Monster Makers: A LitRPG Adventure

by E.A. Winters

XP isn't just a number. It’s the currency of survival.
Raz Ardelaen spent his whole life working to become a warlord. While most Marked society dreamed of a simple life joining an agency, Raz wanted to be remembered. Preferably while enjoying a glorious retirement in the lap of luxury, with an excess of both gold and respect due to all his remarkable achievements.

All is going according to plan, until an infuriating run-in with an Unmarked woman named Speri.

Nothing boils Raz's insides more than dealing with these low-level scum. They have no way to gain XP, level up, or really even participate in the System.

And it's not like any Unmarked is innocent. They steal XP, which wreaks havoc on everything. They deserved their miserable fate.

Raz knows exactly how he'll got down in as the man who eliminated the Unmarked for good, but as his hunt begins, the truth behind the Unmarked may change everything he thought he knew.

Jump into this action-packed LitRPG adventure from bestseller E.A. Winters, featuring a unique magic system where XP powers everything from streetlights to ventilators, high-stakes political intrigue, Dual POV Progression, deep world-building, and unexpected alliances.

Genres: Litrpg, Fantasy

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Author of The Blood and Flame Saga and The Melderblood Chronicles, E.A. Winters writes fast-paced, high stakes fantasy stories that keep you turning pages long into the night. She writes with a chai tea close at hand, and when she's not writing, she enjoys family time with her boys and husband in Virginia. Come along to narrowly escape death, ride dragons, and befriend assassins.

Reviews

[Jordy Rousse]

What a fun ride! I think this is a great book to introduce people into the genre and also great for people not wanting to keep up with a ton of stats! 🙋🏻‍♂️ I’m that person lol. Really enjoyed this and can’t wait to see where it goes next!!

[GheridenTheBookBard]

⭐ 5 out of 5 stars

This jumps right in with a murder mystery, then folds in monsters, class systems, magic items, a broken leveling system, and somehow all of that just blends together beautifully. It had a LOT going on, and I honestly have zero complaints.

Spira is unmarked, meaning she can't level. The problem... everything runs on XP, and so she has to get some by any means to keep her sister alive. Raz is a low level warrior, but got the last year no one has been able to level up. He's just as surprised as everyone else when someone winds up dead, and the system kicks in again, and Raz becomes the first person to level in over a year. Sounds like motivation, right? Now they’re stuck working together, even though neither one has much reason to trust the other.

Their banter was damn good, and Spira mocking the system when she gets frustrated was freaking hilarious. I honestly think it's how I would react so those moments felt real and were easily some of my favorites.

The leveling system feels familiar to any LitRPG fan, but enough of its own unique features to give it some life. Then you throw in the world building, mystery, pacing, character growth, and everything these two go through, and you get a story that I absolutely loved... this one pretty much nailed it for me.

[Shaar56]

E.A. Winters can make monsters for me anytime.

Monster Makers takes place in a world with a system that contains a weird mix of medieval and modern aspects which really worked for me. The experience people earn is taxed to run most of the technological aspects of society. Magic and technology coexist and there is a push and pull between the two seemingly contradictory forces. This conflict is also reflected within the class structure with some people having access to magic and levels within the system while some people who are called “Unmarked” do not have access to the system and cannot gain levels. The dichotomy creates an environment where the power balance is not always as it seems because the unmarked do not fit cleanly into the system and power structure, despite the “levelers” being perceived as the stronger of the two by almost everyone in the book.

The character work was a big strength for me. Speri was protective, fierce, and deliciously competent with eyes wide open as to how the world works. On the other hand, strong and confident Raz starts out having drunk the coolaid and his character goes through more development as the story progresses as his beliefs are challenged. The banter between the two of them was also highly entertaining, and the humor overall landed for me. The bond between Speri and her sister was so strong and earnest, I could practically feel the love coming off the page. Some of the moments between characters hit me in the feels much more than I thought it would, pulling on my heart strings. Emotional damage was very much incurred on my part.

The pacing was excellent, and I was fervently reading needing to know what happened next. I enjoyed the murder mystery, political machinations, and unspoken history leaving me yearning to know the answers to questions unanswered. I am very eagerly looking forward to book two.

Favorite Quote:
“Alert! You are requesting unauthorized access. You must be a Somebody to access a Something. I am too high and mighty for your grubby hands to get a hold of. Please keep all hands and feet outside the world of the Somebodies and off all Somethings. Thank you for your cooperation.”

[Marie Morrissey]

I am a big fan of EA Winters and her writing style, so when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of her latest book, I knew I was going to enjoy it. Monster Makers is her first LitRPG, and honestly, it is my first one I’ve ever read. Let me just say, if all LitRPG’s are this quality, I will gladly read more!

Warrior class Raz believes in the system and that the system will mete justice as it should, by kicking out criminals and leaving them Unmarked, unable to earn money, work, or do anything inside the system. However, Raz’s assumptions suffer a severe jolt when he meets Unmarked Speri. As a girl born to unmarked parents, she has learned to rely on herself and trust no one else as she struggles to keep her sick sister alive. The character development fits the short time frame of the book, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Raz and Speri in future books.

As usual for a Winters’ book, this story is fun, fast-paced, and has so much action. The action of the book takes place over three, maybe four days, but at no point did the pacing drag, even for exposition. In fact, my major concern with a LitRPG was that I would need to slog through an extended scene or two of pure explanation of the game and the rules. My fears were quickly alleviated, as the reader is slowly integrated into the game just by the characters living it.

I highly recommend Monster Makers, not only as a book, but for a good introduction to the LitRPG genre. I will be reading not only more books in this genre, but I also will be reading more of E.A. Winters books!

[Jordon]

To be born Unmarked was to be born dead.

Speri's an Unmarked, she was born Unmarked because her parents were kicked out of the system. Her sister Andrada is very sick and the only way for Speri to keep Andrada from succumbing to her illness is to steal XP any chance she gets to power the ventilator that keeps her sister alive.

Raz is a Marked, his goals are to level up and learn as much as he can to become a Warlord. Too bad the System recently broke and no one has been able to level up in the past year.

Raz and Speri meet at unfortunate timing, when Speri's stealing XP from a 'snoots' generator, and when someone is found dead in the house on the property, not to mention the monsters have converged on the house and are attacking. Speri manages to get away before Raz can apprehend her. Was Speri the one to kill? Can Raz find her to put himself back in society's good graces after his father’s death?

Monster Makers is a fun story, it's more of a mystery or a whodunit set in a fantasy world with LitRPG mechanics. I found the world to be really interesting, the idea of having the Marked, people who were in the 'system', had a class, were able to gain XP, level up, had an inventory etc. Then the Unmarked, who were people that had been kicked out of the system and therefore really struggled to survive in a society that relied on the system to exist.

An easy read that presents lots of fun. I'm looking forward to the next book, really hoping for more in-depth exploration about the system, also I would love more monster killing action.

[Anna]

Review of advance copy received from Author

Advanced Reader Review

I had never read a book in the LitRPG genre before, and my goodness this one did not disappoint!

This book is fast paced, involves a mystery that has some twists and turns you do not see coming, class systems, monsters, unique magic items, a broken leveling system, prejudices that need to be overturned and all of this with a sprinkle of slow burn romance mixed in. Oh yeah and everything is run off of XP, which you have to be in the system to be able to use, so good luck to those that are stuck on the outside.

I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and how they keep surprising each other. I have loved every book I have read by E.A. Winters so far and this one was no exception! The characters were well developed and I felt like I had enough information on where they were coming from to fully understand why the characters were making the choices they were....even though some of those choices made you cringe on the inside.

I could not put this book down and I am ready for book #2 to come out!

[Bess]

Okay, first, cliffhanger! This is book 1. There's a second book.

