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Toroth-Gol #1
The Castle of 1,000 Doors
Looking for a place to die? Try the Castle of 1,000 Doors!
Nathaniel "King Crow" Valentine isn't having a very good day. The Empire's most famous athlete suddenly finds himself convicted of treason and sentenced to the Hunt, an annual event where the city's most undesirable prisoners are sent into a dungeon filled with treasure, magic, and... bloodthirsty monsters.
King Crow didn't commit the crime, so why is he in the dungeon? Who set him up? And why-for the love of god-is his only weapon a fast-talking, sapient, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud?
Join King Crow and Spud in the first book of a new progression fantasy series as they attempt to survive the dungeon of Toroth-Gol.
Nathaniel "King Crow" Valentine isn't having a very good day. The Empire's most famous athlete suddenly finds himself convicted of treason and sentenced to the Hunt, an annual event where the city's most undesirable prisoners are sent into a dungeon filled with treasure, magic, and... bloodthirsty monsters.
King Crow didn't commit the crime, so why is he in the dungeon? Who set him up? And why-for the love of god-is his only weapon a fast-talking, sapient, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud?
Join King Crow and Spud in the first book of a new progression fantasy series as they attempt to survive the dungeon of Toroth-Gol.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2023
About the author
Kenny Gould
9 books53 followersKenny Gould is the founder of Hop Culture Magazine and a food and beverage writer for Bon Appetit, Thrillist, Time Out New York, and more. He also writes fantasy fiction. Follow him on Instagram at @thekennygould.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 28, 2023
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely? 💥
3,5* rounded up
This is a really fun and silly LitRPG that was a fast paced and easy read. The main character, a famous ball game player, is thrown into a dungeon for supposed treason. As he's the last to get to choose a weapon, he's stuck with a sentient, talking potato. If this sounds weird and crazy, yes it is!
I for one enjoyed the banter and the sheer "what the hell?" moments!
Compared to some of my other favourite LitRPG books it does lack a bit of depth, both in plot and character. As it was still really entertaining and a quick read, and did exactly what it set out to do, I'll give it a good 3,5 stars, even though I won't read on in the series.
3,5* rounded up
This is a really fun and silly LitRPG that was a fast paced and easy read. The main character, a famous ball game player, is thrown into a dungeon for supposed treason. As he's the last to get to choose a weapon, he's stuck with a sentient, talking potato. If this sounds weird and crazy, yes it is!
I for one enjoyed the banter and the sheer "what the hell?" moments!
Compared to some of my other favourite LitRPG books it does lack a bit of depth, both in plot and character. As it was still really entertaining and a quick read, and did exactly what it set out to do, I'll give it a good 3,5 stars, even though I won't read on in the series.
July 16, 2023
Wow this was a fun one! “The Castle of 1000 Doors” by Kenny Gould was my first progression fantasy and I will absolutely be looking into more stories like this. This felt like a dungeons and dragons campaign in the best possible way and I enjoyed every second of it.
“The Castle of 1000 Doors” stars King Crow, a famous lightball player from the Empire, who is accused of high treason. He is sentenced to the Hunt, which is a Hunger Games-esque televised dungeon brawl that sees the Empire’s most undesirable criminals annually. There they must compete through 10 levels of the dungeon to reach the center and earn their freedom.
I enjoyed every single page of this. The creativity here was insane. It was the perfect balance of silly fun, good plot and great characters that I always enjoy. The humor hit for me and I enjoyed the wittiness of the dungeon’s descriptions of the various upgrades, bosses and weapons.
What really shined here for me were the characters, Crow was a very likable jock type character, but not in a way that seemed cringey or overbearing, but my favorite part (as it usually is for me) was the side characters. For one, Crow’s main weapon in the dungeon is a sapient, electromagneticly charged potato named Spud. I loved Spud so much. He had his own personality and was absolutely hilarious. The potato puns were fantastic and I enjoyed every part of Spud. Additionally I also enjoyed Geeta quite a lot. She was a perfect balance to Spud’s silliness as she was very stoic and serious but still lovable. There were some additional characters introduced towards the end of the book that I feel we will get to know a lot better in future books and I can’t wait.
Kenny’s writing style also really progressed from the beginning of this book to the end. I found at the beginning some of the phrasing and sentence structure was a bit repetitive, but that had fixed itself by the halfway marker. Kenny also introduced some unexpected plot elements in to make this a bit less cookie cutter dungeon crawler and I am also excited to see how those plot lines evolve. I also again, just want to reiterate how fun and creative the RPG elements of this story were. I had a great time with that.
I really feel like I have been introduced to an entire new sub-genre here and what a welcome it was. This was one of my favorite books of the month so far and I am absolutely itching to pick up the next one. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
“The Castle of 1000 Doors” stars King Crow, a famous lightball player from the Empire, who is accused of high treason. He is sentenced to the Hunt, which is a Hunger Games-esque televised dungeon brawl that sees the Empire’s most undesirable criminals annually. There they must compete through 10 levels of the dungeon to reach the center and earn their freedom.
I enjoyed every single page of this. The creativity here was insane. It was the perfect balance of silly fun, good plot and great characters that I always enjoy. The humor hit for me and I enjoyed the wittiness of the dungeon’s descriptions of the various upgrades, bosses and weapons.
What really shined here for me were the characters, Crow was a very likable jock type character, but not in a way that seemed cringey or overbearing, but my favorite part (as it usually is for me) was the side characters. For one, Crow’s main weapon in the dungeon is a sapient, electromagneticly charged potato named Spud. I loved Spud so much. He had his own personality and was absolutely hilarious. The potato puns were fantastic and I enjoyed every part of Spud. Additionally I also enjoyed Geeta quite a lot. She was a perfect balance to Spud’s silliness as she was very stoic and serious but still lovable. There were some additional characters introduced towards the end of the book that I feel we will get to know a lot better in future books and I can’t wait.
Kenny’s writing style also really progressed from the beginning of this book to the end. I found at the beginning some of the phrasing and sentence structure was a bit repetitive, but that had fixed itself by the halfway marker. Kenny also introduced some unexpected plot elements in to make this a bit less cookie cutter dungeon crawler and I am also excited to see how those plot lines evolve. I also again, just want to reiterate how fun and creative the RPG elements of this story were. I had a great time with that.
I really feel like I have been introduced to an entire new sub-genre here and what a welcome it was. This was one of my favorite books of the month so far and I am absolutely itching to pick up the next one. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
July 10, 2026
Best book I’ve ever read! TALKING POTATO!!
August 20, 2024
Not great, but not bad.
Loved the talking potato, though.
Loved the talking potato, though.
April 9, 2023
Kooky and funny and GREAT.
Is it weird to call a book about a zero-sum fight to the death adventure a hilarious romp? I’m doing it. Ready Player One meets Through the Looking Glass with a sprinkle of The Hunger Games but also totally unique and like nothing you’ve ever read before.
My favorite aspect of this book is that the world-building takes place largely through video game-like narration as the protagonist navigates the world of Toroth-Gol. As the reader, you’re just along for the ride and it allows you to dive in and get hooked so quickly.
With each nail-biting challenge, fight, or level-up you just want to find out what happens next. I read the entire thing in one sitting. 10/10.
More please!
Is it weird to call a book about a zero-sum fight to the death adventure a hilarious romp? I’m doing it. Ready Player One meets Through the Looking Glass with a sprinkle of The Hunger Games but also totally unique and like nothing you’ve ever read before.
My favorite aspect of this book is that the world-building takes place largely through video game-like narration as the protagonist navigates the world of Toroth-Gol. As the reader, you’re just along for the ride and it allows you to dive in and get hooked so quickly.
With each nail-biting challenge, fight, or level-up you just want to find out what happens next. I read the entire thing in one sitting. 10/10.
More please!
August 25, 2023
This was a fun, imaginative story which read like a video game being played. There were different levels and doors which the player had to choose but if the wrong one was chosen, bye-bye.
I enjoyed the interaction between the main character and his potato. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about. The other players in the book were interesting and the situations impossible-sounding and fun.
So while I really enjoyed the story, by the end I was glad it was near the end as I felt it went on just a little too long. But that's me and your mileage may vary.
I enjoyed the interaction between the main character and his potato. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about. The other players in the book were interesting and the situations impossible-sounding and fun.
So while I really enjoyed the story, by the end I was glad it was near the end as I felt it went on just a little too long. But that's me and your mileage may vary.
May 14, 2026
A super fun, fast paced gamelit!
Gould combines humour and high stakes like they are going out of fashion.
An unfair accusation, a sinister plot and an oddly helpful potato make for a great time.
Join King Crow on the hunt as he battles strict time frames, dastardly (and creative) enemies and oh ... 1000 doors. Only one of them will lead him to the next level, he just has to hope his gut instinct is right.
Gould combines humour and high stakes like they are going out of fashion.
An unfair accusation, a sinister plot and an oddly helpful potato make for a great time.
Join King Crow on the hunt as he battles strict time frames, dastardly (and creative) enemies and oh ... 1000 doors. Only one of them will lead him to the next level, he just has to hope his gut instinct is right.
January 28, 2025
I have not read or listened to this author before, but will continue this Series. Already have book two and I am looking forward to see what awaits. Spud the talking Potato is a hoot abd the other characters are not what one would have expected. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.
September 8, 2026
Interesting, funny and just enough nonsense to keep me entertained. I’m still not sure whether the series is going to become genuinely good or descend into complete shite. I’ll probably need another book or two to decide.
On the positive side: A sentient Potato is always a good narrative choice.
On the positive side: A sentient Potato is always a good narrative choice.
April 23, 2026
3.5 stars
June 2, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! It’s both engaging and humorous. I read it in no time. I can’t wait for the sequel!
August 21, 2026
This was not very good. The story feels very simple and it feels like a lot of elements are 'inspired' by DCC.
The main positive about this book is Spud. Spud is cool. We like Spud. But beside that i don't have much good to say.
The protagonist is supposedly worlds best player of some fictional sport the author doesn't let you care about. But somehow understanding this sport after half a chapter of play is crucial since the protagonist main weapon is based of it. How coincidental that the only load out that was still available for the last person entering the dungeon somehow is directly tied to the sport he is oh so great at. Really...
And besides that, our protagonist is meant to be some chosen one with elite education and is yet somehow outclassed by a literal potato in terms of intellect.
In the same way the protagonist has absolutely no character development besides going from 'I would never betray my country' to 'lets fuck over my country' just because a random man he met on a prison train told him he is not supposed to care for the country.
The story progression also felt forced. First we are here, now we go there just because. Finally there is like no tension, no build up, no climax or anything to keep you engaged. It was just boring for what you may expect from the premise.
May pick up the second book at some point just for Spud.
The main positive about this book is Spud. Spud is cool. We like Spud. But beside that i don't have much good to say.
The protagonist is supposedly worlds best player of some fictional sport the author doesn't let you care about. But somehow understanding this sport after half a chapter of play is crucial since the protagonist main weapon is based of it. How coincidental that the only load out that was still available for the last person entering the dungeon somehow is directly tied to the sport he is oh so great at. Really...
And besides that, our protagonist is meant to be some chosen one with elite education and is yet somehow outclassed by a literal potato in terms of intellect.
In the same way the protagonist has absolutely no character development besides going from 'I would never betray my country' to 'lets fuck over my country' just because a random man he met on a prison train told him he is not supposed to care for the country.
The story progression also felt forced. First we are here, now we go there just because. Finally there is like no tension, no build up, no climax or anything to keep you engaged. It was just boring for what you may expect from the premise.
May pick up the second book at some point just for Spud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
Highlights save key people and events. Too many names. Too much back-story history. Too many details. World-building? They do flesh out some, some same, some different, if reviewed. Inner World is just a Dungeon of ten or so floors but only 2 books in series, only 2 floors in first book. Before, nobody has come out. More bodies get "Purged" flamed than reach floor exit. Like Hunger Games, "Hunt" is televised. Empire replaces right eyes with fakes that show dungeon master hints. Ouch. Slows action to zero.
Slum orphan hero Nate starts essence of story at train ride and Dungeon search for "Heart" treasure. He is called Crow for King Crow, not memorable. For over decade, he is highly trained, top lightball player, like foster dad Sal. Sal vanishes before train.
Except for lying, villain Jag and easy-to-replace #2 Luc are flat. They fake treason charges against Nate and Sal. Good Team expands to rebels, resistance leaders. Is that natural Dungeon process, or spoiler?
Giant lizards - remember early plastic alien on Star Trek #1? Pirates. Fairy. Dwarfs. Giants extinct. Fortress. Tunnels. Magicians. Monsters. Maws, big and huge. Many magic spells and weapons to choose from, few selected. 1960s TV show Get Smart had Cone of Silence.
Slum orphan hero Nate starts essence of story at train ride and Dungeon search for "Heart" treasure. He is called Crow for King Crow, not memorable. For over decade, he is highly trained, top lightball player, like foster dad Sal. Sal vanishes before train.
Except for lying, villain Jag and easy-to-replace #2 Luc are flat. They fake treason charges against Nate and Sal. Good Team expands to rebels, resistance leaders. Is that natural Dungeon process, or spoiler?
Giant lizards - remember early plastic alien on Star Trek #1? Pirates. Fairy. Dwarfs. Giants extinct. Fortress. Tunnels. Magicians. Monsters. Maws, big and huge. Many magic spells and weapons to choose from, few selected. 1960s TV show Get Smart had Cone of Silence.
April 15, 2023
What a ride! This is such a fun page-turner that has you “rooting” for unique and lovable characters from the start. Perfect for any reader, gamer, or veggie lover. I already can’t wait for more from this up-and-coming author! Crow! Crow! Crow!
April 10, 2023
Fun Read
I was not sure about this book in the beginning but was soon captured by the authors excellent development of characters an puns. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Reading.
I was not sure about this book in the beginning but was soon captured by the authors excellent development of characters an puns. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Reading.
October 7, 2025
I don’t get the hype with this book. It’s a dollar store version of Dungeon Crawler Carl at best.
August 10, 2026
The Castle of 1000 Doors was a short and mostly fun read. There is a considerable amount of comparisons which could be made to other giants in the LitRPG genre, and unfortunately I don’t think that this one would stand out.
King Crow as his talking potato weapon square off against hyenas, slimes, a giant, some bugs, and a couple metal constructs. While combat itself isn’t a numbers game, the fights did feel underwhelming and infrequent. Truthfully, the method of Lightball as a fighting style shows its weakness, even if we’re told countless times that King Crow is a superstar and greatest potential fighter there is. Spud himself is fine enough, even if just a functional gimmick. But for all his self-aggrandizing and bluster, King Crow feels completely out of his depth.
This is probably where I think the book suffers the most, and it’s how much we’re told how great things are, but the showing doesn’t back it up. Crow is a master Lightballer, but the sport of Lightball itself isn’t really given enough description to explain how important that role is. Crow is raised to be a perfect weapon, but can’t figure out the vast majority of situations without someone else’s help. A lot of things happen to Crow, not because of him, and for it he ends up being really lackluster. This is especially jarring since it’s a first person narrative, and his voice is simply there.
The Empire and Thuil storyline feels like it could have baked longer, because it just feels tacked in to give some justification for the dungeon. It’s even more amplified by trying to book end the book with a prologue and mass group plot towards the end. It jumps out the gate already making the story not about the characters, but about the mission. However, the world isn’t built enough because it can’t decide whether it wants to be character focused or plot focused.
There are also a few points where the author bleeds in a lot, and takes the reader from the pages. One particular point is when Crow is describing a pillar as “stolid” and proceeds to say they think the word was weirdly combined from stoic and solid, perfect description for a stone pillar. It’s only one paragraph, but at no other point in the story did Crow show he cares about language, etymology, or meanings of words. Instead it came off as “I’m using this word, dear reader, and if you’re not sure what it means, let me explain it because I find it a funny word”.
Lastly, time feels a significant issue in this book. Whether it’s the 60 minute timer repeated early on, or the oddly long 2 week timer for the meat of the book. It’s very hard to know how much time actually passes from each “floor” start, but it felt like 3-4 days to get to the end, and glossing over the remaining 10 days with “training”. The stakes just didn’t feel high, and the characters didn’t seem stressed out or in danger beyond their own actions.
All in all, it was a silly read. Spud can be a little humorous, but the rest feels like it can’t carve out its own identity and tries too hard to be something else. Maybe later books would alleviate a lot of the problems, but I don’t know that I’ll continue to read them. Kenny is a great dude, and I wish him even more success, I just feel torn that I couldn’t really enjoy this book.
The Castle of 1000 Doors - 2.25/5
King Crow as his talking potato weapon square off against hyenas, slimes, a giant, some bugs, and a couple metal constructs. While combat itself isn’t a numbers game, the fights did feel underwhelming and infrequent. Truthfully, the method of Lightball as a fighting style shows its weakness, even if we’re told countless times that King Crow is a superstar and greatest potential fighter there is. Spud himself is fine enough, even if just a functional gimmick. But for all his self-aggrandizing and bluster, King Crow feels completely out of his depth.
This is probably where I think the book suffers the most, and it’s how much we’re told how great things are, but the showing doesn’t back it up. Crow is a master Lightballer, but the sport of Lightball itself isn’t really given enough description to explain how important that role is. Crow is raised to be a perfect weapon, but can’t figure out the vast majority of situations without someone else’s help. A lot of things happen to Crow, not because of him, and for it he ends up being really lackluster. This is especially jarring since it’s a first person narrative, and his voice is simply there.
The Empire and Thuil storyline feels like it could have baked longer, because it just feels tacked in to give some justification for the dungeon. It’s even more amplified by trying to book end the book with a prologue and mass group plot towards the end. It jumps out the gate already making the story not about the characters, but about the mission. However, the world isn’t built enough because it can’t decide whether it wants to be character focused or plot focused.
There are also a few points where the author bleeds in a lot, and takes the reader from the pages. One particular point is when Crow is describing a pillar as “stolid” and proceeds to say they think the word was weirdly combined from stoic and solid, perfect description for a stone pillar. It’s only one paragraph, but at no other point in the story did Crow show he cares about language, etymology, or meanings of words. Instead it came off as “I’m using this word, dear reader, and if you’re not sure what it means, let me explain it because I find it a funny word”.
Lastly, time feels a significant issue in this book. Whether it’s the 60 minute timer repeated early on, or the oddly long 2 week timer for the meat of the book. It’s very hard to know how much time actually passes from each “floor” start, but it felt like 3-4 days to get to the end, and glossing over the remaining 10 days with “training”. The stakes just didn’t feel high, and the characters didn’t seem stressed out or in danger beyond their own actions.
All in all, it was a silly read. Spud can be a little humorous, but the rest feels like it can’t carve out its own identity and tries too hard to be something else. Maybe later books would alleviate a lot of the problems, but I don’t know that I’ll continue to read them. Kenny is a great dude, and I wish him even more success, I just feel torn that I couldn’t really enjoy this book.
The Castle of 1000 Doors - 2.25/5
April 9, 2023
This is the first book I've read by this author.
The book starts out showing us King Crow, a professional lightball player (think lacrosse mixed with Jai Alai. At least, that's what it sounded like to me) who is the best player in the league in a world that is surprisingly similar to Earth.
A shadowy character called Panther receives pictures of King Crow's father talking to the enemy. The round up him and his son (King Crow) and send him off to Toroth-Gol. It's the Castle of a 1000 Doors, although we don't find that out until much later. King Crows is manacled and placed on a bus before driving out into the wastelands. His right eye is replaced with a device that can televise 'The Hunt' show to millions of people across the empire. There he meets a few fellow criminals before they arrive.
Once they get there, they find out that the dungeon is nothing but a small rock sticking up out of the ground. Of course, King Crow has to mouth off to the guards who then beat him senseless. After that we're finally in the dungeon.
There are ten levels to the dungeon. If someone manages to get to the bottom, they can pick up the heart of the dungeon and turn it in to the Empire and go free. Each level comes with two things: first, you can take a gold coin and drop it in a fountain to get an upgrade to your armor, your weapon, or a miscellaneous upgrade. Second, the fountain's water (or mana, it's never really explained) heals all injuries.
Fine. This is fairly standard stuff, so let's get going. And I will say I enjoyed the first half of the book. King Crow and his sesquipedalian named potato weapon manage to fight monsters and win. Do they get lucky most of the time? Yeah. But I still enjoyed it.
Which brings us to the first problem. King Crow dies. Or should have died. Instead, he's placed somewhere else. I won't say where, but he is. The show is supposed to give its audience all the gory death scenes, but instead King Crow stays alive. To me this didn't make sense. Yes, he's a famous lightball player, but he's also accused of treason and in the eyes of most guilty of that crime. So, why not kill him off and be done with it?
I don't know. Problem number two is different. King Crow catches up to the hunters on the bus, which then takes us down an entirely different path with some dwarves. I won't explain it as this review is already too long, but for me the story went off the rails. What had been a criminal dungeon crawl became something else entirely.
The editing is okay. Character development is practically nonexistent. King Crow is the same person at the end of the book as he was when he got off the bus.
As for Spud, King Crow's sidekick, it's fine. He keeps things light and can be a bit funny at times. 4/5*
PS -- having your friends leave reviews can mess up Amazon's algorithm, especially when they don't read other fantasy or dungeon crawl books. Just saying.
The book starts out showing us King Crow, a professional lightball player (think lacrosse mixed with Jai Alai. At least, that's what it sounded like to me) who is the best player in the league in a world that is surprisingly similar to Earth.
A shadowy character called Panther receives pictures of King Crow's father talking to the enemy. The round up him and his son (King Crow) and send him off to Toroth-Gol. It's the Castle of a 1000 Doors, although we don't find that out until much later. King Crows is manacled and placed on a bus before driving out into the wastelands. His right eye is replaced with a device that can televise 'The Hunt' show to millions of people across the empire. There he meets a few fellow criminals before they arrive.
Once they get there, they find out that the dungeon is nothing but a small rock sticking up out of the ground. Of course, King Crow has to mouth off to the guards who then beat him senseless. After that we're finally in the dungeon.
There are ten levels to the dungeon. If someone manages to get to the bottom, they can pick up the heart of the dungeon and turn it in to the Empire and go free. Each level comes with two things: first, you can take a gold coin and drop it in a fountain to get an upgrade to your armor, your weapon, or a miscellaneous upgrade. Second, the fountain's water (or mana, it's never really explained) heals all injuries.
Fine. This is fairly standard stuff, so let's get going. And I will say I enjoyed the first half of the book. King Crow and his sesquipedalian named potato weapon manage to fight monsters and win. Do they get lucky most of the time? Yeah. But I still enjoyed it.
Which brings us to the first problem. King Crow dies. Or should have died. Instead, he's placed somewhere else. I won't say where, but he is. The show is supposed to give its audience all the gory death scenes, but instead King Crow stays alive. To me this didn't make sense. Yes, he's a famous lightball player, but he's also accused of treason and in the eyes of most guilty of that crime. So, why not kill him off and be done with it?
I don't know. Problem number two is different. King Crow catches up to the hunters on the bus, which then takes us down an entirely different path with some dwarves. I won't explain it as this review is already too long, but for me the story went off the rails. What had been a criminal dungeon crawl became something else entirely.
The editing is okay. Character development is practically nonexistent. King Crow is the same person at the end of the book as he was when he got off the bus.
As for Spud, King Crow's sidekick, it's fine. He keeps things light and can be a bit funny at times. 4/5*
PS -- having your friends leave reviews can mess up Amazon's algorithm, especially when they don't read other fantasy or dungeon crawl books. Just saying.
July 26, 2023
I am very grateful Gould entered SPFBO-09 this year, or else I may have missed out on this hilarious fast-paced debut. If you are not familiar with SPFBO, it is an annual competition called the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off which is hosted by Mark Lawrence. 300 authors compete until only one book is left standing. I love this competition since it highlights authors who may have been under my radar.
Anyway, back to the review! The backdrop of this world is set in a dark world. We quickly learn the Empire is a harsh regime and the gap between rich and poor is vast. Slavery is also a common occurrence. Our MC, King Crow, is sentenced to compete in the Hunt, which is annual competition where prisoners are sent to an isolated desert dungeon called Toroth-Gol. As you can expect this is a magical dungeon, where the goal is to survive by reaching all 10 levels or die trying. Toroth-Gol is filled with monsters, traps, and other prisoners who are willing to kill without thinking twice. Despite these grim circumstances, Gould manages to create hilarious moments from beginning to end. Whether it’s interactions between characters or upgraded descriptions, I found myself having a great time with this story.
Not only did I enjoy the world Gould created but I loved the characters. On paper, Crow sounds like someone who is a little too perfect for me to like. However, I found him to be relatable because of how he reacted to the dangerous or silly situations he finds himself in. Each one of the side characters had their own unique voice. I also liked how Spud had more depth other than being just the funny side kick. Sure, he was hilarious but there were moments where you couldn’t help but feel for him. In addition to Spud, I appreciated how Geeta counteracted his energy. She was stoic and quiet but was a perfect teammate for the Spud squad.
I am excited to see what our characters will encounter and how they will impact the world outside the dungeon. This book also makes me curious to explore other progression fantasies, which I have overlooked. In the past, I have watched animes in this sub-genre, but for some reason never considered it in this format.
Overall, this was an addicting and fun read! I highly recommend this to fantasy fans who want a fast-paced adventure filled with puns and dark humor.
Anyway, back to the review! The backdrop of this world is set in a dark world. We quickly learn the Empire is a harsh regime and the gap between rich and poor is vast. Slavery is also a common occurrence. Our MC, King Crow, is sentenced to compete in the Hunt, which is annual competition where prisoners are sent to an isolated desert dungeon called Toroth-Gol. As you can expect this is a magical dungeon, where the goal is to survive by reaching all 10 levels or die trying. Toroth-Gol is filled with monsters, traps, and other prisoners who are willing to kill without thinking twice. Despite these grim circumstances, Gould manages to create hilarious moments from beginning to end. Whether it’s interactions between characters or upgraded descriptions, I found myself having a great time with this story.
Not only did I enjoy the world Gould created but I loved the characters. On paper, Crow sounds like someone who is a little too perfect for me to like. However, I found him to be relatable because of how he reacted to the dangerous or silly situations he finds himself in. Each one of the side characters had their own unique voice. I also liked how Spud had more depth other than being just the funny side kick. Sure, he was hilarious but there were moments where you couldn’t help but feel for him. In addition to Spud, I appreciated how Geeta counteracted his energy. She was stoic and quiet but was a perfect teammate for the Spud squad.
I am excited to see what our characters will encounter and how they will impact the world outside the dungeon. This book also makes me curious to explore other progression fantasies, which I have overlooked. In the past, I have watched animes in this sub-genre, but for some reason never considered it in this format.
Overall, this was an addicting and fun read! I highly recommend this to fantasy fans who want a fast-paced adventure filled with puns and dark humor.
March 19, 2026
This book was so much fun. Honestly, I feel like all I need to say is Fiery Sentient Potato - but we all know brevity isn’t my strong suit.
In this first adventure of Toroth Gol, we follow Nathaniel “King Crow” Valentine - former imperial athlete turned accused traitor - who’s thrown into a dungeon unlike any other: a sprawling, shifting labyrinth known as the Castle of 1,000 Doors. Each level is a deadly test of wit and will, filled with strange creatures, lost relics, and the lingering stench of empire politics. His only companion? A fast-talking, fiery, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud (Tater is the unofficial mascot of the book and #SpudSquad ).
It’s as wild as it sounds - and it works. The pacing is tight, the humor hits just right, and the world-building is absurdly good for such a short book. You get hints of the lore that birthed the dungeon and the corruption that festers above it, but never so much that it slows the ride. Gould balances action, banter, and political intrigue in a way that makes every chapter feel like a new door opening - each one stranger and more delightful than the last.
I loved every character (but obviously Spud owns my heart - especially as I have a sentient potato of my own snoozing at home). Crow’s athletic mindset and reluctant hero energy make him the perfect foil to Spud’s unhinged optimism, and together they create a partnership that’s both hilarious and genuinely endearing.
Doors of dark and light
Sentient spud sparks bright hope
Dungeon grins, unbowed
Beyond the fun and chaos, I appreciated how the story dipped into the politics that led to this bizarre world - the betrayals, the creation of the dungeon, the empire’s cracks showing beneath the surface. It’s world-building that feels lived-in, clever, and endlessly entertaining.
Overall, The Castle of 1,000 Doors was one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time, and book two has pushed its way to the top of my TBR.
In this first adventure of Toroth Gol, we follow Nathaniel “King Crow” Valentine - former imperial athlete turned accused traitor - who’s thrown into a dungeon unlike any other: a sprawling, shifting labyrinth known as the Castle of 1,000 Doors. Each level is a deadly test of wit and will, filled with strange creatures, lost relics, and the lingering stench of empire politics. His only companion? A fast-talking, fiery, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud (Tater is the unofficial mascot of the book and #SpudSquad ).
