Sanctuary

Underworld, Book 3

By: Apollos Thorne

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

After coming face to face with death, Elorion and company have found a dungeon to call their own. They’ve fought hard to earn a stint of peace, but Mistress Nava is still out there and her captain is now on the hunt. The impending arrival of the army of minotaurs will be the greatest threat they have faced thus far. 

With their new-found freedom comes a myriad of additional dangers. They’re running low on food, the dungeon is in disrepair, and they must find new hunting grounds to continue growing in power. As their chosen leader, Elorion is faced with an impossible task. Will he weaponize their dungeon, develop his party’s strengths, or seek ancient power from the long-forgotten depths of the Underworld?

©2019 Apollos Thorne (P)2019 Podium Publishing

Take refuge in this story

I have to admit that in my opinion, Sanctuary started a little slow. It seemed like several chapters occurred before an exciting incident occurred, but I have to say that when the book started going it was really cooking. I actually laughed at the punch an imp in the face reference, because that was the one line that really stood out to me in book one, and it was nice to see it boomerang back in a funny way.

Book three takes off with the humans figuring out how to build up their dungeon and farm while they’re at it in order to get more levels before the much vaunted minotaurs show up to destroy them all. Now, this series has vexed me in a number of ways. For example, the number of levels the players/kidnapped gamers can get are incredibly high, as is their attributes. I always have to wonder why a writer makes so much work for themselves because, to me, lower numbers are easier to deal with. Like my pappy always says, Maths is hard.

Anyways, the story does take off, and once it gets going it off like a shot. Elorion and company all manage to snag some neat abilities, for example he really increases the things he can do shapeshifting, while his gal pal literally becomes the wind. The each transform into something beyond human and become deadlier than ever. Personally, I don’t know how Thorne keeps track of all of his character’s powers and abilities because I know I would completely forget something critical and ten a reader would say, well if they’d just used power XYZ they’d have had no problems. The story is pretty compelling and more importantly it is fun. The last battle goes on for a long time and lasts until just about every person on either side is spent.

The real fun will come once they have to face their former succubus mistress, well, the survivors will. That is a build up that I can’t wait to see. The story adds in things like dungeon building to the mix, so that not only are Elorian and Eris leveling themselves and others, but their dungeon as well. In fact there is one complete section that deals with them doing things to further empower their dungeon, so dungeon fans will enjoy this as well. There are times when the story feels rushed, but over all it is well paced. The story definitely left me wanting more.

Graham Halstead once again does an excellent job. I think he has a firm grip on the series and the characters, and I have no complaints about the job that he does here. I find him to be superb and enjoy listening to him.

Final score? A solid 8 stars. While entertaining, I really haven’t seen any new ground covered aside from the small amount of dungeon building. Lots of good fight scenes, but no massive character development. Elorian and Eris seem about the same as they did last book. Add in some growth and the scoe would be a lot higher. Still a very solid 8.

Say Eight!!!

Another great book

I personally love this series The characters are great and the pacing is excellent. Are usually read these books in one go usually though out an entire day. And unlike some books this one gives you an ending and still leaves you wanting more can’t wait for the next one keep up the good work

A treat to enjoy!

Great book. Things and events flow and progress smoothly. Great pace, great action. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Best Ever!

I couldn’t stop listening to these books please make more as soon as you can!

Pretty good continuation of previous books...

If you’ve already listened to the two previous books then this one is worth the credit. Its strengths and weaknesses are pretty much the same. So if the flaws haven’t put you off so far, you will enjoy this book.

I really like the plot/story and characters in this series, and when those aspects are being furthered I am always 100% engaged. That said, the author has a habit of including overly, long exposition about the magic system and stat interactions. Unfortunately, he mostly chooses to indulge in this during battle scenes, which coupled with the ho-hum narrator makes them drag on and on.

I actually don’t mind exposition on magic systems and world mechanics, but the author’s tendency to make a 3 minute battle scene last 15 minutes often makes me zone out and stop paying attention.

Lastly, the narrator isn’t necessarily bad, especially because he is accurately portraying a 16/17 year-old gamer. However, he does this job too well... in that he has chosen to use the cadence and tone of a teenager responding an adult asking him about his day at school. The sound ends up being a constant buzz of “vocal fry” with very understated dynamics. (It pains me to use an ageist, Evening sNews, scaremonger term here, but that shoe certainly is snug in this case).

Still, as with the last two books, the good outweighs the bad for me. I do hope that Señor Thorne starts trying to do a better job with the exposition of dry, game mechanics in the next book.

Great story

Excellent characters. Super powerful but makes sense. There is a nice progression and unique skill is rewarded.

loved it

this book deals with the gang getting the dugeon ready an stronger for the battle to come an getting stronger another great book

Action, leveling up, and base building

Another great entry into the series, expanding the world, giving us more time with all the humans, and some really great fights.

I can't wait until the next book in the series!

Really can't give more than 1 star.

I can't really give more than 1-star given I had to stop listening within fifteen minutes.

It's been a while since I read book 2, so I was surprised by how immediately unlikable the female love interest was (Eris. sp?). I vaguely remember her scolding him in the first few books for being a loner, but that shit starts strong immediately in this book.

I eventually gave up when the new shapeshifting protagonist turned into a dog and asked said scolding harpy if she wanted him to be her new pet. I think it was meant to be played as flirty? It came off as cringey and pathetic though.

I can't read books where I don't vibe with the protagonist. I also can't stand it when a character is annoying and it's never mentioned, just accepted.

If this sounds like it'd bother you too, give this a skip.

amazing

love this series had me hooked from start to finish couldn't wait for the last to come to audible and bought the book version of the newest one in the series

I like this story but......

I've listened to the first two stories a few times now, and I have enjoyed this third installment overall. But the narrator's odd pronunciation of certain words is driving me crazy. I've had to limit my listening to half an hour at a time, because I find myself infuriated.
Mana being pronounced as Mah-na instead of Man-a.
Minotaur pronounced as Min-eh-tor
As both words are said very, very often it makes my blood boil.