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The Mimic Dungeon #1
The Dungeon That Walks Like A Man
It’s not easy being a house that eats people.
Zaria was just a normal woman, living a simple life - until demons burst through her door and ate her heart. Reborn from tragedy, Zaria rises from the ashes as a Core, but with a twist. A rare mutation has turned her into a Mutant Core, destined to explode unless she forms a bond with a human witch to become a Striga.
Her mutation? Legs.
With the power of a full dungeon compressed into a walking house that is her body, Zaria sets out on a journey to find her Striga and avoid detonation. Along the way, she battles demons, builds her dungeon, and feeds her mimic mobs.
This is not the life she once knew, but it's the one she's determined to make work, no matter who she has to walk through to get there.
This book includes people that get devoured and language your grandmother wouldn't like.
Zaria was just a normal woman, living a simple life - until demons burst through her door and ate her heart. Reborn from tragedy, Zaria rises from the ashes as a Core, but with a twist. A rare mutation has turned her into a Mutant Core, destined to explode unless she forms a bond with a human witch to become a Striga.
Her mutation? Legs.
With the power of a full dungeon compressed into a walking house that is her body, Zaria sets out on a journey to find her Striga and avoid detonation. Along the way, she battles demons, builds her dungeon, and feeds her mimic mobs.
This is not the life she once knew, but it's the one she's determined to make work, no matter who she has to walk through to get there.
This book includes people that get devoured and language your grandmother wouldn't like.
579 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2023
123 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 15, 2024
2.5 Another YA fantasy book that's four times as long as it needs to be. This isn't a LitRPG, this is a LitRPG delivery system. You have a dying person who wakes up as a walking Baba Yaga-style house. And in this LitRPG world, she has an experience and leveling up system, but this time she's a physical dungeon with traps and a potential hord of monsters that she can (sometimes) control. As her power grows, she has different kinds of rooms, can craft things, and has ovens where she can cook food (or humans). This book is super interesting if you want someone to play out all the stat changes and possible magical upgrades this haunted house could get. But that is practically all you get. It's six-hundred pages and this book barely has a story. It just kind of mucks around until the last twenty percent where they (with her maybe queer romance witch friend) fight another monstrous creature. Weirdly, there's a twist in the third act regarding multiple dimensions that suddenly feels like there's potential. Maybe, you can take this monster house with its six pages of spells and stats and maybe actually fight something? Would that be too much to ask?
March 23, 2024
4 Mothers, I Crave Violence Stars
The Dungeon That Walks Like A Man is the first book in The Mimic Dungeon series by Alex Raizman.
Minus one star for two reasons: Some of the explanations, especially that final one about broken moons, are so convoluted and make very little sense to me. Second, all the spelling errors. Thought instead of through, reading instead of readying. It was annoying how often it happened and disrupted the immersion to the story experience.
Outside of that? Totally amazing premise for a dungeon core book. I can't get enough of the Baba Yaga references, and I've really come to enjoy a mobile dungeon. The versatility and limitless possibilities simply add to the unique experience each dungeon narrative already offers. Add in a dedicated defender beyond the normal mob and boss structure one expects with dungeons in the Striga? Give me more, please.
I'm really interested to see how these Otherworlders, wardens, and even the Reclaimers or Demons shape this world in the next book. Mostly, I would like to know more about Ryne. If she had her own dedicated series, I would be devouring it already. There's some really interesting possibilities that should be further explored just based on what she's revealed already.
The Dungeon That Walks Like A Man is the first book in The Mimic Dungeon series by Alex Raizman.
Minus one star for two reasons: Some of the explanations, especially that final one about broken moons, are so convoluted and make very little sense to me. Second, all the spelling errors. Thought instead of through, reading instead of readying. It was annoying how often it happened and disrupted the immersion to the story experience.
Outside of that? Totally amazing premise for a dungeon core book. I can't get enough of the Baba Yaga references, and I've really come to enjoy a mobile dungeon. The versatility and limitless possibilities simply add to the unique experience each dungeon narrative already offers. Add in a dedicated defender beyond the normal mob and boss structure one expects with dungeons in the Striga? Give me more, please.
I'm really interested to see how these Otherworlders, wardens, and even the Reclaimers or Demons shape this world in the next book. Mostly, I would like to know more about Ryne. If she had her own dedicated series, I would be devouring it already. There's some really interesting possibilities that should be further explored just based on what she's revealed already.
January 24, 2025
This was a an interesting concept and a fun read. I have a mild fascination for folk lore and Baba Yaga in particular so I may be biased in my rating. A young lady dies and is reborn as a dungeon in the form of a Baba Yaga house. I was pleased this story wasn’t another Isekai, although it does have people from other worlds it’s not told from their perspective nor does the story follow them. I always enjoyed Lit RPG style books but I find myself zoning out when the endless lists of stats or abilities are stated again and again with minor changes. This book thankfully doesn’t have much of that. I know some people love it but repetition on that level drains my brain out my ears. I’ll put up with it for a great story but it’s not my favourite thing. This book was perfect for me in that regard.
It did however have some spelling and grammatical errors, hopefully it gets a little bit of editing. Otherwise very enjoyable and I look forward to the next one.
It did however have some spelling and grammatical errors, hopefully it gets a little bit of editing. Otherwise very enjoyable and I look forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2023
A New Series Joins Raizman's Tapestry of Interwoven Universes.
This is an excellent read; when looked at as just Zariah's story. Add in the fact that this novel links to Raizman's other series just adds complexity to the collage of colliding story lines he has already spun. I do not yet see the full pattern of this web of story lines he he is weaving, but I remain intrigued by what is emerging with each new book's revelations.
If you enjoy complex characters and plots in a high fantasy setting, this novel and the author's other novels, are likely just what you are looking for.
This is an excellent read; when looked at as just Zariah's story. Add in the fact that this novel links to Raizman's other series just adds complexity to the collage of colliding story lines he has already spun. I do not yet see the full pattern of this web of story lines he he is weaving, but I remain intrigued by what is emerging with each new book's revelations.
If you enjoy complex characters and plots in a high fantasy setting, this novel and the author's other novels, are likely just what you are looking for.
June 22, 2024
The author definitly had a lot of fun writing this, which usually translates into a lot of fun to read it.
Pros
Characters are fun and I want to know more about the world building and mysteries set up.
Cons
1) I'm personally not a fan of just dropping video game mechanics as world building and everyone acting like getting system messages and quest alerts is normal.
2) There are whole chapters dedicated to just reading out upgrade path options. Most of them repeating previous chapters doing the same thing with one slight modifications.
The first may be a matter of taste, but the second is just really boring.
Pros
Characters are fun and I want to know more about the world building and mysteries set up.
Cons
1) I'm personally not a fan of just dropping video game mechanics as world building and everyone acting like getting system messages and quest alerts is normal.
2) There are whole chapters dedicated to just reading out upgrade path options. Most of them repeating previous chapters doing the same thing with one slight modifications.
The first may be a matter of taste, but the second is just really boring.
August 20, 2023
Pretty good standalone, but part of a greater whole
A fun book on its own, especially since the main character likes to constantly take action rather than just sit around. There’s a bit of info-dump that’s for readers of other series of this author, but none of it is so onerous that it detracts from the book too much.
As good as the book is, it made me realize that I don’t like Dungeon core books that much. Anyone who is a lover of Dungeon Core stories would give this a 5/5 stars I think.
A fun book on its own, especially since the main character likes to constantly take action rather than just sit around. There’s a bit of info-dump that’s for readers of other series of this author, but none of it is so onerous that it detracts from the book too much.
As good as the book is, it made me realize that I don’t like Dungeon core books that much. Anyone who is a lover of Dungeon Core stories would give this a 5/5 stars I think.
February 28, 2023
An unusual and fun spin on dungeon core!
If you’ve read Raizman’s other works(namely Dinosaur Dungeon), then this book will likely feel very familiar to you. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The system is the same, but the differences between the core types and the way the world works are nicely different. I enjoyed the mechanics of the mimics here as well as the banter between the characters. Definitely worth the read!
If you’ve read Raizman’s other works(namely Dinosaur Dungeon), then this book will likely feel very familiar to you. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The system is the same, but the differences between the core types and the way the world works are nicely different. I enjoyed the mechanics of the mimics here as well as the banter between the characters. Definitely worth the read!
April 17, 2023
Yo...
SO GOOD?????? God bro I'm about to check out the other books because it sounds like this up and coming series will be most likely better than the Marvel multiverse. Though to be fair I'm based and don't really like Marvel anyway lmfao
TLDR; read its actually insane, buy the book afterwards if you liked it and use kindle unlimited
SO GOOD?????? God bro I'm about to check out the other books because it sounds like this up and coming series will be most likely better than the Marvel multiverse. Though to be fair I'm based and don't really like Marvel anyway lmfao
TLDR; read its actually insane, buy the book afterwards if you liked it and use kindle unlimited
February 3, 2025
This was a fun and interesting take on dungeons. It took me forever to read this book but that was my ADHD and object permance; I kept forgetting about it. Everytime I remembered I would become excited and get right back into it. There was plenty of action and adventure in the book, the dungeon was an interesting and fun character and the witch she added to her dungeon as well as her first mimic.
Overall, I definitely recommend reading this book if you like the litrpg genre.
Overall, I definitely recommend reading this book if you like the litrpg genre.
April 16, 2025
A really fun adventure. Some editing issues, and certain story things didn't make total sense to me. Also not into the vibe of possible romance later. It's a murderous house. Just let it be a story about a murderous house and her buddies.
I will definitely be continuing with this world though!
I will definitely be continuing with this world though!
February 25, 2023
Great book
Loved this book so much. It can read as a stand alone or with other books from the author. Highly recommend!
Loved this book so much. It can read as a stand alone or with other books from the author. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2023
great book
Apparently this book is part of an interlink book storyline line and I’m looking forward to finding and reading the rest it was a fun read
Apparently this book is part of an interlink book storyline line and I’m looking forward to finding and reading the rest it was a fun read
March 11, 2023
If you think Mimics are an awesome monster type when not only a chest, this book will certainly humor you.
March 11, 2023
An Excellent Read
This book is unique, and in a world full of LitRPG Core novels, that’s really saying something. You should read it.
This book is unique, and in a world full of LitRPG Core novels, that’s really saying something. You should read it.
March 14, 2023
fun
Love the roaming core and the build up of the overarching universe. Fun world. Fast paced, good story. Addicting.
Needs some editing. Still great though
Love the roaming core and the build up of the overarching universe. Fun world. Fast paced, good story. Addicting.
Needs some editing. Still great though
April 27, 2023
I didnt expect the story would be like that...
May 21, 2023
Good book
A good dungeon core book. A bit fast paced with tie ins to others books. But you dont need to read them to understand it. Looking forward to book 2.
A good dungeon core book. A bit fast paced with tie ins to others books. But you dont need to read them to understand it. Looking forward to book 2.
August 17, 2023
Super fun and entertaining
I was intrigued by "Yagacore" enough to pick this up and I'm glad I did. What a great book! Can't wait to read more.
I was intrigued by "Yagacore" enough to pick this up and I'm glad I did. What a great book! Can't wait to read more.
March 17, 2024
Some of the descriptions got repetitive, but overall a satisfying book.
July 28, 2024
Wasn't the best but I'd read it again dungeon core fiction is a crapshoot anyways
July 19, 2023
A mobile dungeon that actually feels like a dungeon - yes that means no turning into a human and wandering away from the dungeon this core remains a trapped genius loci. Sure they have a humanoid boss body they can possess but they never disappear.
Main mob theme is mimics and this manages to keep it fresh.
Really liking Alex Raizman's DC novels they are all above average.
Main mob theme is mimics and this manages to keep it fresh.
Really liking Alex Raizman's DC novels they are all above average.
May 22, 2025
The Dungeon That Walks Like a Man
The last moments of Zaria’s life were terrifying as a demon that burst through her door stalked her and ate her heart. Death was not the end though. Zaria was reborn as an unstable mutant dungeon core. Her mutation is that her house is her dungeon and the dungeon has giant chicken legs. She chooses mimics as her monster type, so everything in the house could be a monster. She must bond with a witch to stabilize her core. That and there are demons to hunt!
This is a really fun take on the dungeon core genre. Zaria is able to pick up after a dungeon run and walk over to the next location and even join in on the fight. I love the way the author incorporates Isekai into the story. This seems to be a stand alone book, but is tied into the CoreVerse of the author’s other series. Sierra Kline does a great job as the narrator!
Content warning: language
The last moments of Zaria’s life were terrifying as a demon that burst through her door stalked her and ate her heart. Death was not the end though. Zaria was reborn as an unstable mutant dungeon core. Her mutation is that her house is her dungeon and the dungeon has giant chicken legs. She chooses mimics as her monster type, so everything in the house could be a monster. She must bond with a witch to stabilize her core. That and there are demons to hunt!
This is a really fun take on the dungeon core genre. Zaria is able to pick up after a dungeon run and walk over to the next location and even join in on the fight. I love the way the author incorporates Isekai into the story. This seems to be a stand alone book, but is tied into the CoreVerse of the author’s other series. Sierra Kline does a great job as the narrator!
Content warning: language
July 31, 2024
Such a great take on dungeon cores. Mixing the baba yaga, and a dungeon, sending it out into the world to fight back demons... More please!
May 17, 2023
Great story, never proofread.
I loved the story and the premise of a Babayaga-core, the only downside is I don't think this book was ever proofread before publishing. There are a lot of simple errors that should have been caught.
Still, great book.
I loved the story and the premise of a Babayaga-core, the only downside is I don't think this book was ever proofread before publishing. There are a lot of simple errors that should have been caught.
Still, great book.
July 10, 2024
I loved the new system of dungeon, the battles and the magic, but I personally didn't the like kind of dark-humour/ tough-love banter the main group have. Ended up stopping at 80% as I was skipping pages and moved on to another series, and then finished the rest of this book a few days later.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews