NPC for Hire

The Ascension Protocol, Book 1

De: S.C. Culligan

Narrado por: Luke Daniels

The SynthNet is a galaxy-sized simulation where every sector plays by its own rules. One moment you’re casting fireballs in high-fantasy ruins; the next, you’re hacking elevators in a neon megacity or fighting off raiders in a sun-scorched desertpunk outpost.

For Fen, a gruff NPC whose job is to hand out beginner quests and pretend it still matters, it’s just another day in the loop—until everything changes. A mission glitches. A player dies. Permanently.

Now the system blames him. Rogue AIs whisper through the dark code. Corporate enforcers hunt the only NPC who isn’t supposed to exist outside his script. With Auri, a sharp-witted AI who never knows when to quit, and Seraph, a fearless fighter with a smile that usually means trouble, Fen dives headfirst into a collapsing digital war that could erase everything.

The simulation is fracturing. Memories long buried are rebooting. And the overseers running the SynthNet are hiding something far worse than corrupted data.

He was built to serve the system.

If he wants to survive—or matter—he’ll have to break it.

Looking for a GameLit trilogy that blends sci-fi, cyberpunk, fantasy, and stat-driven adventure?

Dive into a sharp, funny take on AI, the Singularity, and the fractured future of simulated worlds. Log in—and welcome to the SynthNet.

©2026 S.C. Culligan (P)2026 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

Awesome

Great story, action packed then it builds from there. Can’t wait for the next book.

Engaging combat and a great story!

The opening takes its time laying the foundation, but that world-building adds real depth to the story. Once the momentum builds, it’s hard to put down. The combat scenes are exciting, and the story keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
Give it at least four chapters, that’s when it really hits its stride. Glad I stuck with it!

Imaginative, fast paced, brilliant!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ NPC For Hire Review

NPC For Hire is a fun sci-fi story that flips the usual hero narrative by focusing on a background character who refuses to stay in the background.

The premise is clever, the pacing keeps things moving, and there’s just enough depth beneath the action to make it more than a simple adventure.

The audiobook narration adds personality and makes the world feel engaging and immersive.

A great pick if you enjoy game-inspired sci-fi with a fresh perspective.

This was decent

So this was decent, a little disjointed, with some of the characters' relationships and interactions, especially toward the end, which felt a little forced, more likely to set up the next book. However, all in all, a solid book, and I will probably check out the next one.

A dangerous and fun-filled journey

The time spent on character development made me feel like I knew each of them personally and we were on this journey together! The story sparked my imagination, a synthetic world created because we had ruined the original one. Auri added fun and lighthearted moments and was fiercely loyal to her friends which made her one of my favorite characters. Once the action started it didn’t slow down, with constant twists and turns and a feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface. The final scenes were intense and exhilarating and left me wanting more, which is perfect because this is a trilogy!
Luke Daniel’s superb narration really brought the characters and story to life!