Epic LitRPG Adventures Where Crafting Meets Magic

Three series. Workshop magic, code-powered dungeons, and neural battlefields. Progression fantasy with intricate game systems, real stakes, and heroes who build as much as they battle.

Ava Knightly, LitRPG author
A cozy fantasy bookstore with warm lighting

Hi, I'm Ava Knightly

I write LitRPG novels where crafting, strategy, and community matter as much as combat. Across three series, I explore different corners of the genre -- from cozy workshop magic to high-stakes neural arenas to code-powered dungeons.

The Workshop Republic Chronicles follows Marin Kestrel, an artificer-turned-architect who saves cities through craft, coalitions, and infrastructure heroism. Two books are available now -- from Lumenford's river locks to Harth's tidal harmonics -- with more to come. Book 1 starts at $0.99. My other series -- Epic Expanse and Synapse Siege -- are also available on Amazon.

If you love detailed magic systems, thoughtful progression, and adventures that feel both cozy and epic, you're in the right place.

Learn More About Me

Latest Release

The Workshop Republic Chronicles — Book 2

Compact of Tides and Tone book cover by Ava Knightly

Compact of Tides and Tone

The Workshop Republic Chronicles

Marin Kestrel has outgrown Lumenford. As a Level 30 Architect with a coalition behind her, she answers a call from the tidal city of Harth -- where the Lattice is failing, eight senior Archivists have vanished, and the city's infrastructure is shaking itself apart. The cause isn't sabotage. It's a three-century-old calibration engine singing in the dark for someone to come home and update it.

Cozy LitRPG Tidal Mechanics Progression Fantasy

Vibes: Tidal city • Ancient machines • Coalition building

Perfect for fans of: The Wandering Inn, Beware of Chicken, Legends & Lattes

More Books by Ava

Available now on Amazon

Charter of Gears and Water cover

Charter of Gears and Water

Workshop Republic — Book 1

Marin Kestrel fixes things. When the Lattice grants her an Artificer class, she uncovers sabotage threatening Lumenford's infrastructure.

Start the Series — $0.99
Rise of the Runemaster cover

Rise of the Runemaster

Epic Expanse — Book 1

A programmer gets pulled into the game she built. The code is her weapon. The bugs are trying to kill her.

Read on Amazon
Rookie's Gambit cover

Rookie's Gambit

Synapse Siege — Book 1

In a world where your brain is the controller, what happens when the controller starts controlling you?

Read on Amazon
Synapse Siege series

Neural Bootcamp

Synapse Siege — Book 2

Recruited into an elite training program, Jace must push his neural sync abilities to their limits -- and beyond.

Read on Amazon

What You Can Expect

My books are crafted for readers who love...

Detailed Magic Systems

Clear rules, creative applications

Thoughtful Progression

Level-ups that feel earned

🌏

Community Focus

Civic stories alongside personal growth

🔧

Crafting Over Combat

Heroes who build and solve creatively

Found Family

Relationships that matter

Cozy but Epic

Warm atmosphere with real stakes

What Readers Are Saying

"Finally, a LitRPG where the protagonist builds things instead of just smashing them!"
-- ARC Reader
"The magic system is so well thought out, I want to play this game."
-- ARC Reader
"Marin is my new favorite artificer. More cozy crafting LitRPG, please!"
-- ARC Reader