It’s as wild as it sounds - and it works. The pacing is tight, the humor hits just right, and the world-building is absurdly good for such a short book. You get hints of the lore that birthed the dungeon and the corruption that festers above it, but never so much that it slows the ride. Gould balances action, banter, and political intrigue in a way that makes every chapter feel like a new door opening - each one stranger and more delightful than the last.
I loved every character (but obviously Spud owns my heart - especially as I have a sentient potato of my own snoozing at home). Crow’s athletic mindset and reluctant hero energy make him the perfect foil to Spud’s unhinged optimism, and together they create a partnership that’s both hilarious and genuinely endearing.
Doors of dark and light
Sentient spud sparks bright hope
Dungeon grins, unbowed
Beyond the fun and chaos, I appreciated how the story dipped into the politics that led to this bizarre world - the betrayals, the creation of the dungeon, the empire’s cracks showing beneath the surface. It’s world-building that feels lived-in, clever, and endlessly entertaining.
Overall, The Castle of 1,000 Doors was one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time, and book two has pushed its way to the top of my TBR.
June 22, 2023
The Castle Of 1,0000 Doors was my thirteenth SPFBO-9 read. When selecting this for my TBR I purposely looked for a few shorter reads I would be able to easily squeeze in. This was one of those. Coming in at only about 300 pages I figured this would be a short and easy read. It did sound like an interesting story as well.
The pacing was very fast. I had no issues with names in this one. Another bonus was the formatting. I thought it was a great idea when the system was telling Crow information the text was bold so we knew this was system information. There was also a heavy helping of comedic relief throughout this read as well. I read thus in just a couple of days if that tells you anything about the pace and ease of reading.
The world building was definitely fantastical to say the least. Granted we only spend a short time in the greater part of the world before we are plunged into the depths of the dungeon for the remainder of our time. But the scope of this wild dungeon still allows for a ton of different unique locations and experiences.
The character development was good as well. King Crow starts off as a likeable character from the start. As the story progresses though we find out there is potentially much more both to him and his adopted father. And we can't forget about Spud and Perry our sentient vegetables. Crows crosses oaths with a wide range of unique races, characters, creatures and creations.
In closing I'll say if some hints I dropped above weren't clear enough, this was one wild ride! In some brief chats with Kenny I described this as a mash up of Maze Runner and The Running Man. The only addition to that I'd make is if those were written by Mel Brooks. I don't expect this one to win a lot of literary awards due to this. But I do feel for the reader who is looking for something very different and is leaning a bit more into the science fiction side of fantasy this can be a fun one for sure!
I know Kenny is getting close to releasing the second book which is why I slid this up in my TBR. You can bet I'll be checking out book two when I get my hands on it! I need to know what lies ahead in the next level of the dungeon!
The pacing was very fast. I had no issues with names in this one. Another bonus was the formatting. I thought it was a great idea when the system was telling Crow information the text was bold so we knew this was system information. There was also a heavy helping of comedic relief throughout this read as well. I read thus in just a couple of days if that tells you anything about the pace and ease of reading.
The world building was definitely fantastical to say the least. Granted we only spend a short time in the greater part of the world before we are plunged into the depths of the dungeon for the remainder of our time. But the scope of this wild dungeon still allows for a ton of different unique locations and experiences.
The character development was good as well. King Crow starts off as a likeable character from the start. As the story progresses though we find out there is potentially much more both to him and his adopted father. And we can't forget about Spud and Perry our sentient vegetables. Crows crosses oaths with a wide range of unique races, characters, creatures and creations.
In closing I'll say if some hints I dropped above weren't clear enough, this was one wild ride! In some brief chats with Kenny I described this as a mash up of Maze Runner and The Running Man. The only addition to that I'd make is if those were written by Mel Brooks. I don't expect this one to win a lot of literary awards due to this. But I do feel for the reader who is looking for something very different and is leaning a bit more into the science fiction side of fantasy this can be a fun one for sure!
I know Kenny is getting close to releasing the second book which is why I slid this up in my TBR. You can bet I'll be checking out book two when I get my hands on it! I need to know what lies ahead in the next level of the dungeon!
Want to Read
January 22, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A plot is hatched between a mysterious entity and the captain of the guard to arrest and make an example of traitors conspiring with the magical enemies of the empire.
As you can probably tell from the cover, this has a fantasy Sci-fi aesthetic wherein, to look at it and based on my reading, technology and magic collide.
There are elements of this opening prologue that remind me of Dune, not for any desert aesthetic, but through the intrigues of empire, and the mysterious, inhuman figure hidden from sight who maneuvers his guard to arrest a King and his son on a prominent day.
Their dialogues, which, along with the guard captains fear of his master, is the driving force of this opening, hinting at the overarching political conflict of the story and the nature of the world.
There's very much of substance that I don’t get understand about this world, but this prologue does a wonderful job of giving me just enough to tease out lots of exciting details about the story to come.
In this way, it does exactly what a good prologue should, setting up the inhuman character of what I imagine will be the stories main antagonist, who is as frightening to his allies and servants as his enemies.
If this mastermind were a fat man in suspensors I would still be highly engaged, but the fact that he is a terrible mystery hidden in some kind of box is an exciting stroke of creativity that draws in all the more.
I’m eager to meet our protagonists. I’m eager to see how this plot to make a showy arrest goes down, and to understand just what this ”Hunt” out poor traitors will be sent to is. This is off to an engaging start! I’m in.
A plot is hatched between a mysterious entity and the captain of the guard to arrest and make an example of traitors conspiring with the magical enemies of the empire.
As you can probably tell from the cover, this has a fantasy Sci-fi aesthetic wherein, to look at it and based on my reading, technology and magic collide.
