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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
As much as I enjoyed the world building in this book, I had quite a few issues with it.
To start, one of the main issues I had in the first book is present.
Cal says things like "Dale is acting like a spoiler child"- but, again, how does Cal know what that is/looks like?
Anyways, let's move on to my biggest gripe with this book. The treatment of women- as I feel it is most overt in this story.
I feel like the author could have written things better. He uses words like ‘dithering’ to describe Dani. In general, Cal comes off as being kind of condescending in regards to Dani- “I hadn’t realized she was paying attention,” “she took the bait” to say she’s easily tricked or distracted. On top of this, to play up the “stereotypical” relationship dynamic Krout seemingly wants to portray, he gives Cal a man cave he keeps secret from Dani to do experiments she probably wouldn’t approve of. Then, Cal gives Dani a room of her own to decorate with flowers to appease her, playing to a neglectful husband type of characterization - a husband who has to appease his nagging wife, who is only interested in pretty things and is generally “uninterested in the technical stuff.”
Then, we have Hans hitting on Rose, when Hans is old enough to be Rose’s grandfather. (At least she calls the creep out on it.)
And, lastly, we have the madness in this book. Out of the five women that are ever explicitly mentioned as going into the dungeon amongst the hundreds of men, three are depicted as going crazy or as being crazy due to the dungeon. No men receive the same treatment in this book. There isn’t really any excuse for this.
Lastly, Minya’s transformation is described in much more depth than fixing Dale’s body is, and she is ‘fixed’ to beauty standards. All the descriptions of her are a lot more superficial. Of course, Krout has his character Dani tell Cal to do the fixing of Minya’s body in this way so that it doesn’t seem as bad/creepy. I have news for you: It’s still bad.
To start, one of the main issues I had in the first book is present.
Cal says things like "Dale is acting like a spoiler child"- but, again, how does Cal know what that is/looks like?
Anyways, let's move on to my biggest gripe with this book. The treatment of women- as I feel it is most overt in this story.
I feel like the author could have written things better. He uses words like ‘dithering’ to describe Dani. In general, Cal comes off as being kind of condescending in regards to Dani- “I hadn’t realized she was paying attention,” “she took the bait” to say she’s easily tricked or distracted. On top of this, to play up the “stereotypical” relationship dynamic Krout seemingly wants to portray, he gives Cal a man cave he keeps secret from Dani to do experiments she probably wouldn’t approve of. Then, Cal gives Dani a room of her own to decorate with flowers to appease her, playing to a neglectful husband type of characterization - a husband who has to appease his nagging wife, who is only interested in pretty things and is generally “uninterested in the technical stuff.”
Then, we have Hans hitting on Rose, when Hans is old enough to be Rose’s grandfather. (At least she calls the creep out on it.)
And, lastly, we have the madness in this book. Out of the five women that are ever explicitly mentioned as going into the dungeon amongst the hundreds of men, three are depicted as going crazy or as being crazy due to the dungeon. No men receive the same treatment in this book. There isn’t really any excuse for this.
Lastly, Minya’s transformation is described in much more depth than fixing Dale’s body is, and she is ‘fixed’ to beauty standards. All the descriptions of her are a lot more superficial. Of course, Krout has his character Dani tell Cal to do the fixing of Minya’s body in this way so that it doesn’t seem as bad/creepy. I have news for you: It’s still bad.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second book in the Divine Dungeon series that centers around a sentient dungeon and the man it has all sorts of connections to.
And as much fun as I had reading this, I will be dropping the series here.
Not because it’s bad, but the story simply started to divert away from the reason I picked it up in the first place.
I loved seeing how Cal creates new creatures and deathly traps for adventurers and chats with his whisp, Dani. And I also loved watching as Dale became stronger and gradually started turning his area into a town worth living in while making new friends/enemies on the way.
This was all thrown out of the window with A Great Threat(TM) and I have a strong feeling after what happened at the end that the third book will be even farther away from where we started.
Nothing wrong with a progressing story that takes different paths from the original starting point, just look at Battle Mage Farmer that has reached interdimensional travel at this point. It’s just not a direction I am personally interested in for three more books.
And as much fun as I had reading this, I will be dropping the series here.
Not because it’s bad, but the story simply started to divert away from the reason I picked it up in the first place.
I loved seeing how Cal creates new creatures and deathly traps for adventurers and chats with his whisp, Dani. And I also loved watching as Dale became stronger and gradually started turning his area into a town worth living in while making new friends/enemies on the way.
This was all thrown out of the window with A Great Threat(TM) and I have a strong feeling after what happened at the end that the third book will be even farther away from where we started.
Nothing wrong with a progressing story that takes different paths from the original starting point, just look at Battle Mage Farmer that has reached interdimensional travel at this point. It’s just not a direction I am personally interested in for three more books.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I find this sequel mildly disappointing. The original book had fresh ideas and a different perspective, but this one struggled to adapt and continue them.
I will give credit for the author making it feel like each character was really doing his or her own decision making, but things started to unravel in the second half. There's a plot thread that was introduced and built up only for it to be partially used. I suppose that the thread could be picked up again in future installments, but it felt like a waste in this book to bring up and then mostly ignore a group of powerful people.
I also think that the problem with this story has to do with ranking. The weakest part about LitRPG and Videogame books tends to be when a gameplay mechanic is introduced as McGuffin in the story. Here the cause of and solution to the problems seem to be to level up yourself. After a certain point it's almost impossible to die and you can do stupid things like smash walls with your fist.
The charm of the first novel was about how powerless and weak the characters are in relation to others in the story. While people can still get taken down, it's all about what level you are at or are going to be and it detracts a bit.
I will give credit for the author making it feel like each character was really doing his or her own decision making, but things started to unravel in the second half. There's a plot thread that was introduced and built up only for it to be partially used. I suppose that the thread could be picked up again in future installments, but it felt like a waste in this book to bring up and then mostly ignore a group of powerful people.
I also think that the problem with this story has to do with ranking. The weakest part about LitRPG and Videogame books tends to be when a gameplay mechanic is introduced as McGuffin in the story. Here the cause of and solution to the problems seem to be to level up yourself. After a certain point it's almost impossible to die and you can do stupid things like smash walls with your fist.
The charm of the first novel was about how powerless and weak the characters are in relation to others in the story. While people can still get taken down, it's all about what level you are at or are going to be and it detracts a bit.
I got the first one on Audible a year ago and this is the second one, now in Libby. Glad I can enjoy these outside the yoke of Amazon.
i love this story. the difference from everything else i have read, makes it so much more fun. its so original.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes