Hi! To start, I've looked at all the lists and I've checked for recs on book pages and I'm not finding what I'm looking for, so as a last ditch effort thought I'd ask the collective. **I want to read a LitRPG novel with plot, an end goal, something besides "get stronger". **

Obviously, Dungeon Crawler Carl is where this all started. I loved it! The closest series I could find to it is Apocalypse Parenting by Erin Ampersand which is also AMAZING. I love that these characters are trying to survive and they have a goal they are striving for (end of the dungeon, take down the big bad, earn earth back, etc.) , plus the game mechanics add a bit of fun to it. Scum Villains Self-Saving System isn't technically LitRPG, but I'm open for isekai/portal fantasy with a system involved. And yes, I have read This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me twice, absolutely love it. Comic-wise I LOVE The Greatest Estate Developer, Ultimate Shut-In, Top Dungeon Farmer, Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story (yes, romance-heavy recommendations are cool too!), but I'm really looking for a novel over a graphic novel right now.

-- I tried He Who Fights With Monsters - I liked the first book, thought it was fine, 4 stars, but there is no purpose or end goal. Jason is just going to keep traveling and getting stronger which isn't my thing. -- Azarinth Healer - pretty much the same as above, but intensify the "getting stronger". -- Battle Mage Farmer - I listened to the GraphicAudio editions which were awesome, but stopped at the 5th book because it felt like we lost the story and were just getting stronger. -- Saintess Summons Skeletons wasn't for me -- Death has Joined the Party had great potential, but the explanations and inner monologue were relentless and boring.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Heck, I'll even take recommendations for places to ask for recommendations Thank you!