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Vor zehn Jahren begannen »Gates«, die reale Welt mit Dungeons voller Monster zu verbinden. Seitdem sind Menschen mit speziellen Fähigkeiten erwacht, deren Aufgabe es ist, die Dungeons zu versiegeln, bevor ihre Bewohner in die Welt eindringen können. Die Hunter-Vereinigungen von Korea und Japan arbeiten gemeinsam an einer Strategie, um die von Ameisenmonstern überrannte Insel Jeju zurückzuerobern. Es verläuft jedoch nicht alles nach Plan und plötzlich stehen die Hunter am Rande ihrer Auslöschung.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2024

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Chugong

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5 stars
3,023 (61%)
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3 stars
404 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
Profile Image for Rebecca.
4,320 reviews69 followers
February 6, 2022
The most interesting part of this series is the tantalizing hints we get that the System may not be as strictly benevolent as it appears to be from Jinwoo's perspective. This volume also features some interestingly blatant anti-Japanese sentiment (and no judgement, I'm just mentioning it) that could steer the story in a new direction.
Profile Image for vanessa ⋆.☕︎.
265 reviews438 followers
March 5, 2025
Rating: ★★★★☆.5


It is equal to or superior to previous offerings.

────୨ৎ────

⟡ 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚:
Advancing in C-rank dungeons has become an almost insurmountable challenge for Jinwoo. The thought of an E-rank hunter tackling anything beyond that level is alarming and would undoubtedly attract significant scrutiny. Thus, a reassessment of his abilities is in order. Upon receiving the results, it is confirmed—Jinwoo has ascended to become the tenth S-rank hunter in South Korea! This achievement unlocks a completely new realm filled with formidable magical creatures and elite hunters. However, before he can fully engage with this exciting new environment, there is a crucial task he must attend to first.




────୨ৎ────


Plot review:

This captivating series is undeniably a feast for the senses, inviting viewers to indulge in its rich narrative tapestry. The writing is exquisite, showcasing a masterful command of pacing that keeps the audience enthralled from start to finish. The characters are beautifully crafted, each one resonating with depth and complexity, while the setting envelops you in a world that feels both familiar and enchanting. The story-line unfolds with a grace that is both compelling and immersive, making it a must-read for aficionados of the anime and manga. Even if you have yet to experience the animated or illustrated versions, if you have a passion for the genre, this series promises to be a delightful journey that you will not want to miss.

The most remarkable aspect of this volume lies in the long-anticipated confirmation of Jinwoo Sung as South Korea's tenth S-rank hunter, a moment that resonated deeply with readers who have followed his arduous journey. The emotional responses elicited throughout the narrative were nothing short of profound, reflecting the trials and tribulations Jinwoo has endured to reach this pinnacle of achievement. While some may attribute his success to a unique ability, it is undeniable that his ascent has been forged through relentless dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering perseverance. Witnessing his steadfast commitment to his principles, untouched by the allure of wealth, fame, or glory, adds a layer of depth to his character that is both admirable and inspiring. The presence of Jinho, who serves as a catalyst for Jinwoo's emotional expression, enriches the narrative, showcasing a bond that transcends mere friendship.

In a parallel narrative, Jinho's character development unfolds beautifully as he confronts his father about his own aspirations and desires, a moment that many readers have eagerly awaited. The emotional weight of this confrontation is palpable, and Jinho's journey toward self-acceptance is both poignant and relatable. Jinwoo's unwavering support for Jinho during this pivotal moment highlights the strength of their friendship, reinforcing the theme of loyalty and understanding that permeates the story.

As the volume draws to a close, the exhilarating dungeon-crawling adventure comes full circle, culminating in a moment of profound significance for Jinwoo as he finally attains what he has long sought. However, the narrative tantalizingly concludes on a cliffhanger, leaving readers in suspense regarding the rewards and Jinwoo's reaction, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited continuation of this enthralling saga.

