Shuffle. Shuffle.
That’s a lot of words about cards. Cards to cast spells. Cards to summon familiars and demons. Cards to climb, to fight – and for every skill imaginable.
In a box or in your soul, deck building is the hot new GameLit subgenre. Deal the cards.
All the Skills by Honor Rae
From Amazon:
The most Arthur could hope for was to someday earn a trash-tier spell card. When fate grants him a Master of Skills card, he’s thrust into a world of opportunity and danger.
To survive and grow strong, Arthur must learn skills. All the skills.
This is an epic progression-fantasy with strong Gamelit elements, featuring a unique card-based magic system.
From Royal Road:
In a world where all magical spells have been captured into cards, those who can build a deck have the most power.
The most Arthur could ever hope for was to someday earn a trash-tier spell card. When fate grants him a legendary Master of Skills card, he’s thrust into a world of opportunity and danger.
To survive and grow strong, Arthur must learn skills. All the skills.
The second book of the series was released on June 13, 2023.
Kindle Unlimited, 4.8 Stars, 513 Pages.
Audible, 4.8 Stars, 13 hours, 38 minutes.
Royal Road, Chapters for Book 3
GoodReads, 4.59 Stars
A Summoner Awakens: Origins by Kerberos
From Amazon:
After the collapse of the known world, Rowan Wilder opened his eyes and found himself on the First Floor of the Tower. With a flawless memory and a mere eight Cards to his name, he must venture out and prepare himself for the coming calamity.
In this place of blood and fantasy, Rowan has to not only survive but thrive as he powers his way to the top of the Tower. The Demonic Plague that has twisted the creatures on the upper Floors is the least of his worries after he reveals the coveted Origin of the Summoner.
Cane in hand and Summons by his side, he’ll have to tear his way through Beasts and Humans alike as monsters, criminals, and zealots try to hinder his ascent. Of course, he can maintain a sense of decorum while he faces these trials, yeah?
From Royal Road:
Can’t a man maintain his dignity while preparing for the end of the world? Is that too much to ask?
The Tower was all I knew… all any of us knew, and just like that, it was gone. Monsters the likes of which I’d never seen ravaged the land of my ancestors. They burst through the outer walls and stormed the city. No one could have been ready for that. But now… Now I have a second chance.
After the collapse of the known world, I woke up to find myself on the First Floor of the Tower. I was young and healthy, 18 again, and sitting in the same classroom that marked the worst days of my life. Confused and excited, I accepted this gift, deciding to use my vast knowledge of the future to climb the Tower in preparation for the end of the world.
Maybe I’ll help some folks along the way? Who knows. Survival comes first.
The clock is ticking, and I’m left with only a century to build a Deck powerful enough to survive the end. Things to do… What’s first? I need Essence, and I need power. I’ll have to climb the Tower to acquire both of these. Some of the zealots will try to stop me, need to look out for those. What if-
“Hey, kid! Hand over the pouch or-“
Stab
Sorry, where was I? Ah… there’s a spot of blood on my suit. What a lousy morning.
In this world of blood and fantasy, century-old Rowan Wilder has to not only survive, but thrive as he powers his way to the top of the Tower. The Demonic Plague that has twisted the creatures on the upper Floors is the least of his worries. Cane in hand and Summons by his side, he’ll have to tear his way through the monsters, as well as the humans who want to stop his ascent. Of course, he can maintain a sense of decorum while he faces these trials, right?
Released June 20, 2023.
Kindle Unlimited, 4.7 Stars, 534 pages
Audible, 4.8 Stars, 16 hours and 10 minutes
Royal Road, Adding chapters for Book 2
GoodReads, 4.59 Stars
Goblin Summoner by Tracy Gregory
From Amazon:
Life and death decided by the draw of a card!
When an accident claims his life, Gareth finds himself reborn on Acamida. Dropped into a world where sorcerers draw magical power from a deck of cards, summoning monsters and flinging spells, Gareth must adapt to having arcane power at his fingertips. It’s just a shame he’s found himself with the weakest cards around—goblins!
Book 5 of the series released on November 20, 2022
Kindle Unlimited, 4.5 Stars, 653 Pages
Audible, 4.4 Stars, 15 hours, 39 minutes
GoodReads, 4.05 Stars
Arcane Cultivator by Harmon Cooper
From Amazon:
Build the deck. Cultivate power. Slay the gods.
When a magic ritual goes disastrously wrong, Jaden is exiled to the heart of the desert and left to die. Battered and bruised, Jaden encounters the outcast Nomadwater Sect, who grant him a second chance at life as a mysterious arcane cultivator.
With its savage beasts and cryptic mysteries, survival in the sprawling desert of Southfall is a dangerous game. Yet Jaden and the Nomadwater Sect persevere, growing closer and forming bonds over the course of a long summer.
This changes the day the Gods kill their leader, seize the sect, and task Jaden with competing in the legendary Tournament of the Gods.
If Jaden survives the tournament, the members of his sect live. If he dies, they die alongside him.
Jaden now has just ten days to rank up. Ten days to master the dragonessence system. Ten days to save those who have become his new family.
Arcane cards, mana cultivation, martial arts, elemental magic . . . and incredible relics are all at his disposal.
And even then, it might not be enough…
Released on August 15, 2023.
Kindle Unlimited, 4.6 Stars, 644 pages
GoodReads, 4.35 Stars
Mayor of Mythos by Han Yang
From Amazon:
Level, Conquer, Build.
Right as the world comes to an end, Devon is presented with an opportunity to escape Earth’s demise. A most unusual benefactor grants him an opportunity at a new life in a land of magical cards, mythical creatures, and unique pedestals to manage his progress.
Devon becomes a coveted dual mage, capable of harnessing the power of wind and ice. While he thinks his new abilities will make life easy, integration proves tough. He has a dentist as a sidekick, a land hydra as a pet, and brooding rage begging to be released. He’ll battle dungeons, infestations, and monstrous beasts to claim his own slice of the land to call home. A place to become: the Mayor of Mythos.
Released on June 4, 2022.
Kindle Unlimited, 4.7 Stars, 810 pages
Audible, 4.6 Stars, 20 hours and 3 minutes
GoodReads, 4.42 Stars
Empire of Cards by Andrew Karevik
From Amazon:
When I was summoned to the family estate, I had no idea that my life was about to take a drastic turn. One moment I was good old Arthur, a young man with no real aim in life, the next I was in possession of my first four magical cards, on my way to become a Convoker!
But if my grandfather had entrusted this huge responsibility to me, I had to prove worthy. I had to take on the life of an Adventurer and complete our lineage quest—a perilous search and rescue mission in the most treacherous parts of our lands. But first things first, as a new Convoker, I had to start by learning the ropes and discover how to tame the Espers within the cards so they would at least listen to me. That’s the only way I would gain any type of power.
And the gods know I will need power. It’s a huge world out there, full of wonders and strange creatures, but also rife with monsters and mortal dangers. To stay alive, I will need to build my Convoker’s deck, with the right mix of spells, minions and equipment cards.
Wish me good luck as my journey leads me to duel other Convokers and also infiltrate the lair of some cruel Spider Goddess. But I guess such is the life of a Convoker—live by the cards, die by the cards.
Released on August 28, 2022.
Kindle Unlimited, 4.3 Stars, 490 pages
Audible, To Be Released
GoodReads, 4.22 Stars
Demonic Devourer by Aaron Shih
From Amazon,
Devour. Level up. Repeat.
Upon awakening in an abandoned lab, Evelyn is empowered by a system that grants her bloody magical powers in exchange for finishing missions and consuming her enemies. She knows one truth: no matter the cost, she will advance. She’ll manipulate allies and spread demonic corruption with a smile if that’s what it takes to level up.
Her first mission is to escape the lab’s other newly born creations. But once she steps foot into the world outside of the lab, she must contend with people who forbid her existence and who will work to eradicate those with her powers from the face of the planet.
The outside world may be vast and deadly, but Evelyn will be deadlier.
Released on August 24, 2023
Kindle Unlimited, 4.7 Stars, 567 Pages
GoodReads, 4.25 Stars
Deck of Destiny by Dante King
From Amazon,
It was a regular day when I found my first Card.
Now, my days are anything but regular. Beautiful women, powerful cards, and guilds who will do anything to kill me and acquire my deck.
It’s a life beyond my wildest dreams. If I can just survive long enough to enjoy it.
Book 2 of this harem series was released on May 22, 2023
Kindle Unlimited, 4.5 Stars, 358 pages
GoodReads, 4.27 Stars
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