I have never read a LitRPG before, and I have to say, this was an amazing adventure!! I loved it!
Made me cry too. But again, blaming it on an emotional week!
Raz is "registered." In that, he's also a level 9 warrior (I might not have the terms correct). However, after killing a monster where he meets a "Raven" (still not quite sure what that means), he ends up leveling up. The first level-up in YEARS! But someone in the guild dies at the same time. So, now, he's watched! And it's up to him to find the Raven since the guild believes she is the murderer.
Speri (love this name!) is an unmarked. She lives outside of the registered world. So, she cannot level up. But she's a thief and not a murderer. Trying to keep her sister alive, she now has to take unsavory jobs to earn the gold she needs for her sister's treatment (it's complicated).
I love how Raz and Speri are flung together and forced to work together!
But Raz has a secret...if Speri knows, will she take him down with her?
Go read this! EA does an amazing job! I will have to add this genre to my list!

[R. J.]

ARC REVIEW
I have read two of the Dungeon Crawler Carl Books and I didn’t realize that they are technically LitRPG. I wasn’t even aware that I like this genre already lol As a Christian, it was important to me to steer away from DCC to find other options that are just clean, good reads. I wasn't really looking for an alternative but Monster Makers is perfect and it is such a cool book! I saw the cover and honestly that was all I needed to apply for an ARC.
E.A. Winters has an engaging writing style that keeps you hooked to the story. It was fun to see how Raz and Speri crossed paths and reluctantly began to work together for their shared goals. Both characters were easy to love in their own right. The storyline had good pacing and kept you guessing who the real bad guys were outside of the monsters.
The LitRPG piece is cool to me. It had another layer that in my mind is akin to having a little more depth to the worldbuilding and character development. I thoroughly enjoy it. Great book and I will look for more opportunities to read Winters work!

[Brandt Gibson]

I had no idea LitRPG was even a thing until I heard of E.A. Winters' new book, Monster Makers. The story follows two main characters, and the chapters flip between their POVs. I really liked that style, it allowed for different takes on events when they are together, and built suspense when things were happening when they were apart. Following the adventures of characters who live in a world where XP is real, and you never know when or how you might level up next was really fun. There's no infodump at the beginning, you learn about the world as the characters move through it, which I also appreciated. The only thing the book didn't have that I really wished it would have, was a map. I'm very visual, and having a map would have helped me a lot in getting the relative locations of different places figured out in my head. Overall, it's a great read, and I can't wait to see what comes next in the series!

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective)]

Ok, let me start by saying when I signed up to read this, I had never heard of LitRPG before. But I love gaming, and so I wanted to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. Monster Makers was so fun to read! Yes the story line was interesting. Yes, Winters did a phenomenal job of bringing me into the story world. I know those are things we are supposed to be writing about in a review. But I cannot stop thinking about how truly fun it was to read.

It was kind of like I was in a game myself - but instead of seeing it play out on the screen of my Nintendo Switch, I was able to insert myself and see it in my mind. There is something to this adventure genre that I didn't know about!

If you're looking for something different, fun, and entertaining, then Monster Makers is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review.

[abdfam y.]

This is not the usual LitRPG story. When I read LitRPGs, I tend to expect it to be under the umbrella of progression fantasy and focused on that aspect of the story and going in to this my initial reaction was disappointment as it was not hitting my expectations. This book reads more like a fantasy mystery with romantic tension between the 2 protagonists and the LitRPG element is more an accessory to the setting than the characters being focused on leveling up or grinding or whatever.

While this isn't the usual type of story I'd read, I was quickly sucked into the story telling and found that I enjoyed it for the most part amidst all the misunderstandings, mysteries, and the characters being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I liked their banter and the slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope might be something I explore in the future because of this. Overall I enjoyed it and would be interested in seeing where this goes.

[Aleena Grosjean]

Advanced Reader Review

I honestly don't know how to rate this book. The writing is great and the story line isn't bad, but it just wasn't my type of story. My initial thought as I was reading though the book was that it is a strange murder mystery mix of the Matrix (there's more behind the scenes going on than you realize), Divergent (different classes of people pitted against each other), and whatever video game that you have to kill things to level up. I'm not a gamer so that probably didn't help connect me with the story.

So - for writing and the idea behind the book, I'd give it a four. For my enjoyment of the story, maybe a two. For gamers that like to read, I think they'd really enjoy this, but it was not my genre and I won't move on to book two.

