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Tomb: Stone and Blood
Anomus ip Garma, greatest living architect of the Subori Empire, is tasked by his emperor to construct a tomb for the emperor's concubine upon her death. Anomus and ten thousand workers labor in the desert for years while the emperor's dead love waits, ensorceled and undecaying, for her final resting place to be completed.
But betrayal awaits Anomus and all who slaved to build the Tomb, and a dark god has taken an interest in the evils man does to man...
Tomb: Stone and Blood is the first book in a new trilogy. It is a fantasy novel in the dungeon core genre, but it is not technically a LitRPG novel. (If you aren't sure what 'dungeon core' and 'LitRPG' are, don't stress - the book is a dark fantasy tale of revenge whose protagonist might surprise you. If you're a LitRPG fan, you should know that this story is all secondary world, no stats, but it is very much a dungeon core story.)
But betrayal awaits Anomus and all who slaved to build the Tomb, and a dark god has taken an interest in the evils man does to man...
Tomb: Stone and Blood is the first book in a new trilogy. It is a fantasy novel in the dungeon core genre, but it is not technically a LitRPG novel. (If you aren't sure what 'dungeon core' and 'LitRPG' are, don't stress - the book is a dark fantasy tale of revenge whose protagonist might surprise you. If you're a LitRPG fan, you should know that this story is all secondary world, no stats, but it is very much a dungeon core story.)
- GenresFantasy
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2019
27 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Michael McClung
36 books392 followersMichael McClung was born in San Antonio, Texas, but now lives in Europe. He has had the requisite number of odd jobs expected of a speculative fiction author, including soldier, book store manager, and bowling alley pin boy. His first book, the Sword & Sorcery novel "Thagoth," won the Del Rey Digital first novel competition in 2002 and was published by Random House in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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February 15, 2020Bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish! My Amra Thetys' daddy has a new book out AND NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT IT?!
Quite outrageous this is. Slightly very a little put out I am.
Limbs to be chopped into tiny little pieces and heads to be somewhat severed shortly in nefarious retaliation. You might want to NOT be around when it happens and stuff.
Quite outrageous this is. Slightly very a little put out I am.
Limbs to be chopped into tiny little pieces and heads to be somewhat severed shortly in nefarious retaliation. You might want to NOT be around when it happens and stuff.
December 28, 2019
I don't know how he does it. This guy... I swear, McClung could be given three disparate words as a writing prompt and come up with a 5 star novel. I was blown away by his collection of short stories just a couple weeks ago, earlier this year I was amazed at his latest installment in the Amra Thetys books, and now this one takes the "cursed tomb" trope into a whole new dimension.
While I haven't a clue what "dungeon core" is, and have only read two books (in the same series) labeled LitRPG, this doesn't feel like something based on a game. Without giving away anything, the protagonist learning abilities and limitations is very organic and central to the story. My admittedly limited experience with LitRPG was very different, one where I absolutely hated any time a points system was mentioned. So don't let that sway you, either for or against this book, as any lover of gaming will see where the "system" is, while non-gamers will only see story.
Yeah. Fucking McClung man, this guy is a story writing phenomenon.
While I haven't a clue what "dungeon core" is, and have only read two books (in the same series) labeled LitRPG, this doesn't feel like something based on a game. Without giving away anything, the protagonist learning abilities and limitations is very organic and central to the story. My admittedly limited experience with LitRPG was very different, one where I absolutely hated any time a points system was mentioned. So don't let that sway you, either for or against this book, as any lover of gaming will see where the "system" is, while non-gamers will only see story.
Yeah. Fucking McClung man, this guy is a story writing phenomenon.
November 5, 2019
I read the Royal Road edition of this book, which I'm led to believe is identical to the Kindle book. It was good. There's a definite sense of progression, Anomus's abilities don't feel like an asspull or a game log. And I sincerely felt for Krssh and the ghouls. I'm curious about where this is going to go next. Some minor editing needs to be done, but it's a solid entry.
December 19, 2019
I am a Michael McClung fan, in particular his Thief series, so had high expectations for this book. These days it's not really unusual for the protoganist to be dead, but this book's kind of dead is a new twist. Due to the nature of our hero, the setup felt a little overlong to me, and ironically, the early book "action", which one could argue is far more dramatic and physical than a typical adventure type explosion, just wasn't very actiony.
Anyway, I applaud the author taking this chance, and now the story is turning interesting, I am looking forward to the next one, particularly now that we have some other characters on the stage.
Anyway, I applaud the author taking this chance, and now the story is turning interesting, I am looking forward to the next one, particularly now that we have some other characters on the stage.
January 27, 2024
I never thought I'd ever enjoy a dungeon core book, and trust me I've tried a lot of them and they are not good. You see, this kind of books are mostly of the litrpg genre and those are always poorly written.
mcClungs writing is just something that feels unique, he made the entire dungeon mechanics and minion creation aspect more interesting than I'd have tought possible.
I wish i had more words to express how well the entire plot played out but I'll settle for simpler words- I loved how he put it all together.
Even more thrilling are the characters, no pov was wasted and every moment was spent revealing little nuggets of the whole picture, the character Krrsh was very loveable and reading about our simple but smart ghoul thoughts really put a constant smile on my face.
mcClungs writing is just something that feels unique, he made the entire dungeon mechanics and minion creation aspect more interesting than I'd have tought possible.
I wish i had more words to express how well the entire plot played out but I'll settle for simpler words- I loved how he put it all together.
Even more thrilling are the characters, no pov was wasted and every moment was spent revealing little nuggets of the whole picture, the character Krrsh was very loveable and reading about our simple but smart ghoul thoughts really put a constant smile on my face.
March 11, 2020
A great read, highly recommend!
Michael is a very entertaining writer, I found this novel after reading his other books (All fantastic reads and highly recommended) and couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to spoil the plot, particularly for anyone who has not read a Dungeon Core genre book before, but it has at its heart a story of betrayal and vengeance. The world, what we see of it, has an ancient Egypt vibe and the author weaves world building into the story with great dexterity and without interfering with the story. I can’t wait to read the next volume in this series.
Michael is a very entertaining writer, I found this novel after reading his other books (All fantastic reads and highly recommended) and couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to spoil the plot, particularly for anyone who has not read a Dungeon Core genre book before, but it has at its heart a story of betrayal and vengeance. The world, what we see of it, has an ancient Egypt vibe and the author weaves world building into the story with great dexterity and without interfering with the story. I can’t wait to read the next volume in this series.
May 11, 2024
DNF 50%
Like all of the books by this author except the first thief book, this started interesting with a great premise without getting anywhere in terms of character growth, plot, hard choices etc. The dungeon core concept here was well done but the main character had no real stakes. Imagine for example if he were responsible for protecting the survivors of the massacre who had hidden and would either be killed by roaming monsters or the return on the emperor. Or if he had a goal to rescue his family from a big threat, monster vs monster.
Like all of the books by this author except the first thief book, this started interesting with a great premise without getting anywhere in terms of character growth, plot, hard choices etc. The dungeon core concept here was well done but the main character had no real stakes. Imagine for example if he were responsible for protecting the survivors of the massacre who had hidden and would either be killed by roaming monsters or the return on the emperor. Or if he had a goal to rescue his family from a big threat, monster vs monster.
May 19, 2020
Yes! A book to get lost in! And that's not necessarily a good thing
Mr. McClung, you write it and I will buy and read it.
Avoided this book awhile as not generally my cup of tea. But got so tired of reading bad writing, I knew from all the Thief books, I enjoyed your way of telling a story. You did not disappoint. Off now to see if the next part of the Builder's story is available. Thank you.
Mr. McClung, you write it and I will buy and read it.
Avoided this book awhile as not generally my cup of tea. But got so tired of reading bad writing, I knew from all the Thief books, I enjoyed your way of telling a story. You did not disappoint. Off now to see if the next part of the Builder's story is available. Thank you.
March 8, 2020
Fun, new concept for me, and well written, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next one.
If you've ever played games like dungeon keeper and overlord or played dungeon hack games like dungeons of the Mad Mage and had thoughts about how ridiculous a labyrinth like dungeon of death traps is, how it could come to be. Well this book sets about giving you a begin.
If you've ever played games like dungeon keeper and overlord or played dungeon hack games like dungeons of the Mad Mage and had thoughts about how ridiculous a labyrinth like dungeon of death traps is, how it could come to be. Well this book sets about giving you a begin.
August 6, 2021
I guess this falls into a weird genre called 'dungeon core' and this is my first time reading anything in that genre. I am not sure I would love other books in the genre but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Not a surprise as I have enjoyed the other works of this author. Will be getting the next in the series no questions asked.
October 18, 2021
Quite good, and an interesting and unique take on the concept. And the main villain definitely qualifies for IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T KILL THIS FUCKER, I WILL CLIMB INTO THE BOOK AND DO IT MYSELF status, which is generally a plus in a villain. The only thing taking a star off is the cliffhangery ending combined with the next book not being out yet.
December 11, 2019
I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't a smart protagonist spending a huge portion of the book thinking his way out of the terrible situation he'd fallen into. And it was FANTASTIC.
An asshole Emperor, a smart family man in a sticky situation, and adventures with Old Gods and New.
An asshole Emperor, a smart family man in a sticky situation, and adventures with Old Gods and New.
December 24, 2021
Great read in the most gruesome of not really gruesome ways. Michael McClung writes in these Sword & Sorcery genre and sub genres so well... There's another world forming here. More of this series to come I hope!
December 17, 2019
Really enjoyed this fun Dungeons and God’s book
Just a light hearted Dungeon Romp
If you are looking for a light read that’s fun and won’t strain your mind.
Just a light hearted Dungeon Romp
If you are looking for a light read that’s fun and won’t strain your mind.
January 26, 2020
Fast Read
A really fast read which is good and bad. Litrpg elements without the algebra. Which actually made it very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next one.
A really fast read which is good and bad. Litrpg elements without the algebra. Which actually made it very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next one.
April 14, 2020
Cool and quite different take on revenge and afterlife. I really liked the ghouls and can't wait to read more about them.
December 28, 2019
I don't know how he does it. This guy... I swear, McClung could be given three disparate words as a writing prompt and come up with a 5 star novel. I was blown away by his collection of short stories just a couple weeks ago, earlier this year I was amazed at his latest installment in the Amra Thetys books, and now this one takes the "cursed tomb" trope into a whole new dimension.
While I haven't a clue what "dungeon core" is, and have only read two books (in the same series) labeled LitRPG, this doesn't feel like something based on a game. Without giving away anything, the protagonist learning abilities and limitations is very organic and central to the story. My admittedly limited experience with LitRPG was very different, one where I absolutely hated any time a points system was mentioned. So don't let that sway you, either for or against this book, as any lover of gaming will see where the "system" is, while non-gamers will only see story.
Yeah. Fucking McClung man, this guy is a story writing phenomenon.
While I haven't a clue what "dungeon core" is, and have only read two books (in the same series) labeled LitRPG, this doesn't feel like something based on a game. Without giving away anything, the protagonist learning abilities and limitations is very organic and central to the story. My admittedly limited experience with LitRPG was very different, one where I absolutely hated any time a points system was mentioned. So don't let that sway you, either for or against this book, as any lover of gaming will see where the "system" is, while non-gamers will only see story.
Yeah. Fucking McClung man, this guy is a story writing phenomenon.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews