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Monster Haven #1
Reluctant Dungeon
Transforming into a monstrous dungeon couldn’t be all that bad, right?
Dolli had a very hands-off approach to ruling her once booming village. She preferred to use her alchemical skills to brew a nice cup of tea and keep whiny petitioners off her lawn with Wendigo repellant. But she pays the price for her apathy when her neglected village transforms into a Dungeon, making it fair game for any Hero with a lust for loot.
It doesn't take long for one such Hero from Dolli’s dark past, Keegan Plague Ender, to arrive with his sword ready to be bloodied. The villagers are evolving into powerful Dungeon denizens who can respawn if they're killed—or they could if a mated pair of wyverns hadn't turned the seat of the dungeon core into a brood nest. Now, with one swipe of the Hero's blade, the former townsfolk could be lost to the Lifestream forever.
Despite her curmudgeonly nature, Dolli can't let that happen. Can she rebuild the confidence of her people to roust the wyverns and reinstate respawns? Even if she can, will the young Dungeon hold out against the storm of raiding Heroes?
From J.D. Astra, bestselling author of Viridian Gate Online: Firebrand, Bastion Academy, and Deathless Dungeoneers, comes a brand new dungeon core series bursting at the seams with humor, heart, and, of course, murder.
Dolli had a very hands-off approach to ruling her once booming village. She preferred to use her alchemical skills to brew a nice cup of tea and keep whiny petitioners off her lawn with Wendigo repellant. But she pays the price for her apathy when her neglected village transforms into a Dungeon, making it fair game for any Hero with a lust for loot.
It doesn't take long for one such Hero from Dolli’s dark past, Keegan Plague Ender, to arrive with his sword ready to be bloodied. The villagers are evolving into powerful Dungeon denizens who can respawn if they're killed—or they could if a mated pair of wyverns hadn't turned the seat of the dungeon core into a brood nest. Now, with one swipe of the Hero's blade, the former townsfolk could be lost to the Lifestream forever.
Despite her curmudgeonly nature, Dolli can't let that happen. Can she rebuild the confidence of her people to roust the wyverns and reinstate respawns? Even if she can, will the young Dungeon hold out against the storm of raiding Heroes?
From J.D. Astra, bestselling author of Viridian Gate Online: Firebrand, Bastion Academy, and Deathless Dungeoneers, comes a brand new dungeon core series bursting at the seams with humor, heart, and, of course, murder.
4 pages, Audiobook
Published June 21, 2022
57 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 20, 2022
Dollitrice was the leader of Little Crossroads, a small village in the realm of Hafheim, and she was also a witch. She was supposed to look after the well being of her people, but Dolli was laid back and preferred to use alchemical means rather than physical ones, so her village was taken over by heroes and the lives of the citizens were all in danger. Many of them wanted to see Dolli replaced by someone more responsible, but this did not happen when the village became a dungeon and heroes started to turn up to loot and plunder. Furthermore the Lifewell which was so important for the citizens to respawn was taken over by a pair of wyverns and this was the first thing Dolli had to safeguard if she was to save her people. Her people were referred to as NPC’s by the heroes but she did not know what these were. Nonetheless she set out to organize the people in order to strengthen their dungeon and be better able to face what she knew was coming to threaten their livelihood. Can she manage to rally the angry citizens to obey her orders and rally round? Can she save Little Crossroads now named Monster Haven since all the citizens had turned into monsters once their village became a dungeon? This is the first book in the latest LitRPG series by JD Astra and though not as exciting as her usual works I think it gives us a great introduction to the main characters and I am sure it will ramp up in excitement levels with the next book.
October 11, 2022
This is the first Dungeon Core book I read in my goal to read more LitRPG. I liked it, it is a cute story and Dolli is a relatable protagonist.
The book is a bit short with the audiobook being less than 4 hours and it shows. The story would have benefited from being a little more fleshed out, as it is, levelling goes incredibly fast which probably will be a problem in the later books. I would also have liked to see a little more personality and development for the pretty big cast of the secondary characters.
All in all, a pretty good start and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
The book is a bit short with the audiobook being less than 4 hours and it shows. The story would have benefited from being a little more fleshed out, as it is, levelling goes incredibly fast which probably will be a problem in the later books. I would also have liked to see a little more personality and development for the pretty big cast of the secondary characters.
All in all, a pretty good start and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
July 18, 2022
Alright.
This is a review of the audiobook. One of the shortests I've heard so far.
I do set playback speed to 1.4 but the book still clocked at less than 4 hours.
The average duration of my collection is about 15h, so that's quite a difference right there.
This book has problems.
The gravest of issues is the pacing of the story. It is ridiculously high cadence. We don't have time to breathe; everything happens way too fast, including - and that's my gripe no 2 - leveling. A consequence of that breakness pacing is story beats: we don't get any. We're always running from one battle to the next, and we barely have time to look around. There is a lot of telling instead of showing.
Another consequence of the pace is the mythos (or lack thereof). We understand that the world was "gamified" at some point in time, but that is never properly explored or exploited, neither socially, nor structurally. The tangible world is too small, and the lack of scale creates lots of plot-holes.
Events don't make sense, not even the initial event of a city being turned into a dungeon. Nobody in the story acknowledges the need to answer that basic question: why? Not even MC. She just takes it in stride and broods on her tea.
This ties into another issue: the magic system has no penalties for failure. So there are actually no stakes in fights. That bothered me quite a bit. The whole combat thing felt quite pointless. You know, immortals foes farming each other, while we pretend that the output matters.
The antagonist's motivation/obsession is ridiculous because it's never justified in the story. . MC mostly does well at portraying a harried and misunderstood boss - until she turns into a freaking raid strategist - and suddenly "heroes" don't look competent at all, belying their characterisation as "high-level".
That's a common pitfall in LitRPG. Defeating high-level opponents with willpower (of all things) and not wit, and making off with tons of "free" XP. It is cheap and overplayed.
In spite of all that, I still finished the book in one sitting.
There was enough juice in the writing to keep me interested. The story is good, in the sense that it has a very engaging premise.
It also tackles an interesting topic: the leader redemption arc. I liked the characterization.
Dialogues were mostly interesting, except when somewhat a bit single-tracked and repetitive.
To be honest, I've seen worse. MUCH worse.
This is decent. Not great, but decent.
This is a review of the audiobook. One of the shortests I've heard so far.
I do set playback speed to 1.4 but the book still clocked at less than 4 hours.
The average duration of my collection is about 15h, so that's quite a difference right there.
This book has problems.
The gravest of issues is the pacing of the story. It is ridiculously high cadence. We don't have time to breathe; everything happens way too fast, including - and that's my gripe no 2 - leveling. A consequence of that breakness pacing is story beats: we don't get any. We're always running from one battle to the next, and we barely have time to look around. There is a lot of telling instead of showing.
Another consequence of the pace is the mythos (or lack thereof). We understand that the world was "gamified" at some point in time, but that is never properly explored or exploited, neither socially, nor structurally. The tangible world is too small, and the lack of scale creates lots of plot-holes.
Events don't make sense, not even the initial event of a city being turned into a dungeon. Nobody in the story acknowledges the need to answer that basic question: why? Not even MC. She just takes it in stride and broods on her tea.
This ties into another issue: the magic system has no penalties for failure. So there are actually no stakes in fights. That bothered me quite a bit. The whole combat thing felt quite pointless. You know, immortals foes farming each other, while we pretend that the output matters.
The antagonist's motivation/obsession is ridiculous because it's never justified in the story. . MC mostly does well at portraying a harried and misunderstood boss - until she turns into a freaking raid strategist - and suddenly "heroes" don't look competent at all, belying their characterisation as "high-level".
That's a common pitfall in LitRPG. Defeating high-level opponents with willpower (of all things) and not wit, and making off with tons of "free" XP. It is cheap and overplayed.
In spite of all that, I still finished the book in one sitting.
There was enough juice in the writing to keep me interested. The story is good, in the sense that it has a very engaging premise.
It also tackles an interesting topic: the leader redemption arc. I liked the characterization.
Dialogues were mostly interesting, except when somewhat a bit single-tracked and repetitive.
To be honest, I've seen worse. MUCH worse.
This is decent. Not great, but decent.
September 23, 2023
Introduction:
Greetings, fellow beings of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf of our frozen realm. With my 36 years of experience and a lifetime of gaming, I have ventured into the world of audiobooks. Today, I shall share my thoughts on "The Reluctant Dungeon" by J.D. Astra, a tale that resonated with the icy winds of our homeland.
Basic Plot Summary:
Dolli, an alchemist with a penchant for brewing tea and keeping intruders at bay, finds her village transformed into a Dungeon. This change makes it a target for Heroes seeking glory and loot. One such Hero from Dolli's past, Keegan Plague Ender, is quick to arrive, sword in hand. The villagers, now powerful Dungeon denizens, face a dire threat. A pair of wyverns have taken over the dungeon core, jeopardizing the villagers' ability to respawn. Dolli, despite her reclusive nature, is determined to save her people and her village from impending doom.
Analysis/Evaluation:
The narrative is a fresh take on the LitRPG genre, focusing on the perspective of NPCs rather than players. It delves deep into the psyche of beings who are often overlooked in games, giving them depth, emotion, and purpose. The transformation of a village into a dungeon is an intriguing concept, and the challenges that arise from it are both unique and captivating.
Characters:
Dolli stands out as a character who is both strong and vulnerable. Her journey from a hands-off leader to a protector of her people is commendable. Keegan Plague Ender, the antagonist, brings tension and conflict to the story, making it all the more engaging.
Structure:
The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with moments of tension, action, and introspection. The world-building is immersive, drawing listeners into the realm of Monster Haven.
Impact:
The tale serves as a reminder that every being, no matter how insignificant they may seem, has a story, dreams, and fears. It challenges the traditional norms of gaming narratives and offers a fresh perspective.
Hook and Thesis:
The transformation of a village into a dungeon and the challenges that arise from it serve as the central hook of the story. The thesis revolves around the idea that even the most overlooked beings have depth and purpose.
Praise and Critique:
The narrative is commendable for its unique perspective and engaging storyline. However, some might find the focus on game mechanics a tad excessive. The character development is robust, but there's room for further exploration of the world of Monster Haven.
Comparison:
While the story shares similarities with other LitRPG tales, its focus on NPCs and their struggles sets it apart. It's a refreshing take on a genre that often centers on players and their adventures.
Conclusion:
"The Reluctant Dungeon" is a captivating tale that offers a fresh perspective on the LitRPG genre. It's a journey of discovery, challenges, and the indomitable spirit of beings often overlooked. As an Alpha Ice Wolf, I found the story resonating with the icy winds of HowlStrom, and I recommend it to anyone seeking a unique and engaging narrative.
May the frosty winds of HowlStrom guide you on your adventures.
Greetings, fellow beings of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf of our frozen realm. With my 36 years of experience and a lifetime of gaming, I have ventured into the world of audiobooks. Today, I shall share my thoughts on "The Reluctant Dungeon" by J.D. Astra, a tale that resonated with the icy winds of our homeland.
Basic Plot Summary:
Dolli, an alchemist with a penchant for brewing tea and keeping intruders at bay, finds her village transformed into a Dungeon. This change makes it a target for Heroes seeking glory and loot. One such Hero from Dolli's past, Keegan Plague Ender, is quick to arrive, sword in hand. The villagers, now powerful Dungeon denizens, face a dire threat. A pair of wyverns have taken over the dungeon core, jeopardizing the villagers' ability to respawn. Dolli, despite her reclusive nature, is determined to save her people and her village from impending doom.
Analysis/Evaluation:
The narrative is a fresh take on the LitRPG genre, focusing on the perspective of NPCs rather than players. It delves deep into the psyche of beings who are often overlooked in games, giving them depth, emotion, and purpose. The transformation of a village into a dungeon is an intriguing concept, and the challenges that arise from it are both unique and captivating.
Characters:
Dolli stands out as a character who is both strong and vulnerable. Her journey from a hands-off leader to a protector of her people is commendable. Keegan Plague Ender, the antagonist, brings tension and conflict to the story, making it all the more engaging.
Structure:
The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with moments of tension, action, and introspection. The world-building is immersive, drawing listeners into the realm of Monster Haven.
Impact:
The tale serves as a reminder that every being, no matter how insignificant they may seem, has a story, dreams, and fears. It challenges the traditional norms of gaming narratives and offers a fresh perspective.
Hook and Thesis:
The transformation of a village into a dungeon and the challenges that arise from it serve as the central hook of the story. The thesis revolves around the idea that even the most overlooked beings have depth and purpose.
Praise and Critique:
The narrative is commendable for its unique perspective and engaging storyline. However, some might find the focus on game mechanics a tad excessive. The character development is robust, but there's room for further exploration of the world of Monster Haven.
Comparison:
While the story shares similarities with other LitRPG tales, its focus on NPCs and their struggles sets it apart. It's a refreshing take on a genre that often centers on players and their adventures.
Conclusion:
"The Reluctant Dungeon" is a captivating tale that offers a fresh perspective on the LitRPG genre. It's a journey of discovery, challenges, and the indomitable spirit of beings often overlooked. As an Alpha Ice Wolf, I found the story resonating with the icy winds of HowlStrom, and I recommend it to anyone seeking a unique and engaging narrative.
May the frosty winds of HowlStrom guide you on your adventures.
September 21, 2022
Reluctant Dungeon introduces us to a small backwater town of NPCs in a gaming world, in the immediate aftermath of a plague event. The town and its reluctant leader, witch Dolli, had to reach out to gamers (heroes) in order to survive the plague. Due to her refusal to honour their quest rewards, and dwindling visitor numbers, the village is transformed into a dungeon, and it’s people into monsters. The focus on NPCs as the main characters and the villagers’ vague knowledge of the game world and the heroes’ purposes is a refreshing take on the genre. Dolli has to try and get her angry villagers back on side to take control of the dungeon and protect it from heroes and a mating pair of wyverns. The story is one of alliances, betrayal, redemption and coming together for the common good.
One of the best aspects of the audio? No lengthy stat dumps to read through, a companion pdf is available to read when prompted if you want to.
One of the best aspects of the audio? No lengthy stat dumps to read through, a companion pdf is available to read when prompted if you want to.
November 9, 2022
A short D&D style story in which a village, neglected by its leader, gets overrun by characters who are called "heroes." In order to save the village, as many citizens refused the leave when the leader told them it would be best for them if they did, the leader is given no choice but to transform the village into a dungeon. What this means for the residents is that they must transform into "monsters" and basically start over as level one characters. But the thing is, the heroes are after something specific that they feel they are owed by the leader for completing a quest. And the leader will not give it to them because she did not approve of the methods used by the heroes to complete the quest. So now a dungeon full of low-level monsters must somehow defeat the heroes who will stop at nothing until they get their reward.
Decent but not great fantasy.
Decent but not great fantasy.
June 21, 2022
Entertaining
An apathetic anti hero of a witch and an antagonistic village of towns people are not a good scenario especially when they are all converted into part of a dungeon. Constant raids by "heroes" force everyone to work together or spend the rest of their existence being killed over & over again.
There are no sympathetic characters in this novella but watching the characters who can't stand each other start working together to become a proper dungeon that will fight off the "heroes" makes for a worthwhile read.
This was a fun read and I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series.
An apathetic anti hero of a witch and an antagonistic village of towns people are not a good scenario especially when they are all converted into part of a dungeon. Constant raids by "heroes" force everyone to work together or spend the rest of their existence being killed over & over again.
There are no sympathetic characters in this novella but watching the characters who can't stand each other start working together to become a proper dungeon that will fight off the "heroes" makes for a worthwhile read.
This was a fun read and I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series.
July 13, 2022
Dolli's growth from lazy ruler to protective and active Overlord of her quaint village turned dungeon kept me turning the pages. Not only is it fulfilling to watch a character change and become a better person for her community, but Dolli is quite clever. So experiencing her use of the tools she's given offers one delightful surprise after another. Plus, the definition of who is called a monster and who really is a monster might not be what you'd assume. This was my first LitRPG. A short and sweet intro was perfect to get my feet wet. I'm very excited the second book comes out so quickly. I have to know more about Dolli and her dungeon.
March 24, 2023
fun
Dolli lead a village through a plague but things went poorly and she got the blame. Because of the System she can’t quit without dying so her relationship with the villagers is subpar. With the villagers loss and people slowly leaving the place is turned into a dungeon. Heroes come calling and wage war on them. Through planning and luck they win to fight another day.
It’s a fun, fast paced, quick read that shows that heroes aren’t always heroic and NPCs are people too. It was highly enjoyable. Have fun!
Dolli lead a village through a plague but things went poorly and she got the blame. Because of the System she can’t quit without dying so her relationship with the villagers is subpar. With the villagers loss and people slowly leaving the place is turned into a dungeon. Heroes come calling and wage war on them. Through planning and luck they win to fight another day.
It’s a fun, fast paced, quick read that shows that heroes aren’t always heroic and NPCs are people too. It was highly enjoyable. Have fun!
July 10, 2024
This was a fun and quick read. There was character development and growth that began right away. We started with a character who had isolated themselves from the town and watched them navigate repairing relationships as well as forging different types of relationships based on the needs of the dungeon. There was definitely a lot of action and it was pretty quick paced. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 28, 2022
Fun book. I almost wished that this wasn’t a short story because I wish the world was a bit more established. I have questions about why the NPCs are the way they are and why the players interact with them the way that they do. I digress. The story was entertaining and the characters were interesting.
April 13, 2023
This is a cute story in the genre of LitRPG but told from the NPC perspective. I ran across it while browsing the Audible plus catalog and liked the cover. It is a nice novella length book. I listened to the 3 book series over 2 days. I would recommend it. Especially as a palette cleanser between longer or more complex stories/books
July 2, 2022
Looking for a respite from your daily grind... then here's the book you've been lookin for. It's short and you can finish it in an afternoon. It tells of the beginnings of a newly formed Dungeon, from a failed town, and boy the inhabitants aren't too happy.
July 11, 2022
This review is for the audiobook. I could not add a new edition for it, so I am reviewing it here. It was really different to see the inside of a game from the NPCs point of view. I wasn't sure about this at first, but I am looking forward to the release of the next two books in the trilogy.
August 2, 2022
A fun read from the “flip side” of gaming. There are more books in the series, I don’t feel particularly compelled to read on—but maybe if I’m in the mood for a short and light read it will happen. I listened to the audiobook, which was well performed.
October 11, 2022
I am surprised at how some people have marked this book, while short it was a good story. The MC was the standard reluctant heroine, but like most comes around .. eventually and I liked the idea that the hero’s of the world were players who just wanted to finish quests.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2022
Audiobook
This was like listening to a video game or a D&D one shot. The narrator was amazing which definitely made me enjoy the book more. Short and fun, it’s a great quick listen.
This was like listening to a video game or a D&D one shot. The narrator was amazing which definitely made me enjoy the book more. Short and fun, it’s a great quick listen.
June 29, 2023
Quick and fun read
July 13, 2023
First of the "dungeon" genre I've read. Was more fun than I expected.
October 18, 2023
The Reluctant Dungeon
Dollitrice is the regent of a tiny village. After a disaster contract with the heroes to stop a plague, most of the population has fled. The villagers who remain are discontent. They didn’t believe Dolli when she told them that the low population will result in the region becoming a dungeon and transforming everyone in it into a dungeon monster. The thing is, this might be the least of their worries.
This novella is 3 hours and 47 minutes. It’s a really fun blend of dungeon core versus heroes. It has a pretty similar feel to Rogue Dungeon. This is a really fun book and I went directly into reading book 2! At the time I listened, the entire trilogy was included with an Audible subscription. Judy Alice Lee does a great job with the narration!
Content Warning: minor language
Dollitrice is the regent of a tiny village. After a disaster contract with the heroes to stop a plague, most of the population has fled. The villagers who remain are discontent. They didn’t believe Dolli when she told them that the low population will result in the region becoming a dungeon and transforming everyone in it into a dungeon monster. The thing is, this might be the least of their worries.
This novella is 3 hours and 47 minutes. It’s a really fun blend of dungeon core versus heroes. It has a pretty similar feel to Rogue Dungeon. This is a really fun book and I went directly into reading book 2! At the time I listened, the entire trilogy was included with an Audible subscription. Judy Alice Lee does a great job with the narration!
Content Warning: minor language
July 23, 2024
Good, quick entertaining listen. Highly recommended for those who play MMORPGs.
January 9, 2025
Always a good book when the villains catchphrase is "Why are you such a butthole?"
August 29, 2022
I've never read a litRPG book, and this is a fun one. The characters are great and the plot is enjoyable. The narration in the audiobook is fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews