WOW this was an absolute blast of a read! I knew I'd like Dalglish's writing based on reviews I had seen, but I never expected it to be so damn funny. This was my first LitRPG experience and I feel like it was a good entry point for someone like myself who had no idea what it would be like. I had such a blast, and I think the charm and wit of the writing really added a lot of enjoyment for me.

Every aspect of this book is fantastic. The characters are loveable and easy to root for (even when they're driving me insane), the setting is exciting, and the plot kept me hanging on so hard I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to read more from this author, and this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley for suggesting this read and ever enjoyable book.

Thank you to David Dalglish for another great novel.

Level: Unknown is a captivating fantasy novel that stands apart. Fans of David Dalglish's previous work will find this a compelling new direction. The story follows Nick, brother to the Science Research Center Director, as their expedition explores new planets for potential terraforming. During a survey, an enigmatic artifact is discovered, one that strangely resonates only with Nick. This discovery triggers a series of extraordinary events, pulling Nick into a world unlike any he's ever imagined. He finds himself transported to a realm ruled by a powerful, almost god-like figure, where the populace lives under a repressive regime. The narrative draws inspiration from elements reminiscent of the Final Fantasy series and anime like My Hero Academia, creating a unique blend of science fiction and fantasy. Nick's experiences in this new world are presented in a compelling way, with elements of progression and growth. This is a must-read for those who enjoy immersive world-building, intriguing mysteries, and stories of self-discovery.

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4

This was my first LitRPG, and as a big video game fan, I really enjoyed the concept. Nathan comes into contact with an alien artifact and is thrown into a world that plays by video game rules - everything's got a health bar, killing things helps him to level up, there's a tutorial-like Cataloger in his head telling him what's what, and he even picks up a sarcastic sword of judgement at one point. The first half of this book in particular is a really fun time. The concept is introduced well and we're immediately invested in the world and why the artifact has sent him here. However the second half turns into endless combat scenes, and I kept waiting for someone to try a pacifist or charisma run once Nathan realized that these were real-seeming people - no such like, though, these realizations were quashed quickly. And maybe it's my own fault, but I didn't realize this wasn't a stand-alone - I would've happily traded a few boss fights for more information on where this artifact came from and why these aliens are putting visitors through these trials. I assume that will come to light later in the series, but I was disappointed not to learn more within this first volume.

Overall, an interesting introduction to the genre, and I look forward to seeking out similar works. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

don’t usually read LitRPG but decided to give this one a try. It was fun and fast-paced. It’s the first in a series so there wasn’t much resolved but the adventures still kept the reader’s attention. Overall, a good way to spend some time especially if this is a genre you enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. I've dabbled in LitRPG books before and enjoyed them. This one sounded pretty interesting to me. I have not read David Dalglish before, but heard great things. I saw this pop up on my Netgalley suggestions and decided to give it a whirl.

The world he built has so much room to grow and his fantasy background shines through. There also seems to be some science fiction aspects with the artifact and diving in and out of the world. I would be excited to read more about the different lore and worlds as he continues to write this series.

The character development for Nick is exactly what I was looking for when reading. His supporting characters need more love because this could have been a near-perfect book. I hope to see more written about the other characters he's traveling with and their backstories.

Thank you to Orbit for the advanced copy of this book.

I don't have a lot of experience with the LitRPG genre, with Dungeon Crawler Carl being my only real benchmark for it, so I'm absolutely not an expert, but I quite enjoyed this book.

For anyone looking for a DCC comparison (because how can you not?), its very different outside of the LitRPG elements of leveling up and being in a new world, leaning more heavily into a traditional fantasy world when in Yensere, but scifi when “home”. The tone is really different, with the humour being “less Deadpool, more Star Wars” (as I said to my husband). If you like the idea of DCC, but the humour doesn't work for you or you want something leaning more towards traditional fantasy, I think it might scratch that itch.

We'll need more info further into the series about Nick's home, because this was very heavily focused on Yensere and learning that world, but I'm looking forward to more.

I previously read Daglish's Vagrant Gods series, and I think that his world building is great, particularly when he's sculpting these worlds religious systems and history. I want more character development, but that will come, and I really liked Gareth and Sorrow.

I didn't have this on my radar until I got emailed an ARC, but I'm glad I read it, and I'll definitely read the sequel.

David Dalglish creates a strong apocalyptic element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this world. The characters had that feel that I wanted from this type of book. I was engaged with the world and was invested in the world going on. It had that LitRPG element that I was looking for and enjoyed the journey.

An alternate universe/game world, except it doesn't end up being fake at all. Nick ends up in a world where he is a "demon", different from the normal people in the world. He starts out, and it seems like it is not real, a fake, simulated world that he is taking part in. But although he comes back to life when he dies, the people from this world do not. And is it any different than his "real" world? Not only are both the simulated world and the world Nick is from, real; but the two start to intersect.

I liked this book, but I didn't think enough was explained, and I have to wait for the next book in the series.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Awesome.. Was very different, entertaining, and hard to put down. Very interesting concept, great characters that really brought you into the story. Annoy wait until the next book.

After the death of his father, Nick is sent to live with his brother, Simon, at the Research Station he is the director of. While Nick's official title is "Research Assistant," Nick knows that most people on Station 79 view Nick as nothing more than a product of nepotism. That is, until they discover a strange alien artifact on Majus, the planet the Station is there to study. As soon as the artifact is activated, Nick loses consciousness and finds himself in a strange world. Even worse, when Nick attempts to approach a villager to find out where he is, they call him a Demon and attack him, ultimately killing him. Waking back on Station 79, he relays to Simon what happened to him, exhausted he falls back asleep almost immediately to find himself right back in the strange world he was in before. This is the beginning of what will be a hellish adventure for Nick. Every time he closes is eyes in the real world he finds himself back on the planet that he now knows is called Yensere, guided by an AI system called Cateloger he discovers he seems to be stuck in some sort of digital world, knowing this Research will be important Nick dives back into Yesenre over and over after dying, knowing that in the real world his body is wasting away. And when a Planetary Director arrives on Station 79 to destroy The Artifact and end the lives of all who live there both Simon and Nick realize that what is happening to Nick as far bigger and far more important than they ever imagined and while Nick maybe immortal in Yensere he certainly is not in real life. He is in a race across time to not just discover The Artifact's secrets but to save the people of both Yesenre and Station 79 before a great Calamity destroys them all.

This is the first LitRPG I've read, and now I'm kicking myself for never reading one before. Level Unknown is a kinda science fantasy that meets Isekai meets RPG, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It, of course, has the badass fights scenes and amazing world building I've come to look forward to in any book Dalglish writes with JRPG/ anime influence that made it unputtdownable for me.

Not only that, it's got some really amazing characters. Nick is great. Of course, his growth throughout the books is wonderfully handled. At the beginning, I kinda wanted to kill him myself. He just kept doing the same stupid thing over and over and somehow expects different results, but as the story goes on, he grows up a ton. By the end of the book, he's almost a completely different person. He's more confident in himself and he's accepted that regardless of whether Yensere is real it's a place he wants to protect as much as he wants to figure out what the Artifact is to save his own people IRL.

Gareth is also a great character as well because he's just so far in denial about literally everything that he can't see what's going on at all. He believes his faith in Vaan is strong, but it's clearly not making him the perfect example of "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything." And oh boy, does he. He most definitely needs to grow up almost as much as Nick needed, too.

My favorite characters, though, aren't even really human. Cateloger, which is the AI system in Yensere, is absolutely fantastic. It's funny. It's as supportive as it can be for an AI, and it's a giant smart ass. All traits I love. Sorrow, Nick's sentient sword is equally amazing but in different ways. While there's definitely some comic relief there, Sorrow's back story is a huge part of Nick maturing in the book. Not to mention, it's got some pretty badass special abilities.

The magic system, while very generic to anyone who has ever played an RPG, is so much more intuitive and user-friendly than anything I've ever come across in a real game. Because at the moment, as far as we known Yensere isn't real but a digital reproduction. The user has a ton of freedom when casting spells. It is very much a "If you can imagine it you can do it" system, and I really loved that. It allows for standard elemental spells to be manipulated in ways that make the spells so much more useful.

Overall, I definitely recommend this. It was just a ton of fun to read and hit all of my points for a literary RPG. To be honest, I didn't even know I had requirements for this sort of the thing until I started reading this 😅

As always, thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the eArc!

It was a fun, immersive adventure that I felt like I was part of from the start. The world building is very interesting and I was still intrigued to continue discovering more until the end. It was a fun world to explore.

I wasn't particularly attached to the main character, but rather to the secondary ones. Frost, Violette and especially Sorrow. Even one of the villains we eventually learn to respect for what he is, a hero in his own way.

The action and fight sequences were vivid, well constructed and described, I was stressed!

I really liked the fact that we alternate between the “real world” and the RPG world, going back and forth. That the story doesn't take place exclusively in the RPG world because everything that happens outside is just as important and moves the story forward. It's not just a long adventure, there's a mystery to be solved. And I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, I really need to know!!

I'm a new reader to the LitRPG genre that I discovered this year and this was easy and perfect to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the eArc!

This was my first experience reading a LitRPG story and while it took a bit of getting used to, overall I did end up enjoying my time with the book.

There were a few things that I didn’t really care for, like the formatting of the spells that were cast by the characters. I also wish there was a little more depth to the characters, I understand that we’re probably going to get more development as they progress and level, but I don’t think we got a base understanding of them.

The plot was interesting and I am curious to see where it goes in the next installment.

What a fun and interesting book! It is pretty much a video game in book format. The characters are fun and have a witty dynamic, and the world is well-built. This book reminded me a lot of Elder Scrolls. I also showed it to my three sons (ages 12 to 17) who love video games and D&D, and they all loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I was very surprised to be invited to read this, but after reading it, I was very happy. It's a really good book. I don't normally read lit rpg books but this one is well done. I love the mix of sci fi and fantasy in this book. I also love that it just wasn't from the perspective of the main character but also from a character in the RPG world that the main character finds himself in. The author has done a great job with this book. And I'm happy that this book was my first experience with this author because well done and bravo. I hope fans of lit rpg enjoy this as much as I did.

First, thank you David Dalglish.
Secondly, thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an eArc.

Dalglish writes damn fun adventures.

Nick, along with the other characters I latched on to, surprisingly faster than I have in any of his other books. I think my biggest praise is the great character work and developments of the characters.

The LitRPG elements are simple and light. I think for newcomers this is perfect, but for people dedicated to the genre they'll want more.

Finally, the actual plot and mystery presented was super engaging. I think this alone will make it stand out amongst the LitRPG genre easily. Also, unlike a ton of other lit books, this one is much shorter. Again, a point for a newcomer.

I'm looking forward to seeing Nick and company in book 2!

(And I'm excited for Radiant King! Dalglish's other book coming this year!)

2025

LitPRG

Review: Oh boy, this was too much fun. Very inventive for and fresh for an over-worked genre. I love this writer as his characters are always well made and likable/hatable. Only real detraction were the chapters with Simon..Mr. Dooright of space. Way vanilla and did not fit into the story line.

Get this, I think you will enjoy the world building as well.

I received the ARC for an honest review.

4.6/5

Wow that was exciting! I really like the mix of aliens and LitRPG! I was intrigued by the very first chapter and the rest of the book went by super fast. Really fun world building and characters!

"Level: Unknown" by David Dalglish marks the beginning of a new epic LitRPG adventure series, blending elements of fantasy with the mechanics of role-playing games. The story introduces us to Nick, a research cadet who finds himself drawn into the fantastical world of Yensere through his dreams, via an ancient alien artifact. This novel explores themes of exploration, growth, and survival within a world where statistics and levels govern the inhabitants' capabilities and perceptions.

Plot and World-Building

David Dalglish crafts Yensere with a rich tapestry of forgotten empires, mystical heroes, and monstrous creatures. The world-building in "Level: Unknown" is ambitious, drawing heavily from RPG aesthetics where characters progress through levels, gain abilities, and navigate a world that reacts to their statistical profile. The setting is intriguing, offering a mix of danger and wonder, though some have noted that the integration of RPG mechanics could feel overly game-like at times, potentially disrupting narrative flow for readers not accustomed to or fans of the LitRPG genre.


The plot follows Nick's journey from a reluctant dreamer to a figure of importance within Yensere. However, the pacing can be somewhat uneven, with the first half focusing on establishing the rules and world, while the latter accelerates with plot twists and character development. This structure might challenge readers looking for a more balanced progression but rewards those who invest in the world-building.

Character Development

Nick's character arc from a cadet with mundane concerns to someone confronting existential threats is compelling. His growth is tied intricately to the mechanics of Yensere, which provides a unique take on character development where personal growth and statistical advancement are intertwined. However, secondary characters, while interesting in concept, sometimes lack the depth to fully engage readers, often falling into archetypal roles without much deviation.

Writing Style and Tone

Dalglish's writing is straightforward and accessible, suitable for the genre's conventions. His background in fantasy writing shines through with vivid action sequences and imaginative concepts. The tone oscillates between light-hearted exploration of RPG elements and darker themes of survival and betrayal, which might occasionally jar due to the tonal shifts between the game mechanics and the more serious undertones of the narrative.

Themes and Message

The book delves into themes of identity, power, and the nature of reality. It questions what makes us human through Nick's interactions with Yensere's inhabitants, who perceive him as a demon due to his 'unknown' level status. This setup provides a lens to examine prejudice, fear of the unknown, and the quest for understanding across cultural or species lines.

Critiques

Pacing: The narrative sometimes struggles with pacing, especially in the buildup phases before significant revelations or battles.
Character Depth: While the main character evolves, supporting characters could benefit from more nuanced development.
Genre Conventions: The heavy reliance on RPG mechanics might not appeal to all, potentially feeling too formulaic or predictable for some readers outside the LitRPG fandom.

Conclusion

"Level: Unknown" sets up an intriguing universe with potential for exploration and growth, both for its characters and its readers. David Dalglish successfully blends traditional fantasy with LitRPG elements, creating a fresh narrative space. However, the book's reliance on game mechanics and some character development issues might limit its appeal to a broader audience beyond LitRPG enthusiasts.

Rating Breakdown:

Story: 3.5/5 - Engaging premise with a unique twist on the LitRPG genre, though pacing and plot structure could use refinement.
Character Development: 3/5 - Nick's journey is well-executed, but many secondary characters remain one-dimensional.
World-Building: 4/5 - A vivid, expansive world with detailed RPG mechanics that, while immersive for fans, might feel alienating to others.
Writing Style: 3.5/5 - Clear and engaging, but the integration of gameplay elements occasionally disrupts the storytelling flow.
Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5 - Enjoyable for those who appreciate the LitRPG format, less so for those who do not.

Total Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

"Level: Unknown" is a commendable addition to the LitRPG genre, offering a blend of adventure and introspection wrapped in a statistical fantasy setting, best suited for readers who enjoy game-like narratives or are open to exploring them.

4 ⭐️

This was my first foray into the LitRPG genre and it was a lot of fun. Dalglish does an excellent job of capturing the fun of a Souls Like world (mixed with other video game elements you’ll recognize as a gamer) while managing to maintain stakes and intrigue. If you like the blending of a sci fi mystery in the form of a mysterious artifact that transports our protagonist into a fantasy video-game like simulation, with fun banter and video game tropes…this is the book for you. I am so curious to see where everything is going…what is the artifact? Why is the artifact? Who is the artifact? Only reading on will tell…. This story is perfect for people who love video games and want something similar in book form but with some fun twists.

I will say though if you are new to the LitRPG genre like I am sometimes the actual leveling up with stats going up distracted me, but by the end I found it just another fun element to the story.

Thank you to the author for providing me a copy to review. I will definitely continue dabbling in the LitRPG genre this was so much fun.

Level: Unknown by David Dalglish is a hysterical, emotionally-charged sci-fi/LitRPG mashup that is part nostalgic RPG meets
Edward Ashton's Mickey7 and Danny Boyle’s Sunshine; a perfect entry point for any reader looking to try out GameLit and one that will satiate veterans of the genre.