Dungeon Born

Divine Dungeon Series, Book 1

By: Dakota Krout

Narrated by: Vikas Adam

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

A powerful dungeon. A sheep-herder turned Noble. Their path to ascendance through cultivation.

Conquering dungeons and using them to grow has long been the most efficient way to become a powerful adventurer. The only thing keeping the process from being easy is the Beasts that inhabit these places. Questions plague those entering this particular place of power: Where do the "rewards" of weapons, armor, and heavy gold coins come from? Why is a fluffy bunny charging at me? For abyss-sake, why are there so many monsters?

Cal has all of the answers to these age-old questions for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Core, a soul forced against his will into a magical stone. With the help of an energetic friend, Cal grows a dungeon around himself to bring in new sources of power.

When a threat he doesn't fully comprehend bares its many teeth, Cal is determined to survive the attempt on his life. Unfortunately for adventurers, the only way for him to achieve his goal is to eat anyone that enters his depths.

©2016 Dakota Krout (P)2017 Tantor

amazing read.

at first i didn't think i would like this book. i was quickly into it and relized far too soon it was over....book 2 please and soon. it is out on ebook if u have to read..but i thought the audio telling was top notch. still waiting on release date and more info on book 2.....come on...dont make us wait......book 2.....soon.......really.......2nd book.....

wow just wow! i love this book.

im going to have a hard time being patient for the next book. its so fresh and new.

Everything I've wanted from an audiobook.

Dungeon Born is a story in a fantasy world that works much like RPG games. It's a fantasy world with magic, monsters, different races, power levels and... dungeons. Story is focused around two main characters, a dungeon heart named Cal and how he grows as an dungeon, and an adventurer Dale who rises up from nobody to respectable dungeoneer. Whole story happens almost completely in the dungeon and in it's immediate area, so there isn't adventuring besides delving into the dungeon.

Dungeons work how the would work in an MMORPG game. You have a group that goes into the dungeon, tries to avoid it's deadly traps and mobs, fights bosses, gets loot and gets out if they survive. Dungeons are very beneficial for the world as the loot and resources replenish themselves, and dungeon itself gets something out of it as well, so they're natural part of the world.

Writer Dakota Krout explains in detail how the dungeon system, and world overall works, like game mechanics. Like for example respawning mobs, making them, how the loot is generated, how do people become stronger, how magic works, and so on.

My first criticism for this book is that this book sometimes feels like an rulebook of an RPG that is told in a form of an story. Positive side of that is that it also feels very fleshed out and believable, though often the explanations are bit boring. Even then, narrator brings all of this to life, like somebody is explaining all of this while being excited and interested in a way that rouses up my own curiosity as well.

Vikas Adam brings the characters to life with unique sounding voice for every character and situation. Thanks to the writer explaining the currently ongoing moods and atmosphere clearly and smoothly, it reinforces the effect.

This book clearly hits best people who have interest to the mechanics of rpg games but everything is explained in a way that you dont need to have any previous knowledge of such things, as the world is it's own even though it's mostly stereotypically themed in general.

The general tone of the book is humorous, but at the same time it takes itself seriously. People's lives are at risk, and they're doing serious work. But when there's no danger or no high stakes, people like to take things easy. I loved all characters and felt that everyone was their own unique person, even though there wasn't much delving into characters motives and reasons, but there was enough.

My second criticism is that it's an really fast paced powertrip. You cant get strong sense of time passing by, but during the time the story is told in, characters are rise up in power exceedingly fast. But, it seems to be point in this book as everything about the powertripping is given an explanation why and how it happens.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book so much that I'm going to listen it second time and take some notes about the characters and mechanics of the world. I enjoyed it all, pestered my friends about how much I love this, and cant wait to buy the second book when it comes available in Audible!

Refreshingly cliche

Steeped in RPG lingo and lore and a tongue in cheek atmosphere, it kept me hooked start to end.
It has amazing world building in some regards managing to explain all the intricacies of its society and magic systems at an easy pace that everyone can comprehend. This coupled with the progression of the two main characters through the story kept me entertained and wanting to see where the story was headed even when it seemed predictable.

Wonderful! Book 2 Please Come Soon!!

Love fantasy games with groups and quests, dungeon crawlers, paper and pen games? Then you should try this book, Seen from the two sides, the sentient new born dungeon, and the country lad turning into a 'hero'. Great humour, looking at the taken for grated genre from the side. The world and its makeup is described throughout the book, not leaving gaps of how and why to confuse, explaining everything you need to know.
The Narration in this is superb, the books jumps into life grabs hold and carries you to the end.
So we have the 'hero' Dale thrust into the world. Struggling too become more the farmer he was, and thrown into the world of being a dungeoneer.
A Dungeon named Cal and his companion Will'o'wisp both essentially children learning as they go.
The Evil Necromancers! plotting in the background!
The Elves with their machinations.
And so much more!
Fantasy! Humour! and a world filled with detail and adventure!

Excellent LitRPG!

If you've played fantasy games of any type, or read any litRPG, then I'm confident you'll love this. Impressive quality for an unaffiliated writer. The narrator does a great job, with the exception of a few times where the volume fluctuated to the point of discomfort (yelling as Tom, etc).

I fucking loved this book.

Very imaginative, well read, and unlike anything else I've read before. Bravo. I'm awaiting the next audiobook portion of this series.

New and exciting perspective.

Unique and we'll thought out story. Beware a page turner.... you will definitely want more after the last word.

First time I wanted 6 stars.

Story is fantastic and unique, it is a great read for those interested in role playing games and a fascinating insight for fantasy lovers.

Amazing!

Great story! Good progression. Awesome narrator! I really enjoyed listening to this book. Once you start this series you can’t put it down.