Year of the Sword · #1
Lord January
Time is money. Time is a Weapon. Time is running out.
Grant Leap is an orphaned, mortal farmhand in a world where cultivation methods and Weapons of Power are jealously guarded and only passed down among family. He’s not content with his lot; as a Januarian, someone living in District January, he should be living the good life just like everyone else. Food, parties, food, entertainment, and food are the minimum requirement. As an orphan, specifically a reviled Leap, there’s not even a chance of being treated as a human.
When a celestial event pours time magic into his field, coalescing into a lost Weapon of Power, Grant leaps at the opportunity to advance beyond even the scope of standard cultivation. At the first touch of the weapon, the orphan gains everything he’s ever wanted: a Sword and a Name. Also, a pesky mandatory quest with his life as the price of failure. It doesn’t take him long to realize that the best thing for him to do is to sell it and live on borrowed Time.
Yet, that would never happen. The blade offers him the first major choice he’s ever had to make: surrender to his desires… or live like a King.
The series
In a world where each month shapes its own kingdom, the Year of the Sword plunges readers into a land ruled by power, cunning, and ancient artifacts that can turn ordinary lives into legends, or tragedies. The story follows Grant Leap, a lowborn farmhand whose fate shifts when a mysterious celestial event grants him a legendary weapon, thrusting him into challenges that test not just strength, but wit, endurance, and moral choice.
Read full series description
Each installment, Lord January, Lady February, and Dokeshi March, unfolds a new slice of this intricately crafted realm. From snow‑choked highlands to bustling urban districts, every month carries its own trials, its own competitions, and its own secret rules that Grant must learn to navigate. Progression is never simple; power comes with cost, and the line between ally and enemy blurs as he grapples with the responsibilities his newfound abilities bring.
What distinguishes this series is its fusion of epic fantasy and LitRPG progression, where worldbuilding emerges through action, challenges, and exploration rather than exposition. Readers witness growth not only in combat skill but in identity and strategy, as the narrative balances high-stakes adventure with moments of humor, surprise, and clever subversion of fantasy tropes. Themes of resilience, ambition, and self-discovery weave naturally into a story where every choice can ripple into unexpected consequences.
Year of the Sword resonates with fans of immersive fantasy worlds, strategic progression, and richly layered characters. It invites readers to step into a universe where survival demands more than courage, it demands intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace change, making every page a challenge, a triumph, and a revelation.
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