Rogue Dungeon: A litRPG Adventure

By: James Hunter, eden Hudson

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Roark von Graf - hedge mage and lesser noble of Traisbin - is one of only a handful of Freedom fighters left, and he knows the Resistance’s days are numbered. Unless they do something drastic...

But when a daring plan to unseat the Tyrant King goes awry, Roark finds himself on the run through an interdimensional portal, which strands him in a very unexpected location: an ultra-immersive fantasy video game called Hearthworld. He can’t log out, his magic is on the fritz, and, worst of all, he’s not even human. He’s a low-class, run-of-the-mill Dungeon monster. Some disgusting, blue-skinned creature called a Troll. At least there’s one small silver lining - Roark managed to grab a powerful magic artifact on his way through the portal, and with it he might just be able to save his world after all.

Unless, of course, the Tyrant King gets to him first...

From James A. Hunter, author of the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online, and eden Hudson, author of Legend of the Treesinger and the Jubal Van Zandt Series, comes an exciting new litRPG, dungeon-core adventure you won’t want to put down!

“An excellent start to a series, this book has everything I look for in a fantasy novel: action, intrigue, and evolution!” (Dakota Krout, author of the Divine Dungeon and the Completionist Chronicles)

©2018 James Hunter, eden Hudson (P)2018 James Hunter, eden Hudson

Solid start to a unique series.

There are a few things that make this series stand out. I like the guy from a pure fantasy world tossed into a video game world concept, I like that respawning is a dangerous prospect. Especially for the monsters. Characters are pretty decent. I like the diversity of troll types and evolutions.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

It's ok kind of predictable. But good story!

has a pretty predictable storyline but good character personality and build up help move the story along.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic junk food read

Enjoyable, fun, and fast paced yet a choppy chapter construction makes it feel a bit clunky while the characters and story lack any sort of real depth.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A fantasy realm collides with Virtual Reality

OK, I am going to come clean here. I am unquestioningly a huge fan of James Hunter. I enjoy everything he’s written from this Urban Fantasy Yancy Lazarus, his Litrpg Series Viridian Gate Online, to that grocery list he dropped while shopping the other day. I must also say, that you might further consider me to be biased because I do have a story in his upcoming Viridian Gate Anthology novel Side Quests, but that does not make anything I am about to say untrue or inaccurate.

This is a genuinely brilliant book, that much like the Land of the Undying by Dave Willmarth is just as interesting in the real world as it is in the game world. The “real world” is actually a fantasy realm in which the hero, Roark is a rebel. He fights against an evil Usurper who has used his ability to control magics unlike every mage before him to steal an empire. The setting seems to be slightly German in tone, with an interesting magic system in which written words convey power. When his attack on the Tyrant fails he tries to escape through a portal, which is a dicey proposition at best, and he finds himself not where he wanted to be, but in a strange world with new magics and an unlimited lifespan that allows him to respawn. What he doesn’t realize is that he has entered Hearthworld, which is actually an MMORPG. Obviously, he has no clue that he is in a video game, and simply treats it like he has entered another world which is a logical conclusion for him to reach.

That, my friends is the brilliance of this story. Roark is an interesting protagonist, and oddly the real antagonist is a player named Pwner Boner 007, that is a game name that will stand beside the most legendary Leroy Jenkins. That isn’t to say that the Tyrant lord doesn’t loom and play in the back of Roark’s mind, but honestly, he really goes at Pwner Boner 007 enough that he qualifies as the bad guy. That is another strength of this book, it goes some serious to silly and no matter the tone Roark plays it straight.

Truly, this book was far too short. I loved every second of it, and really think that this is quite possibly one of the best series he’s done to date. It stands right beside VGO. Don’t think that I am discounting eden Hudson, either. She is an incredible writer, and her novel, Two Faced, is about as top notch as they come. She has some serious chops. I mean like Mr. Miyagi chops. I know I said that I respected how well James was able to co-write with Aaron Crash because it seemed like it was a single voice, and the same is true here. Only thing is the voice is very different in tone from War God. This is a masterful piece of combining writing styles, vision, and attitudes. This book blew me away at every turn. The only drawback was that it was too short.

Now you might be calling me out on how this fits into the dungeon category for this special, and I’m going to tell you it is because Roark becomes a part of the dungeon. He grows in power and manages to lead a section of it all by himself. I can see him eventually taking the entire dungeon over at some point in the future.

The narration by Nick Pohdel is outstanding. He transitions Roark’s voice slowly as he gains levels, and it is subtle, but so realistic that you have to pay attention. He plays monsters so well, and embodies the snark of Pwner Boner 007. There simply is no touching the man here. He is amazing to listen to, every characte has their own voice, which are utterly distinctive and outstanding. His villains are just as great as his heroes, and he absolutely steals the show with his portrayal of Roark. I loved listening to him, and if you want to hear more get the Gam3 or Super Sales on Superheroes 2. Good stuff there.

Hunter and Hudson (they sound like colonial marines from Aliens don't they?) really are an amazing team. I really expect a lot from them in the future with this series. It is scary just how good it is, and it really makes me happy to see thme get recognized for the incredible work they are doing. I don't recommend you get this book. I demand it. You deserve this incredibly conceived and executed story more than you know. Get it, grab it, go for it but don't let it get passed you.

Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. Getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!

As seen on the LITRPG AUDIOBOOK PODCAST DUNGEON SPECIAL, please check it out on Youtube.com

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

It was ok

The story was ok, both the author and reader put too much emphasis on sword techniques and their pronunciation, and the differences in characters levels made no difference. All in all, it was Ok at best.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

I love this book!!!

I have read all the books this author has put out and I love them all but this one is the cream of the crop is amazing I love it so much I read it on royal road then got the book then got the audio book! I can’t wait for the sequel!!! If your thinking about buying it do it! You won’t regret it! 100% worth the $ I would have payed more happily!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Rushed and short

I Pre-ordered due to recommendations. Unfortunately it is not up to snuff. Feels like there's a good story to tell but instead it was rushed.
The character seems to rush into challenges under prepared with no actual reason to rush. More to lose then to gain.

Only good part was the narrator - and Kaz.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not a RPG!

struggled to listen to story never turned in to a RPG. Half of the story is missing.

Good Story that doesn't understand stats

A fresh take on the litrpg genre that seems to not work with it's own stats. Seems that the writer seemed more on the real aspects then the rpg he put in with stats making a huge difference but fighting someone who has over two times the level as you makes 0 sense. Seems that the rpg stats are more of a sloppy story contrant then something the people of the world live in

Exceptional

This is an excellent first installment in a new series. It takes the traditional LitRPG formula, and puts a perspective spin on it. Fantastically original!
And as always, Nick Podell did an amazing job narrating. It was when I seen Nick's name that I decided to give this book a try. I was not disappointed.
Well done to all involved!

Slow Start but stick with it - amazing performance

Narrator is the best I've listened to on audible and played the characters perfectly, the book starts a bit hectic and is a bit hard to follow at the beginning but stick with it and your wont be disappointed.

The author has a very unique take on the game world and the magic system is fantastic.

Characters are engaging and you care about them quickly. Defiantly worth the read.

Took me a bit to get into, but it hooked me.

For whatever reason, I couldn't pay much attention to the first little bit, but as soon as he got into the game world I was hooked. It has a few unique elements to it, like the magic system. I found it interesting. I also enjoy the creature evolutions. I'm looking forward to the next one. Nick of course does a great job narrating.

Excellent

Highly recommend, really enjoyed this and the narrator is excellent - looking fwd to book 2

a great 1st book if the series.

I totally enjoyed this, captivating, great story line and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

Great Dungeon builder!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. The main character and supporting cast are well developed despite the shorter story. Narration is very polished!

Excellent narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m sad it’s finished really wanted more . Narrator was brilliant and performed very well . Lots of action and a bit of humour. Can’t wait for book two ! Well done James Hunter keep this up please .

Not your average dungeon story

First the bad news - now I have another series I am going to have to follow!
Now the good news - same as the bad news!
I loved this new take on the dungeon story. The main character is not a gamer sucked into their game nor a hero who becomes the dungeon that they keep raiding, but a somewhat flawed (mostly) good guy from another fantasy world who gets transported into a dungeon mob. I loved the scene where they wake up in the new body and try to come to terms with their game interface with no frame of reference for what they are seeing.
The story is well written and the characters interesting. The story finishes at a suitable point, not with a cliffhanger but definitely leaving you wanting more.
Nick makes an excellent job of narrating the story providing a number of voices for the characters that fit well with the written description.
Definitely recommend

I could stopp listen

to could not stop listening

wish it was longer

looking forward for next book u

0 of 1 people found this review helpful