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Holiday Dungeon Core
Holiday Dungeon Core: Novella 1-5
Contains the entire Holiday Dungeon Core
Christmas Core
Valentine Core
Easter Core
Independence Core
Halloween Core
A love of the holidays is translated into a unique dungeon experience…
Elmer Robbins loved decorating for every holiday with his wife, Mary, by going all-out with décor at their cozy little house as well as filling his office with holiday cheer. But when his beloved Mary passed away unexpectedly the year before, it was difficult for Elmer to summon the same sort of enthusiasm in decorating for all of the holidays without her beside him.
However, due to an accident at work, Elmer’s soul is transported to a strange world, where it inhabits an even stranger object called a Dungeon Core. Soon after his arrival, the new Dungeon Core discovers something he didn’t think was a way to reconnect with the soul of his wife, Mary.
In order to do that, though, Elmer will need to survive and increase the Level of his newly acquired form. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know much about fantasy worlds, magic, and monsters; what he does know a lot about, however, are holidays. With the help of a North Pole Elf helper named Keebles, the brand-new Dungeon Core protect his dungeon from a variety of threats by utilizing that holiday-based knowledge while he acquires enough strength to free his wife’s soul.
The Holiday Dungeon Core series is a collection of novellas set in a unique universe that contains LitRPG and Dungeon Core elements such as stats and character progression. Contains no foul language, sexual content, or harems.
Christmas Core
Valentine Core
Easter Core
Independence Core
Halloween Core
A love of the holidays is translated into a unique dungeon experience…
Elmer Robbins loved decorating for every holiday with his wife, Mary, by going all-out with décor at their cozy little house as well as filling his office with holiday cheer. But when his beloved Mary passed away unexpectedly the year before, it was difficult for Elmer to summon the same sort of enthusiasm in decorating for all of the holidays without her beside him.
However, due to an accident at work, Elmer’s soul is transported to a strange world, where it inhabits an even stranger object called a Dungeon Core. Soon after his arrival, the new Dungeon Core discovers something he didn’t think was a way to reconnect with the soul of his wife, Mary.
In order to do that, though, Elmer will need to survive and increase the Level of his newly acquired form. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know much about fantasy worlds, magic, and monsters; what he does know a lot about, however, are holidays. With the help of a North Pole Elf helper named Keebles, the brand-new Dungeon Core protect his dungeon from a variety of threats by utilizing that holiday-based knowledge while he acquires enough strength to free his wife’s soul.
The Holiday Dungeon Core series is a collection of novellas set in a unique universe that contains LitRPG and Dungeon Core elements such as stats and character progression. Contains no foul language, sexual content, or harems.
- GenresFantasy
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2022
41 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Brooks
82 books485 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 27, 2022
I received a free copy of the audio version of this in return for an honest review.
I'm still relatively new to the LitRPG world, and I hadn't read any Dungeon Core stories before at all. When I was offered the chance to give these a go, I jumped at the opportunity. I love to have fun, lighter listens for my audiobooks, and this seemed to fit the bill. So far I've only listened to the first novella, "Christmas Core", and I really enjoyed it.
I was worried that the Christmas theme might be a bit too forced or gimmicky. I mean, sure, it is a gimmick, but it works naturally and well in this story. There are a few elements that I really liked about this story: the main character fell well outside what I'm used to in this genre, or even the wider fantasy genre. Elmer is in his mid-sixties, and has no RPG experience, so unlike most of the stories I've read so far in the LitRPG genre, he didn't come in with his own advanced strategies, but rather had to bumble along.
As I said earlier, this was a light and fun novella. The pacing was generally good, although at times I felt like some points were laboured, while at others it maybe moved along too fast, but overall I had no real complaints. The shorter format naturally means there isn't too much focus on stats, although Elmer's basic stats do get repeated from time to time.
Overall, based on the first novella, a decent 4/5 read, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I just need to work out whether I'll read them each at the relevant time of the year, or just jump ahead with them. We'll see.
I'm still relatively new to the LitRPG world, and I hadn't read any Dungeon Core stories before at all. When I was offered the chance to give these a go, I jumped at the opportunity. I love to have fun, lighter listens for my audiobooks, and this seemed to fit the bill. So far I've only listened to the first novella, "Christmas Core", and I really enjoyed it.
I was worried that the Christmas theme might be a bit too forced or gimmicky. I mean, sure, it is a gimmick, but it works naturally and well in this story. There are a few elements that I really liked about this story: the main character fell well outside what I'm used to in this genre, or even the wider fantasy genre. Elmer is in his mid-sixties, and has no RPG experience, so unlike most of the stories I've read so far in the LitRPG genre, he didn't come in with his own advanced strategies, but rather had to bumble along.
As I said earlier, this was a light and fun novella. The pacing was generally good, although at times I felt like some points were laboured, while at others it maybe moved along too fast, but overall I had no real complaints. The shorter format naturally means there isn't too much focus on stats, although Elmer's basic stats do get repeated from time to time.
Overall, based on the first novella, a decent 4/5 read, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I just need to work out whether I'll read them each at the relevant time of the year, or just jump ahead with them. We'll see.
December 17, 2022
The story is so imaginatively creative. I loved how foreign and strange American holiday traditions could seem like to complete outsiders. Seeing others interact with cultural artifacts that we take for granted is fascinating, and Brooks demonstrates that in these books.
This set is also a great value. Five novellas for the price of one book.
I 100% recommend the book for a lighthearted take on dungeon cores.
This set is also a great value. Five novellas for the price of one book.
I 100% recommend the book for a lighthearted take on dungeon cores.
December 7, 2024
Absolutely Delightful
I've enjoyed all of the books by Jonathan Brooks that I've read, and this set lives up to the expectations I had for it.
There's the cozy element of being familiar with how the stories will go (to an extent. These aren't boring by any means) and the stakes are high enough to keep you invested but low enough to relax and enjoy the adventure
And there's always an emotional bit to the story. Thanks for making me cry again. I'll be back for more soon.
I've enjoyed all of the books by Jonathan Brooks that I've read, and this set lives up to the expectations I had for it.
There's the cozy element of being familiar with how the stories will go (to an extent. These aren't boring by any means) and the stakes are high enough to keep you invested but low enough to relax and enjoy the adventure
And there's always an emotional bit to the story. Thanks for making me cry again. I'll be back for more soon.
January 14, 2023
A different but excellent approach
If your a fan of holidays your gonna love this series. I can so easily see myself as the dungeon core. Lots of fun and like any holiday a bit of danger as well.
If your a fan of holidays your gonna love this series. I can so easily see myself as the dungeon core. Lots of fun and like any holiday a bit of danger as well.
August 14, 2023
fun
A fun set of holiday themed novellas. Holiday lover becomes dungeon, fights big bad, and grows to reunite with soulmate wife. Nice, fast, and entertaining.
A fun set of holiday themed novellas. Holiday lover becomes dungeon, fights big bad, and grows to reunite with soulmate wife. Nice, fast, and entertaining.
November 1, 2025
I had already read/listened to all these books, and they are fantastic. That best part of this series is the love story of Elmer trying to get back to his wife. The bonus story was new for me which was awesome.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews