The hero's journey has been showing up in stories for millennia. The premise of a character going from being a complete nobody to someone who can change the world is compelling and inherently interesting. But what if there was a genre that was entirely dedicated to this one idea alone? Enter progression fantasy.
Progression fantasy, although present as a minor element in many mainstream fantasy and sci-fi stories, has only been recognized as a full-fledged sub-genre within the past 10 years. The popular prog fantasy/litRPG series Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman belongs in this subgenre. Dungeon Crawler Carl has enjoyed success within the traditional publishing world, but Progression Fantasy has been going strong for many years within the indie/self-publishing scene, with many amazing titles produced by talented authors who know how to craft a kickass narrative.
So if you're looking for some underdog stories to add to your TBR, check out our list of the top four Progression Fantasy titles out right now.
1. Iron Prince by Bryce O' Connor and Luke Chmilenko — Warformed: Stormweaver #1 (2020)
Iron Prince by Bryce O' Connor and Luke Chmilenko is arguably one of the best progression fantasy books out there. It's fast-paced, filled with snappy dialogue and banter, laced with thrilling action sequences, and mixes sci-fi and fantasy together in an interesting feat of worldbuilding.
We are introduced to Reidon Ward, an orphaned teenager who has been afflicted with a painful disease called "Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva," a rare genetic disorder that slowly replaces muscle, tendons, and ligaments with bone. Due to this, he has been abandoned by his parents and raised as a ward of the state, not belonging to any family or having a true name of his own. Growing up, he idolized the fighters in the Simulated Combat Tournaments, fantasizing that he could one day be one of the warriors who compete for honor and glory in the arena.
His wish is soon granted when the AI that safeguards the Astra system takes a particular interest in Reidon's condition and his fighting spirit. It allows him to pass the ISCM exam despite his poor physical state. Reidon, along with his best friend Viviana Arada, are selected from others of their class to receive a coveted Combat Assistance Device, a sentient suit of ever-changing armor that physically augments the user, allowing them to customize their stats to their preferred fighting style. But Reidon's dreams shatter when he is granted a CAD with the lowest possible specs across the board, all except "Growth", which has an infinite amount of potential for improvement.
Determined his efforts won't be for nothing, Reidon applies for the prestigious Galens Institute, where he is miraculously accepted despite his abysmal stats, starting at the very bottom of his class. He must train, fight, compete, win, and tear down any obstacle in his way as he rises through the ranks and towards the Simulated Combat Tournaments to become the warrior he's always wished to be.
If you're someone who enjoys a story that puts you in the character's head and makes you feel their struggles and victories every step of the way, then this book is for you. It is the first in a planned trilogy, with the third book being currently written.
2. Unsouled by Will Wight — Cradle #1 (2016)
Cradle is the poster child of progression fantasy, and many hail it as the shining star of the genre. It made history when the series hit the New York Times bestseller list in 2021, showing that this style of fantasy very much has the potential to be enjoyed by a wide readership. But Cradle didn't just provide a baseline for the progression fantasy books that have succeeded it; it is the prime example of the genre.
Boasting an ancient Chinese aesthetic, Cradle revolves around a young man named Lindon, who is born to the Shi family of the Wei clan. When he is found lacking in the magical substance known to his people as "madra," Lindon is branded as a member of the lowest caste within society: an Unsouled. Shame is brought upon Lindon's clan, and he is shunned by his own people and treated unfairly by all but his own family. He is left to fend for himself, receiving no help from anyone due to his disgraceful position.
But when Lindon experiences a vision that sees his family meet a grisly end, he takes fate into his own hands and sets out beyond the reaches of his homeland of Sacred Valley to rise above his unfortunate lot in life in the hopes that he can spare his loved ones from the horrible future before them.
This series is fast-paced and action-packed, described as "anime in book form" or "Dragon Ball Z meets fantasy novels" by fans. There are 12 books in the series, and it is difficult to explain just what readers have to look forward to without going too deep into spoiler territory. If you're on the fence about the genre and not entirely sure where to start, this is a great starting place for newcomers to progression fantasy.
3. Bastion by Phil Tucker — Immortal Great Souls #1 (2021)
This next entry on our list really turns up the heat: Bastion by Phil Tucker is the first book in his Immortal Great Souls series.
We follow the perspective of Scorio, a member of a warrior caste known as Great Souls who are tasked with protecting the underworld city of Bastion. Living within the walls of the prestigious institution known as the Academy, Scorio enjoys privilege, guided by the hand of the underworld's best instructors, all in preparation to be reincarnated to fight against the forces of hell. Everything is thrown off course when Scorio is blamed for crimes that he never committed and sentenced to toil in the very lowest pits of hell itself.
Stripped of everything that made him who he was, Scorio swears to return to the Academy where he belongs, battling through the horrors of hell, his classmates and the institute that betrayed him. He reclaims the memories that he has been stripped of as a result of being reborn as a Great Soul.
The difference between this book and many other progression fantasy novels is that Bastion doesn't dwell on tropes like ranks and stats, as it doesn't focus as much on a battle school setting. Numbered ranks such as F-rank to S-rank are now Char to Cinder, and Emberling to Tomb Spark. The underworld itself is not the way that we typically picture it from Greek myth, instead featuring lush biomes and completely original ideas for the landscape. This approach to worldbuilding, along with its richer characterization of the main cast, is what makes Bastion a particular standout within the progression fantasy genre.
The Immortal Great Souls series is ongoing, with six books planned overall. The first three are currently available to read in all formats.
4. Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe — Arcane Ascension #1 (2017)
Close behind on the heels of Cradle for the most recognizable progression fantasy is Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe. Unlike many other later progression fantasy novels that had a strong emphasis on academic/school settings, Sufficiently Advanced Magic has a more personal and urgent reason why its main character needs to learn and grow.
The book is set in a world where a massive tower known as the Serpent Spire grants anyone who enters and reaches the top floor an attunement that allows the wielder access to magical powers. But the spire is treacherous, filled with rooms that are everchanging, and hostile denizens that look to destroy any who trespass inside.
Our lead character is Corin Cadence, whose brother entered the Serpent Spire half a decade ago to earn an attunement. But Corin's brother never returned from his trial. Now, Corin finds himself ready to acquire his own attunement, and enters the tower not just for his own gain, but to find his brother. In order to reach the top floor alive, Corin will have to be savvy, strong, and dedicated. Others will help him along the way as he searches for any trace left of his brother within the Serpent Spire.
Told from Corin's first-person point of view, Sufficiently Advanced Magic is focused on its stakes and doesn't meander like some other books in the genre have a tendency to do. Though we get the familiar academy setting, it is there to set up the real main event of the series, which is the journey into the spire and the chaos that awaits inside. Clocking in at around 600 pages, it is a sizable yet still lean experience that has become well-loved among fans of progression fantasy, and for good reason.
This series is ongoing with a plan for seven installments total. Book six, A Brief History of Chronomancy, is out right now.
Progression Fantasy is on the rise
With how much love Progression Fantasy has been getting throughout the years, it's only a matter of time before the genre goes mainstream. Here's hoping that in the next couple of years we'll be seeing Progression Fantasy sitting shoulder to shoulder alongside other major fantasy subgenres, and other talented authors decide to give this emerging style a whirl. But until then, these are great titles to sink your teeth into.
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