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Lighting the Forge
He didn’t log in to be a Hero, or go on a grand adventure. He logged in to survive.
On the brink of death, a burned-out late-thirty-something is offered one last chance at life through experimental early access to a full-dive VRMMO. The price is he can’t log out. When the system sends him into the world years before launch, he becomes something no developer planned a seemingly permanent inhabitant, living inside the game long before players arrive.
While future adventurers dream of fame and leaderboards, he chooses a quieter path. He claims land in the mountains, learns the patient craft of blacksmithing, mines deep veins of ore, and finally builds a life with his hands instead of slowly dying behind a desk.
For a long while, the world is his alone. He carves out the beginnings of a life for himself, begrudgingly makes a few friends, and finds a purpose.
Then players begin to appear. To the first of their number, he’s just a strange NPC with skills that shouldn’t exist yet. He doesn’t correct them. He would very much like to just be left alone.
Unfortunately, the world has other plans.
“If you've ever wanted to be dropped feet-first into an role-playing game and live vicariously through its deadly quests and pursuits, then I encourage you to pick up Jay Krauss’s first book in a new LitRPG series, Founder’s Lighting the Forge. If you love the exploits of Dungeon Crawler Carl, then grab an axe and join the unflappable hero of this new series. It’s a story full of twists, sudden drops, unexpected companions, and all the fun built into the heart of your favorite games. Can’t wait for the second book to carry on with this journey!”
- James Rollins, #1 New York Times Bestseller of The Starless Crown
“Superb book. Hits all the right notes. Great crafting and a fantastic focus on dwarves and smithing. Classic touch with tons of progress. Rock on, dwarf bro.”
- David North, Best Selling Author of Guardian of Aster Fall and Wild Era
"If you want ‘feels’ with your numbers-go-up, appreciate a good dungeon delve, or have ever enjoyed a crafting profession, Founder’s Lighting the Forge is for you. Jay Krauss captures the essence of gaming in his story, while still giving the characters, real or coded, enough heart to make you care. I already want to swing a hammer with Brandt again, and soon you will too."
-SourpatchHero, aka Tommy Kerper, Bestselling Author of I'm Not The Hero
On the brink of death, a burned-out late-thirty-something is offered one last chance at life through experimental early access to a full-dive VRMMO. The price is he can’t log out. When the system sends him into the world years before launch, he becomes something no developer planned a seemingly permanent inhabitant, living inside the game long before players arrive.
While future adventurers dream of fame and leaderboards, he chooses a quieter path. He claims land in the mountains, learns the patient craft of blacksmithing, mines deep veins of ore, and finally builds a life with his hands instead of slowly dying behind a desk.
For a long while, the world is his alone. He carves out the beginnings of a life for himself, begrudgingly makes a few friends, and finds a purpose.
Then players begin to appear. To the first of their number, he’s just a strange NPC with skills that shouldn’t exist yet. He doesn’t correct them. He would very much like to just be left alone.
Unfortunately, the world has other plans.
“If you've ever wanted to be dropped feet-first into an role-playing game and live vicariously through its deadly quests and pursuits, then I encourage you to pick up Jay Krauss’s first book in a new LitRPG series, Founder’s Lighting the Forge. If you love the exploits of Dungeon Crawler Carl, then grab an axe and join the unflappable hero of this new series. It’s a story full of twists, sudden drops, unexpected companions, and all the fun built into the heart of your favorite games. Can’t wait for the second book to carry on with this journey!”
- James Rollins, #1 New York Times Bestseller of The Starless Crown
“Superb book. Hits all the right notes. Great crafting and a fantastic focus on dwarves and smithing. Classic touch with tons of progress. Rock on, dwarf bro.”
- David North, Best Selling Author of Guardian of Aster Fall and Wild Era
"If you want ‘feels’ with your numbers-go-up, appreciate a good dungeon delve, or have ever enjoyed a crafting profession, Founder’s Lighting the Forge is for you. Jay Krauss captures the essence of gaming in his story, while still giving the characters, real or coded, enough heart to make you care. I already want to swing a hammer with Brandt again, and soon you will too."
-SourpatchHero, aka Tommy Kerper, Bestselling Author of I'm Not The Hero
778 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2026
About the author
Jay Krauss
26 books70 followersJay is an animal lover, software developer, traditional blacksmith, modern woodworker, terrible mechanic, avid reader, and author.
A master of no trades, perhaps, but a consummate dabbler.
Writing in both Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres.
A master of no trades, perhaps, but a consummate dabbler.
Writing in both Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 19, 2026
Fine if a little bit dull. Long descriptions of forging etc., which aren't that novel or interesting to me.
