Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is $1 in the US (
Amazon)
This is the beginning of a self-published LitRPG series. The audiobooks and Kickstartered special editions are also self-published. It's grown popular enough that Ace is publishing hardcover editions, but they only have rights for those. So I think this makes it traditionally-published enough to mention here.
They are extremely popular at the moment, but I know the genre can put off people - I've never read one myself, but the sample chapter of this one and the price makes me willing to try it.
Quote:
The apocalypse will be televised!
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
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