Fantasy Book Critic: SPFBO Finalist Review: No More Levels by Benjamin Barreth

Benjamin Barreth lives in Kansas City with his wife and three kids. He works as a software developer for CarePortal and describes his Christian faith as central to how he lives. He writes fantasy stories that are fun, fast-paced, and full of adventure.

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CHELS

If you’re looking for a LITRPG but don’t want to commit to a long series, No More Levels is for you.

This is a standalone LitRPG following our main character Rin as he sets out to level up and become the strongest he can so he can take part in the Game of the Gods. After a major setback, we follow Rin as he tries to come to terms with hand he has been dealt, while exploring the possibilities of what he can do.

This is a good book showcasing overcoming hardship and making the best of it. I think you’ll enjoy this, even if LitRPG isn’t your thing. It’s a good adventure, tied up in one book.

JACK

No More Levels is a standalone litRPG novel about a teenage farmer who leaves home and enters his first dungeon to gain a class and start gaining levels in the "Game of the Gods." This Game appears to shape much of this world's society; by entering dungeons and risking their lives there, anybody living in this world can gain useful abilities and develop them as far as they dare. Rin's entry to the Game, however, goes poorly. He's forced to choose an apparently useless class, and the novel follows his attempts to survive his enemies derive strength from his class despite those handicaps.

I liked the premise here - it sets up a natural underdog story. The section of the story immediately after Rin gets his class executes on the premise effectively. For a while there, Rin is genuinely down and it's rewarding to watch him struggle with his situation and then begin to overcome it.

Unfortunately, the rest of the novel really lost me. Rin quickly stops being the underdog. After that, the dungeons get repetitive and Rin's attitude starts to grate. He surmounts nearly every challenge with apparent ease, but still tends to complain when a challenge presents itself or when a reward isn't as good as he'd hoped. This makes him feel whiny, entitled, and very much a teenager, especially since he's gaining power exponentially faster than anybody else in the setting.

The prose and dialogue were rough around the edges, too. Among other things, the author often uses Pokemon-style shorthand (e.g., "Rin used Partial Transformation" or "Rin activated his so-and-so ability") rather than describing events in a narrative fashion, which undercut the sense that this was a real world in which real people were struggling to surmount obstacles. Finally, the story's antagonists feel one-dimensional and the climax of the book underwhelmed me.

ŁUKASZ

Every now and then I pick up a LitRPG hoping this will finally be the one that clicks. Sadly, No More Levels wasn't it.

To be fair, I don't think that's entirely the book's fault. LitRPG as a genre has never really worked for me. Watching numbers go up, unlocking new skills, and optimizing simply doesn't scratch the same itch as strong characterization or compelling worldbuilding. So take my opinion with the grain of salt.

That said, I can absolutely see why this book has found an audience. Rin is an easy protagonist to like; he's earnest, optimistic, and excited to discover the world beyond his little farming village. His enthusiasm is infectious, and even when the story plays with familiar genre tropes, he remains someone you're ok to spend time with.

The book also benefits from being a standalone. That's refreshing in a genre where every adventure seems destined to become a ten-book commitment. No More Levels tells a complete story with a proper ending, and I appreciated that.

It's also a very easy read. The prose is straightforward, the pacing is brisk, and the pages fly by. Even someone like me, who isn't the target audience, never felt like the novel was a chore to get through.

Unfortunately, I also found it rather forgettable. The story rarely surprised me, and while there are some fun twists on familiar LitRPG ideas, very little stuck with me after I turned the final page. The characters are likable enough, but they never developed into people I became emotionally invested in. The villains, in particular, feel more like obstacles than personalities, and the emotional moments often pass by before they've had a chance to leave much of an impact. The writing, too, isn't that impressive, It's very straightforward, probably too straightforward, sometimes maybe even clunky.

In the end, No More Levels confirmed that LitRPG and I simply don't seem to be a great match. If you're already a fan of the genre, there's plenty here to enjoy. Rin is likable, the pacing is fast, and the standalone format alone makes it worth a look. If you're looking for rich characterization, memorable villains, or a story that stays with you long after you've finished it, your mileage may vary.