I've loved this authors other books, but I learned that LitRPG is not my thing.

[Katie Garcia]

Action packed from page one! One of my favorite hallmarks of E.A. Winters books. She knows how to hook you in. And then keeps you on your toes with excitement, witty banter and characters you will actually care about. The world she created felt bigger than just the main story line and I have so many questions that I can't wait to see how they will be answered in future books. But also, I'm enjoying letting my imagination run wild trying to figure out where all these monsters are coming from and what goes on outside the city...

I haven't read many litRPG novels, but as an avid reader/former gamer girl, this did feel right up my alley.

Biggest complaint about this book... where is book !?

[Sara]

Monster Makers by E A Winters
The Unmarked have no way to gain XP, level up, or really even participate in the System...
Bit of a different fantasy read. My favorite part was definitely the murder mystery aspect, and I really enjoyed the dungeons and hidden rooms as well. I didn't love all the XP and gaming bits, but if you think of it as just a weird magic system, it helps. Speri and Raz were fun together, although her sister did hit a bit too close to home. The side plot with Ramona did not go the way I thought it would! Loved the different magical items acquired. Overall, actually my favorite of Winters' books that I've read so far.
Genre: LitRPG (no language or spice, mild violence)
Book 1 in series
4 stars

[Danielle Smith]

I received this book as an ARC.
This was the first book I've read from this author and the first in this genre. As a gamer and reader, I loved this book! The story was well written with mystery and action. If this were a game, I'd be intrigued to play as both main characters. It's interesting how Raz and Speri handle their own challenges, alone and together. The world-building was easy to imagine. The gaming system holds a bit of mystery on its own, but it becomes easier to understand as the story progresses. Although I will admit a couple of small details didn't add up, I hope they will be cleared up in the next book of this series!

[Kathryn Caputi]

I was unsure what I was going to think about the LitRPG genre, but as usual EA Winters did not disappoint! She delivered her trademark fast paced, action packed adventure that tugs on your heartstrings at the same time as it causes you to grip your seat in anticipation with each twist and turn. The mechanics, rather than confusing me as I feared they would, added another layer of depth to the choices and motivations that drove the characters.

Now, rather than being unsure how I feel, it’s all I can do to bide the time between now and the release of book two so I can discover the fates of Raz and Speri.

[Lynnette Potter]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

After stumbling across E.A. Winters on Instagram and falling head over heels in love with Semra and the whole Blood and Flame Saga I have been eager to get my hands on more of Winters’ work. I had no idea what LitRPG was like, but when the signup went out for ARC readers I was in. For the first 50 or so pages I wasn’t sure what to think of this genre. But soon the story had drawn me in. The characters are interesting and engaging, and the story line is simple to follow while still being complex. I definitely can’t wait for the next book because I need to see what happens next!

[Tabitha Ansohn]

First of all, WOW! Another E.A. Winters masterpiece to keep you up all night!

I am new to the LitRPG genre, but this was probably the best introduction I could have gotten! I found myself gasping, laughing, and crying all the way to the last sentence! The world was beautifully crafted, with all its mysteries and dark little secrets making it just that much richer!

I cannot wait for Book 2 to come out so I can see what trouble Raz and Speri get themselves into this time, or what shenanigans get them out of it.

If you like creative worlds, high stakes, and witty banter, this book is for you!

[The Girlzzz]

Monster Makers was my first LitRPG read. I’ll admit, it took me a little time to get into the story, but once I did, I really liked it. I thought the world was fascinating, and the ending was insane. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to E.A. Winters for providing us with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are strictly our own.

We’re three sisters who love to read and are always on the hunt for clean books. Read our full review including language, violence/gore, and spice ratings on our blog Clean Reads with the Girlzzz

[Kamille]

I received this book as an ARC. It was so much fun to read. LitRPG is showing up more and more in the books I've been seeing, and EA Winters wrote a fantastic story with that genre. Our two main characters both had some really neat storylines and neat adventures. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as I got closer to the end. It is definitely worth the read, especially if you enjoy books with intrigue, fantasy, and a different type of magic system. In this book the magic system is based on leveling up and gaining experience in order to increase their abilities and skills.

