The Tower of Aetherius
Waking up as one’s video game avatar is no walk in the park—in fact, it’s a harrowing tower climb—in this witty isekai for fans of geeky, badass women.
When Aesca Lampi wakes up in the form of her character from
Eldest Fantasy Wars Online, she’s annoyed by the historical inaccuracies. (Video-game-style scrolls? Really?) That is, until a building collapses on top of her, revealing she’s on a fantastical island centered around the impossibly tall, glowing Tower of Aetherius . . . with an array of dangerous creatures—including jaguar hybrids, velociraptors, and giant, flesh-eating lizards—in the way. (Oh, joy.)
OK, so she’s dead. Now what? In order to become a true Aetherian, Aesca is challenged by the god Aetherius himself to make her way through all one hundred levels of the tower and free the world from the tyranny of Oizys, Goddess of Misery. Aesca’s mission seems relatively simple: solve the puzzles, forge alliances, regenerate when killed, move on. But soon she’s involving herself in elf–human border negotiations and running from black vipers.
As the climb gets ever more harrowing and a host of deities begins to interfere, Aesca will need all her strength, cleverness, and wit—plus her trusty dragon-cat, Arkaziel—to ascend the levels and fight Oizys before it’s too late. And she doesn’t even have a help menu to assist her . . .
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Jamie Kojola
Jamie Kojola’s writing is a quiet but potent invitation into the world of progression fantasy, where the lines between reality and myth are fluid, and the stakes feel as high as the tower’s top. Drawing inspiration from her own love of gaming, world-building, and the unexpected, Jamie’s Odyssey of the Ethereal series has captivated readers looking for a blend of humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure. What started as a passion project on Royal Road quickly evolved into a beloved saga that continues to grow in its complexity and depth.
Odyssey of the Ethereal
In Odyssey of the Ethereal, the lines between game and reality blur as Aesca Lampi, an avid gamer, is thrust into a mysterious world where the rules aren’t as straightforward as she expects. Trapped in her own video game avatar, she must navigate a labyrinthine tower that is as dangerous as it is captivating. Each level presents not only new trials but unsettling truths about the world around her, forcing Aesca to confront questions of power, identity, and the very nature of her existence.
Odyssey of the Ethereal consists of four books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
