“Has your life here been so difficult? You seem to fail upward at every opportunity.” So says Careena, the hag teaching Clyde Hatchett how to use magic. It certainly doesn’t feel like that to Clyde, who’s still got a day job scraping mud (at least he hopes it’s mud) out of monster pits, and whose “thieves’ guild” is more concerned with baking cookies than with protecting him against a rival gang. He keeps accumulating roommates - like a freed sex slave and a retired paladin - who make him nervous, but for very different reasons. And let’s not get started on the mimic that’s taken up residence by Clyde’s shower, or the supposedly-tame grimeling in his closet... And yet even with all the annoyances, distractions, and occasional death threats, Clyde’s found himself at the center of a massive conspiracy to kill the Emperor. He’s the only one with proof that could save the man, and take down an entire network of corrupt nobles, evil slavers, and power-hungry despots. Clyde really hopes Careena is right about him - the fate of the entire Empire depends on it.
The series
In the world of LitRPG, not every hero wears a shining armor, and not every villain is truly evil. In The Bad Guys, Eric Ugland turns the genre on its head by bringing readers into a virtual realm where morality is as fluid as the game's mechanics.
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At the heart of the series is Clyde Hatchett—a charming, slightly crooked anti-hero with a knack for getting himself into (and out of) trouble. He’s no stranger to a life of low stakes and high rewards, but when he's thrust into a game-like world where everything is more than just a game, he must navigate the perilous landscapes of guilds, magic, and unpredictable alliances. The rules? They’re as slippery as the people Clyde encounters, and trust? Well, that’s even harder to come by.
The world-building in The Bad Guys feels both refreshingly chaotic and perfectly structured. Readers are swept into a universe where each decision feels like it could tip the balance of power—and possibly Clyde’s life. Every corner holds new challenges, from cunning enemies to bizarre quests, and even the most unlikely allies. It’s a world where survival requires both wit and the willingness to bend the rules, even break them entirely.
Ugland’s blend of fast-paced action, sharp wit, and unexpected character development elevates this series beyond simple escapism. Themes of redemption, loyalty, and the very nature of what it means to be "good" or "bad" run through the story like an undercurrent, giving it depth without sacrificing the fun and thrill of the game-world adventure. As Clyde’s journey unfolds, readers are invited to question who the real "bad guys" are—and whether they should be rooting for the ones that seem the most like the enemy.
For fans of LitRPG, The Bad Guys offers something different. It’s not just about leveling up or defeating the next boss—it’s about discovering who you really are when the game isn’t what you expected, and the stakes are higher than anyone imagined. Full of heart, humor, and a healthy dose of chaos, this series will leave you questioning the line between player and character, hero and villain.
Dive into the unpredictable world of The Bad Guys, where nothing is quite as it seems, and everything is up for grabs.
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