A new LitRPG apocalypse series from Nicholas Sansbury Smith, the New York Times bestselling author of Hell Divers.
Welcome to the System: Salvage, Slay, Survive.
Author: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Title: Salvage System
Published On: 10/21/25
Series: Salvage System 1
Publisher: Aethon Books Pages: 647
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Audiobook Length: 16 hours, 34 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
My Rating:
Purchase Links:
Also by this author: Extinction Horizon, Extinction Edge, Extinction Age
For Chris Mason, working construction at the pinnacle of New York’s skyline feels like being on top of the world—until that world is shattered when an otherworldly portal transforms Manhattan into a deadly fantasy realm.
Chosen as a “salvager” by a mysterious System that has plagued humanity throughout history, Chris must now scavenge the ruins of his city for materials to craft weapons, armor, and shelter while the city continues to transform around him.
With only his sledgehammer for protection and a wise-cracking rat named Bunny as his guide, Chris fights through a nightmarish New York where Central Park has become a mutated forest, subway tunnels hide deadly dungeons, and familiar streets are hunting grounds for monsters.
If Chris has any hope of thriving, he must level-up his salvaging skills to build not just walls and weapons, but a community of salvagers strong enough to reclaim their world from the alien force threatening to consume it. Yet among the survivors, loyalty is scarce, and some are willing to betray humanity itself for the promise of power.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Hell Divers and the Extinction Cycle comes an apocalyptic LitRPG adventure where humanity’s last hope lies in the rubble of a fallen city. Perfect for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, System Apocalypse, and Defiance of the Fall!
About Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Nicholas Sansbury Smith is the author of several post-apocalyptic books and short stories. He worked for the State of Iowa for nearly 10 years before switching careers to focus on his one true passion—writing. When he isn’t daydreaming about the apocalypse he’s likely racing in triathlons around the Midwest. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his family and several rescued animals.
For more info, visit him at:
Before reading Salvage System, I had never picked up a LitRPG book—and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I didn’t expect was how much fun I would have reading it.
The book is fairly long, so it did take me quite a while to get through it—but that wasn’t a downside for me. The length allowed the story to really develop, and I enjoyed spending so much time in its world. There was plenty of action to keep things exciting, and the pacing made it easy to stay engaged even during longer stretches.
One of the highlights of Salvage System is its characters. They were fun, well written, and memorable, which made the story even more enjoyable. My absolute favorite character was Bunny, a talking rat who added a lot of personality and charm to the book. Bunny stood out as both entertaining and unique, and quickly became the character I looked forward to seeing the most.
Overall, Salvage System was an amazing read and a strong first experience with LitRPG for me. If you enjoy action-packed stories with interesting characters and don’t mind a longer book, this is definitely one worth checking out.
