What do you think?
Rate this book
Cat Core #2
Lich's Bargain
A Dungeon Core, LitRPG Adventure
The cats are back!
Her brief return to Earth is at an end, and Florence Valentine is ready to start rebuilding her dungeon.
Florence and Doug have big plans for their new home, but all is not well in the world of Aerkon. A bargain struck with the lich Berikoz may cost her more than she realized, and it seems like everyone wants to see her new home destroyed.
Liches, dungeon pests, evil adventurers, and powerful guilds stand against her, and Florence’s allies are few and far between. Will Florence, Doug, and her kitty defenders be strong enough to protect everything they’ve built?
Find out in Cat Core Book 2: Lich’s Bargain!
The cats are back!
Her brief return to Earth is at an end, and Florence Valentine is ready to start rebuilding her dungeon.
Florence and Doug have big plans for their new home, but all is not well in the world of Aerkon. A bargain struck with the lich Berikoz may cost her more than she realized, and it seems like everyone wants to see her new home destroyed.
Liches, dungeon pests, evil adventurers, and powerful guilds stand against her, and Florence’s allies are few and far between. Will Florence, Doug, and her kitty defenders be strong enough to protect everything they’ve built?
Find out in Cat Core Book 2: Lich’s Bargain!
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2021
43 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 13, 2024
Son curiosos estos libros. Sin destacar en nada se hacen muy amenos de leer.
En breve a por el tercero y último.
En breve a por el tercero y último.
January 3, 2022
3.5/5 Taking place right after the first book Lich’s Bargain takes the story in an interesting direction. Though sadly it wastes too much time rehashing the same plot lines as the first.
After the events of the first book Florence is returned to earth for a period of time before she comes back to her existence as a dungeon core. She once again has to start practically from scratch so much of this content feels a little too similar. However once you get back to the meat and potatoes of the story and the devious machinations of a certain licking skeleton the story returns to being a fun mostly light hearted romp.
More kitties and more dungeon crawling to keep you entertained if that’s your thing. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as well so the whole thing feels a little bit like a build up novel. It’s been fun enough though that I’ll pick up the 3rd installment when it’s released.
After the events of the first book Florence is returned to earth for a period of time before she comes back to her existence as a dungeon core. She once again has to start practically from scratch so much of this content feels a little too similar. However once you get back to the meat and potatoes of the story and the devious machinations of a certain licking skeleton the story returns to being a fun mostly light hearted romp.
More kitties and more dungeon crawling to keep you entertained if that’s your thing. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as well so the whole thing feels a little bit like a build up novel. It’s been fun enough though that I’ll pick up the 3rd installment when it’s released.
October 2, 2021
Best dungeon core continues
The first novel was great and this one surpasses it. An old cat lady versus the world and a lich seeking to use her for his own ends.
Very fun and highly recommended
The first novel was great and this one surpasses it. An old cat lady versus the world and a lich seeking to use her for his own ends.
Very fun and highly recommended
June 24, 2023
This is the second book in this Series and it starts up where book 1 ended. Florance gets a new lease on life sort of. This is a fun RPG and the story is a Romp. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline. I just purchased book 3 to continue listening.
August 14, 2025
It was enjoyable but not as good as the first one. I really liked it though and I’m excited to see how it ends in the third book.
November 3, 2021
Amazing
Even though this took a year to come out, this was such an amazing book. After Florence had been destroyed by the followers of Kunrax, she goes back to her human life. After she passes from natural death, she comes back to the Dungeon core world. She meets old friends, new friends, faces trials and hardships, and eventually meets a surprising end. The end was really surprising, with ton of twists that a good story generally needs. Another thing I liked is that even though it took a year to make, the story dropped bots and pieces for you to remember what happened from the last book. The epilogue was amazing as well! I am so excited for the 3rd installment of this series! It's so amazing, and you won't regret reading it, especially if you're a cat lover :) Highly recommend! Such a great read!
Even though this took a year to come out, this was such an amazing book. After Florence had been destroyed by the followers of Kunrax, she goes back to her human life. After she passes from natural death, she comes back to the Dungeon core world. She meets old friends, new friends, faces trials and hardships, and eventually meets a surprising end. The end was really surprising, with ton of twists that a good story generally needs. Another thing I liked is that even though it took a year to make, the story dropped bots and pieces for you to remember what happened from the last book. The epilogue was amazing as well! I am so excited for the 3rd installment of this series! It's so amazing, and you won't regret reading it, especially if you're a cat lover :) Highly recommend! Such a great read!
December 2, 2021
KU Review
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:
Character development: good
Game elements: moderate
Harem elements: none
Tone: so much fun and a delightful tangent from most dungeon core books
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:
Character development: good
Game elements: moderate
Harem elements: none
Tone: so much fun and a delightful tangent from most dungeon core books
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
October 2, 2021
More Kitties, Less Justice!
This installment of the Cat Core trilogy (series?) chronicles Florence’s third and fourth lives. One wonders if Florence is herself a cat possessing nine lives? Be that as it may, Florence finishes living the natural span of her human life and returns to her existence as a Dungeon Core -- the Cat Core. Naturally, she rebuilds her home as it once was; and then expands it to new floors with aid of her assistant kitten, Doug. So delve into her story and as always, "Beware of Doug!"
This is a Dungeon Core Fantasy novel for those who like cats and irrepressible old ladies. This book, and it predecessor, will also likely appeal to fans of the LitRPG genre and RPG players.
This installment of the Cat Core trilogy (series?) chronicles Florence’s third and fourth lives. One wonders if Florence is herself a cat possessing nine lives? Be that as it may, Florence finishes living the natural span of her human life and returns to her existence as a Dungeon Core -- the Cat Core. Naturally, she rebuilds her home as it once was; and then expands it to new floors with aid of her assistant kitten, Doug. So delve into her story and as always, "Beware of Doug!"
This is a Dungeon Core Fantasy novel for those who like cats and irrepressible old ladies. This book, and it predecessor, will also likely appeal to fans of the LitRPG genre and RPG players.
December 24, 2021
I really enjoyed listening to this book... How could I not, it's narrated by Andrea Parsneau (one of my favorites) plus Florence Valentine, and Doug are back!
The book starts out where we last left our intrepid two, living out the end of Florence's days playing D&D at the local gaming shop and of course when that comes to an end Florence finds herself facing another cavern system! Not one to fuss, she rolls up her sleeves and gets busy making a comfy home! Again I repeat, the story, the cats, how can you not love this book!
But at the end of the day I felt unsettled, melancholic even... and yes I wanted more but it went deeper than that, I realized the book was more of a bridge written just to get the reader from bk1 to bk3 so there's that!
The book starts out where we last left our intrepid two, living out the end of Florence's days playing D&D at the local gaming shop and of course when that comes to an end Florence finds herself facing another cavern system! Not one to fuss, she rolls up her sleeves and gets busy making a comfy home! Again I repeat, the story, the cats, how can you not love this book!
But at the end of the day I felt unsettled, melancholic even... and yes I wanted more but it went deeper than that, I realized the book was more of a bridge written just to get the reader from bk1 to bk3 so there's that!
October 14, 2021
I maybe enjoyed this slightly less than the first book due to the irritating licking skeleton and the car-crash which was her trying to clear her name when her dungeon ended up a death trap, but otherwise a fair second instalment, and I do admit I can't wait for the third book.
May 31, 2022
4 What's With This Crazy World Placing Humans Heads On Monster Bodies Stars
Lich's Bargain is the second book in the Cat Core series by Dean Henegar.
Okay. The rating for this book culminated in a star loss simply because of the egregious errors in correctly naming the cats throughout the books. I hope the author can resolve these discrepancies because it definitely detracted from the story and interrupted the reading experience.
The second annoyance was all of the confusion with the guild representatives. First, they show up early enough to grade her dungeon too low, and don't come back soon enough to resolve the discrepancy before loss of life could be incurred. Then they misjudge the death count because they assume she's the only dungeon within the area, and thus must be the culprit indiscriminately killing. Followed shortly by a bunch shoot first, ask questions never when they finally do return. While this all leads to the cool and exciting circumstances we will be adventuring through with Florrence and Doug in the next book it is still frustrating.
What happened to Shara? What happened to Fizz and the gnomes? Will this turn out like the goblins from the previous book, where we never see or hear from them again? Will Florence have to face more guild death squads as she seeks to end Berikoz's tyrany?
While the undead influence over her dungeon was a shock, and initially unwanted, it added spice to her dungeon design and creative defenses. Mortimer Skullshaper was the perfect champion to convert into that really cool class and wreak havoc upon all Foes of Cat Core. I liked how she set her dungeon up this installment, adding to the initial design in the first book in a very compatible yet interestingly diverging way.
I'm suspicious of Bartleby. He obviously alludes to some dealings with Berikoz that led to his longevity. He seems a mite more shifty in this continuation if Florrence's feats than initially. I can't remember the exact circumstances that transpired during the dungeon dive He mentioned in the first book that awarded him with the device allowing him to talk to dungeon cores and their advisors but it seems too coincidental to so perfectly coincide with Berikoz's fascination in converting dungeon cores into phylactories.
Lich's Bargain is the second book in the Cat Core series by Dean Henegar.
Okay. The rating for this book culminated in a star loss simply because of the egregious errors in correctly naming the cats throughout the books. I hope the author can resolve these discrepancies because it definitely detracted from the story and interrupted the reading experience.
The second annoyance was all of the confusion with the guild representatives. First, they show up early enough to grade her dungeon too low, and don't come back soon enough to resolve the discrepancy before loss of life could be incurred. Then they misjudge the death count because they assume she's the only dungeon within the area, and thus must be the culprit indiscriminately killing. Followed shortly by a bunch shoot first, ask questions never when they finally do return. While this all leads to the cool and exciting circumstances we will be adventuring through with Florrence and Doug in the next book it is still frustrating.
What happened to Shara? What happened to Fizz and the gnomes? Will this turn out like the goblins from the previous book, where we never see or hear from them again? Will Florence have to face more guild death squads as she seeks to end Berikoz's tyrany?
While the undead influence over her dungeon was a shock, and initially unwanted, it added spice to her dungeon design and creative defenses. Mortimer Skullshaper was the perfect champion to convert into that really cool class and wreak havoc upon all Foes of Cat Core. I liked how she set her dungeon up this installment, adding to the initial design in the first book in a very compatible yet interestingly diverging way.
I'm suspicious of Bartleby. He obviously alludes to some dealings with Berikoz that led to his longevity. He seems a mite more shifty in this continuation if Florrence's feats than initially. I can't remember the exact circumstances that transpired during the dungeon dive He mentioned in the first book that awarded him with the device allowing him to talk to dungeon cores and their advisors but it seems too coincidental to so perfectly coincide with Berikoz's fascination in converting dungeon cores into phylactories.
November 25, 2024
Lich's Bargain, book 2 of the Cat Core series by Dean Henegar, picks up right where book one leaves off. After enjoying a few years , Florence and Doug are ready to rebuild their dungeon. It doesn't take long before their new home is invaded by nearby pests looking to wipe her out. Plus adventurers wanting to do dungeon delves. Plus guild representatives. And there's always that lich, Berikoz. Is everyone wanting to destroy her new home?
It was really nice that Florence and Doug got to . Plus it was nice to see a familiar face as our dungeon duo were reuinited with and got to meet her latest group of trainees. But that ending! This second installment whent in a direction I did not expect. It's funny how Florence seems to have multiple lives. Is she part cat? That set up for book three promises to be quite an epic quest for Florence and Doug. I can't wait to find out how they do on their mission.
It was really nice that Florence and Doug got to . Plus it was nice to see a familiar face as our dungeon duo were reuinited with and got to meet her latest group of trainees. But that ending! This second installment whent in a direction I did not expect. It's funny how Florence seems to have multiple lives. Is she part cat? That set up for book three promises to be quite an epic quest for Florence and Doug. I can't wait to find out how they do on their mission.
December 23, 2021
Still good book, not as good as book one.
Florence second adventure had weakness :
- No interesting adventurer character with their growth: in fact too many dead adventurer
- Florence conflict with guild seems contrived: no one investigating side tunnel, Adventurer and Investigator attacked after leaving, Florence never explain what happen to Sarah despite multiple opportunity, etc
- Florence keep attacked by various non-adventurer : Spider, Scorpion, Goblin, Rogues, Lich, etc
Story exchanging book one successful story with constant tense, gripping battle.
Florence second adventure had weakness :
- No interesting adventurer character with their growth: in fact too many dead adventurer
- Florence conflict with guild seems contrived: no one investigating side tunnel, Adventurer and Investigator attacked after leaving, Florence never explain what happen to Sarah despite multiple opportunity, etc
- Florence keep attacked by various non-adventurer : Spider, Scorpion, Goblin, Rogues, Lich, etc
Story exchanging book one successful story with constant tense, gripping battle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2025
Thank goodness there was another Cat Core story! I just adored the first one. It was nice to listen to more of Florence & Doug's adventures. For me, this one wasn't quite as good, and I'm not sure why, Maybe I was a little more distracted while listening or maybe it was because to me it felt like it was far more focused on fighting, whereas in the first one I was captivated by learning about getting the dungeon (oh, excuse me, Florence, the HOME) set up and how everything worked. However, it was sufficiently entertaining enough for me to get the last audiobook in the trilogy to see how things end up.
October 1, 2021
Book two
Mistakes: I did find a few and have listed them on Goodreads. For the most part this was well written and entertaining.
Plot: The cats are back! 20% of the book is spent getting back to being a core gem. The rest is spent rebuilding the dungeon and dealing with a giant misunderstanding. There is a lot of action in this book. I really liked the recap and wish more authors would do the same.
Characters: Most of the crew has returned. Kinda miss that goblin that was friendly with the stinky cat.
7/10
Mistakes: I did find a few and have listed them on Goodreads. For the most part this was well written and entertaining.
Plot: The cats are back! 20% of the book is spent getting back to being a core gem. The rest is spent rebuilding the dungeon and dealing with a giant misunderstanding. There is a lot of action in this book. I really liked the recap and wish more authors would do the same.
Characters: Most of the crew has returned. Kinda miss that goblin that was friendly with the stinky cat.
7/10
September 4, 2023
NOT AS GOOD AS #1
I enjoyed this second installment of Cat Core, and I loved revisiting Florence and Doug and all the kitties in their lovely dungeon, I mean home. The book didn’t hold my attention as much as the first book. I think I got lost in too many uninteresting details…or something.
Still good, though. I love, love, love Florence! Interesting ending that kept me wondering and eager to go on to book 3 to see what is going to happen.
I enjoyed this second installment of Cat Core, and I loved revisiting Florence and Doug and all the kitties in their lovely dungeon, I mean home. The book didn’t hold my attention as much as the first book. I think I got lost in too many uninteresting details…or something.
Still good, though. I love, love, love Florence! Interesting ending that kept me wondering and eager to go on to book 3 to see what is going to happen.
February 20, 2025
Not a great fan of starting from the beginning a second time at the start of this story....only for the ending to be ANOTHER RESTART!?
Overall it was a generally enjoyable read but it's just not gaining enough traction. A significant amount of the foundation built in book 1 were thrown away (most secondary characters, the nearby town development, ect).
Also book 3 is about a hybrid dungeon core? Yeah I think I'll stop here for me.
Overall it was a generally enjoyable read but it's just not gaining enough traction. A significant amount of the foundation built in book 1 were thrown away (most secondary characters, the nearby town development, ect).
Also book 3 is about a hybrid dungeon core? Yeah I think I'll stop here for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2022
Florence likes cats.
A dungeon core story, but the core is an old lady with a strange fondness for cats. And a dislike of surly adventurers who don’t show respect.
Now Florence is back in her gem, but she’s got a secret following her around that might cause some problems. Problems that she’s going to investigate in the next book.
A dungeon core story, but the core is an old lady with a strange fondness for cats. And a dislike of surly adventurers who don’t show respect.
Now Florence is back in her gem, but she’s got a secret following her around that might cause some problems. Problems that she’s going to investigate in the next book.
November 16, 2021
Awesome Story
This story of a old cat lady becoming a dungeon core was fascinating. It was brilliantly done by changing mana into dollars so she could understand what she was working with. Can’t wait for the next book.
This story of a old cat lady becoming a dungeon core was fascinating. It was brilliantly done by changing mana into dollars so she could understand what she was working with. Can’t wait for the next book.
January 26, 2025
Great till it wasn’t.
Writing style was awesome. Character development was awesome. Setting was awesome.
Unfortunately in order for the story to progress the way the author wanted. It forced the MC to do something against her core tenets. And that caused me to downgrade this to two stars.
Writing style was awesome. Character development was awesome. Setting was awesome.
Unfortunately in order for the story to progress the way the author wanted. It forced the MC to do something against her core tenets. And that caused me to downgrade this to two stars.
October 8, 2021
Great Series
Really interesting spin on a genre that can sometimes get worryingly similar to other series. Looking forward to next book!
Really interesting spin on a genre that can sometimes get worryingly similar to other series. Looking forward to next book!
October 30, 2021
Cat Lady fun
Enjoyable romp with my favorite cat lady dungeon core. Survival of the stubborn, cats to the front, sides, top, throw in a knitted doilly, got to collect them all.
Enjoyable romp with my favorite cat lady dungeon core. Survival of the stubborn, cats to the front, sides, top, throw in a knitted doilly, got to collect them all.
November 19, 2021
Book 3
Yeah I’ll be needing a book 3. I didn’t think I would like this series as much as I did. I’d really like to find out what happens next!
Yeah I’ll be needing a book 3. I didn’t think I would like this series as much as I did. I’d really like to find out what happens next!
September 22, 2022
Similar to the last book, a good easy read.
March 10, 2023
This is a quality series. 👍🏽👍🏽
August 16, 2023
A fun, quick read.
January 10, 2024
Poor Florence! How many times is she going to die!? 😭 This was bittersweet. Bitter for all the messed up sh*t that Florence and Doug have to go through and sweet for that oh so special reunion 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2024
This series is so fun.
December 23, 2024
Enjoyable, but quite different than book 1... more of an RPG grindfest, in a more dangerous location... some nice character cameos from book 1, tho...
January 4, 2026
I didn’t like most litrpg genre but this do so wacky and funny I like the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews