D.M. Rhodes - 'Razzmatazz'
Light Novel Author
Find me here!
What Is LitRPG?
If classical fantasy is an analogue clock, then litRPG is a digital one. I love talking about LitRPG books. Picture the scene for a moment: you're curled up with a good book, but instead of just following a hero's journey, you're seeing every level up, every skill unlocked, and every point gained as the action unfolds. That's the heart of LitRPG—it's what you'd get if a role-playing game and a fantasy novel had a wild, imaginative child. If you live for stat sheets, skill trees, and epic quests, you're right at home in the LitRPG genre.
At its core, LitRPG fiction drops the excitement of gaming right into traditional storytelling. The characters know they're living in a world governed by game mechanics that track every step of their progress. They see their stats climbing, unlock new powers, and sometimes battle with the rules fate has tossed at them. These gaming elements make everything feel immediate and personal. When you open a LitRPG novel, you find yourself immersed in the story, tracking every accomplishment and experience point, and experiencing each setback as if it were genuine.
Most LitRPG stories play out in magical worlds swarming with monsters, mystery, and ancient dungeons. But the genre has no real limits. I've experimented with LitRPG books set in futuristic dystopias full of cybernetic upgrades, modern cities overrun with game mechanics, and parallel universes where yesterday's rules mean nothing. All that is necessary is for the gaming elements, such as stat sheets, skill progression, and visible character advancement, to remain prominent. That's what keeps every LitRPG adventure feeling new and unpredictable.
Who Reads LitRPG?
If you think LitRPG is just for teenagers, think again. Sure, you'll spot anime and manga influences throughout the genre. Stories such as Isekai LitRPG, in which a character from our world journeys to a different realm, are ubiquitous. But adults are just as hooked as younger readers, myself included. The appeal digs much deeper than you'd expect. These books wrestle with real themes: personal growth, tough choices, and philosophical questions about fate and identity. When a game system confines you, it forces you to resist. To me, it's not just about having fun and playing games; it's about engaging in compelling storytelling.
Why LitRPG Is So Addictive
Why are readers obsessed with LitRPG? For me, it's all about the sense of progression. I don't just read about a hero growing stronger; I watch it happen, step by step, point by point, skill after skill. It feels like levelling up, right alongside the main character. The rules and world-building also give these universes a structure that makes them believable and exciting. When a character earns a new power or finally defeats a boss monster, it feels hard-won and deeply satisfying in ways other genres can't match. A few settings dominate the LitRPG landscape:
- Classic dungeon crawlers feature magic systems, monsters, and hidden treasure
- Sci-fi LitRPG explores virtual reality, technology, and sometimes rogue AI
- GameLit in modern settings blends fantasy mechanics with our own world.
- Isekai LitRPG follows ordinary people who are dropped into unknown worlds, earning their place and learning new abilities from scratch.
LitRPG Subgenres and Related Genres
Let me break down some close cousins to LitRPG:
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Isekai focuses on characters transported from our world to another, gaining new abilities and navigating strange rules along the way.
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Progression fantasy centres tightly on a character's effort and step-by-step growth. These novels don't always feature game stats, but every hard-won gain feels authentic.
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Xianxia and cultivation stories draw from Chinese mythology and focus on spiritual growth, martial arts, and the long journey to immortality.
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Dungeon Core LitRPG flips the formula by telling stories from the dungeon's perspective, where the core grows and defends against adventurers.
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Light novels from Japan offer short, illustrated, action-packed stories that are easy to dive into.
Why You Should Read LitRPG
LitRPG breaks traditional storytelling boundaries. If you want to watch characters level up in real time, face challenging quests, and deal with a game system that genuinely affects their world, these are the stories for you. As a LitRPG author, I don't just write them—I love them, and I want you on this adventure with me.
Platforms like Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Webnovel, and Royal Road are bursting with LitRPG audiobooks and ebooks that can transport you faster than you can say, "Stat Window Open." If you're ready to discover what happens when every victory is earned and every level genuinely matters, pick up a LitRPG book and join me, D. M. Rhodes, on a journey where the story's just getting started. Whether you're a novice in the genre or an experienced enthusiast seeking your next LitRPG series, you know where to find me. Happy reading!
The Blackwater World: My LitRPG Universe
Nearly every single story written by me happens within the same world, the Blackwater World.
This is the fantasy LitRPG isekai dungeon-core world that I've poured years of imagination and excitement into making. When asked what distinguishes my books, I consistently share this world with them. For me, it's not just a backdrop for my stories but a living, evolving universe that I build on with every single novel. What makes the Blackwater World truly different is its ongoing continuity. Almost every LitRPG book I write fits somewhere into this massive timeline. But each story is still fully standalone, so you can drop in wherever you like. At the same time, everything connects if you look closely. I love making a tapestry that goes back in time and across many lives. You might pick up one book set at the dawn of the Blackwater era, then step into another story set far in the future where echoes of the old days linger. This setup lets me show how the world changes and grows, and it means there's always something new to discover with every adventure. Whether you're reading your first Blackwater novel or your tenth, the experience feels fresh while rewarding long-time fans.
LitRPG Mechanics That Matter
For me, the RPG mechanics aren't just an added gimmick. In the Blackwater World, all those level-ups, character stats, and skill systems are part of the world's heartbeat. The game mechanics pulse through the narrative and are as concrete as the rivers or borders on the map. Characters make decisions and face challenges shaped by these progression systems, and their victories and losses always feel earned.
This feature is what separates great LitRPG fiction from stories that just slap stats onto traditional fantasy. The system matters. When a character gains a new ability or levels up, it changes their potential.
Hidden Connections and Easter Eggs
I especially love hiding little secrets and connections for careful readers. You can pick up any book of mine and enjoy it as a standalone LitRPG adventure, but if you keep reading across the series, you'll spot hints and recurring faces. Occasionally you'll see a familiar character in the corner of a scene or notice an event from one book echoed in another. Those are the hidden rewards for fans who read multiple books in the series. It's my way of saying thank you to readers who stick with me across this sprawling universe.
Start Your Blackwater Journey
The Blackwater World offers everything LitRPG readers love: meaningful progression, interconnected stories, deep world-building, and game systems that actually impact the narrative. Each book stands alone, but together they create something much larger; a fantasy world that evolves across time and space.
The Blackwater World has layers to discover, whether you're new or a long-time fan. Jump in anywhere, level up alongside unforgettable characters, and see where the adventure takes you.
The timeline of the Blackwater World is as follows:
THE BLACKWATER WORLD
↓ EARLIEST
4. RAT HERO (TBA)
5. WEAPONSMITH
6. DEMON CORE
9. FINAL CORE
10. VAMPIRE CORE
12. SIN-EATER
13. SUNFLOWER
14. ORATORIA
16. HOLY HEALER (TBA)
↓ LATEST
↓ EARTH
WORLD TREE APOCALYPSE: WW2.
DUNGEON ITEM SHOP: Modern day.
PLANETARY ORBITAL WEAPON: The future.
YOU CAN'T SAVE SAM: The future.
TANGO HEAVY: A distant future.
Each story of D.M. Rhodes is fully standalone. You can read them in any order you like. Simply choose the ones you think you will enjoy most! But if you have read the other novels, you will likely notice fun Easter eggs, in-world references to the historical events of the other novels, and even the possible return of many of your favorite characters !
