{"title":"Luke Chmilenko","description":"\u003cp\u003eLuke Chmilenko specialises in immersive \u003cstrong\u003esci-fi and fantasy\u003c\/strong\u003e narratives that blend futuristic technology with gripping adventure. His writing often explores complex virtual worlds and the challenges faced by characters navigating them, inviting readers into richly constructed universes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFans of fast-paced stories with smart world-building will find a captivating experience in Chmilenko's work. His books balance thrilling action with thoughtful exploration of identity and survival within digital realms, appealing to readers who enjoy both escapism and finely crafted speculative fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ascend-online-book-1-by-luke-chmilenko-9781638493839","title":"Ascend Online, Book 1","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt's time to be the hero you've always wanted to be.\u003c\/em\u003e Marcus must evolve from a desperate novice into a powerful spellsword to survive in this foundational LitRPG action-fantasy adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMarcus and his friends escape a stagnant society by entering a revolutionary virtual game world that defies their wildest imaginations. But from the moment he logs in, Marcus finds himself separated from his friends and thrown into a remote village under attack by a horde of goblins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eForced into battle, Marcus rallies the beleaguered villagers and—with their help—manages to drive off the invading creatures. With the village in ruins and their supplies spoiled, the survivors desperately turn to Marcus for help rebuilding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRealising that this game is nothing like he's ever played before, Marcus is swept up into a whirlwind of adventure as he struggles to defend his new home, quickly finding that marauding goblins are the least of his problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe must master the blade. Command the arcane. And ascend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore titles like \u003cem\u003eDungeon Crawler Carl\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHe Who Fights with Monsters\u003c\/em\u003e took the world by storm, \u003cem\u003eAscend Online\u003c\/em\u003e stands the test of time as one of the founding books of the now-exploding LitRPG genre.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Series:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ascend Online follows the adventures of a group of friends that dive into a brand-new Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game – a game unlike anything that they’ve ever played before, with high stakes as real as life and death. Features a deep magic system, crafting mechanics, survival elements, town building, power progression, and so much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor fans of:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ready Player One, Sword Art Online, World of Warcraft, Dungeon Crawler Carl, He Who Fights with Monsters, Dungeons \u0026amp; Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Solo Leveling, Re:Zero\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The book hit my nostalgia buttons hard, and I can't wait to read the sequel.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e —Andrew Rowe, author of \u003cem\u003eHow to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps\u003c\/em\u003e and the \u003cem\u003eArcane Ascension\u003c\/em\u003e series.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67633388716268,"sku":"9781638493839","price":69.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781638493839-ascend-online-book-1-1.jpg?v=1791162186"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/luke-chmilenko.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}