Wayward: Running: An Isekai LitRPG

Wayward, Book 1

De: T. A. Star

Narrado por: Hannah Church

A chronically ill teen trades her hospital bed for a world of adventure, intrigue, and magic in the first installment of this imaginative LitRPG series.

For as long as she can remember, Phoenix Fraser has been stuck. Stuck in the wrong body, losing both friends and family, and no future to plan for. So when a mysterious entity known as the Night Witch appears in her room, offering her a new start in a strange land, she can't believe the opportunity to fulfill her ever-elusive potential.

At first, Phoenix is enraptured by the second chance at life into which she's been transported. Equipped with a new body that matches her spirit and, with it, discovering exciting new abilities—like respawning—she's suddenly on the sort of quest she'd only ever read about. But surviving the world of Makera isn't all fun and MMO-style games . . .

True danger lurks in every direction: namely, uncanny monsters, jealous nobles, and other cruel creatures who would destroy everything Phoenix cares about, including her very soul. Now, she'll have to rely on her wit and intuition alone to determine who to trust and befriend—before she finds herself at the mercy of mages, mercenaries, rivals, and even gods.

The first volume of the hit LitRPG fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

©2025 Tristan Star (P)2025 Podium Audio

Decent entertaining

While it does have a similar magic system to others, that's no different from other litrpgs or wuxia novels using systems or cultivation realms. They all borrow or have similar systems.

Now what the description doesnt say plainly as it tries to be politically correct is that the 'wrong body' isnt about them being bed ridden sick but of being born Male and feeling they are female. This is a trans story where the MC is turned female on their new life. Perhaps for some they can relate and some might hate but that's up to the reader.

For me while I liked the book and was surprised at some dark parts , looking forward to the 2nd. I did hate how trusting simple the MC is. constantly telling people her secrets when they ask. Even answering questions that she apologies for asking back. Like for her its rude to ask but not them.

Then I hated how she instantly trusted meddling gods and became basically their enslaved puppet. Having to do what they ask or else. She didnt even question if what they wanted was good for the people or just the gods schemes.
Instead of standing up to petty divines like in most books , bows to and humbles herself to them.

Personally I hated the gods in this book. She is only 18 and in this series one isnt an adult till 30. So they want a child to do all this hard suffering for them. It was disgusting and unworthy of respect. Just like in another book 'Mark of the fool' any god who would send children to fight their wars isnt a god worth respect.

Still look forward to the next. It is also far enough from the other series reviewer compare it to. Not at all just a change of a few things. Just similar in the way two cultivation books using QI cultivation might be.

CoachMD

As the other review mentions, the author is definitely a fan of HWFWM, I still really enjoyed the book and am also looking forward to the next one!! Personally
I can relate to the MD reference which was also a selling point for me.

A decent story with lots of unoriginal elements

Even if this review sounds like I didn't enjoy this book, I did. The story was pretty okay and by the end I was looking forward to the next book which means it succeeded at its task. That shouldn't be all to surprising though because this is basically just He Who Fights With Monsters fan fiction. There are so many elements of the plot, world building, magic system, and main character that were taken directly from HWFWM, often with only the thinnest veneer of change over it.

The magic system has 5 levels of advancement to it with the highest level being immortal only instead of metal based names (Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond) its gemstones (Crystal, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Onyx).
The character has 4 slots for powers only instead of 3 Essences combining into a Confluence Essence, 4 Aspects combine into a Class.
Instead of using Awakening Stones to unlock new powers they use Spirit Stones.
Instead of using Spirit Coins as food, fuel, and currency, they use Crystalized Essence Stones.
The MC has Darkness as one of their primary Aspects and gains a 'see in the dark' vision power, a portal power, a summonable dagger, an Astral Phoenix summon, and has an unusually potent aura and the blessing of multiple gods.
The gods of the world are named after broad architypes (Hero, Rebel, Scholar, Warrior, etc.) rather than having unique names.
The god of Purity betrayed the world to work with extradimensional cultists who fly around in spaceships to disrupt pocket realms all over the world.
The world is overdue for a magical event that causes tons of powerful monsters to spawn and this one is supposed to be the worst one in history only, instead of calling it a Monster Surge its a Blood Moon.
Instead of the MC waking up naked in a hedge maze to be attacked by low ranked monsters, she wakes up naked in a forest and is attacked by low ranked monsters (even though the forest is a Sapphire ranked zone she manages to only ever fight the lowest level of monsters).
Instead of the Adventure Society and Magic Society they're the Alliance of Adventurers and the Oder of Magic. The Order of Magic is still corrupt and full of sadist slavers and petty tyrants, while the Alliance of Adventurers is still mostly honorable folk just looking to kill monsters and earn some coin, except for some of the nobility who are entitled brats that think they can literally get away with murder.

I'm sure there are more if I think about it but that's what comes to me off the top of my head.