The Mists of Arathia by Erynn Lehtonen

Reynar the Woodsman lost everything when the Mists arrived.

The plague killed his wife, two-thirds of the population, and trapped Reynar in his dead-end village. Those who didn’t succumb to the illness were marked with cryptic black tattoos called Pitch, thrusting them into a world permanently changed by the addition of levels, skills, and monsters.

The easily flustered Glen is a butcher but has no business holding a sword. Back at home, John’s horde of siblings rely on his silent and dexterous talents for survival. Meanwhile the eccentric bushman, Samson, and his bizarre inventions freeze up in the face of danger.

But Samson is determined to pursue his outlandish idea: become adventurers and unlock the mysteries of the Pitch.

Without Rey, they’ll surely bumble themselves into an early grave.
However, nothing is as it seems. Guided by her mysterious quest log, Guinevere—a power gamer from another world—is set on confronting the true source of the Mists, no matter who gets in her way.

Time is running out. Will these unlikely heroes impede her, or help save their world?

For fans of Dungeons and Dragons and Terry Pratchett, Lunar Insurrection is an experimental GameLit/LitRPG series featuring a twist on the Isekai genre and a dark sense of humour. Each novella-length installment builds on the larger story and world.