There are elements of this opening prologue that remind me of Dune, not for any desert aesthetic, but through the intrigues of empire, and the mysterious, inhuman figure hidden from sight who maneuvers his guard to arrest a King and his son on a prominent day.
Their dialogues, which, along with the guard captains fear of his master, is the driving force of this opening, hinting at the overarching political conflict of the story and the nature of the world.
There's very much of substance that I don’t get understand about this world, but this prologue does a wonderful job of giving me just enough to tease out lots of exciting details about the story to come.
In this way, it does exactly what a good prologue should, setting up the inhuman character of what I imagine will be the stories main antagonist, who is as frightening to his allies and servants as his enemies.
If this mastermind were a fat man in suspensors I would still be highly engaged, but the fact that he is a terrible mystery hidden in some kind of box is an exciting stroke of creativity that draws in all the more.
I’m eager to meet our protagonists. I’m eager to see how this plot to make a showy arrest goes down, and to understand just what this ”Hunt” out poor traitors will be sent to is. This is off to an engaging start! I’m in.
July 20, 2026
Woah... this book was an absolute ride!
I genuinely have no idea why this series isn't getting more attention because it absolutely deserves it. In my opinion, it's every bit as good as Dungeon Crawler Carl, but in its own magnificently unique way. It scratches the same itch while still feeling completely fresh.
You've still got the lovable sentient sidekick that we all know and love, but this time it's sentient produce! A fast-talking, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud. Come on... that's amazing!!! I never thought I'd become emotionally invested in a potato, but here we are. 😅
This book has everything I want in a progression fantasy: adventure, laugh-out-loud humor, ridiculously high stakes, creative monsters, a butt-load of violence, and enough mystery to keep you constantly wondering what's really going on. The dungeon itself is brutal, unpredictable, and full of clever surprises, but what really hooked me was the bigger picture. Every answer seems to raise two more questions, and I love when a story makes me desperate to keep reading just to figure out what's really happening.
King Crow is a fantastic protagonist. Watching someone who starts as the Empire's biggest celebrity suddenly get thrown into the worst situation imaginable makes for such a compelling story. He's competent without feeling overpowered, makes mistakes, adapts, and his interactions with Spud are some of the funniest parts of the book.
The pacing never lets up. There's always something happening, whether it's a crazy fight, a hilarious conversation, or another piece of the mystery falling into place. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter"... Aaaaand then suddenly it was way past bedtime.
I am officially addicted to this series, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next. This should absolutely be on more people's reading lists.
I genuinely have no idea why this series isn't getting more attention because it absolutely deserves it. In my opinion, it's every bit as good as Dungeon Crawler Carl, but in its own magnificently unique way. It scratches the same itch while still feeling completely fresh.
You've still got the lovable sentient sidekick that we all know and love, but this time it's sentient produce! A fast-talking, electromagnetically charged potato named Spud. Come on... that's amazing!!! I never thought I'd become emotionally invested in a potato, but here we are. 😅
This book has everything I want in a progression fantasy: adventure, laugh-out-loud humor, ridiculously high stakes, creative monsters, a butt-load of violence, and enough mystery to keep you constantly wondering what's really going on. The dungeon itself is brutal, unpredictable, and full of clever surprises, but what really hooked me was the bigger picture. Every answer seems to raise two more questions, and I love when a story makes me desperate to keep reading just to figure out what's really happening.
King Crow is a fantastic protagonist. Watching someone who starts as the Empire's biggest celebrity suddenly get thrown into the worst situation imaginable makes for such a compelling story. He's competent without feeling overpowered, makes mistakes, adapts, and his interactions with Spud are some of the funniest parts of the book.
The pacing never lets up. There's always something happening, whether it's a crazy fight, a hilarious conversation, or another piece of the mystery falling into place. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter"... Aaaaand then suddenly it was way past bedtime.
I am officially addicted to this series, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next. This should absolutely be on more people's reading lists.
April 4, 2023
I devoured this book in a matter of hours and honestly, I’m already waiting for the next one to come out. The pacing and worldbuilding in this book is so GOOD! For every tense, edge-of-your-seat scene there’s a moment to let you catch your breath for the next one, and the way the setting is fleshed out over the course of the plot feels so natural, and so real - it feels like a real world, one that makes sense, which isn’t easy to pull off when you include the amount of detail that’s in this novel.
I shouldn’t neglect the characters either, though! The insight into Crow’s mind is wonderfully complex - it feels like speaking to another person. And the whole cast feel similarly nuanced, even if we don’t get the same peek into their psyches. Even when a character starts out seeming uncomplicated, or like a gag thrown in for laughs (I mean, who expected the talking potato to have a deep inner life?), we still get to see more of their personalities and motives through their interactions with us, Crow, and the other members of the cast.
There are probably (definitely) more things I should include in this review that I’m going to hit myself for forgetting later. But please take that as a recommendation for this book on its own! There are so many things in this story that have delighted me, both in its content and structure, that I literally can’t remember them all to include here. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book, to get a deeper taste of the world in and around Toroth-Gol - but in the meantime, I suppose I’ll sate myself by rereading ‘The Castle of 1,000 Doors’.
I shouldn’t neglect the characters either, though! The insight into Crow’s mind is wonderfully complex - it feels like speaking to another person. And the whole cast feel similarly nuanced, even if we don’t get the same peek into their psyches. Even when a character starts out seeming uncomplicated, or like a gag thrown in for laughs (I mean, who expected the talking potato to have a deep inner life?), we still get to see more of their personalities and motives through their interactions with us, Crow, and the other members of the cast.
There are probably (definitely) more things I should include in this review that I’m going to hit myself for forgetting later. But please take that as a recommendation for this book on its own! There are so many things in this story that have delighted me, both in its content and structure, that I literally can’t remember them all to include here. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book, to get a deeper taste of the world in and around Toroth-Gol - but in the meantime, I suppose I’ll sate myself by rereading ‘The Castle of 1,000 Doors’.
April 10, 2023
Click to purchase your own copy
This book is listed as LitRPG, but for the most part, there's not a whole lot of progression in this one. Seriously, the potato upgrades more than the main character, so I don't know if I'd slap the LitRPG label on it, but that's how it's being marketed, so
Anyway, classification aside, the story is pretty funny, I do have to admit that, though some parts just aren't as funny as they were intended to be I'm sure. Regardless, it's not a bad story, and I can easily recommend it, but if you're picking it up for the LitRPG elements, I'd say give it a pass, there's very little of that here. On the other hand, if you want to read a rather amusing story, then by all means, have at it, it stands alone fairly well on those terms.
Interestingly enough, the whole thousand doors thing actually gets explained in the first volume of the story, something I've come to not expect with series such as this one, so good work there for the author, though realistically, the thousand doors aspect of the story plays only a minor role in the overall story, something I did not expect. Perhaps it will be more prevalent in future books in the series.
This book is listed as LitRPG, but for the most part, there's not a whole lot of progression in this one. Seriously, the potato upgrades more than the main character, so I don't know if I'd slap the LitRPG label on it, but that's how it's being marketed, so
Anyway, classification aside, the story is pretty funny, I do have to admit that, though some parts just aren't as funny as they were intended to be I'm sure. Regardless, it's not a bad story, and I can easily recommend it, but if you're picking it up for the LitRPG elements, I'd say give it a pass, there's very little of that here. On the other hand, if you want to read a rather amusing story, then by all means, have at it, it stands alone fairly well on those terms.
Interestingly enough, the whole thousand doors thing actually gets explained in the first volume of the story, something I've come to not expect with series such as this one, so good work there for the author, though realistically, the thousand doors aspect of the story plays only a minor role in the overall story, something I did not expect. Perhaps it will be more prevalent in future books in the series.
September 11, 2026
Listened on Audible
I have to say, for me, this was an unexpected delight. I listened to it with my son, who immediately recognized the parallel to Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I had NO clue about that series. That said, we enjoyed the story. It was a bit slow going at first as I tried to understand the concept, but I quickly started anticipating what was coming next. I loved the characters! They made me laugh, especially "Spud." His antics add the depth, ironically, that this story needs. I thought Kenny did a fantastic job creating the different "rooms" associated with the doors. I was yelling, laughing, perplexed, and entertained throughout the story. I look forward to the next 4 books!
As for the narrator, what??? Kyle did a spot on job bringing this book to life. The character voices were perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed his voice for Spud! His rendition of the female characters didn't seem forced. His male characters had such a variety. I only imagine what is to come for characters in the coming books! Great choice of narrator, Kenny!
I have to say, for me, this was an unexpected delight. I listened to it with my son, who immediately recognized the parallel to Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I had NO clue about that series. That said, we enjoyed the story. It was a bit slow going at first as I tried to understand the concept, but I quickly started anticipating what was coming next. I loved the characters! They made me laugh, especially "Spud." His antics add the depth, ironically, that this story needs. I thought Kenny did a fantastic job creating the different "rooms" associated with the doors. I was yelling, laughing, perplexed, and entertained throughout the story. I look forward to the next 4 books!
As for the narrator, what??? Kyle did a spot on job bringing this book to life. The character voices were perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed his voice for Spud! His rendition of the female characters didn't seem forced. His male characters had such a variety. I only imagine what is to come for characters in the coming books! Great choice of narrator, Kenny!
July 10, 2026
I don't know, man. I wanted to like this since Kenny Gould is a smaller author and local to me. But I don't love Sci-Fi, nor am I into RPG style books. I'm sure Gould is tired of The Castle of 1,000 Doors being compared to Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I have no other experience with this style of book. Dungeon Crawler Carl pulled me in despite it not being my typical genre. The Castle of 1,000 Doors annoyed me. The potato companion was #random a la 2008. His catch phrases included corny potato-based puns like "In the name of all things crispy!" I'm sorry Kenny. I'm not the audience. Older millennials who attend RenFaires and play DnD. That's the target audience.
June 6, 2023
Great pacing, good clean humor, and a mystery element of m the world building that pulls you along. For readers of epic fantasy, sometimes a lighter pallet cleanser is great between the heavier books. This book fits that bill very nicely. I wanted a little more character development in the protagonist to better justify some of his motivations which is why this was only four stars for me. But at the end of the day, this was just a fun ride and I’m going to trust we get more of that as the series continues.
August 23, 2023
If you're looking for a book that sucks you in within the first 10 pages, this book is for you. I cancelled my plans at night because I needed to finish it, and I was afraid what I would miss out on if I put it down.
Castle of 1,000 Doors is incredibly creative, funny, terrifying, innovative, and keeps you hooked on every single page. The characters are complex, and even the ones who are supposed to be the 'bad guys' have layers of complexity. I've recommended this book to all of my friends, and I will continue to do so.
Castle of 1,000 Doors is incredibly creative, funny, terrifying, innovative, and keeps you hooked on every single page. The characters are complex, and even the ones who are supposed to be the 'bad guys' have layers of complexity. I've recommended this book to all of my friends, and I will continue to do so.
July 3, 2024
More talking Vegetables please
Wow what a great book huge fun. King is sent to Toroth-Gol a ten level death trap full of strange savage creatures, hidden rooms, deadly traps, friends and enemies and the ultimate prize of you survive. Loved Spud the hot potato. Great characters, great setting and I really enjoyed the progression elements. Narration is entertaining and easy to listen too. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and then bought the book. I will definitely be reading more of these. Wonderful stuff.
Wow what a great book huge fun. King is sent to Toroth-Gol a ten level death trap full of strange savage creatures, hidden rooms, deadly traps, friends and enemies and the ultimate prize of you survive. Loved Spud the hot potato. Great characters, great setting and I really enjoyed the progression elements. Narration is entertaining and easy to listen too. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and then bought the book. I will definitely be reading more of these. Wonderful stuff.
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