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The Ballad of Shady Greg #1
Dungeon Mercantile
I got dragged to a new world, and I can't even do dungeons?!
My name is Greg, and as a non-native of Jadera, the system won't let me into dungeons.
That's fine, though, I've got other skills besides fighting.
I'm an excellent Merchant, buying and selling the awesome loot that adventurers bring out of their delves.
Potions, weapons, armor, monster bits... you name it. Simple right? I'll buy it from you and sell it to the next one!
That goes triple for legendaries! And when my bitterest rival--and former best friend--tries to run me out of business?
Well, let's just say that merchants have our ways.
Come, join me for a mug and I'll tell you all about it. Most of it will even be the truth
My name is Greg, and as a non-native of Jadera, the system won't let me into dungeons.
That's fine, though, I've got other skills besides fighting.
I'm an excellent Merchant, buying and selling the awesome loot that adventurers bring out of their delves.
Potions, weapons, armor, monster bits... you name it. Simple right? I'll buy it from you and sell it to the next one!
That goes triple for legendaries! And when my bitterest rival--and former best friend--tries to run me out of business?
Well, let's just say that merchants have our ways.
Come, join me for a mug and I'll tell you all about it. Most of it will even be the truth
584 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2022
223 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 7, 2022
It's a revenge story that struggles for any measure of payoff due to the bumbling, overcomplicated plans of the MC. Any that is attained doesn't feel earned as it's achieved in spite of Greg's best efforts to sabotage himself.
Despite how the story is marketed, Greg doesn't feel like a merchant. Running the shop is not a goal that motivates him but a means to an end. Multiple times he sees making a profit as synonymous with taking advantage of people and despises his class system (that for some reason works despite being unable to enter dungeons?). We get a grudging, brief summary of his business ventures while the main focus is on risky, amateurish cloak and dagger operations.
The world, something only lightly touched upon, is pretty interesting and the grammar/editing is clean, but that's not enough to save an overall unsatisfying series of events, especially when most of the suspense is drowned out by constant breaks in the fourth wall to give us a pithy synopsis of what happened (or to drop inane lines like, "surely, everything would work out."). It might as well not be an Isekai as nothing about his previous life comes into play. If he and Paul & Co. were from another continent instead of another world, nothing would change, and we'd probably know more about their backstories.
Despite how the story is marketed, Greg doesn't feel like a merchant. Running the shop is not a goal that motivates him but a means to an end. Multiple times he sees making a profit as synonymous with taking advantage of people and despises his class system (that for some reason works despite being unable to enter dungeons?). We get a grudging, brief summary of his business ventures while the main focus is on risky, amateurish cloak and dagger operations.
The world, something only lightly touched upon, is pretty interesting and the grammar/editing is clean, but that's not enough to save an overall unsatisfying series of events, especially when most of the suspense is drowned out by constant breaks in the fourth wall to give us a pithy synopsis of what happened (or to drop inane lines like, "surely, everything would work out."). It might as well not be an Isekai as nothing about his previous life comes into play. If he and Paul & Co. were from another continent instead of another world, nothing would change, and we'd probably know more about their backstories.
May 7, 2022
Irritating
The narrator/MC was irritating. The 4th wall was broken throughout the entire book. The narrator spoke to the reader nonstop. I felt like I was listening to a high school or college kid trying to verbally tell a story. I really wanted the MC to die horribly.
Around the 55% mark, I got fed up with the narration and skipped to the end. I do not feel like I missed anything. I will not be reading any further books in this series.
The narrator/MC was irritating. The 4th wall was broken throughout the entire book. The narrator spoke to the reader nonstop. I felt like I was listening to a high school or college kid trying to verbally tell a story. I really wanted the MC to die horribly.
Around the 55% mark, I got fed up with the narration and skipped to the end. I do not feel like I missed anything. I will not be reading any further books in this series.
January 7, 2023
Read as if the writer sat down, wrote the whole book start to end as a rough draft with very little thought and then immediately turned it in without any editing. A major plot point is the MC getting out of jail after they are sentenced on bond. A plot point the author would have realized didnt make sense with a 30 second google search or common sense that getting out of jail on bond only happens if you are still waiting to be sentenced.
