I'd suggest reading the Afterworld. It's... extremely representative of the genre, free at the moment and, uh, an extremely guilty pleasure to read.
The play to live series has been entertaining for me so far. I was going to start book three but a friend let me borrow Game of Thrones so now I'm a little side tracked. I was just looking them up this morning and on some of them, if you get the kindle + "Add Audible Narration" they are like $8 a piece.
the first in the series: https://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470244968&sr=8-1&keywords=play+to+live+alterworld
Yeah I tore through them pretty fast. The first couple are solid gold, but #5 and #6 kinda gets away from the good stuff a bit. http://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1452878704&sr=8-5&keywords=d+rus
The type of book you're looking for is an up and coming genre called litRPG. There are quite a few over at /r/noveltranslations as many of the best ones so far are from Japan, Korea, and other non English Languages. I highly recommend the Play to Live series by Russian Author D. Rus, which you can buy from Amazon. It's a seven book series with the 6th translated book hitting (virtual) shelves in about 2 weeks.
I can recommend Play to Live, a book series by D. Rus a russian author.
It's really a good read, but can turn quite grim at times. I would think it's on the same note as Log Horizon, SAO and Tate no Yuusha (Trapped in game world, albeit voluntarily), and from those three i think its more similar to Log Horizon.
The "Play to Live" series is pretty good. VR stuff with some cool twists, it even references LMS at one point. There are currently three books out with the 4th one coming out pretty soon I believe.
Alter World is probably one of the highest quality ones out there since it has an actual physical print in Russia also available on Amazon digitally in English with a high quality translation. You can read a synopsis here. The translation speeds not to bad about 1 to 2 full books a year as well.
Play to Live by D. Rus is one of my favourites. 7 books and it is finished.
And as far as I can see the first is free on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-LitRPG-Book-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=D+rus&qid=1582057197&sr=8-5
Amazon, of course! Ha ha ha...
Hey, looks like book one is free right now.
I guess here we found the real difference - i think Subaru has a much, much better position of power compared to Naofumi. I always viewed those niche powers related to time travel as superior. It tilts me to oblivion to see how he wastes nearly all of its potential, and he doesn't even try to adjust his abilities to his use properly, like you said - on the contrary, he tries to use it less. I remembered that part thanks to you and it was another tilter for me. Istead of "sit and think for a fucking second" he just denies himself from his position of privelege/power. And he isn't even locked to a warzone like in Edge of Tomorrow, where it is much harder to bend his next respawn. By the way, am i remembering this correctly, after trying not to rely on his power too much, he just restarts his conversation with ram/rem in the end to get a desirable answer? Not relying on his powers too much you say?
Come to think about it, i don't remember how many times did Subaru die? I get it, in Edge of Tomorrow he is a military adlut person so it is much easier for him. But, you have to get used to it at some point in some form, instead it just.. never happend in a coherent manner. I remembered a few plot points that never made much sense to me - like that curse from a DOG. Nani the f? Or suddenly a whale becomes a raidboss. So its not only the duel that made me upset - everything never delivered. Pretty much every plot point after first arc never delivered for me. There was a huge cliffhanger when everybody was dead and there was a... wolf? I dont remember what was happening there but i didn't like the outcome of that either. Investigation quest about the dog was very upsetting because he didn't do a good job investigating, and if i recall correctly he found that curse dog by luck or something similarly silly. And same goes for nearly everything - i just couldn't bring myself to believe.
A sidenote: O, shiet. I just found out that those books i am currently reading were translated to english - you can take a look at them. https://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-LitRPG-Book-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6
Edit: Oh, a guy in comments is saying that after book 3 it drops. I am already noticing it. Still, first/second books are good-to-great, i am in the middle of third one and it is still good.
Anyone who read into the series of D.Rus. (Alterworld - Play To Live) on Free Folk?
https://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-LitRPG-Play-Live-Book-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6
You might enjoy the LitRPG novels or Rational fiction. Try Play to Live, Survival Quest or Two Year Emperor.
Now move onto AlterWorld: Play to Live!
So, like, litrpg?
http://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
/r/litrpg
> Play to Win.
is this it here? http://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6
sounds awesome! thanks!
Here's a link for The Gam3.
I highly recommend the Russian series Play to Live by D. Rus. It's a seven book series with the first five books available in English on amazon. The sixth should be out in a few months.
Russian LitRPG bestsellers: http://www.amazon.com.br/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-English-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6 Play to live series, 5 books in english so far, 6 is being translated.
http://www.amazon.com.br/Survival-Quest-Way-Shaman-English-ebook/dp/B00VQRW14E First book in english published and the second one`s translation is almost finished.
Both are good. Play to Live the MC is diagnosed with a terminal disease and then chooses to "go perma" (have his mind get stuck into the game`s world and leave his dying body). The game world has both normal players and people who went perma there.
The way of the shaman, the MC ends up convicted of a crime, and in that society to save on costs, prisoners are put inside some special vr capsules and sent to the the popular game (that is backed by the gvt) and have to serve their sentences there (and work).
I can recomend Play To Live, I quite like the series
I have played WoW and many other MMOs for many years and I think he would enjoy the LitRPG novels (Think books about people playing MMOs in virtual reality)
The Play to Live series This is the first book in the series (it is a little mature).
The Way of the Shaman series Only one book out so far but i liked it a lot.
The Dragon's Wrath Only one book out, but again i really enjoyed it.
The Daniel Black series Not LitRPG, but about a modern man transported to a fantasy world. Two books out and i really enjoyed it, has some sex in it though so it is a bit mature.
Universe Online Another LitRPG but this one focused on sci-fi, i enjoyed it.
Portals of Infinity A nice series with 4 books out, very enjoyable and quick read.
The Contractor A really great book and good read.
These are all I can think of at the moment, but I hope these recommendations have helped!
Play To Live series: http://www.amazon.com/AlterWorld-Play-Live-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00LYJOII6
MC's power lies more in his political virtual position than as a game character.
Alterworld is like Zhang Long, except better in every way, shape, and form. It's slow to start, but the cultures and worldbuilding within the virtual world are amazing to read!