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The Sigilist #1
The Only Way Out Is Up
A small-time scrapper and his pet robot will fight their way out of the junk-heap in a tournament that will either make them richer than gods or rip them apart in the first book of Django Wexler’s lightning paced progression fantasy adventure for fans of Cradle and Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Taj lives in a junkheap, scavenging scrap to keep his family fed and dodging the monsters who live among the wreckage. His only edge is a smart-ass construct named Star he built himself. Taj dreams of winning big with Star in the construct fighting circuits, but victory always seems just beyond his reach and the debt collectors are at the door.
His world changes forever when someone there makes him an offer that seems too good to be true: a chance to fight in the Ascent, the ultimate fighting tournament, for a prize beyond his wildest fantasies. But things that seem too good to be true usually are, and Taj finds his new benefactor comes with plenty of new enemies. As he ventures beyond the only world he's ever known, he discovers it's not just his money on the line in the Ascent -- it's his life.
When you start at the very bottom, the only way out is up…
Taj lives in a junkheap, scavenging scrap to keep his family fed and dodging the monsters who live among the wreckage. His only edge is a smart-ass construct named Star he built himself. Taj dreams of winning big with Star in the construct fighting circuits, but victory always seems just beyond his reach and the debt collectors are at the door.
His world changes forever when someone there makes him an offer that seems too good to be true: a chance to fight in the Ascent, the ultimate fighting tournament, for a prize beyond his wildest fantasies. But things that seem too good to be true usually are, and Taj finds his new benefactor comes with plenty of new enemies. As he ventures beyond the only world he's ever known, he discovers it's not just his money on the line in the Ascent -- it's his life.
When you start at the very bottom, the only way out is up…
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Django Wexler
53 books3,921 followersDjango Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not planning Shadow Campaigns, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75⭐ Rounded up
Not gonna lie, it took me a bit to get into it. I kinda had to push the initial 15%, there was something clunky (pun intended) about the writing style and some original formatting took even more time getting used to; but I can honestly say that I got progressively more invested in the story and towards the end it started really to shine!
In these stories we kinda know what is gonna happen, but the real talent of these authors is keeping us on the edge of our seats anyway, weaving a wonderful net of HOWs, twists and turns, and characters that serve the story (and the underlying message) instead of just being part of the scenery.
I still think some edges could be further polished, and some characters strengthened in depth, but overall everything worked, and even the villains had that realistic quality of insanity or greed that doesn't make them look like they are fresh out of a toddler cartoon.
Overall Wexler added quite a bit of originality to this Pokémon-Transformer-(2000s-Comedy Central) BattleBots progression fantasy, and it's well worth the read! I will surely continue the series!
Ps: the description of the sky as seen for the first time by a character deserves an honorable mention! Wonderfully written!
Pre-read
From one LitRPG to another, I hope this will be my next genre obsession! ✨
Let's go!
Not gonna lie, it took me a bit to get into it. I kinda had to push the initial 15%, there was something clunky (pun intended) about the writing style and some original formatting took even more time getting used to; but I can honestly say that I got progressively more invested in the story and towards the end it started really to shine!
In these stories we kinda know what is gonna happen, but the real talent of these authors is keeping us on the edge of our seats anyway, weaving a wonderful net of HOWs, twists and turns, and characters that serve the story (and the underlying message) instead of just being part of the scenery.
I still think some edges could be further polished, and some characters strengthened in depth, but overall everything worked, and even the villains had that realistic quality of insanity or greed that doesn't make them look like they are fresh out of a toddler cartoon.
Overall Wexler added quite a bit of originality to this Pokémon-Transformer-(2000s-Comedy Central) BattleBots progression fantasy, and it's well worth the read! I will surely continue the series!
Ps: the description of the sky as seen for the first time by a character deserves an honorable mention! Wonderfully written!
Pre-read
From one LitRPG to another, I hope this will be my next genre obsession! ✨
Let's go!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
This one was so so good! The world building is incredibly fascinating and unique, and the story perfectly balanced the high-stakes nature of the plot with humor. I loved Taj, Ky, and especially Star - they were so easy to root for and easy to connect with. I’ll definitely be picking up book two!
This one was so so good! The world building is incredibly fascinating and unique, and the story perfectly balanced the high-stakes nature of the plot with humor. I loved Taj, Ky, and especially Star - they were so easy to root for and easy to connect with. I’ll definitely be picking up book two!
August 3, 2026
Thank you Orbit Books and Net Galley for this ARC.
I couldn’t put this down. The story was unique. I loved the characters. The interesting world that was created. All of it was so fun and fast paced.
The premise seems like one done over and over. Underdog pairs up with someone from another class to stick it to the man…yes, it’s been done. But the system in place in which this happens was different. Also, they hinted at his Taj’s abilities but didn’t go into it much which leads to so much more discovery in the next book.
Taj, Star and Ky work together to get over their past, and present and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future! I need book 2 now.
I couldn’t put this down. The story was unique. I loved the characters. The interesting world that was created. All of it was so fun and fast paced.
The premise seems like one done over and over. Underdog pairs up with someone from another class to stick it to the man…yes, it’s been done. But the system in place in which this happens was different. Also, they hinted at his Taj’s abilities but didn’t go into it much which leads to so much more discovery in the next book.
Taj, Star and Ky work together to get over their past, and present and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future! I need book 2 now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As I was reading this book, the tagline that kept popping into my head was “BattleBots meets Pokémon,” so I was very entertained when I got to the Acknowledgements section at the end and Wexler said the book arose from a brainstorming session that included the suggestion “...what about robot Pokémon?” What can I say, it works as a method of pitting your minions against others’ minions in brutal combat without crossing over into animal cruelty.
The protagonist is Taj, who scrounges a living in the bottommost level of an underground city with his adoptive brother and sister. It’s known as the Heap, so-called because the entire city is a ring centered on an opening to the mysterious world above, which dumps their garbage down there. It passes through the opening the center of the upper districts (progressively ritzier as you go up) until it hits literal and proverbial rock bottom.
Taj contributes by scavenging, accompanied by his “runic” (a fantasy robot) named Star. Runics are mindless automatons, constructed out of magical runestones inscribed with functions like “move,” “resist,” and “explode,” arranged together into something workable. Except Star is different; his core is a unique runestone inscribed with the word “think,” something neither Taj nor Star (who remembers nothing about himself before Taj found him) has ever heard of elsewhere. For all the reasons you would expect, they keep this a closely guarded secret.
The plot proper takes off when Taj, more down-on-his-luck than usual, meets a woman from the upper tiers of the city who is equally desperate because of high-level political maneuvering. She ends up sponsoring Taj in the Ascent, a competition where runics are pitted against each other with the ultimate winner being allowed to actually leave the underground city and go to the world above.
It’s a “progression fantasy” rather than a true “litRPG,” a distinction that I’ll admit doesn’t mean that much to me. Those expecting Dungeon Crawler Carl (a ubiquitous comparison these days) might be disappointed: there’s no levelling up, no being trapped inside a game. The RPG-ish aspects come from Star being constantly rebuilt and upgraded, and fighting stronger and stronger enemies, as the game goes on. There’s also pretty much none of the slapstick comedy from DCC.
What it does have is some wonderful characters and tremendous readability. Django’s writing is always effortless to read, and this is no exception. I blew through this in a couple of days, and frequently lost all track of time while doing so (more than usual).
My big criticism is the inclusion of a sexual assault scene against the love interest/secondary protagonist. Lots has been written about the problem of writers using a rape (or in this case attempted rape) of a female character as a source for character development; while I don’t think Django necessarily did it poorly, I also don’t think it really added anything that couldn’t have been added in other ways.
But that criticism aside, I’m looking forward to the next one.
My blog.
The protagonist is Taj, who scrounges a living in the bottommost level of an underground city with his adoptive brother and sister. It’s known as the Heap, so-called because the entire city is a ring centered on an opening to the mysterious world above, which dumps their garbage down there. It passes through the opening the center of the upper districts (progressively ritzier as you go up) until it hits literal and proverbial rock bottom.
Taj contributes by scavenging, accompanied by his “runic” (a fantasy robot) named Star. Runics are mindless automatons, constructed out of magical runestones inscribed with functions like “move,” “resist,” and “explode,” arranged together into something workable. Except Star is different; his core is a unique runestone inscribed with the word “think,” something neither Taj nor Star (who remembers nothing about himself before Taj found him) has ever heard of elsewhere. For all the reasons you would expect, they keep this a closely guarded secret.
The plot proper takes off when Taj, more down-on-his-luck than usual, meets a woman from the upper tiers of the city who is equally desperate because of high-level political maneuvering. She ends up sponsoring Taj in the Ascent, a competition where runics are pitted against each other with the ultimate winner being allowed to actually leave the underground city and go to the world above.
It’s a “progression fantasy” rather than a true “litRPG,” a distinction that I’ll admit doesn’t mean that much to me. Those expecting Dungeon Crawler Carl (a ubiquitous comparison these days) might be disappointed: there’s no levelling up, no being trapped inside a game. The RPG-ish aspects come from Star being constantly rebuilt and upgraded, and fighting stronger and stronger enemies, as the game goes on. There’s also pretty much none of the slapstick comedy from DCC.
What it does have is some wonderful characters and tremendous readability. Django’s writing is always effortless to read, and this is no exception. I blew through this in a couple of days, and frequently lost all track of time while doing so (more than usual).
My big criticism is the inclusion of a sexual assault scene against the love interest/secondary protagonist. Lots has been written about the problem of writers using a rape (or in this case attempted rape) of a female character as a source for character development; while I don’t think Django necessarily did it poorly, I also don’t think it really added anything that couldn’t have been added in other ways.
But that criticism aside, I’m looking forward to the next one.
My blog.
arcs-to-read
June 7, 2026Sooooo excited for this one! 🤭
September 23, 2026
Huge thank you to Orbit for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I don’t have the words to capture how enthralled with The Only Way Out is Up I was. I felt like I fell through a portal and was walking next to Taj the entire time. Make it an upward journey, with battles, and make the Pokemon robots. SOLD!
I could talk about Taj and how he is willing to do whatever is necessary to save his family at the bottom of the Heap. I could talk about his Runic, Star, and the incredible and fantastical way he functions which is unlike any other created. I could talk about the impossible situation Taj finds himself in battling far above his weight (and wealth) class to save the only family he’s ever known. I could talk about the uneasy alliance and friendship he forms with Ky that may or may not result in weird human mating traditions. The twists and turns had me guessing, and I am desperate to know what happens in the next book.
This is dystopian, fantasy, found family, social classism, political intrigue, and a scrappy AF robot that absolutely STOLE THE SHOW. You hear me. The dang thing couldn’t vocalize but had the BEST lines in the entire book and I LOVE HIM. DO YOU HEAR ME, I LOVE HIM.
And not for nothing, I will forever be a Django Wexler fan after his Dark Lord series. And I knew no matter what this was about there would be killer one-liners, sarcasm you could cut someone with, and precarious and preposterous situations. And I was not disappointed!
I don’t have the words to capture how enthralled with The Only Way Out is Up I was. I felt like I fell through a portal and was walking next to Taj the entire time. Make it an upward journey, with battles, and make the Pokemon robots. SOLD!
I could talk about Taj and how he is willing to do whatever is necessary to save his family at the bottom of the Heap. I could talk about his Runic, Star, and the incredible and fantastical way he functions which is unlike any other created. I could talk about the impossible situation Taj finds himself in battling far above his weight (and wealth) class to save the only family he’s ever known. I could talk about the uneasy alliance and friendship he forms with Ky that may or may not result in weird human mating traditions. The twists and turns had me guessing, and I am desperate to know what happens in the next book.
This is dystopian, fantasy, found family, social classism, political intrigue, and a scrappy AF robot that absolutely STOLE THE SHOW. You hear me. The dang thing couldn’t vocalize but had the BEST lines in the entire book and I LOVE HIM. DO YOU HEAR ME, I LOVE HIM.
And not for nothing, I will forever be a Django Wexler fan after his Dark Lord series. And I knew no matter what this was about there would be killer one-liners, sarcasm you could cut someone with, and precarious and preposterous situations. And I was not disappointed!
September 29, 2026
⭐️4.25⭐️
"𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠."
I had such a fun time with this book! Imagine if BattleBots and Pokémon had a baby, but sprinkle in a smidge of The Hunger Games. Then add a hint of Rocky from Project Hail Mary. Because that was this book.
This book is the first installment in Wexler’s new progressive sci-fi series, The Sigilist, and it starts off with a bang. I found the world-building and magic system to be so well done and fascinating, and I fell in love with all of the characters straight away.
The best part about the book? Star. Star is an adorable spider-shaped robot that reminded me HEAVILY of Rocky from Project Hail Mary, which brought so much joy to my nerdy little heart. This book is also chock-full of fantastic themes you typically get to see in dystopian books, such as the found family trope and the dangers of social stratification.
I found the story to be a bit slow to start, but I didn’t mind it. I also wanted a tad bit more from the ending, but I’m not mad at it. There is a romance in this story, but it is a very slow burn and is more of a subplot, so I was happy with this too.
Overall, I really had a good time with this book and enjoyed it the entire way through! I can’t wait for the next installment. If you love progressive fantasy/sci-fi and are looking for a new series to get lost in, make sure to pick this one up, meat creatures!
Special thanks to Orbit for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
"𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠."
I had such a fun time with this book! Imagine if BattleBots and Pokémon had a baby, but sprinkle in a smidge of The Hunger Games. Then add a hint of Rocky from Project Hail Mary. Because that was this book.
This book is the first installment in Wexler’s new progressive sci-fi series, The Sigilist, and it starts off with a bang. I found the world-building and magic system to be so well done and fascinating, and I fell in love with all of the characters straight away.
The best part about the book? Star. Star is an adorable spider-shaped robot that reminded me HEAVILY of Rocky from Project Hail Mary, which brought so much joy to my nerdy little heart. This book is also chock-full of fantastic themes you typically get to see in dystopian books, such as the found family trope and the dangers of social stratification.
I found the story to be a bit slow to start, but I didn’t mind it. I also wanted a tad bit more from the ending, but I’m not mad at it. There is a romance in this story, but it is a very slow burn and is more of a subplot, so I was happy with this too.
Overall, I really had a good time with this book and enjoyed it the entire way through! I can’t wait for the next installment. If you love progressive fantasy/sci-fi and are looking for a new series to get lost in, make sure to pick this one up, meat creatures!
Special thanks to Orbit for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
September 3, 2026
Thank you Orbit for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is my second Django Wexler book and I enjoyed this one also. From what I can tell from his bibliography, he is a fantasy writer unafraid to write across multiple subgenres, which is fun.
This book was a nice read, with a likable cast of characters and a compelling little robot. It’s being labeled as progression fantasy and reads a lot like litRPG. This is not a standalone book, this is very much book one in a larger overarching quest with the pretty typical little guy against the big bad world plotline.
Throughout, this felt very much like a young adult book. The main protagonists are only about 18. While there was occasionally some cursing or crude language, I would not be surprised to find out that this was originally a YA book either tweaked a bit to make it edgier or just marketed for adults. I rechecked to see if I had been mistaken, but all the publicity is categorizing this as adult. For me, it read much more like a book intended for teens.
There is a lot of messaging about the exploitation of the poor and about power. It’s done well, I found myself empathizing with the downtrodden characters rather than feeling like the author was laying it on too thick. The worldbuilding in this and the magic system are well done and unique. The ending teases a bigger and more complicated world to come.
Ultimately, I don’t think I’ll continue this series, it’s not quite mature enough for this middle-aged lady, even though I am a fan of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series that the promo materials for this book use for comparison. I do think that it will make a lot of people happy, as it is a fun (and occasionally bloodthirsty) romp that promises to continue the adventure.
This is my second Django Wexler book and I enjoyed this one also. From what I can tell from his bibliography, he is a fantasy writer unafraid to write across multiple subgenres, which is fun.
This book was a nice read, with a likable cast of characters and a compelling little robot. It’s being labeled as progression fantasy and reads a lot like litRPG. This is not a standalone book, this is very much book one in a larger overarching quest with the pretty typical little guy against the big bad world plotline.
Throughout, this felt very much like a young adult book. The main protagonists are only about 18. While there was occasionally some cursing or crude language, I would not be surprised to find out that this was originally a YA book either tweaked a bit to make it edgier or just marketed for adults. I rechecked to see if I had been mistaken, but all the publicity is categorizing this as adult. For me, it read much more like a book intended for teens.
There is a lot of messaging about the exploitation of the poor and about power. It’s done well, I found myself empathizing with the downtrodden characters rather than feeling like the author was laying it on too thick. The worldbuilding in this and the magic system are well done and unique. The ending teases a bigger and more complicated world to come.
Ultimately, I don’t think I’ll continue this series, it’s not quite mature enough for this middle-aged lady, even though I am a fan of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series that the promo materials for this book use for comparison. I do think that it will make a lot of people happy, as it is a fun (and occasionally bloodthirsty) romp that promises to continue the adventure.
Did Not Finish
October 16, 2026DNF @ 10%
The beginning of the book dropped me right into the middle of a huge action scene in a way I did not care about at all, then proceeded to write about what was happening with lots of terminology I had no reference for and characters I did not care about. I had no idea what was going on by the time I DNFed. This is the second book by this author I have DNFed so they may just not be for me.
The beginning of the book dropped me right into the middle of a huge action scene in a way I did not care about at all, then proceeded to write about what was happening with lots of terminology I had no reference for and characters I did not care about. I had no idea what was going on by the time I DNFed. This is the second book by this author I have DNFed so they may just not be for me.
June 19, 2026
Thank you Orbit for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Apparently I’m a progression fantasy reader now? And I’m absolutely happy with that if it means I get to read cool stories like this!
I’m a huge Dungeon Crawler Carl fan so when I saw it was a comp for this, I knew I had to check it out. While it isn’t specifically LitRPG like DCC, the “leveling up” aspects were definitely present but not as in your face as I may have expected. It was very much embedded within the world, natural character development, and plot, making Taj and Star’s “social climbing” journey unexpectedly relatable in a very unique, high-stakes environment.
I was absolutely fascinated by the use of sigils, and how the “magic” of the world was grounded in mechanics and engineering. I also love a good robot companion, and Star brought some fantastic humor to the story while also being a key part of a mystery I’m very excited to see unfold throughout the series. I also really enjoyed how the author organically revealed pieces of the world. The first chapter was a bit disorienting and I had no idea what Taj was referring to about 90% of the time, but after a few chapters I was moving through things more comfortably, answering questions through newly revealed details and discovering new questions I was confident would be answered in time.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this, but honestly the best advice I can give is just try it. You may discover something about your taste in books and find something new to love!
Apparently I’m a progression fantasy reader now? And I’m absolutely happy with that if it means I get to read cool stories like this!
I’m a huge Dungeon Crawler Carl fan so when I saw it was a comp for this, I knew I had to check it out. While it isn’t specifically LitRPG like DCC, the “leveling up” aspects were definitely present but not as in your face as I may have expected. It was very much embedded within the world, natural character development, and plot, making Taj and Star’s “social climbing” journey unexpectedly relatable in a very unique, high-stakes environment.
I was absolutely fascinated by the use of sigils, and how the “magic” of the world was grounded in mechanics and engineering. I also love a good robot companion, and Star brought some fantastic humor to the story while also being a key part of a mystery I’m very excited to see unfold throughout the series. I also really enjoyed how the author organically revealed pieces of the world. The first chapter was a bit disorienting and I had no idea what Taj was referring to about 90% of the time, but after a few chapters I was moving through things more comfortably, answering questions through newly revealed details and discovering new questions I was confident would be answered in time.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this, but honestly the best advice I can give is just try it. You may discover something about your taste in books and find something new to love!
September 6, 2026
The inspiration for this book was a tower-climbing progression fantasy with a robot Pokemon, and if that wasn't a good enough hook, I was also sold on the idea of a litRPG set in space. I find a lot of litRPG tropey and bogged down in game mechanics in book form, and this had some of that, but it also breathed fresh new life into the genre.
I am also hopeful that since the success of the Project Hail Mary movie, we'll start to see more sci fi published. If you liked that movie, and you're a video game fan, you'll like this.
Taj lives in an intensely hierarchical society based on a space station tower, but he lives at the bottom, fighting damaged, dangerous robots for scraps to make ends meet for his found family. I loved his brothers and sister in this, and how they ran a bakery and tried to feed as many homeless kids as they could. It provided a needed break from the relentless battle bot action sequences and gave Taj strong motivations, making him a compelling character.
Taj has a battle bot named Star who has a unique sigil that allows him consciousness. I found Star a cute, lovable character and enjoyed the banter between the two of them; I am also very curious about his origins.
One day Taj breaks into a Hod princess's apartment to rob her, then later saves her from getting raped and killed. She enlists his help to win back her family's seat on the council through a series of progression fights between robots. Along the way the two fall for each other, in a very chaste YA way. Their romance was probably the least compelling part of the book to me but also fit with the litRPG theme.
I did find this book a bit too long, mostly because it spent so much time on the fights, which I felt dragged on and on, and the characters lost some emotional depth in the process.
But overall I found this entertaining, and a strong start to a series in which I am eager to see Taj lead a rebellion against the strict class hierarchies that rule their world. At times I found the tongue-in-cheek humorous tone at odds with some of the more serious themes explored, and it was as if this book didn't quite know what tone it wanted to take; but I didn't mind that so much. This book is a good antidote to all the colonizer romances that are so popular now, but again the romance is only a very small part of the story. I would read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am also hopeful that since the success of the Project Hail Mary movie, we'll start to see more sci fi published. If you liked that movie, and you're a video game fan, you'll like this.
Taj lives in an intensely hierarchical society based on a space station tower, but he lives at the bottom, fighting damaged, dangerous robots for scraps to make ends meet for his found family. I loved his brothers and sister in this, and how they ran a bakery and tried to feed as many homeless kids as they could. It provided a needed break from the relentless battle bot action sequences and gave Taj strong motivations, making him a compelling character.
Taj has a battle bot named Star who has a unique sigil that allows him consciousness. I found Star a cute, lovable character and enjoyed the banter between the two of them; I am also very curious about his origins.
One day Taj breaks into a Hod princess's apartment to rob her, then later saves her from getting raped and killed. She enlists his help to win back her family's seat on the council through a series of progression fights between robots. Along the way the two fall for each other, in a very chaste YA way. Their romance was probably the least compelling part of the book to me but also fit with the litRPG theme.
I did find this book a bit too long, mostly because it spent so much time on the fights, which I felt dragged on and on, and the characters lost some emotional depth in the process.
But overall I found this entertaining, and a strong start to a series in which I am eager to see Taj lead a rebellion against the strict class hierarchies that rule their world. At times I found the tongue-in-cheek humorous tone at odds with some of the more serious themes explored, and it was as if this book didn't quite know what tone it wanted to take; but I didn't mind that so much. This book is a good antidote to all the colonizer romances that are so popular now, but again the romance is only a very small part of the story. I would read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2026
The Only Way Out is Up is the first book in Django Wexler’s new progression fantasy series, The Sigilist, where mechanical constructs called Runics are powered by sigils. Taj lives at the bottom of a massive underground junkheap, scraping by as a scavenger alongside Star, the smart-mouthed sentient construct he built himself. When a burglary goes wrong and they are caught, Taj is unexpectedly offered a job by Ky, the scion of a Council family from the upper levels. Taj and Star must enter the Ascent, a Runic fighting tournament that could transform their lives if they win. But in joining allying with Ky, they gain new enemies and begin to uncover hints about their own unusual abilities.
Speaking frankly, this book has an incredibly rough start. I was not expecting such a juvenile, crass tone or the strong “immature teenage boy” energy, and it felt jarring at first. Although I do not think it is marketed as or even intended to be young adult, it very much reads that way: the cast is young, the prose is simple, the pacing is quick, and its themes will feel familiar to YA readers. Once I adjusted my expectations, though, I ended up enjoying it. I even cried at the ending, and I am invested enough to continue the series when the sequels become available.
While it shares some vibes with LitRPG titles such as Dungeon Crawler Carl, this is fundamentally a progression fantasy built around sigil magic, even if that magic is wrapped in machines and engineering. For comparisons, I would describe it as the early Mars-set portion of Red Rising mashed together with the fighting mechanics of Real Steel. It is a fun story full of mech-building and mech battles, grounded by a “boy and his dog” dynamic—except the boy is a horny teenager and the dog is a wisecracking sentient robot.
I liked Taj, particularly his love for and devotion to his family. The heart of the book lies in his relationship with his older brother, Sumi, and their conflicting ideas about what survival requires. I also enjoyed Taj’s snarky exchanges with Star, whose observations and interjections provide much of the humor. Star is also central to the mystery that I am most eager to see explored further. Taj’s interactions with Ky introduce discussions of privilege and power dynamics, though this is also where the story feels most distinctly YA.
The Only Way Out is Up is a rough but entertaining series opener that left me curious enough to keep climbing along.
*Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC via NetGalley
Speaking frankly, this book has an incredibly rough start. I was not expecting such a juvenile, crass tone or the strong “immature teenage boy” energy, and it felt jarring at first. Although I do not think it is marketed as or even intended to be young adult, it very much reads that way: the cast is young, the prose is simple, the pacing is quick, and its themes will feel familiar to YA readers. Once I adjusted my expectations, though, I ended up enjoying it. I even cried at the ending, and I am invested enough to continue the series when the sequels become available.
While it shares some vibes with LitRPG titles such as Dungeon Crawler Carl, this is fundamentally a progression fantasy built around sigil magic, even if that magic is wrapped in machines and engineering. For comparisons, I would describe it as the early Mars-set portion of Red Rising mashed together with the fighting mechanics of Real Steel. It is a fun story full of mech-building and mech battles, grounded by a “boy and his dog” dynamic—except the boy is a horny teenager and the dog is a wisecracking sentient robot.
I liked Taj, particularly his love for and devotion to his family. The heart of the book lies in his relationship with his older brother, Sumi, and their conflicting ideas about what survival requires. I also enjoyed Taj’s snarky exchanges with Star, whose observations and interjections provide much of the humor. Star is also central to the mystery that I am most eager to see explored further. Taj’s interactions with Ky introduce discussions of privilege and power dynamics, though this is also where the story feels most distinctly YA.
The Only Way Out is Up is a rough but entertaining series opener that left me curious enough to keep climbing along.
*Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25
First of all, thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC! 💜
Vibes:
⚙️ Unique magic system
🤖 Pet robot
🔥 High-stakes environment
🏆 Tournament
📈 Sci Fi & Progression fantasy
The creativity that went into building this world is honestly impressive. It sits right on the edge of hilariously absurd at times, but you definitely need to keep your brain switched on to follow all the worldbuilding and understand how the magic system, mechanics, and robots fit together. I especially loved the idea of magic being rooted so heavily in mechanics and engineering. It’s not something I’ve come across very often, and it made the whole concept feel incredibly unique. ⚙️✨
There are also moments that get very graphic, so that’s something to keep in mind. Somehow, even during those scenes, Wexler manages to weave in humor, making them feel a little lighter.. and honestly, I thought that was brilliantly done. 😂
And then there’s Star. I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times because of his reasoning and reactions. Who doesn’t love a sassy, sarcastic little pet robot with extremely dry observations? 🤖😂 I absolutely adored him.
If you enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl, I think there’s a good chance you’ll have fun with this one too.. though it definitely does its own thing. It isn’t really LitRPG, but it has some subtle elements that will feel familiar, particularly in the character progression and overall worldbuilding.
Overall, this is such a cool and unique story. The journey Taj and Star take as they try to claw their way up the social ladder somehow feels surprisingly relatable, while the story still leaves plenty of mystery behind. And I have SO many questions now. 👀
So… can I have book two already, please?! Because I’m officially a fan. 🤖💜
First of all, thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC! 💜
Vibes:
⚙️ Unique magic system
🤖 Pet robot
🔥 High-stakes environment
🏆 Tournament
📈 Sci Fi & Progression fantasy
The creativity that went into building this world is honestly impressive. It sits right on the edge of hilariously absurd at times, but you definitely need to keep your brain switched on to follow all the worldbuilding and understand how the magic system, mechanics, and robots fit together. I especially loved the idea of magic being rooted so heavily in mechanics and engineering. It’s not something I’ve come across very often, and it made the whole concept feel incredibly unique. ⚙️✨
There are also moments that get very graphic, so that’s something to keep in mind. Somehow, even during those scenes, Wexler manages to weave in humor, making them feel a little lighter.. and honestly, I thought that was brilliantly done. 😂
And then there’s Star. I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times because of his reasoning and reactions. Who doesn’t love a sassy, sarcastic little pet robot with extremely dry observations? 🤖😂 I absolutely adored him.
If you enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl, I think there’s a good chance you’ll have fun with this one too.. though it definitely does its own thing. It isn’t really LitRPG, but it has some subtle elements that will feel familiar, particularly in the character progression and overall worldbuilding.
Overall, this is such a cool and unique story. The journey Taj and Star take as they try to claw their way up the social ladder somehow feels surprisingly relatable, while the story still leaves plenty of mystery behind. And I have SO many questions now. 👀
So… can I have book two already, please?! Because I’m officially a fan. 🤖💜
September 30, 2026
The story had great potential, but didn't quite work for me. Part of the problem was that I couldn't figure out what it was trying to be. There's a strong class-struggle theme, but it's far from the main focus. There's a plucky hero with his trusty sidekick who rescues the princess in the tower. There's his precocious little sister and older brother the baker. The underclass lives underground, eking out a meager existence by rummaging through the detritus of the world above, which falls through a giant hole known as "the asshole." Not terrible subtle. Later on there's a cartoonishly evil supervillian, who doesn't even pretend to have a reason to be so awful. In between there's lots of fight scenes and leveling up. There's some of Wexler's trademark snarky humor, but also lots of terrible and tragic things happen, so the comedy ends up falling flat or feeling out of place. Taken all together, the disparate pieces don't all fit together in a satisfying way, and then right as we catch a glimpse of where things may be headed the book ends. I guess there'll be a sequel next year, and would recommend for it to be available before reading this one so you won't have to wait so long to find out what happens.
One thing in particular that struck a nerve was the naming of the levels after the Sephirot, which are the divine emanations in the Jewish mystical tradition (Kabbalah). There is no explanation for how or why these names are used, and it felt somewhat disrespectful and very "cultural appropriation" to wrench these mysterious forces out of their sacred context. The horrible mispronunciation by the audiobook narrator just added insult to injury. If you're going to "borrow" words with significant meaning from another culture, at least have the decency to learn how to say them correctly.
October 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books and Django Wexler for allowing me early access to this book so I can review it honestly.
"A small-time scrapper and his pet robot will fight their way out of the junk-heap in a tournament that will either make them richer than gods or rip them apart in the first book of Django Wexler’s lightning paced progression fantasy adventure for fans of Cradle and Dungeon Crawler Carl."
When you start at the very bottom, the only way out is up…
Release Date: September 29th 2026
Story: Taj, a scrapper, who lives in an underground city does whatever he needs to do to keep his friends and family fed, helped by his from scrap built robot Star. Then he is offered a chance to change all of their lives.
I will say it did start out a little slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, however once the story got going I was hooked! As a huge fan of Dungeon Crawler Carl I could feel it's influence in this book but it was unique enough to stand apart.
Writing: The writing was hilarious yet I found myself crying at the end. I was able to put myself into the world and picture everything that was described. The dialogue was very well done and very natural.
Characters: Oh I loved everyone! Star Especially! I love a sassy robot! The villains were very well written too. I love that the characters were very relatable.
Who Would I Recommend This To: Fans of DCC, dystopian sci-fi, weird robots and creatures and comedy!
Overall: I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait for the next book!! Rounded up from 4.5 stars.
"A small-time scrapper and his pet robot will fight their way out of the junk-heap in a tournament that will either make them richer than gods or rip them apart in the first book of Django Wexler’s lightning paced progression fantasy adventure for fans of Cradle and Dungeon Crawler Carl."
When you start at the very bottom, the only way out is up…
Release Date: September 29th 2026
Story: Taj, a scrapper, who lives in an underground city does whatever he needs to do to keep his friends and family fed, helped by his from scrap built robot Star. Then he is offered a chance to change all of their lives.
I will say it did start out a little slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, however once the story got going I was hooked! As a huge fan of Dungeon Crawler Carl I could feel it's influence in this book but it was unique enough to stand apart.
Writing: The writing was hilarious yet I found myself crying at the end. I was able to put myself into the world and picture everything that was described. The dialogue was very well done and very natural.
Characters: Oh I loved everyone! Star Especially! I love a sassy robot! The villains were very well written too. I love that the characters were very relatable.
Who Would I Recommend This To: Fans of DCC, dystopian sci-fi, weird robots and creatures and comedy!
Overall: I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait for the next book!! Rounded up from 4.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 STAR Review ~ The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler
We do not talk about robot fight club. But if we do, we have to tell you how amazing this book is! It took me a bit to get situated in this story because it drops you right in and zooms full speed ahead. Once I got a feel for what was happening, I was ready to rumble.
Taj will do anything to keep his family safe and fed, even if that is risking his own life by scavenging with Star, a construct he built. Taj winds up being offered a once in a lifetime job opportunity and he cannot turn it down. He just has to find a way to get to the top.
This was such a fantastic book. I loved the robot companion; Star was sassy and just entertaining overall. The pacing was fast and kept my attention. The characters are really where the story shines though. This might be my first Django Wexler book but it sure will not be my last. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Science Fiction / Fantasy.
We do not talk about robot fight club. But if we do, we have to tell you how amazing this book is! It took me a bit to get situated in this story because it drops you right in and zooms full speed ahead. Once I got a feel for what was happening, I was ready to rumble.
Taj will do anything to keep his family safe and fed, even if that is risking his own life by scavenging with Star, a construct he built. Taj winds up being offered a once in a lifetime job opportunity and he cannot turn it down. He just has to find a way to get to the top.
This was such a fantastic book. I loved the robot companion; Star was sassy and just entertaining overall. The pacing was fast and kept my attention. The characters are really where the story shines though. This might be my first Django Wexler book but it sure will not be my last. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Science Fiction / Fantasy.
October 17, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a fun ride! It did take me quite a while to get fully into it, and I almost DNF’d it about 20% in. But I’m glad I stuck with it because once the action started, it was much more enjoyable!
Star is the star (pun intended) of the show in this book! He was so sarcastic and witty. And incredibly loyal to Taj. The runic fights were definitely my favorite part!
The writing was definitely a little bit clunky, and I would have loved more well rounded characters. But still a fun read!
This book was a fun ride! It did take me quite a while to get fully into it, and I almost DNF’d it about 20% in. But I’m glad I stuck with it because once the action started, it was much more enjoyable!
Star is the star (pun intended) of the show in this book! He was so sarcastic and witty. And incredibly loyal to Taj. The runic fights were definitely my favorite part!
The writing was definitely a little bit clunky, and I would have loved more well rounded characters. But still a fun read!
October 19, 2026
i need the next book NOW
October 1, 2026
The Only Way Out is Up by Django Wexler is a LitRPG about fighting robots and class warfare. The novel is Real Steel meets Alita: Battle Angel. The Real Steel comparison comes from the underdogs, fighting robots, and class system. Alita: Battle Angel comes from the class system, finding a special robot, and making it to the top. The book is closer to Alita: Battle Angel in structure.
The Only Way Out is Up is the first book in a new series called the Sigilist series.
The characters and action are what make the book good. The heroes make a great found family that you have to root for. I think the class system works very well. We get to see how the rich live and how the poorest of the poor live.
The robot fighting scenes were very cinematic. They were written so I could easily visualize what was going on. The second to last fight was the best in my opinion. It was super intense, with three fights going on at once. The last fight was not as epic but made up for it with emotion.
Star the robot makes the book. I loved this character so much, especially how sassy, sarcastic, and hilarious he is. When Star hurt, I hurt. During the end fight, I almost cried because of how much I loved Star and the danger he was in.
The sigils took a little while for me to fully understand. I'm not a huge gamer, so others may get it from the start. My biggest confusion was the manipulation of the sigils. I did read an advanced copy, so I hope there is a sigil guide explaining what the colors represent when the book comes out. That would have helped me out a lot.
The pacing is decent. The fight chapters keep the pace steady. The fight chapters were very hard to put down.
The ending was emotional and very satisfying. It ends in a great place where you feel this chapter in the characters' lives is over, but there is still more to do in this world. The ending does make me want to read the next book in the series.
The language used in this book was a little intense. I'm not someone who scoffs at the F-word being used, but this book uses it so much. It is too much at the beginning, but eventually it is used more sparingly and appropriately in the middle and end. There is a great moment when a character you aren't expecting to use it does, and I loved it.
This book is not for kids because of the language, and a scene with attempted sexual assault is pretty brutal. Which sucks because I think a younger audience would love this book if not for those elements.
The Only Way Out is Up is the first book in a new series called the Sigilist series.
The characters and action are what make the book good. The heroes make a great found family that you have to root for. I think the class system works very well. We get to see how the rich live and how the poorest of the poor live.
The robot fighting scenes were very cinematic. They were written so I could easily visualize what was going on. The second to last fight was the best in my opinion. It was super intense, with three fights going on at once. The last fight was not as epic but made up for it with emotion.
Star the robot makes the book. I loved this character so much, especially how sassy, sarcastic, and hilarious he is. When Star hurt, I hurt. During the end fight, I almost cried because of how much I loved Star and the danger he was in.
The sigils took a little while for me to fully understand. I'm not a huge gamer, so others may get it from the start. My biggest confusion was the manipulation of the sigils. I did read an advanced copy, so I hope there is a sigil guide explaining what the colors represent when the book comes out. That would have helped me out a lot.
The pacing is decent. The fight chapters keep the pace steady. The fight chapters were very hard to put down.
The ending was emotional and very satisfying. It ends in a great place where you feel this chapter in the characters' lives is over, but there is still more to do in this world. The ending does make me want to read the next book in the series.
The language used in this book was a little intense. I'm not someone who scoffs at the F-word being used, but this book uses it so much. It is too much at the beginning, but eventually it is used more sparingly and appropriately in the middle and end. There is a great moment when a character you aren't expecting to use it does, and I loved it.
This book is not for kids because of the language, and a scene with attempted sexual assault is pretty brutal. Which sucks because I think a younger audience would love this book if not for those elements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars!
In The Only Way Out Is Up, we follow Taj who lives at the lowest rung of society at the bottom of a ginormous underground junkheap. He survives as a scavenger, battling monsters and sifting through the detritus that has fallen down from the upper levels and the society in the mysterious Above. Alongside him is his Runic-powered mechanical construct, Star. After scavenging is no longer cutting it, a desperate burglary in one of the upper levels goes wrong and Taj and Star find themselves entered into the Ascent, a battle tournament for constructs, which could be their shot at getting out of the junkheap once and for all.
While the progression premise of the story may be somewhat familiar, and the beginning a bit challenging as the worldbuilding unfolds, the universe in this one is super unique and interesting. The story itself is really fast paced, entertaining, and action packed. There is a lot of levity and humour, but it's really well offset with the high stakes, tension, and genuinely emotional moments.
Taj is also a really compelling main character. He's resilient and resourceful, and his love and determination to help his family while still maintaining his morals feels very grounded in reality and endearing. The relationship and camaraderie between him and Star is also a real highlight.
The first in the series, it does have a satisfying resolution despite some unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries still to be uncovered in the rest of the series, and I will definitely be picking up next one.
An especially big recommendation to fans of Django Wrexler's previous work, and also to anyone who loves Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl or Josiah Bancroft's The Books of Babel series.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!
In The Only Way Out Is Up, we follow Taj who lives at the lowest rung of society at the bottom of a ginormous underground junkheap. He survives as a scavenger, battling monsters and sifting through the detritus that has fallen down from the upper levels and the society in the mysterious Above. Alongside him is his Runic-powered mechanical construct, Star. After scavenging is no longer cutting it, a desperate burglary in one of the upper levels goes wrong and Taj and Star find themselves entered into the Ascent, a battle tournament for constructs, which could be their shot at getting out of the junkheap once and for all.
While the progression premise of the story may be somewhat familiar, and the beginning a bit challenging as the worldbuilding unfolds, the universe in this one is super unique and interesting. The story itself is really fast paced, entertaining, and action packed. There is a lot of levity and humour, but it's really well offset with the high stakes, tension, and genuinely emotional moments.
Taj is also a really compelling main character. He's resilient and resourceful, and his love and determination to help his family while still maintaining his morals feels very grounded in reality and endearing. The relationship and camaraderie between him and Star is also a real highlight.
The first in the series, it does have a satisfying resolution despite some unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries still to be uncovered in the rest of the series, and I will definitely be picking up next one.
An especially big recommendation to fans of Django Wrexler's previous work, and also to anyone who loves Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl or Josiah Bancroft's The Books of Babel series.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I admittedly struggled with this book a little more than the Dark Lord Davi series. I was expecting this to be some kind of reverse dungeon crawl which was entirely off the mark. This was MUCH more magitek/FFVII/Scrap Punk which was very interesting to read. The runics in this are essentially magic battle bots. (Yes, the TV show.)
I feel like the explaination of what the runes are, where they come from, and how they work would’ve helped this setting out significantly. We get some hints near the end but I was a little underwhelmed. I will try book #2 when it comes around, but I really need it to round out my issues with the first book.
While I loved Taj and Star, I feel like the combat action was very difficult to follow compared to the slower paced, planned assaults that also take place in the narrative. There’s a lot of potential here, and I did enjoy it. I just needed a bit more to bite onto.
I feel like the explaination of what the runes are, where they come from, and how they work would’ve helped this setting out significantly. We get some hints near the end but I was a little underwhelmed. I will try book #2 when it comes around, but I really need it to round out my issues with the first book.
While I loved Taj and Star, I feel like the combat action was very difficult to follow compared to the slower paced, planned assaults that also take place in the narrative. There’s a lot of potential here, and I did enjoy it. I just needed a bit more to bite onto.
October 7, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown Group UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!
The first book in Django Wexler’s new progression fantasy series, The Sigilist, The Only Way Out Is Up caught my attention with its comparison to Dungeon Crawler Carl and high praise from author Matt Dinniman.
Both of which, I’m happy to report, are definitely warranted. I had such a fun time with this book, and I loved getting all wrapped up in the extraordinary world of Taj and Star.
The formatting of Star’s dialogue was one of my favourite elements of the book and I just love how it conveyed so much emotion and personality in a way that still felt true to a robot companion.
I also enjoyed the plot, though I wasn’t a fan of some of Taj’s decisions and I did sometimes feel like the characterisation of both him and Ky could’ve been a lot more clearly defined.
And honestly? I don’t think the romance between Taj and Ky is necessary, and I found that it worked against the intrigue and potential of the plot and development of the characters.
I’m definitely continuing with this series, and I hope that the next book reveals even more about this strange new dystopian world.
The first book in Django Wexler’s new progression fantasy series, The Sigilist, The Only Way Out Is Up caught my attention with its comparison to Dungeon Crawler Carl and high praise from author Matt Dinniman.
Both of which, I’m happy to report, are definitely warranted. I had such a fun time with this book, and I loved getting all wrapped up in the extraordinary world of Taj and Star.
The formatting of Star’s dialogue was one of my favourite elements of the book and I just love how it conveyed so much emotion and personality in a way that still felt true to a robot companion.
I also enjoyed the plot, though I wasn’t a fan of some of Taj’s decisions and I did sometimes feel like the characterisation of both him and Ky could’ve been a lot more clearly defined.
And honestly? I don’t think the romance between Taj and Ky is necessary, and I found that it worked against the intrigue and potential of the plot and development of the characters.
I’m definitely continuing with this series, and I hope that the next book reveals even more about this strange new dystopian world.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 ⭐️ Wow this was such a fun and yet thought provoking read! What a great start to a series! This book is like a mash up of Silo and Dungeon Crawler Carl. This world is in tiers where the council, elite, and the rich live on the higher tiers. Meanwhile the poor live on the lowest tier. Our mmc is coming from the lows so we've got ourselves an underdog. With scraps he was able to build himself a robot to fight in competitions for money. Those who rise to the top and win the competition get the 'Ascend' which is rising to the highest so we are rooting him and Star (his robot companion) on the whole way. We make some friends along the way and a sponsor that might have some enemies that become our enemies too. I truly enjoyed this fast pace action packed read and i'm hoping for a rebellion in book two!
October 6, 2026
I picked this book up because it said it was for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and it did not disappoint! This was such a fun read. Taj immediately had me rooting for him because he’s literally doing whatever he can to keep his family fed while living in a junk heap and dodging monsters. And Star?? I absolutely loved that little robot. Their dynamic was probably one of my favorite parts.
I also loved watching Taj go from fighting in the construct circuits and barely keeping his head above water to getting his shot at the Ascent. Of course, the too good to be true offer comes with a whole lot of trouble, and I was completely invested once Taj realized just how much was actually at stake. The combination of junk heap filled survival, construct fights, fast paced story line, and the deadly tournament made this such a fun read!
Thank you to Orbit for the advance copy of this book. It was such a fun time!
I also loved watching Taj go from fighting in the construct circuits and barely keeping his head above water to getting his shot at the Ascent. Of course, the too good to be true offer comes with a whole lot of trouble, and I was completely invested once Taj realized just how much was actually at stake. The combination of junk heap filled survival, construct fights, fast paced story line, and the deadly tournament made this such a fun read!
Thank you to Orbit for the advance copy of this book. It was such a fun time!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rated up
ARC from Netgalley
This was a ride! A fast paced dystopian progressian fantasy that has battling robots that are basically Pokemon! The setting's description is epic and reminded me of Tower of God anime and Senlin Ascends. The main character has something special about him, but he's not invincible and goes through a lot of pain/hardship. I will say that this my personal rating of this is a 4.5 because at the begining Taj sounding a little bit like an incel. Also the characters shurg a lot when asked questions which does not feel real and a littke bit of lazy writing. These things did not ruin my enjoyment and I'm absolutely plaining ro continue this series and will most likely be rereading it befote the sequel!
ARC from Netgalley
This was a ride! A fast paced dystopian progressian fantasy that has battling robots that are basically Pokemon! The setting's description is epic and reminded me of Tower of God anime and Senlin Ascends. The main character has something special about him, but he's not invincible and goes through a lot of pain/hardship. I will say that this my personal rating of this is a 4.5 because at the begining Taj sounding a little bit like an incel. Also the characters shurg a lot when asked questions which does not feel real and a littke bit of lazy writing. These things did not ruin my enjoyment and I'm absolutely plaining ro continue this series and will most likely be rereading it befote the sequel!
October 1, 2026
This book seems to be targeted at young male people between the ages of 17 and 21. The protagonist was resourceful and snarky, but as soon as a female secondary character entered the scene he was more worried about his manhood than about how best to help his starving family escape poverty. The portrayal of female characters is very male-gaze-y.
October 4, 2026
4.5
If the Founders Trilogy and Real Steel/Battle Bots had a child ... It would be this book. I am also in the middle of Bells Hells and all I can think of is what if Ashton built FCG and entered him into a series of fights in the underbelly of Jrusar?
Enjoyed the hell out of this book. Been in a reading slump for a few months and this book got me out of it. Couldn't put it down in the back half.
I listened to the audio book as well. It is reminiscent of Project Hail Mary and DCC. This is not a criticism, just an FYI.
If the Founders Trilogy and Real Steel/Battle Bots had a child ... It would be this book. I am also in the middle of Bells Hells and all I can think of is what if Ashton built FCG and entered him into a series of fights in the underbelly of Jrusar?
Enjoyed the hell out of this book. Been in a reading slump for a few months and this book got me out of it. Couldn't put it down in the back half.
I listened to the audio book as well. It is reminiscent of Project Hail Mary and DCC. This is not a criticism, just an FYI.
October 10, 2026
This was a great read! I'm excited on how we will continue!
October 12, 2026
This was exceptional! I absolutely love Django's writing. His sense of humor and ability to create a unique world is phenomenal. I loved this and cannot wait to see where the next one goes!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and Orbit for the ARC!
Tropes:
Scrapper
Tournament
Action Packed
Underdog
Talking robot
This is like a sci-fi mashup between Dungeon Crawler Carl and Wall-e. This has a tournament style plot instead of a tv show but the banter with a sarcastic sidekick is definitely included.
Tropes:
Scrapper
Tournament
Action Packed
Underdog
Talking robot
This is like a sci-fi mashup between Dungeon Crawler Carl and Wall-e. This has a tournament style plot instead of a tv show but the banter with a sarcastic sidekick is definitely included.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews