’d care so much, I definitely found the constant imitation of HWFWM very distracting (FFS, one of Phoenix’s team members even suggests that they name their team “team cookie” at one point!). There are just so many similarities and they are so glaring that you can’t help but compare the two stories, and sadly, this one simply can’t compete on the same level (which isn’t surprising considering Shirtaloon is one of the best writers in this genre). I consider this the author’s fault for not being able to create a more original story and world. If the characters and their struggles were more interesting, maybe i wouldn’t care as much, but they aren’t. It sucks, cause I'm always looking for more female MCs in this genre.
I did make it to bk 2, but I found the MC’s rapid development of crippling self esteem and anxiety issues tedious. The story starts to stall and the author starts to rely too much on the characters becoming blatantly stupid for the plots to work.
My advice to the author is to try writing a new story but drop the litrpg elements and maybe just stick with progression. Maybe without the game mechanics they will be able to quit imitating Shirtaloon and come up with a more original world and story?
Sure, other litrpgs have game mechanics and cultivation etc, but this story is far more than just “inspired” by HWFWM….either that, or the author was somehow inspired by the very same books and games as Shirtaloon, and somehow ended up with the exact same (incredibly distinct) world building and magic system - just with different names for things... The author is lucky that Shirtaloon isn't a greedy AH, cause he could probably sue for plagiarism.
That said, I guess if you didn’t read HWFWM or only got through the first book, you might not care. Maybe you will even find this decent (the writing isn’t terrible and it IS trying to imitate one of the most popular series in this genre). While the MC technically begins as a trans female, she reincarnates as a female, so with that issue conveniently solved, it basically just becomes a very straight forward YA litrpg with a female MC who becomes a “chosen one” and develops overpowered magic.
If you aren’t familiar with HWFWM, you won’t notice all the glaring similarities. All the gods in this book, for instance, are from it - the author didn’t even bother to change their names or the way they work (even the whole scandal with the god of Purity betraying its followers happened in this world). You won’t notice that the way the magic is set up and works is also from HWFWM, just with different names slapped on it. This world also has "monster surges,” and just as in HWFWM, they are due for a really big one, only the monster surges are called something else here.
The lengthy recitations of all the characters spells and abilities during fight scenes? Also ripped straight from HWFWM (and out of all the things to rip off why this one?! Even Shirtaloon eventually realized how obnoxious it was!). What’s worse is this doesn’t even make sense! The MC does NOT have a “system” and neither do any of her team members (only a “communication” skill). She has a “guidebook” that appears before her, and the only way she can get info out of it is to PHYSICALLY READ its pages (something she cannot do during a fight), therefore the reader shouldn’t be subjected to the deluge of HWFWM style system windows giving exhaustive info on everyone’s abilities. But I digress. The author often seems to forget this isn’t HWFWM.
Anyways, while i didn’t think i’d care so much, I definitely found the constant imitation of HWFWM very distracting (FFS, one of Phoenix’s team members even suggests that they name their team “team cookie” at one point!). There are just so many similarities and they are so glaring that you can’t help but compare the two stories, and sadly, this one simply can’t compete on the same level (which isn’t surprising considering Shirtaloon is one of the best writers in this genre). I consider this the author’s fault for not being able to create a more original story and world. If the characters and their struggles were more interesting, maybe i wouldn’t care as much, but they aren’t. It sucks, cause I'm always looking for more female MCs in this genre.
I did make it to bk 2, but I found the MC’s rapid development of crippling self esteem and anxiety issues tedious. The story starts to stall and the author starts to rely too much on the characters becoming blatantly stupid for the plots to work.
My advice to the author is to try writing a new story but drop the litrpg elements and maybe just stick with progression. Maybe without the game mechanics they will be able to quit imitating Shirtaloon and come up with a more original world and story?
August 25, 2025
Inspired by others but unique in it's own way
So one note most reviewers have is that this series shares a similar magic system to 'He who Fights with Monsters' and some other similarities. Personally that doesn't bother me as most genres share such things. Lots of LITRPGs use a System with 'classes' and 'stat points' yet no one complains of those. Then there is cultivation books that all have Body refinement, Chi condensing. Core formation. Nascent soul, and other levels of progression or some variations. All it means is that the magic system variation from the original series is becoming popular enough to inspire variations.
The story itself is rather fun and unique enough to engage. To be clear this is a story of a 'girl' born in the body of a boy and feels they are a girl being sent to a magical world where they are re-made into a female form. Honestly besides backstory and perhaps some emotional trauma of how people treated them before it doesn't really affect the story.
There might be a gay couple? No sure as they wobble back and forth if they are or aren't and the MC's sexuality also isn't really touch on in this book.
That aside, it's one of those basic weak to growing stronger progression novels with trials and tribulations abound. Growing into confidence and risk and danger. Unique powers enough and growing to use them.
All good for reading and a fun adventure.
Personally the only thing I disliked was the MC's personality at times but it was more intentional part of growth and backstory than being unlikable. She is just overly simpleton trusting. Even when she knows she should keep things secret, she just blabs the moment someone asks. This is more a intentional self confidence issues that lead her to want to please people it seems and not have conflict than what seems like a natural true trait. More something it seems like the author might have her grow out of, hopefully.
The second issues is the Gods. In this world she is 18 which isn't an adult. An adult is 30. So these gods want her to do all this dangerous and mental trauma inducing hardships but she's still a child. She basically just doesn't question them and bows to their wills unlike other series where it's all about defying petty deities.
I couldn't stand it because as said in another series 'Mark of the Fool' Any god who would send children to war is not a god worth respect. That all this pantheon are using a child to get their way out of all the people in the world, grown adults, it just pathetic.
I couldn't stand how she just bowed to their wills and didn't stand up for herself. Honestly hoped she'd tell them all to screw off and she'd do it her own way. Sadly didn't happen.
Beyond the disappointment of her becoming a puppet for gods and having crushing self confidence issues that make her a bit of a rug to be walked over. I'll still read the next book as it was good start and hope she'll grow into a self confident and powerful adventurer who will learn protecting those around her also means some times removing the trash people from the world who pose a risk to the rest.
So one note most reviewers have is that this series shares a similar magic system to 'He who Fights with Monsters' and some other similarities. Personally that doesn't bother me as most genres share such things. Lots of LITRPGs use a System with 'classes' and 'stat points' yet no one complains of those. Then there is cultivation books that all have Body refinement, Chi condensing. Core formation. Nascent soul, and other levels of progression or some variations. All it means is that the magic system variation from the original series is becoming popular enough to inspire variations.
The story itself is rather fun and unique enough to engage. To be clear this is a story of a 'girl' born in the body of a boy and feels they are a girl being sent to a magical world where they are re-made into a female form. Honestly besides backstory and perhaps some emotional trauma of how people treated them before it doesn't really affect the story.
There might be a gay couple? No sure as they wobble back and forth if they are or aren't and the MC's sexuality also isn't really touch on in this book.
That aside, it's one of those basic weak to growing stronger progression novels with trials and tribulations abound. Growing into confidence and risk and danger. Unique powers enough and growing to use them.
All good for reading and a fun adventure.
Personally the only thing I disliked was the MC's personality at times but it was more intentional part of growth and backstory than being unlikable. She is just overly simpleton trusting. Even when she knows she should keep things secret, she just blabs the moment someone asks. This is more a intentional self confidence issues that lead her to want to please people it seems and not have conflict than what seems like a natural true trait. More something it seems like the author might have her grow out of, hopefully.
The second issues is the Gods. In this world she is 18 which isn't an adult. An adult is 30. So these gods want her to do all this dangerous and mental trauma inducing hardships but she's still a child. She basically just doesn't question them and bows to their wills unlike other series where it's all about defying petty deities.
I couldn't stand it because as said in another series 'Mark of the Fool' Any god who would send children to war is not a god worth respect. That all this pantheon are using a child to get their way out of all the people in the world, grown adults, it just pathetic.
I couldn't stand how she just bowed to their wills and didn't stand up for herself. Honestly hoped she'd tell them all to screw off and she'd do it her own way. Sadly didn't happen.
Beyond the disappointment of her becoming a puppet for gods and having crushing self confidence issues that make her a bit of a rug to be walked over. I'll still read the next book as it was good start and hope she'll grow into a self confident and powerful adventurer who will learn protecting those around her also means some times removing the trash people from the world who pose a risk to the rest.
November 11, 2025
This book was so fun! I really enjoyed it. Ive been reading it while laying in bed, sick, and it really helped brighten my mood.
I haven’t read many books with this magic system - im usually a fantasy romance gal and a lot of those magic systems aren’t well fleshed out. I really enjoyed how different this one was, it’s very DnD like. Such a fun world, such wonderful characters, and it left me wanting more. I am sad i have to wait for the second one but it comes out in about 2 weeks so at least it’s not a long wait.
If you want a good mix of cozy, adventure, creative monsters, and heartwarming characters that make up a truly delightful read, i recommend giving this book a chance. I really loved it.
I haven’t read many books with this magic system - im usually a fantasy romance gal and a lot of those magic systems aren’t well fleshed out. I really enjoyed how different this one was, it’s very DnD like. Such a fun world, such wonderful characters, and it left me wanting more. I am sad i have to wait for the second one but it comes out in about 2 weeks so at least it’s not a long wait.
If you want a good mix of cozy, adventure, creative monsters, and heartwarming characters that make up a truly delightful read, i recommend giving this book a chance. I really loved it.
December 12, 2025
I have not made it 10 pages in and I am getting a lecture in social justice and misgendering.
At this point in a story the reader have not had time to get to know or like the character yet. Not saying we dislike them. We just don’t know them, and as a result we don’t care if they live or die at this point in the book.
I stopped reading at this point I will not be reading anything else written by this author, since apparently they're more interested in conveying their social views than telling an interesting story.
At this point in a story the reader have not had time to get to know or like the character yet. Not saying we dislike them. We just don’t know them, and as a result we don’t care if they live or die at this point in the book.
I stopped reading at this point I will not be reading anything else written by this author, since apparently they're more interested in conveying their social views than telling an interesting story.
January 7, 2026
Very fun. I dislike cultivator books but it's not much of a focus that it's a non-issue, and it's not "wuxia-styled". Phoenix is an interesting character with enough depth to feel like a person. The world is neat too. The author baked in a ton of runway at the outset so I expect this series will carry on for a hot minute and I'm looking forward to it.
Did Not Finish
March 30, 2026Didn't make it very far - feels too much like HWFWM with far more System windows early on, to the point the story wasn't going anywhere. I enjoy the MC being trans, I hope we see more of that in the genre.
Read
October 16, 2025DNF 44% I did not like the main character….seems really weak to be the chosen one, story is moving too slow for me.
didn-t-like-it
April 22, 2026Note to self: not for me.
April 28, 2026
3.5 Stars
April 10, 2026
ok im going to try this again still not a fan of the mental health issues and how the author chose to focus on this why boys want to be girls or the other way around is crazy work but hopefully after he gets what he wants he will shut up about it and get on with the story omg im dying laughing this dude is duh-loo-lu the feeling of limitless potential because he has a vag now wth 🤦♀️ really i hope he gets all the joys of woman hood because most of the time it sucks lol why any man would want that boggles my mind
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews