Dave Willmarth Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Dave Willmarth

Dave Willmarth is a cornerstone author in the LitRPG and GameLit genres, known for crafting stats-heavy, action-packed adventures with distinct gaming mechanics. Because his series are narrative standalones and do not share a single universe, you can start with whichever setup appeals most to your gaming tastes:

• For Classic VR MMORPGs: Start with The Greystone Chronicles, beginning with Io Online. It is a traditional virtual reality adventure focused on guild mechanics, base building, and cooperative play.
• For Gritty Post-Apocalyptic Survival: Start with the Shadow Sun series, beginning with Shadow Sun Survival. This is a "system apocalypse" story where Earth is integrated into a brutal galactic game framework during an alien invasion.
• For Reincarnation & Tactical Warfare: Start with Battleborne. This series follows a veteran soldier reborn into a fantasy world as a monstrous hybrid creature, blending military tactics with fantasy progression.

The Greystone Chronicles Reading Order

This is Dave Willmarth's debut series. It follows Alexander and his guildmates as they dive into a next-generation virtual reality game called Io Online. The story balances standard MMORPG elements like dungeon crawling, leveling, and loot with real-world corporate intrigue and stakes that eventually bleed out of the game. Read this series in strict publication order:

1. Io Online (2017)
2. The Dire Lands (2017)
3. Darkness Fallen (2018)
4. Defenders of the Realm (2018)
5. World At War (2019)

Shadow Sun Series Reading Order

In this system apocalypse epic, Earth’s population is decimated when a galactic energy wave introduces RPG progression rules and alien monsters. The protagonist, Allistor, must adapt quickly, recruit allies, and establish a secure base to survive. While some online databases list Shadow Sun Progression before Shadow Sun Rebellion, the author's recommended reading order puts Rebellion third:

1. Shadow Sun Survival (2019)
2. Shadow Sun Expansion (2019)
3. Shadow Sun Rebellion (2020)
4. Shadow Sun Progression (2020)
5. Shadow Sun Unification (2021)
6. Shadow Sun Consolidation (2022)

Battleborne Series Reading Order

When Max, a retired soldier, dies saving lives, he is reincarnated into a new fantasy world. Instead of a standard human hero, his soul is placed into the body of a Chimera—a massive creature made of various monster parts. Max uses his real-life tactical training and leadership skills to navigate a harsh world of dungeons, gods, and territorial wars. The reading order is chronological:

1. Battleborne (2020)
2. Wrack and Ruin (2021)
3. Dungeons & Guardians (2022)
4. Dungeon Master (2023)

Dark Elf Chronicles Reading Order

This series features a dual-layered premise: on the surface of the Earth, a zombie apocalypse has forced the remaining humans to hide underground. To escape their bleak reality, the protagonists Shari and Mace spend their time in a high-immersion VR fantasy game. However, they choose opposing, hostile factions (a Light Elf and a Drow/Dark Elf), which complicates their survival both in the virtual world and in their dwindling real-world shelter. The series should be read in order:

1. The Land of the Undying (2018)
2. Survivors (2019)
3. Pathways (2019)

Contender Saga Reading Order

The Contender Saga infuses LitRPG with Norse mythology. It follows a medieval soldier who is killed right before claiming vengeance. Instead of finding peace, his soul is taken by a deity and deposited into Midgard—a magical realm where warriors called "Contenders" must fight and kill each other to gain power and ascend. Weary of combat, the protagonist tries to find a peaceful path forward through quests and monster hunting, though other Contenders remain a constant threat. The books must be read in order:

1. Welcome to Midgard (2022)
2. Ritual Combat (2023)

Scion's Journey Reading Order

This slow-burn LitRPG series follows Finn, a blacksmith's apprentice with dreams of joining the royal guard. When tragedy strikes and his homeland falls to assassins, Finn escapes to a system-controlled world to build up the power he needs to return and exact revenge. Read these books in order:

1. Oath of Vengeance (2024)
2. The Last High Lord (2024)

Standalone Novels

If you want a self-contained story without committing to a multi-book arc, Willmarth has written a standalone space colonization LitRPG adventure:

• Mars System Reboot (2022) – Follows a crew of ten colonists sent to Mars to establish a colony, only to find the planet governed by RPG-like survival rules and unexpected extraterrestrial threats.