The Dungeon Book

By: Gareth Hanrahan

Narrated by: Lawrence Neale

A young girl is left to die in a wizard's dungeon but finds a new home with the monsters around her in this humorous and heartfelt standalone epic fantasy from acclaimed author Gareth Hanrahan.

"Full of wit and adventure, twists and turns, wonderful monsters, and astonishing revelations. An absolute joy." —M. R. Carey, author of Infinity Gate

Enter a world of dungeons and dragons, magic and manticores, and goblins and gargoyles ...

Bait doesn't remember a time before the dungeon. Before the dragon stole her from her cot. She doesn't know what her name was before she was handed over to the monstrous denizens of the dungeon beneath the sorcerer's tower. Luckily for Bait, they decided not to eat her. And so she grew up in the dark—the goblins her adopted family, a vengeful minotaur her protector, a sentient skull her tutor, and a blob of corridor slime her main source of nutrition.

But the labyrinthine dungeon, with its haunted halls, buried temples and forgotten magics, draws treasure hunters like moths to flame. And as the outside world starts to intrude, Bait will learn what it means to be monstrous and she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

"The Dungeon Book manages the difficult task of being epic and heartfelt both at once, and does it with style. I fell in love with Bait and her menagerie of friends immediately." —Django Wexler, author of How to Become the Dark Lordand Die Trying

"For a story set in the deepest, darkest dungeon, The Dungeon Book absolutely bursts with warmth, heart, and energy. One of the best things you're going to read this year." —Jackson Ford, author of The Bone Raiders

Critic reviews

"The Dungeon Book manages the difficult task of being epic and heartfelt both at once, and does it with style. I fell in love with Bait and her menagerie of friends immediately."—Django Wexler, author of How To Become The Dark Lord and Die Trying

"Full of wit and adventure, twists and turns, wonderful monsters, and astonishing revelations. An absolute joy."—M. R. Carey, author of Infinity Gate

"For a story set in the deepest, darkest dungeon, The Dungeon Book absolutely bursts with warmth, heart, and energy. One of the best things you're going to read this year."
—Jackson Ford, author of The Bone Raiders

"The Dungeon Book is a wonderful thing. Witty and charming, it’s a love letter both to Kipling’s inspirational story and Hanrahan’s enduring immersion in dungeon lore. As always, Gareth’s imagination is the star, and the story flips your expectations every time you think you know where it’s going. A completely delightful book."—Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War

"The Dungeon Book is chock-full of wit and weirdness. It’s a heroine’s journey turned (literally) upside-down, where you’re rooting for the monsters and wishing adventurers would stay home and mind their own business. Gareth Hanrahan excels at creating wondrously unique settings, and he’s done so yet again. This book was terrific."—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wild

"The Dungeon Book is the kind of novel packed full of wonder and adventure that makes people fall in love with fantasy."—Cameron Johnston, author of First Mage on the Moon

"Gareth has created something full of heart that will delight anyone who has ever been brave enough to roll the dice and delve a dungeon."—RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships

"The reflective prose beautifully balances the wisdom of the old with the ambitions of the young, while the immersive worldbuilding feels both ancient and adventurous. Best of all, the snarky talking sword Spellbreaker is back with all his mischief and mayhem ... A powerful epic fantasy finale, perhaps the trilogy’s strongest installment."

—Library Journal on The Sword Triumphant

"In the tradition of Tolkien and Eddings, with a richly detailed narrative, well-drawn characters, epic battles, and political and religious intrigues, Hanrahan's outstanding first outing in the Lands of the Firstborn series will thrill fantasy readers—who will anxiously await the next book."—Booklist (Starred Review) on The Sword Defiant

"Gritty and rousing ... [Hanrahan] creates a wonderful sense of tension that is also tinged with sadness ... [and] fully realized environments with rich histories."—BookPage (Starred Review) on The Sword Defiant

Great narrator, clever and funny story

Truly Great fun and tongue-in-check writing and delivery. Loved it. Sly references were appreciated

Fun and cute adventure

Really loved this one, a fun D&D-esque found family fairy tale. Good narration. It's meant to be a stand alone but I'd read another story in this world.

Wow I really loved this

This story has the ring of old fairytales with castles and dungeons and monsters and princesses and kings and protectors. The pacing never lags, there was no waiting to get to the meat of the story, and the characters are beautiful and ugly and sometimes both. 10/10 recommend. PS - you do not need to know anything about D&D but there are easter eggs for those who play.

Interest Story

The story was very heartfelt and full of found family moments. I enjoyed Bait and the Minotaur’s relationship and many of the other side characters in this book. Enjoyable read.