oleanderwillow's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
the_ghost_penguin_reader's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
singerji's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bardicbramley's review
3.0
I'm so conflicted on this one!
Pros:
> I thoroughly enjoyed the plot (even though the DM in me desperately wanted a twist I hadn't seen coming). It was classic, simple enough to follow but not so simple that children would get bored.
> The main characters where easy to love and fun to get to know. I liked the concept of the group being the 'oddballs', all having kindness and quirks unlikely to be seen in your regular monster. I wasn't 100% sold on the attempt of diversity - for example, whilst I LOVED the consistent and unmentioned they/them pronoun usage for Bauble, their little crush on Gutrash felt out of place and undeveloped. Some pieces hit the mark, others felt more like an unnecessary sidenote.
> I particularly enjoyed the pacing of the big boss fight - this is something that the 'middle grade' genre seems to have a tough time with in my opinion, so I was pleasantly surprised. It also somehow managed to really feel like a dnd fight, the flow was accurate, spells and attacks were given space and described, even the super simple and effective use of concentration was perfectly done!
Cons:
> Considering the target age and audience, I feel that there will be three types of reactions from young readers to this book:
1. Children who already know dnd, so absolutely love all the references.
2. Children who don't know dnd, but love fantasy books already and get on fine by using their imagination.
3. Children who don't know dnd and who could have loved this books, but will be completely turned off by the continuous monster names and half descriptions.
> There was perfect opportunity for a little Monster Manual / Glossary for kids at the back of the book which felt amiss, and considering the map the party uses is illustrated in the book itself, I'm pretty miffed there was no map at the beginning of the book! It's dnd, come on now.
> As much as I loved the illustrations, many towards the last third of the book just didn't match up to the narration. It was like watching a book full of continuity errors - Zelli wearing her horns when it's explicitly said she has taken them off. Allidora still brandishing her sword when it's been said she has sheathed it on her back. The two handed pan swing when one of Zelli's shoulders is supposed to be injured and one arm out of action...
Finally, the point of whether Zelli's disguise only really works because she 'looks like a minotaur', and whether this would still be the case if she were white is an interesting one. I think this again fits into the same bracket for me as the underdeveloped (last minute?) diversity additions. Something just feels slightly off.
I think the whole book is a great concept, but if you are sat in a writing room with this very specific concept that you want to go with, and it only works if your main character is black, I honestly don't expect to see a white author. There are so many amazing POC middlegrade authors or even dnd creators absolutely smashing it out there at the moment. It feels like this could have been such a good moment to give one of them a very big platform through a very specific main character is all.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I think children will love it!
Even if they have no idea what dnd is, it can still be read and enjoyed, it might even be something that gets more kids into dnd itself! However, I do feel that a reader who does know dnd will enjoy it and all its little references the most.
I can imagine this would make such a good cartoon or graphic novel aswell, especially in Probert's style.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the second book for sure.
Pros:
> I thoroughly enjoyed the plot (even though the DM in me desperately wanted a twist I hadn't seen coming). It was classic, simple enough to follow but not so simple that children would get bored.
> The main characters where easy to love and fun to get to know. I liked the concept of the group being the 'oddballs', all having kindness and quirks unlikely to be seen in your regular monster. I wasn't 100% sold on the attempt of diversity - for example, whilst I LOVED the consistent and unmentioned they/them pronoun usage for Bauble, their little crush on Gutrash felt out of place and undeveloped. Some pieces hit the mark, others felt more like an unnecessary sidenote.
> I particularly enjoyed the pacing of the big boss fight - this is something that the 'middle grade' genre seems to have a tough time with in my opinion, so I was pleasantly surprised. It also somehow managed to really feel like a dnd fight, the flow was accurate, spells and attacks were given space and described, even the super simple and effective use of concentration was perfectly done!
Cons:
> Considering the target age and audience, I feel that there will be three types of reactions from young readers to this book:
1. Children who already know dnd, so absolutely love all the references.
2. Children who don't know dnd, but love fantasy books already and get on fine by using their imagination.
3. Children who don't know dnd and who could have loved this books, but will be completely turned off by the continuous monster names and half descriptions.
> There was perfect opportunity for a little Monster Manual / Glossary for kids at the back of the book which felt amiss, and considering the map the party uses is illustrated in the book itself, I'm pretty miffed there was no map at the beginning of the book! It's dnd, come on now.
> As much as I loved the illustrations, many towards the last third of the book just didn't match up to the narration. It was like watching a book full of continuity errors - Zelli wearing her horns when it's explicitly said she has taken them off. Allidora still brandishing her sword when it's been said she has sheathed it on her back. The two handed pan swing when one of Zelli's shoulders is supposed to be injured and one arm out of action...
Finally, the point of whether Zelli's disguise only really works because she 'looks like a minotaur', and whether this would still be the case if she were white is an interesting one. I think this again fits into the same bracket for me as the underdeveloped (last minute?) diversity additions. Something just feels slightly off.
I think the whole book is a great concept, but if you are sat in a writing room with this very specific concept that you want to go with, and it only works if your main character is black, I honestly don't expect to see a white author. There are so many amazing POC middlegrade authors or even dnd creators absolutely smashing it out there at the moment. It feels like this could have been such a good moment to give one of them a very big platform through a very specific main character is all.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I think children will love it!
Even if they have no idea what dnd is, it can still be read and enjoyed, it might even be something that gets more kids into dnd itself! However, I do feel that a reader who does know dnd will enjoy it and all its little references the most.
I can imagine this would make such a good cartoon or graphic novel aswell, especially in Probert's style.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the second book for sure.
kapago97's review
4.0
Fun adventure story with a host of interesting characters. Integrates pieces of found family, not fitting into the norm, and varying gender roles as well as having two moms.
heroichatchling's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
readwithria's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed is an adorable middle grade romp with both amazing representation and beautiful illustrations! While this isn’t a book I would typically pick up, it was super cute and I’m glad I read it.
Zelli and her friends are such a ragtag group, and they really do become a little found family by the end of the story. I can definitely see this being a favorite book of a younger version of myself. I will likely pass this book along to my little cousin once he’s old enough to enjoy it! 3.75 stars.
Zelli and her friends are such a ragtag group, and they really do become a little found family by the end of the story. I can definitely see this being a favorite book of a younger version of myself. I will likely pass this book along to my little cousin once he’s old enough to enjoy it! 3.75 stars.