Released August 2021

Some things just never get old. Playing video games. Petting dogs. Monty Python jokes. This book has two out of those three and captures them well. I have only read (listened to the audiobook) of this first one in the series, but I loved it!

I was unsure about this book when I first picked it up. I only bought it because Jonathan had posted a picture of the third book’s cover, and it is awesome. There is a giant undead shark trying to eat some ships and it is wonderful chaos. That said, I don’t normally buy dungeon core books. There isn’t really a reason, I just hadn’t found my entrance. I think I have now.

The story hooked me when James, the MC, gets bullied at school. This felt like such a real moment and humanized the characters in a fantastic way. The characterization keeps getting better when Rue is introduced. She is an AI pixie with all the best vices of a real person.

The story is slow at first, just like every LitRPG I’ve ever read, but I personally enjoyed that in this instance. The slowness lets the reader really immerse themselves in the worldbuilding, literally and figuratively. James makes some interesting decisions with his dungeon and the slowness lets the reader see how and why he would do these things. Also, Rue is just over James’ shoulder day drinking.

I think if you enjoy Dakota Krout’s dungeon core books, Monty Python references, Diablo II, or are just vindictive enough to want to watch a jerk get his comeuppance then this book is for you.

Where to buy:

Kindle

Audiobook narrated by Travis Baldree