Quick-take: More power. More crazy. Less believable.

Dan's Review

Dale and his dungeon resume their frenemy relationship.

I am not sure how to write book 3 reviews without giving away any story. I'll try to stay vague. There is more town build-out. There is more power gained by Dale. There is more political maneuvering as more residents move into what is now known as "Mountaindale". The dungeon builds more floors. The dungeon is also singularly focused on resolving the problem that was caused at the end of book 2.

The solution it decides and works on I cannot believe at all. The initial idea that was decided was a bit far-fetched, but I could see it possibly working looking at it through fantasy-goggles. What it decides to do for that last 3rd is nonsense, and it is also pure nonsense that the townsfolk are OK with it.

I also have issues with the overall timeline of events. I am certain that dwarves are masters at building, but erecting a huge wall, carving the top off a mountain to create more space, building some variant of a City Hall... these projects are all designed, funded, and then fully completed in a matter of days.

I also take issue with the dungeon growth itself. I can accept it is a unique dungeon in that its energy source is "pure" versus other dungeons. I can also accept It is very clever and thus moves through ranks more quickly. However, I have a problem with the book constantly referencing timelines like "decades" for progression while this dungeon does it all in a few months.

I suppose a book that moves fast is more interesting, but it is OK to progress time at a slower and more believable pace since Dale's rank is on track to making him near immortal anyway.

Score 3/5. The final twist at the end to prep the next book made me walk away completely.