After Jin-wo experienced rapid development in terms of level and strength, Jin-wo had to deal with people from various guilds who tried to recruit him.

This book begins to introduce new problems, including politics. Various guilds try to recruit Jin-wo, but Jin-wo himself does not want to be tied to a particular group. Preferring to be free, adventuring and fighting from dungeon to dungeon to take care of his young sister and sick mother. At the same time, the Hunter committee (a government organization that records hunters in a country) finally finds out about Jin-wo's strength.

His character development is extraordinary in this book. Jin-wo is faced with various problems in the Hunter world and must make a decision to announce his level (which he still keeps secret), help people by taking various quests from the committee or become an independent hunter, focusing on his sister and mother. Also, having to deal with hunter guilds who try to recruit him in order to become the number one guild with offers that are sometimes difficult to refuse.
Jin-wo finally has to make his life choices.

Of course, this book is still exciting with various stories of Jin-wo's actions in the dungeon or fighting against monsters at the gate.

────୨ৎ────
⤷ Thank you for reaching to this point here and I'm really glad and thankful for you, love you ⟡.
Profile Image for Michelle Easton.
606 reviews35 followers
March 7, 2023
Jinwoo never ceases to amaze me both in power and his utter obliviousness. He keeps leveling up with the system, but keeps missing social cues. I can’t wait to see this all come out in the next volume of the manhua it’s gonna be good.
Profile Image for Scott Whitney.
1,115 reviews14 followers
November 1, 2021
As Good or Better Than What Has Come Before

I bought this book at lunch and couldn’t start reading until after work. I finished the book right around midnight. I just couldn’t get the story from it fast enough. The plot was present, but it the pacing felt more like a manwha than a novel. Rising action took place in order to set the stage for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for GiGi.
927 reviews5 followers
January 2, 2025
MC is so overpowered, it's hilariously ridiculous XD. I'm anticipating an earth overpowering enemy to eventually show up, as was the case for One Punch Man; that entire series was based on the fact that the MC easily defeats everyone with just 1 punch. If One Punch Man can keep things interesting, so can Solo Leveling
Profile Image for Connor French.
112 reviews
February 24, 2025
This is why I started reading when I was in middle school, this feeling, not being able to put a book down, forgetting to eat and being annoyed I still have to human. So good. (For my book friends I again don’t think this is good writing, to many sound effects, no true struggle, not enough character personality, and other things but it scratches an itch perfectly for me.)
Profile Image for Moony Black.
600 reviews
February 26, 2025
Perrisimo ese final, me encanta que realmente no disminuye la calidad mientras avanzas, me muero por seguir leyendo esta historia omgg ya casi llego a la mitad
Profile Image for Mariána  K.
844 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2025
What a rush!

This series is totally binge-worthy! It's extremely well-written with amazingly good pacing. I love the characters, I love the setting, and I love the story! If you're a fan of the anime and manga then you'll absolutely love the novels. If you haven't watched the anime or the manga but you love the genre then you'll enjoy this series!

Spoilers ahead: in this volume the Jeju Island assault begins its planning stage. Our hero also completes the demon castle dungeon. This means that we have almost caught up to where the manga is currently. If memory serves me correctly, the manga currently goes through completing the Jeju Island arc. I'm guessing volume four of this series will complete that arc as well as surpass it. I'm very much looking forward to the new content coming up. 4 or 5 will probably be where I start getting giddy.
Profile Image for Zachary White.
76 reviews
March 31, 2023
This book is still good; however, it is not holding my attention like the first one. In this story Jinwoo is too powerful and there is no challenge in his fights. Everyone is surprised about his strength and it feels everything is repeating with the same topic of conversation. Knowing how strong Jinwoo is, there no sense of danger that can befall him.

This book did steer away from action and focused more on Jinwoo going public with his S rank. We get to see how the public reacts and how he has to address with his new found popularity.

I will continue with the series but it is starting to lose its magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
16 reviews
February 16, 2023
Eins der besten Bücher, die ich je gelesen gab!
Hab es in 2 Tagen durchgelesen und direkt das nächst bestellt. Mir gefällt die Art, wie der Author die Szenen beschreibt. Es liefert auch nochmal gut weitere Informationen. Ich kannte bereits den Manwha, konnte das Buch trotzdem in vollen Zügen genießen. Schade ist, dass sich bei der Übersetzung ein paar Rechtschreibfehler eingeschlichen haben.
Profile Image for Sharlin.
307 reviews32 followers
April 18, 2022
3.50 - Average
Felt like I was grinding through the book. Worth it but nothing special; perhaps this is due to the fact that I am reading Solo Leveling for the second time. In comparison to the first two volumes, this was just average.
Profile Image for Jae K..
15 reviews
June 12, 2024
This one didn't keep my attention like the others. It was still fun, but definitely repetitive. Instead of wanting to learn more about the deeper backstory of it all, I felt like I could understand it by skimming it and imagining it as the anime. Still excited to read Volume 4 though.
Profile Image for ari.
304 reviews17 followers
December 24, 2023
December 2021: 4⭐

December 2023: ⭐
Profile Image for Doyle.
16 reviews
March 22, 2023
Love the series so far. The writing style is a bit different then what I'm used to but I really enjoy the story and pace.
Profile Image for Sha Mohamed.
2,521 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2024
Akhirnya dinilai semula dan peningkatan tahap Jinwoo bukan biasa-biasa..
95 reviews
July 6, 2024
Palomitero total, pero es una lectura muy ligera que se me hace muy amena.
Profile Image for Yuli Atta.
972 reviews98 followers
July 11, 2024
I love this story so much, it's just so good and the Ant arc is coming up and that one is one of my favourites 😍😍
Profile Image for Ren Puspita.
1,474 reviews1,016 followers
October 11, 2025
4 bintang

Selamat ya Jin-woo, akhirnya udah bener - bener level up dari E dan ga tanggung - tanggung pula naiknya. Cerita di buku 3 ini pun tentu saja bersambung ke buku 4 pas lagi seru - serunya.

Review buku 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review buku 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Di buku ketiga ini gue sudah kayak yang pasrah saja sama penulisan Chugong yang amat sangat teramat simpel dan habis - habisin kertas. Nyaris 500 halaman buku yang menurut gue bisa dimampatkan jadi cuma kurang dari separuhnya seandainya penulisannya lebih efisien. Paragraf yang kebanyakan cuma 1 kalimat. Efek suara yang ditulis (ini beneran lucu. Sumpah). Telling rather than showing. I can tell you how many of my pet peeves with the whole series's writing style. Tapi gue akuin, Chugong emang bisa bikin cerita yang sangat SERU meski dengan premis zero to hero dan one man show yang sebenarnya sudah sering dipakai.

Setelah official jadi Raja Bayangan, Jin-woo ga buang - buang waktu buat naikin level dan sebisanya menambah anak buah di pasukan bayangannya. Di buku ini juga para hunter level S mulai bermunculan dan yang gue suka, Woo Jinchul akhirnya muncul juga karena dia turut mendampingi ketua Asosiasi Hunter yaitu Go-Geon Hui yg adalah salah satu dari hunter level S di Korsel. Karena level barunya, Jin-woo diincer ga cuma oleh Baek Yonhoo tapi juga Choi Jong-in. Pokoknya semua ngincer Jin-woo deh. Betapa emang nasib kayak roda yang berputar karena dari awalnya jadi hunter paling lemah di Korsel, status Jin-woo kayak jadi selebriti sekarang. Tapi bukan Jin-woo namanya kalau ga cuek bebek sama statusnya yang baru dan malah fokus buat nyari dungeon untuk naikin level karena mengincar Raja Iblis di menara Iblis lantai level 100. Di buku ini juga nantinya dikenalkan love interestnya Jin-woo yaitu Cha Hae-In yang juga sama - sama hunter level S.

Di buku ini cerita ga cuma fokus ke Jin-woo dengan questnya di dungeon tapi juga ada hint tentang serangan semut mutan di pulau Jeju yang kayaknya bakal jadi set up buku 4. Chugong pun mulai mengenalkan hunter dari negara tetangga Korsel yaitu Jepang dan niat mereka untuk raid di Pulau Jeju yang bisa dikatakan ini kayaknya Chugong mau bikin mereka jadi semacam antagonis mengingat hubungan Jepang dan Korsel yang pelik. Sama kayak buku dua, gue ga paham sama pemilihan nama tokoh di edisi terjemahan ini. Seperti nama Igris yang jadi Ygritte (gue jujur lebih suka Igris, karena lebih sederhana), kali ini salah satu prajurit bayangan Jin-woo yang baru dinamai Fangs. Padahal kalau gue cek webtoon dan wiki, namanya sebenarnya Tusk. Gue ga paham kenapa pakai Fangs dan sebenarnya lebih pas pakai Tusk karena identitas asli Tusk itu Kargalgan, seorang (?) orc dengan kekuatan sihir maha dasyat. Karena orc, yang pas tuh sebenarnya ya Tusk (gading) ketimbang Fangs (taring). Jadi berasa aneh bacanya hahaha. Setidaknya nama prajurit bayangan yang lain yaitu Iron dan Tank tetep sama, plus seperti Jinwoo beberapa dari prajurit naik level juga, yippee!!

Sama seperti buku 1 dan 2, setelah selesai baca buku 3 gue sempatkan baca versi manhwanya. Untuk vol 3 sendiri memuat episode 62-87 dimana gue berhenti baca manhwanya setelah Jinwoo masuk ke kastil Raja Iblis. Tidak ada perbedaan cerita yang cukup signifikan. Bahkan manhwanya sendiri lebih ringkas dan tepat sasaran dalam mengadaptasi sehingga ga ada dialog atau penjelasan info dumping. Yang berbeda mungkin cuma bagian Hwang Dongsoo aja yang gue yakin ini kayaknya emang bagian yang ditambahkan sama adaptor manhwanya. Artnya gue akuin juara. Jin-woo makin guanteeeng meski badan ala gapura kabupatennya ga terlalu keekspos wkwk. Yang lucu sih adegan pas level baru Jin-woo terungkap itu muka Jin-woo konyol banget pas menghadapi wartawan, lol. Di manhwa juga lebih jelas terlihat perasaan Cha Hae-In yang penasaran sama Jin-woo. Adegan saat Jin-woo salah nyebut nama keluarga Ecil (alias Esil) jadi Radish padahal aslinya namanya Radiru juga menambah unsur komikal.

Well, karena cerita tiap volume selalu berakhir nanggung dan saat seru - serunya, jadi menambah rasa penasaran untuk baca vol 4. Padahal TBR gue sendiri udah numpuk! Semoga sih sebelum akhir tahun gue bisa sempatkan baca vol 4 dan semoga juga Clover nerbitin sampai akhir karena nanggung banget nih nyisa 1 volume lagi buat diterjemahin.
Profile Image for Jillsbooknook.
838 reviews58 followers
April 27, 2025
5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was time to stop pretending to be an E rank…

Solo Leveling Volume 3 is the third instalment in the portal fantasy series by the same name. Written in third person POV, the story focuses on Jinwoo Sung, the E rank hunter who, through a series of seemingly impossible situations, finds himself with the incredible ability to level up in a world where once a hunter awakens their powers are locked in. While Jinwoo has made it far, he knows in order to achieve his ultimate goal he must stop hiding...it's time to be re-evaluated!

I continue to love Jinwoo and nothing will change that.

I really loved this book because we get to really explore two sides of Jinwoo. On one hand he gets to really come into his own and have people see what he has become. The play of him as both an E rank and a S rank hunter (The S-Rank Luggage Carrier is my favourite moment of the series) created some tension that I LOVED and the reaction of the characters around Jinwoo is what I live for in this series.

On the other hand we also get to see a more determined side to Jinwoo brought on by his love and loyalty, which is at the core of his character. This side we have seen hardened over the previous two books so seeing him focus all of what he has been growing stuck with me. I will note, the anime and manhwa make this journey a bit more linear and clear but in the light novel it unveils as a surprise (in the anime and manhwa he finds out about the elixir earlier).

While this is probably one of my favourite volumes of the series, this is a novel that I would describe as transitory for the overarching story. Things have been teased and there has been a focus on Jinwoo's journey but now we get hinted at what is next to come. I loved that with each encounter filled with action, banter, and humour we get these crumbs of the larger world and this is what had me most excited to dive into the books. I personally enjoyed all these moments as I love seeing how they built up to the larger plot. The ending itself had me so excited for the next volume and I immediately picked up volume 4!

This is a phenomenal series I won't ever forget.
Profile Image for D.M..
Author 3 books16 followers
June 18, 2025
Such an easy read. Not sure if I wrote a review for the 1st book (and skipped the 2nd as sentiments here apply to that one). If I did skip no.1 then I apologise for repeating myself. I find the writing style fascinating. it's bare bones, as simple as it can get. And at first that threw me. but I quickly adapted and now I enjoy it. if you're a reader that needs everything described you might hate this, because you have to fill in a lot of gaps. and I mean a lot. a bit chunk is just dialouge. and a lot of sounds are described comic book style (there's a lot of heart pumping action going on - but nakes sense considering).

I do have some issues with it. the first being that there is a lot of unnecessary repeated information, sometimes within the very next paragraph. it's a bit off-putting. I can understand a bit between each book, as a reminder. but it happens near on constantly, and gives the impression the author wrote the story in pieces and then threaded them together without a good content edit. resulting in scenes that say the same thing, a lot.

the second is that everyone loves the main character. It's a universal reaction. I can get behind a likeable character. but reality is, there will be people who dislike it, for various reasons: his power, his casualness, everyone liking him. the odd time someone does dislike him is because that character is horrible to begin with. but even friendly/netrual characters should hold some level of dislike, imo. not all obviously. but there should be those who are competitive, or jealous, or whatever; fighting very human negative feelings despite the MC being a decent guy. its human nature. No negative attitudes, full of love/admiration/loyalty would exists, forsure. but so would people with conflicting feelings ... the problem is the book(s) seems to be only filled with the former. Makes it feel like there are only two kinds of people in the world.
Profile Image for Kayla Benedict.
351 reviews5 followers
June 15, 2025
*this is a bit of a rant & a personal opinion*

When I read this volume I realized that aspects of the manhwa & anime that didn’t make sense to me were changes made from the original story/scene. I was so happy when I read this volume & things fit more into Jinwoo’s character and just made sense.

Jinwoo leaving Esil behind because he no longer needed her and she would be a burden was SO CATHARTIC! It never made sense to me how in the manhwa & anime he let her tag along. Our boy likes to do things by himself and only includes others if he benefits from it. He would never carry unnecessary baggage unless it was someone he loved, like his sister & mom. The only other person he would be willing to, maybe, is Jinho and that’s because he sees him as a little brother.

With Esil being ditched a few levels before the big boss battle meant she didn’t “help” him in the fight. This never made sense to me because Jinwoo NEVER needed anyones help in any of his previous battles. He didn’t even need our Queen Haein’s help with the high orcs.

So I’m glad to read that in the original he stayed the same OP crazy character that I love throughout. They make him power & money hungry with a touch of crazy in the novel that I don’t think fully translates into the manhwa, and especially not into the anime. Love both, but the novel is taking the top spot of the “versions” of Solo Leveling in my heart.
*for example: Jinwoo still acts poor even though he is raking in the money. He uses the train/bus system or Jinho’s vehicle in the novel. While in the anime they have him buying a Jeep? 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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