April 7, 2022
Dungeon Mercantile : A LitRPG Fantasy Low Stakes Adventure by Wolfe Locke. I have to admit, I did not think I would enjoy a LitRPG story about a merchant. But I did. This is a well-told story of humans from earth getting transported to a world where they are the NPCs. IE, they can only die once. Everyone else can re-spawn and get along. No dungeon diving for people from earth. Our protagonist is a very nice, normal, hard-working decent man from earth. If only those with a darker side would just leave him alone. I recommend you put this on your TBR list for a nice change of pace. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
April 17, 2022
5 Class Motivation - The Profit Stars
Dungeon Mercantile is the first standalone in The Ballad of Shady Greg series by Wolfe Locke.
Awe! I simply ADORED this book. Which almost sounds ridiculous when you think of how many terrible things depicted, and the relatively consistent somber mood. This was such an intriguing read, though.
I have come to love the system. I think the author was trying to create some empathetic frustration in the reader at the beginning of the book. The system messages were entirely annoying. But as you reach the end they become endearing and funny, in their own unique way.
I truly hope we see more into Duwane's story. He's such a fount of mystery, in my eyes. Maybe even simply meeting a relative of his? Or his wife we've come to hear so much fondness about?
The way in which the author shaped the system of leveling and classes in this world, is just this side of unique. Enough to feel somewhat nostalgic towards past reads, but still have that glimmer of mystery to ferret out. How did the Earth Natives get here in the first place? I don't think that was ever truly explained. It seems much of it was an accident initially. Although, I imagine there were many more like the Briarson brothers who took the opportunity when presented with good or bad intentions in mind.
Truly enjoyable across the board.
Dungeon Mercantile is the first standalone in The Ballad of Shady Greg series by Wolfe Locke.
Awe! I simply ADORED this book. Which almost sounds ridiculous when you think of how many terrible things depicted, and the relatively consistent somber mood. This was such an intriguing read, though.
I have come to love the system. I think the author was trying to create some empathetic frustration in the reader at the beginning of the book. The system messages were entirely annoying. But as you reach the end they become endearing and funny, in their own unique way.
I truly hope we see more into Duwane's story. He's such a fount of mystery, in my eyes. Maybe even simply meeting a relative of his? Or his wife we've come to hear so much fondness about?
The way in which the author shaped the system of leveling and classes in this world, is just this side of unique. Enough to feel somewhat nostalgic towards past reads, but still have that glimmer of mystery to ferret out. How did the Earth Natives get here in the first place? I don't think that was ever truly explained. It seems much of it was an accident initially. Although, I imagine there were many more like the Briarson brothers who took the opportunity when presented with good or bad intentions in mind.
Truly enjoyable across the board.
July 27, 2022
Dungeon Mercantiles: The Ballad of Shady Greg
Greg has been Isekaied to a new world with a gamelike system. He is thrilled to experience magic and start dungeon diving! That’s when he finds out that the system will not allow him to take a power class or even enter the dungeon. Greg chooses to become a merchant to help adventurers. It turns out that the system notifications are the least of his worries.
This is a fun book! It’s a first person story of Greg’s fall from grace and the details involved. You meet some great characters and it’s really interesting. The fall part is painful, but they should be!
Content warning: none
Greg has been Isekaied to a new world with a gamelike system. He is thrilled to experience magic and start dungeon diving! That’s when he finds out that the system will not allow him to take a power class or even enter the dungeon. Greg chooses to become a merchant to help adventurers. It turns out that the system notifications are the least of his worries.
This is a fun book! It’s a first person story of Greg’s fall from grace and the details involved. You meet some great characters and it’s really interesting. The fall part is painful, but they should be!
Content warning: none
January 1, 2025
Interesting approach to litrpg
Greg is an engaging character transported to a dungeon world. Rules prohibit non-natives from entering dungeons, and Greg ends up becoming a merchant. It is entertaining to watch him struggle against a system that seems to follow the Ferengi rules of acquisition, while dealing with repeated betrayals from prior business partner. Greg manages to maintain some degree of ethics while being repeatedly subjected to outrageous misfortune.
I really enjoyed this novel, and hope for a sequel. (subsequent review of my TBR pile shows I already have the two sequels) Definitely worth five stars.
Greg is an engaging character transported to a dungeon world. Rules prohibit non-natives from entering dungeons, and Greg ends up becoming a merchant. It is entertaining to watch him struggle against a system that seems to follow the Ferengi rules of acquisition, while dealing with repeated betrayals from prior business partner. Greg manages to maintain some degree of ethics while being repeatedly subjected to outrageous misfortune.
I really enjoyed this novel, and hope for a sequel. (subsequent review of my TBR pile shows I already have the two sequels) Definitely worth five stars.
March 29, 2022
Dungeon Mercantile : A Fantasy Magic Shop Slice of Life LitRPG (The Ballad of Shady Greg Book 1), my fifth read author Wolfe Locke, an author I'd not heard of before receiving the opportunity to read Dungeon of the Old Gods: A Dark Dungeon Realm LitRPG. A unique, captivating, page-turning, well-written read leaving you panting for more. I'm voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
June 9, 2022
This was my first experience with Wolfe Locke's and Mike Caliban's work, and I enjoyed it a lot. The story was so engaging that once I started listening to the audiobook, I had to listen until the ending credits. The world building was unusual. The characters were unique. The story was based on a gaming motif. I found it captivating, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Christopher Harbour's narration was great, and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
September 19, 2022
A really good start to the series. Such a good take from a fresh point of view. So often the litrpg genre follows an MC that’s boring and always an adventurer. This is completely different by the MC being a merchant instead. This makes the planning and plotting that much more interesting. It’s like industrial espionage mixed with magic and questing. Such a fun story and I can’t wait to read the next in the series
April 2, 2022
Love those system notifications!
What a great book. Shady Greg is a fun and relatable character - the story flows really well and it’s easy to get caught up in it! I really enjoyed how the system notifications were handled - great humor! Would definitely love to hear more about the “stand alone sequel” ;)
What a great book. Shady Greg is a fun and relatable character - the story flows really well and it’s easy to get caught up in it! I really enjoyed how the system notifications were handled - great humor! Would definitely love to hear more about the “stand alone sequel” ;)
March 26, 2022
An enjoyable romp
Heh, this was more fun Than I expected. A nice twist with the main character not adventuring in the normal sense. A stand alone story that could easily become a series
Heh, this was more fun Than I expected. A nice twist with the main character not adventuring in the normal sense. A stand alone story that could easily become a series
April 2, 2022
Good book!
I like the game lit genre and while this book seemed a little light in that area, it was a good book. Different from any others I have read, which made it enjoyable and interesting. Quite a few twists and turns!
I like the game lit genre and while this book seemed a little light in that area, it was a good book. Different from any others I have read, which made it enjoyable and interesting. Quite a few twists and turns!
May 15, 2022
Excellent first book of series
Liked the system messages and his conversation with it, a unique turn to litrpg writing. Shady Greg had a great story and told it well. I can't wait for book 2!
Liked the system messages and his conversation with it, a unique turn to litrpg writing. Shady Greg had a great story and told it well. I can't wait for book 2!
June 17, 2022
I liked this book because it was different. Instead of the dungeon crawlers point of view you get the merchants point of view. The main character, Greg, goes on his own adventure in this book. It was a fun read.
June 25, 2022
Entertaining bit of Gamelit that is primarily focused on running a shop. The plot has plenty of engaging conflict. This isn’t the crunchiest book but it has plenty of gaming mechanics intrinsic to the world. Fun book.
Read
November 29, 2022I didn't finish the book. It wasn't the greatest, and the writing style grated on my nerves. First-person POVs have to pulled off with a certain degree of finesse, and I found that lacking in this one.
May 6, 2022
I should know better.
But I ran out of stuff to read, and here we are. The only thing wrong is the story and characters, otherwise it is fine. Just like most other Locke books.
But I ran out of stuff to read, and here we are. The only thing wrong is the story and characters, otherwise it is fine. Just like most other Locke books.
May 30, 2022
Interesting tale
There is a story I was never expecting to hear. Very interesting though. Kind of fun from the NPC standpoint.
There is a story I was never expecting to hear. Very interesting though. Kind of fun from the NPC standpoint.
June 7, 2022
MC Is Utterly stupid. I thought this would be interesting story, it ended up being just revenge story. If you like MC getting trampled again and again, then this is the story for you.
January 19, 2023
Didn't Paul have a BILLION gold prices Bounty, dead or alive???
January 29, 2023
Great book
June 18, 2023
What can be worse that reverse deus-ex-machina? repeating deus-ex-machina. Complete garbage regurgitated by a talentless author. Hamster would have been better author.
January 1, 2024
Fascinating story where the LITRPG mechanics are more of a hinderance than a help to people
June 16, 2024
Boring!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews