Golden Handcuffs

Delvers LLC #4

by Blaise Corvin

After helping save a country on Ludus from a demon invasion, Henry and Jason could use a break. Unfortunately, life moves on, and new problems will appear, especially for their friend, the new ruler of Berber. Being orb-Bonded adventurers wielding powerful magic means they have the responsibility to do what others cannot.

Some members have left, and there will be new additions. The Delvers LLC team is solid. But while Henry creates new magi-tech and Jason perfects his deadly power, evil forces are gathering. The men from Earth had better enjoy what down time they have, because it’s not likely to last.

Events on Ludus and out among the rest of the universe are spiraling towards something terrible. Henry Sato, Jason Booth, and Nora Hazard might find themselves being drawn towards the center of the conflict, or knowing their luck, fall right into it.

Genres: Litrpg, Fantasy, Audiobook, Amazon

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2020

About the author

Blaise Corvin served in the US Army in several roles. He has seen the best and the worst that humanity has to offer. He is a sucker for any hobby involving weapons, art, or improv.

He currently lives in Texas, in a house full of enough geeky memorabilia to start a museum.

He likes talking about himself in 3rd person and posting pictures of himself holding tarantulas. Sometimes, he pretends he is not an idiot with a terrible sense of humor.

It's all very eccentric.

Blaise currently writes mostly in the GameLit genre and LitRPG subgenre, exciting new classifications of fiction where characters either play a game (usually VR), or live in a world with game-like elements.

Delvers LLC is GameLit, lightly LitRPG, mostly a Fantasy/SciFi Adventure. Secret of the Old Ones is hard LitRPG, complete with XP and leveling...plus has Lovecraftian and steampunk elements (because why not?).

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disconnected and scattered

Literally loved Delvers LLC 1-3 .....and still on my recommended reading list. However, this book ends my reading of this series. It was a disconnected and scattered disappointment.

[XR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved seeing Nora trying to get along with new people haha. It was good to be introduced to characters from a different series to the Nora Hazard series. Mareen and Uluula's characters fascinate me so much... I hope they 'get' Nora's personality more.

[Dave Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great to be back
Delvers LLC were one of the first gamelit books I ever read and convinced me that this RPG-lit stuff was better than it sounds. Now I can't tell if this book is good in it's own right or I'm just riding on nostalgia endorphins.
This is the book that merges the main story line with the Nora Hazard story & characters, and that merger is expertly done. Most all of this book is expertly done, except that I did find my attention wandering several times -that might have just been me reading too late into the night.
This feels like classic Delvers: Action, swearing, one or two laugh out loud moments, and one conspicuous misuse of the word "Decimate". ah, it all brings back memories.

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boring a mostly unnecessary part of the series

Nothing really happens for the first 40 percent of the book. It seems to focus a lot on Nora Hazard and if you are like me and found the jacket description as well as the sample of the first Nora Jones book to not be your cup of tea you can probably skip to somewhere in 40 percent range and miss absolutely nothing.

The story didn’t really go anywhere until about the last 5 percent of the book. One of the things besides the need to read a completely separate series to have any interest in the addition to the MC cast is the amount of time for this book to come out. So much time had passed that I didn’t remember anything about the series other than it was an enjoyable read. After rereading the previous three books I read this useless piece. It feels disjointed at times and does not really add anything to the story progression. The back and forth between the characters seems to repeat the same formula. For example character A says “I would never write an Inane review.” Character B asks “Inane?”. Character A goes off on some random tangent. Way to many conversations in this book seem to follow that model. It grates after the first quarter of the book. Given the huge time delay between books and the fact that this is like a really horrible anime filler episode, I think this book has turned me away from the series. If you are still reading this review I would recommend passing on this one at any price including KU. The first three were definitely worth a read though.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grateful return, though not completely at top form

The Delvers are back and the story continues. While the enemy is at the same level, the plot focuses more on recontextualizing power levels while teasing what’s to come later rather than any powerful conflict like in the previous two books. This is a bit of a downer, and if you’re looking for the same highs you might want to wait until the next book is released and then read book 4 and 5 as a pair. If you don’t want to wait, then worry not as this book thankfully doesn’t end with a painful cliffhanger. (I’ve read too many light novels).

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

As entries in this series go this was well done, but there's something about all the Ludus books that just doesn't hit that 5-star rating for me. I think it's the characters, specifically the MCs; Henry is an asshole and Jason is strangely 'blah". That averages out to an interesting MC, but the way it is just doesn't work for me.

It's unfortunate, as the writing is good and the world and bigger universe is interesting. If you like the earlier books you'll probably enjoy this, as it certainly isn't a bad book, it just didn't quite do it for me.

[Justin Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good addition

Finally book 4 is out and it was great. This is a great series and really looking forward to book 5. Hopefully it'll be out soon.

[Paps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good continuation to the series.

[Eric Bertone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series is heating up

Definitely seems like more is happening now, can't wait for what comes next.

I've liked this series a lot and have given all of the previous books a 5. There was a few things about this book that just frustrated me though and it was all in character personality. I know the excuse the hell world changed them is being used, but I really hate how weak and flat Maureen has become. Even when she accepts what she is she still is quiet. I almost wish Henry would encourage her more to take on aspects of a succubus and damn others opinions.
I liked what happened between Henry and Philana. It shows his growth And he has definitely become my favorite despite Jason holding that spot for the first 3 books. Jason has just pissed me off too much with his pussy footing around on the polygamy situation. Here he is saying they need to adapt to Ludus culture but at the same time he is a hypocrite that is dragging his feet with the women and can't torture someone despite also being able to mentally break and go on murder rampages. I know this will change but it seems like a big knot in his personality.

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kinda disappointed honestly

It was, fine? I guess. Though for some reason the author decided to double down on different perspectives. Jason, Henry, Bezzi, mareen, Ululla, dolos, Noar, tony, and a bunch of slaves. To Dam many perspectives.

The author says you don't have to listen to his Nora Hazard side series to enjoy this book. Well, I didn't have to read it too hate Nora. I never read that series, didn't like the preview or summaries. I came into this book expecting to hear about her in the background, like she did something big and our MC's hear about it. Nope. She's married to Tony somehow and has latched onto to crew like a leech.

Not only does very little of any importance actually happen, the book ends right BEFORE getting to the good part. This book is a glorified training montage with pep talks and drama.

Dolos' adventure was almost pointless, except to give a little world building.

The only things that were even remotely entertaining was the vr fights. That's it, nothing else.

Im disappointed.

[Chuck McIntyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, but where's the actual novel? After way too long this is just another transition fluff piece.

Good:
- A few bits of character development
- A few minor action sequences

Bad:
- Too short

Missing:
- Anything remotely like a novel length plot

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first three books, and was looking forward to this one. But when I started reading it, I thought at first I'd somehow managed to skip one, only to discover from the reviews that the author decided to merge this series with his Nora Hazard series. And not in a good way, but by simply assuming that readers will be familiar with those and the huge plot developments introduced there.

That basically killed my interest, since the little I saw of the Nora character here didn't appeal at all and I have no desire to read her arc in order to be able to feel this book is worth continuing with.

In addition the decline of Mareen's character continues and in fact worsens here, and I'm also not at all a fan of the ongoing polygamy debate that never addresses the negatives, just assumes that because it's a part of local culture anyone who is uncomfortable with t is a hypocrite.

All told I think I'm done with Ludus.

[Kiba Snowpaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Final Rating: 2.47/5.00

Starting score: 2.50
+0.22 for the World Jar fights and tactical use of Henry and Jason's abilities
+0.18 for the expanding magi-tech and the sense that Ludus is being permanently changed by Earth knowledge
+0.17 for genuine development in Aodh and Bezzi-ibbi as responsibility forces them to mature
+0.14 for Mareen's struggle with what Brecken did to her and Nora's role in forcing her back toward the pack
+0.11 for the larger cosmic lore and the escalating threat beyond one kingdom or one continent
-0.23 for functioning more as transition and setup than as a satisfying self-contained story
-0.17 for excessive POV switching that repeatedly breaks momentum
-0.13 for pacing dominated by training, preparation, political positioning, and future setup
-0.10 for Nora's integration feeling abrupt if I follow Delvers LLC without treating another trilogy as required homework
-0.08 for Jason's relationship conflict continuing to circle around the same cultural argument without enough movement
-0.06 for repetitive dialogue habits, especially verbal tics that become increasingly noticeable
-0.05 for an ending that finally ignites the larger conflict and then stops before that conflict becomes this book's payoff
-0.03 for confirmed copy-editing mistakes in the published text
Calculated final score: 2.47/5.00

A bridge covered in weapons is still a bridge

I came away from this listen with one stubborn feeling lodged under my fur: there is a lot of interesting material here, but too much of it feels like preparation for the audiobook I actually wanted. The previous volume left Ludus in chaos, Aodh on a throne he never asked for, Mareen fundamentally altered, Henry and Jason stronger than ever, and the larger divine conflict opening its jaws. That should have been enough fuel to set HowlStrom on fire. Instead, much of this audiobook is devoted to regrouping, training, introducing or reintegrating characters, building equipment, establishing new political obligations, explaining consequences, and arranging pieces for what comes next. The book itself effectively acknowledges that transitional purpose in its opening material, describing this installment as containing things needed before the next major plot arc. I can understand the structural purpose while still finding the listening experience frustrating.

That is the difference between necessary setup and satisfying storytelling. Setup should create its own pressure. Here, individual scenes often work, but the larger audiobook keeps feeling as though the pack is loading weapons onto sleds, checking supplies, sharpening claws, arguing over maps, and repeatedly telling me that the real blizzard is coming tomorrow. "At some point I need the storm, not another weather report." By the time the wider threat finally becomes unmistakable, my ears were forward again. Then the audiobook ends.

The World Jar gives me some of the best material in the book

Henry and Jason trying to murder each other inside the World Jar is exactly the kind of Delvers material I still enjoy. It takes abilities I already understand and forces the characters to use them against someone who understands them just as well. Henry knows Jason's teleportation. Jason knows Henry's habits. They have trained together, argued together, survived together, and spent enough time examining each other's weaknesses that the fight becomes a tactical problem rather than two increasingly large numbers smashing together.

The important reveal is that their apparent deathmatch is a simulation intense enough to produce pain, fear, injury, and the psychological pressure needed to establish a real combat baseline. Jason kills Henry, they leave the simulation, argue about how much dying hurts, and Keeja immediately wants to throw them into something worse. The World Jar can accelerate practical training because the experience is effectively indistinguishable from reality while allowing them to survive failures that would otherwise end the series.

That is clever progression fantasy. It creates a believable mechanism for rapid improvement rather than simply announcing that a month passed and everyone gained several new tricks. Henry figures out how to interfere with Jason's teleportation by saturating the air with material. Jason responds with thermal vision and ranged attacks. Henry uses Mind Whip to track Breeze instead of Jason himself. Their abilities interact like systems with rules instead of coloured explosions whose outcome depends entirely on who the plot wants standing.

The problem is repetition. The first serious World Jar fight matters because it changes my understanding of what they can do. Once virtual training becomes part of the book's general rhythm, it contributes to the larger feeling that I am listening to an extended training block before the next campaign begins.

Aodh finally carries the crown instead of merely wearing it

One criticism I had to reconsider while looking at what actually happens across the whole story is the idea that character growth here is entirely superficial. It isn't. Aodh and Bezzi-ibbi both develop in ways that matter far beyond combat strength.

Aodh has changed enormously from the nervous farm boy Henry kept calling Tony. Becoming king does not magically make him comfortable with authority. It nearly crushes him. He is studying, planning, dealing with nobles, intelligence services, military problems, assassinations, infrastructure, foreign relations, and the consequences of a country suddenly depending on him. At one stage he is surviving on roughly three hours of sleep while using magical stimulants and his own unusual abilities to keep functioning. That hit closer to my chest than another rank increase ever could. Responsibility can become its own cage. You keep going because other people need you, then one day you realise that exhaustion has become normal and stopping feels more dangerous than continuing.

I understand that mentality. There are times when carrying responsibility is less about feeling strong and more about knowing that the job still exists whether you are tired or not. Aodh's royal position has that weight. He is not suddenly fearless. He is learning to make decisions while afraid.

Bezzi-ibbi gets meaningful development too. He is still funny, proud, fashionable, culturally alien, and occasionally alarming, but he begins thinking like the future leader he was raised to become. His confrontation with Taylor Tisnell lets him use observation, politics, combat training, cultural knowledge, and calculated provocation together. He then starts consciously building influence within the Jaguar Clan. This cub who once wanted adventure is beginning to understand that power creates obligations to people behind you.

Those arcs deserved more credit than simply calling the whole book superficial progression.

Mareen is wounded, not merely "weaker"

Mareen remains one of the most difficult parts of the audiobook for me, but my frustration is more specific now. I dislike how much of her presence becomes defined by withdrawal, emotional distance, hunger, fear of losing control, and the aftermath of her blood magic transformation. The Mareen I liked had warmth, confidence, stubbornness, sexuality, loyalty, and a strong individual presence. Here, much of that is buried under what Brecken did to her.

The story does give that change substance. Mareen is actively fighting predatory impulses. She can feel life around her, struggles with the desire to consume it, hides increasingly demonic physical traits, and worries that losing control could make her catastrophically dangerous. She understands that her own choices helped put her there. That is more psychologically interesting than simply making her sad for drama.

Nora confronting her is one of the better character scenes in the audiobook. Nora refuses to tiptoe around Mareen, tells her that hiding indefinitely is becoming another version of the same tendency to carry everything alone, and forces her to acknowledge that her friends need her participating in life rather than locked behind a door. Nora's delivery is abrasive enough that I would probably have shown teeth too, but the point lands. Mareen eventually leaves the room and rejoins the group. Their relationship is not instant friendship either. They openly dislike each other while still beginning to accept that being connected through the same people makes them family. That distinction works for me. A pack does not require every wolf to adore every other wolf. Reliability matters more.

There is also an emotional idea here that I understand extremely well: numbness and withdrawal can feel safer than overload. Mareen isolates herself partly because she fears what happens if too much gets through. The problem is that protection can slowly become a prison. That is where her arc gets under my fur.

Nora is important, but her entrance still feels like I missed an audiobook

Nora creates one of the strangest structural problems in the entire series. Within this book, she has a purpose. She challenges Mareen, loves Aodh, interacts well with Henry, clashes spectacularly with Vitaliya, brings her own combat style, and has enough personality that she never disappears into the background. She is not actually a useless barnacle attached to Delvers LLC.

But if I am following the numbered Delvers LLC series, her position still feels abrupt. By the time this audiobook properly incorporates her, Nora already has a substantial history, existing relationships, major accomplishments, powers, scars, enemies, and a romantic bond important enough that she is one of Aodh's fiancées. The book's own foreword says the Nora Hazard trilogy is not necessary but that people familiar with the related stories will understand the background much better. That is precisely the problem I felt while listening. "Not necessary" and "the character suddenly arrives carrying an entire trilogy's worth of history" can both technically be true.

Crossovers work best for me when outside knowledge deepens something I already understand. Here, outside knowledge would explain why one of the most consequential new members of the central social group is already treated as established. I don't want another series to feel like homework before the next numbered volume.

Nora herself grew on me more than the method of introducing her did. Her bluntness gives scenes energy, and her relationship with Aodh feels more convincing once I see how seriously she takes his safety and responsibilities. I just wanted this series to earn that familiarity on its own.

Too many heads inside one den

The POV structure remains one of my biggest problems. Henry. Jason. Mareen. Aodh. Bezzi-ibbi. Nora. Dolos. Uluula. Other political and military characters. Later, entirely separate characters are used to reveal the expanding external threat. Individually, several of these perspectives contain good material. Collectively, they keep cutting the emotional thread just as I start settling into it.

This creates a peculiar kind of pacing problem because events are technically happening constantly. The audiobook is not empty. People train, build armies, investigate threats, recover from trauma, develop relationships, manufacture new technology, map waygates, negotiate political arrangements, and discover larger problems. Yet the central narrative feels thin because those events point in so many different directions.

It feels like standing in the middle of HowlStrom during a whiteout and seeing tracks from nine different wolves disappearing into nine different forests. Every trail might lead somewhere interesting. I still cannot follow all nine at once.

This becomes particularly damaging because the audiobook is already transitional. A book with a strong central objective can tolerate multiple POVs because all roads visibly converge. Here many viewpoints are establishing later roads. The result is fragmented momentum. Other listeners supplied the same complaint in different forms, including the sense that the book works more like a collection of transitional episodes than a complete central plot. The actual structure supports that criticism.

The magi-tech is still one of the series' strongest ideas

Henry building increasingly absurd technology out of Ludus magic remains fun. This is where the series separates itself from fantasy where an engineer from Earth arrives and somehow forgets that technology exists. Henry experiments constantly. He studies what materials can do on Ludus, accounts for constraints such as rapid steel corrosion, works around limitations in conventional firearm design, and gradually industrialises concepts that once existed only as one-off improvised weapons.

By this point he is no longer making one funny death machine for the pack. He is influencing a state. The underground production operation includes flying craft, magicycles, tanks, improved weapons, and eventually a large armed airship. Nora recognises that what is being built could permanently alter Ludus, while Aodh understands that controlling this technology gives his young reign a power base independent of institutions that already failed one monarch.

That is excellent world-building because technology has political consequences. If Henry can build something, the question becomes who owns it, who learns to reproduce it, who spies on it, which nation steals it, and what happens once enemies adapt. Progress is not occurring inside a vacuum.

The later assault on the wax creatures finally lets all that preparation become satisfyingly unfair. Fighting from the armed Raising Hull, bombing an enemy that would be horrific at ground level, blasting Wagner while raining destruction onto something grotesque enough to deserve it, feels exactly like Delvers LLC embracing its identity. I do not need every fight to be fair. Sometimes good tactics means refusing to fight the monster on its terms.

The dialogue has developed some verbal frostbite

The banter between Henry and Jason still works when it comes naturally. They have years of history, and they sound like two men comfortable enough to call each other's ideas stupid while trusting each other with their lives. The problem is that the series has accumulated speech habits that become increasingly noticeable when so many conversations fill the audiobook.

Nora's "rotting" is the clearest example. It is intentionally part of her vocabulary, not a grammar mistake, but it appears often enough to become a verbal tic. The published text uses variants repeatedly within relatively short stretches of her dialogue, including "rotting demon trash," "rotting stupid things," "rotting women," and "rotting hero." A distinctive swear can establish culture and voice. Repeating it this aggressively eventually makes me hear the construction coming before the sentence finishes.

Henry's swearing has a similar issue, although it fits his personality better because it has always been part of his speech. The broader problem is conversational rhythm. Someone uses an unfamiliar term, somebody asks what it means, and the story detours into explanation or banter. That pattern is useful when introducing genuinely important concepts, but repeated use makes dialogue feel like an exposition delivery system wearing a joke as a hat.

The published edition also contains small copy-editing mistakes. The foreword says readers will have "a far better understand of Ludus," which should obviously be "understanding." Even the end matter prints the title as "Golden Hancuffs." Neither error destroys an audiobook. Together they show that another proofreading pass would have helped.

Relationships keep becoming negotiations

The Henry and Philana material surprised me because it is more thoroughly justified than it initially feels. Philana explains what she is, how nymph bonding works, why Henry specifically qualifies as a potential totem, what the bond would mean, and that she requires his consent. Henry immediately raises his marriage as a boundary. Philana has already spoken with Mareen, and Mareen eventually joins the conversation herself. That is not a random seduction dropped from the sky.

My problem is what it adds to an audiobook already overflowing with future obligations. Another supernatural bond. Another potential wife. Another cultural discussion about polygamy. Another relationship arrangement to process. Another important connection whose largest consequences belong to later books.

I like harem and multi-partner fiction when the relationships get room to breathe. I do not object to multiple wives. Give me chemistry, personality, affection, sex, conflict, trust, and enough intimate development that each relationship feels different. Here the romantic material often feels closer to political and cultural negotiation. There is sexual attraction and discussion, but the audiobook does not make explicit intimacy a major attraction. For my taste, if the story is going to spend this much time discussing complex family structures, I want more immediate romantic and physical payoff alongside the sociology.

Jason frustrates me more because his ongoing discomfort with Ludus polygamy keeps circling. Cultural adaptation should not require instant agreement, and I would not want the story forcing him into a relationship structure just because everyone around him approves. The irritation comes from repetition. The conflict stays active for too long without enough new emotional ground being covered.

The universe finally starts opening its jaws

The wider cosmic material is one of the reasons I never completely checked out. Dolos becomes more than a weird god running experiments on mortals for amusement. The story expands the First War, the Griseus, old factions, breaches in reality, the Enemy, and the possibility that Ludus has been an experiment preparing for something much larger. Suddenly all those apparently insane orb systems and forced conflicts have a terrifying purpose behind them.

The title also lands nicely once Jason describes their situation as "golden handcuffs." Wealth, power, status, access, training, magical technology, political influence, and divine attention have made Henry and Jason enormously privileged by Ludus standards. Those advantages also make walking away almost impossible. Aodh needs them. Countries need them. Dolos needs data from them. The stronger they become, the more problems qualify as "something only you can handle."

That idea works because it connects power directly to loss of freedom. The reward becomes the chain.

Then Dolos loosens restrictions further. High Priestesses receive more freedom to fight. Settlements lose protections. The larger experiment becomes more dangerous. Elsewhere, foreign conquest and demonic alliances are already moving across the world. The closing sequence follows a desperate escape with a warning that an invasion fleet is approaching behind protection powerful enough to alter everything the known countries thought possible. The final assessment is grim: the messenger still has to try even though she believes hope is already gone.

That is a strong hook.

It is also where the audiobook stops.

The audiobook performance

I don't have a specific narration failure from this listen that deserves a deduction, and I am not going to invent one just to fill a category. What stayed with me negatively was the structure, not a remembered microphone problem, pronunciation issue, or character voice I hated. With this many POV changes, species, personalities, and long stretches of dialogue, the audiobook format makes the fragmentation especially noticeable because I cannot visually skim past a perspective shift or a repeated explanation. I have to travel through each section at performance speed.

That also

[Robert Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a full novel. Would have been better as a series of short stories

Well, I was happy to see book 4 come out. The book felt more like it needed to deal with a transitional peroid after the extreme high of Book 3. Given how Book 4 felt and was structured, I feel that it as a collection of short stories to show how people are dealing with the fallout from Book 3 before the transition into the next set of events of the next book.

Also, it might have been easier on the author since it appeares that he wanted to worl on other aspect of his universe before resuming the Delvers storyline.

Hopefully, he'll have more focus for the next story.

[KEVIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

good 4th book

So this is a great continuation of the delvers series. The only thing I didn't like was the addition of Nora Hazard, without any background. Its like poof and magically ahe is there and is engaged to the king. She has done all this but without explanation. I understand that she has her own series, but at the moment I have not found anything about her that makes me want to read it.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a book in this series, so it took me a few chapters to get back into the swing of things, but overall, the book was a fairly good one, and although I felt I was missing things, I don't know if that's a result of the story going off track here and there, or my having not read one of this world in quite some time. All and all, I liked the story well enough, it just didn't seem as full featured as some of the others in this series.

[Chip Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally More Delvers!

I enjoyed the three Nora Hazard books and I’m really glad her story tied into Delvers for this book and moving forward. Her personality makes for great dialogue with the rest of the team. After advancing to another rank, Henry, Jason, and Nora get more powerful and fight sole horrific monsters. I wish the book was longer but based on the Afterword notes the next book is expected to be the longest Delvers yet.

[Neil Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic as always!

Another fantastic story! The abilities that the heroes have to choose from and the direction they are going is wonderful. And if I am being honest, is working out well to give your characters a relatively balanced and diverse feel.
Can recommend for any gamelit fan, doesn't go super indepth with numbers but definitely gives a good character progression that feels relatively natural.

[Rida Son · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally

For the most part the book is pretty good. A little short but it really makes you want more. I really enjoyed the character interactions with team and Nora, she's basically a female Henry. I also like how Nora spits truth at Mareen, she really needed to get her head out of her ass.

[Grace Q. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful world

There is always something new and interesting going on in this universe. I felt like this novel tied up some loose ends and opened the gateway to some interesting plot development down the road. I wish the book was a little longer. I felt like it gave me a delicious taste of action and adventure but left me hungry for more.

[Chris Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been too long since I read the other ones and took a bit to get back up to speed. The first three books really work as kind of a closed Trilogy, so this book is more of a setup to a new series. Still good, the creepy monsters taking over the town had a bit of an SCP feel to it which was great.

[JERMIKAL HAMILTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me more

I’d taken a break from the world if ludus and decided to reread all of first three books before this one as a refresher. Soo glad I did. Reading them back to back just ramped up the excitement book after book. I feel like we’ve come so far but Henry and Jacob haven’t even reached their full potential yet.

[Ryan McCoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good continuation

This was a decent addition to the series. Not a lot actually happened here though. The book read like a set up for follow-on books and did not have much of a story itself.

[Jennifer King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Nice character development, excellent fight scenes and good use of tactics no stupid let's fight them on foot when we can kill them at range idiocy. So many new plot threads and hints towards further developments. Really looking forward to the next book.

[Justinmather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Read

I love the story but dont like hearing so many different peoplea points of view. Jason andHenry are enough once in awhile tony or Bezzi. But it jumps from person to peraon to much.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great set up

This book was great. It sets the ground work of huge conflicts coming in the next book. Can’t wait! Thankfully, the next book is well on its way and shouldn’t be too long down the road.

[Kermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing follow up

The continuation of delvers llc is here. The story was fantastic. I dont want to spoil anything, but if you've read any of the series so far, you need to read this book! The wait has been worth it.

[David James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great!

I have been reading this series for a while and Delvers LLC has continued to deliver. This does seem like just a solid set up for the next couple epics but is solid throughout and lots of fun. Enjoy!

[Jay Paparella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the wait.

How is Mareen after her transformation in "Adventure Capitol"? How is Nora Hazzard going to fit into the party? How is Tony now that he's the King?
Tune in for all these answers and more!

[Donny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Golden Handcuffs serves as a transitional book preparing readers for books 5 and beyond. A lot of little things happen and serve to get characters in place to deal with the threat introduced at the end of the book. Let's just say that Dolos' time-frame for Jason and Henry got moved up.