Asgard's Fall

A badass senior escapes into a VR game before he loses his marbles for good. Layers peel back one by one, revealing games within games. This is one of those stories that puts the "epic" in epic fantasy. It would be good even if it weren't a litRPG. But it is, and the world is better off for it. I mean, holy shit. You can tell the author knows his mythology. I felt like I was reading Percy Jackson again, actually learning by accident.

Plot is plotting. A little loose in the middle, but only briefly, and the content remains interesting. Book two is watertight, in more ways than one. (IFYYK.) The system does what it's supposed to: pours rocket fuel into the plot tank. Myth + litRPG VR is peak, turns out. It's not as fast as lighter fare, but for a chonky book? It's the Flash. It's Speed Racer. It's Sonic on a coffee run.

Noah, the MC, is a rare example of a senior citizen who is clearly written by someone who is either 1) old or 2) does his research. There's no stereotypical "ouch, my back" moments. Just an older dude trying his best to hang with these crazy kids, and doing a shockingly good job. I love his character. He's likeable and grows in ways unexpected but inevitable.

If you're borderline or turned off by the amateur art, give it a go. Two chapters should be enough. You will probably miss all the hints planted in early chapters. No worries, you'll catch them on the second read and appreciate the series even more.

Who should read this

You. Percy Jackson fans. Your friends who talk about Rome too much. Readers who enjoy mythology. LitRPG fans who want to learn about myths without trying. System fans who want something new. Your friends who like books with old MCs. Readers new to litRPG.

Stats

Progression: Moderate
System complexity: Moderate, numbers are easy, but system politics gets complicated
Stats: Yes, a few
MC power: Weak to Strong
Crafting: Minimal
Romance: Minimal
Humor: Low
Audiobook: Yes
Series status: Ongoing

Infrequently asked questions

Who would win, Noah or 100 tiny elephants?
Depends on the politics of tiny elephants.

Why do you recommend this story so often?
It blends traditional, Percy-Jackson-esque mythology with accessible litRPG elements. Minimal crunch. Fun for the whole family... including those that don't know Hades II from the literal underworld. It's well written and accessible. Best of all, few people know it. It's not often I can recommend a very good book that few people have heard of.

Tell me something I don't know, but suspect.
Not a question, but fine. Book two is better than book one.