Here are 20 books that A Soldier's Life fans have personally recommended if you like A Soldier's Life. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Primal Hunter

Toby Davidson

From Toby's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Toby loves this book

Jake is just awesome. The world building is amazing and the battles are super intense. There are so many other reasons too. I love how the system works how skills work how powerful people get.

By Zogarth ,

Why should I read it?

65 authors picked The Primal Hunter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

On just another average day, Jake finds himself in a forest filled with monsters, dangers, and opportunity.... It was a day like any other when suddenly the world changed. The universe reached a threshold humanity didn’t even know existed, and it was time to finally be integrated into the vast multiverse. A place where power is the only thing anyone can truly rely on.Jake, a seemingly average office worker, finds himself thrust into this new world. Into a tutorial filled with dangers and opportunities.. His new reality should breed fear and concern. His fellow coworkers falter at every turn. Jake,…


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Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of Chrysalis

Alexis Cerritos

From Alexis' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Alexis loves this book

I really resonate with the main character, the drive to survive and make the best of a terrible situation. They died, in an awful circumstance, and were reborn into a world of danger, and never skipped a beat. I see them, and what they go on to accomplish, the family they cultivate and love, as aspirational.

By RinoZ ,

Why should I read it?

28 authors picked Chrysalis as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Anthony has been reborn! . Placed into the remarkable game-like world of Pangera.. But something seems a little off... What's with these skills? Bite? Dig?. Wait..... He's been reborn as a WHAT?!. Follow Anthony as he attempts to adjust to his new life as an ant in his new Dungeon home. He'll have to learn how to survive, level-up, and grow both himself and his bite-sized colony into a force to be reckoned with.. Experience the start of a hit monster-evolution LitRPG series with nearly 30 Million views on Royal Road, making it one of the most popular web serials…


Book cover of Dungeon Crawler Carl

Random Answer

From Random's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Random loves this book

A long answer would just rehash what everyone says. Bottom line it was my first foray into modern LitRPG (I think I may have read some really early LitRPG from before it being a thing...which I also really like...Quag Keep by Andre Norton back in the 70s maybe?) and turns out as a lifelong gamer (I've been playing RPGs since before DnD had editions) I really enjoy it. I have DCC to thank for turning me onto it.

By Matt Dinniman ,

Why should I read it?

112 authors picked Dungeon Crawler Carl as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The apocalypse will be televised!

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible.

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth—from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds—collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.

The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're…


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Book cover of Trusting Her Duke

Trusting Her Duke by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.

Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother had…

Book cover of Dungeon Lord

Edwin McRae Author Of Skulls of Atlantis

From my list on characters who empower others as they level up.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a LitRPG author and narrative designer for the video games industry. I’ve written and designed for many RPGs and have always found it satisfying when the player character’s actions tangibly improve the in-game situations of the NPCs. In my own LitRPGs and interactive fiction, I intentionally place the player characters within communities they will come to care about and see grow as their own personal power grows. To me, a character build is more about relationships than upgrades. Stats are just numbers until they affect the lives of others. Then they become story.

Edwin's book list on characters who empower others as they level up

Edwin McRae Why Edwin loves this book

Edward Wright is portalled into an RPG world as a bad guy, but he’s determined to use his dark powers for good. What’s lovely about The Wraith’s Haunt is that Edward doesn’t just build a dungeon. He builds a community. He offers shelter for the disenfranchised, many of them monsters, and knits a motley, heart-warming alliance for the betterment of all. And this is all done within the comfortable progression architecture of a classic dungeon core LitRPG. 

By Hugo Huesca ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Dungeon Lord as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Dark forces have extended Edward Wright an offer of incredible power at a terrible cost...

...and Edward has chosen to make them regret it.
 
When Edward is swept into the world of Ivalis as a Dungeon Lord, the Dark's most powerful servant, he has no servitude in mind. He'll oppose the evil plans of the Dark god Murmur, whatever it takes.

Through only his wits and his guts to help him survive a weakened arrival, Edward must rise to power if he is to earn the right to live another day.

But in the battle between Dark and Light, what…


Book cover of Jake's Magical Market

J.J. Thorn Author Of Heavy

From my list on LitRPG for both creative worlds and engaging magic.

Why am I passionate about this?

Though I write, I will always be a LitRPG reader first. I enjoy these stories for their ability to craft interesting magical worlds, their creativity of plot, and their breadth of scope. Some LitRPGs are two-dimensional, which have their place, but each of the stories I’ve listed here are most definitely not. They act as my inspiration, both in how I wish to write and in how I’d like to be more creative overall. My day job is as a technical writer for a software company, and LitRPG stories got me back into reading, forced me to think more creatively, and allowed me to follow my dream of writing my own.

J.J.'s book list on LitRPG for both creative worlds and engaging magic

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

Jake's Magical Market has become one of my standout favourites because of how many different ideas can all (logically and cohesively) fit into one story. The initial premise promised a magic system based on internalized decks of cards, but the unfolding story reveals a much more sinister universe filled with mystery, corruption, and intrigue than I could have ever expected from its humble start. Jake meets each challenge head-on, growing stronger along the way, and each new arc in the story is crafted with creativity and very well thought out. A special shoutout to the author’s second series ‘A portal to nova roma,’ which some argue is even better, but Jake’s is still the more memorable read.

By J.R. Mathews ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Jake's Magical Market as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Meddling gods. A magical card system. An apocalypse no one could have predicted.

Jake is working at the neighborhood market under his apartment when the world ends. He expected nuclear war, a computer virus, or even climate change burning everyone to a crisp to bring about the downfall of civilization. But cruel and arbitrary gods from another world? Who would have guessed that?

When these cruel gods shuffled Earth like a deck of cards, nothing was in the same place anymore. Monsters, dungeons, and magical items appear scattered across the globe. And suddenly, everyone has access to a new, strange…


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…


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Book cover of The Duke's Christmas Redemption

The Duke's Christmas Redemption by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke who has rejected love, a Lady who dreams of a love match, an arranged marriage, a house full of secrets, a most unneighborly neighbor, a plot to destroy reputations, an unexpected love that redeems it all.

Lady Charlotte Wyndham, given in an arranged marriage to a man she…

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 To Flail Against Infinity

KrazeKode Author Of The First Law of Cultivation

From my list on get into Xianxia Cultivation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m KrazeKode; I’m a college student turned author who spent his teenage years reading a lot of web novels, and eventually, I ended up writing some. People liked them enough that I decided I wanted to do it as my job instead of writing boring code for some company, so now I do that instead. I’ve read a lot, and a good chunk of them were cultivation books. I really love this genre and find that it has a lot of potential to explore. It is generally a super fun setting and world and has a very different style and feel compared to most other Western English works, making it quite refreshing. 

KrazeKode's book list on get into Xianxia Cultivation

KrazeKode Why KrazeKode loves this book

This last book expanded my view on just what kind of settings a xianxia story could truly inhabit. To Flail Against Infinity takes place in a sci-fi xianxia with space cultivators, planetary settings, and so many new, interesting, and fresh ideas. It expands the genre, mixes it with something new, and brings a fresh take on stories that can sometimes feel a little samey. It was a highly worthwhile read that left me craving more. 

By J. P. Valentine ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked To Flail Against Infinity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A qi antithetical to life itself, a well of power more immense than the human mind can comprehend, and the only man in the galaxy who can see it.

The vast emptiness of deep space drives cultivators insane. Deprive one of qi for long enough, and sooner or later they’ll start stealing it from anything and anyone around them. The process eventually kills them, but not before they drain a few dozen mortals to death.

I should know. I was one of them.

But in my last moments, while the void psycho stumbled away and my body’s faculties slowly shut…


Book cover of This Inevitable Ruin: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 7

toadflax

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why John loves this book

Matt's writing is top notch.

By Matt Dinniman ,

Why should I read it?

43 authors picked This Inevitable Ruin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The time has come! Book seven in the bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series is here!

They call it Faction Wars.The ninth floor.

Nine armies, each led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. Each team has one objective: to capture and hold the castle at the very center of the battlefield. Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, and, of course, betrayal... It all makes for great fun and even greater television.

After all, none of these powerful aliens really die when they’re playing war.

Except this time. This time, winner takes all. Those who fall, stay in the ground.

As…


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Book cover of Old Man Country

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Book cover of 12 Miles Below: The Frozen Realm

Andrew Kossek

From Andrew's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Andrew loves this book

That the story has side beats about immortals engaging in social engineering and robotic Cartesian philosophy! The World building is actually and truly robust in a way that doesn't always happen when a story is as fight focused as this one.

By Mark Arrows ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked 12 Miles Below as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Icy death above. Monster-filled dungeons below. He must fight or freeze.Extreme sub-zero temperatures suffocate the surface. Frozen structures of bygone eras span across massive ice-wastes. And the survivors closely guard any technology rediscovered within them.. The only escape from the deadly climate is beneath the surface, but that doesn't mean it's safe.... Monstrous machines lurk in the depths. Unhinged demigods war against them, dying over and over, treating it all like a game. The depths themselves shift over time, more contraption than rock.. When an expedition into the far uncharted north goes terribly wrong, Keith Winterscar and his father get…


Book cover of The Primal Hunter
Book cover of Chrysalis
Book cover of Dungeon Crawler Carl

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