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  • The Reluctant Dungeon

  • Monster Haven, Book 1
  • Written by: J.D. Astra
  • Narrated by: Judy Alice Lee
  • Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (47 ratings)

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The Reluctant Dungeon cover art

The Reluctant Dungeon

Written by: J.D. Astra
Narrated by: Judy Alice Lee
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Publisher's Summary

Transforming into a monstrous dungeon couldn’t be all that bad, right?

Dolli had a very hands-off approach to ruling her once booming village. She preferred to use her alchemical skills to brew a nice cup of tea and keep whiny petitioners off her lawn with Wendigo repellant. But she pays the price for her apathy when her neglected village transforms into a Dungeon, making it fair game for any Hero with a lust for loot.

It doesn't take long for one such Hero from Dolli’s dark past, Keegan Plague Ender, to arrive with his sword ready to be bloodied. The villagers are evolving into powerful Dungeon denizens who can respawn if they're killed—or they could if a mated pair of wyverns hadn't turned the seat of the dungeon core into a brood nest. Now, with one swipe of the Hero's blade, the former townsfolk could be lost to the Lifestream forever.

Despite her curmudgeonly nature, Dolli can't let that happen. Can she rebuild the confidence of her people to roust the wyverns and reinstate respawns? Even if she can, will the young Dungeon hold out against the storm of raiding Heroes?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Shadow Alley Press Inc (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Reluctant Dungeon

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great story

stayed up at night listening
minor rudeness.
I suggest readers of
10+ as there is some gore.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting premise well-executed

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Went in with few expectations but as a person who likes RPGs it was really fun to experience a story in this way.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

if not into RPGs probably won't like it.

I don't know if a none RPG player would like it. if you are, you'll understand the mechanics and enjoy reading the viewpoint of NPCs.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Meh, nothing special

The narrator is good. The Story is flat with poor character development. Nothing amusing happens.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

promising premise but mediocre delivery

The concept of this story is interesting since it's from the perspective of the NPCs being trampled by standard video game "heroes" but the actual story wasn't engaging and the litRPG elements like stat blocks pulled you out of the immersion, (despite the attached PDF reducing how long they were in the audio.)

The main character also didn't feel like she accomplished anything so much as was railroaded into victory. The struggles were "overcome" by hitting things on cooldown or being handed the thing she needed right as she needed it.

It also felt short. This book felt like act 1. Not book 1.

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