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Cat Core #1
Cat Core
It was just supposed to be a quick trip to the pet store for some cat food, but the universe had other plans for Florence Valentine.
Good-for-nothing kids and some annoying store employees were giving her a hard time, and then things got worse when she was killed by a delivery truck. Instead of angels, pearly gates, and eternal rewards, a voice in her head keeps telling her that she’s become a dungeon core, whatever that is.
Now people keep coming into her new home, wrecking stuff, and stealing from her. But not everything about this whole ordeal is bad. Not only can Florence decorate her home with a thought, but she can also create the best things in the entire universe—she can create kitty-cats.
Should these hooligans keep insisting on coming into her home, well, Florence and her kitties are going to have something to say about that.
Good-for-nothing kids and some annoying store employees were giving her a hard time, and then things got worse when she was killed by a delivery truck. Instead of angels, pearly gates, and eternal rewards, a voice in her head keeps telling her that she’s become a dungeon core, whatever that is.
Now people keep coming into her new home, wrecking stuff, and stealing from her. But not everything about this whole ordeal is bad. Not only can Florence decorate her home with a thought, but she can also create the best things in the entire universe—she can create kitty-cats.
Should these hooligans keep insisting on coming into her home, well, Florence and her kitties are going to have something to say about that.
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First published February 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 30, 2024
Pues curioso, entretenido, interesante... Un toque diferente en un subgénero dentro de un subgénero.
Los protagonistas de este tipo de libros deben de soler ser informáticos, militares etc, y en este caso es una señora mayor amante de los gatos por lo que el planteamiento y la resolución de conflictos se enfoca desde ese punto de vista.
Le pongo un 3,5/5 que redondeo a 4/5 por la novedad.
Los protagonistas de este tipo de libros deben de soler ser informáticos, militares etc, y en este caso es una señora mayor amante de los gatos por lo que el planteamiento y la resolución de conflictos se enfoca desde ese punto de vista.
Le pongo un 3,5/5 que redondeo a 4/5 por la novedad.
August 28, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: First let me say I am not a cat person. I don't hate them, but I really don't like cats. I'm a dog person. That said I was very impressed with this book. Very well written and edited.
Plot: An old cat lady gets stuffed into a dungeon core by mistake.
Characters: The old lady was awesome. The old southern country lady came through clearly in everything from her speech to her thoughts. The detail of the home easily brought back memories from childhood in Alabama and visiting with old ladies as I was growing up.
The cats....they fought like heroes. Anyone that has ever seen a cat in a battle for its life knows that they turn into a buzz saw of teeth and claws.
10/I0 Was so much better than I thought it would be. I should have read this sooner.
Mistakes: First let me say I am not a cat person. I don't hate them, but I really don't like cats. I'm a dog person. That said I was very impressed with this book. Very well written and edited.
Plot: An old cat lady gets stuffed into a dungeon core by mistake.
Characters: The old lady was awesome. The old southern country lady came through clearly in everything from her speech to her thoughts. The detail of the home easily brought back memories from childhood in Alabama and visiting with old ladies as I was growing up.
The cats....they fought like heroes. Anyone that has ever seen a cat in a battle for its life knows that they turn into a buzz saw of teeth and claws.
10/I0 Was so much better than I thought it would be. I should have read this sooner.
December 27, 2021
3.5/5 I picked this one up because it looked so delightfully awful. Thankfully it isn't as terrible as that awful cover and questionable premise lead me to believe. Cat Core is a "Dungeon Core" novel. Dungeon Core is a subgenre of LitRPG. It typically involves the main character becoming a sentient core gem that manages a dungeon. Though the lead doesn't always become a gem, sometimes they are just the lord of said dungeon. In this instance however our main character Florence Valentine, was an elderly "cat lady" and a belligerent "Karen". Florence dies and becomes a dungeon core in another world. In a less typical fashion Florence does not come from gaming background, she dies outside a game store and is taken by mistake.
After promptly demanding to speak to the manager of the person who made such an outrageous mistake Florence is sent away to become a dungeon core and to create her own dungeon. The life of a dungeon is interesting and tenuous in Florence's new world. The dungeon is expected to shell out loot and offer adventure to the "delvers" of the world. However she needs to find her balance. Give out too little loot and the adventurers will destroy her gem. Give out too much and she's struggling to maintain.
Florence wants nothing to do with any of these gross fantasy tropes. She will not abide slimes, skeletons, and creepy creatures. There's only one acceptable inhabitant for her dungeon. Her kitties.
Cat Core never takes itself too seriously there is a ton of levity and light hearted fun that pokes at its own genre. I enjoyed reading about the Cat Core and the exciting battles that take place there. There is a good amount of action to keep the plot going and there's no huge stat dumps to slow things down. All in all a fairly entertaining albeit a little shallow game lit romp.
After promptly demanding to speak to the manager of the person who made such an outrageous mistake Florence is sent away to become a dungeon core and to create her own dungeon. The life of a dungeon is interesting and tenuous in Florence's new world. The dungeon is expected to shell out loot and offer adventure to the "delvers" of the world. However she needs to find her balance. Give out too little loot and the adventurers will destroy her gem. Give out too much and she's struggling to maintain.
Florence wants nothing to do with any of these gross fantasy tropes. She will not abide slimes, skeletons, and creepy creatures. There's only one acceptable inhabitant for her dungeon. Her kitties.
