# Stumbling Up: A Loser's Guide to Progression

By Reck Well · Stumbling Up: A Loser's Guide to Progression, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/stumbling-up-a-loser-s-guide-to-progression-51431a53/

Cole wakes from a drunken birthday celebration to discover that he and his two friends have signed up as adventurers. Their new status comes with a lethal trial dungeon and little reason to expect they’ll survive it. A fanged banana slug called Richard is among the few advantages on their side.

## What makes it funny?

Cole watches a dishrag sink and decides it resembles his life. Later, the system grants him a rare companion just as his hangover makes a dignified introduction impossible. Reader fans have become attached to Richard, sharing their copies and references to the slug on the cover.

### The comedy at work

Cole’s self-doubt comes with an actual game skill, so even his shortcomings have rules. Richard adds telepathic sarcasm to the group’s problems. In the author interview, Reck Well explains that the system also assigns a goth newcomer the role of Death Knight because of her appearance.

### Try this if…

For readers who want a fantasy party to struggle with friendship as well as monsters. The publisher describes light use of statistics, concentrating on skills and group dynamics rather than numerical tables.

### Good to know

The opening includes heavy drinking, vomiting and profanity, and the trial carries a threat of death. Emotional setbacks matter to the story’s account of progress; the publisher emphasizes failure and messy growth.

## What to expect

- Genre: Fantasy · LitRPG
- On the shelf: Progression fantasy
- Kind of humor: Banter · Situational comedy
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2026

## A few distinguishing details

- A self-critical cook discovers he enlisted while drunk
- A sarcastic fanged banana slug joins the party

## Sources & further reading

- Reading sample: [Reck Well: Stumbling Up opening chapter](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/121984/stumbling-up-book-1-stubbed-a-losers-guide-to/chapter/2380290/chapter-1-quarter-life-crisis)
- Reader discussion: [Reader discussion: Stumbling Up](https://facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books/permalink/26621765890753395)
- Author commentary: [In Other Worlds interview: Reck Well on Stumbling Up](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489421/episodes/18854428-stumbling-up-a-loser-s-guide-to-progression-by-reck-well)
- Publisher: [Dragon Tomes: Stumbling Up, Book 1](https://dragontomespublishing.com/product/stumbling-up-book-1)
- Book information: [Google Books: Stumbling Up, Book 1](https://books.google.com/books/about/Stumbling_Up.html?id=KPCl0QEACAAJ)