World Affinity

World Affinity The Radiant Traveler Series #1

by R.A. Schmitt

He never asked for the System. Now it won’t let him go.

Callum just wanted a quiet life. Instead, he wakes in a broken world bound by strange laws of mana, Affinities, and leveling systems no one fully understands. For the nomadic clans, it’s survival. For Callum, it’s the beginning of a journey that will change everything.

Armed with stubborn humor, unlikely friends, and a knack for crafting magic items the System itself didn’t see coming, Callum is about to learn that even the smallest spark can light a fire across the world.

Expect:

– Crafting magic, enchanted gear, and system tinkering
– Void, Time, and Space affinities (and the mysteries they hide)
– Character-driven story with heart and battles
– Found-family dynamics and friendship camaraderie
– Progression fantasy and LitRPG with stat-driven growth
– A massive, living world shaped by clans, tribes, and ancient systems
– Duels, beasts, taverns, and combat training

Don’t Expect:

– Overpowered MC from page one (progression matters here)
– Harem romance
– A simple “chosen one” prophecy story

485 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2025

About the author

R. A. Schmitt is a part time vampire hunter, part time school bus driver. And in his off time a writer. He’s hunted werewolves, printed magical newspapers, explored ancient ruins in search of lost languages, and is still on the eternal quest for the perfect sandwich recipe. When he’s not writing fantasy or LitRPG adventures, you can find him reading, smoking a pipe, or tinkering with new worlds at

www.worldaffinitybooks.com

Reviews

[Mary Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels epic in scale but safe and warm even while it was clearly building toward something big. The magic and crafting are lovely, but what surprised me was how much I cared about the people. Olivia especially. Her healer strength was fun and mama bear powered instinct was fun and funny. The twist with her magic power, of course no spoilers. But the big reveal I was a huge fan of too. Plus the way she supports Callum without overshadowing him made her feel like an emotional anchor. Her care for Auggie and his family was a plus. Especially during the duel.

This series has a softness I didn't expect from this type of series starter. The scenes by the fire, the food, the steady kindness from the nomadic families, the way they fold Callum in like he already belonged. It scratched the same itch as cozy/slice of life stories but with real teeth. You feel the danger and the mystery, but it never loses its warmth.

By the time I reached the final chapters of Book One, I already knew I would be continuing straight into the second one. I loved the Wondering inn. And definitely this one too. It gave me feels of Yerin and Lindon from Cradle. Very fun.

[Sarah Corona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with World Affinity, but here I am, counting the days until Book Two.

This isn’t your typical LitRPG. Yes, there are stats, classes, crafting systems, and a dungeon or two, but what really sets this book apart is the heart. The voice of the main character, Callum, is funny, vulnerable, and just the right kind of sarcastic. He’s not an overpowered jerk. He’s someone you root for. And the supporting cast? Fantastic. Auggie made me laugh out loud more than once, Kalvin’s arc took me by surprise, and Olivia… Olivia is one of the best written female leads I’ve seen in the genre in a long time. The world-building is also top-tier. There are nomadic clans with their own laws, magical systems tied to emotion and memory, and even a mysterious system entity watching over everything. The food descriptions, culture, and crafting mechanics make the setting feel alive in a way that reminded me of early Cradle or Wandering Inn, but with its own distinct voice. There’s a moment near the end, no spoilers, that genuinely hit me in the gut. This author understands how to balance humor with stakes, and power growth with emotional growth. Callum doesn't just level up, he evolves as a person. Highly recommended for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Cradle, He Who Fights With Monsters, or anyone who wants to feel something while watching the stats go up.

[Jan Gable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyline

I’m giving this book a five star because it is a really good entertaining story and I really enjoyed it. I would though encourage the author to be careful about statements like the one where they are going to keep the storage devices a secret within the tribe because otherwise it could lead to Danger for the main character. And then the most loose lips in the group is the main character and his adoptive brother. I would recommend that when a profound statement comes up in the book you jot it down on a sticky note and put it on your computer so that as you write, you will stay true to that statement. Otherwise, why included it in the storyline.

[kwhgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it

The story is more of a slice of life tale with some good action sprinkled in. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The plot/story line is interesting and can be engaging but can get a little slow once in a while. For the most part it is well written, however there are some grammatical and editing issues. The transition between scenes can be a little bit jarring and sometimes the wrong name is used which pull you out of the story. looking forward to the next book.

[Jim Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

Turned out to be more interesting than I thought. Took me 12 pages to get hooked and then I had to know more.

I dropped a star because of the time frame. It feels rushed as far as accomplishments vs. Time. He gets too good too quick. Though it does make it fun. Epilogue was ok but not great.