Cat Core never takes itself too seriously there is a ton of levity and light hearted fun that pokes at its own genre. I enjoyed reading about the Cat Core and the exciting battles that take place there. There is a good amount of action to keep the plot going and there's no huge stat dumps to slow things down. All in all a fairly entertaining albeit a little shallow game lit romp.
February 19, 2021
I'm pretty torn about this book honestly. It has both strong negatives and positives.
First of all, it follows the same setup as other dungeon cores. Human reborn as a dungeon core. Tiny assistant that knows more than the human. Growing village outside. Adventure party the dungeon core grows to like. Evil plot to destroy the dungeon. Which.. if you've read other dungeon cores? Why bother reading this at all?
I honestly don't think I can recommend it to anyone outside of cat lovers. If you love cats, that might be enough to endear this to you. But if not? Skip it.
There are positive sides, and differences to a typical dungeon core book.
Florence, the main characters, is an 80 year old human. Which.. is pretty rare if not entirely unheard of. Makes sense tho doesn't it? Why is it only scrappy young men being reborn into a fantasy realm? The bad side here is that human Florence is.. the most annoying character I've ever met. She's an old Karen, she's hateful, and judgeful, and god-spouting, old lady who yells at everyone and gossips while at the same time lording over everyone else how SHE doesn't do those things. The good news is that.. THAT Florence is only a chapter or three old before she changes.
And unlike other cores, Florence remembers her human life. And that assistant of hers? Well, first of all it's not a flirty relationship. Which almost every other dungeon core does. In fact, they don't even like eachother at the beginning. Florence ignores her assistant and her assistant's advice and does all the wrong things in creating her dungeon. They grow into friends, but it's more like siblings: You like eachother, but sometimes you bicker, and sometimes you just ignore them. And I really loved this relationship. It was refreshing, and will be one of the reasons I'll probably read the next book.
I however, loved the ending, and it was almost good enough to bump this up to 4 stars. I'll give the next book a try, it has potential. But so far it's just.. the typical story wearing a cash shop skin featuring cats and dogs.
First of all, it follows the same setup as other dungeon cores. Human reborn as a dungeon core. Tiny assistant that knows more than the human. Growing village outside. Adventure party the dungeon core grows to like. Evil plot to destroy the dungeon. Which.. if you've read other dungeon cores? Why bother reading this at all?
I honestly don't think I can recommend it to anyone outside of cat lovers. If you love cats, that might be enough to endear this to you. But if not? Skip it.
There are positive sides, and differences to a typical dungeon core book.
Florence, the main characters, is an 80 year old human. Which.. is pretty rare if not entirely unheard of. Makes sense tho doesn't it? Why is it only scrappy young men being reborn into a fantasy realm? The bad side here is that human Florence is.. the most annoying character I've ever met. She's an old Karen, she's hateful, and judgeful, and god-spouting, old lady who yells at everyone and gossips while at the same time lording over everyone else how SHE doesn't do those things. The good news is that.. THAT Florence is only a chapter or three old before she changes.
And unlike other cores, Florence remembers her human life. And that assistant of hers? Well, first of all it's not a flirty relationship. Which almost every other dungeon core does. In fact, they don't even like eachother at the beginning. Florence ignores her assistant and her assistant's advice and does all the wrong things in creating her dungeon. They grow into friends, but it's more like siblings: You like eachother, but sometimes you bicker, and sometimes you just ignore them. And I really loved this relationship. It was refreshing, and will be one of the reasons I'll probably read the next book.
I however, loved the ending, and it was almost good enough to bump this up to 4 stars. I'll give the next book a try, it has potential. But so far it's just.. the typical story wearing a cash shop skin featuring cats and dogs.
January 21, 2023
NO! this was not fun.
There are alot of reviewer give this 5/5 stars. I am the alternative. I love dungeon core books and love different variety out there. However, I cannot forgive "Cat Core" because the main character is by far the most annoying character for the series. Self entitled old Karen and a complete crazy cat lady who's solution to everything is calling the manager and pretends that she is touched by god. Thirty minutes into the story and that annoying attitude carries on in all the chapters. I personally, don't like this type of character and it felt like verbal abuse from a callous retailer.
There are alot of reviewer give this 5/5 stars. I am the alternative. I love dungeon core books and love different variety out there. However, I cannot forgive "Cat Core" because the main character is by far the most annoying character for the series. Self entitled old Karen and a complete crazy cat lady who's solution to everything is calling the manager and pretends that she is touched by god. Thirty minutes into the story and that annoying attitude carries on in all the chapters. I personally, don't like this type of character and it felt like verbal abuse from a callous retailer.
March 19, 2021
So this is just not funny at all.
I kept waiting for humour and it never arrived. This is written like a normal dungeon core book but the cha characters are set up to be funny. It doesn't work. The advisor is useless, the core is a hypocrite and when goblins were attached to a cat dungeon I quit. The theme was fun and that ruined it for me. If you want to make a dungeon book, get better characters. If you want to make a dungeon comedy put these characters I to funny situations. Whatever you do, just make up your mind or you so d up with a boring mess filled with badly designed characters.