[Beth Wright]

I am not usually into video games, so I wasn't sure I would enjoy a LitRPG book. However, as a huge fan of E.A. Winters, I went ahead and read the ARC—and I am so glad I did!

The LitRPG elements added to the story in a really interesting way. The character development and banter are top-notch, and the author does a great job explaining the characters' motivations. Speri's challenges with her sister particularly struck a chord with me, as I am in a similar situation with my daughter.

My only complaint is that the book ended, and now I have to wait for the next one!

[Tracie D.]

I received this as an ARC . E.A. Winters does it again .
Right out of the gate the story hits the ground running . Then we have a time to catch our breath then up and going again . The story keeps moving . Love the banter between Raz and Speri ! There are moments of going , wait , what ? , noooo . Hahaa Especially towards the end .
I don’t want to say too much , I don’t want to spoil anything. I will say this , with all the different levels Raz levels up to , wow ! How did E.A. Keep it all straight while writing . Loved the book ! Can’t wait to buy the hard copy when it is released.

[Hannah Rogers]

great read!

Solid book! This book was so fun. It sucked you in. You didn’t need to know about the world system in order to understand it, nor was there ever a massive info dump, Winters did a great job integrating what you needed to know into the story. There isn’t really any romance, one fiery kiss at the end. For the most part it’s about the two MCs, and their separate lives, and how they slowly intersect. The leveling up was fun to read, with the well thought out monsters and dungeons. No cursing other than in world curses

[Mary]

Wow. Wow. Wow.
BEWARE: if you read this book you won’t be able to sleep because you can’t stop turning its pages.
I have never read a litRPG before but I love the authors fantasy books so I decided to give it a shot. It took me a little bit to get my bearings around the genre/ world building but I was sucked in almost immediately. I cannot wait for the other books in this series.
I received an ARC for this book with no expectation that I would leave a positive review.

[Booklover10]

I'm really sorry to say I did not enjoy this book. It took me almost a week just to read 100 pages. I was confused, and I feel like things weren't explained well. Raz is supposed to be a grown man, but he acted like a teenager. I did not like the other main character much. When I was reading I had to keep checking which POV I was in.
I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't.

I received a ARC and this is just my opinion. I believe someone else would definitely enjoy this book more.

[Jesica Smithey]

You jump right into the action with this one! The stark difference between the haves and have nots is startling, but ads a great layer to the story. I appreciate that there is no spice. There are some intense parts, so not necessarily for younger readers or those that are sensitive. Overall I thought it was a good book. I like that there are two main characters with very different views on how things should be done.

[Jennifer McKennen]

This was a fabulous book! I was already a fan of E. A. Winters work, and I was glad to add this one to my collection. All the video game elements were well incorporated in the story, and the world was excellently built. The characters were well-rounded, my favorite being Speri for her rebellious spirit and love for her dying sister. Overall, it was great. Only one question was on my mind when I finished Monster Makers… “What happens next?” — Review written by my 12 year old daughter

[Chelsey]

Get ready for intense! E.A. Winters does it again of keeping you on your toes and wanting to know what is next. I hadn't read any LitRPG, so I was worried it would distract from the story, but it only enhanced it. Raz and Speri make you laugh and cry. I can't wait to read the next book!

Clean: no swearing, some violence, kisses only

[Brittnee]

My first LitRPG! I flew through this book and can't wait for book 2! I knew I would love the writing as I've read all 3 of her series. This was such a great mix of heart, action & humor.

-Dual POVs
-Fast-paced
-Adversaries to a wary alliance
-A murder investigation
-Sister bonds 💕

*I received an ARC; opinions are my own.

[Hannah Smith]

I received an ARC of this book and I loved every second of it!!! The characters are so good! The action is the best and I loved the romantic tension between the characters! 🥹 The plot twists are INSANE. This was also my first LitRPG and I wasn’t sure about the concept at first but honestly I really enjoyed it!

No spice
No language

Releases 9/15!!!