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Gold Girls and Glory #1
Dan the Barbarian
Cut class.
Kick ass.
Save the frigging world.
When college sophomore Dan Marshall's life morphs into a hybrid of Penn State and a homebrew tabletop RPG adventure, he grabs his talking two-handed sword and hits campus, seeking gold, girls, and glory.
But even with two beautiful bad-ass women at his side, how can a low-level barbarian survive when he’s pitted against a fraternity of gnolls, a dungeon full of nightmares, and an apocalyptic death cult bent on destroying the whole world?
Dan the Barbarian is an over-the-top adventure novel intended for readers 18 and older. It includes explicit sex, graphic violence, a harem of gorgeous ass-kicking girls, and a foul-mouthed two-handed sword. Read at your own risk.
Kick ass.
Save the frigging world.
When college sophomore Dan Marshall's life morphs into a hybrid of Penn State and a homebrew tabletop RPG adventure, he grabs his talking two-handed sword and hits campus, seeking gold, girls, and glory.
But even with two beautiful bad-ass women at his side, how can a low-level barbarian survive when he’s pitted against a fraternity of gnolls, a dungeon full of nightmares, and an apocalyptic death cult bent on destroying the whole world?
Dan the Barbarian is an over-the-top adventure novel intended for readers 18 and older. It includes explicit sex, graphic violence, a harem of gorgeous ass-kicking girls, and a foul-mouthed two-handed sword. Read at your own risk.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2018
585 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 2, 2018
Ok, first off, this book is very light on the litRPG elements. I think I'm going to make a separate section for these. This isn't trapped in the VR, this is transported to a table top world that's similar to Earth, but with fantasy themes.
The main character in this book, Dan is one of those backwoods corn fed home grown country guys who's trying to make a name for himself. He's been trying to do everything he can to make his parents proud even more so with the death of his older brother. There's the traditional rich kid city slicker that's an obnoxious bully to Dan, and incidentally ends up going to the same college as Dan after having met in like the 5th grade (and has bullied him ever sense).
With that said, Dan happens upon a genie that grants him one wish, and that wish is to live as his character in the D&D game (it's called T&T in the book.) Which then introduces the entire fantasy element as well as stats into this book.
Now, there is a LOT of sex in this book, but the women are not just damsels' in distress. All of the women in this book are pretty B.A. and don't NEED Dan's help, but who in their right mind turns down a crazy strong tank? Like no one. With that said, the women balance out the parts of him that he's obviously lacking and they do indeed help each other.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the character development. The main character was not an aloof guy, but one that had a lot of self doubt and restraints put on him. While reading this, you can see the parts of him start to grown from the beginning of the book to the end. Now I'm not going to say that he goes from zero to hero, because he really doesn't, but you do start to see the parts of him that start to shrug off his negative self-restraints. Once again, this won't be the John Wick of books, but if you like a solid Harem story with a very good mix of action and sexy time. This is something you should pick up.
I really liked this book and on August 26th, I plan on picking up Dan the Adventurer: A Gamelit Harem Fantasy Adventure.
Side note, if you're going to compare this to The Valens Legacy, don't.
The main character in this book, Dan is one of those backwoods corn fed home grown country guys who's trying to make a name for himself. He's been trying to do everything he can to make his parents proud even more so with the death of his older brother. There's the traditional rich kid city slicker that's an obnoxious bully to Dan, and incidentally ends up going to the same college as Dan after having met in like the 5th grade (and has bullied him ever sense).
With that said, Dan happens upon a genie that grants him one wish, and that wish is to live as his character in the D&D game (it's called T&T in the book.) Which then introduces the entire fantasy element as well as stats into this book.
Now, there is a LOT of sex in this book, but the women are not just damsels' in distress. All of the women in this book are pretty B.A. and don't NEED Dan's help, but who in their right mind turns down a crazy strong tank? Like no one. With that said, the women balance out the parts of him that he's obviously lacking and they do indeed help each other.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the character development. The main character was not an aloof guy, but one that had a lot of self doubt and restraints put on him. While reading this, you can see the parts of him start to grown from the beginning of the book to the end. Now I'm not going to say that he goes from zero to hero, because he really doesn't, but you do start to see the parts of him that start to shrug off his negative self-restraints. Once again, this won't be the John Wick of books, but if you like a solid Harem story with a very good mix of action and sexy time. This is something you should pick up.
I really liked this book and on August 26th, I plan on picking up Dan the Adventurer: A Gamelit Harem Fantasy Adventure.
Side note, if you're going to compare this to The Valens Legacy, don't.
December 30, 2018
Nice start!
So it was really cheesy, but I like stories in that style. Nadia and Holly didn't feel like trophy girls, that's already that. Dan matured rather fast from his loser mentality. This is a good buy.
So it was really cheesy, but I like stories in that style. Nadia and Holly didn't feel like trophy girls, that's already that. Dan matured rather fast from his loser mentality. This is a good buy.
October 22, 2018
Rating 3.0 stars
This book was just okay. It missed the mark for me at multiple times. It was an interesting idea, one that I had not read before. I have never read a story with a barbarian as the main protagonist. The first problem was the D&D rpg element. It was very light on the lit rpg aspect enough to wonder why it was included in the first place. The levels and experience points that the main character received seemed random, not following a pattern (he received more XP for having sex than killing something).
The story follows Dan, who is a sophomore at college. He is the typical nice guy, farm boy who never really fit in with the kids who had money. Something happens and Dan is offered a wish. He wishes his life was just like his friends T&T game (think D&D - I know very original) and he picks the class of barbarian, because that is what he usually plays. The world changes and everyone around him is something different. He is still at the same college and some stuff is the same, but there are now Orcs and elves and warriors, etc.
I think it would have been a lot better if the role playing part was just removed and it was just a story about a barbarian that decided to go to college. That in-between aspect of the game and real life didn't do it for me. I also like stories where I can place myself in the characters shoes and try to think about if I was that character what I would do. Most of the time I am annoyed when I can't imagine a scenario in which I might have done the same thing as the main character. In this instance, I can't understand why he would have picked a barbarian. Yes, that character is strong and decisive, but barbarians are also really dumb. Though he wins his fights, he is hurt bad in almost every one of them.
Overall, not bad, but it could have been much more interesting. I might pick up the next book in the future but not right now.
This book was just okay. It missed the mark for me at multiple times. It was an interesting idea, one that I had not read before. I have never read a story with a barbarian as the main protagonist. The first problem was the D&D rpg element. It was very light on the lit rpg aspect enough to wonder why it was included in the first place. The levels and experience points that the main character received seemed random, not following a pattern (he received more XP for having sex than killing something).
The story follows Dan, who is a sophomore at college. He is the typical nice guy, farm boy who never really fit in with the kids who had money. Something happens and Dan is offered a wish. He wishes his life was just like his friends T&T game (think D&D - I know very original) and he picks the class of barbarian, because that is what he usually plays. The world changes and everyone around him is something different. He is still at the same college and some stuff is the same, but there are now Orcs and elves and warriors, etc.
I think it would have been a lot better if the role playing part was just removed and it was just a story about a barbarian that decided to go to college. That in-between aspect of the game and real life didn't do it for me. I also like stories where I can place myself in the characters shoes and try to think about if I was that character what I would do. Most of the time I am annoyed when I can't imagine a scenario in which I might have done the same thing as the main character. In this instance, I can't understand why he would have picked a barbarian. Yes, that character is strong and decisive, but barbarians are also really dumb. Though he wins his fights, he is hurt bad in almost every one of them.
Overall, not bad, but it could have been much more interesting. I might pick up the next book in the future but not right now.
August 13, 2018
Save your time and money
The writing here is so bad. Little to no description of characters and setting. The “plot” such as it is, relies on cliches. The first chapter is stereotype after stereotype of behavior that would maybe be believable for someone in junior high school or a freshmen in high school. But college? Nope. Not a chance. The petty behavior of bullies doesn’t exist in college. And teachers at the college level don’t behave this way, because they don’t have time to hold individual grudges against students because that would get them fired. By the time the litrpg story begins the writing is so flat and offensive that the reader should have abandoned the text. But if you tough it out you are treated to a tale that lacks imagination, logic, and creativity. Save your time and look else where for a litrpg story.
The writing here is so bad. Little to no description of characters and setting. The “plot” such as it is, relies on cliches. The first chapter is stereotype after stereotype of behavior that would maybe be believable for someone in junior high school or a freshmen in high school. But college? Nope. Not a chance. The petty behavior of bullies doesn’t exist in college. And teachers at the college level don’t behave this way, because they don’t have time to hold individual grudges against students because that would get them fired. By the time the litrpg story begins the writing is so flat and offensive that the reader should have abandoned the text. But if you tough it out you are treated to a tale that lacks imagination, logic, and creativity. Save your time and look else where for a litrpg story.
September 4, 2018
Fun
A fun title with surprisingly good characters, a bit tough to first get into but once things pick up they really don't disappoint, gonna continue this series.
A fun title with surprisingly good characters, a bit tough to first get into but once things pick up they really don't disappoint, gonna continue this series.
August 27, 2018
26% in, couldn't bring myself to go on reading. I don't get it will all these great reviews. The dialog is juvenile at best, the plot for the first 25% I'd read is so... the best way to describe it, would be a male going through puberty day-dream plot. I rarely do 1 star review or even unable to finish reading a book.
August 3, 2018
Rousing tale of swords and sworcery and a geek
And other stuff equally awesome like actual character depth, plot, mystery, excitement, failure, intrigue, and a host of other things that make books worth reading. Laughed a bunch. Enjoyed it in one sitting. Good author.
And other stuff equally awesome like actual character depth, plot, mystery, excitement, failure, intrigue, and a host of other things that make books worth reading. Laughed a bunch. Enjoyed it in one sitting. Good author.
December 30, 2019
“Dan the Barbarian (Gold Girls and Glory #1)” is not lesfic; but it is a very creative and entertaining story with fantastic narration.
MC Dan finds himself enlisted to participate in Campus Quest as a barbarian, in an alternate reality version of Penn State. Actually, I’ve met a few people from Penn State; perhaps it’s not really much of an alternate reality story after all.
Anyway, Dan gets a grumpy talking sword (Wolfgar), his friend Holly and Nadia, the sex loving wallet thief. A decapitated elf head chats with Dan and convinces him to help free the elves. Oh, and there’s an evil professor. Fun story! 4*
MC Dan finds himself enlisted to participate in Campus Quest as a barbarian, in an alternate reality version of Penn State. Actually, I’ve met a few people from Penn State; perhaps it’s not really much of an alternate reality story after all.
Anyway, Dan gets a grumpy talking sword (Wolfgar), his friend Holly and Nadia, the sex loving wallet thief. A decapitated elf head chats with Dan and convinces him to help free the elves. Oh, and there’s an evil professor. Fun story! 4*
June 3, 2019
2 to maybe 2.5 stars, this started out pretty good but it went down hill for me. I really wanted to like this book so I could continue with the series but it was not to be. I may try other books by this author but I am going to have to pass on this series.
Read
July 26, 2021 Got to 20% and lost interest.
I don't hate it. I might try again later. It just doesn't do anything for me.
I don't hate it. I might try again later. It just doesn't do anything for me.
January 8, 2019
Can you please stop whining!
Half this book is full of the main character whining about something even after is tossed into a fantasy world! There was very little plot in the story in fact it was mostly predictable and even the main character in the story knew that. I guess if you don’t mind basically cliché is with sex thrown into it I guess the book would rate fairly well on that. Unfortunately the main character spent so much time whining I most wish he had died at the end. The only reason I gave this three stars instead of two was because the main character at the end of the novel realized how whiny he was and made a pledge to try to stop. This rates such that I am willing to read the next novel.
Half this book is full of the main character whining about something even after is tossed into a fantasy world! There was very little plot in the story in fact it was mostly predictable and even the main character in the story knew that. I guess if you don’t mind basically cliché is with sex thrown into it I guess the book would rate fairly well on that. Unfortunately the main character spent so much time whining I most wish he had died at the end. The only reason I gave this three stars instead of two was because the main character at the end of the novel realized how whiny he was and made a pledge to try to stop. This rates such that I am willing to read the next novel.
August 17, 2018
Fun
I enjoyed this story. Dan comes across as a disenchanted, disheartened young man who just doesn’t fit in with everyone else. Somehow he manages to stumble across a real genie and does what just about anyone would ... he makes a wish. As they say though, be careful what you wish for. Insecure Dan finds himself as a brash and forceful barbarian totally out of his comfort zone. This is a fun and interesting read.
I enjoyed this story. Dan comes across as a disenchanted, disheartened young man who just doesn’t fit in with everyone else. Somehow he manages to stumble across a real genie and does what just about anyone would ... he makes a wish. As they say though, be careful what you wish for. Insecure Dan finds himself as a brash and forceful barbarian totally out of his comfort zone. This is a fun and interesting read.
September 25, 2018
Very enjoyable
Ok it's nothing groundbreaking or amazing but it's fun and a guilty pleasure as these types of books tend to be. The foreshadowing needs work as does the world building. Also I would like a reason to like the girls as people more then just kick butt hot women. I get one has a heart of gold and the other is smart but I want more personality. But otherwise great book.
Ok it's nothing groundbreaking or amazing but it's fun and a guilty pleasure as these types of books tend to be. The foreshadowing needs work as does the world building. Also I would like a reason to like the girls as people more then just kick butt hot women. I get one has a heart of gold and the other is smart but I want more personality. But otherwise great book.
August 9, 2018
This is a great twist of the original D&D game that sadly I didn't get to play much as I was the only nerd in my family. However, Hondo brought me back to the childhood I always wanted. Despite it being a harem and me not too much into them, I just couldn't get over the humor of the story. Can't wait for the second book. Great job Hondo.
P.S. - I'm sure that is Hondo on the cover.
P.S. - I'm sure that is Hondo on the cover.
September 19, 2018
Unique and fun story with magic, action, and explicit juicy goodness! Join Dan an everyday college student living a boring and uneventful life at Pen State, suddenly Dan finds himself with the chance of a lifetime upon releasing a Djinn and having the opportunity to change his life into a fantasy game.
September 22, 2018
Barbarians do it better!
A concoction of Conan , Harry Potter and Porkys as Dan tries to become the person he wishes to be. The author weaves a tale that has some good primary and secoundary charachters, with well writen dialogue . The story is addictive and very amusing . Brings back those memories of times when Role Playing was everything.
A concoction of Conan , Harry Potter and Porkys as Dan tries to become the person he wishes to be. The author weaves a tale that has some good primary and secoundary charachters, with well writen dialogue . The story is addictive and very amusing . Brings back those memories of times when Role Playing was everything.
September 29, 2018
Great book & GameLit vs. LitRPG
Great book, I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. For those of you who don’t know gamelit vs litrpg is mostly semantics. After the “father of litrpg” aleron king (not the actual father of litrpg) trademarked litrpg, part of the litrpg community decided to switch over to gamelit in protest and for protection from him
Great book, I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. For those of you who don’t know gamelit vs litrpg is mostly semantics. After the “father of litrpg” aleron king (not the actual father of litrpg) trademarked litrpg, part of the litrpg community decided to switch over to gamelit in protest and for protection from him
September 3, 2018
A humorous and action packed adventure
A haremlit novel with a different style. The story has the feel of a fun tabletop dog adventure, complete with plenty of foreshadowing and an over the top villain. I'm looking forward to book two.
A haremlit novel with a different style. The story has the feel of a fun tabletop dog adventure, complete with plenty of foreshadowing and an over the top villain. I'm looking forward to book two.
September 8, 2018
Nicely Done
A fun light hearted and predictable read, but entertaining. I found the format, a mid evil fantasy setting at Penn State! Regardless, the action flows, the characters are fun and interesting and there lots of potential. You should be reading about Dan.
A fun light hearted and predictable read, but entertaining. I found the format, a mid evil fantasy setting at Penn State! Regardless, the action flows, the characters are fun and interesting and there lots of potential. You should be reading about Dan.
December 17, 2018
Dan the Barbarian
I love this book from start to finish the characters are well written and awesome and the author did a great job with the story hope this book go's to audible.
I love this book from start to finish the characters are well written and awesome and the author did a great job with the story hope this book go's to audible.
August 6, 2018
Intense action, beautiful women, vulgar weapons, what more could you want!!
Just finished this one and already preordered the second!
The action begins right away. Dan is just a normal, average college kid, and his world is flipped upside down. I will try not to spoil anything, but after a fortunate meeting, his world changes dramatically.
I really enjoyed the take on the actual world/beings in that world change, instead of being transported to a new land. It was fun to watch the personalities in Dan’s old world, transfer to some in the new world.
Dan meets the beautiful Holly (who lives across from him) and is instantly enamored by her beauty and abilities. Their relationship is fun to watch develop. My only wish is that there was some more backstory to Holly to really get to know her character better. Although it sounds like book 2 will address this.
When they team up for the competition, the author did a great job of picking unique personalities. Zuggy, the chess playing monkey, being one of my favorites. The action really starts picking up as they progress through the competition. The battle at the end is a must read! It is intense and has some awesome twists and turns!
Note: There is a lot of sex in this book. I don’t agree with the reviewer that said the women have to make Dan’s decisions for him. And I am not sure about the “one at the time” part of the review, because they must not have read that part in the book. While the explicit sex is not something that I gravitate toward in books, it was well written, and actually adds to the story, building the rapport with his women, and lends to the whole, living out your fantasy if given the chance aspect of this book.
The humor throughout the book is great. My favorite character was Wulfgar (Dan’s sword). I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2 with this character. His foul mouthed humor kept was well written and had me laughing throughout the book.
I was actually expecting this book to have more stats/LItRPG aspects, but I would say it definitely falls into more Gamlit. Not to say there isn’t experience and skills gained/earned though. This is not a bad thing by any means, just wanted to throw that out there if you are looking for more detailed stat progression.
In the end, read this book! You will not regret it, and I bet you will be ready to move on to the second just as I was.
Just finished this one and already preordered the second!
The action begins right away. Dan is just a normal, average college kid, and his world is flipped upside down. I will try not to spoil anything, but after a fortunate meeting, his world changes dramatically.
I really enjoyed the take on the actual world/beings in that world change, instead of being transported to a new land. It was fun to watch the personalities in Dan’s old world, transfer to some in the new world.
Dan meets the beautiful Holly (who lives across from him) and is instantly enamored by her beauty and abilities. Their relationship is fun to watch develop. My only wish is that there was some more backstory to Holly to really get to know her character better. Although it sounds like book 2 will address this.
When they team up for the competition, the author did a great job of picking unique personalities. Zuggy, the chess playing monkey, being one of my favorites. The action really starts picking up as they progress through the competition. The battle at the end is a must read! It is intense and has some awesome twists and turns!
Note: There is a lot of sex in this book. I don’t agree with the reviewer that said the women have to make Dan’s decisions for him. And I am not sure about the “one at the time” part of the review, because they must not have read that part in the book. While the explicit sex is not something that I gravitate toward in books, it was well written, and actually adds to the story, building the rapport with his women, and lends to the whole, living out your fantasy if given the chance aspect of this book.
The humor throughout the book is great. My favorite character was Wulfgar (Dan’s sword). I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2 with this character. His foul mouthed humor kept was well written and had me laughing throughout the book.
I was actually expecting this book to have more stats/LItRPG aspects, but I would say it definitely falls into more Gamlit. Not to say there isn’t experience and skills gained/earned though. This is not a bad thing by any means, just wanted to throw that out there if you are looking for more detailed stat progression.
In the end, read this book! You will not regret it, and I bet you will be ready to move on to the second just as I was.
September 4, 2020
A little slow to start but a good fun read. Dan's character is a little odd and bumbling but he's learning at the same time as us, the readers. The storyline is developing nicely and the characterization is good, the girls are particularly well rounded and have strong backgrounds not one dimensional bimbo's. Referring to other comments, the Litrpg element is light but then he's not in a game just a game like world and Hondo cleverly refers to Dan's understanding of the game element to cover this. Whether this just makes it easier to write I don't know but why make things difficult if you don't have to. We readers seem to demand phenomenal output from our favorite authors so why complain if they find writing strategies that work. I come to this series after reading the Power Mage series and the first Wrangler book all of which seem to have a little more polish than Dan and I would highly recommend. Already started The Destroyer and looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 14, 2019
This is not LitRPG is Isekai (Transported to another world) in this case a world based in urban fantasy with all Dungeon and dragons lore make real, Our Mc is an introverted geek/outdoor buffed type!? wtf! ok what I didn't like' the author make us see the antagonist as an arrogant asshole, the moment our MC gains power he turns exactly that way, forgets he has friends and dedicates everywaking moment fking around with his new magic dick, cool right how give a flying fk about anyone else! the best character in the entire book is the mage, heck the alcoholic monkey is more interesting than our MC how as the story advance gains more power but lose intelligence by leaps and bounds. I got bored there are some nice smut scenes 3 but that it.
February 4, 2019
By Crom!
The harem and Camelot genres can be pretty hit it miss by themselves, yet here is a book that does both beautifully! You get a main character who feels real and alive, an explanation of the world that's both crazy as hell and yet makes enough sense to say "yeah, I can go with that", and a harem that doesn't have that weird, trying too hard feeling you get with some novels. All in all a wonderful book and I can't wait to read the next one!
The harem and Camelot genres can be pretty hit it miss by themselves, yet here is a book that does both beautifully! You get a main character who feels real and alive, an explanation of the world that's both crazy as hell and yet makes enough sense to say "yeah, I can go with that", and a harem that doesn't have that weird, trying too hard feeling you get with some novels. All in all a wonderful book and I can't wait to read the next one!
May 15, 2019
What to say about this literary endeavor? It was both more and less than I expected; as in more erotic and less RPG. If you can overcome the excessive cussing and detailed sex, the underlying story is not that bad. If you do continue with the series, I think the storyline will actually become interesting. I liked the characters although Dan is a bit dim, he grows on you. Three.point.five for a bold start.
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December 24, 2021Yeah... This isn't for me. I will have to shelf this as "on hold" (permanently).
I don't like Brawn fantasy with no magic (the protagonist has an instinctive hatred of magic, so he won't be using it).
I liked the author's Western series, so I thought I would give this a try... But a couple chapters in and I don't see myself completing the series.
People that like Sword and Sorcery would probably like this
I don't like Brawn fantasy with no magic (the protagonist has an instinctive hatred of magic, so he won't be using it).
I liked the author's Western series, so I thought I would give this a try... But a couple chapters in and I don't see myself completing the series.
People that like Sword and Sorcery would probably like this
November 13, 2018
Finally managed to end this one, Altough I took my time with it, I can say I truly enjoyed this read, I like the world the author created to throw the MC into, is cahotic, random, dangerous and fun. The villain was pointed from the very beggining but it was enjoyable the sidetrack the jorney took. Hope the next books from this series turn out as enteretaining as this one.
February 22, 2019
How To Escape A Boring Life
Dan loves playing role playing adventure games. His new life is a mashup of reality and game play. I like the action, humor, and romance. Dan learns some hard lessons along the way that are helpful later. I like the main characters who are competent and strong. I look forward to the next book.
Dan loves playing role playing adventure games. His new life is a mashup of reality and game play. I like the action, humor, and romance. Dan learns some hard lessons along the way that are helpful later. I like the main characters who are competent and strong. I look forward to the next book.
January 11, 2024
Holy moly this book is explicit.... um... lots of... dirty stuff...
But the drunk monkey is definitely my favorite character. And some of the best comic relief I have read in a book.
The is a Dnd adventure, but the Mc is hopped up on testosterone and is constantly horny... not bad... but explicit
O.o
But the drunk monkey is definitely my favorite character. And some of the best comic relief I have read in a book.
The is a Dnd adventure, but the Mc is hopped up on testosterone and is constantly horny... not bad... but explicit
O.o
July 31, 2018
Fun quirky read
I loved this book it was a fun read from start to finish. I had a lot of little laughs as I could do see some of the games I played in the past in this book. Pick it up and give it a try if you loved p!saying RPG tabletop games.
I loved this book it was a fun read from start to finish. I had a lot of little laughs as I could do see some of the games I played in the past in this book. Pick it up and give it a try if you loved p!saying RPG tabletop games.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews