Dungeon World

A dungeon core/human hybrid seeking revenge. Jonathan Brooks' Dungeon World series follows Fred's journey through five books of dungeon building, survival, and uncovering threats to humanity in this completed LitRPG dungeon core epic.

Dungeon World is a completed five-book dungeon core series by Jonathan Brooks, author of Magical Fusion and Earthen Contenders. Set in a world five times larger than Earth, this LitRPG / GameLit epic explores a unique premise: dungeons and their Dungeon Cores have become the top of the food chain, creating a symbiotic relationship with humanity that has lasted for thousands of years.

In this world, millions of dungeons inhabit the planet, utilizing humans as a source of much-needed Mana to facilitate their own growth. In turn, humans delve into these dungeons to acquire Essence, which allows them to develop and enhance themselves in a multitude of ways. This balance has brought about a measure of peace and prosperity - dungeons need humans to survive, and humans need dungeons to grow stronger. It's a relationship that benefits both parties and has defined civilisation for centuries.

The series follows Fredwynklemossering (Fred), a young man living in the northern wilds where humans and dungeons rarely venture. When his parents are suddenly and brutally murdered, Fred is left utterly alone - without friends, family, supplies, or even much knowledge of the wider world. Driven by grief and the need for answers, he embarks on a journey to discover who or what killed his parents and to enact revenge upon those responsible.

However, Fred's quest for vengeance takes an unexpected turn when he discovers something impossible about himself: he is a Dungeon Core/Human hybrid. His parents had told him this was impossible from the moment he was born, yet the evidence becomes undeniable. This revelation fundamentally changes everything Fred thought he knew about himself and forces him to navigate two worlds simultaneously.

As Fred learns more about his unique nature, his objectives shift. Revenge, whilst still important, begins to pale in comparison to the dangers facing humanity's future. The symbiotic relationship between dungeons and humans that has maintained peace for millennia is under threat, and Fred finds himself in a unique position to understand - and potentially prevent - catastrophic consequences. The question becomes whether he can successfully straddle the line between the human and Dungeon Core worlds, or whether the entire Dungeon World may be doomed.

Jonathan Brooks brings his signature attention to LitRPG mechanics and system-building to the dungeon core genre. The series features detailed dungeon construction and defence mechanics, statistics and levelling systems, and the strategic gameplay that fans of Brooks' other works have come to expect. What sets Dungeon World apart is its focus on the hybrid nature of the protagonist - Fred must balance his humanity with his dungeon core instincts, creating unique challenges and solutions.

The Dungeon World series consists of five books: Dungeon World (Books 1-5), each building upon Fred's growing understanding of his powers and the threats facing both humans and dungeons. The series also includes a bonus short story. Readers who enjoy progression fantasy, dungeon builder mechanics, and protagonists who must navigate conflicting identities will find this series compelling.

For fans of Brooks' other work or readers new to the dungeon core genre, Dungeon World offers a complete narrative arc that explores the consequences of power, the nature of symbiosis, and what it means to belong to two worlds simultaneously.

Books in the Dungeon World Series

Book 1: Dungeon World (2019)

Fred's journey begins with tragedy and discovery. After his parents' murder in the remote northern wilds, he sets out to find their killers with almost nothing to his name. The journey forces him to confront the impossible truth his parents claimed could never be: he is a Dungeon Core/Human hybrid. This opening instalment establishes the unique premise of the series and introduces readers to the symbiotic relationship between dungeons and humanity. Fred must learn to control his newly awakened dungeon core abilities before they consume him, all whilst pursuing revenge and trying to understand what his hybrid nature truly means.

Book 2: Dungeon World 2 (2019)

As Fred gains greater control over his dungeon core powers, he begins to understand the full implications of his hybrid status. His quest for vengeance continues, but he discovers that the forces responsible for his parents' deaths are part of something much larger. The balance between humans and dungeons that has maintained peace for millennia shows signs of strain, and Fred's unique perspective allows him to see threats that others cannot. This instalment expands the world-building significantly, introducing the political and magical complexities of a society built around dungeon delving.

Book 3: Dungeon World 3 (2019)

Fred's journey takes him deeper into both the human and dungeon worlds as he works to prevent the catastrophe he's uncovered. His abilities as a hybrid give him unprecedented insight into dungeon mechanics and behaviour, but they also make him a target for those who fear what he represents. The symbiotic relationship that has defined civilisation begins to fracture, and Fred must make difficult choices about where his loyalties lie. This middle instalment raises the stakes considerably whilst developing Fred's character and his understanding of both halves of his nature.

Book 4: Dungeon World 4 (2019)

The threats Fred has been working to prevent escalate dramatically, forcing him to take more decisive action. His unique position as a bridge between humans and dungeons becomes increasingly important as tensions rise and the carefully maintained balance threatens to collapse entirely. Fred must use every advantage his hybrid nature provides whilst navigating the suspicion and fear his existence generates in both communities. The dungeon construction and defence mechanics take centre stage as Fred leverages his abilities in creative ways to protect what matters most.

Book 5: Dungeon World 5 (2020)

The epic conclusion to the Dungeon World series brings all the threads together as Fred faces the ultimate test of his abilities and his choices. The fate of both humanity and dungeons hangs in the balance, and only Fred's unique nature gives him any chance of preventing catastrophe. This finale delivers on the promise of the series, exploring the full implications of the symbiotic relationship between dungeons and humans whilst providing satisfying closure to Fred's personal journey. The question of whether one person can truly belong to two worlds receives its definitive answer.