Here are 15 books that Player Manager fans have personally recommended if you like Player Manager. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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

todd2

From Todd's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Todd loves this book

The events in this series, at its core, are pretty horrific. But the presentation is so over the top, due to the events happening within a reality TV show and the purpose is to drive viewership, that you don’t always see or feel the horror that is there. But you sense it, and as characters develop and their relationships with each other develop, the good and the bad that occurs drive strong emotional reactions for the reader.
I’ve laughed and I’ve cried (both joyfully and sorrowfully) so many times during this series, but this specific volume contains some of the best, most hopeful moments, and some of the worst, most desperate moments.

By Matt Dinniman ,

Why should I read it?

45 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…


If you love Player Manager...

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 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?

58 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 Dungeon Crawler Carl

Carol Van Den Hende Author Of Dear Orchid

From my list on books to read aloud to your partner.

Why am I passionate about this?

As an author who has narrated my own audiobooks, I’ve realized that it is an art and a joy to perform books aloud. I wanted to offer this list to inspire more people to read aloud to one another. It’s one of the most bonding experiences I’ve had with my husband and children. 

Performing my Orchid audiobooks has been such a rewarding experience. I loved revisiting my characters and having one final time to enjoy my stories from beginning to end. The narration process allowed me to experience my books fresh, from a reader’s point of view. The good news is that everyone can experience this joy. Pick your favorite book and share it out loud!

Carol's book list on books to read aloud to your partner

Carol Van Den Hende Why Carol loves this book

What happens when Earth turns into a competition to the death, all for the entertainment of alien cultures around the universe? Well, you get an eminently engrossing tale that my husband and I have been reading aloud to each other! 

As a cat mom, I've completely fallen for Princess Donut the Chonk. She is imperious, yet her vulnerability shines through too. Carl is a fine hero, as he grapples with his morals and grows in his ability to save others.

My husband and I are hooked. We're literally reading the series aloud to each other, complete with a watery accent for Zev and her fish tank hood, Princess Donut's innocent voice, and nasally shapeshifter Mordecai.

Completely bingeable!

By Matt Dinniman ,

Why should I read it?

116 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…


If you love Ted Steel...

Book cover of I, Robot Alien

I, Robot Alien by Joel R. Dennstedt,

“Intelligent, unique, and tremendously entertaining.” - Readers' Favorite 2025

BOOKLIFE EDITOR’S PICK!

EARTH… CENTURIES AFTER THE FALL!

I was created by beings who couldn’t touch this world... only watch it crumble. Every twenty years, a new tribe... a new hope... a new failure.

I was told, “Do not interfere.” But…

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 Silvers

Gage Bachik

From Gage's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Gage loves this book

Great progression system.

By Brian J. Nordon ,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A world infested by demons. An Academy designed to train Heroes to save humanity from annihilation. A new student’s power could make all the difference.

Humans have been pushed to the brink of extinction by an ever-evolving demonic threat. Portals are opening faster than ever, Towers bursting into the skies and Dungeons being mined below the last safe havens of society. The demons are winning.

Quest Academy stands defiantly against them, as a place to train the next generation of Heroes. The Guild Association is holding the line, but are in dire need of new blood and the powerful abilities…


Book cover of Portal to Nova Roma

Joshua Kern Author Of Portals of Albion

From my list on portal fantasy & LitRPG novels to explore the genre.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a kid, I loved fantasy; it was my escape from real life. Portal Fantasy is one of the oldest sub-genres in that regard, with works such as Wizard of OzThrough the Looking Glass, and Chronicles of Narnia, to name a few. LitRPG is a newer genre, though its roots extend back to the 80s. Fantasy is full of magical worlds that embrace the reader’s mind, allowing them to live beyond their own life. I have experienced what it is like to fall in love countless times, to fly a ship through the sky using magic and swordfight, and to die and be reborn. Through these stories, I have lived.

Joshua's book list on portal fantasy & LitRPG novels to explore the genre

Joshua Kern Why Joshua loves this book

I know many people seem to like his other series more, but this is one that actually grabbed me. An AI intelligence being sent back to the past, only its one that has magic. I mean come on, how fun does that premise sound? It uses a fairly traditional LitRPG setup, but there is nothing wrong with that in the slightest.

I do have a few nitpicks with the story, but they can be explained away with magic more than anything else.

By J.R. Mathews ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Portal to Nova Roma as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

To find peace, Alexander must first embrace war.

After tragically losing the only person he ever cared about, Alexander, a rogue artificial intelligence, opens a portal to an alternate dimension to escape his grief.

Scanning trillions of different dimensions, Alexander finally finds a world that is reminiscent of the only time he was ever happy, back when he could play virtual reality games with his only friend. He doesn't know why, or how, such a world exists, but he doesn't care. All he cares about is finding a place where he can escape the misery of Earth and start over.


If you love Player Manager...

Book cover of An Heir of Realms

An Heir of Realms by Heather Ashle,

An Heir of Realms tells the tale of two young heroines—a dragon rider and a portal jumper—who fight dragon-like parasites to save their realms from extinction. 

Rhoswen is training as a Realm Rider to work with dragons and burn away the Narxon swarming into her realm. Rhoswen’s dream is to…

Book cover of Jake's Magical Market 3: Home Sweet Home

Unknown Author

By J.R. Mathews ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Jake's Magical Market 3 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The exciting conclusion to the Jake's Magical Market series!. Last time we saw Jake, he was [redacted to avoid spoilers] with [redacted] in order to travel to [redacted]. He had finally learned [redacted] and [redacted]. He was just starting to [redacted]! So join him now on his new adventure as he [redacted! redacted! redacted!].. Ok, no spoilers allowed, but be prepared for a life-changing, world-spanning, time-twisting conclusion to Jake's story!. Lessons will be learned (maybe), new powers will be gained (definitely), worlds will be explored (cool), time will be tamed (is that even possible?), and adventures will be adventured (yes…


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 Hell Difficulty Tutorial

gavin lockhart

From gavin's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why gavin loves this book

It was just overall really interesting, I flew through the series and it left me wanting more. The worldbuilding, the magic, the characters, the plot, it is all great. Do note that I am talking about the series as a whole, since I read books 1-5 one after another.

By Cerim ,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked Hell Difficulty Tutorial as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Where others see doom, he sees opportunity. Hell Difficulty? More like a chance to thrive.

Nathaniel's bus ride was supposed to be just another boring commute. Wrong. Now, he, 23 fellow passengers, and a corgi named Biscuit, are stuck in a "Hell Difficulty" Tutorial, battling monsters and leveling up to survive.

Easy difficulty, anyone can handle. Normal difficulty, you've got to put up a fight to get by. Hard difficulty is where only the tough ones last. And Hell? That's where you have to be a bit out of your mind!

With his terrifying talent for mana manipulation,…


If you love Ted Steel...

Book cover of The Tao of Poison

The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook,

A poisonous maiden, a Daoist sex cult, and a violent insurgency.

The polyandrous Yan family in China's rural Shaanxi Province takes in two carpenter brothers. When one brother is convicted of murder after killing their neighbor in a dispute, a constable threatens to expose the family's rumored polyandry and extorts…

Book cover of TAXTOPIA

Unknown Author

By The Rebel Accountant ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked TAXTOPIA as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A shocking, enraging, sometimes hilarious expose of a tax system that lives down to all our worst fears of further enriching the wealthy at the expense of the little guys.' - Piers Morgan

'Very funny (and furious)... By the end of the book you may be spluttering with rage at the injustice of it all. Page after page shows how the rich are exploiting loopholes to reduce their tax bill.... But this is not some crazed figure on the extreme left hoping to bring down the establishment. The book is written by an accountant who has spent his career coming…


Book cover of This Inevitable Ruin: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 7
Book cover of He Who Fights with Monsters
Book cover of Dungeon Crawler Carl

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