I kept waiting for humour and it never arrived. This is written like a normal dungeon core book but the cha characters are set up to be funny. It doesn't work. The advisor is useless, the core is a hypocrite and when goblins were attached to a cat dungeon I quit. The theme was fun and that ruined it for me. If you want to make a dungeon book, get better characters. If you want to make a dungeon comedy put these characters I to funny situations. Whatever you do, just make up your mind or you so d up with a boring mess filled with badly designed characters.
March 15, 2021
Dungeon core meets little old cat lady
I laughed so much. The entire idea of this book is wonderfully ridiculous. I want more! I loved the growth of the main character and that an old woman can still change.
I laughed so much. The entire idea of this book is wonderfully ridiculous. I want more! I loved the growth of the main character and that an old woman can still change.
November 15, 2024
Rating: 3.5 stars
Florence Valentine, octogenarian and the neighborhood cat lady, is accidentally pulled into an alternate universe after her untimely death ("isekai'd via Truck-kun" as my friend put it) and reincarnated as the core of a dungeon. With the help of her new assistant Doug, and after speaking with the system's manager, Florence creates her newdungeon home, setting it up with defenders and traps, and is ready for her first group of adventurers to come for a visit.
Cat Core is the first in a trilogy of the same name by Dean Henegar. This is the first time I've read a litRPG with the dungeon as the main character. The story starts off a little slow. Florence is a feisty old Southern lady and there's a lot of information to take in as how her new life works is explained, which she's not exactly receptive to at first. As the story progressed I found myself enjoying it more than I expected and looked forward to how the adventurers would do against Florence's upgrades as the dungeon leveled.
The ending has a great twist that sends the story into a new direction. It is also a bit bittersweet. I want to see where these characters go next so I'll be looking to continue the series soon.
One note of warning - as a cat lover, I had a hard time with all the violence against cats even though they're technically dungeon mobs and will be brought back after each delve.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Andrea Parsneau. She did a fantastic job with all the characters. I enjoyed her narration immensely and will look for other books that she's narrated to listen to.
Florence Valentine, octogenarian and the neighborhood cat lady, is accidentally pulled into an alternate universe after her untimely death ("isekai'd via Truck-kun" as my friend put it) and reincarnated as the core of a dungeon. With the help of her new assistant Doug, and after speaking with the system's manager, Florence creates her new
Cat Core is the first in a trilogy of the same name by Dean Henegar. This is the first time I've read a litRPG with the dungeon as the main character. The story starts off a little slow. Florence is a feisty old Southern lady and there's a lot of information to take in as how her new life works is explained, which she's not exactly receptive to at first. As the story progressed I found myself enjoying it more than I expected and looked forward to how the adventurers would do against Florence's upgrades as the dungeon leveled.
The ending has a great twist that sends the story into a new direction. It is also a bit bittersweet. I want to see where these characters go next so I'll be looking to continue the series soon.
One note of warning - as a cat lover, I had a hard time with all the violence against cats even though they're technically dungeon mobs and will be brought back after each delve.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Andrea Parsneau. She did a fantastic job with all the characters. I enjoyed her narration immensely and will look for other books that she's narrated to listen to.
March 6, 2021
Engaging and unique story
This was such a unique story, and entertaining to the very end! I really felt myself cheering for Florence. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
This was such a unique story, and entertaining to the very end! I really felt myself cheering for Florence. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
February 27, 2021
Old cat Lady Dungeon
This story of a old lady becoming a dungeon core was fan-tastic. She reminded me of Terry Pritchett’s witches a little. Having the dungeon assistant covering mana into dollars so she would understand was brilliant.
Whenever you mister wordsmith come back to this series, I would like to know what her occupation was and how she became a crazy old cat lady?
This story of a old lady becoming a dungeon core was fan-tastic. She reminded me of Terry Pritchett’s witches a little. Having the dungeon assistant covering mana into dollars so she would understand was brilliant.
Whenever you mister wordsmith come back to this series, I would like to know what her occupation was and how she became a crazy old cat lady?
March 14, 2021
Cat-Karen-tastic
Have you ever wanted to let your inner Karen out for a ride? Is there an age you can get to where the Karen persona is acceptable? Do you perhaps own too many cats? If so, this is the book for you!
Florence Valentine has lived a good long life of hoarding kitties and telling stories about her neighbors, friends, and well anyone else she encounters. Spoiler alert, she doesn’t like any of them!
“Let me speak to your manager”, is her mantra, and coupled with her cane, she is wreaking havoc like a geriatric Rambo!
Throw in a curve ball where she suddenly dies and comes back as a dungeon core and now you’ve got a book where Florence does everything in her power to get herself killed for good, yet somehow things work out in spite of her.
The book itself was a good entertaining read. I only found one of the POVs in the story to be boring and for the most part the book flowed. I did subtract a star due to repetitiveness of of the combat. You will read over and over how the adventurers and others attack the same rooms in the dungeon over and over. The author keeps writing pages of details, that really slow the story down at this point. It wasn’t so bad as to make me want to stop, though.
Oh, and Beware of Doug!
Have you ever wanted to let your inner Karen out for a ride? Is there an age you can get to where the Karen persona is acceptable? Do you perhaps own too many cats? If so, this is the book for you!
Florence Valentine has lived a good long life of hoarding kitties and telling stories about her neighbors, friends, and well anyone else she encounters. Spoiler alert, she doesn’t like any of them!
“Let me speak to your manager”, is her mantra, and coupled with her cane, she is wreaking havoc like a geriatric Rambo!
Throw in a curve ball where she suddenly dies and comes back as a dungeon core and now you’ve got a book where Florence does everything in her power to get herself killed for good, yet somehow things work out in spite of her.
The book itself was a good entertaining read. I only found one of the POVs in the story to be boring and for the most part the book flowed. I did subtract a star due to repetitiveness of of the combat. You will read over and over how the adventurers and others attack the same rooms in the dungeon over and over. The author keeps writing pages of details, that really slow the story down at this point. It wasn’t so bad as to make me want to stop, though.
Oh, and Beware of Doug!
April 21, 2022
Always ask for the manager.
Sometimes asking for the manager actually works out. And in this quirky LitRPG story, the somewhat grumpy old lady main character finds herself in a very strange world. Does the manager even exist?
What kind of dungeon would someone with no gaming experience create? With a strong sense of propriety? With a live of cats? This one.
Sometimes asking for the manager actually works out. And in this quirky LitRPG story, the somewhat grumpy old lady main character finds herself in a very strange world. Does the manager even exist?
What kind of dungeon would someone with no gaming experience create? With a strong sense of propriety? With a live of cats? This one.
October 9, 2024
I wanted to like this book due to the unique take on a dungeon full of domestic cats, but I found the elderly FMC Florence much too irritating and stubborn and the overall dungeon too weak and mediocre to find it enjoyable in my dungeon core lit. The adventurers introduced were also rather amateur, and I didn't really care one way or the other when some of them died. While I was mildly curious about the OP lich powers, I don't think I could stand reading about Florence and weak housecat monsters for another book.
February 17, 2021
Great!!
Loved Florence and the kitty cat dungeon. Enjoyed the book a lot. Doug rocked as an assistant but the kitties stole what show Florence left for them.
Loved Florence and the kitty cat dungeon. Enjoyed the book a lot. Doug rocked as an assistant but the kitties stole what show Florence left for them.
May 23, 2021
What Happens When an Octogenarian Cat Lady Builds a Dungeon? She Fills It With Cats, Of Course!
Florence Valentine dies on a trip to get food for her "fur babies." Normally that would be the end of her story, but Florence's 'soul' is captured by some godlike intelligences and condensed into a fragile, glowing, red gemstone and informed that she is now a 'Dungeon Core.' She is tasked with creating a dungeon to protect her fragile physical form and provide challenges to 'Adventurers' who will delve through her dungeon for the experience they gain and the rewards she can create to tempt them into her dungeon.
Florence is a woman of strong will and she'll have none of this dungeon business, so instead she builds a home (albeit one made of stone rooms and tunnels inside a mountain) and fills it with the cats she so dearly loves. She creates quite a glaring of cats. She has small cats and big cats, fat cats and skinny cats, brawling cats and magic cats, she even has a "smelly cat!" Will her cats be enough protection for her new home and sufficiently challenging to the Adventurers who will seek it out to plunder the riches she makes? Time will tell!
Florence Valentine dies on a trip to get food for her "fur babies." Normally that would be the end of her story, but Florence's 'soul' is captured by some godlike intelligences and condensed into a fragile, glowing, red gemstone and informed that she is now a 'Dungeon Core.' She is tasked with creating a dungeon to protect her fragile physical form and provide challenges to 'Adventurers' who will delve through her dungeon for the experience they gain and the rewards she can create to tempt them into her dungeon.
Florence is a woman of strong will and she'll have none of this dungeon business, so instead she builds a home (albeit one made of stone rooms and tunnels inside a mountain) and fills it with the cats she so dearly loves. She creates quite a glaring of cats. She has small cats and big cats, fat cats and skinny cats, brawling cats and magic cats, she even has a "smelly cat!" Will her cats be enough protection for her new home and sufficiently challenging to the Adventurers who will seek it out to plunder the riches she makes? Time will tell!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf-did-not-finish
January 12, 2022I wonder if this book is going to be as crazy as I imagine. From reading the blurb I feel this book will be about a crazy old cat lady dungeon who killed people with her cats...
Yeah. I was right. Not only is she a geriatric cat lady, but she is one of those that are mean, thinks she is better than everyone else, and likes to get other people in trouble. I got about halfway through this book and I just can't anymore.
This "dungeon core" story is just like everyone else's (what I read so far), with the exception that instead of the "fairy" being annoying, it's the core that is annoying, and the entire dungeon is about cats instead of clever inventions.
I will pass on anything else from the author or the series. This was novel for thinking outside the box, where the plot was concerned, but it failed at implementation / for being boring and annoying. (Also I hate cat stories).
Did Not Finish
Yeah. I was right. Not only is she a geriatric cat lady, but she is one of those that are mean, thinks she is better than everyone else, and likes to get other people in trouble. I got about halfway through this book and I just can't anymore.
This "dungeon core" story is just like everyone else's (what I read so far), with the exception that instead of the "fairy" being annoying, it's the core that is annoying, and the entire dungeon is about cats instead of clever inventions.
I will pass on anything else from the author or the series. This was novel for thinking outside the box, where the plot was concerned, but it failed at implementation / for being boring and annoying. (Also I hate cat stories).
Did Not Finish
April 25, 2023
I knew going into this book that it was likely going to be a bit 'lighter' than most other LitRPG books I've read. And I was certainly correct about that, but it was executed in a manner that I think would be a great introduction to the genre. Since the MC of this series is about as far removed from the typical gamer stereotype that is often used, the author needed to explain many of the concepts. I think this makes the series as a whole more approachable.
Fun, engaging and definitely worth reading if you are on the fence about the LitRPG/Gamelit genres.
Fun, engaging and definitely worth reading if you are on the fence about the LitRPG/Gamelit genres.
Read
March 30, 2021This book, is my 1st in the Dungeon Core sub genre... (I had assumed Dungeon Core was like a Crawl with constant combat. But now that I know it isn't I'm open to exploring other Dungeon Core books.) This book is more Portal Fantasy then LitRpg... (Don't know if that was a mistake in labeling, lack of understanding what LitRpg is, or deliberate due to the popularity of Litrpg. I think Dungeon Core has become popular enough in it's own right to Warrent that subcategorization.
Anyways...Cat Core features ALOT of cats. (Seriously, if your not a fan of cats, don't read this book.) But since I am a crazy cat lady (With no cats, currently, sadly enough.) This book drew me in like a cat with catnip. The lead character, Florence Valentine is a cranky, 80's years old woman who only thinks highly of herself, and cats. That's it and no one else. Honestly...her constant crankiness was almost to much, but she starts to chill out a few chapters in.
A few things that bothered me were: Her lack of an form/avatar. (Or was there one and I missed it?)
And the other issue was her using house cats as defenders. I mean the story worked out anyways...but I would have wanted a few meaner looking and acting wild kitties, or housekitties that could breath fire and such...though some of the kitties did develop some interesting abilities...such as Spud developing noxious fumes...*giggles* sorry for the small spoilers.
I did get the feeling, that the book was slightly mocking the Dungeon Core genre, not to be mean, but for fun. While this book probably was ot a good choice for my 1st in this genre, I'm glad it was anyways.
Jury's out on whether the author should write another book with the same characters, though. I would read it, definitely...because Florence became endearing. But I don't think a sequel is needed. If the author were to write about another unusual dungeon....lol. that would be pretty cool.
Anyways...Cat Core features ALOT of cats. (Seriously, if your not a fan of cats, don't read this book.) But since I am a crazy cat lady (With no cats, currently, sadly enough.) This book drew me in like a cat with catnip. The lead character, Florence Valentine is a cranky, 80's years old woman who only thinks highly of herself, and cats. That's it and no one else. Honestly...her constant crankiness was almost to much, but she starts to chill out a few chapters in.
A few things that bothered me were: Her lack of an form/avatar. (Or was there one and I missed it?)
And the other issue was her using house cats as defenders. I mean the story worked out anyways...but I would have wanted a few meaner looking and acting wild kitties, or housekitties that could breath fire and such...though some of the kitties did develop some interesting abilities...such as Spud developing noxious fumes...*giggles* sorry for the small spoilers.
I did get the feeling, that the book was slightly mocking the Dungeon Core genre, not to be mean, but for fun. While this book probably was ot a good choice for my 1st in this genre, I'm glad it was anyways.
Jury's out on whether the author should write another book with the same characters, though. I would read it, definitely...because Florence became endearing. But I don't think a sequel is needed. If the author were to write about another unusual dungeon....lol. that would be pretty cool.
April 13, 2025
Florence, bless her stubborn heart, was a creature of habit. Decades spent tending to her feline companions and demanding satisfaction from every service rendered had molded her into an iron-willed force of nature. So, discovering that her beloved pet store had morphed into some neon-drenched "game store" was the first crack in her well-ordered universe, igniting a righteous fury only a seasoned "let me speak to your manager" could truly appreciate.
Imagine Florence's horror! No manager to berate, no grievances to air – only the unknown. Predictably, her first instinct was to unleash her signature demand: "Let me speak to whoever is in charge!" But the universe, it seemed, had other plans. Florence, the champion of perfectly portioned kibble, was now a Dungeon Core Gem. A DUNGEON CORE!
The sheer audacity of it all! The concept was alien. Games? Bah! Monsters running through her home? Absolutely not! Florence, a woman who wouldn't tolerate a misplaced throw pillow, was now responsible for a potential horde of creatures.
This dungeon, this new reality, would adhere to HER standards. It would be a HOME, a place of order, refinement, and unwavering respect. Any entity daring to cross her threshold would be met with the full force of Florence's unwavering will, and perhaps a strongly worded letter of complaint.
Florence set about domesticating the darkness. She would build her home, damn it, and it would be proper living. Surprisingly, she began to make friends. Not the monster-under-the-bed type, but genuine connections forged in the fires of shared hardship and a mutual appreciation for a well-dusted shelf.
Florence, the senior cat lady, was about to show the universe that even a Dungeon Core could embody grace, grit, and the unwavering power of a woman who knew exactly how she wanted her
Imagine Florence's horror! No manager to berate, no grievances to air – only the unknown. Predictably, her first instinct was to unleash her signature demand: "Let me speak to whoever is in charge!" But the universe, it seemed, had other plans. Florence, the champion of perfectly portioned kibble, was now a Dungeon Core Gem. A DUNGEON CORE!
The sheer audacity of it all! The concept was alien. Games? Bah! Monsters running through her home? Absolutely not! Florence, a woman who wouldn't tolerate a misplaced throw pillow, was now responsible for a potential horde of creatures.
This dungeon, this new reality, would adhere to HER standards. It would be a HOME, a place of order, refinement, and unwavering respect. Any entity daring to cross her threshold would be met with the full force of Florence's unwavering will, and perhaps a strongly worded letter of complaint.
Florence set about domesticating the darkness. She would build her home, damn it, and it would be proper living. Surprisingly, she began to make friends. Not the monster-under-the-bed type, but genuine connections forged in the fires of shared hardship and a mutual appreciation for a well-dusted shelf.
Florence, the senior cat lady, was about to show the universe that even a Dungeon Core could embody grace, grit, and the unwavering power of a woman who knew exactly how she wanted her
October 20, 2021
This was an absolutely hysterical Dungeon Core story!!! 🤣
Here's what happens when a grumpy, irascible old cat lady, finds herself magically transported into another world. A world where she finds herself trapped as a dungeon-core! After the initial shock and confusion, she sets about building her Dungeon, though as far as Florence Valentine is concerned, it's not a Dungeon... it's her new home!!! Partnered with an AI assistant named Doug, whose every recommendation she steadfastly ignores, the Fun begins! Florence, makes every beginner-mistake imaginable, starting with not listening to any of the rules for dungeons, nor listening to Doug!
And to add the AwesomeSauce, to an already great book, the audio version is narrated by the always wonderful, Andrea Parsneau!!! YAY! 👏😊👍
And I've collected a few quotes!
Let’s just settle in and wait for more victims—I mean adventurers
So the dungeon is just a grumpy old lady cat?
Never thought I’d see a goblin riding a cat, but we surely just did...
Her precious Zeus gave a smile, which of course was possible for a cat if you looked hard enough.
Uh, Florence, I think he’s a bit more than a simple skeleton. You are in the presence of a lich, and if I’m not mistaken, this is a very old and powerful one,”... ...“What? He’s going to lick? How does he even do that without a tongue?
War Cat Mech, Level 5: Gnomish inventors combine technology and magic to create various incredible automatons to defend their home
You have learned the ability Deadly Doug.
...the cat mouth doorknocker spitting out flames directly into his face. The man crashed through the door but didn’t get up afterward. He was one crispy critter.
Here's what happens when a grumpy, irascible old cat lady, finds herself magically transported into another world. A world where she finds herself trapped as a dungeon-core! After the initial shock and confusion, she sets about building her Dungeon, though as far as Florence Valentine is concerned, it's not a Dungeon... it's her new home!!! Partnered with an AI assistant named Doug, whose every recommendation she steadfastly ignores, the Fun begins! Florence, makes every beginner-mistake imaginable, starting with not listening to any of the rules for dungeons, nor listening to Doug!
And to add the AwesomeSauce, to an already great book, the audio version is narrated by the always wonderful, Andrea Parsneau!!! YAY! 👏😊👍
And I've collected a few quotes!
Let’s just settle in and wait for more victims—I mean adventurers
So the dungeon is just a grumpy old lady cat?
Never thought I’d see a goblin riding a cat, but we surely just did...
Her precious Zeus gave a smile, which of course was possible for a cat if you looked hard enough.
Uh, Florence, I think he’s a bit more than a simple skeleton. You are in the presence of a lich, and if I’m not mistaken, this is a very old and powerful one,”... ...“What? He’s going to lick? How does he even do that without a tongue?
War Cat Mech, Level 5: Gnomish inventors combine technology and magic to create various incredible automatons to defend their home
You have learned the ability Deadly Doug.
...the cat mouth doorknocker spitting out flames directly into his face. The man crashed through the door but didn’t get up afterward. He was one crispy critter.
March 2, 2021
Alert
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
May 31, 2022
5 The Administration Recommends Any Contact Be Limited To Ominous Warnings, Dire Threats, Or Cackling Madness Stars
Cat Core is the first book in the series of the same title by Dean Henegar.
Honestly, this book turned out to be surprisingly more intriguing and well-rounded than the pun of a title leads one to initially believe. The combination of twisting traditional dungeon reincarnation into that of a cat obsessed kind of Karen type senior woman culminated in pure brilliance. I'm shocked that this concluded in such a fun and fulfilling manner. It has been understandably enjoyable to encounter all of the varying, and adorable kitties that populate and defend this dungeon. As well, experiencing Florence Valentine's approach to decorating her new 'home'.
We don't even miss out on the more menial day-to-day of adventures, given the narrative shifts between Florence's POV and that of her first adventuring patty fairly regularly. It adds a certain juxtaposition with the dungeon core/building moments and invites a healthy dose of dramatic flair to the story as a whole.
Finally, there's an actual Death/Dog-themed God on this new world, whom not only despises that dungeons are formed from souls that escape his judgement, but takes a particular amount of insult in suffering any cat to flourish. Making this variety of dungeon their doubly archenemy.
We have yet at least one surprise in store to consider, keeping in mind her new neighbor the supremely powerful Lich Berikoz, and the favor now owed.
Cat Core is the first book in the series of the same title by Dean Henegar.
Honestly, this book turned out to be surprisingly more intriguing and well-rounded than the pun of a title leads one to initially believe. The combination of twisting traditional dungeon reincarnation into that of a cat obsessed kind of Karen type senior woman culminated in pure brilliance. I'm shocked that this concluded in such a fun and fulfilling manner. It has been understandably enjoyable to encounter all of the varying, and adorable kitties that populate and defend this dungeon. As well, experiencing Florence Valentine's approach to decorating her new 'home'.
We don't even miss out on the more menial day-to-day of adventures, given the narrative shifts between Florence's POV and that of her first adventuring patty fairly regularly. It adds a certain juxtaposition with the dungeon core/building moments and invites a healthy dose of dramatic flair to the story as a whole.
Finally, there's an actual Death/Dog-themed God on this new world, whom not only despises that dungeons are formed from souls that escape his judgement, but takes a particular amount of insult in suffering any cat to flourish. Making this variety of dungeon their doubly archenemy.
We have yet at least one surprise in store to consider, keeping in mind her new neighbor the supremely powerful Lich Berikoz, and the favor now owed.
May 27, 2025
I stumbled across this recommendation when perusing another title, and I am sooo glad I did. That was, in a word, DELIGHTFUL! Kudos to the author for such an original idea. Florence, a geriatric cat lady who pulls no punches, is hit by a car outside a gaming store and is whisked away to a world by mistake where she is made into a dungeon core. Due to her mistaken arrival there, she's given an assistant, Doug, the guy who messed up and is now obligated to help her out. Florence needs help with even the most basic things, so the reader is given the same tutorial by default, never feeling like they don't know what's going on. (I hadn't played D&D for a long time so didn't know what a dungeon core was, for example, so the explanations were very welcomed.) I won't spoil the story for you, but all the twists at the end put a big smile on my face. Can't wait to delve into the second title. I listened to the Audible version, and the narrator did very well with the voices!
My one comment about the writing is that I got tired of hearing the phrase "Doug (or whoever, but mostly Doug) advised." If you added up how many times it was used it would have to be in the dozens. Way too often for a short book. There are other synonyms for advised that could be used here & there. LOL.
My one comment about the writing is that I got tired of hearing the phrase "Doug (or whoever, but mostly Doug) advised." If you added up how many times it was used it would have to be in the dozens. Way too often for a short book. There are other synonyms for advised that could be used here & there. LOL.
July 17, 2021
This is an unusual story. An old woman gets run over and ends up as a gem, the core of a new dungeon. She has a helper, Doug, who is a cat. Fortunately she loves cats.
Her task is to construct a brand new dungeon complete with various traps and defended by – more cats. She makes her dungeon a sort of home-style one with a bunch of rooms, doilies, a fireplace, a kitchen and so on.
Low-level and starting adventures will enter her dungeon to gain experience and points. Their task is to kill the cat defenders and by doing that earn money and items. (The cats come back alive later.)
As the groups get more advanced she has to update her dungeon and its defenders and all seems to be going well until she has to deal with a bunch of religious fanatics, fanatics that could very well kill all her defenders, Doug and even her!
And actually kill the people in the town, too.
Not an easy task. The question is whether or not there is any way she and Doug can survive. It's a very strange book but really very entertaining. I've never read a book like it before and hopefully there are more like it.
Her task is to construct a brand new dungeon complete with various traps and defended by – more cats. She makes her dungeon a sort of home-style one with a bunch of rooms, doilies, a fireplace, a kitchen and so on.
Low-level and starting adventures will enter her dungeon to gain experience and points. Their task is to kill the cat defenders and by doing that earn money and items. (The cats come back alive later.)
As the groups get more advanced she has to update her dungeon and its defenders and all seems to be going well until she has to deal with a bunch of religious fanatics, fanatics that could very well kill all her defenders, Doug and even her!
And actually kill the people in the town, too.
Not an easy task. The question is whether or not there is any way she and Doug can survive. It's a very strange book but really very entertaining. I've never read a book like it before and hopefully there are more like it.
October 8, 2021
This book had a slow start with a character that was the most stereotypical cardboard cutout of a "cranky old person" that you could possibly imagine. But if you can hang in there for the first couple chapters, you are in for a treat, because the story of Cat Core is funny and endearing. I found myself drawn in by the mechanics as much as the characters, and was really interested in seeing a story from the perspective of a dungeon. I give this story major props for using as unlikely of a character as possible and creating a dungeon that was true to her and her understanding of the world.
Not every story needs to have a buff young hero. This story has much more realistic adventurers for its completely unlikely dungeon heroine. I was also EXTREMELY thankful to finally enjoy a good adventure with no romantic or sexual escapades whatsoever, not even a hint, to stall out the action. I wish more books were like that!
I was also very pleased with a twist ending that I did not see coming but really enjoyed. As soon as I finished book one, I immediately turned it in to take out Cat Core 2.
Not every story needs to have a buff young hero. This story has much more realistic adventurers for its completely unlikely dungeon heroine. I was also EXTREMELY thankful to finally enjoy a good adventure with no romantic or sexual escapades whatsoever, not even a hint, to stall out the action. I wish more books were like that!
I was also very pleased with a twist ending that I did not see coming but really enjoyed. As soon as I finished book one, I immediately turned it in to take out Cat Core 2.
July 20, 2024
I tried this story because I'm a cat lady and my granny's name was Florence. Both Florence's were strong-willed, cantankerous old bitties, it must have something to do with the name.
Florence is hit by a truck and dies, the next thing she knows she's being stuffed into a gem. Her soul has mistakingly been reprocessed into a dungeon core that was meant for a young man of 22, not an 87-year-old woman. Since Florence is clueless about dungeon cores or any of what this voice is telling her she calls the manager. The voice ( Florence calls him Doug) then has to become her assistant until Florence gets the hang of things.
Florence, being Florence listens to Doug and then does things her way. She creates a home complete with a living room, dining room, kitchen, front porch with rockers, and even a lawn and mailbox. To protect her core she creates her old rocker and her cane, along with house cats of all shapes, sizes, and talents. Now Florence is ready for Adventurers to come seeking her treasure.
Florence and Doug are a delight.
Florence is hit by a truck and dies, the next thing she knows she's being stuffed into a gem. Her soul has mistakingly been reprocessed into a dungeon core that was meant for a young man of 22, not an 87-year-old woman. Since Florence is clueless about dungeon cores or any of what this voice is telling her she calls the manager. The voice ( Florence calls him Doug) then has to become her assistant until Florence gets the hang of things.
Florence, being Florence listens to Doug and then does things her way. She creates a home complete with a living room, dining room, kitchen, front porch with rockers, and even a lawn and mailbox. To protect her core she creates her old rocker and her cane, along with house cats of all shapes, sizes, and talents. Now Florence is ready for Adventurers to come seeking her treasure.
Florence and Doug are a delight.
November 3, 2024
Grit your teeth and hang on until the end.
Never in all my reading of Dungeon Cores, LitRPG’s, Cultivating, etc have I hated a protagonist as much as Florence Valentine. I think she touched a nerve with me because I knew people just like her from when I attended church in my younger years.
Had I been reading a book instead of my Kindle, I would have thrown it across the room more then once. (I don’t usually treat my books that way, but she IS that irritating.)
The only thing that kept me reading were the reviews promising that the end was worth it. And it was! I feel a bit more hope for Book 2, which I will read as soon as I finish writing this review. Thank goodness for those of you out there who persevered until the end and let us know there is hope that Florence has grown from her experience as the Core and is and hopefully will be a much more palatable protagonist.
Of course it remains to be seen if she continues down this course in Book 2 or if she reverts to the deep unpleasantness that was Florence Valentine at the beginning of this book.
Never in all my reading of Dungeon Cores, LitRPG’s, Cultivating, etc have I hated a protagonist as much as Florence Valentine. I think she touched a nerve with me because I knew people just like her from when I attended church in my younger years.
Had I been reading a book instead of my Kindle, I would have thrown it across the room more then once. (I don’t usually treat my books that way, but she IS that irritating.)
The only thing that kept me reading were the reviews promising that the end was worth it. And it was! I feel a bit more hope for Book 2, which I will read as soon as I finish writing this review. Thank goodness for those of you out there who persevered until the end and let us know there is hope that Florence has grown from her experience as the Core and is and hopefully will be a much more palatable protagonist.
Of course it remains to be seen if she continues down this course in Book 2 or if she reverts to the deep unpleasantness that was Florence Valentine at the beginning of this book.
April 25, 2025
2.5 stars
Honestly, it was the narrator who got me through this book. I did not care for Florence Valentine, especially at the beginning. However, I will say I liked the narrator's style, and so she kept me listening long enough for me to become invested in the story. Okay after I was more than halfway through the book, and finished another one first, but I did finish!
At least Florence got better by the end. And I was intrigued by the ending.
I'm almost interested enough to check out the second book, but I haven't decided yet.
Overall, not a terrible book, just hard to get into.
Recommended? Eh
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
Honestly, it was the narrator who got me through this book. I did not care for Florence Valentine, especially at the beginning. However, I will say I liked the narrator's style, and so she kept me listening long enough for me to become invested in the story. Okay after I was more than halfway through the book, and finished another one first, but I did finish!
At least Florence got better by the end. And I was intrigued by the ending.
I'm almost interested enough to check out the second book, but I haven't decided yet.
Overall, not a terrible book, just hard to get into.
Recommended? Eh
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
March 9, 2021
Managers and Adventurers BEWARE!
Dean has done it again, this time bring us the tale of Florence Valentine, an old woman that puts the K in “Karen,” and looks good doing it!
Brought back to life as a dungeon core, Florence is utterly unprepared for the task, but with the help of her reluctant Assistant Doug, and a small army of cats she might just pull out on top.
SPOILERS BELOW, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
The story is an absolute delight, filled with plenty of comedic moments, along with some not so subtle references to his other stories.
One thing I’d recommend though is that we remember that Florence and Doug are more than likely going to be starting at the bottom after having been shattered, so we might have to see the early grind again.
That being said, like with Derelict and Limitless Seas, I greatly look forward to the next installment.
GLORY TO THE EMP - Oh, wait, wrong series...uh...GLORIA TO THE CAT DUNGEON!
Dean has done it again, this time bring us the tale of Florence Valentine, an old woman that puts the K in “Karen,” and looks good doing it!
Brought back to life as a dungeon core, Florence is utterly unprepared for the task, but with the help of her reluctant Assistant Doug, and a small army of cats she might just pull out on top.
SPOILERS BELOW, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
The story is an absolute delight, filled with plenty of comedic moments, along with some not so subtle references to his other stories.
One thing I’d recommend though is that we remember that Florence and Doug are more than likely going to be starting at the bottom after having been shattered, so we might have to see the early grind again.
That being said, like with Derelict and Limitless Seas, I greatly look forward to the next installment.
GLORY TO THE EMP - Oh, wait, wrong series...uh...GLORIA TO THE CAT DUNGEON!
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