Review of The Dungeoneers by Jeffery Russell

Jeffery Russell’s debut novel, The Dungeoneers, has a blend of humor that tickles my chuckle glands in a way that only Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series has done before.

I discovered this author in a critique group. From the moment I read his introduction, I knew this guy had a story worth following.

Durham, a city guard with low aspirations, has little to show for his life. He sees a golden opportunity when the king’s messengers asks him to escort the Dwarven Dungeoneers on an expedition. As they get to know each other, the superstitious dwarves come to view him as a bad luck charm, the opposite of a chosen one—but Durham still entertains delusions of being the hero.

The prose is written in that effortless style that makes fantasy such a joy to read. Even though this is a comedy, it also comes with a fresh dose of unique lore that I assume is a Jeffery Russell original.

It doesn’t skimp on fantasy elements, either. Jeffery builds and deconstructs skeletal monstrosities like a child with a bottomless bin of Legos. The tension around the climax absorbed me to the point where I forgot I was reading a comedy.

Anyone familiar with the fantasy genre should give The Dungeoneers a read.