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Life of a Dungeon Core #1
Dungeon Core: The Eternal Training Ground
It is a story about a newly awakened dungeon core who will need to discover what it is and what it wants to do in life. It soon realises that it's not normal and starts to discover what it likes in this world. Battling its own instincts, it chooses to live the way it likes. This brings conflict and opportunities that slowly transform the dungeon core from a newly awakened entity to a truly noteworthy dungeon worth keeping an eye on.
- GenresFantasy
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2023
253 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 6, 2024
I believe this author's first language is not English due to a lot of confusing sentences. You can figure out what is being said and it is definitely not the worst I have read (fan translated light novels are the worst by far). Due to this it is sometimes challenging to keep track of what is being talked about. The most prominent example of this is when the main character is talking about the dungeon playrooms. I constantly don't realize that's what is being talked about and think it's the dungeon rooms all the adventures are in until I realize a few paragraphs later.
The book also start on a very boring note and doesn't get better until the dungeon begins to form rooms. Overall the book is relaxing with no real stakes involved which seems to be what was intended.
The book also start on a very boring note and doesn't get better until the dungeon begins to form rooms. Overall the book is relaxing with no real stakes involved which seems to be what was intended.
July 6, 2024
A passable dungeon core
All in all the story is a classic dungeon core that spends almost all of it's time from the dungeons perspective. So that's the best of it.
The writing is pretty rough, and a lot of time is spent describing details that are immediately discarded or don't really seem to add to the story. The MC builds essentially a giant terrarium, but the actual effect on the outside world is mostly just as a mana battery.
If you're looking for compelling characters or story this probably isn't the right pick for you. The dungeon is interesting ish, but hobbled by the rough style.
I might read the sequel when it's available.
All in all the story is a classic dungeon core that spends almost all of it's time from the dungeons perspective. So that's the best of it.
The writing is pretty rough, and a lot of time is spent describing details that are immediately discarded or don't really seem to add to the story. The MC builds essentially a giant terrarium, but the actual effect on the outside world is mostly just as a mana battery.
If you're looking for compelling characters or story this probably isn't the right pick for you. The dungeon is interesting ish, but hobbled by the rough style.
I might read the sequel when it's available.
March 11, 2024
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes dungeon core stories and the life of a dungeon.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes dungeon core stories and the life of a dungeon.
March 15, 2024
This is a weird one.
But man, is it good. The ant colonies is like watching a Cid Meyers game. The pacing and details are excellent.
But man, is it good. The ant colonies is like watching a Cid Meyers game. The pacing and details are excellent.
March 24, 2025
New take but…
While this was a nice new take on a dungeon core story, it largely felt… middling? Let me try to break it (my opinion) down simply. ‼️Warning‼️ some of this could be considered spoilers.
Pros:
- ETG was always only a dungeon core. He wasn’t a human who died then became a core. I usually like these cores better, because a lot of times the human connection makes a dungeon tamer, less willing to do ehat a dungeon is supposed to do: challenge delvers in life or death situations.
- Probably in part because of the first point, ETG isn’t at all tempted to be friends with the delvers. He has a use for them but outside of that, they don’t interact. Even their interactions are grudgingly done on his part lol
- I liked that the dungeon inhabitants (mostly?) weren’t all just there to be killed over and over again.
- it was interesting to see dungeon fairies depicted as bad guys for the first time.
Cons:
- In what world do dungeons just casually bust out tens of thousands of rooms per floor?! And the delvers just accept this as a matter of course, so it’s normal?? Like, they eventually get ways to bypass earlier floors but it still seems like an impossible number. Towards the end we get more speculation about repetitive rooms and I can’t believe it took them that long to bring it up.
- I can kinda sorta guess at the setup of the dungeon but I’m not 100% certain on it, the vision is kinda hazy, and I think it’s because the descriptions and the system in general were not explained very well. I would think people new to dungeon core stories would be missing a lot of basic stuff if they were to move to another series. And even if you consider this world is different, we still don’t get a thorough breakdown of this worlds mechanics.
- Ants, ants, so many ants! About halfway through things begin to get a bit more bareable, but the core’s obsession with ants in the beginning almost had me dropping it. We got more description of fantasy ant civilization than we did effort of the first like 5 floors of the dungeon.
- Ignoring the ants, the other “monsters” of the dungeon floors aren’t that exciting. Other then goblins and horned rabbits, they aren’t even really monsters and although we hear about the ability to create monsters using different animal combinations, it never happens. Why did we get rooms with over 100 horned rabbits but no mutants?
- While I enjoy the slice of (dungeon) life feel of the story, i think the little conflict that does come up was resolved way too fast. From the sounds of it, things aren’t over, but the first encounter with the dungeon fairies should’ve had more going on. We didn’t even get an actual description of what it looks like, other than small. Did it have butterfly wings? Dragonfly? Who knows! For that matter, what do any of them even look like?
Overall, I was able to push through and finish it, mainly because it does eventually pick up a bit, but I’m not going to start book 2. Maybe later I’ll get curious and want something a little slower paced but not right now.
While this was a nice new take on a dungeon core story, it largely felt… middling? Let me try to break it (my opinion) down simply. ‼️Warning‼️ some of this could be considered spoilers.
Pros:
- ETG was always only a dungeon core. He wasn’t a human who died then became a core. I usually like these cores better, because a lot of times the human connection makes a dungeon tamer, less willing to do ehat a dungeon is supposed to do: challenge delvers in life or death situations.
- Probably in part because of the first point, ETG isn’t at all tempted to be friends with the delvers. He has a use for them but outside of that, they don’t interact. Even their interactions are grudgingly done on his part lol
- I liked that the dungeon inhabitants (mostly?) weren’t all just there to be killed over and over again.
- it was interesting to see dungeon fairies depicted as bad guys for the first time.
Cons:
- In what world do dungeons just casually bust out tens of thousands of rooms per floor?! And the delvers just accept this as a matter of course, so it’s normal?? Like, they eventually get ways to bypass earlier floors but it still seems like an impossible number. Towards the end we get more speculation about repetitive rooms and I can’t believe it took them that long to bring it up.
- I can kinda sorta guess at the setup of the dungeon but I’m not 100% certain on it, the vision is kinda hazy, and I think it’s because the descriptions and the system in general were not explained very well. I would think people new to dungeon core stories would be missing a lot of basic stuff if they were to move to another series. And even if you consider this world is different, we still don’t get a thorough breakdown of this worlds mechanics.
- Ants, ants, so many ants! About halfway through things begin to get a bit more bareable, but the core’s obsession with ants in the beginning almost had me dropping it. We got more description of fantasy ant civilization than we did effort of the first like 5 floors of the dungeon.
- Ignoring the ants, the other “monsters” of the dungeon floors aren’t that exciting. Other then goblins and horned rabbits, they aren’t even really monsters and although we hear about the ability to create monsters using different animal combinations, it never happens. Why did we get rooms with over 100 horned rabbits but no mutants?
- While I enjoy the slice of (dungeon) life feel of the story, i think the little conflict that does come up was resolved way too fast. From the sounds of it, things aren’t over, but the first encounter with the dungeon fairies should’ve had more going on. We didn’t even get an actual description of what it looks like, other than small. Did it have butterfly wings? Dragonfly? Who knows! For that matter, what do any of them even look like?
Overall, I was able to push through and finish it, mainly because it does eventually pick up a bit, but I’m not going to start book 2. Maybe later I’ll get curious and want something a little slower paced but not right now.
April 8, 2024
Dungeon Core The Eternal Training Ground is one of the best dungeon core books I've ever read. It's a dungeon, sure, but it's also one trying to do what it thinks is best not only for itself, but for those delving into it's depths as well. I find it amusing that it has an entire biom that none of the delvers ever find out about, though that seems a bit fishy to me, but nonetheless, it means the dungeon has way more experience than anyone on the surface gives it credit for, and indeed, couldn't even know, so it makes for some extremely interesting events. I'm really liking where this one is headed, and I sure hope the next book has lots of base building, since that's one of my favorite parts of LitRPG stories. This one is worth a read, even if you're not a fan of dungeon core stories (like me), because it's way more than just focusing on the dungeon core, and how it does things, it's an entire world of possibilities, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 6, 2025
To Start... This is a Kindle Unlimited title. Which in my opinion says a lot.
Beyond that, the novel was good. Simple and not a lot of dialogue. There is not much of a cohesive story but rather disparate parts all doing their own thing with no reason as to why we care for their stories.
There were a few bad grammatical errors in the book and overall the thing could have done with a once over from an editor to remove unnecessary sentences or repetition.
Also the gratuitous descriptions of the war between ants near the end of the novel that takes up multiple chapters was a bit weird to me. The author had not gone into as much detail for any other conflict and suddenly we are getting a blow by blow war novel. It was a weird choice.
I will read the rest of the series and while I am critical of the book I didn't hate it. Although upon reflection I just might be a masochist when it comes to books.
Beyond that, the novel was good. Simple and not a lot of dialogue. There is not much of a cohesive story but rather disparate parts all doing their own thing with no reason as to why we care for their stories.
There were a few bad grammatical errors in the book and overall the thing could have done with a once over from an editor to remove unnecessary sentences or repetition.
Also the gratuitous descriptions of the war between ants near the end of the novel that takes up multiple chapters was a bit weird to me. The author had not gone into as much detail for any other conflict and suddenly we are getting a blow by blow war novel. It was a weird choice.
I will read the rest of the series and while I am critical of the book I didn't hate it. Although upon reflection I just might be a masochist when it comes to books.
March 17, 2025
An intriguing start
I should probably start by explaining that I'm not your typical 1 star or 5 star reviewer. Most books I read get three stars for their first book unless they stand out either positively or negatively.
In this case, 90 something percent of this volume is pure world building. It suffers from not having a cast of characters that interact with each other or an antagonist to strive against. It's a lot like sitting down with your elderly Aunt Able and listening to her life story from age 13 to 32.
Despite that, the world the author is building is fascinating so I kept turning those pages. I'll give the second book a try and see where it goes.
Things I'd like more of:
1. Lore on the guild master, Fairy Guild, the Kingdom
2. A regular cast of characters to like and follow
3. An antagonist or at least hardship something anything beyond here is what happens next
I should probably start by explaining that I'm not your typical 1 star or 5 star reviewer. Most books I read get three stars for their first book unless they stand out either positively or negatively.
In this case, 90 something percent of this volume is pure world building. It suffers from not having a cast of characters that interact with each other or an antagonist to strive against. It's a lot like sitting down with your elderly Aunt Able and listening to her life story from age 13 to 32.
Despite that, the world the author is building is fascinating so I kept turning those pages. I'll give the second book a try and see where it goes.
Things I'd like more of:
1. Lore on the guild master, Fairy Guild, the Kingdom
2. A regular cast of characters to like and follow
3. An antagonist or at least hardship something anything beyond here is what happens next
September 9, 2024
An interesting slice of life dungeon core novel
Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this take on a dungeon core novel. Dungeon fairies can be great but sometimes annoying, and that isn't an issue here at all.
There are interpersonal relationships and dungeon building, but it's more macro level and rarely is it deep into the details. As a result, this book is interesting, enjoyable, and relaxing to read; even though I often love getting into the details.
And, don't write a world history report based on the ants in this book, but it is definitely neat to see some similarities! 😊
Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this take on a dungeon core novel. Dungeon fairies can be great but sometimes annoying, and that isn't an issue here at all.
There are interpersonal relationships and dungeon building, but it's more macro level and rarely is it deep into the details. As a result, this book is interesting, enjoyable, and relaxing to read; even though I often love getting into the details.
And, don't write a world history report based on the ants in this book, but it is definitely neat to see some similarities! 😊
March 14, 2024
More like 3.5 stars
I liked that it was a proper dungeon and not something that used to be a person. I liked that it had its own interests and goals. I liked that there wasn't this constant "Oh noes the adventures/space invaders/dungeon police are gonna kill me!"
I didn't care for the chapters about ant warfare that seemed very familiar to students of history. I didn't care for the details in ant floor making that were informed for traditional dungeon floor making.
Over all, I enjoyed it but it didn't make me think too much. Popcorn fiction.
I liked that it was a proper dungeon and not something that used to be a person. I liked that it had its own interests and goals. I liked that there wasn't this constant "Oh noes the adventures/space invaders/dungeon police are gonna kill me!"
I didn't care for the chapters about ant warfare that seemed very familiar to students of history. I didn't care for the details in ant floor making that were informed for traditional dungeon floor making.
Over all, I enjoyed it but it didn't make me think too much. Popcorn fiction.
October 21, 2024
Unique story
I haven’t read a huge amount of books from a dungeon’s perspective, but the ones I have read have been unique in their own right. This is no exception. The evolution of the dungeon is quite fascinating to me. It has its own personality and clearly enjoys creating its play rooms. Along with the design aspect, there’s a massive war going on between several ant colonies trying to.stake a claim. While there is action in here, it’s a more laid back book, which isn’t a bad thing every now and then. On to the next.
I haven’t read a huge amount of books from a dungeon’s perspective, but the ones I have read have been unique in their own right. This is no exception. The evolution of the dungeon is quite fascinating to me. It has its own personality and clearly enjoys creating its play rooms. Along with the design aspect, there’s a massive war going on between several ant colonies trying to.stake a claim. While there is action in here, it’s a more laid back book, which isn’t a bad thing every now and then. On to the next.
November 23, 2024
is this a dungeon core or an ant farm?
Seriously, this book is so confusing. The ants are intelligent and have advanced so much but there was no mention of them from the adventures or the people delving the dungeon. At least 70% of this book is the author describing the life of these ants it had a good start and I was hoping it would lead to something else but no, just more ants. 2 stars at a push
Seriously, this book is so confusing. The ants are intelligent and have advanced so much but there was no mention of them from the adventures or the people delving the dungeon. At least 70% of this book is the author describing the life of these ants it had a good start and I was hoping it would lead to something else but no, just more ants. 2 stars at a push
December 18, 2024
One massive training sequence of tell tell tell
Got about 40% of the way in before I gave up. The book is 95% tell, 5% show, and most of the tell is the dungeon core, by itself, narrating how it is expanding and trying different things, but we never see any of those things in action. All adventurer delving happens off screen and the core never communicates with any of its monster.
Would not recommend this for anyone unless they enjoy one massive training sequence.
Got about 40% of the way in before I gave up. The book is 95% tell, 5% show, and most of the tell is the dungeon core, by itself, narrating how it is expanding and trying different things, but we never see any of those things in action. All adventurer delving happens off screen and the core never communicates with any of its monster.
Would not recommend this for anyone unless they enjoy one massive training sequence.
August 29, 2025
I'm so bored.
The perspective of the dungeon core is just endless narration. It has tons of useless detail, it's plodding, pedantic, and glacially slow moving.
The perspective of the humans is much more interesting.... but we barely get this perspective.
A lot of the story is about ants, but there isn't anything interesting there. Descriptions of ant empires is again ultra boring. I don't care about the ants. There is nothing that makes me want to care about them.
DNF 57%
The perspective of the dungeon core is just endless narration. It has tons of useless detail, it's plodding, pedantic, and glacially slow moving.
The perspective of the humans is much more interesting.... but we barely get this perspective.
A lot of the story is about ants, but there isn't anything interesting there. Descriptions of ant empires is again ultra boring. I don't care about the ants. There is nothing that makes me want to care about them.
DNF 57%
December 8, 2024
well done
Despite not having any epic battles I still found this an interesting read. Dungeons are such a staple of the fantasy genre that it was fascinating to consider the evolution and perspective of a location bound entity. At any rate I stayed glued to the book until the end.
Despite not having any epic battles I still found this an interesting read. Dungeons are such a staple of the fantasy genre that it was fascinating to consider the evolution and perspective of a location bound entity. At any rate I stayed glued to the book until the end.
December 9, 2023
Good read
Really enjoyed this book, it was interesting that the dungeon didn't focus on adventures. Wonder if the playroom civilisation population will be able to join the regular dungeon at some point and what would happen.
Really enjoyed this book, it was interesting that the dungeon didn't focus on adventures. Wonder if the playroom civilisation population will be able to join the regular dungeon at some point and what would happen.
July 7, 2024
Excellent Read
This book is more like an elaborate daydream than a story with a narrative. You are following the life of a curious and inventive dungeon that doesn’t think like a human being. I really enjoyed it. Same quality as Tree of Aeon.
This book is more like an elaborate daydream than a story with a narrative. You are following the life of a curious and inventive dungeon that doesn’t think like a human being. I really enjoyed it. Same quality as Tree of Aeon.
April 21, 2025
Refreshing
Great oint of view from the dungeon, normally they follow a slow pace and bore tou with tedious things. Having an advancing civilization inside the dungeon is refreshing.
Great oint of view from the dungeon, normally they follow a slow pace and bore tou with tedious things. Having an advancing civilization inside the dungeon is refreshing.
July 5, 2025
History of warfare, ant edition
I am usually not a big fan of the dungeon core genre but really enjoyed this book. The contrast between the human and ant sections are very interesting and I found myself looking forward to the different perspectives on each of the major changes.
I am usually not a big fan of the dungeon core genre but really enjoyed this book. The contrast between the human and ant sections are very interesting and I found myself looking forward to the different perspectives on each of the major changes.
February 21, 2024
Great book
A solid entry from Apinsig. Lots of action and adventure, dungeon building and delving. Looking forward to the next one.
A solid entry from Apinsig. Lots of action and adventure, dungeon building and delving. Looking forward to the next one.
February 22, 2024
Great Book
Huge dungeon core book fan. Read countless from alot of different authors and this series is now one of my favorites I hope I continues for alot more books
Huge dungeon core book fan. Read countless from alot of different authors and this series is now one of my favorites I hope I continues for alot more books
December 5, 2024
Building
I had an absolutely wonderful time binge-reading this book, it has incredible momentum in its narrative and just keeps pumping out new and interesting stuff.
I had an absolutely wonderful time binge-reading this book, it has incredible momentum in its narrative and just keeps pumping out new and interesting stuff.
February 6, 2025
I haven't read a dungeon building story before, but this was just bland. It felt more like an outline than anything else. I won't be continuing the series.
June 3, 2025
Very basic in writing style, the sentences don’t feel natural it also doesn’t set up or explain what’s happening. I stopped after reading a bit so it may get better.
October 11, 2025
A bit different than I am used to.
This is a great start. Such an interesting story line. I really enjoyed it. Five stars. On to the next one.
This is a great start. Such an interesting story line. I really enjoyed it. Five stars. On to the next one.
August 9, 2025
I loved the story and series as a whole.
The parallel story lines between the dungeon core and the world outside was addicting and I couldn’t put it down. Even the progression was paced well. I loved how the dungeon was so strong but the story didn’t turn into a power fantasy but an amazing series of world building and making worlds.
My only complaint is the grammar. Either it was poorly translated or never proofread, the grammar is the only reason this isn’t 5 stars.
The parallel story lines between the dungeon core and the world outside was addicting and I couldn’t put it down. Even the progression was paced well. I loved how the dungeon was so strong but the story didn’t turn into a power fantasy but an amazing series of world building and making worlds.
My only complaint is the grammar. Either it was poorly translated or never proofread, the grammar is the only reason this isn’t 5 stars.
July 26, 2024
Simplistic but enjoyable and easy going
January 6, 2025
I enjoyed this dungeon book. It is a little more slow in action however it makes up for it at a fast expansion rate. I also liked how the author decided not to go back and fix every little thing the dungeon did wrong on its first couple levels. Instead it was used as a learning experience and just did better as it advanced.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews