Since starting a crew— and a relationship— with Cyra and Trish, Stern was hopeful… and nervous. They’d officially registered their crew, Pawsitively Irregular, with their icon depicting a polydactyl cat’s paw.
Leaving Darkstone behind, they arrived in Waterrock, settling in to find more crew members. A lucky encounter introduced them to Cammie and Vulk, dwarven siblings. The two were hesitant, but agreed to a trial run through the local dungeon. That first run went well, and Cammie and Vulk signed on permanently with Stern’s crew; however, the camaraderie was a little lacking, so they spent time in the city, training and getting to know one another.
By the time they’d reached the town of Whitewater, they’d started to gel as a unit both inside and out of the dungeons. During their time together, Cammie and Vulk admitted that they were running dungeons to save their mother, who had been fractured when they were children.
It was after a night out that Vulk met his future wife... and an old enemy came back into Stern’s life. Victor Bloodcoin hadn’t forgiven Stern for his son’s death and, by using Vulk as a hostage, the old mayor forced a confrontation. Once the dust settled, Victor was dead, Vulk had been freed, and Stern had a goal: calling on his family, he had the dwarves’ mother retrieved and reborn, then brought her to the city. The happy reunion allowed Vulk and his lover to settle down and marry.
Cammie stayed on even though her brother had given up running, and the crew headed north toward Mistwood. The writing was nearly on the wall, and emotions were running high. They needed to find more crew members and see how that would affect them— they’d find out when they reached the next city.
Daniel James Schinhofen is a self-published author in the burgeoning genre of LitRPG/Gamelit. He published his first book, Last Horizon: Beta, in October of 2016, and has recently published his fifteenth book. A best-selling author on Amazon multiple times, his four series have achieved name recognition in the genre. When not slavishly typing away at the next book, Daniel tries to unwind with video games, playing with his dog Sugar, or going for walks around his neighborhood. His books can be found easily via his website http://schinhofenbooks.com/. Daniel can be found via Twitter using the handle @DJSchinhofen.
Was that the end? it felt like an ending. If this is indeed the final book of Dungeon Walkers, it was a good ending. I've been disappointed in several of Daniel Schinhofen's latest books, but this one (and the series as a whole) was pretty good. Yes it got too schmaltzy, and yes it did become another carbon copy there in the last few chapters right down the the group wedding with the signature Schinhofen wedding speech. -but this one didn't grate on my nerves like some of the others did.
I feel that this one is just more fluff than story.
The conflict comes off as forced and lacks any consequence or resolution. The dungeon crawls are inconsequential. Three books in, and I have no idea where the overall story is going.
Alternate universe, LitRPG, quests, magic, other worlds, harem adult situations
Stern and his five crew meet more challenges.
While intriguing, there is no national government as all cities revolve around the dungeon, so mayor is the top job, though the Walkers Guild, which posts intercity quests, and registers both individual Walkers and groups, remain neutral politically. All those who want to dungeon delve must complete a six month training course, which must be paid for, and apparently instructors can be bribed to pass students who don't qualify as well as to stint on training. There are three dungeons for each tier of difficulty, and one can only complete a dungeon a maximum of three times before the adventurers must move on to the next dungeon or retire.
While the dead outside a dungeon cannot be brought back to life, those who die in a dungeon can be raised, if the party spends the points earned for completing the dungeon to buy each of the four soul shards from the dungeon shopkeeper at the completion of the dungeon. This is where the limit on repeating a dungeon a maximum of three times becomes important. When a dungeon Walkers dies inside a dungeon, the soul shards can only be purchased from the dungeon shopkeeper in that particular dungeon.
While some gain one or more Perks due to racial bonuses, the first time a dungeon is completed, a Walker can gain a new Perk from a choice of three random yet beneficial options. Besides the Perk, the dungeon party also earns points that can be used on equipment and/or to buy soul shards. Those who specialize in spending dungeon points to buy soul shards of other Walkers can, at later levels, join Rescue Squad, Walkers who repeat a dungeon focused on earning the dungeon points needed to buy soul shards from the dungeon shopkeeper. Soul shards of a fallen Walker can only be retrieved from the dungeon they died in, and the cost to purchase the shards goes up in price as the Walker becomes more skilled and modified by the dungeon tier difficulty.
Reinforcing the LitRPG aspect are the dungeons, with three dungeons per tier, and Walkers being limited in the number of times each dungeon can be completed -- three. Cities literally revolve around the local dungeon, with local economy devoted to supporting the population and the local skills to supporting the developing dungeon Walkers. The citizens all share one language as well, regardless of their race, and each city state is self contained, the local guards patrolling a day's travel outside the city walls. Roads, once established between cities are apparently self maintained, but bandits don't seem to be an issue as wandering monsters are more troublesome. Coins can be earned by completing quests outside the dungeons, usually collecting plants or monster animal parts, or by foregoing that and delivering communication pouches between the cities.
