Hi there thanks for clicking through!

So I know... this doesn't look like a science fiction novel cover. There's a reason for that, which I'll get to below.

First, let's get you the big-picture details like the link and the blurb, then I'll tell you more about the story so you can see if it might be something you're interested in. After all, we've all got long TBR lists.

Link to Path of Relics: Aether Shard (first novel in series) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Relics-Aether-Seeker-Odyssey-ebook/dp/B0GP1RLPMV

Blurb:

He entered the contest to win cash...

Now millions could die.

Random gigs and ramen noodles... that's how out-of-shape gamer Terry survives the job-starved future of 2044. Until he's accepted into the Path of Relics tournament—the most anticipated virtual reality RPG event of the decade—where he has the chance to win some real loot.

But does he have a fighting chance against the world's top Active-VR athletes?

Not to mention the ancient dungeons, puzzles, scorpion-wolves, and all-too-realistic NPCs the game world throws at him. And just how advanced is this "Portal Rig" that lets him physically experience the fantasy world as if he were transported there?

Worse, could his suspicions be true? Are the strange and deadly malfunctions plaguing Manhattan somehow triggered by Path of Relics?

Now, outmatched and exhausted, can Terry's mysterious ability to level-up quickly and his meager martial arts skills help him avert catastrophe in the real world?

(Cover art by the team at Miblart)

"Ready Player One meets LOTR"

Okay so if you've read Ready Player Two, yeah, he's already done Lord of the Rings. But that's not what I'm talking about here.

I wanted to read a story where cutting edge technology allows you to experience a real-as-life fantasy world like LOTR, rife with deep lore, rich details, and mystery. That kind of story didn't exist, so I had to write it myself.

But I wanted to tell it in a specific way that honored both the real, cyberpunk future world as well as the digital fantasy world (more on that below). What it all comes down to however is my absolute love of future technologies and the curiosity of what it might be like to experience something we currently cannot.

A Twist on the VR genre

They're NOT stuck in the game, and they don't die in the real if they die in VR. But actions in virtual begin causing mysterious and dangerous anomalies in the real world.

This was incredibly important to me. A virtual reality story where the only stakes are what happens in the game just didn't interest me. I've read some of those, and the events in them just didn't seem to matter, because what do the characters have to lose? The way many VR stories get around this is that the character's can't log out and will die for real if they get a Game Over. That helps, but it's been done so much, I wanted something different.

From the beginning of Path of Relics: Aether Shard, it's obvious some ominous link between the virtual fantasy world and the cyberpunk real one exists. Part of the mystery is discovering why.

A VR RPG with a believable near-future setup

The Portal Rig exoskeleton and EEG helmet in Path of Relics creates a full-immersion, physically-active fantasy world. This isn't all happening in your head. Force feedback, haptics, temperature elements, GVS and more combine to create the fantasy game world.

We may one day get "full dive" VR like in Sword Art Online and the Matrix, but I'm betting that's pretty far off. I wanted to create a device that seemed plausible for 20 years for now. Something that still provides a real-as-life experience (of touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell), just using more advanced versions of tech we already have.

I also wanted the experience to be active, like in Ready Player One and the Holodeck from Star Trek. The Portal Rig makes players jump, run, and fight just like they would in real life. Although with some strange abilities they wouldn't have otherwise.

A Character Who Grows

Path of Relics falls into what some call a progression story. Terry Devereaux may start in a humble place, but he advances. Not just in skill, but also in who he is as a person. So if you like a science fiction story with some character growth included, this might be a tale for you.

I hope you'll give it a shot. Path of Relics: Aether Shard and the second book in the series, Path of Relics: Dark Throne, are both available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. I'll post the link one more time below. I'm happy to answer any questions you have in the comments (non-spoiler of course).

Link to Path of Relics: Aether Shard (first novel in series) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Relics-Aether-Seeker-Odyssey-ebook/dp/B0GP1RLPMV

(Thanks to the mods for your clarifications on posting this)

Hi everyone, very excited to announce the launch of my sci-fi/progression fantasy hybrid novel Path of Relics: Dark Throne, the sequel to Path of Relics: Aether Shard! Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

Link to Dark Throne: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQVNV81W

Link to Path of Relics: Aether Shard (Book 1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GP1RLPMV

Here’s a quick spoiler-free rundown of the Lore Seeker Odyssey series so you can tell if it fits your flavor of progression fantasy.

You’ll probably enjoy this if you like:

• A mystery-driven campaign where exploration uncovers lost lore and relics
• A fantasy world with clear internal rules, strange landscapes, and ancient history
• Story-first progression where growth feels earned
• A weak-to-competent MC whose development is tied to character, not just power
• Unique weapons for the main character (Kali Sticks)
• A twist on the VR genre. They're NOT stuck in the game, but actions in virtual begin causing dangerous anomalies in the real world
• A VR RPG with a believable near-future setup. The Portal Rig exoskeleton and EEG helmet creates a full-immersion, physically-active fantasy world

Good to know up front:

• There are levels and stats, but they’re woven into the prose
• No stat windows or game UI breaking immersion
• Progression is steady and logical, not rapid power fantasy (consequences matter)
• Minimal grinding (advancement comes from decisions and discovery)
• Lite romance (not harem)
• Eventual five-novel series with a planned ending point

The sequel delves more into the magic system, cultivation, and the mysterious lore of the fantasy world. If that sounds like your style, I’ll paste the blurb below. Happy to answer questions. Thanks for taking a look!

Link to Dark Throne: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQVNV81W

Link to Path of Relics: Aether Shard (Book 1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GP1RLPMV

Blurb:

Terry beat the game's first level.

Now, the game is coming for him.

Two months ago, Terry Devereaux climbed from struggling gig worker to international hero. But now that the military has commandeered ProAktiv Gaming, he's thrust into the role of honorary soldier in a virtual fantasy world as real as our own.

Can he and his friends solve Path of Relics' next quest before an unexplainable wave of violence destroys the real world?

Mastering the newly added magic system might give them a leg up. So might finding the Eldred's lost homeland. But will their growing skills be enough to face a dangerous mystical cult and its cunning leader? Not to mention the old friend who seems hell-bent on killing Terry at all costs, or the death threats hurled at him on the streets of Manhattan.

As the crew levels up and travels deeper into the all-too-real role-playing game, deciphering its rules and ancient lore—like this mysterious new ranking system—might be the only thing that saves millions from a bloody fate.

Cover art by the team at Miblart

*Editied to add link to first book for those who haven't started the series yet

Love all these moments but seeing someone else in awe of an MC who has been self-consious of their skills the whole book gets me every time. What other great moments did I miss?