A Man on Fire: A Cyberpunk LitRPG

Slumrat Rising, Book 4

By: Warby Picus

Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn

The descendent of an ancient and terrible clan will wield extraordinary power come the end of days in the epic fourth installment of this urban fantasy.

Truth Medici knows life isn't fair. But for the first time, the balance is in his favor. Cultivation has taken him from desperate slumrat to burglar to mercenary to bodyguard to terrorist, and now he's the revered prince of a kingdom to come—immortal heir to a dynasty hidden for millennia.

Pampered by succubae, demons, and sprites, Truth is more than ready to embody the might of his ancestors, who've prospered in secret for centuries. With an aura that reeks of power, he'll make his presence known. His word and will are law.

But not all is perfect. Truth's lover is no longer by his side, and neither is his beloved brother Vig, a revolutionary still devoted heart and soul to smashing the System. With a vast nationalist uprising reaching its fiery peak, Truth can't help but wonder: What does he really want the end of the world to look like when all is said and done?

The answer lies back home in impoverished Harban. Truth left there a slumrat, but he'll return as King Rat. And his reign will count for more than anyone can imagine . . .

The fourth volume of the hit cyberpunk fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

©2025 Warby Picus (P)2025 Podium Audio

Plot Progresses and The Action Continues

We finally get to see the MC make progress on the plot points set up in the first couple books. The frequency of philosophy tangents is getting more tolerable IMHO. The author continues his strong action writing, as the larger plot unfolds.

The MC gets better

This is a dystopian world full of cold soulless or at least soul crippled people.
We’ve seen the MC find some humanity in the previous books and his journey keeps slowly, painfully on that course to find a sliver more of humanity in him.
I actually bought the book long before I listened to it as I wasn’t in the mood for the dark picture it paints, but once I started I didn’t put it down.
It is well written and a lot of philosophical issues and ideas are discussed, which helps round the story from becoming a slaughter fest of a murder hobo.
The narration is quite good as well and suits the book very well.
I can recommend the series

Best one yet!

Great book that really pushes the plot forward, probably my favorite of the series thus far.

Dear author

Dude, you’re a great writer, very much appreciated. Much better than 90% of the current shlep out there. But could you please, please provide some sort of recap. Your world is quite unique and it’s kinda hard to keep shit straight. I had zero recollection how the MC started out talking to demons in the spring. Also, please write more quickly so I can read/ listen to more of your books! Thanks!

Deeply introspective but not exhaustingly so

I dig this series. It’s like watching road warrior while listening to disturbed sing sound of silence and debating philosophy with a dude dressed as the devil. All while tripping on mushrooms… and you come out of it feeling like you’re closer than ever to the truth of reality… or something like that idk.. it’s fine