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Monarch: A LitRPG Progression Epic
A gritty Isekai LitRPG featuring a Soldier MC with the unique ability to absorb powers from fallen enemies.
SLAY ENEMIES. ABSORB POWERS. CLAIM THE CROWN.
Rayne was a bastard. The only son of a fallen Duke, cast aside to die in the army that hated him for being alive.
Until a soul from Earth took over his body...
With the common class of a [Soldier], a Lineage Quest to complete, and a unique trait allowing him to steal skills, he will have to grow strong fast to survive the wartorn realms of his new world.
But his determination and a survival instincts are second to none, and he'll need them as balances the dangers of monstrous threats like trolls, goblins, and necromancers, with the political treachery of hostile noble officers who fear his transition from hated outcast to a rising leader with the potential to reshape the kingdom.
His end goal is Claim Victory.
Experience the start of a Progression Fantasy LitRPG series from bestseller extra26, featuring a military spin, crunchy stats, an isekai'd underdog hero, and a unique "Skill Stealer" ability that allows him to absorb powers from fallen enemies.
Perfect for fans of A Soldier's Life, Shadow Slave, and I ron Blooded!
SLAY ENEMIES. ABSORB POWERS. CLAIM THE CROWN.
Rayne was a bastard. The only son of a fallen Duke, cast aside to die in the army that hated him for being alive.
Until a soul from Earth took over his body...
With the common class of a [Soldier], a Lineage Quest to complete, and a unique trait allowing him to steal skills, he will have to grow strong fast to survive the wartorn realms of his new world.
But his determination and a survival instincts are second to none, and he'll need them as balances the dangers of monstrous threats like trolls, goblins, and necromancers, with the political treachery of hostile noble officers who fear his transition from hated outcast to a rising leader with the potential to reshape the kingdom.
His end goal is Claim Victory.
Experience the start of a Progression Fantasy LitRPG series from bestseller extra26, featuring a military spin, crunchy stats, an isekai'd underdog hero, and a unique "Skill Stealer" ability that allows him to absorb powers from fallen enemies.
Perfect for fans of A Soldier's Life, Shadow Slave, and I ron Blooded!
1027 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 3, 2026
Monarch has one undeniable strength: the fundamental craft is solid. The prose is clean, readable, and genuinely human-written, completely free of the sterile, synthetic AI sheen common in so much progression fantasy.
The story built on that prose, however, continually sabotages its own momentum.
Progression fantasy relies on a simple contract, earned power, tangible rewards, and forward movement. Monarch resists this at every turn. There is no looting, no real spoils of victory, and power growth is glacial. Worse, whenever the protagonist does manage to gain an ability, an artificial plot constraint immediately locks it away so he can't use it. Delay replaces payoff every single time.
To make matters worse, the protagonist has virtually no agency. Rather than driving events, he spends the bulk of the book pinned down by hostile circumstances designed entirely to keep him powerless. Combine that chronic passivity with an endless parade of tired, arrogant noble clichés done to death, and the narrative stalls out. Good sentence-level writing simply cannot rescue a story where nothing moves forward and the lead can’t take action.
The story built on that prose, however, continually sabotages its own momentum.
Progression fantasy relies on a simple contract, earned power, tangible rewards, and forward movement. Monarch resists this at every turn. There is no looting, no real spoils of victory, and power growth is glacial. Worse, whenever the protagonist does manage to gain an ability, an artificial plot constraint immediately locks it away so he can't use it. Delay replaces payoff every single time.
To make matters worse, the protagonist has virtually no agency. Rather than driving events, he spends the bulk of the book pinned down by hostile circumstances designed entirely to keep him powerless. Combine that chronic passivity with an endless parade of tired, arrogant noble clichés done to death, and the narrative stalls out. Good sentence-level writing simply cannot rescue a story where nothing moves forward and the lead can’t take action.
October 7, 2026
i read this book on RR before it is stubbed to Kindle Unlimited at the end of October 2026.
this is a great read, reminiscent of A Soldier’s Life. while similar to ASL, there are enough differences to make this a worthwhile read. the MC is likeable and is not prone to poor decision making. the MC is Isekaied into a new world/body, and his “hidden power“ is not outrageously OP. the MC continues to work hard and train throughout Volume 1. i read everything available on RR and expect (hope) Monarch to have many more volumes in the future.
i highly recommend this book and will download it on Kindle Unlimited when it becomes available on October 27 so the author can get paid for their work.
i will now go look for this author’s other novels on KU.
this is a great read, reminiscent of A Soldier’s Life. while similar to ASL, there are enough differences to make this a worthwhile read. the MC is likeable and is not prone to poor decision making. the MC is Isekaied into a new world/body, and his “hidden power“ is not outrageously OP. the MC continues to work hard and train throughout Volume 1. i read everything available on RR and expect (hope) Monarch to have many more volumes in the future.
i highly recommend this book and will download it on Kindle Unlimited when it becomes available on October 27 so the author can get paid for their work.
i will now go look for this author’s other novels on KU.
November 2, 2026
Amazing story
This was a wonderful blend of slower crunchy litrpg with cultivation. It was different than my normal reads. Honestly I loved that. It had a lot of originality, which we don’t see that often. I really appreciated the MCs character development and the world building. The MC is very likable. Would love to know what he really looks like though? We talking dark haired shaggy with gold eyes lol. Or something else. I wanted to know more and more about him. Great story, and I honestly cannot wait to hear more!
Warning! The plot is thick and has lots of great suspense and surprises.
This was a wonderful blend of slower crunchy litrpg with cultivation. It was different than my normal reads. Honestly I loved that. It had a lot of originality, which we don’t see that often. I really appreciated the MCs character development and the world building. The MC is very likable. Would love to know what he really looks like though? We talking dark haired shaggy with gold eyes lol. Or something else. I wanted to know more and more about him. Great story, and I honestly cannot wait to hear more!
Warning! The plot is thick and has lots of great suspense and surprises.
Did Not Finish
November 6, 2026Dropped at 25% (which is over 200 pages, this thing's a chonker)
This wasn't a bad book, and it was well-written enough (I enjoyed the author's other series, Magus Reborn), but I just didn't get hooked by anything. I found most of it quite bland - the MC, his class/powers, the noble tropes, and the world itself. It felt formulaic and that it was just going through a checklist.
This wasn't a bad book, and it was well-written enough (I enjoyed the author's other series, Magus Reborn), but I just didn't get hooked by anything. I found most of it quite bland - the MC, his class/powers, the noble tropes, and the world itself. It felt formulaic and that it was just going through a checklist.
November 4, 2026
Love it!
When I see a book with 1000+ pages i give it a try keeps me occupied for a long time and lets me know the author worked very hard and didnt rush the product cant wait for next in series
When I see a book with 1000+ pages i give it a try keeps me occupied for a long time and lets me know the author worked very hard and didnt rush the product cant wait for next in series
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November 1, 2026LOVIT!
November 2, 2026
A very good new series
A very good new series from a well-established author. A non-stop progressive story. One I couldn’t put down. Thank you.
A very good new series from a well-established author. A non-stop progressive story. One I couldn’t put down. Thank you.
November 6, 2026
Great book
A solid first entry from Extra26. Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one.
A solid first entry from Extra26. Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews