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Adventures on Brad #3

A Dungeon's Soul

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The Karlak Dungeon has re-opened with a brand new configuration. A whole new Dungeon awaits Daniel and Asin. Joined by Omrak, the party races to be the first to complete the Dungeon but must face new monsters, new traps and new floor layouts. Will the Adventurers complete the new Dungeon in time?

A Dungeon's Soul traditional fantasy story with LitRPG elements.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2017

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150 people want to read

About the author

Tao Wong

137 books957 followers
Tao Wong is the author of the A Thousand Li progression fantasy series and the System Apocalypse LitRPG series, among others. His work has been released in audio, paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats, and translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and several other languages. He was shortlisted for the UK Kindle Storyteller Award in 2021 for A Thousand Li: The Second Sect. In 2026, the first three books in the A Thousand Li series will be republished in hardcover by Ace Books.

When he’s not writing or working, he enjoys practicing martial arts, reading, and dreaming up new worlds. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for GaiusPrimus.
870 reviews97 followers
December 1, 2017
A great follow up to the second book.

There's a lot to like about the story, from character development to world building.

The action doesn't stop and it's great to be exposed to some of the questions that have been in the background through the first couple of books.

Looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Paps.
562 reviews3 followers
October 31, 2024
Wonderful read, finally our protagonist graduates from novice Adventure, we have seen how he has been building his strength, knowledge and experience toward that goal. The introduction of the advanced party is well used as a measure of advance. Wonderful progression setting.
922 reviews18 followers
June 2, 2023
A Dungeon’s Soul by Tao Wong


First of all, while it is written "Brad" it is pronounced "Broad", something I can tell you since I listened to the audio book version. However, since that version isn't listed on Goodreads.com at this time I am placing my review here. It should also be noted that I summarize what happens in this book and so in that respect the following paragraphs may be considered a SPOILER. However, since this story has no big reveal, I don't really feel like it can be spoiled (I don't mean that as an insult, I believe well told stories are their own reward even when they lack a big reveal).

So this book opens with the Karlak dungeon closed for remodeling. Daniel and Asin, along with every other dungeon diver in Karlak, are looking for work during these weeks. Daniel learns the new healing spell “healer’s mark” during this time and bumps into the northern barbarian, Omrak, and learns that Omrak’s party has left for greener pastures. This results in Omrak joining Daniel and Asin when the dungeon reopens. The dungeon is treated as a “new” dungeon which means everyone has to start at the first level and there is a special reward for the first party to completely clear it. D, A & O get to floor 4 and are leading the way to completing the dungeon when a more advanced dungeon diving party, the Crimson Elves, comes to town claiming they will complete the dungeon in a week.

The Crimson Elves catch up to D, A & O on the fourth level, a massive plain which takes a day and a half to cross. Omrak slyly compliments the Crimson Elves who then agree to let D, A & O accompany them. This gets D, A & O to the fifth dungeon level. It also gets D, A & O more treasure than usual and Daniel to level eight.

One of the subsequent levels is a puzzle level which slows down D, A & O but slows down the Crimson Elves even more since they have a wizard and puzzles help wizards level up. There is also a labyrinth level where D, A & O again bump into the Crimson Elves, one of whom steals D, A & O’s map of the level.

D, A & O really push themselves and take risks to get the reward for being the first to finish dungeon. Level 9, has slimes, for which they are ill prepared but they force their way through. Level 10, the final level, is just a large arena where they have to battle a giant boar.

Upon completing the dungeon D, A & O learn that the Crimson Elves beat them by half a day. Still they got some valuable items from the dungeon and Daniel made it to level nine. D, A & O say their goodbyes and leave for the Peel dungeon and that is where the story ends so it lacks resolution. You may think that since the MCs completed the Karlak dungeon it would have more resolution but the author really undermines that possibility by focusing on the loss to the Crimson Elves and the departure for Peel. Still, this isn't a fatal flaw. The book is focused on Daniel's journey, not his destination. As a result the lack of resolution is more about the book ending with a whimper instead of a bang.

Bottom line: If you like gamelit you will probably enjoy this book but it is a fairly uninspired telling with no resolution.
Profile Image for Akshay.
806 reviews6 followers
December 8, 2024
A Dungeon's Soul (Adventures on Brad #3) by Tao Wong

A Dungeon's Soul is the third installment in Tao Wong's Adventures on Brad series, a progression fantasy that blends traditional RPG mechanics with classic fantasy storytelling. Set in the same captivating world of dungeon dives, monsters, and level-ups, this book continues to follow our young adventurer, Daniel Chai, as he navigates the perils of dungeons and confronts his growing powers.



"It's more than just surviving a dungeon; it's about mastering yourself, and that’s where the heart of this book lies."


In this book, Daniel's journey becomes more intense, with the stakes climbing significantly. What sets A Dungeon's Soul apart from the previous entries is its deep focus on the development of both Daniel as a character and the dungeon itself as an evolving entity. The dungeon grows in complexity, almost becoming a character in its own right, which is a refreshing element in progression fantasy, where often the world-building is overshadowed by the protagonist’s growth. Here, the world and dungeon development go hand in hand.



Character Arcs

Daniel Chai, the protagonist, continues to evolve from a naive farm boy to a more confident and seasoned adventurer. In this book, he faces new, more challenging dilemmas that test not only his strength but also his ethics and leadership skills. His arc is about balancing power with responsibility, a classic theme in many RPG-inspired books but handled well here with Wong’s focus on Daniel’s inner turmoil.



Other Characters:



Asin: As Daniel’s closest companion, Asin’s role as the steady, skillful fighter becomes more fleshed out. Her development is more subtle but still significant as she begins to trust Daniel with leadership decisions, even when it means putting herself in danger. While her arc is secondary to Daniel’s, her character shows the kind of growth that elevates her from sidekick to an indispensable partner.



Amar: A minor character but one who plays a crucial role in this book, Amar offers a new perspective on the dangers of power, particularly how to avoid being consumed by it. His wisdom serves as a critical contrast to Daniel's more impulsive tendencies. Despite having less page time, Amar is essential in Daniel’s development, offering guidance and insight at critical moments.



Dungeon Creatures: Unlike in many progression fantasies where monsters are one-dimensional obstacles, here the creatures, especially the dungeon bosses, have their own sense of progression and menace. The final boss fight is memorable not just for the action but for the way it forces Daniel to reckon with his limitations and strategy.



Comparison to Contemporary Works

Compared to its contemporaries in the progression fantasy genre, like Dakota Krout’s Divine Dungeon series or Andrew Rowe’s Sufficiently Advanced Magic, A Dungeon's Soul strikes a more balanced approach between character development and action. Wong excels in weaving emotional growth into the action-packed sequences, making Daniel’s victories feel earned both physically and mentally. While Krout focuses more on the dungeon's perspective and Rowe delves into more technical magic systems, Wong finds a middle ground, appealing to fans of both types of storytelling.



However, where Wong shines is in his pacing. Unlike some progression fantasies that tend to drag in certain arcs, A Dungeon's Soul keeps the momentum going, avoiding unnecessary filler and focusing instead on clear progression. This tight pacing is one of the reasons why the series remains so engaging.



Final Thoughts

A Dungeon’s Soul is a solid entry in the Adventures on Brad series, blending action, emotional growth, and evolving world-building in a way that will please fans of the genre. The character arcs, particularly Daniel’s, offer a satisfying balance of internal and external challenges. While it may not reinvent the wheel of progression fantasy, it delivers a polished, well-paced story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.


The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Discussion |

If you enjoyed the earlier books in the series, this one will not disappoint. And if you're a fan of LitRPG or progression fantasy, this is definitely worth your time.


Dungeon Fight @ PixelJoint.com
6 reviews
September 2, 2025
Missing the “IT” factor

I know I’m writing this on book 3 but I just have to put my thoughts to words.

Also, if you’re the author and reading this, strap in cause this isn’t one where I’ll just praise the book cause I spent money on it.

Let me start with an observation. I feel as though even the author to a certain extend got bored writing this. He even forgot to write much of a climax to this “arc” in this 3 book saga. Also, I feel like he split one book into 3, just to sell more copies. No hate, but it’s just how it felt. It grabbed me at first with the unique power to price ratio as I love reading about healers and the “slice of life” elements weren’t too crazy and it did give it a bit of a realistic if not job feeling to it (something I didn’t really like). This just didn’t have what I’ll call the “it” factor. Let me explain.

First, he starts it off with a cool ability. Great! Let’s see something cool. Besides it just being a stronger heal (nothing really special), the biggest price he truly pays is a level and some random memories that even the author fails to truly explain. That’s it, one big healing event across three books and he just grinded the level back in like 6 months. The author literally does nothing else with what is essentially a unique talent.

Second, he gets a cool ring that is supposed to counter what he loses from normal, non-extreme use of his power. Yep, he gets what is essentially a gold mine item that replays past experiences while he sleeps and he doesn’t even have a single cool dream sequence where he gets something cool back, or evolves one of his abilities or something. The author almost forgot about it towards the end of book 3.

Lastly, he has all of these cool characters. A catkin with her own culture, an elf as his girlfriend, and even this cool ass berserker who calls everyone a hero for some reason. What does the author do with all of these unique people? (Even for this world) He goes to write the most mundane leveling experience, EVER! To the point it just feels like a job with life and death added to the resume.

Why?! You were given everything you needed to make a cool story. Yet you proceeded to squander all of it. Such a disappointment that I can’t even justify buying the next one. I get that some authors tend to pad their readers with crazy and impossible scenarios constantly to keep readers attention, but just saying this is “slice of life” doesn’t justify writing what is ultimately the most boring use of this world’s very unique and useful skill. Even the character questions himself as to why he wants to be an adventurer and never even gives himself a proper reason. This is just a book with moving parts. The entire execution was just poor. Hope the writer learned a lesson from this one.

I would rate this as a 2.5 out of 5. Just mediocre and average. This had everything going for it to be an easy 4 if not 4.5 just from its unique start. Instead, I’m just left with utter disappointment and any hope for anything I was imagining. This entire book series justifies authors creating OP characters because it at least forces an author to write interesting and exciting stories. It almost felt like he was going in that direction for a minute. Nope! This just felt like an excuse to write nothing of note.
Profile Image for Steven Brown.
396 reviews9 followers
February 16, 2021
Another quick fun adventure that pulls you in.

This series is told in third person omniscient point of view but changes up things to the more traditional past tense narration. The latter might be a bit off-putting for those who have adjusted to the Presidents narration but the transitions in the omniscient point of view are smoother and to be honest with you it feels more natural to hear past tense. This is appropriate for young adults and above so far. It is mostly an action-packed journey with some humor and romance within. Outside of the friendships most of the relationships received between people are not that deep. The story does allow for some emotion but I do feel that this is more of an action-packed romp anything.

Funny enough throughout the entire series the editing has been very good in terms of content and grammar. In a later chapter unfortunately one word is misspelled that makes another word and a paragraph later that our main protagonist sheaths his sword before grabbing his crossbow... Unfortunately he carries a mace not a sword. So it's sort of funny. It is something that slipped by but overall not distracting and considering this is the third book and I do believe he's independent writer that can be forgiven.

So far that's three books for I think under $10 or around that amount. The books have been well worth the price fun fast and clean for the most part. This is not a children's series and I do think young adults can enjoy this work though it's not directly aimed at the age group. I wouldn't mind to see more depth in background for the characters but for the lit RPG genre it is a well-rounded story without any thing that's cheesy.

It's really nothing to complain about it's unfortunate that often times it's easier to list out little nitpicky things that struck from a story then explain how well a story was written in a concise manner without getting into spoilers. How the series is written I can see it lasting several books without getting repetitive.
Profile Image for S.
642 reviews
April 19, 2020
Daniel’s a lucky b*stard to be able to have a meaningful relationship with Kyra. Especially since the reader has little idea why Kyra would even like him. He’s a healer that is overly generous with his gifts, he’s reasonably attractive, he’s kind and fresh. He’s also poor, way too young for an elf hundreds of years his elder, and ignorant of the world. Not enough time spent by author to describe their relationship in a way that works. As it is, author Wong just told reader, hey these guys are banging now, sprinkled some hints of attraction, and just continued on with the story.

The story again suffers from a lack of a real plot. Even a slice of life needs a little sustenance.
Profile Image for The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V..
1,077 reviews27 followers
April 20, 2025
While I enjoyed the adventure and the fact the author did something unexpected with the ending, I still feel this story lacks character development. While the progression fantasy element is clearly laid out, Daniel just isn’t really engaging with the life lessons he’s receiving and honestly I was a little miffed with the way Kyra is always the one to spell it out for him. It’s getting a little repetitive and sad that the character has zero introspective ability.

If you’re looking for a mindless escape where lots of action but nothing much else happens, then this is the perfect series for you. It’s totally plot driven and definitely light and entertaining reading.
698 reviews
January 17, 2019
Good

I enjothe story but I hate to qualify my remark. As I stated after the previous book there is some depth of character or story missing from this one as well. The first book was substantially longer so the author had time and space to expand on the stories, characters, quests, hospitals, healing we and the world. In the subsequent books it almost feels like it's all condensed into fewer pages for the same price just to get published quicker. And I'm sure thats not true because I still enjoy the stories... It just could be more!
412 reviews9 followers
February 3, 2022
Easy read

I've read the first three adventures on Brad and Daniel, Asin and Omrak have finally become advanced adventurers, Khy'ra asks Brad why he wants to be an adventurer and he can't answer,neither can I,the books were enjoyable enough , but dungeons are so boring,the quest they went on in book two was more interesting . I may come back to the series later but right now I need a break and these books aren't on kindle unlimited so they cost money and they are pretty short.
183 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2021
In this third installment in the Adventures on Brad by Tao Wong the protagonists continue their dungeon diving living. This time it's in a totally new, rearranged beginner's dungeon. Finish it first and our heroes will win quite a nice bonus. But they have got stiff competition. Tao has made this dungeon quite unlike any I have ever read about. Other than that this book is much like the last one. Still enjoying the storyline, hoping for a little more unexpectedness.
Profile Image for MG.
1,107 reviews17 followers
March 7, 2023
While I enjoy LitRPG novels, I find it hard to get worked up over dungeon dives. How are they meaningful, other than a means of leveling up and getting prizes? This volume is mostly one, long dungeon dive. The main characters do not grow in a meaningful way (outside of their leveling) while adding a third member to their team. So it is a little boring, though I still enjoy Tao Wong's writing.
Profile Image for Larry.
183 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2024
The delves take their toll

The long, painful descriptions are growing wearysome to the reader and the adventurers. Losing certain items due to dishonorable others and consequences to accomplishments should be causing regrets and potentially altering life choices.
I will continue on in the series, but I am uncertain whether I will be able to complete the series.
Profile Image for Drew.
185 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2020
Really enjoyable

Another book done and it’s getting better with each one. The MCs continue to develop and adding in another has helped push the story along and given it more depth. I looks forward to the next and seeing how the group grows as they level and complete dungeons 😁
235 reviews3 followers
May 28, 2020
Truly fantastic series!

The story about the adventurers Daniel, As in, and now Omrak the barbarian. Is a wonderful story. With great characters and wonderful locations abd dungeons. I highly recommend it!
4 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2022
The writing got so much better

The only reason I didn't give up on the last books was because I knew that I enjoyed Toa Wong's other books. The writing tense finally got mostly corrected.
8 reviews
December 14, 2017
Its good

Great story. The pacing is close to perfect. Love the characters, and the way the fights are portrayed. Keep up the good work!
Profile Image for Travis.
2,885 reviews48 followers
July 29, 2018
Interesting book. I especially liked the various monsters in the dungeon, some of those I'd not seen elsewhere (such as the floating slimes). Nice addition to the series.
688 reviews5 followers
April 5, 2019
Great book

Stellar ending to the first dungeon arc! New challenges abound and new friends made. I can't wait to see where our adventurers go next!
11 reviews
April 24, 2020
Nice but too short to justify 10€ on Audible.
753 reviews5 followers
July 3, 2020
Enjoyed

Great series and I highly recommend it. I cannot wait to read the next book. Well writen and interesting world.
Profile Image for Michael Burnett.
1,259 reviews7 followers
July 10, 2020
Good book

Good book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
123 reviews
July 19, 2020
Lovely book

Great book. The writing style the author uses needs a little time to get used to but other than that it's a great book with huge potential.
77 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2022
4 AM I couldn't put it down

Wow! I don't need to see a movie of this. It's all in the writing. Reminded me of some of the better dungeon crawls of my youth.
Profile Image for Joshua (ithildins).
331 reviews
May 4, 2023
Only got a few pages into it before I had to set it down and then I just forgot about it, but I knocked out the rest of the book in two sessions over two days. The text is teeming with errors in tense shifts and other small things, but I've come to expect mediocrity with this genre.

When did publishing a book turn into releasing unedited stories? Even fanfiction has beta readers and writers who correct their mistakes because they care about their work, and no one's even paid to write fanfiction. But authors, paid writers, can release error-riddled books on Amazon. Can they not set their standards higher?
Profile Image for Knight.
371 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2020
Great dungeon novel

A great ending to the first part of the adventurers tale. Now the teams please forward and look for more advanced dungeons
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