Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ascend Online | 2016 | Luke Chmilenko | Buy |
| 2 | Hell to Pay | 2017 | Luke Chmilenko | Buy |
| 3 | Legacy of the Fallen | 2018 | Luke Chmilenko | Buy |
| 4 | Glory to the Brave | 2020 | Luke Chmilenko | Buy |
| 5 | Threads of Fate | 2024 | Luke Chmilenko | Buy |
Ascend Online is Luke Chmilenko’s debut series and one of the early popular entries in the LitRPG genre. The first book, published in 2016, follows a group of friends who dive into a new virtual reality MMO called Ascend Online. What starts as a game quickly becomes something more as the stakes rise and the world proves to be far more complex than expected.
The series spans five books, from Ascend Online through Threads of Fate (2024). Each installment expands the world and raises the difficulty for the characters, following the classic LitRPG pattern of leveling, loot, and increasingly dangerous encounters. The series has a loyal readership among fans of gaming-inspired fantasy.