Haley and the Spooky Dungeon

Haley and Nana #3

by M.C.A. Hogarth

A Girl, a Great-Grandma, and a Dungeon!

Having found the town of Refuge a trainer, Haley is tasked with the system's newest quest: to set up a starter dungeon for her local adventurers in time for Hallowe’en! Haley’s not sure she’s the girl for this task, since she’s not into creepy things. Fortunately, she has some unexpected (and enthusiastic) help, and of course, guidance from Nana... and maybe by the end, she begins to see things in a different (and creepier!) light.

Join Haley for this third installment in the adventures of a post-apocalyptic world with a game system imposed on it by magical aliens. It contains yet another recipe, because (once again), that's the kind of story this is. Break out your pans and make some pumpkin bread and then watch Haley design her way through another quick read!

Genres: Fantasy

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Daughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.

Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is third in a series. Read them in order. Not because you have to (you don’t, really), but because you intend to read them all and reading out of order just doesn’t satisfy as well.

I can see that I’m starting to say the same things about each story in the series. So maybe it’s enough to say “by this time, you know what you’re getting so go on and read it already.” It’s all I’m going to say this time, at any rate…

A note about Chaste: This one was more isolated than the rest so we barely saw anyone except for Haley and her special project partner. So very, very chaste.

[Melissa McShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved the earlier books in the series, but this is the first one that had me laughing, thanks to Old Witch Mavis. If she really is an early MMORPG player, she would still have been old when she started, which makes her EVEN COOLER. Her enthusiasm for her role and her love of all things spooky really made the story for me.

I also like the development of the "dungeon" (the haunted house) as an extension of the system's rules, and Haley's creation of it satisfied me thoroughly, between all the monsters she invents and how it fits into Mavis's house. A truly excellent story, and I'm eager for the next installment.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series remains insanely cute and hilariously inventive. I found insanely cute /with a Halloween theme/ doing my brain in slightly and the gamer mechanics starting to be a bit much so I'm rounding down but still 4 stars.

[Jannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a fun fulfilling to read as the last and I loved Widow Mavis and her obsession with all things spooky
These books are just making me feel very happy

[Jon Svenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're now at book three in the series of novellas. Haley and Nana are as consistent as the day is long, with Haley helping bring people together with her quests and calligraphy pages while Nana does the same thing through food.

I'll stay away from the plot because with a book this short I'd be afraid of spoiling it. I liked that we're seeing people of all ages, from very young to very old in the town. The books are beyond charming, no doubt about it.

I did think that the aliens spoke to Haley much more frequently than they ever had before. All she had to do was ask a question and most of the time she would get a response. In the first book she struggled to get them to say anything.

All in all, this is a great series. It doesn't take itself too seriously, the editing is tight, and the books don't overstay their welcome. I'm looking forward to book four. 5/5*

[medicmsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dungeon-building for Bosses and Quest-Givers alike :-)

Haley returns! Since every good RPG needs a starter dungeon, Haley works with her local Halloween enthusiast to upgrade her hometown with something appropriately challenging. “Haley #3” is a fun read (and also a stealth tutorial on dungeon-building). I thoroughly enjoyed this book; looking forward to rereading it while waiting for more in the “Haley and Nana” series. :-)

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3, spoilers for earlier ones ahead.

Haley's experiments with ink are interspaced when the widow Mavis shows up and recounts how she could have died but took the chance to help her grandchildren and their descendants in creating a new world.

She wants, it turns out, for her home to be a haunted house. This is a Dungeon, which our Questgiver can make for training purposes. It involves dolls, plastic skeletons, discoveries about loot, consciously trying to invent inks, candy, and the need for some low-level and some really good loot.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each book builds nicely on the previous ones. It feels as though this is one big story told in 6 instalments. They are very cohesive. Once again it feels very dense with world building and progress for the length.

[Henry Reidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley and the spooky dungeon

This was a delightful story like the first two. I would recommend it anyone!! I cannot wait for the next book.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

[A.A.B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues its impressive steak of short cozy comforting and relaxing stories. Perfect reading material for the end of a stressful day (or week). I dread finishing this series.