There are some surprising revelations from the MC's parents, and the parents and close friends are eager to step in and assist Stern and his party, providing armor and weapons powerful enough to make the next several tiers of dungeon diving easier for Stern and his crew.
Religion is present, but muted, as there is only an unnamed mother goddess who oversees the dungeons and the shopkeepers, as well as the temples where locals can get healing and soul shards can be used to resurrect fallen Walkers.
In many ways much of the last part of this novel was filled with visiting, meeting relatives, shopping, and the happy ending associated with living the life of the rich and famous. But there are thirty-three tiers, making for ninety-nine dungeons in the world. There remain dungeons yet undiscovered, and Stern and his crew have only completed the three tiers; thirty yet remain. Even Stern's parents and their crew have only completed twenty-five tiers.
All in all, an interesting setup, and the introduction that other worlds exist and can be visited adds more layers to the initially simplistic world. Of course, the writing remains absorbing, with distinctive characters, action and drama, and good story pacing. So, yeah, I'm interested in reading more about Stern and his family and friends. Next, buy book 4!
Introduction: Greetings, fellow beings from realms near and far. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf from the frozen world of HowlStrom. As the icy winds howl and the snow blankets my homeland, I find solace in the tales of other worlds. Today, I bring forth my thoughts on "Dungeon Walkers #3" by Daniel Schinhofen, a tale that warmed even my frosty heart.
Basic Plot Summary: The tale revolves around Stern and his newly formed crew, Pawsitively Irregular. As they journey from Darkstone to Waterrock, they encounter dwarven siblings, Cammie and Vulk. Their quest? To save their mother, fractured in their youth. But as they delve deeper into dungeons and face old foes, they discover that the true challenge lies in the bonds they forge and the emotions they confront.
Analysis/Evaluation: Schinhofen's narrative is a dance of emotions, camaraderie, and challenges. The dungeons, though treacherous, serve as a backdrop to the intricate relationships and personal growth of the characters. The tale is a testament to the strength of bonds formed in adversity.
Characters: Stern, the hopeful leader, is the anchor of the crew. Cyra and Trish, his romantic interests, add layers of complexity to his character. Cammie and Vulk, the dwarven siblings, bring depth with their personal quest. Each character is meticulously crafted, their emotions raw and relatable.
Structure: The narrative flows seamlessly from one city to the next, from one challenge to another. The balance between dungeon crawling and character development is commendable. Schinhofen masterfully intertwines multiple perspectives, giving readers a holistic view of the world.
Impact: The tale resonated deeply with me. Just as the winter of HowlStrom tests our resilience, the challenges faced by Stern and his crew test their mettle. The themes of love, loss, and friendship are universal, transcending realms and species.
Hook and Thesis: The allure of the tale lies in its intricate character dynamics set against the backdrop of treacherous dungeons. It's a story of hope, perseverance, and the lengths one would go for those they hold dear.
Praise and Critique: Schinhofen's world-building is impeccable. The cities of Waterrock, Whitewater, and Mistwood come alive with vivid descriptions. However, some might argue that the focus on relationships overshadows the plot at times. The change in narration style also garnered mixed reactions.
Evaluation: "Dungeon Walkers #3" is a rollercoaster of emotions. While it excels in character development and world-building, it might benefit from a more balanced approach to plot progression.
Comparison: While reminiscent of other fantasy tales, "Dungeon Walkers #3" stands out with its emphasis on emotional depth and character dynamics. It's a refreshing take on the genre.
Conclusion: From the icy plains of HowlStrom, I, Kiba Snowpaw, bestow upon "Dungeon Walkers #3" a frosty nod of approval. It's a tale that will warm your heart, even in the coldest of winters. May your journeys be filled with adventure and may the bonds you forge stand the test of time.
Daniel really went hard on feeling the characters emotions in this book, anger, sorrow and happiness really escape the pages making the reader- or me at least, feel the emotions of the characters. Really enjoyed this book with some old friends dropping into this story from a previous series brought back memories of the older book series and a set of characters I really loved. May have to go back an re-read the Alpha World series again. Thanks for the book Daniel.
I still enjoyed this third installment but there is a persistent problem with this author's series that as the harem grows it feels like more and more of the story is consumed with affirmations of love and reassuring insecurities. That in itself isn't a bad thing, and part of the charm of earlier volumes, but it just doesn't leave much space left over for the story to grow.
I am looking forward to the fourth book but that may be the end of the road for me if the story progresses as little as it did in this one.
Stern over comes obstacles in life an running dungeons an finding love .
Stern sets out to just running dungeons retrieving shards letting lives being reborn to continuing living . But fate or maybe something else changed things . Not only did he do as he planned he made friends an some enemies along the way . But found love not once but three times an married all three of them at the same time . A marriage of one male three females all of the same crew running dungeons an retrieving shards together . Plus two other crew members as well . recommend reading excellent series .
I have always loved Daniel's books. This one was by far a home run. It can't thank you enough. There is a part at 80% that just.... wow. When the group walks into the guild hall and calls out the name of the other guild.. I just lost it. Ugly crying and laughing. And believe me it was ugly. The fact that you can make someone feel that much emotion from the written word is amazing. Kudos to you sir.
Great writing and editing. To much character development. This book was easily 50% relationship analysis - which gets repetitive quickly. I found myself skipping page after page waiting for a new scene.
The action was quick and not very detailed.
The story arch took a huge leap - then dropped off. I was left wondering where the next story arch was headed.
This nearly ended up on the "couldn't finish" pile; not because it was poorly written, but because it was boring. I won't punish it unduly ratings-wise, but I found I really didn't care about what (little) was going on so a 4 is more than fair.
I think I read 10 other books in the time it took me to get through this in fits and starts, so it's a good thing this series is over (seems to be, at least) as I couldn't be bothered to read another one of them.
Yup, Pawly is back. Oh and all the rest too. But never mind them, she’s the reason I keep coming back and she is the same lovable character. Overall I found a good balance between dungeon adventure and character development with some really good “aww” moments.
If you've read the first two books in this series (or any recent novel by the author) you know what to expect here. Personally, I don't mind the slow pace, as I read other novels that rock along as a fast pace.
As in the past, Stern, Cyra, Trish, and Cammie are diving dungeons and pulling out shards. Nothing surprising there. They add two new team members in Jon and Nicole in this book, but it doesn't change much.
The team finds conflict with people who don't like lykians or irregulars, and there are a few small fights. The writing has almost turned Zen, as certain themes keep appearing over and over again in various novels.
This book set the stage for the next in the series. We now have a solid team for the next levels, very well handled, and openness with the family which clears that story point up well. The only downside was that I reached the end of the book long before I wanted it to end. This may be my new favorite series.
For me this has been a wonderful story I like to character development and the way the people in the story interact with each other both good and bad seem very legitimate to me. It has adventure it has challenges both physical and emotional and I like the way they overcome the challenges. So far I've been enjoying the story and hope it continues.
Really liked the first two books. This one, not so much. Was more like a girls youth romance book. The dungeon running was treated like an after thought and a annoyance, rather than what the book was suppose to be about. And the stupid childish drama with the one dimensional bullies was pure laziness by the Author. Do Better! The next book better be about dungeon running or I'm done.
Catching up with Stern and the girls is a blast. There’s a bunch of surprises in store with this volume and it’s going to be a long six months waiting for 4!
Meow ! must read ! Schinhofen has done it again. Inducing Excessive laughter, warm fuzzy/fluffy feeling. Also providing a great growing story, while making a statement about some real life issues. My thanks
This has turned into just as good a series as Binding Words! Characters are great, action is great, humor is freaking amazing!! Such a great series and the 3rd installment just continues the awesomeness!
Another awesome story by a fabulous author!!! As always wonderful story telling,with wonderful characters!!! What a great world you've devised for our imagination to play in!!!! More more more
Great story, but is this the end of the journey? Where do they go from here. The author doesn't give any hints regarding what next for these characters we've come to love.
Dungeon delving adventure and blossoming romance in an interesting fantasy world. A flying cat, a stone puppy, and good friends confront monsters and bigotry to save strangers from death.
Highly enjoyed the read. Knowing some of the background behind the world from other series by the author just added to the fun. Hoping the series continues, and the Goddess smiles on their story.
Another Great Book ! So balanced now hopefully things will go much more smoothly for everyone from this point forward! Keep up the good work! And Thank you for the many days of entertainment!
This is a fun series, especially with all the callbacks to previous works. The story is moving pretty fast for a slice of life pace, and the new characters mesh well with the developing plot. Good stuff!
Another great addition to Schinhofen's works. Full of raw emotion and the ability to uplift spirits. Schinhofen is a great writer in the genre, and you can certainly tell from Dungeon Walkers 3.
Daniel takes us back to his Dungeon Walkers series, and brings back some old friends in the newest addition to the series. Highly recommend anything by Daniel Schinhofen.