I’ve slowed down in my online book buying, but … I’ve got a dozen stories I follow on RR or more. I’ve also bought real books to read.
Here’s the stuff I’ve been liking the best:
Archmage Coefficient: The Archmage Coefficient (OP Archmage/ Mage Academy/ LITRPG/ Hidden Genius) | Royal Road
This girl is a genius. She’s OP. She’s also somewhere deep on the “I can’t relate to people in social situations at all” side of things. Magic school; interesting world; trying to keep herself hidden. It’s fun.
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Automatic Noodle: Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz | Goodreads
I bought a hardcover book, in a bookstore. New. It’s that good. In it, sentient robots hide their illegal food-making business. They are free to work but not free to own things. Part of the consequences of machines that can think and feel.
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Sky Pride: Sky Pride | Royal Road
Look, the last time I checked, this was No. 1 on Royal Road. Warby is a fantastic author. I consider Slum Rat one of the best stories in Wuxia genre, which was a genre-defying western religion and philosophy Wuxia progression.
In Sky Pride, Warby decided to write a “real” Wuxia cultivation story based on eastern religious philosophy, and it’s fantastic. Warby approaches Wuxia like a fairly “hard” magic system, so I think a lot of people here might appreciate it.
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Bog Standard Isekai: Bog Standard Isekai | Royal Road
And
Elydes: Elydes | Royal Road
Both of these stories have finally started their characters at magic school (after several books). They are both Game Lit, and progression(ish). Don’t hold it against them. Good characters, and in fact, the stories have actual antagonists, which is nice. Not murder hobos, which is even more nice.
You’d have to buy the books to get started (or KU, I think).
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The Knight and His Squire: The Knight and His Squire | Royal Road
Good world-building, a talented kid, a decent mentor, and good writing. It’s a training arc story, with some good magic conflict; the author just intended this as a one-off, so don’t expect this to be your next epic fantasy, but it’s alright (and according to the author, almost done). This isn’t a super well known writer or novel or anything; its just a random write-a-thon entry, but I like it.
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Bookbound Bunny: B3 - Chapter 35 - Elective Swing - Bookbound Bunny | Royal Road
This is a cozy sort of orphan bunny girl learns magic story. Fun demon-book mentor. Nothing is high stakes, so far. It’s got “cute” vibes.