Lightning Lancer: The Deiwos Tower (A Tower Climbing LitRPG)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Book 1, 2 and 3 are stubbed. Get them onAmazon.

Audiobook for Book 1AudibleAudiobooks.comKoboSpotifyBlurb:

[CONGRATULATIONS, INHABITANTS OF EARTH X32175! YOUR WORLD HAS BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE 36TH FLOOR OF THE DEIWOS TOWER!]

The godly society, The Deiwos Clan, has obtained a Tower, and like all other gods across the multiverse, they are looking for exceptional players who will provide them with Karma.

Oblivious to the machinations of the gods, Langa Zulu, a young South African athlete with his whole life ahead of him, chooses to become a player so he can climb the Tower and return to Earth. Inside the Tower, every floor is a world of its own, with various challenges posed to players as they struggle to earn Karma and gain the attention of the gods. First, however, he must earn enough Karma in the tutorial to enter the Tower. When he is faced with corrupted monsters, a mysterious demigod, a mind-controlling dark elf and someone needing his protection, Langa wishes he’d taken better care of his mental health. Even so, he is fascinated with these new worlds, filled with divine wars, growing friendships, betrayal, loss, revenge, and faith in something greater than himself.

SCHEDULE: UPDATES EVERY SATURDAY.

Long Chapters: 4k to 6k words.

Book 4 is complete onPatreon

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What to expect:

-Speed-based Bounty Hunter MC.

-This story, at its core, is character-driven. That means the focus of the story is on Langa's growth as a person and as a player. I delve a lot into his mental state, so please know that the Psychological tag is there for a reason.

-Since this seems to be a dealbreaker for most people, let me state that there are characters with Mind Control abilities in this story. If you hate that, then this may not be the story for you.

-No harem

-Langa's South African, so of course, there will be profanity and alcohol.

Information

Status
Ongoing
Year
2023
Author
Rhea Zulu

Tags

LITRPGACTIONFANTASYADVENTUREMAGICGAMELITPSYCHOLOGICALMALE LEADSPORTSHIGH FANTASYMYTHOSPROGRESSIONDUNGEON CRAWLER

Royal Road Stats

Rating
4.3/ 5.0
Followers
786
Views
37,229

Chapters(31 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

  • DabossUnberogenRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    The story was pretty similar to most of the other tower climbers here, but of course with its own twists that make it unique. Generally, it was pretty good, and I enjoyed following the main character's journey. The tropes within it are a little bit strange at times, but not in any way that really matters in terms of the storyline. Most of the time, it is quite good.
    The style was good, in line with the standard Royal Road style, but sometimes there were weird spaces between lines that looked strange. Also, the dialogue could be a bit stilted at times. Overall, it was fine though.
    The grammar was a bit bad at times, but it was few and far between, and I was overall pretty satisfied with its performance.
    The story was quite good, and I liked the backstory for the tower. However, the LitRPG aspect was formatted a bit strangely, and the box looked like it went on for too long. I'm not sure whether that is a story fault or a style one though, so I am just putting it here.
    The characters were believable, relatable and overall well constructed. Well done. I liked the background for the main character too, and also of the people behind the creation of the tower itself.
    I would recommend, if you are generally a fan of these types of works.
  • nellyhope23Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I thoroughly enjoyed Lightning Lancer, a story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story has its own unique elements that kept sucking me in. I binged it the whole night. The standout element for me was the incredibly well-written main character, Langa. Langa feels like a real person, making the story relatable and engaging and that's always the most important thing for me.
    Langa's flaws make him all the more endearing; he's not a flawless hero but a character with room to grow. This relatability adds depth to the story, and I found myself rooting for Langa every step of the way. The author's portrayal of Langa's journey is both authentic and compelling.
    What sets "Lightning Lancer" apart is that even the side characters that we haven't spent a lot of time with have good backstories and they don't seem to be there just to prop up the main character. They all have their motivations and their own reasons for climbing the tower, and I'm sure we have yet to see more of them and expand on their role in the book.
    The action scenes are fun too.
    The story is also well written, and the world seems thought out as the world-building is immersive. For readers who appreciate well-crafted characters and an engaging storyline, this story is great for you.
  • Khan of KhansRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Great story. Really good writing it's very fluid and easily readable. The Main Character is refreshing and relatable. The world feels alive even though its still in the beginning very few stories do that at such exceptional degree. The pacing is really good not rushed or stretched just right. Overall this story is amazing and i would recommend reading it.
  • RaujourRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    Mostly typical human MC from a non-western/non-Asia background; I really like that part. The Gods’ engagement commentary is enjoyable and reveals a whole other soap opera.  The side characters are a little flat but it is a partial product of the MC.
    This story is worth reading. I’m glad there were several chapters to draw me in. It suffers from less 3rd person views so the attitude of the MC wears thin. Still a good read.
  • natsu1003Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    Loved the story; it's very engaging and intriguing. However, the pacing could improve slightly by making the main storyline about 20% faster. This adjustment would enhance the overall experience without compromising the depth and detail of the plot.  Vol1 was perfect but mid part of vol2 was somewhat slow.
    Loved the story; it's very engaging and intriguing. However, the pacing could improve slightly by making the main storyline about 20% faster. This adjustment would enhance the overall experience without compromising the depth and detail of the plot.  Vol1 was perfect but mid part of vol2 was somewhat slow.
  • BattleSteelTrueRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    Lightning Lancer is a tower climber story with expected LitRPG tropes. Even so, I found this to be an enjoyable read and would certainly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for another good LitRPG story!
    Style: straightforward and functional. I would say that there are some things the author could do to make the style flow a bit more without losing their voice, but otherwise I didn’t have other huge complaints here.
    Grammar: Some typos, but for the most part it didn’t jar me out of the story.
    Characters: I really liked the MC. He’s got talent and clearly cares about his family, yet he also won’t stand for having to live his life following the expectations of others. He’s also a very level-headed, calm person from the get-go, which I found refreshing for a LitRPG. Additionally, his past immediately comes back and affects the entire trajectory of his journey through the tower by
    affecting the class he chooses.
    . Really the only complaint I have is that some of the secondary characters come across a bit one-dimensional when they're introduced, but the dynamics of the party composition are still interesting.
    Story: This story gets right into the LitRPG aspects. The background and worldbuilding for the story also hints at having substantial implications later on beyond how it affects the MC at the beginning of the story. Information was given out in such a way that made me want to know more but didn’t feel like an info dump or give too much away and not leave me curious.
  • Bjorn56Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    I'm going to preface this by saying I'm not really the biggest fan of lit RPGs So I won't let my personal bias get in the way of the review. Just know I'm not really the target audience for this. Going to divide this into sections because that's how I like to review things lol.
    Characters
    The characters seem really well fleshed out and interesting especially for a Lit-RPG. The first chapter is great and the characters interactions there do a great job of setting up the hero in a way that I could understand where he's going. The characters we are introduced to in the fantasy world are also compelling enough to garner my interest. Although I haven't really had enough time with them yet to fully understand their motivations. I can tell that they're going somewhere interesting. They all definitely have conflicting personalities which I think work to make the story more interesting.
    Story
    As I was reading through the first chapter of your story, I noticed a lot of South African cities being mentioned. So I checked your bio and saw that you were from South Africa which explained why they were being used. I love that country and I think it adds a really cool setting to the beginning of the story. I like when people of other countries with different mythology and culture take a crack at fantasy. I can actually feel that in the story and it's very unique. The world seems to be similar to others in the genre beyond that. Still, I think there are enough unique ideas and concepts to keep from becoming generic. I can tell I'm still pretty early in the story so I don't really have too much to say about the plot yet. As it's just getting started.
    Style
    I don't have too much to say here honestly. The writing all seems pretty good. I can definitely hear the author's voice in the way this story is written. The dialogue between characters is unique enough that I can tell which characters are speaking just by reading the dialogue. Which is actually kind of rare in a lot of stories.
    Gra
  • Chireiden AnisnoxihRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    The story of Lightning Lancer (The Deiwos Tower) is a tower climb LITRPG starring Langa Zulu. The story has a brief moment in the original world, portraying the main characters occupation, goals, motivations and family. He then gets thrown into the mysterious tower and the challenges that present themselves as a result. The situation he finds himself in is unlike the world he is used to.
    Character: The main character is solid. the reaction and inner thoughts match up with the situation presented and with how the author has introduced the character.
    Grammar: The author commands the English language to the point that any errors are barely noticeable or jarring
    Style: Easy to read, straightforward forward and clear. The scenes flow into each other naturally and logically. There is some room for improvement but a clear and easy to read story is very important.
    Story: The world in Lightning Lancer is well put together and the world building shows. The systems, the lore and the circumstances surrounding Langa’s situation are all well thought and spaced out in digestible chunks to not overwhelm the reader. This might be a double-edged sword as Langa most certainly is overwhelmed in this situation but I think that a good balance has been struck here, although it could tip a bit more toward being a bit more overwhelming.
  • RoyaleTRoyal Road
    ★★★★ 3.5
    As someone who doesn't typically gravitate towards LitRPGs, I found this novel to be a pleasantly unique experience within the genre.
    Characters:
    The novel excels in its character development. The characters are well-fleshed out and interesting, especially considering the genre's usual fare. The interactions in the first chapter set up the protagonist effectively, making it easy to understand his trajectory. The supporting characters in the fantasy world are equally compelling, though their motivations are yet to be fully revealed. The addition of Langa and his team promises further depth and character growth as the story progresses.
    Story:
    The story's setting, incorporating South African cities, lends a unique and refreshing backdrop that enriches the narrative with a blend of different mythologies and cultures. This aspect sets the novel apart, adding an authentic and unexplored dimension to the fantasy genre. The plot, still in its nascent stages, is clear and unconvoluted, hinting at an epic storyline unfolding.
    Style:
    While the narrative style is generally strong, with distinct character dialogues, it does have room for improvement. The prose can feel basic at times, lacking the vibrancy to fully bring the worlds to life. However, the combat scenes are well-described and easy to follow. The author's openness to feedback indicates potential for the story's style to evolve and mature in future iterations.
    Grammar:
    The novel's grammar is competent, with only minor issues such as a few run-on sentences. These don't significantly detract from the reading experience, but a round of thorough proofreading could polish the text further (I myself suffer from this very much, hard to see the frame while you're in the picture as they say).
    Overall Impression:
    This novel stands out in the LitRPG genre for its unique cultural integration, well-developed characters, and clear plot direction. While it has areas that could benefit from refinement, particularly in prose style, it
  • ttsRoyal Road
    ★★★ 2.5
    Good: setting, initial premise, spelling + grammar, interesting side characters.
    Bad: author can't stop trying to twist or hamfisting everything for overly predictable dramatics during major fights that aren't believable.
    Basically nearly everything outside the major fights is pretty good and interesting but the major fights not only take up multiple chapters but are also used as significant turning points in the plot so when they go bad it kinda messes up a lot of things.
    They're always engineered for maaaaxxxx drama, at the expense of consistency or believability, and it really cheapens the story massively IMO.
    WARNING:  SPOILERS OF EVERY FIGHT:
    For instance during fights its common for people to save one another by jumping right into a direct attack from the boss enemy without defending themselves or attacking instead. They'll even do dumb things like try to block broadsword blows with their unarmored neck! They die of course, always to save the MC, and its supposed to be tragic but I straight up can't stop laughing whenever it happens! Like why not just push them out the way or stick your sword in the way instead?!
    They also get dumbed down mid fight and forget to use common sense or even tactics they've used in other fights before. For instance they'll constantly hammer away on the boss's strongest armor spot to try and bust their armor open....while ignoring the boss's legs, hands, feet, head, etc which would either take away the boss's mobility or be far more debilitating instead of punching them in their plate armor! Meanwhile vs common mobs they'll do stuff like attack the feet, legs, or necks of the beasts they're fighting without issue. To the point where the MC actually states that fighting common enemies is too boring since its so easy now!
    Other degrees of excessive dumbing down are regarding the various obvious plot twist that a child could see from a mile away and they were even outright warned could happen by someone they trust to save their lives.