The Reluctant Dungeon

A LitRPG Adventure

By: L. Eclaire

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Join the LitRPG adventures of a Dungeon dragged out of its own body on a quest it never wished to be a part of.

A dungeon’s sleep is never easy.

After getting reincarnated as a dungeon, Theodor thought he’d finally get some rest and relaxation. That changed when a bumbling old hero stumbled into him and died, making Theodor the target of adventurers everywhere.

Masquerading as a house in the small town of Rosewind, Theo must now do whatever it takes to remain unnoticed… even if it means creating an avatar to interact with people or go on a mission set by the annoying Earl Rosewind!

Don't miss this new LitRPG by bestseller L. Eclaire, filled with humor, heart, lovable characters, dungeon core elements, stats, and everything lovers of LitRPG expect! Perfect for fans of Elemental Dungeon, The Divine Dungeon, and Delve.

©2025 Aethon Books (P)2025 Aethon Audio

The book grew on me

Kinda hated the MC. He embodied a lot of characteristics that bother me. He did get a little more tolerable as the book went on. He is OP beyond all belief which is fun but creates problems with interesting conflicts. The story was interesting but the MC being a dungeon/house/person was a little confusing. Entertaining read though. The narration was good.

I'm not like all the other dungeons

There is like 0 focus. If you wanted a clever twist on dungeon, crafting and defensive strategy while exploring a new, fantastical world from the perspective of being locked within its own walls, only learning whatever it can by observing the uh. A horde of invaders within its domain, this is not that honestly? I don't know what this book is. the narrative bounces back and forth, introducing new random crap and feels kinda pointless honestly, don't bother picking this one up.
Will not be continuing the series

Love the concept but this felt like a bit of a bait and switch

Based on the description, I came into this expecting a slice of life, dungeon integrating into a town, base building type story. Unfortunately this is none of those. It's actually an overpowered mage saves a small town for a world takeover threat story... The dungeon aspect really only comes into play as a mean to give the MC an huge array of magic.

The MC doesnt actually match how the book describes him. Despite claims of him wanting to be left alone, he basically just does what anyone asks of him, no pushback on demands or threats despite being the most powerful thing around. He's honestly not lazy or antisocial at all, he's just a weird mix of arbitrarily stubborn and dumb.

Not to say the book is all bad. There's definitely some entertaining bits and a lot of potential. I'll likely give a 2nd book a try in the hope the author changes things a bit.

not my cup of tea

first as has been noted by other people the description of the book and the actual book story itself are a bait and switch.

what you were told you were being sold and what you actually get are not even close to being the same thing.

also the MC has absolutely no redeeming qualities and is a complete and utter raging asshole.

he whines, he complains, he creates the circumstances of his own issues, he refuses to listen to those who are more informed and has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

I will not get back the 8 hours of time that I wasted on this even having listened to it at 1.70 speed.

it is my sincere hope that in the next publication of this book, the author does the right thing and make sure that the MC's story comes to a close.

either way I won't be buying the next book in Kindle or audible.

if unrepenting, narcissist asshole and ignorant MCS are your cup of tea then this book is for you.

If you can't get away from them, join them

A man gets brought to a new world to become a hero, but all he wants it to be left alone. That does not seem to work, so he went on some adventures with heroes yet still hiding what he is. I love that even though he wanted to be left alone, he still did what was right.