The Ruby Magician: A Tower-Climbing LitRPG Adventure

The Ruby Magician, Book 1

By: D. R. Hudgins

Narrated by: Kieran Regan

An ex-soldier must climb a mysterious, treasure-filled tower to repay his family's debts in the first installment of this thrilling LitRPG fantasy series.

When Ardwyn "Wyn" Thatcher arrives in Alestead, he knows he's running out of time to pay off his father's debt to hungry loan sharks. With options quickly running out, he has no choice but to face the mysterious Alistair, a treasure-filled tower with deadly monsters and impossible puzzles around every corner. If he can battle his way through enough levels, he might just accumulate enough wealth to pay his dues and save his family's farm.

Joined by throngs of other hopeful climbers, Wyn is assigned to the Ruby Magician class—one he's never heard of but soon discovers isn't a fan favorite. There's no way he can make it through the tower alone, but his peers unanimously prefer specialists over his jack-of-all-trades class. And it doesn't help that his mentor is a filthy, unserious drunk.

So to take on the tower, Wyn must prove his skills worthy and form a new guild of his own. With loyal new friends by his side, he'll find powerful items and learn devastating spells to survive the challenges that lie ahead. But all is not as it seems, and there are dangerous enemies waiting to strike at every turn.

As the adventurers discover despicable traitors and cross paths with an emerging evil cult, there's only one question on Wyn's mind: Will he become Alistair's newest victor? Or the next in a long line of its victims?

The first volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with more than 750,000 views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

©2026 D. R. Hudgins (P)2026 Podium Audio