The Trapped Mind Project: A LitRPG Fantasy Series (Emerilia Book 1)

Austin, a CEO of an asteroid mining company who has achieved business success, seeks escape through Emerilia, a fantasy VR MMORPG. He wants to return to hands-on work—building, crafting, and adventuring—and to form friendships based on shared interests rather than financial ties. Reborn as Dave, a half-dwarf player with only the clothes on his back, Austin must navigate a world where the line between game and reality blurs. He discovers that Earth and Emerilia are not as he understood them, and that the game may be more real than he realized. To survive and uncover Emerilia's true past, Dave must level up, develop his skills, and build alliances with both players and non-player characters—all while grappling with a disturbing possibility about the nature of his existence. The Trapped Mind Project combines LitRPG gameplay with science fiction and fantasy elements, emphasizing smithing, crafting, and party-focused adventure. This is the first book in a complete series.