May 28, 2026
A bit misleading
Overall this book was well written and interesting. But know up front that the description is a bit misleading, at least for this book. The description claims that other players think the story's Main Character is just a strange NPC ... but there are no other (true) players in this entire book. The book is entirely build up of the MC as he finds his place in this new world.
Conceptually out tries to be a slice of life with detailed crafting (especially smithing) descriptions and fairly broad strokes fight scenes. There's not much in the way of conflicts or true opposition to the MC as if yet. There are only a few minor continuity things (MC fills his inventory, then goes to a new location and is able to collect more new things and suddenly his inventory is "almost full"). Also, punching is notoriously ineffective underwater; a sword capable of thrusting would, in fact, but much more serviceable. Consider Spear fishing and the shape of harpoons.
The introduction of 'players' to the world in the next book is bound to add some chaos to the formula.
Overall this book was well written and interesting. But know up front that the description is a bit misleading, at least for this book. The description claims that other players think the story's Main Character is just a strange NPC ... but there are no other (true) players in this entire book. The book is entirely build up of the MC as he finds his place in this new world.
Conceptually out tries to be a slice of life with detailed crafting (especially smithing) descriptions and fairly broad strokes fight scenes. There's not much in the way of conflicts or true opposition to the MC as if yet. There are only a few minor continuity things (MC fills his inventory, then goes to a new location and is able to collect more new things and suddenly his inventory is "almost full"). Also, punching is notoriously ineffective underwater; a sword capable of thrusting would, in fact, but much more serviceable. Consider Spear fishing and the shape of harpoons.
The introduction of 'players' to the world in the next book is bound to add some chaos to the formula.
May 9, 2026
Wow. Lighting the Forge is truly a masterful story. From the very beginning it stuck a cord deep within me! Brandt’s been diagnosed with cancer. He is stuck in a job he hates with a jerk of a boss. Feeling trapped in a concrete jungle spending what time he has left at a desk behind a computer. His one true companion Viscount, has passed and Brandt has lost all joy in his life.
After leaving work very late, he opens an e-mail from Dimensions a company recommended by his Doctor. Brandt has a big decision to make! Want to know more? You will have to read the book! I can say it is a heartwarming, breathtaking adventure of new life, friendship, meaning and purpose! This beautiful story will draw you in and captivate you! So what are you waiting for! It’s time for you to meet Brandt, Thea and yes even Theodore Tiberius Ignatious III! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
After leaving work very late, he opens an e-mail from Dimensions a company recommended by his Doctor. Brandt has a big decision to make! Want to know more? You will have to read the book! I can say it is a heartwarming, breathtaking adventure of new life, friendship, meaning and purpose! This beautiful story will draw you in and captivate you! So what are you waiting for! It’s time for you to meet Brandt, Thea and yes even Theodore Tiberius Ignatious III! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2026
cozy with a dash of action
There was so much I loved about this book. One the slow cozy paced vibes until you get into the dungeon and Brandt it faced against foes. The leveling up isn’t intricate I found everything really easy to understand. The companions are wonderful! A cute weasel and my favourite demonic skull.
Our mc is wonderful, kind and compassionate. And I think I also learnt a skill in black smithing from him.
It gave me stardew valley game vibes with the mine dungeons and farming for gems and such but instead of a farm you’re in a village and you are helping make it a better place.
I’m so intrigued for the next instalment as I have completly fallen in love with this world. I’m going to need to purchase a physical copy for my shelf 😍😍
There was so much I loved about this book. One the slow cozy paced vibes until you get into the dungeon and Brandt it faced against foes. The leveling up isn’t intricate I found everything really easy to understand. The companions are wonderful! A cute weasel and my favourite demonic skull.
Our mc is wonderful, kind and compassionate. And I think I also learnt a skill in black smithing from him.
It gave me stardew valley game vibes with the mine dungeons and farming for gems and such but instead of a farm you’re in a village and you are helping make it a better place.
I’m so intrigued for the next instalment as I have completly fallen in love with this world. I’m going to need to purchase a physical copy for my shelf 😍😍
Review of advance copy received from Author
I genuinely cannot describe how much I loved this book. It made me cry within the first 5% !!!!!
The story here is so unique. Our MC logs into the VRMMO not looking for adventure but looking for survival. From there, we get to watch our MC rebuild themselves from the ground up, with their own two hands, in a world that wasn't even meant for them yet.
The author really nailed the world building with this. It blended perfectly with the story and I LOVED being in the world. I loved everything about this story TBH. I cannot stop talking about it.
The characters, the pacing, the story - all phenomenal. Cannot wait for the audio to drop so I can experience it again!
The story here is so unique. Our MC logs into the VRMMO not looking for adventure but looking for survival. From there, we get to watch our MC rebuild themselves from the ground up, with their own two hands, in a world that wasn't even meant for them yet.
The author really nailed the world building with this. It blended perfectly with the story and I LOVED being in the world. I loved everything about this story TBH. I cannot stop talking about it.
The characters, the pacing, the story - all phenomenal. Cannot wait for the audio to drop so I can experience it again!
Did Not Finish
April 24, 2026Despite a few solid opening chapters, there are two reasons why I dropped this after 100 pages: First, it is written as if it's your first LitRPG, which if it is, will work great for you. But for someone who has read many litrpgs, the opening is beyond slow and the pouring over every detail in the system window is dull. The second reason is the superfluous system screens and information contained within - you get every item line and detail like in an MMO, regardless if it adds anything or not. It makes me gloss over every system screen.
Couldn't hold my attention long enough for the story to begin.
Couldn't hold my attention long enough for the story to begin.
April 19, 2026
a second chance at life
A man has cancer and his only friend a feral barn cat Viscount recently passed he is offered an opportunity to become a permanent resident in a virtual reality. Overly tall and lanky he chooses to be a stone dwarf a mythical race do you want to be underground or in the sun? He chooses the sun see what happens as he decides discovers the life of a miner and blacksmith. I highly recommend this book it was a great read.. update a great listen as well
A man has cancer and his only friend a feral barn cat Viscount recently passed he is offered an opportunity to become a permanent resident in a virtual reality. Overly tall and lanky he chooses to be a stone dwarf a mythical race do you want to be underground or in the sun? He chooses the sun see what happens as he decides discovers the life of a miner and blacksmith. I highly recommend this book it was a great read.. update a great listen as well
April 21, 2026
One of the best LitRPGs I have read! It's got everything ranging from cozy crafting moments to brawling monsters in a cave. The focus is put on town building in this small charming settlement with the MC Brandt taking care of the townsfolk. The grind for ore and materials to then crafting tools and ingots brings me back to the good ole days of playing WOW. Founders Edition Lighting the Forge is a book that brings you back to the classic VRMMO stories with a very cozy feel to it!
July 13, 2026
Lighting the Forge hits a very specific sweet spot for me: RPGs, cozy fantasy, and Forged in Fire all rolled into one lovely opening salvo of a series.
The premise hooked me immediately. If you had a terminal illness, would you join an alpha VR game server for the chance to live forever? From there, the book builds a warm, crafty, game-filled world that feels both comforting and full of possibility.
A great start to the series, and I’m already looking forward to book two.
The premise hooked me immediately. If you had a terminal illness, would you join an alpha VR game server for the chance to live forever? From there, the book builds a warm, crafty, game-filled world that feels both comforting and full of possibility.
A great start to the series, and I’m already looking forward to book two.
April 18, 2026
Lovely slice of life adventure.
This is a delightful experience full of earned growth, human transformation, and magically supported mining and mayhem. I appreciated the characterization and especially the growth and inclusion of side characters. I hope and look forward to another entry in what I hope will be a fantastic series.
This is a delightful experience full of earned growth, human transformation, and magically supported mining and mayhem. I appreciated the characterization and especially the growth and inclusion of side characters. I hope and look forward to another entry in what I hope will be a fantastic series.
April 20, 2026
Bonus star for the epilogue
Fun and interesting story. I had a lot of angst with the opening. I wouldn't call it PTSD but I spent a lot of time in my head. Once we were in the game the story got better. Then we started on the math leveling but emerged from that to the quite nice epilogue.
Fun and interesting story. I had a lot of angst with the opening. I wouldn't call it PTSD but I spent a lot of time in my head. Once we were in the game the story got better. Then we started on the math leveling but emerged from that to the quite nice epilogue.
April 25, 2026
cool new take on a classic in the genre
Like the title says, this book is a cool new take on a classic of the litRPG genre where someone is portaled into a game permanently, but unlike many of these you read, this is a bit more cozy/low stakes, with a reluctant hero. Book two was set up nicely.
Like the title says, this book is a cool new take on a classic of the litRPG genre where someone is portaled into a game permanently, but unlike many of these you read, this is a bit more cozy/low stakes, with a reluctant hero. Book two was set up nicely.
April 29, 2026
Absolutely phenomenal! Could not put the story down and when it came to an end I was sad because I craved more. Thoroughly enjoyed this book as it had its cozy moments and action moments. This hit all the right spots for me in a LitRPG story. I highly recommend this book! I cannot wait for more in this series and book 2 will be highly anticipated for me.
May 13, 2026
Loved It
Wonderfully well written book. I loved Brandt as a main character. He had strength, fortitude, values and morals, mixed with intelligence and humor. Along with Teddy and Thea, his adventures and daily life were mixed with humor and a dash of danger. This is a series that I will definitely love and waiting on the next book.
Wonderfully well written book. I loved Brandt as a main character. He had strength, fortitude, values and morals, mixed with intelligence and humor. Along with Teddy and Thea, his adventures and daily life were mixed with humor and a dash of danger. This is a series that I will definitely love and waiting on the next book.
May 19, 2026
stealth education
Not quite cozy slice of life, but there is a lot more crafting with the occasional punching-opponents-in-the-face-till-they-let-you-get-back-to-crafting.
Also lots of blacksmith terminology, and a guy who joins a magical world and puts minimal effort into actual magic.
Not quite cozy slice of life, but there is a lot more crafting with the occasional punching-opponents-in-the-face-till-they-let-you-get-back-to-crafting.
Also lots of blacksmith terminology, and a guy who joins a magical world and puts minimal effort into actual magic.
July 4, 2026
Nice mostly-cosy litRPG progression fantasy book. Good people win, bad people don't, kind of bad people are clearly slowly being grumpily persuaded to be not bad.
First book is very much a setting-things-up book. The ending of the books sets it up for potentially much greater complexity in future books.
First book is very much a setting-things-up book. The ending of the books sets it up for potentially much greater complexity in future books.
July 26, 2026
An excellent concept well executed
From dying to a new life, this novel follows Brandt on his journey. I loved that the NPCs worshipped the AI. I didn’t love the scene where she discusses the beta - her ignorance felt unlikely given how communicative she had been until then. Teddy is hilarious. I’ll read book 2 when it releases!
From dying to a new life, this novel follows Brandt on his journey. I loved that the NPCs worshipped the AI. I didn’t love the scene where she discusses the beta - her ignorance felt unlikely given how communicative she had been until then. Teddy is hilarious. I’ll read book 2 when it releases!
Review of advance copy received from Author
really good story, I love the characters and the story. I love that while not looking for something he found it. I can not wait for book two and see what other shenanigans these characters get up to.
April 19, 2026
Amazing
This is a great start to what promises to be an amazing series.
Main character is brilliantly written with heart.
World building is great (as expected) The System is wildly different from the norm too.
Hurry up and write the next one(s) Jay!
This is a great start to what promises to be an amazing series.
Main character is brilliantly written with heart.
World building is great (as expected) The System is wildly different from the norm too.
Hurry up and write the next one(s) Jay!
April 21, 2026
Fantastic start
Definitely could not put this book down. I tend to stray away from litrpgs that have little to no risk of death, but the characters and the world kept me thoroughly entertained. I can't wait for the next book!!
Definitely could not put this book down. I tend to stray away from litrpgs that have little to no risk of death, but the characters and the world kept me thoroughly entertained. I can't wait for the next book!!
May 3, 2026
A good one.
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.
May 7, 2026
Really really good
This was probably the best book I've read this year. It's one of those books that just makes you feel good reading it.
Just give this book a chance.
Highly recommended.
This was probably the best book I've read this year. It's one of those books that just makes you feel good reading it.
Just give this book a chance.
Highly recommended.
May 11, 2026
Story has issues here and there and the MC is to much the dullard/idiot on purpose.. the authors tool.
Then comes chapter 58 and the story looses what illusion of internal logic there was and spirals down the toilet bowl.
Then comes chapter 58 and the story looses what illusion of internal logic there was and spirals down the toilet bowl.
May 11, 2026
Wow setting up an epic base to the likes of Last Horizon
What a beginning, reminds me of Daniel Schinhofen's Last Horizon series only minus the wife fantastic setup looking for book 2 now
What a beginning, reminds me of Daniel Schinhofen's Last Horizon series only minus the wife fantastic setup looking for book 2 now
May 29, 2026
Great read!
I had been looking for a new litrpg book to read for a while. One that wasn't all over the place or full of grammar errors and poor editing. This totally fit the bill and I couldn't put it down.
I had been looking for a new litrpg book to read for a while. One that wasn't all over the place or full of grammar errors and poor editing. This totally fit the bill and I couldn't put it down.
April 17, 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!
April 19, 2026
Great read
Really enjoyed this book. The main character is well written and the world is detailed and built very nicely.
Looking forward to more in this world.
Really enjoyed this book. The main character is well written and the world is detailed and built very nicely.
Looking forward to more in this world.
Did Not Finish
April 19, 2026I, unfortunately, started skipping ahead and MC wasn't even in the VR world yet. That's not a good sign. This author is too long winded and pedantic for my taste. Not for me I suppose.
April 28, 2026
I got an early ARC copy. This is a satisfying start to a series. Kind of old school LitRPG with a mmorg setting and a grinding crafter with some fun companions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews