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The City and the Dungeon #1
The City and the Dungeon: And Those who Dwell and Delve Within
The City is an immense metropolis of crystal spires and wondrous magic. Beneath is the Dungeon, a vast underground world, and a source of endless treasure guarded by grotesque and deadly monsters. No one knows where the Dungeon came from, or why. Any who would dare face the dangers and riches of the Dungeon must first be transformed into a delver, a quasi-immortal creature whose every attribute is defined by numbers. Yet the "immortality" offered is but illusionary, for without consuming the crystal found only within the Dungeon, a delver will inevitably die. One young immigrant braves the Dungeon to remit money to his family, only to find much, much more. Friends, power, and secrets of the Dungeon. Perhaps even love.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 7, 2018
I only got 40% through, so this is not a complete review.
It was too boring. Sorry. It is a very "grindy" book, with no change from chapter to chapter other than the color changing (from red to orange fx). The action is very much not shown, but told, and sometimes not even that.
The characters are not that great. I'm sure things would be revealed later, but that is too little too late. The world itself is interesting, but I don't think the author understands supply and demand. The blue (highest) crystals are worth trillions of the lesser, even though their demand seems to only be among those few people who can get them themselves (am I wrong, or isn't it only food?). Small spoiler:
In the end I just read the last chapter titles and figured I knew what was gonna happen, and stopped reading. Not a terrible book, but as I said: Very "grindy" (which is sort of meta-funny, as you "grind" dungeons, but somehow I don't think the author was that meta, and if he was, it was still boring).
In the end I give it 2/5, because I held my hand over the 3/5 and it said "liked it" and I didn't, really.
It was too boring. Sorry. It is a very "grindy" book, with no change from chapter to chapter other than the color changing (from red to orange fx). The action is very much not shown, but told, and sometimes not even that.
The characters are not that great. I'm sure things would be revealed later, but that is too little too late. The world itself is interesting, but I don't think the author understands supply and demand. The blue (highest) crystals are worth trillions of the lesser, even though their demand seems to only be among those few people who can get them themselves (am I wrong, or isn't it only food?). Small spoiler:
In the end I just read the last chapter titles and figured I knew what was gonna happen, and stopped reading. Not a terrible book, but as I said: Very "grindy" (which is sort of meta-funny, as you "grind" dungeons, but somehow I don't think the author was that meta, and if he was, it was still boring).
In the end I give it 2/5, because I held my hand over the 3/5 and it said "liked it" and I didn't, really.
July 9, 2018
One of the best litRPG novels today...
What if RPG rules existed in our world? Not some fantasy world, or virtual computer universe, but in the reality of Earth. That's the idea behind The City and the Dungeon, and the settings in which Alex Kenderman, a young man from Denver goes in search of fortune for his family.
Schmidt sets the world building slowly, in little touches, because the focus is and remain the characters; the main party and the House Black. Rather than succumbing to the usual trope of placing plain-looking RPG UI, the game mechanics are placed as realistic features, in the background of the events.
And the result and consequences of ultra-high level "characters" are starkly placed and pursued. At one point, Alex considers the fact that he consumes thousand of times the GNP of the entire USA every day, just to keep alive... and its not that much of a problem for him. The great contrast of the young immigrant trying to make a new life and the man who cannot come back "home" is nearly perfectly done.
If you dislike the whole litRPG genre, this is possibly the only book you may read. It is open-ended, but has no cliffhanger, no existential threat hanging, so you can enjoy it entirely even if you never read another.
What if RPG rules existed in our world? Not some fantasy world, or virtual computer universe, but in the reality of Earth. That's the idea behind The City and the Dungeon, and the settings in which Alex Kenderman, a young man from Denver goes in search of fortune for his family.
Schmidt sets the world building slowly, in little touches, because the focus is and remain the characters; the main party and the House Black. Rather than succumbing to the usual trope of placing plain-looking RPG UI, the game mechanics are placed as realistic features, in the background of the events.
And the result and consequences of ultra-high level "characters" are starkly placed and pursued. At one point, Alex considers the fact that he consumes thousand of times the GNP of the entire USA every day, just to keep alive... and its not that much of a problem for him. The great contrast of the young immigrant trying to make a new life and the man who cannot come back "home" is nearly perfectly done.
If you dislike the whole litRPG genre, this is possibly the only book you may read. It is open-ended, but has no cliffhanger, no existential threat hanging, so you can enjoy it entirely even if you never read another.
January 24, 2018
Wonderful
I enjoyed this world..I got why a few people complained that you didn't explain things more, but I also have this feeling that if you'd gotten too bogged down in explanations this story wouldn't have been as good as it was. This world was the star of the show, the characters were alright, ditto for the plot, C+ to B at most....but honestly it's the world and the concepts that made this a 5 star book. I don't care that much about stats when I read a litrpg I care about the feeling of growth and progress...I loved the idea of a weird world of ominous monster machines and people who might also be machines as well...If this were a movie or a comic book no one would have been complaining or maybe they would have the story moved fast enough that it wouldn't have been a problem. The issue with books is that it's all words and concepts and even for me there were times where things would be introduced and I'd be left wanting to know just a little bit more...all the same it was darn wonderful and I think besides dropping a few more details when you drop those wonderful little nuances into things there's nothing I really feel like complaining about.
I enjoyed this world..I got why a few people complained that you didn't explain things more, but I also have this feeling that if you'd gotten too bogged down in explanations this story wouldn't have been as good as it was. This world was the star of the show, the characters were alright, ditto for the plot, C+ to B at most....but honestly it's the world and the concepts that made this a 5 star book. I don't care that much about stats when I read a litrpg I care about the feeling of growth and progress...I loved the idea of a weird world of ominous monster machines and people who might also be machines as well...If this were a movie or a comic book no one would have been complaining or maybe they would have the story moved fast enough that it wouldn't have been a problem. The issue with books is that it's all words and concepts and even for me there were times where things would be introduced and I'd be left wanting to know just a little bit more...all the same it was darn wonderful and I think besides dropping a few more details when you drop those wonderful little nuances into things there's nothing I really feel like complaining about.
February 1, 2018
Saw this on my Amazon feed and decided to pick it up. Am sure glad I did.
The pace of the story was just right, completing the arc but leaving plenty of untied ends to get you hooked for the next installment.
Really a great addition to the genre.
The pace of the story was just right, completing the arc but leaving plenty of untied ends to get you hooked for the next installment.
Really a great addition to the genre.
January 30, 2018
Definately worth reading
Loved it, well written and fascinating concepts. Similar to Dungeon Born in how it incorporated game like elements without the usual lazy pop up screens and mysterious "system". My only complaint is that it is written in this weird tense like the narrator is recounting his life to someone (like the name of the wind series); I personally dislike that style of narration. Havjng the character comment on events as they are ongoing kind of diminishes the immersion.
Loved it, well written and fascinating concepts. Similar to Dungeon Born in how it incorporated game like elements without the usual lazy pop up screens and mysterious "system". My only complaint is that it is written in this weird tense like the narrator is recounting his life to someone (like the name of the wind series); I personally dislike that style of narration. Havjng the character comment on events as they are ongoing kind of diminishes the immersion.
March 26, 2018
This book is a mixed bag. It's got a decent setting, an interesting plot, and a pretty good magic system. There were times I was thoroughly invested in learning more ab0ut it all. Unfortunately, the writing is just too amateurish to ignore at times. So much of it feels rushed, bouncing from one thing to another with little buildup or explanation, need a thing, got the thing. Battle is coming, battle is over. Part of it could possibly be explained away by the whole framing device being letters home, but a lot of the story seems to forget that these are letters home and goes into unusual detail for that. I listened to the audio book, so maybe there's a delineation between letters and normal story, but it isn't clear when that's happening in that case.
I ran into issues with the economics and point of the setup they have. At one point, they go into why they can't just let reds have enough gems to live, and how they're artificially inflating prices to force reds to train and get stronger... It almost makes sense, but quickly falls apart. If you want reds to train and get stronger, have a training program for them to do so. Why is this not a thing if that's what you want? As it stands, it's just a free for all and most people just die and a lot of those who make it farther have made some sort of massive mistake in leveling. Why haven't the houses created an academy or red training program where they sign a contract, get food and gear and help leveled to what ever level they need them to get to?
What's the deal with the gems too? I get they say blue is worth like 1,000,000,000 reds but why is it worth more? Does it carry 1,000,000,000 times more power? Why are they worth so much more than gold? None of the economics here make sense and come off as extreamly artificial and fragile (impossibly so).
Also, the sudden romance arc introduced at the end was out of no where and off putting because of it. I'm torn on whether or not to continue.
I ran into issues with the economics and point of the setup they have. At one point, they go into why they can't just let reds have enough gems to live, and how they're artificially inflating prices to force reds to train and get stronger... It almost makes sense, but quickly falls apart. If you want reds to train and get stronger, have a training program for them to do so. Why is this not a thing if that's what you want? As it stands, it's just a free for all and most people just die and a lot of those who make it farther have made some sort of massive mistake in leveling. Why haven't the houses created an academy or red training program where they sign a contract, get food and gear and help leveled to what ever level they need them to get to?
What's the deal with the gems too? I get they say blue is worth like 1,000,000,000 reds but why is it worth more? Does it carry 1,000,000,000 times more power? Why are they worth so much more than gold? None of the economics here make sense and come off as extreamly artificial and fragile (impossibly so).
Also, the sudden romance arc introduced at the end was out of no where and off putting because of it. I'm torn on whether or not to continue.
February 15, 2019
2.5 Rounded Down
4 After a reread I thought I wouldn't do. I now want another one a lot.
At first, I wasn’t sure I would pick this title up from the strange title, but three things swayed me. I picked this book up after seeing numerous recommendations in the LitRPG subreddit. This was also a title I thought had potential on Kindle Scout. Lastly, this was done by a local author. On those three merits, I figured why not?
The story is a decent enough piece and carries along at a clip with enough variety to make things interesting. The word and concept seems interesting enough. In short, what happens to Earth after a dungeon appears and wipes out modern society. How will the people adapt and fight back. With magic provided from the dungeon, they find classes and build a city of delivers to fight it.
I wanted to give this three stars for potential, but too many issues with description, grammar, misspellings, and the like bothered me too much. Some of the many threads felt underutilized and some characters felt off in one way or another.
As a whole, I think this is fine if you can get past a few error now and again, and the length is good.
4 After a reread I thought I wouldn't do. I now want another one a lot.
At first, I wasn’t sure I would pick this title up from the strange title, but three things swayed me. I picked this book up after seeing numerous recommendations in the LitRPG subreddit. This was also a title I thought had potential on Kindle Scout. Lastly, this was done by a local author. On those three merits, I figured why not?
The story is a decent enough piece and carries along at a clip with enough variety to make things interesting. The word and concept seems interesting enough. In short, what happens to Earth after a dungeon appears and wipes out modern society. How will the people adapt and fight back. With magic provided from the dungeon, they find classes and build a city of delivers to fight it.
I wanted to give this three stars for potential, but too many issues with description, grammar, misspellings, and the like bothered me too much. Some of the many threads felt underutilized and some characters felt off in one way or another.
As a whole, I think this is fine if you can get past a few error now and again, and the length is good.
January 30, 2018
Surprisingly well done
Wasnt what i expected, the begining was slow but ramped up the story in just such a smooth manner theres nothing to complain about. The writing was, surprisingly, great. The characters had motivation and pretty good backstory, and the entire plotline and setting was unique, especially for a niche stlye dungeon book. Glad to have read it.
Wasnt what i expected, the begining was slow but ramped up the story in just such a smooth manner theres nothing to complain about. The writing was, surprisingly, great. The characters had motivation and pretty good backstory, and the entire plotline and setting was unique, especially for a niche stlye dungeon book. Glad to have read it.
January 28, 2018
A novel with substance.
This book has an extraordinary setting which grows with the characters. There is backstory about everything from economics and politics to religeons. This made for a thoroughly enjoyable read that was surprisingly fast paced.
This book has an extraordinary setting which grows with the characters. There is backstory about everything from economics and politics to religeons. This made for a thoroughly enjoyable read that was surprisingly fast paced.
October 15, 2020
This book grows on you the more you read.
I wasn’t really sold on this novel for the first 10-20% because it all seemed too easy and far too lucky for my taste. But I was intrigued by the world/system and it’s surroundings, in the setting the author created. As that gets expanded on I found myself being drawn further and further in until, by the end, I was absolutely mesmerized by this immersive, intriguing, well thought out universe that has been presented to us.
If the book had nothing else going for it then I think that by itself would lead me to recommend it to be. However, it also has interesting dialogue, scenarios, and a very fast progression system that lets you feel like the MC is an actual main/important character in the world.
I think this book could rub people the wrong way, in the aspects I described above, but it’s definitely worth picking up.
I wasn’t really sold on this novel for the first 10-20% because it all seemed too easy and far too lucky for my taste. But I was intrigued by the world/system and it’s surroundings, in the setting the author created. As that gets expanded on I found myself being drawn further and further in until, by the end, I was absolutely mesmerized by this immersive, intriguing, well thought out universe that has been presented to us.
If the book had nothing else going for it then I think that by itself would lead me to recommend it to be. However, it also has interesting dialogue, scenarios, and a very fast progression system that lets you feel like the MC is an actual main/important character in the world.
I think this book could rub people the wrong way, in the aspects I described above, but it’s definitely worth picking up.
October 4, 2018
Good!
This was an excellent, straightforward fantasy book about how, sometime in the future, an enormous dungeon takes up residence in our world and remakes it. Our tech is gone, our money is gone, our learning is gone, there is only dungeon loot.
The story was more about the dungeon and its effects on the world than about the characters. There was a MC, but he primarily exists to be your eyes in this society.
It is clear that the Dungeon is hostile and it/its creators have spent effort to make it addictive to those who enter it. But what is its agenda?
Read this! Pay money for it!
This was an excellent, straightforward fantasy book about how, sometime in the future, an enormous dungeon takes up residence in our world and remakes it. Our tech is gone, our money is gone, our learning is gone, there is only dungeon loot.
The story was more about the dungeon and its effects on the world than about the characters. There was a MC, but he primarily exists to be your eyes in this society.
It is clear that the Dungeon is hostile and it/its creators have spent effort to make it addictive to those who enter it. But what is its agenda?
Read this! Pay money for it!
January 26, 2018
Good book
It had hits rough spots but I enjoyed it a lot. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
It had hits rough spots but I enjoyed it a lot. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
June 8, 2019
Fun Lit-RPG style story. This genre is always a little hard when you are reading in an audio book format, but thankfully does not have a lot of stats. Interesting take on nourishment by eating crystals. Curious to see where the religious theme is taken, and each character having a good background that I am curious to see develop and learn more about makes it fun. The narration device of a letter being written to the family back home is a little jarring at times, but not bad. I'm mostly confused as to why it's being done and hope for a reason in the next book.
Will absolutely read the second installment of this series once it is released.
Will absolutely read the second installment of this series once it is released.
July 11, 2020
I will admit in the beginning I wasn't overly into it especially as I was listening to the audiobook,at first it was a little too campy for what I have been listening to but then I found that it was actually the book I needed more than what I was looking for it has such a great joy to it that I wasn't expecting.
Almost had a light happy feeling once I changed my perspective... I've been reading more "serious" litrpg/wuxia lately and didn't realize I needed the light-hearted fun this was. It did get more serious as it went on but still had a less... Dark/foreboding end of the world kind of feel like I have been reading.
Almost had a light happy feeling once I changed my perspective... I've been reading more "serious" litrpg/wuxia lately and didn't realize I needed the light-hearted fun this was. It did get more serious as it went on but still had a less... Dark/foreboding end of the world kind of feel like I have been reading.
January 23, 2018
Oh wow did I need this
Well done!!!
An actual plot!
And I love the writing. Your style is unique.
Very very few grammatical errors. Noticed 1 all book and was so engrossed I forgot where it was instantly.
Characters were amazing and special. I cared about all of them, and feels when they went thru stuff. And I think I’m in love with Alex, she is adorable!
All in all, you hit a home run with this. Don’t stop. I want to see what comes next!!!
Well done!!!
An actual plot!
And I love the writing. Your style is unique.
Very very few grammatical errors. Noticed 1 all book and was so engrossed I forgot where it was instantly.
Characters were amazing and special. I cared about all of them, and feels when they went thru stuff. And I think I’m in love with Alex, she is adorable!
All in all, you hit a home run with this. Don’t stop. I want to see what comes next!!!
August 7, 2018
Wonderful
This is one of the best written and edited LitRPGs I’ve read. Not only is there cohesive storytelling and near excellent editing; the world is fascinating! There are a few typos here and there; nothing too onerous, all forgivable, and none cause a shattering of suspension of disbelief. Hints at a great story arch, world trivia, and plot lines entice. In all you won’t regret adding this to your LitRPG collection!
This is one of the best written and edited LitRPGs I’ve read. Not only is there cohesive storytelling and near excellent editing; the world is fascinating! There are a few typos here and there; nothing too onerous, all forgivable, and none cause a shattering of suspension of disbelief. Hints at a great story arch, world trivia, and plot lines entice. In all you won’t regret adding this to your LitRPG collection!
August 29, 2018
This is a wierd book that has no deeper storyline, explains nearly nothing, has lots of subplots that just occour and vanish without start or end and has a wierd writing style that also often skips over large periods of time
If you have nothing else to read, give it a try, otherwise.. skip it.
PS: Also ends with a frikkin Cliffhanger.
If you have nothing else to read, give it a try, otherwise.. skip it.
PS: Also ends with a frikkin Cliffhanger.
May 21, 2019
Odd little book. Fun, but full of things which don't make any sense.
A primary conceit of the book is that an RPG style dungeon opened up in the real world. Monsters poured out wiping out large swaths of the world. An object is discovered which will turn anyone who touches it into a "Delver" which turns them into RPG characters who cannot die normally, but must eat crystals from the dungeon to survive.
There are some interesting characters, but they largely don't get past cardboard cutouts with a list of quirks. The dialog is also largely generic and most of it could change the speaker without being jarring as only a few characters have a specific voice.
The worldbuilding is utter nonsense and it REALLY bothered me. It's full of lampshading where the characters point out "Our economy is broken! I'm literally ingesting the GDP of the USA every day!" and "It seems like we're ridiculously lucky, it's like the dungeon is alive and is choosing things for us!" Some of this could be setting up for future books, but it just feels like insulting handwaving a lot of the time.
The combat and grinding seems to be trying to walk the line between the ultra-detailed litRPGs and really light descriptive writing... and I'm not sure it works for me. I appreciate that I don't have to read page after page of "hit for 2 damage" style garbage, but it still does a whole lot of telling and very little showing.
For the most part, I think that the problems with the book are due to the inexperience of the author. It was a fun read and stays away from a lot of the worst tropes of the litRPG genre. No ultra-unique-one-of-a-kind-godlike-powers, but there are lots of generic godlike powers. No harem, and refreshingly little romance or sex at all... until the very ending, which I think sprained my eyes from rolling so hard.
If you want something light and silly for brain candy, this isn't bad. I picked it up on sale and feel like I got my money's worth.
A primary conceit of the book is that an RPG style dungeon opened up in the real world. Monsters poured out wiping out large swaths of the world. An object is discovered which will turn anyone who touches it into a "Delver" which turns them into RPG characters who cannot die normally, but must eat crystals from the dungeon to survive.
There are some interesting characters, but they largely don't get past cardboard cutouts with a list of quirks. The dialog is also largely generic and most of it could change the speaker without being jarring as only a few characters have a specific voice.
The worldbuilding is utter nonsense and it REALLY bothered me. It's full of lampshading where the characters point out "Our economy is broken! I'm literally ingesting the GDP of the USA every day!" and "It seems like we're ridiculously lucky, it's like the dungeon is alive and is choosing things for us!" Some of this could be setting up for future books, but it just feels like insulting handwaving a lot of the time.
The combat and grinding seems to be trying to walk the line between the ultra-detailed litRPGs and really light descriptive writing... and I'm not sure it works for me. I appreciate that I don't have to read page after page of "hit for 2 damage" style garbage, but it still does a whole lot of telling and very little showing.
For the most part, I think that the problems with the book are due to the inexperience of the author. It was a fun read and stays away from a lot of the worst tropes of the litRPG genre. No ultra-unique-one-of-a-kind-godlike-powers, but there are lots of generic godlike powers. No harem, and refreshingly little romance or sex at all... until the very ending, which I think sprained my eyes from rolling so hard.
If you want something light and silly for brain candy, this isn't bad. I picked it up on sale and feel like I got my money's worth.
June 23, 2024
At its core it is a pretty interesting litrpg story. Something happened in the past on earth, some kind of wave of monsters that set forth from a dungeon. Decades later the monsters on the surface are gone, but the dungeon is there and people are exploring it, gaining game like powers from some kind of item before they can enter. The powers come at a price, because without the dungeon these delvers cannot survive. Our protagonist is one of many new delvers, desperate for cash to support his sister and mother. Through a stroke of luck or something else he ends up in a decent party and manages to get his life back on track, but the dungeon is a mystery and the city a hive of intrigue and somehow he ends up right in the middle of it.
The book is good from a character and world building perspective, were it lacks a bit is the writing style and for me personally a distinct lack of details on the system beyond throwing around terms for classes and spells (and action descriptions are kept short). I get the impression that the author originally wanted the story to be written as if the MC tells it to his mother and sister, but sometimes forgets the intent or tried to change this. It means there are some odd comments here and there (e.g. the teller of the tale mentioning the need to check a NDA before providing the details on a quest), and while I got used to the writing style, it is not the most engaging in my opinion. The lack of stat blocks and solid combat descriptions is more of a mixed bag. I found it a bit lacking, but others might actually prefer this.
All in all, a decent read, even if it did not kept me hooked completely.
The book is good from a character and world building perspective, were it lacks a bit is the writing style and for me personally a distinct lack of details on the system beyond throwing around terms for classes and spells (and action descriptions are kept short). I get the impression that the author originally wanted the story to be written as if the MC tells it to his mother and sister, but sometimes forgets the intent or tried to change this. It means there are some odd comments here and there (e.g. the teller of the tale mentioning the need to check a NDA before providing the details on a quest), and while I got used to the writing style, it is not the most engaging in my opinion. The lack of stat blocks and solid combat descriptions is more of a mixed bag. I found it a bit lacking, but others might actually prefer this.
All in all, a decent read, even if it did not kept me hooked completely.
May 28, 2019
I listened to the audiobook format of this, and suspect the format helped quite a lot. The pacing felt a little weird in places, but I feel that's more acceptable in audiobooks since there is no easy way to change how fast you consume the medium. The entire book covers about a year worth of time, primarily focused on the events in a couple weeks) but it's very heavily clustered around a few events, skimming over a lot of things happening "off-screen."
I definitely felt the book had a large strength from the world-building. It felt like exactly what I want in a LitRPG: a world that borrows heavily from RPGs for their mechanics, but expands on them in ways that would be impossible to balance in a real game. The author also got a lot of the "feel" right: dive into the dungeon, get loot, try to survive. It even felt similar .
Most of all, though, I'm looking forward to future books. There's a few things the author laid the groundwork for - economy balance, the dungeon religions, whether the main party is actually "special", plus the hints of conspiracy - that I'm cautiously optimistic about. There's a big chance they'll go in ways I don't like, but the first book was plenty entertaining for a read through, and I'll gladly grab the next.
I definitely felt the book had a large strength from the world-building. It felt like exactly what I want in a LitRPG: a world that borrows heavily from RPGs for their mechanics, but expands on them in ways that would be impossible to balance in a real game. The author also got a lot of the "feel" right: dive into the dungeon, get loot, try to survive. It even felt similar .
Most of all, though, I'm looking forward to future books. There's a few things the author laid the groundwork for - economy balance, the dungeon religions, whether the main party is actually "special", plus the hints of conspiracy - that I'm cautiously optimistic about. There's a big chance they'll go in ways I don't like, but the first book was plenty entertaining for a read through, and I'll gladly grab the next.
February 16, 2018
Really fun and interesting
The author has created a really interesting world and setting, cool characters, and fun mechanics. There are some quirks that I'm not sure qualify as problems, but I will mention them.
1)The mechanics are only lightly touched on, you get enough to understand how they work on a basic level, but you never get drawn into the nitty gritty of how things work.
2) The narration is slightly jerky and VERY stream of consciousness. I'm not sure how much of that is a result of the authors inexperience, his style, or intentional as the book is framed as a letter to the narrator's family.
3) Many (most/all) of the fight scenes are VERY quick, there are some boss fights that are less than a dozen sentences, this seems bizarre considering how much time is spent discussing the notorious difficulty of bosses. I will say that there are unresolved plot threads that point to this being intentional and Part of the series arc, but I can't be sure one way or the other since those threads are completely unresolved.
All in all, it's a fun read and I'm definitely going to read the next book as well.
The author has created a really interesting world and setting, cool characters, and fun mechanics. There are some quirks that I'm not sure qualify as problems, but I will mention them.
1)The mechanics are only lightly touched on, you get enough to understand how they work on a basic level, but you never get drawn into the nitty gritty of how things work.
2) The narration is slightly jerky and VERY stream of consciousness. I'm not sure how much of that is a result of the authors inexperience, his style, or intentional as the book is framed as a letter to the narrator's family.
3) Many (most/all) of the fight scenes are VERY quick, there are some boss fights that are less than a dozen sentences, this seems bizarre considering how much time is spent discussing the notorious difficulty of bosses. I will say that there are unresolved plot threads that point to this being intentional and Part of the series arc, but I can't be sure one way or the other since those threads are completely unresolved.
All in all, it's a fun read and I'm definitely going to read the next book as well.
February 14, 2018
Fresh, Interesting, and Well-Done
LitRPG is a genre with a pretty common story template, so encountering something new is interesting. Encountering something new that is also well written, conceived, edited, and implemented is astounding. It’s also very exciting.
Here then is a nicely polished gem that shows us a new world (based heavily on classic “Rogue” believe it or not) that is not only done well, but is fun to read. The characters, plot, and world are multi-dimensional, but this first book deftly reveals only part of the show. We’re left thoughtfully nodding in appreciation and wondering about all the things that were (for now) glossed over.
I’m really looking forward to the next book, and if you enjoy LitRPG or just fantasy stories, you should check this one out. Highly recommended.
LitRPG is a genre with a pretty common story template, so encountering something new is interesting. Encountering something new that is also well written, conceived, edited, and implemented is astounding. It’s also very exciting.
Here then is a nicely polished gem that shows us a new world (based heavily on classic “Rogue” believe it or not) that is not only done well, but is fun to read. The characters, plot, and world are multi-dimensional, but this first book deftly reveals only part of the show. We’re left thoughtfully nodding in appreciation and wondering about all the things that were (for now) glossed over.
I’m really looking forward to the next book, and if you enjoy LitRPG or just fantasy stories, you should check this one out. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2018
Good read that gets better and better
It was about half way thru that I couldn’t stop reading. It was easy to set aside during the first half, tho still enjoyable.
The first half, things kinda felt rushed. I think that’s because it’s natural to compare to other books in the genre. The chars level really really fast. I was thinking the author was losing an opportunity. The first half of the book could easily have been one book with more detail added of the experiences that blew by.
After finishing, I think it was an overall very satisfying read. The groundwork has been laid for something more than just reading about a character level up.
Lots of satisfying characters in this. Look forward to the next book
It was about half way thru that I couldn’t stop reading. It was easy to set aside during the first half, tho still enjoyable.
The first half, things kinda felt rushed. I think that’s because it’s natural to compare to other books in the genre. The chars level really really fast. I was thinking the author was losing an opportunity. The first half of the book could easily have been one book with more detail added of the experiences that blew by.
After finishing, I think it was an overall very satisfying read. The groundwork has been laid for something more than just reading about a character level up.
Lots of satisfying characters in this. Look forward to the next book
February 15, 2018
It’s complicated, but not in a bad way
I don’t know whether to like or dislike this book. On one side, it’s a simple light LitRPG, if it makes sense to you. No crazy statistics, no character sheets, just statements of levels and numbers which were closer to martial cultivation stories instead of the common LitRPG tropes.
The characters didn’t have the time to grow in character, if that also makes sense, though they grew rapidly in levels and power. Often, too rapidly and conveniently that I wondered if this is lazy writing or a perfectly good way to write a light novel.
I think the story would make more sense being a martial cultivation story than a LitRPG, and maybe you should approach it as a light martial cultivation story set in a dungeon delving RPG background
I don’t know whether to like or dislike this book. On one side, it’s a simple light LitRPG, if it makes sense to you. No crazy statistics, no character sheets, just statements of levels and numbers which were closer to martial cultivation stories instead of the common LitRPG tropes.
The characters didn’t have the time to grow in character, if that also makes sense, though they grew rapidly in levels and power. Often, too rapidly and conveniently that I wondered if this is lazy writing or a perfectly good way to write a light novel.
I think the story would make more sense being a martial cultivation story than a LitRPG, and maybe you should approach it as a light martial cultivation story set in a dungeon delving RPG background
July 29, 2018
The culture and setting are definitely the true starts of this book. Fascinating and engaging, it draws you in as you try to extrapolate social consequences from the number of health potion drops available to low level players.
The characters are slightly less engaging, but still entertaining enough.
The fights however are the let down. The descriptions are light and there's no sense of 'weight' to the combat. Lots of x did x.
However, the setting and the amount of thought the author put into it more than makes up for that, leaving this a solid four star book for fans of dungeon delving.
If you liked Danmachi, you'll probably like this.
The characters are slightly less engaging, but still entertaining enough.
The fights however are the let down. The descriptions are light and there's no sense of 'weight' to the combat. Lots of x did x.
However, the setting and the amount of thought the author put into it more than makes up for that, leaving this a solid four star book for fans of dungeon delving.
If you liked Danmachi, you'll probably like this.
October 8, 2020
I’m at 80% and I have no idea why I even made it that far - this feels like a cross between a gamer man-splain and a dull diary of a guy’s adventures in MMPORGland.
1.5 stars rounded to 2 as I don’t actively dislike it - plus reading it caused me to fall asleep at 8pm last night (which never happens) - so I’m feeling generous after a good nights sleep.
I have no idea why it has such a high rating - again and again I look for a good litRPG novel and keep stumbling over badly written dross with > 4* average rating. This book is slightly above average for the litRPG books but significantly worse than the majority of the 4* books on goodreads.
1.5 stars rounded to 2 as I don’t actively dislike it - plus reading it caused me to fall asleep at 8pm last night (which never happens) - so I’m feeling generous after a good nights sleep.
I have no idea why it has such a high rating - again and again I look for a good litRPG novel and keep stumbling over badly written dross with > 4* average rating. This book is slightly above average for the litRPG books but significantly worse than the majority of the 4* books on goodreads.
April 19, 2021
It has very poor worldbuilding that just takes me out of the story. Trillions of times more expensive than gold? How does that work? Why does it work that way? Why if it is realistic (A word that I find meaningless), does still function in the idea that the best way to train newbies is to send them without word nor training to die in the thousands? It just... it just seem thoughtlessly constructed. And I know that worldbuilding is not the end of all stories and there are themes and character arcs, but its just too distracting to get invested in the narrative and so I can't bring myself to care for the characters or their outcomes.
February 4, 2018
One sitting
I sat down and read this book in pretty much one sitting. I just couldn't put out down. I love the progression of Alex from overwhelmed and out of his depth to one of the strongest people in the world. And yet he still feels like a real person. I think my favorite appreciate might be how the reader is dumped into The City right with Alex so you're just as confused about what's going on as he is and then all the pieces come together. I wish I hadn't discovered this book until more of the series came out so I wouldn't have to wait.
I sat down and read this book in pretty much one sitting. I just couldn't put out down. I love the progression of Alex from overwhelmed and out of his depth to one of the strongest people in the world. And yet he still feels like a real person. I think my favorite appreciate might be how the reader is dumped into The City right with Alex so you're just as confused about what's going on as he is and then all the pieces come together. I wish I hadn't discovered this book until more of the series came out so I wouldn't have to wait.
December 23, 2019
Great fast moving LitRPG (?) fantasy! Alex Kenderman is from our world and in order to help his family, he moves to the City and commits to becoming a delver, one who is immortal and braves the deeps of the dungeon. The novel is an interesting twist to the LitRPG being that the protagonist doesn't go into a game, but part of a "game" exists in our world. Entertaining, quick read. I'd like to read more in the series. My first time read from Matthew Schmidt. Very good narration by Doug Tisdale, Jr. for the audible version.
January 15, 2020
An okay attempt. Not great.
This one was so forgettable that I didn't realize I had already read it until I started in again yesterday after a rec on a forum post.
Dull MC in dull world enters dull dungeon with dull party entirely emulating real life details of loot splits, etc. It's a tower climb down the dungeon but the floors are boring, the threats are boring, the MC is boring, etc. The idea of seek your fortune "go delve, young man" is fine if executed to produce a gripping adventure. This is not a gripping adventure.
This one was so forgettable that I didn't realize I had already read it until I started in again yesterday after a rec on a forum post.
Dull MC in dull world enters dull dungeon with dull party entirely emulating real life details of loot splits, etc. It's a tower climb down the dungeon but the floors are boring, the threats are boring, the MC is boring, etc. The idea of seek your fortune "go delve, young man" is fine if executed to produce a gripping adventure. This is not a gripping adventure.
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