The Bad Guys

Scamps & Scoundrels (The Bad Guys, #1) by Eric Ugland follows Ben, a former petty criminal from New York who wakes up in a medieval fantasy world with a new identity. As he navigates this unfamiliar realm filled with magic, elves, and monsters, Ben contemplates using his skills in deception and disarming for more altruistic purposes. The story blends elements of high fantasy and humor as Ben encounters challenges such as confronting a giant sentient slime creature, rescuing a girl, stealing a crown, and joining a guild, all while adapting to the quirks of his new environment.

Second Story Man by Eric Ugland continues the misadventures of Clyde Hatchett, a reluctant would-be mage whose life in a game-like fantasy world is equal parts danger and absurdity. Still working a grim day job in monster pits and stuck with a thieves’ guild more domestic than deadly, Clyde juggles magical training with an ever-stranger household that includes a former slave, a retired paladin, and hazardous creatures lurking in his own rooms. As he uncovers evidence of a plot to assassinate the Emperor, Clyde is pushed from low-level survival into the center of an imperial conspiracy involving corrupt nobles and slavers. Blending LitRPG progression, dark humor, and both urban and high fantasy elements, the novel follows his uneasy rise from background extra to crucial player.

Skull and Thrones by Eric Ugland continues Clyde’s misadventures as he adjusts to being the last surviving elf and the sole remaining member of the Biscuit’s Union. In this LitRPG progression fantasy, the system hands him a blunt directive: rebuild the guild to at least eight members within a week or watch it be erased. The novel blends game-like quests, urban and high fantasy elements, and irreverent humor as Clyde juggles recruitment, leadership, and survival in a world full of monsters and magic. The tone stays light and comedic even as the stakes for Clyde’s guild, and his hard-earned progress, become increasingly serious.

War of the Posers by Eric Ugland continues the Bad Guys LitRPG series with Clyde Hatchett and the Skull & Thrones guild facing a potentially disastrous conflict against the powerful Iron Silents. In this progression fantasy, Clyde leans on his rogue skills, growing magic, and uneasy political connections to a prince, while improvising with monsters like kobolds to keep his guild alive. The novel blends game-like mechanics, urban and high fantasy elements, and irreverent humor as a newly formed guild confronts overpowered, immortal opponents who exploit every advantage. Readers who enjoy survival-focused LitRPG with guild warfare, monsters, and a mix of comedy and danger will find this installment deepens both the stakes and the world.

Seas the Day by Eric Ugland continues the Bad Guys LitRPG series with Clyde Hatchett press-ganged into a pirate life after being abducted by his own girlfriend. Far from the city of Glaton, he must navigate treacherous seas, hostile ports, and magical threats to locate the one mage who might stop the corpse-king from taking over his body. Alongside a chaotic crew that includes a trouble-prone swordsman, a mutinous captain, a kindly veteran sailor, and his odd companions Hellion and Grim, Clyde also takes on a dangerous side mission to prevent his tjene’s sister from marrying a murderous slave owner. Blending progression fantasy, isekai-style stakes, and irreverent humor, this installment leans into nautical adventure, monstrous encounters, and survival-driven character growth.

High Gloom by Eric Ugland continues the Bad Guys LitRPG series with Clyde Hatchett finally forced to confront the corpse-king lodged inside him, a threat now visible in his increasingly undead-looking hand. Banished from Glaton and fresh from an unwanted rescue mission, Clyde heads to Gloomguard, a ruthless city where every interaction has a price and favors do not exist. To reach the mage who might stop his transformation, he must accept a chain of absurd and dangerous quests that clash with his dwindling timeline. Blending dark humor, progression-style power growth, and game-like challenges, this sixth volume pushes its necromancer protagonist deeper into a world of monsters, magic, and morally gray survival.

Back to One by Eric Ugland continues Clyde’s chaotic progress through a game-like fantasy world where quests, promises, and emergencies constantly collide. Intending to return to Glaton after visiting the City of Night, he is diverted yet again when strange events in the small coastal town of Furtaxo demand his attention. As he investigates what is wrong with Furtaxo, Clyde must juggle shifting priorities, survival concerns, and the unpredictable logic of a LitRPG-style universe filled with monsters, magic, and progression mechanics. The tone remains humorous and self-aware, blending urban and high fantasy elements with the structure of a role playing game.

Trick of the Night by Eric Ugland continues the misadventures of Clyde Hatchett, now reduced to a level 4 nobody and desperate to reclaim his former life in Glaton. Stranded at the edge of the known world of Vuldrannis, he must navigate hostile Carchedonians, a death cult, and a traitor within his own party, all while chasing rumors of a possibly imaginary mythical city. The novel blends LitRPG progression with both urban and high fantasy elements, using Clyde’s low-level status to frame survival as a mix of strategy, bad luck, and stubborn persistence. Readers can expect a humorous, fast-paced adventure that leans into game-like mechanics, dangerous monsters, and the absurdity of starting over at the bottom.

Darktown Funk by Eric Ugland continues Clyde’s LitRPG misadventures as he finally reaches the fabled City of Darkness, only to discover that anything touching its shores vanishes from existence. Tasked with infiltrating this corrupted urban stronghold and stealing its crown jewels, he must solve the puzzle of entering a city that erases intruders while avoiding being trapped there permanently. As the usual game mechanics falter and familiar rules stop working, Clyde faces unpredictable magic, dangerous monsters, and shifting survival strategies. Blending humor, progression fantasy elements, and both urban and high fantasy atmospheres, this installment pushes its isekai protagonist into a darker, more unstable realm where improvisation matters more than stats.

On a Throne of Lies by Eric Ugland continues Clyde Hatchett’s LitRPG progression as he returns to the city of Glaton with a new body, a hidden identity, and unresolved feelings for Nadya. While he grapples with what home and loyalty mean, the city’s Senate edges toward chaos, with rival nobles maneuvering for control of the throne. At street level, gangs multiply, monsters encroach, and Old Town residents increasingly expect Clyde to solve problems he barely understands. Blending urban and high fantasy elements with game-like advancement, magic-fueled combat, and irreverent humor, this installment leans into political intrigue, survival stakes, and awkward romance in a dangerous medieval-flavored setting.

In 2 Lies, 2 Thrones, Eric Ugland drops Clyde Hatchett into a far less glamorous setting than most fantasy heroes: a prison cell, awaiting execution for allegedly assaulting a princess. To avoid the headsman, Clyde must navigate Glaton’s legal and political maze by taking on a string of dangerous tasks, from securing proof of a noble ally’s lineage to undermining a politically charged wedding and rooting out a cult with imperial ambitions. Set against an approaching imperial election, the story blends LitRPG-style progression, magic, and monsters with sardonic humor and court intrigue. As Clyde weighs favors owed against shifting loyalties, the novel keeps its focus on survival, deception, and the unstable balance of power in a high fantasy empire.