Disclaimer: Unlike most other litRPG novels, Magium is not a book about a person getting trapped in an actual RPG. The world of Magium will, however, be similar to the worlds portrayed in many fantasy RPGs, and the main character will be using a 'stat device', which will provide him with stat points that he'll use to level up different abilities, such as Speed, Toughness and Hearing. In addition, the different mage specializations are loosely based on classes that you usually find in RPGs and DnD such as Paladins, Clerics, Fire Mages, Necromancers, Illusionists, etc. Now that this has been cleared up, let us continue with the book's description:Barry is an ordinary guy, with no magical powers whatsoever, who dreamed of becoming a mage for the better part of his life. After dedicating his whole life to studying magic, in the hopes of fulfilling his dream, he finally finds a way to do it.However, in order to become a mage, he must first win a deadly free-for-all tournament against the most powerful mages in the world.The fantasy world that the story takes place in is inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and by classic RPG games such as Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age and Skyrim.The story of Magium starts at the beginning of the tournament, right after Barry and all the other participants are magically teleported to the continent where the contest is taking place.The tournament takes place on a continent hidden from the rest of the world, where there are mythical creatures like dragons and hydras, but also remnants of an old and technologically advanced civilization, whose magically powered devices are still being used in the present day.Due to his lack of magical abilities, Barry will be forced to use one such device, called a stat booster, which absorbs the magical energy around it and converts it into stat points. By leveling up stats such as Speed, Reflexes and Premonition, Barry will gain supernatural abilities that will help him survive against all the experienced mages that are also participating in the tournament.As the series progresses, Barry will meet with other participants, he will make friends and enemies, and he will gradually find out more about the continent he is on, and its inhabitants. He will find out that a person called "The Creator" had established several utopias in this place, six hundred years ago, where animals and humans lived in harmony, and food was created through magic. What Barry will get to see through his travels, however, is the downfall of these utopias, some of them being on the brink of destruction. As he begins to get involved with the people of this land, Barry will need to decide if he can simply ignore what is happening before his eyes, or if he will intervene, at the risk of being banned from the tournament, and forfeiting his dream.Credits for the magic ball image on the cover go to Agnes Landgraf.
