On the HahaFiction shelf

Stumbling Up: A Loser's Guide to Progression

by Reck Well

Stumbling Up: A Loser's Guide to Progression · Book 1 · 2026

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.

FantasyLitRPG Progression fantasy Banter Situational comedy

From the publisher’s blurb

“Progression through failure (because some of us level up the hard way)”

Read the full description at Dragon Tomes Publishing

Search on Amazon

Paid link · We earn commissions from qualifying Amazon purchases. Affiliate disclosure

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.