Series Reading Order Guides
Never start a series in the wrong order again. Complete reading guides with book counts, listen times, and honest recommendations on where to start.
Last Updated: April 2026
✅ Completed Series
No waiting for the next book!Cradle
COMPLETEDby Will Wight · Narrated by Travis Baldree
Lindon, born with a crippled soul in the Sacred Valley, defies expectations by seeking power beyond his home. A masterclass in cultivation/progression fantasy with tight plotting and satisfying payoffs.
📋 Complete Reading Order
Unsouled
2016
Soulsmith
2016
Blackflame
2017
Skysworn
2017
Ghostwater
2018
Underlord
2019
Uncrowned
2019
Wintersteel
2020
Bloodline
2021
Reaper
2021
Dreadgod
2022
Waybound
2023
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
The gold standard for completed progression fantasy. 12 books with a satisfying ending, tight pacing, and incredible power scaling. Travis Baldree's narration is iconic. A perfect binge for new listeners.
🚀 Where to Start
Start with Unsouled. The first two books are shorter and more introductory — the series truly ignites from Blackflame (Book 3) onward.
The Divine Dungeon
COMPLETEDby Dakota Krout · Narrated by Vikas Adam
Cal is a dungeon core — a sentient gem that must design, build, and defend a dungeon. Paired with a human cultivator named Dale, the series explores both sides of the dungeon experience.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
The OG dungeon core series that defined the subgenre. Completed with a satisfying ending. Great entry point for understanding LitRPG from a non-human perspective.
🚀 Where to Start
Start with Dungeon Born — it's only 8 hours and establishes the innovative dual-perspective format.
Mother of Learning
COMPLETEDby Nobody103 · Narrated by Jack Voraces
Zorian, an unremarkable magic student, finds himself trapped in a month-long time loop centered around a catastrophic invasion. Each loop teaches him new skills, uncovers mysteries, and brings him closer to breaking free.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
One of the most intellectually satisfying fantasy stories ever written. The time loop mechanic is used masterfully — every loop matters, every skill learned pays off. Completed with a brilliant ending.
🚀 Where to Start
Start with ARC 1. The slow, meticulous opening mirrors Zorian's own confusion — it becomes riveting quickly.
📚 Ongoing Series
Still being writtenDungeon Crawler Carl
by Matt Dinniman · Narrated by Jeff Hays
After aliens destroy the surface of Earth, Carl and his cat Princess Donut must descend into an ever-changing dungeon, battling monsters and navigating an absurd reality-TV-style competition broadcast across the galaxy.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
Consistently the highest-rated LitRPG series with a perfect blend of dark comedy, emotional depth, and creative dungeon mechanics. Jeff Hays' narration is legendary. If you listen to only one LitRPG series, this is the one.
🚀 Where to Start
Start with Book 1 — the series builds on itself, and the first book hooks you immediately.
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon · Narrated by Heath Miller
Jason Asano, an Australian man transported to a world of magic and monsters, navigates complex political intrigue, deep power systems, and personal growth with sardonic wit and determination.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
One of the most character-driven LitRPG series with sharp humor, deep world-building, and satisfying progression. Jason is one of the genre's most memorable protagonists.
🚀 Where to Start
Book 1 is a hefty 31-hour introduction that sets up the entire world. Be prepared for a slow build that pays off enormously.
Defiance of the Fall
by TheFirstDefier · Narrated by Pavi Proczko
When the System integrates Earth into a vast multiverse, Zac finds himself stranded alone on a monster-filled island. Through sheer determination and unconventional choices, he carves his own path to power.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
The ultimate apocalypse LitRPG. Massive in scope with an incredibly satisfying power progression. Each book is a substantial investment (30+ hours) but the momentum never drops.
🚀 Where to Start
Book 1 at 38 hours is a commitment, but it establishes one of the richest LitRPG worlds. The isolated survival start hooks immediately.
Beware of Chicken
by Casualfarmer · Narrated by Travis Baldree
Jin Rou, a modern man reincarnated in a xianxia world, rejects the path of power and violence to build a peaceful farm. But when your rooster becomes a cultivator, things get interesting.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
The cozy antidote to power-fantasy LitRPG. Heartwarming, funny, and surprisingly deep. Perfect for listeners who want something wholesome without sacrificing compelling storytelling.
🚀 Where to Start
Start with Book 1. The farming-focused opening is deliberately low-stakes — trust the process.
The Primal Hunter
by Zogarth · Narrated by Travis Baldree
Jake, an introverted office worker, discovers hidden potential when the System arrives on Earth. His unique bloodline and natural instincts set him on a path no one expected.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
Excellent survival-progression with a unique protagonist archetype — the introverted hunter. Fast-paced with satisfying power growth and great crafting system mechanics.
🚀 Where to Start
Book 1 opens immediately with action. The tutorial phase is gripping and sets the tone for the entire series.
Chrysalis
by RinoZ · Narrated by Jeff Hays
Reborn as a tiny ant in a vast dungeon, Anthony must evolve, build a colony, and protect his family from threats both above and below. The most unique protagonist perspective in LitRPG.
📋 Complete Reading Order
🏆 Why Listen to This Series
Proves that a monster protagonist can carry an entire series. The colony-building mechanic is addictive, the humor is excellent, and Jeff Hays' narration of an ant is somehow perfect.
🚀 Where to Start
Book 1 hooks you from the first chapter with its absurd premise played completely straight.
Why Reading Order Matters in LitRPG
LitRPG series are heavily sequential — power systems, skill trees, and character progression build on each other book by book. Skipping ahead or starting at the wrong entry point means missing crucial context that makes later developments meaningful.
Our guides include total listen time so you can plan your investment. Many of these series represent 100+ hours of content — knowing what you're getting into helps you choose the right commitment level.