What do you think?
Rate this book
The Path of Ascension #11
The Path of Ascension 11
A century into the war, the Ascenders aren't the only ones who are tired. Fighting three against two the Empire, even with all of its advantages, can only fight to a slow and bloody retreat as more of its border worlds are occupied.
As Ascenders Matt, Liz, and Aster are working overtime to stem the tide, but even with their Ascender peers' Light and Shadow, they are barely keeping up.
As their enemies finally make their own decisive move, that may no longer be the case.
Don't miss Book 11 of this action-packed fantasy adventure that blends everything you love about LitRPG with Xianxia.
About the This is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It's like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.
As Ascenders Matt, Liz, and Aster are working overtime to stem the tide, but even with their Ascender peers' Light and Shadow, they are barely keeping up.
As their enemies finally make their own decisive move, that may no longer be the case.
Don't miss Book 11 of this action-packed fantasy adventure that blends everything you love about LitRPG with Xianxia.
About the This is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It's like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.
- GenresFantasyEpic FantasyMagic
656 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2026
519 people are currently reading
282 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 8, 2026
I love Matt, Liz, and Aster
There was too little of them because this book focused on the war, and the Realm around them. Very important, sure! But I came for Aster. :)
And ice cream.
There was too little of them because this book focused on the war, and the Realm around them. Very important, sure! But I came for Aster. :)
And ice cream.
March 5, 2026
end of the fun
The series has more books to it, but this is the end of the war. So the next books are…less fraught. I still enjoyed the chapters, but there is a definite dearth of fighting ahead.
That said, this one made you feel some feels. While Matt, Aster, and Liz are the MCs (and therefore functionally unkillable), not everyone survives. War is brutal, and this is the first time we really see death as a possibility.
Some awesome power-ups, we finally get to meet all living Ascenders, and all of the T50s get some solid screen time.
I preordered the next book.
The series has more books to it, but this is the end of the war. So the next books are…less fraught. I still enjoyed the chapters, but there is a definite dearth of fighting ahead.
That said, this one made you feel some feels. While Matt, Aster, and Liz are the MCs (and therefore functionally unkillable), not everyone survives. War is brutal, and this is the first time we really see death as a possibility.
Some awesome power-ups, we finally get to meet all living Ascenders, and all of the T50s get some solid screen time.
I preordered the next book.
March 8, 2026
Very Satisfying!
At this point you know if you like the series. This book has multiple climaxes and answers many questions. Matt , Liz and Aster are all grown up and in the military. It is a very good read.
At this point you know if you like the series. This book has multiple climaxes and answers many questions. Matt , Liz and Aster are all grown up and in the military. It is a very good read.
March 8, 2026
As always amazing
Fantastic series in general and this book delivers well in the lineup! Will continue to enjoy the path as long as the keep coming.
Fantastic series in general and this book delivers well in the lineup! Will continue to enjoy the path as long as the keep coming.
March 7, 2026
GREAT SERIES AND BOOK
This series is great. And this book was incredible. So much fighting, but it’s interesting, never the same twice, and so much fun to read. Can’t wait for the next book, and I hope the series never ends!
This series is great. And this book was incredible. So much fighting, but it’s interesting, never the same twice, and so much fun to read. Can’t wait for the next book, and I hope the series never ends!
March 16, 2026
A sad example of how early decisions in a series can undermine it down the line.
This book took me well over a week to plod my way through. It’s sad because I thoroughly enjoyed the early books in this series and once had this as a top three series in the genre. But early decisions by the author with regard to the magic system and world building have resulted in a burden at this point in the series. A burden so heavy that it drags everything down. The combat, the relationships, the progression, all so boring.
I won’t go into specifics from this book. Those who have been following the unfortunate trend since the end of the dungeon world arc know exactly what I’m talking about.
This series should stand as a cautionary tale to any would-be authors in this genre that you must plan and think through the consequences of your world building and your magic system. The more skills, levels, titles, achievements, evolutions, cores, danteans, aspects (like this series with its intent and whatnot), etc, that you have must be maintained throughout the series. The more you have, the greater weight that is on an author to keep up with. This isn’t just a stat sheet as long as a chapter (Welcome to the Multiverse or Primal Hunter), this series doesn’t even do stat sheets because it would be many times longer than those. Hundreds of skills these characters have. There’s no limitations.
This series has no limits on the number of skills, no limits on the talents (can literally be literally any kind of ridiculous McGuffin). And what are the consequences of this? The author can literally do anything and it feels like that in the story. Cheap and lazy. I know it’s not laziness, this series is a lot of work for the author. But that’s how it feels to your readers (at least this one) when you’ve boxed yourself in to a system with no limits. Nothing matters.
Good guys winning is a given. So there must be other aspects of a series to create tension and stakes. The best ways to do this is a combination of plot, magic system, world building, characters and combat. But all this series can do with those established elements is the same thing over and over, just more power. The author has no ability to deliver stakes in the framework of this story in any engaging way other than to kill characters. And he only kills peripheral ones no one cares about. Though this is better than the last 3-4 books at least.
I could go on and on with all the fundamental problems with the world building as well. On the surface, I like the set up with the great powers and even the tiered levels of warfare all to facilitate the resources needed to ascend for those at the top. I just don’t understand the timeframes of these immortal lives. More time passed between the end of the last book and the beginning of this one, than almost the entire series before. It’s just a weird writing choice, and one that breaks immersion and makes it hard to relate to these characters anymore.
I think this series would have been much better served to have avoided these major conflicts and instead focused on the characters and them living their lives in an episodic nature instead of multiple fillers where nothing happens and now multiple war arc where the same thing happens over and over plus a massive amount of stat sheet maintenance (maintaining that burden of all these magic system abilities). Telling stories that move laterally, instead of just escalating the power.
When you make poor world building choices, you limit the kind of stories you can tell the line. Meaning the only thing is more power and more stakes, repeating itself like Dragonball Z. But DBZ is fun because we don’t spend a large chunk of the series wallowing in our character’s feelings.
When you make bad magic system choices, you end up spending half of your series maintaining it just to keep up. Which is boring to read. Yes, there is a market in this genre for super detailed series, but it’s not a big one. Authors in other open-ended series are seeing a significant decline in readership from book to book. This is a burgeoning genre, but it’s clear this is a failing strategy.
I will not be reading this series any further. I simply do not care for anything about it. We don’t even get to see Matt use his talent in any meaningful way (like leveling rifts or planets). They aren’t even leveling at all! This series is now totally devoid of any real stakes, any relatability, any progression, anything interesting at all, and it is frankly BORING.
This book took me well over a week to plod my way through. It’s sad because I thoroughly enjoyed the early books in this series and once had this as a top three series in the genre. But early decisions by the author with regard to the magic system and world building have resulted in a burden at this point in the series. A burden so heavy that it drags everything down. The combat, the relationships, the progression, all so boring.
I won’t go into specifics from this book. Those who have been following the unfortunate trend since the end of the dungeon world arc know exactly what I’m talking about.
This series should stand as a cautionary tale to any would-be authors in this genre that you must plan and think through the consequences of your world building and your magic system. The more skills, levels, titles, achievements, evolutions, cores, danteans, aspects (like this series with its intent and whatnot), etc, that you have must be maintained throughout the series. The more you have, the greater weight that is on an author to keep up with. This isn’t just a stat sheet as long as a chapter (Welcome to the Multiverse or Primal Hunter), this series doesn’t even do stat sheets because it would be many times longer than those. Hundreds of skills these characters have. There’s no limitations.
This series has no limits on the number of skills, no limits on the talents (can literally be literally any kind of ridiculous McGuffin). And what are the consequences of this? The author can literally do anything and it feels like that in the story. Cheap and lazy. I know it’s not laziness, this series is a lot of work for the author. But that’s how it feels to your readers (at least this one) when you’ve boxed yourself in to a system with no limits. Nothing matters.
Good guys winning is a given. So there must be other aspects of a series to create tension and stakes. The best ways to do this is a combination of plot, magic system, world building, characters and combat. But all this series can do with those established elements is the same thing over and over, just more power. The author has no ability to deliver stakes in the framework of this story in any engaging way other than to kill characters. And he only kills peripheral ones no one cares about. Though this is better than the last 3-4 books at least.
I could go on and on with all the fundamental problems with the world building as well. On the surface, I like the set up with the great powers and even the tiered levels of warfare all to facilitate the resources needed to ascend for those at the top. I just don’t understand the timeframes of these immortal lives. More time passed between the end of the last book and the beginning of this one, than almost the entire series before. It’s just a weird writing choice, and one that breaks immersion and makes it hard to relate to these characters anymore.
I think this series would have been much better served to have avoided these major conflicts and instead focused on the characters and them living their lives in an episodic nature instead of multiple fillers where nothing happens and now multiple war arc where the same thing happens over and over plus a massive amount of stat sheet maintenance (maintaining that burden of all these magic system abilities). Telling stories that move laterally, instead of just escalating the power.
When you make poor world building choices, you limit the kind of stories you can tell the line. Meaning the only thing is more power and more stakes, repeating itself like Dragonball Z. But DBZ is fun because we don’t spend a large chunk of the series wallowing in our character’s feelings.
When you make bad magic system choices, you end up spending half of your series maintaining it just to keep up. Which is boring to read. Yes, there is a market in this genre for super detailed series, but it’s not a big one. Authors in other open-ended series are seeing a significant decline in readership from book to book. This is a burgeoning genre, but it’s clear this is a failing strategy.
I will not be reading this series any further. I simply do not care for anything about it. We don’t even get to see Matt use his talent in any meaningful way (like leveling rifts or planets). They aren’t even leveling at all! This series is now totally devoid of any real stakes, any relatability, any progression, anything interesting at all, and it is frankly BORING.
March 13, 2026
The Path of Ascension Continues
This is a book full of battles, the main characters Matt, Liz and Aster ascended through the path to its finish in previous books so now it’s all about war.
The main group of ascenders continue to grow through conflict while remaining likeable and part of an expanding cast of characters.
Interestingly the empire and other world building sidelines are incorporated well and add to the potential of the next book in the series.
This is a book full of battles, the main characters Matt, Liz and Aster ascended through the path to its finish in previous books so now it’s all about war.
The main group of ascenders continue to grow through conflict while remaining likeable and part of an expanding cast of characters.
Interestingly the empire and other world building sidelines are incorporated well and add to the potential of the next book in the series.
March 9, 2026
Awesome as always and the action kept moving.
I love this series they started so easy going as the characters were kids. But now they're adults and the stakes just keep getting higher and higher. The characters have strong abilities but they aren't so overpowered that you don't feel like there isn't any risk. If you like litrpg read these.
I love this series they started so easy going as the characters were kids. But now they're adults and the stakes just keep getting higher and higher. The characters have strong abilities but they aren't so overpowered that you don't feel like there isn't any risk. If you like litrpg read these.
March 10, 2026
Great Read
Enjoyed the book as always. The story progresses and stays entertaining. The character development is entertaining, with a good flow to the story. Highly recommended read!
Enjoyed the book as always. The story progresses and stays entertaining. The character development is entertaining, with a good flow to the story. Highly recommended read!
March 9, 2026
good book
I really enjoyed how the war turned out. I am looking forward to a a more calmer pace for the main characters. I’m looking forward to math experiments on riffs as well as anything else that occur occurs because of his organization.
I really enjoyed how the war turned out. I am looking forward to a a more calmer pace for the main characters. I’m looking forward to math experiments on riffs as well as anything else that occur occurs because of his organization.
March 10, 2026
end if arc
A major arc that was part of the last few books is over and there is a bunch of stuff coming. I assume the next will set up this transition.
A major arc that was part of the last few books is over and there is a bunch of stuff coming. I assume the next will set up this transition.
March 8, 2026
Awesome Stuff
In this book, the war continues and ends. Now can our guy grow enough before his secret of unlimited mana production is known.
In this book, the war continues and ends. Now can our guy grow enough before his secret of unlimited mana production is known.
March 6, 2026
Fanfreakingtastic!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
March 6, 2026
We need moreeeeee
Loved it and need more. Simple as that.
Pace is great and the vibes are wonderful.
Its definitely a must read exp
Loved it and need more. Simple as that.
Pace is great and the vibes are wonderful.
Its definitely a must read exp
March 18, 2026
Kind of boring and the ending seemed pointless.
Unfortunately for me this book felt like I was binge watching all of the John Wick movies. The battles became almost redundant. I know this book is about the war, but I think my brain adapted to all of the violence of the fight scenes to the point the all sort of blended together.
It might actually have been better to read only a couple of chapters and then read a different story and then come back to read a few more.
By the end of the book, there were so many characters that were just THERE that I didn't recognize names as they weren't important enough to have their own mini plots or personalities. And thusly I zoned out and stopped caring. Inversely the author randomly concentrated on a couple of mini plots or personalities of the 'bad guys' that went nowhere for the entire book that it either is a set up into the next book or, he completely forgot he did that and it was truly pointless.
During some of the pivotal fights, it almost felt like AI was writing it as there was so much extraneous information that didn't help push the plot along. And there were moments where during the fighting, the author used anime technique where we suddenly got a flashback into a character's background. I still feel like this doesn't work well outside of animation; my attention was yanked away from a fight to learn about a character we have already interacted with for a number of books. Plus, I really only cared about the main characters.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the book. Have fun!
Unfortunately for me this book felt like I was binge watching all of the John Wick movies. The battles became almost redundant. I know this book is about the war, but I think my brain adapted to all of the violence of the fight scenes to the point the all sort of blended together.
It might actually have been better to read only a couple of chapters and then read a different story and then come back to read a few more.
By the end of the book, there were so many characters that were just THERE that I didn't recognize names as they weren't important enough to have their own mini plots or personalities. And thusly I zoned out and stopped caring. Inversely the author randomly concentrated on a couple of mini plots or personalities of the 'bad guys' that went nowhere for the entire book that it either is a set up into the next book or, he completely forgot he did that and it was truly pointless.
During some of the pivotal fights, it almost felt like AI was writing it as there was so much extraneous information that didn't help push the plot along. And there were moments where during the fighting, the author used anime technique where we suddenly got a flashback into a character's background. I still feel like this doesn't work well outside of animation; my attention was yanked away from a fight to learn about a character we have already interacted with for a number of books. Plus, I really only cared about the main characters.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the book. Have fun!
March 10, 2026
I read the published edition, after reading the Royal Road and Patreon ARC copies.
The published edition is better. There seem to be whole chapters of detail and explanation that were missing in the ARC. Overall, the whole book is clearer and easier to understand.
For those who haven't read the series, or aren't this far, Matt, and his friends, his wife Liz, and his Beast bond, Aster, the snow fox are in a war. The Empire against the Republic, the Sects, and the Federation. These are universe spanning realms.
Why are they are war? The Empire is growing too fast. They have five Ascenders (top level fighters who are close to unkillable and undefeatable.) in two hundred years. Each Ascender can defeat armies by themselves.
So it's three to one, or really, one and a half. The Guild is supporting the Empire, but not attacking.
The Empire's trying to fight a slow retreat to lose as little as possible in a managed loss. The "war" is like a giant game where the armies fight, but the civilians are ignored, to be spoils of war.
Impossible odds? One against three? Five Ascenders against a whole giant ship of them? This is just the kind of challenge Ascenders live for.
I recommend this book and series for people who love epic, immersive, progressive fantasy.
The published edition is better. There seem to be whole chapters of detail and explanation that were missing in the ARC. Overall, the whole book is clearer and easier to understand.
For those who haven't read the series, or aren't this far, Matt, and his friends, his wife Liz, and his Beast bond, Aster, the snow fox are in a war. The Empire against the Republic, the Sects, and the Federation. These are universe spanning realms.
Why are they are war? The Empire is growing too fast. They have five Ascenders (top level fighters who are close to unkillable and undefeatable.) in two hundred years. Each Ascender can defeat armies by themselves.
So it's three to one, or really, one and a half. The Guild is supporting the Empire, but not attacking.
The Empire's trying to fight a slow retreat to lose as little as possible in a managed loss. The "war" is like a giant game where the armies fight, but the civilians are ignored, to be spoils of war.
Impossible odds? One against three? Five Ascenders against a whole giant ship of them? This is just the kind of challenge Ascenders live for.
I recommend this book and series for people who love epic, immersive, progressive fantasy.
March 19, 2026
Very easy 5-stars, once again. I love this series and am all caught up on RoyalRoad for maybe the next 4-5 books, but I am still not gonna ignore the books when they are released. One, because I love this, and also to help Mr. Mantis. This book concludes the war arc, and now in the next book, we will see Matt, Liz, and Aster growing in their capacity as duke and duchess. Yup, all good and now I will wait for the next book releasing in Aug and by then probably I will be all caught up on RoyalRoad. Ok then let's go and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me why I read. Simply put, I love reading, so I have made it my motto to Forever Keep on Reading. I love reading everything except for self-help books, even occasionally. I read almost all the genres, but YA, Fantasy, and Biographies are the most read. My favorite series is Harry Potter, but then there are many more books I adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read, so I can't stay and spend more time on this review. Remember, I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me why I read. Simply put, I love reading, so I have made it my motto to Forever Keep on Reading. I love reading everything except for self-help books, even occasionally. I read almost all the genres, but YA, Fantasy, and Biographies are the most read. My favorite series is Harry Potter, but then there are many more books I adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read, so I can't stay and spend more time on this review. Remember, I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and then just Keep on Reading.
March 9, 2026
Lot of cool concepts in this one though the pacing was a little off, Aiden's combat scenes went far too long especially given how conceptual they could get. The author would also switch between codenames and actual names so often, that for side characters it was hard to remember who was who.
That being said it still had a lot of the usual good stuff and I'm exited to continue the series.
That being said it still had a lot of the usual good stuff and I'm exited to continue the series.
March 10, 2026
Really enjoyed this book not much to say about it. It continues the war but is actually all battles. Pretty much the entire book is battle after battle with a little down time in between to catch your breath. The battles are interesting if a little out there to read but they keep the easy going pace the book has set for most of its battles while going into much greater detail.
March 19, 2026
Excellent read
Really enjoying this series, the increase in power/levels doesn't mean the main characters feel like they are ever out of danger which makes for an exciting read. Good battles, good character depth and a great story arc makes this book (and series) one not to be missed!
Really enjoying this series, the increase in power/levels doesn't mean the main characters feel like they are ever out of danger which makes for an exciting read. Good battles, good character depth and a great story arc makes this book (and series) one not to be missed!
March 20, 2026
Wonderfully Done
Another one that just hits the mark and although the story takes us to the end of this particular chapter of their lives the hints that have been coming showcase a few other exciting events to happen. Can't wait for the next book to see just exactly what is in store over thousands of years.
Another one that just hits the mark and although the story takes us to the end of this particular chapter of their lives the hints that have been coming showcase a few other exciting events to happen. Can't wait for the next book to see just exactly what is in store over thousands of years.
March 20, 2026
still a great story
Still a great story, but these books are increasingly being filled with chaff. Nonsense descriptions of abilities that we’ll never hear about again, during the increasing number of intermission shorts.
Still a great story, but these books are increasingly being filled with chaff. Nonsense descriptions of abilities that we’ll never hear about again, during the increasing number of intermission shorts.
March 24, 2026
good
Another good one in the series with cool action and interesting characters. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
Another good one in the series with cool action and interesting characters. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews