Review of "Dragons In The Dungeon" by Diane McGyver

RECOMMENDED - "A POSITIVE READING EXPERIENCE"

This  book provides the reader a satisfying experience, especially if the reader is already a fan the genre. This may not hold true for readers outside the genre. This book approaches the level of a contemporary traditionally-published book in its genre. This book met or exceeded the minimal editing quality of a traditionally published book. If spelling or mechanical errors were present, they were rare, hard to notice, and didn't detract from the novel's overall experience. The novel's structure (plot, characters, flow, dialogue, etc.) allowed reader to reasonably experience the story without unnecessary effort or distraction.  The story met genre expectations, though did not necessarily bring anything new to the literary form. ​

Click here to read more on Rule One Book Reviews rating system.

​
TITLE: Dragons In The Dungeon ​(Adventures in Lachspeur of Lore)
PUBLISHER: Quarter Castle Publishing (small indie publisher)
AUTHOR: Diane McGyver
GENRE(S): Fantasy (Mythology and Folk Tales/Fairytale Fantasy Folklore).
PUBLICATION DATE: March 31,  2023 
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 2/5.0 Star Average.
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT  DISCOVERY: #2,402,659
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
This one popped up to my X feed once, which resulted in me following the author. The title is adequate, the cover isn't bad and completely fits the genre and the pitch. The novel's Amazon pitch felt watered-down and didn't grab my attention until I read the last paragraph, where it directly appealed to Gen-X D&D nerds. If I had not been an old geek, I may have kept scrolling.  What puts this novel on the candidate list is the sample. The first few pages were full of action, compelling characters, and good dialogue. I'm interested. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
STATUS: Reviewed 7 August 2025

---

The Review

Cormac, a teenager from Nova Scotia in the 1980s, is at that magical age between childhood and adulthood where anything is possible. In his case, "possible" means the impossible. Through mysterious magic, which isn't immediately explained to the reader, Cormac has become trapped inside a “Dungeons & Dragons”-style role-playing game. His fantasy has been made real. By “real,” living in a D&D world is a waking nightmare. Magical adventures in this universe have real consequences, like death. Cormac’s only thoughts are how to survive this unforgiving world of violence and magic long enough to escape. His chance for escape back to the real world comes in the form of Rosalind, a brave and resourceful “hauflin” thief. There is only one problem: Rosalind is cursed. Though she holds the key to his return, each new dawn wipes her memory clean. Along the way, Cormac and Rosalind undertake many side quests and join forces with other adventurers, including a dwarf bard, an elven magic user, and a fledgling hauflin cleric with his magical chicken. Ultimately, Cormac’s band of adventurers must face a terrible sorceress who possesses the secret to this magical world and Cormac’s way home.  Dragons in the Dungeons is a Level 1–4 module for 2–6 characters. Unfortunately, the Dungeon Master (or Adventure Master, as she calls it) is an insane killer. 

Diane McGyver’s Dragons in the Dungeon is 1980s nostalgia-bait for Gen-Xers like me, who grew up playing tabletop role-playing games before the internet. This story harkens back to the 1980s Saturday morning cartoon, Dungeons & Dragons, about a band of ’80s kids magically trapped inside a D&D world made real. This 1980s cartoon is probably responsible for more kids trying D&D than anything else. Essentially, I am McGyver’s target audience. Perhaps that is why I chose this novel as my debut review for Rule One. It felt like a sure bet, and it was. Dragons in the Dungeons does exactly what it set out to do: provide the reader a light, entertaining fantasy adventure in a 1980s Dungeons & Dragons-inspired setting. 
 
Cormac’s character arc is essentially that of the reluctant hero, perhaps even the anti-hero. When we meet him, he has been trapped in this world for many years. He is no longer the innocent teenager but a cold, calculating man just trying to survive. Rosalind’s character arc begins fresh each morning as her memory is wiped clean. Yet her spirit and inherent goodness are there to meet the party each morning, almost like a magical elixir. Rosalind’s resourcefulness and bravery remain intact, and it’s her indomitable spirit that begins to melt Cormac’s heart and remind him who he really is. The interplay and developing relationship between Cormac and Rosalind was my favorite part of this novel. It possessed a gentle sweetness, like an adolescent awakening. I think this could have been developed more, but it worked. Without giving away any spoilers, the antagonist  worked well because this villain almost seemed like an anti-Rosalind in many aspects.  While the ending seemed a little abrupt and neat, it worked and perhaps left a little wiggle room for a sequel.  

There is nothing in this novel that exceeds a PG rating, maybe even a G rating. In fact, there is an innocence and warmth to the characters and story I found refreshing. Perhaps a better word is "genuineness".  I sensed this was a labor of love on behalf  the author.  Conspicuously absent is the satire and darkness that seems to infiltrate so much modern writing. 

The novel is a tight, well-written experience. It opens with a great hook set around a prison break. McGyver’s prose is straightforward and effective, essentially a perfect fit for the story. Character development is quick and effortless and relies on action, not exposition. Like an RPG game, the plot is always in motion as characters wander from village to village, tavern to tavern, dungeon to dungeon, and side quest to side quest. However, I initially found the pacing odd. The plot would accelerate quickly and then suddenly slow, especially when the party stopped for the night in taverns (and there were so many taverns). I found it unusual and sometimes a bit distracting. Then, about three-quarters of the way through the book, I had an epiphany: Dragons in the Dungeon is paced like an actual game, not necessarily a conventional novel. At that point, this feature transformed from a distraction to a strength. This became more apparent as the climax drew closer and the wall between the game world and the real world blurred.
 
The novel was well-edited, but I did encounter a few bumps. In a few instances, I found it difficult to know who was speaking and had to reread the passages. However, this did not detract from the overall experience. McGyver was also gracious enough to explain upfront to her  audience that she used Canadian spellings, though I didn’t find it an issue.
 
Dragons in the Dungeon is a light, easy, and breezy read, perfect for fantasy RPG players of any age but targeted at those who remember the early D&D “1st edition” days. I think modern RPG players would likely enjoy this novel as well, as the nostalgia isn’t heavy-handed. Dragons in the Dungeon may appeal to general fantasy readers, but its module-style pacing might be off-putting to some. Would it appeal to a broader audience beyond the fantasy genre?  I don’t think that’s an important consideration in this novel's case. I’m guessing McGyver intended this for a specific audience, for people like me. And for that, I thank her. Dragons in the Dungeon accomplishes its mission and leaves the reader entertained, feeling a bit nostalgic, and ready to play another game of D&D.