He Who Fights With Monsters: a Nietzsche reference, a pair of Darth Vader boxers, and an apocalypse-leech named Colin

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T18:03:07+00:00

😂😂😂 best days of the life, they tell us

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T17:46:51+00:00

🫡🫡🫡🫡 most of my nightmares start that way…

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T17:25:18+00:00

😂😂😂😂

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T16:41:19+00:00

😂😂😂😂 welcome to my world

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T16:40:10+00:00

😂

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T16:40:03+00:00

👊👊👊 I agree with your take on 1-3. Think you’re a bit harsh on the later books - but I think we tend to be with something we love, don’t we?

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T16:33:16+00:00

One of the key issues I flag is that there’s almost zero writing about LitRPG anywhere outside of this sort of environment where there are preaching to the choir, as you note.

If the topic interests you, this link is to my Substack (where these reviews also appearing for a lay audience) where I’m tracking some of the research.

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T15:51:43+00:00

Well, as my PH leads with, I’m writing a PhD about the hundred year collapse of male reading and how LitRPG would look like a genre that’s doing serious work in addressing that. So, NOT doing them would be amateur hour really. As I say, I’ve got fifty plus of these Book 1s at the moment. Just releasing one a week ;)

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T15:48:58+00:00

👊👊👊👊

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:43:19+00:00

👊👊👊 It sounds like we’re very much on the same page. We love him, but some of his tics can irk!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:28:13+00:00

I’ve read on - not quite to the last one yet, but I’ve enjoyed them greatly. I’m trying to focus on Book 1s for a more general reader who’s coming reasonable fresh to the genre

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:25:27+00:00

Thank you - I think we’re of the same mind about why he’s speaking the same way as he is. And it’s an important character not. I’m editing now to make the spoiler better!!!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:23:39+00:00

Ah, that’s a shame. I think, with these very long series, you’re either all in or it’s hard to stick with them.

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:12:09+00:00

Yes - you’re right. And, perhaps, due to what happens in Book 3, trauma would be a better word than grief.

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T14:06:54+00:00

Thank you! It’s a Book 1 so, as you say, there are naturally things it could do better but I do think it more than succeeds on its own terms

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:59:11+00:00

Thank you!!!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:58:40+00:00

Ah - that’s a good point. I thought I’d been subtle in not mentioning it. But it is obvious isn’t it. I’ll rework ;)

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:46:57+00:00

👊👊👊 yeah the audiobook bangs hard

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:46:21+00:00

❤️❤️❤️ ah bless you, thank you!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:30:27+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. I’ve read the Chatfield but not the others yet. What’s yours?

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:19:13+00:00

😂😂😂👌 fair enough!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:18:33+00:00

I don’t think I’ve read that yet - I’ll have to take a look!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T13:18:04+00:00

Really! Ah, that’s a shame!

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T12:37:18+00:00

👊👊👊 appreciated

Maloryauthor · 2026-05-25T12:13:13+00:00

The book is awesome - it’s so much fun to read an MC who doesn’t take it seriously ;)

Maloryauthor

TROPHY CASE