Fantasy Magic Male Lead Progression Fantasy Slice of Life Steampunk Urban Fantasy

Matabar

Name: Matabar
Rating: 4.69 (2601 reviews)
Author: Kirill Klevanski

Kirill Klevanski

4.69 2.6k Ratings

Ongoing Status

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Synopsis

Volume I (from the prologue to chapter 51) is now available on Amazon.
Volume I| Audio-version (40 hours) here

Ardan Egobar is a young hunter from a remote mountain tribe. Destined for nothing more than the quiet rhythms of the wild.

But when fate drags him from his village into the heart of the New Monarchy Empire, everything changes. He steps into a melting pot of orcish mobsters, cigar-smoking dwarven bankers, and fashion‑forward elves—all on the brink of world war.

As Ardan grapples with his forgotten bloodline and discovers an intricate magic system, he begins a slow, compelling ascent, transforming from an innocent youth into a rising mage whose power may one day reshape history.

Books similar to Matabar

Delve

★ 4.5

SenescentSoul

Summary – Level 1:

Delve is an isekai litrpg that follows an average guy who just happened to wake up in a forest one day. He wasn’t summoned to defeat the demon lord or to save the world or anything like that, at least as far as he can tell. The only creature there to greet him was a regular old squirrel.

Soon enough, he meets other people, only to discover that he can’t speak the language, and that not everybody immediately trusts random pajama-wearing strangers they met in the middle of the wilderness. Things generally go downhill from there, at least until the blue boxes start appearing.

Delve is a story about finding your way in a new, strange, and dangerous world. It’s about avoiding death, figuring out what the heck is going on, and trying to make some friends along the way. It’s not about getting home, so much as finding a new one.

Did I mention that there will be math?

Summary – Level 2:

Okay, but what are you in for, really?

Well, this story is supposed to be realistic, or at least, as realistic as a fantasy litrpg can be. The main character doesn’t instantly become an all-powerful god and murder-hobo his way across the universe. Delve is, at its heart, a progression fantasy, but that progression is meant to feel earned. The numbers in this story actually mean something. Everything is calculated, and if you find a rounding error, I expect you to tell me about it. That said, if math isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty more that the story has to offer. Characters are meant to feel real, and progression isn’t only about personal power; it’s also about allies, connections, and above all, knowledge. Figuring out how the system works is a significant theme.

...

What, you want more details? Okay, fine, but this is going to get a bit spoiler-y. Are you sure?

Yes!

Really sure? I mean, this summary is practically half as long as the first chap–

Now!

Okay, okay!

The main character becomes a magic user, but he takes a route that is not very popular in adventurer culture, namely that of a support. There is a full magic system with various spells, skills, and abilities, but our MC decides that aura magic is the way to go, and that the only stat worth investing in is mana regeneration. Most people at the Adventurer’s Guild think that this makes him a bit of a dumbass, but he’s playing the long game. We’ll see how that works out for him, won’t we?

Because of his build, the MC levels up fast, at least compared to normal people. There are no cheats, though, and he is limited in other ways. There are some clear and pretty obvious downsides to his build. That’s what makes it fun, no?

Morals? Our MC has them. Again, we’ll see how that works out for him. Realism, remember? Would you be okay with killing someone and looting their body? I sure hope not.

POV? The focus is on the main character, but there will be occasional varying perspectives from people around him, or involved in the events related to the main plot. It isn’t going to jump all over the place.

Tech is standard medieval stasis. No smartphones, but the MC does have a technical background. Computers and their programming might be involved. There might even be a bit of uplifting down the road, who knows? Anyway, it isn’t the focus. He isn’t going to invent the gun in chapter 1 and change the face of warfare.

Romance is not a major focus. Friendships are more the name of the game, though there will be some characters in romantic relationships.

There is exploration, though not as much of the geographical nature as you might expect. It is more about exploration of the system and the culture.

The pace is slow and detailed, sometimes verging on slice-of-life. The action is meant to be realistic and grounded in the numbers, and it is intended to have meaning beyond simply punching things until they stop moving.

The general tone of the story is grey, and some parts can get quite dark. People die. Sometimes, people with names, but not anywhere near GoT level. There is plenty of light, too, though, to balance the darkness. The world is dangerous, but overcoming that danger is why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far through the summary, you clearly like words. I hope you enjoy the story!

Cover by Miha Brumec

Summary Updated: 2020-06-14

Valkyrie’s Shadow

★ 4.7

Aeridinae Lunaris

In the wake of the Battle of Katze Plains, the banner of Ainz Ooal Gown flies proudly over the city of E-Rantel. The Sorcerous Kingdom has entered the world’s stage to the clamour of death and devastation; the surrounding nations fearfully prepare even as they reel from its calamitous debut. Within the borders of the newly annexed realm, its Human subjects cower in their homes as the Undead openly walk the streets and stalk the lands. Yet, when a destitute noble finds herself under the auspices of an unlikely benefactor, events are set into motion that will resound over the world for ages to come.

A kingdom builder based on the events and setting of Kugane Maruyama’s Overlord. In a fantasy world where beings of matchless power are transmigrated from the arbitrary existence of a game, Valkyrie’s Shadow chronicles the lives of the natives whose reality has been turned upside down by their advent. It is the tale of a nation created by the whims of a supreme sovereign, and his unstoppable servants who each have their own, often twisted, interpretations of their Master’s Will.

There is no victory in strength; no miracles wrought from magic that will save them: only the inexorable advance of a new world order where those who secure a place of service within will find themselves turned against the world that they once knew.

[Slow buildup. Methodical storytelling with a focus on well-rounded kingdom building and character development.]

Godclads

★ 4.66

OstensibleMammal

Professionally edited and published versions of volumes 1 and 2 can be found on Kindle and as audiobooks on Audible!

Avo was born to destroy New Vultun. In a twist of fate, he’ll become its only hope for salvation.

The gods were the enemy. The slaver. The chains. With dreams of paradise, humanity slaughtered them and stole their powers, opening the path to become more – to ascend.

Instead, they nearly destroyed the world.

Vast hive cities serve as the final bastions against the crumbling of reality. New Vultun is the greatest of them all, and within its borders, ascenders wage war to determine the laws of existence itself.

The world descends ever deeper into ruination.

Avo was born a weapon, a slave to his instincts and his masters. He and his brothers were made to burn New Vultun to ashes. Everything changes when Avo gains immortality and becomes heir to an impossible legacy.

He must ascend the megacity of New Vultun. He must challenge the very tyrants that usurped the gods.

He must finally free the world from chains.

Join the Discord and subscribe to the patreon here.

Chapters are usually around 2.5 to 3k words.

Disclaimer: Expect detailed descriptions of violence, cannibalism, and cursing.

Expect: Monster mc, magitech, cyberpunk, implants, atrocities, oppression, non-human protagonist, reality-warping powers, and combined arms warfare.

Do not expect: Smut, romance

If you develop a sudden outbreak of rash after reading Godclads, it's not the story. But go see a doctor. Just in case.

Dragonheart Core

★ 4.61

Atenburgh

To take a dragon's hoard is to challenge death.

The greatest of the sea-drakes wakes, curled on his silver throne; but there is no silver. His hoard is stolen. He rises, screaming, and chases the thief to the ends of the world—only to be shot from the sky.

But dragons do not die easy, and never one with such festering hatred. A dungeon core rises from his corpse.

If he intends to survive so near the cove of pirates that slew his past self, he'll need to master his powers—and quickly. For these pirates are dragonslayers; they won't be felled by mere mushrooms or spiders.

Beneath the lawless Calarata, the young dungeon core will have to fight to survive; and one day, he will return death to the man who killed him.

Updates on Fridays at 8 pm EST!

Explorer of Edregon

★ 4.6

Wizardly Dude

The universe is dying. Thank God there’s a backup plan.

Randomly selected by some mysterious higher power, Vin went from dirt-poor vagabond to humanity's hope for survival in the blink of an eye. Now a member of the first wave of humans sent to colonize a planet that defies all logic, Vin is expected to leave his wanderlust behind him and focus on the greater good.

But when that same unknown power gives him the option to choose a class, Vin just can’t help himself from becoming an Explorer.

In a patchwork world filled with impossible magic, deadly monsters, and powerful artifacts, it’s now Vin’s job to go out and discover the rules of this new world they need to survive on.

If only the System wasn’t already threatening to kill him.

Read 25 chapters ahead on Patreon!

Hope

★ 4.69

sarvashaktimaan

The Aspects are long dead. The venerated creators of reality are no more.

Yet the final scheme of their slayer, of the deceased Betrayer, seeks to grind all they have ever made to dust. And the truth is, it is working. Slowly but surely, the end of all things has been growing closer and closer throughout the eons. Inevitably, unstoppably.

The last Hope is a desperate gamble: For one of the first children of the creators to cast their very soul into reincarnation and perhaps return as something strong enough to stop the end. If there ever was any chance to begin with.

I am not stubbing this story until it's at least complete (if ever).

Expect:
High fantasy.
Weak to strong quick.
Powerful MC reincarnates, gradually starts regaining memories.
MC that is an actual character not a plot device.
My original unique magic system discovered along with the MC.
My original setting with mythos that have both been living rent free in my head for actual years.
Story that matters (or does it?)
No, I can't rewrite the prologue even though I lose a good half of prospective readers on it.

Good writing and decent grammar. Reviewers seem to like it, you might too.

Upload schedule: Updates every Saturday. 3000+ words per chapter.

Meant to be read in RR dark mode.

The Eternal Assassin

★ 4.52

Wizardly Dude

First they ran from death. Now they run from him.

Summoned to another world by an ancient lich, Asher is surprised to find there is one type of dead body his training as a mortician’s apprentice didn’t prepare him for. Not exactly a fan of being held captive by the dead any more than he enjoyed being held past closing time for them, Asher decides to use his newfound dimensional abilities to see himself out.

Only after stealing the culmination of a few centuries worth of illegal magical experimentation of course.

In a world where resurrection magic means death is more of a suggestion for the upper class than the rule, Asher eventually discovers his stolen power is capable of ensuring anything that dies by his hand, stays dead.

For some reason, a lot of very powerful people find this rather upsetting.

An ancient cabal of forgotten liches. The elite organization of noble truthseekers. Even the kingdom’s famous assassin’s guild. It seems just about anyone who deals in death wants to claim his mysterious power for themselves, and most of them will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Not unless Asher can get to them first.

Release Schedule: 5 chapters a week Monday-Friday, with the occasional bonus chapter.

What to Expect:

[+] Weak to Strongest (slow burn).

[+] Assassin MC with a hunger for battle.

[+] Evolving Skills and Unique Magical Combinations.

[+] Romance (not harem).

[+] Death.

Read 25 chapters ahead on Patreon!

Cultivation System: Elder Edition

★ 4.59

beddedOtaku

[Action + System + Comedy + MC teaches protagonist disciples + Isekai + Cultivation]

While I wondered why the fender of a nice Cooper was growing bigger, fate spun elsewhere, and I woke up in the body of an Elder in a world of cultivation!

And, of course, there's a system: one that allows me to create any martial art that I can imagine... provided I have enough Creation Points.

And my first disciple just so happens to be a reincarnated monster from 10,000 years ago with an incurable poison that I can cure with my custom creation?

Hey, this can be fun--nope, it's terrifying! The reputation of the guy I took over is just... it's the worst! Not only do I have to raise disciples to earn Creation Points to raise more disciples, I also have to rehabilitate the image that not even the best PR team on Earth could rehabilitate!

These really are some crappy starting circumstances...