Picked by Quest Academy fans

Here are 17 books that Quest Academy fans have personally recommended once you finish the Quest Academy series. Shepherd is a community of authors and super-readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

Book cover of Beware of Chicken

jared1

From Jared's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Jared loves this book

Good philosophy... We do not challenge the heavens alone

By Casualfarmer ,

Why should I read it?

36 authors picked Beware of Chicken as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A laugh-out-loud, slice-of-life martial-arts fantasy about . . . farming????

Jin Rou wanted to be a cultivator. A man powerful enough to defy the heavens. A master of martial arts. A lord of spiritual power. Unfortunately for him, he died, and now I’m stuck in his body.

Arrogant Masters? Heavenly Tribulations? All that violence and bloodshed? Yeah, no thanks. I’m getting out of here.

Farm life sounds pretty great. Tilling a field by hand is fun when you’ve got the strength of ten men—though maybe I shouldn’t have fed those Spirit Herbs to my pet rooster. I’m not used to…


Book cover of Iron Prince

Chris Tullbane Author Of See These Bones

From my list on starters in progression fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

As an author, I’m fascinated with the fictional quest for power and the challenges and changes that journey both entails and provokes. Progression fantasy, beyond all the numbers and formalized rankings, is about the character first… not just people growing stronger, but how that growth impacts them on a fundamental level. It's something central to my own fiction, and as I’ve explored the progression fantasy genre, I’ve loved seeing the different ways other authors tackle that same idea. The worlds, people, and magic systems vary wildly between different series in the genre, but that central conflict’s impact on those engaged in it remains uniquely compelling.

Chris' book list on starters in progression fantasy

Chris Tullbane Why Chris loves this book

Iron Prince is unique in this list (and among most progression fantasy books) in that it takes place in the distant future, on one of many planets in a galaxy at war.

Instead of mystical cores or game or system-imposed leveling constructs, individuals are given CADs (combat assistance devices) that largely do the same thing. 

What I love about the book is that the main character, Rei, is the ultimate underdog. He’s done everything he could to achieve success despite his shortcomings, only to get crushed by peers and a governing system that abhors weakness.

His determination to push on is one of my favorite traits in characters, and ensures that we, the audience, remain engaged, even as he learns to leverage his unique gifts. Smart and never boring, I can’t wait for the sequel!

By Bryce O'Connor , Luke Chmilenko ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Iron Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Reidon Ward will become a god. He doesn't know it yet, of course. Reidon was born weak, sickly and small. Afflicted with a painful disease and abandoned by his parents because of it, he has had to fight tooth and nail for every minor advantage life has allowed him.His perseverance has not gone unnoticed, however, and when the most powerful artificial intelligence in human history takes an interest in him, things began to change quickly. Granted a CAD—a Combat Assistance Device—with awful specs but an infinite potential for growth, Reidon finds himself at the bottom of his class at the…


Book cover of The Wandering Inn

E G

From E's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why E loves this book

The beginning was tough but once it gets going it doesn’t stop

By pirateaba ,

Why should I read it?

31 authors picked The Wandering Inn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

(This novel is the e-book version of the free web serial. You may read the entire ongoing story at wanderinginn.com free of charge.)

“No killing Goblins.”

So reads the sign outside of The Wandering Inn, a small building run by a young woman named Erin Solstice. She serves pasta with sausage, blue fruit juice, and dead acid flies on request. And she comes from another world. Ours.

It’s a bad day when Erin finds herself transported to a fantastical world and nearly gets eaten by a Dragon. She doesn’t belong in a place where monster attacks are a fact of…


Book cover of He Who Fights with Monsters

patrick o.

From patrick's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why patrick loves this book

World building is excellent, power levels scale, and captivating supporting characters. MC power set is my favorite in ARPGs.

By Shirtaloon , Travis Deverell ,

Why should I read it?

56 authors picked He Who Fights with Monsters as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Jason wakes up in a mysterious world of magic and monsters.It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it's hard to be good when all your powers are evil.He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters...and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.After cementing itself as one of the best-rated serial novels on Royal Road with an astonishing…


Book cover of All the Skills: A Deck Building LitRPG

Nik B

From Nik's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Unknown Author Why Nik loves this book

Stopped on book two as that was all that was released on Kindle. There's more on RR, but I'm waiting for more to read on kindle so the author gets something from me reading it.

By Honour Rae ,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked All the Skills as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

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.


Book cover of Traveller's Trial

J.J. Thorn Author Of Apocalypse Assassin

From J.J.'s 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author New father & husband Reader Nerd Couch potato

J.J.'s 3 favorite reads in 2023

J.J. Thorn Why J.J. loves this book

This book hit a lot of the right notes for me in a way that is very hard to explain.

As someone who enjoys action-oriented novels that show apparent progression aspects and extraordinary abilities, I thought this book was an amazing example of a simple story done very well. This book doesn’t redefine a genre but executes a storyline well.

The characterization of the main character is also very interesting. Off-putting, frustrating to follow at times, and likely neurodivergent, the main character’s thought process is interesting to follow as you learn about him and ‘watch’ him interact with what is a very limited cast of characters.

I often like to think that the ‘rule of cool’ is also just as important as a well-executed narrative, and I think this story does that in spades. The uniqueness of the abilities, the execution and creativity, and the confined narrative made this a…

By Chikao J ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Traveller's Trial as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Koji Athame left his house for the first time in five years today. When what was supposed to be a quick trip to visit his parents, turns into a deadly crash. Koji finds himself waking up in a realm of danger and wonder beyond his wildest imagination. It doesn’t take long to figure out he’s not in Kansas anymore, after escaping a monster attack and unlocking his new Traveller system, Koji learns that the Trial he and the other survivors are in will only exist for 4 more days, and only the strongest can escape.

With time ticking against him…


Book cover of The Perfect Run

Jakob H. Greif Author Of Apocalypse Redux - Book One: A LitRPG Time Regression Adventure

From my list on cheer on a competent badass in a fantastical world.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading basically since I learned how to, and I’ve always loved fantasy stories that I could imagine myself in, with stuff going on in every corner of the world, everything fleshed out so thoroughly that the reader just understands how things work and has that world playing in their mind long after they’ve put the book down. I also love stories with well-written characters, where mistakes happen because of who they are, not because of an idiot ball, because nothing launches me out of a story faster than an idiot ball. And this kind of story is what I hope to have written myself.  

Jakob's book list on cheer on a competent badass in a fantastical world

Jakob H. Greif Why Jakob loves this book

I love this story because it’s everything both a time-loop and a superhero story should be. It’s got fascinating powers that are both complex and internally consistent; I always go, “Oh, that makes sense.” When things are explained further, it always makes sense, and that also means that everything has a weakness. And the characters are just so much fun; I absolutely adore them.

There's all kinds and even the silly ones are never one-note jokes, they’re just being themselves and they just feel so real. I read this three-book series in less than a week, probably at the cost of getting some of my own writing done, because it’s just so damn good. 

By Maxime J. Durand ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked The Perfect Run as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Ryan "Quicksave" Romano is an eccentric adventurer with a strange power: he can create a save-point in time and redo his life whenever he dies.

Arriving in New Rome, the glitzy capital of sin of a rebuilding Europe, he finds the city torn between mega-corporations, sponsored heroes, superpowered criminals, and true monsters. It's a time of chaos, where potions can grant the power to rule the world and dangers lurk everywhere.

Ryan only sees different routes; and from Hero to Villain, he has to try them all. Only then will he achieve his perfect ending... no matter how many loops…


Book cover of Mother of Learning

Ash Setter

From Ash's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Ash loves this book

The characters and world building was fantastic, deep and believable characterisations and organisations and a really interest world which was complex but made sense. The time loop was used to great affect to explore the setting and how different actions effect the world, people and organisations and explore what is happening at different places during the time loop.

By nobody103 ,

Why should I read it?

13 authors picked Mother of Learning as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Zorian Kazinski has all the time in the world to get stronger, and he plans on taking full advantage of it.

A teenage mage of humble birth and slightly above-average skill, Zorian is attending his third year of education at Cyoria's magical academy. A driven and quiet young man, he is consumed by a desire to ensure his own future and free himself of the influence of his family, resenting the Kazinskis for favoring his brothers over him. Consequently, Zorian has no time for pointless distractions, much less other people's problems.

As it happens, though, time is something he is…


Book cover of Deadman Walking

Unknown Author

By C.B. Titus ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Deadman Walking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the wasteland, you do whatever you can to survive...
Even after the bombs fell, even after countries unleashed weapons beyond imagination on one another, even after lawlessness became the norm, people still expect their mail.

As a deadman, I'm uniquely suited to deliver it.

Rads don't bother me, and people who try to hurt me typically wind-up dead. Sure, humans may not like dealing with a face like mine, but hey not like you’ve got many options here in the wastes.

Now in the middle of my route I’ve come upon a new Job, and maybe the opportunity to…


Book cover of Mark of the Fool

Gillian Owen

From Gillian's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Gillian loves this book

Enjoyed how creative the MC is at working around their restrictions.

By J.M. Clarke ,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Mark of the Fool as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The gods chose him. He said no.

After his parents died, Alex Roth had one desire: become a wizard. Through hard work, he was accepted into the University of Generasi, the world’s greatest academy of wizardry...

Fate, however, had other plans.

On his eighteenth birthday, he is Marked by prophecy as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the Ravener, his land’s great enemy. But his brand is 'The Fool'. Worst of the marks.

Rather than die or serve other Heroes like past Fools, he takes a stand, rejects divine decree…and leaves. With his little sister, his childhood…