Hell Runner Kade [LitRPG Adventure]

Information

Status

Hiatus

Year

2024

Author

npm

• Keep reading the series on Kindle Unlimited!
  Dec 2, 2024
• Chapter 5: A Busy Little Adventurer
  Jul 30, 2024
• Chapter 4: The F**king Tom Cruise of Eternal Damnation
  Jul 30, 2024
• Chapter 3: Nyxarion’s Got Talent
  Jul 30, 2024
• Chapter 2: Welcome to Infernum
  Jul 30, 2024
• Chapter 1: The Hero No One Asked For
  Jul 29, 2024

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• longwindedone1Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I reviewed the first four chapters of Hellbreaker Kade. There will likely be spoilers in this review. For that, I apologize.
  Story:
  This story follows a recently killed prize fighter, named Kade Dalton to Infernum (a hellish afterlife). He is selected to participate in the "Trials of the Damned," a reality show broadcast across the galaxy. As he battles for survival, Kade grapples with the absurdity of his situation, using a dark humor that I found hysterical.
  Style:
  This story is told from first person perspective, from Kade's point of view. His internal thoughts provide a darkly humorous and cynical outlook on the world. The overall tone of the story. The readers is treated to the MC's darkly humorous personality, using sarcasm and wit to cope with the absurdity and horror of his situation.
  Grammar:
  This was all good. Normally, I listen to my Royal Road stories, but I actually read this one. I didn't see anything that I wanted to correct, which is rare (and refreshing)
  Characters:
  The MC is Kade. He is funny and sarcastic, and makes the story fun. Aeon is a holographic thing that represents the Nyxarion Afterlife Management Bureau, and is generally emotionless.
  This story reminds me of some of the traits I love in other stories, yet this is a unique take. 5/5
• slimbob91Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Man, I gotta tell ya, it's not often I stumble across a story that hooks me right from the get-go like this one did. No joke, from the very first paragraph, the author yanks you inside Kade's head and doesn't let go. The way it's written in first-person? Spot on. It's like you're chatting with a real dude.
  Kade's got this sarcastic thing going on, but he's not a jerk about it. You can't help but like the guy. I was totally in his corner, especially when he landed in Infernum. Talk about a wild ride!
  And the world-building - it's freakin' awesome! It's kinda like hell, but with this crazy 80s vibe thrown in. As someone who's all about that retro stuff, I was eating it up. It gives everything this cool, nostalgic twist that just works.
  You know what? It reminded me a lot of my favorite series, DCC. Not because the story's the same or anything, but the main character's just as strong, and it's got that same killer combo of humor and deep world-building. It's just fun as hell, and I'm all about that when it comes to stories.
  I'm gonna be all over this story and author from now on. It's exactly the kind of thing I've been itching to read. Finally found my jam, and I'm stoked!
  So yeah, if you're into wild worlds, characters that feel real enough to grab a beer with, and a story that'll make you laugh while keeping you on the edge of your seat, you gotta check this out. Trust me, you won't regret it.
• M.S. DavidsonRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Okay, I've read enough.  This one goes on my Read Later list.
  I'm at Chapter 3 and likely into 4 by the time npm reads this but outstanding work.
  Clearly and unabashedly inspired by Dungeon Crawler Carl in all the best ways. 80s Metaphors, Idioms, and just outright lunacy. This is a fun Lit-RPG romp that feels like a fresh character in a Matt Dinneman kind of way. Don't be fooled though - npm has their own style and play on the style and it feels great.
  Style - This story oozes both an 80s over-the-top dialogue and metaphors and Dungeon Crawler Carl (and similar). It pays homage but the author takes the systems and characters in great and unique directions.
  Story - While I'm only on the 4th chapter - as far as a story that doesn't take itself too seriously goes - there's enough intrigue and motivation to keep me hooked.
  Grammar- look, I'm no Grammar police but the story is being told from the perspective of a late 20s dude from the 80s. I wouldn't notice grammar issues even if there was some.
  Characters- 6/5 really - but that's how these styles of Lit-RPG work. The characters are what make the story special, not the story and Kade is definitely... special.
  I sincerely look forward to reading more.
• walshbearRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Hell Breaker's got such a strong first-person voice in Kade, the protagonist, that it's hard not to immediately be absorbed by it. From the first words, you get this kick of hard-boiled flavor that tells you exactly what kind of person he is.
  If you enjoyed the game-show gallows-humor of Dungeon Crawler Carl (which, come on, you probably did), this story definitely scratches that same itch.
• elblairRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The story kicks off with Kade Dalton, a washed-up fighter and heavy drinker, laying out the sorry state of his life. He spends his nights in dive bars, barely scraping by. His sister Amelia is always worried about him and tries to help, but Kade’s too stubborn to change. After a rough night at a bar and a heated call with Amelia, he heads home but ends up getting involved in an alley assault. Trying to be a hero, he gets shot and killed.
  But death isn’t the end for Kade. He wakes up in a weird afterlife run by the "Overseers". Kade’s told he has to go through the "Trials of the Damned" on a hellish planet called Infernum. His soul’s fate hangs on how well he handles these trials.
  Infernum is a nightmare, with freaky creatures and a landscape straight out of a horror movie. Kade and other lost souls are thrown into this mess, each dealing with the shock of their new situation.
  The story mixes dark humor, gritty realism, and elements of horror and fantasy. Kade’s sarcastic, resigned tone makes the grim setting and events engaging and oddly relatable. The setup promises a wild ride through a twisted afterlife, where survival and redemption are the name of the game.
  The LitRPG elements are there, in the same way that they are in DCC. Not heavy on number crunching, but enough to lay out the system. There were enough progression elements to keep me interested, and I can see Kade getting really powerful and taking on the big baddies soon.
• KingofPizzaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Do not sleep on this book or its author!
  I burned through this story like the fires of Hell, and for good reason: It's great! I feel almost like this book was written for me.
  The prose and the main character are absolutely dripping with style and flavor, and the plot does what it needs to do to make a situation sticky enough to keep my attention and give the main character an arena to show us what he's about through his actions.
  But this story's strongest point is, by far, the main character and how the author writes his perspective. In just a few pages, we get a good picture about the kind of man Kade is and how he thinks. In this, the author, in my view, does a good job of doing the delicate balancing act of characterization that makes a crude dude like Kade not only likable, but someone worth investing in.
  Everything is told from Kade's, uh, rich perspective and the prose is loaded with jokes, quips, one-liners, '80s/'90s cultural references, gross-out humor, and other fun stuff. In this regard, the author really shows his years of experience with the craft of writing.
  As for grammar, I didn't notice any mistakes, but I'm no copy editor.
  And look at that cover art!
  I can't really justify docking any points, but for the sake of constructive criticism, I'd like to say that the RPG system, while fun, feels just a little bit too tacked-on. Perhaps the plot significance of the system becomes greater later in the story, but I feel like this story stands plenty tall without it. That being said, I'd rather have it than not have it.
  And, while I just praised the jokes, prose, and characterization, I must admit that once in a while, I got a strange impression like the author was piling it on maybe just a bit too thick at times. I like pepperoni pizza, but the smooth, plain taste of regular mozzarella matters in the overall enjoyment of the dish as well, and I felt like there was perhaps just a little too much pepperoni on some parts of this otherwise succulent pie.
  In shor
• keelylawRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  This story is a wild ride through a twisted, video game-inspired afterlife. The protagonist, Kade, finds himself thrust into "Infernum," a hellish realm where damned souls compete in deadly trials for the entertainment of alien overlords called the Overseers.
  The narrative is fast-paced and action-packed, with Kade facing off against grotesque monsters and navigating surreal landscapes. The author blends elements of horror, dark humor, and 1980s pop culture references to create a unique and unsettling atmosphere.
  One of the strengths of the story is its vivid and imaginative world-building. The descriptions of the various creatures and environments are creative and often disturbing. The game-like mechanics of the afterlife, complete with levels, skills, and loot, add an interesting layer to the narrative.
  The character of Kade is fairly well-developed, with a backstory that's gradually revealed. His sarcastic attitude and resilience make him an engaging protagonist. The supporting characters, like Annalise and Snuggles, add some welcome depth and humor to the story.
  The writing style is casual and conversational, which fits well with Kade's character. The author doesn't shy away from graphic violence or crude humor, which might not be to everyone's taste but suits the tone of the story.
  Overall, it's an entertaining and imaginative take on the LitRPG concept, with a hellish twist. While it might not be for the faint of heart, readers who enjoy dark fantasy, horror, and video game-inspired stories would likely find a lot to enjoy here. As others have mentioned there are similarities to DCC here as well, but in a good way, and the story is definitely its own unique entity. I'm looking forward to reading more.
• FrozenEntropyRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Full disclosure, this review is a part of a review swap!
  Style and Grammar: No major issues or distractions on the grammar side. I count style and grammar together, they're highly linked. The descriptions in this story were vivid and creative, with solid word choice that kept the reading experience fresh and interesting! The tone is both comedic and chaotic, an energy complimented by our main character. Watching the world unfold with the wonderful language used makes for an immersive experience, you'll feel like you're as much a part of the action as Kade himself.
  Characters and story: Kade is a total mess in his late twenties. Down on his luck, he's a fighter with substance abuse issues who gets shot and killed in an attempt to save a woman from a criminal. Despite how messed up he and his life is, there are salvageable qualities about him that make him worth rooting for, like the scenario I just described which lead to his death.
  Reading Kade's journey post-death through this strange world is a fascinating and fun experience. The story is off to a good start with fun characters and a fantastic style that dresses the package up nicely. Well done on this one so far :)
• tobascoasakoRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  "Hell Breaker" is a new LitRPG story that blends the elements of science-fiction with fantasy dark. The writing has a certain hard-boiled or noire edge to it which makes it distinct from some of the other offerings on this site. Also, The prose is well-written and sharp, with patches of dark humor that add a certain grim levity to the proceedings. Overall, the writing is filled with wonderful descriptions that bring the world that the author has made to life.
  Of particular note is the tse of the first person allows us a greater insight into the protagonist, Kade's, mental process. This allows us to really root for us as he struggles against the various trials and tribulations that are set on his path.
  Again, what sets this story apart is the level of professionalism woven into the writing. Both from a technical perspective such as grammar, structure, and composition to overall pacing and character. A perfect balance struck between the darker parts of the story and more light-hearted elements (such as humor), that I feel, stop things from getting a little too grim and allow for a much smoother read than would have been otherwise.
  The LitRPG elements are all present here and feel like an old friend. However, they are not so overly cumbersome that they detract from the story and bog down the reader with stat-blocks and endless status screens. They are used primarily to allow us to keep an eye on the protagonist's well-earned progress in a more objective manner. Well done.
  "Hell Breaker" is simply a must-read for LitRPG fans who have also enjoyed the critically acclaimed Dungeon Crawler Carl. Both have a similar setting game-show-esque setting with dark humor, and this work presses a lot of the same buttons!
• Rando99Royal Road

  ★★★★ 4.0

  Normally I wait for a review until I read more chapters, but this novel is pure gold.
  Kade of the Damned features a flawed hero, a drunk broken MMA price fighter, trying to survive in an afterlife environment one only could describe as Hell.
  The narrative is incredibly visual with oversaturated colors and combined with the gallows humor of Kade it gives a good touch of humor.
  I had to google the author: npm aka N.P. Martin is an established author who writes dark urban fantasy novels and his experience makes Kade of the Damned a top notch read.