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The Only Way Out Is Up

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The Only Way Out Is Up

Written by: Django Wexler
Narrated by: Heath Miller
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Buy Now for ₹787.29

Buy Now for ₹787.29

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 …

Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Friendship Genre Fiction
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Critic Reviews

"Django Wexler doesn’t pull punches in this wild tale of heart, courage and twisted metal. Trust me, you’ll like this one. I gobbled that book with a near-constant grin and a whole lot of “whoa”s.”—Sylvain Neuvel, author of Sleeping Giants
"Tremendous fun."—Kirkus (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Takes the old saying 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,' to the next level. A sarcastic, action-packed, intrigue-filled (mis)adventure. One of the funniest books I've read in a long time."—Matt Dinniman, author of Dungeon Crawler Carl on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
“All hail Dark Lord Davi! How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is outrageously fun, filled with campy humor, action and unexpected warm-heartedness. I grinned from the first page to the last.” —Fonda Lee, author of Jade City on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Funny as hell, multi-layered, and affecting. Wexler's irreverent demolition of the fantasy genre doubles as a reverent exploration of where the magic comes from."—Scott Lynch, author of The Lies of Locke Lamora on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"By turning the themes of chosen-one fantasy on their head, this sardonic romp from Wexler brings out the smiles ... Wexler balances the snarky asides with the angst of Davi’s repeating existence and evolving awareness that her actions have consequences. Under the flippancy, a truly touching grimdark story lurks, complete with hilarious footnotes. Readers will be wowed."—Publishers Weekly (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"All-afterburners Isekai adventure—twisty, pacey, and full of reverent irreverence for fantasy. I can't get enough."—Max Gladstone, New York Times Bestselling Author on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Wickedly sharp, funny, and raunchy. Wexler delights in punching holes in the beloved cliches of fantasy, and I adore this. If you ever thought: if I was the villain, I'd actually be smart about things, then this is the book for you."—Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Davi's first-person narration is electric, filled with obscenities and hilarities... [her] questionable ethics, active libido, comfortable bisexuality, and leadership skills combine for a fresh and exciting take on the fantasy adventure."

—Shelf Awareness (starred) on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
"Fast-paced, brilliantly raunchy, unforgettable. The Pratchett-esque American isekai you didn't know you wanted. My favorite read of the year."—Seanan McGuire, author of Middlegame on How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
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