The Book of Dungeons - A weak to strong litRPG epic [Finished]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

World of Warcraft'sfirst dungeon designer is writing a sweeping litRPG fantasy featuring heavy game mechanics, a progression of pets, boss fights, spells, unique magic items, and base-building. Weak to Strong MC with a slow burn. The first half of book 1 is slice-of-life, so don't expect early combat, but when it picks up, it goes.

The Book of Dungeonsis a ruthless new VR RPG in which no one respawns. To one player, the stakes of winning its battle royale couldn't be higher. Broke and homeless, our MC must outwit 63 other gamers, each brilliant in their own right. Can alliances last with so much on the line? The game world spans a continent filled with cities, dungeons, monsters, and magic. As years pass, contestants amass experience, rank up skills, unlock dozens of spells, and plunder OP magic items.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: John Staats, author

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 2,277
Views: 1,489,136

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

SagesBladeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The prolog is just that a well put together background and the first chapter of the main story is well written looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. Seems to be fully finished as well so no clog hangers while waiting for stuff to be written 😀
FoarmRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The concept of the story is quite refreshing after reading a number of isekais. You just know up front the mc's going back to reality.
The mc doesn't heavily rely on plot armour, has to work hard and doesn't get overpowered. You can even see him grow as a person.
Very good world and character building. Not battle heavy, but it has some brilliant battles.
John.MalkinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I started reading this story when I saw the author's background. I'm still reading it through to the end because of the author's writing and his engagement with his readers. We're in this together with him and that is something many author's don't do.
The writing is good and the story is outstanding both in it's creativity and execution, as well as how it has played out. This is a story I have recommended to others and one which, when it ultimately because a book series, will purchase. There are many stories I will say that about, even if I enjoyed the story.
LeftBoltzRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I helped edit the first couple drafts and love doing so for every new book, because then I can reread it all over again. With each new draft he really cleans it up and makes it that much better. I need 11 more words to finish this review. 2 more.
Npc3Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Great writing, interesting concept, MC isn't overpowered (yet) but is using ingenuity to find alternative power. Not cringy or edgy. Low-medium number of status screens, not pages filled with math.
If you like intelligent characters written well exploring a detailed and vibrant world, while also having a set goal tied to complex moral choices - this is for you!!
Cannot recommend enough
AthalahelmRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
I have enjoyed it. The base building was as little off as the MC got into it as a show of support for his partner. He was never really committed, and it shows- so there's a lot of halfway stuff going on.
Combat was excellent. Loot, lore, and execution all good.
Magic system was kinda messed up.
VEXIARoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Overall: Okay, so I’m 5 chapters in (3 prologues [which are just chapters prior to entering the virtual world] + 2 chapters). So far, it’s been 60% world-building, 30% introspection, 10% dialogue, and 0% action.
Character: 3/5 I can’t say I like the MC much. I get he had a tough upbringing being raised by an aunt and uncle who didn’t particularly want him after his mom abandoned him—but he comes across as extremely judgmental of everyone else simply for having a different life experience than him. So far, he’s judged players for how they choose to interact or ask questions.
[Example: One player asks if real-life skills, such as boxing, will give them an advantage in the game. Our MC calls him a “showoff,” and a ‘female sidekick background character’ finds this so amusing!]
I thought it a fair question for a virtual reality, but this pretty much sets the tone for the MC’s personality.
Even the DEVs aren’t spared his grumbling about how they built the game he’s playing “to win money.”
Apache comes across as bitter while also thinking incredibly highly of himself because he “doesn’t belong,” is “well read,” and obviously being a “loner” means he’ll do better than all the rich people who will take more risks…because they’re “rich.” Logic = 0. Ego = 100.
I am not exactly sure what this guy’s definition of rich is given the the prize money amount.
While his personality is not an uncommon Characterization for the LitRPG genre, there is nothing else of substance to soften or distract me from it. Dude is one bad comment or selfish decision away from being a straight-up AH. Some people may like it, but it was difficult to keep reading when I wasn’t enjoying the character and nothing else was holding my interest.
So far, all other characters in the story are very much in the background and exist as little more than props for the MC to grumble about, judge, or talk to “because they’re girls!”
Story: 2/5 The idea of a virtual game where you fall asleep and time passes differentl
bobnbobbersRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
This series is a difficult one to review. The first four books are overall pretty great. The pacing is very slow, but the characters are really well written. The world and litRPG mechanics are interesting. The protagonist is intelligent and thoughtful, and the story isn’t driven by contrived scenarios and railroading.
Then you get to book 5 and it all goes to shit. Book 5 is by far the worst book in the series. The story drags on with no real progression for such a long time. The protagonist goes from being intelligent and capable to useless and uninspired. Rather than getting loot and growing stronger the protagonist loses most of their gear, doesn’t get any of the notable kills, and most of the loot gets lost. If you like progression stories and weak to strong characters (like this series is meant to be) then book 5 will hurt you.
Unfortunately this trend of the protagonist being an idiot, coupled with losing loot and missed experience becomes the norm for the remainder of the story. It’s confirmed by author comments that loot is often lost because writing new magic items is difficult, and to stop the protagonist from getting too strong. The result is a story where the only reward for most challenges is the fact that you overcame them.
A big disappointment for me was the protagonist started off as an insightful and intelligent player, but devolves into idiocy and ineptitude for the second half of the series. It feels like at first he is intelligent to make up for being weak, then later he is stupid to make up for being strong. Rather than have meaningful challenges the protagonist is handicapped to maintain some semblance of balance and difficulty.
iridium248Royal Road
★★★ 2.5
It's a real shame when a story can't live up to it's very, very interesting premise - Unfortunately, The Book of Dungeons (so far) - is one such story. The idea is really fascinating, it's effectively a 60-odd player battle royale, with the players all sharing the same virtual world over the course of time dilation.
I was actually really intrigued when they explained the mechanics of how it was all going to work, which were entirely plausible. However, as soon as the protagonist got into the game, everything ground to a screeching halt.
In brief, there's no real sense of urgency or tension - Odd for a series where the battle royale idea is looming. The protagonist and his friends have as much time as they need to leisurely grind for levels (The protagonist spends most of the early chapters as a scribe, while others are having - presumably - more exciting off-screen adventures) while having casual conversation and hookups despite being direct competitors. In all fairness, this is addressed by the writer (Apparently, contestants in Survivor behaved much the same way) but it doesn't make for a riveting read.
Unfortunately, the characters didn't particularly stand out to me, either. The protagonist's initial friends are kind of forgettable, and I struggle to remember to anything that was especially notable about the MC himself. The prose is fine, it's just not describing anything that's especially exciting.
When the inciting incident actually happens, it happens entirely off-screen, with his friends getting ganked...But we don't actually see it happen, and it doesn't feel particularly meaningful since we don't know those people too well and we know they're not dead. The protagonist decides to transition into base-building after that, at which point the already-glacial pace becomes slower still.
All-in-all, I feel The Book of Dungeons should've been promoted as a slow-paced slice-of-life thing. The whole battle royale concept lured me in, but it's somewhat frustrating fo
royalEggsRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
World: in 20 chapters we have learned little about it.Our presenter was only in the initial city and its surroundings.
Characters: in this book are not too good but also not too bad, although sometimes they are quite stupid and contradict themselves.
history: This is not a groundbreaking story. Her distinguishing feature is the bookworm presenter, which is one of the reasons why the story is boring.
Trying to make something unique, you can forget about the most important thing
rest: there is too much superfluous in the author's notes, which prevents immersion in the book. There is also a lot of excess in the first 3 chapters, they can be reduced to 1 chapter without any loss