History Literature / DungeonOfDread

* {{Sidekick}}: Caric, who's an experienced warrior when the book begins, does most of the work, but Laurus is helpful in his own right. Like when things get desperate in the showdown with Kalman, gets desperate enough he ''bites'' the wizard, giving Caric a few precious seconds to find something that'll work against the wizard.

* SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat: [[spoiler: If you didn't find the key that opens the door to the treasure room, it turns out Laurus knew how to pick locks the entire time, perhaps so the reader doesn't feel like the whole read-through was a waste in the first book in the series. Granted, you almost have to try to avoid getting the key, and the ending where you do have it feels a lot more rewarding.]]

* BlobMonster: There's a green slime guarding part of the dungeon. The losing path also contains a black pudding.

* BewitchedAmphibians: One of the BalefulPolymorph victims is a person turned into a frog. A frog about the size of a cow quite capable of crushing the player if it lands on them...

* BalefulPolymorph: Four of the monsters in the dungeon are created this way, with an evil wizard casting this spell on enemies or innocent bystanders - only one gets fought on a playthrough.
** DyingAsYourself: And when the reader's character kills them, they turn back into themselves for a minute to thank him before expiring.

* SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat: [[spoiler: If you didn't find the key that opens the door to the treasure room, it turns out Laurus knew how to pick locks the entire time, perhaps so the reader doesn't feel like the whole read-through was a waste in the first book in the series. Granted, you almost have to try to avoid getting the key.]]

''Dungeon of Dread'' was the first book published in the ''Literature/EndlessQuest'' {{Gamebook}} series, based on the TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons role-playing game. Written by Rose Estes and illustrated by Jim Holloway.

!!This book provides examples of:

* HenpeckedHusband: Laurus comes across as this, but he manages to find his confidence over the course of the adventure. Even in some of the endings where Caric dies, Laurus escapes (usually because he was the one who had the good sense not to want to tangle with some super-dangerous monster like a minotaur or a dragon), grateful to his friend for teaching him bravery.

* HenpeckedHusband: Laurus comes across as this, but he manages to find his confidence over the course of the adventure. Even in some of the endings where Caric dies, Laurus escapes (usually because he had the good sense not to tangle with some super-dangerous monster like a minotaur or a dragon), grateful to his friend for teaching him bravery.

* HenpeckedHusband: Laurus comes across as this, but he manages to find his confidence over the course of the adventure. Even in some of the endings where Caric dies, Laurus escapes, grateful to his friend for teaching him bravery.

* BalefulPolymorph: Some of the monsters in the dungeon are created this way, with an evil wizard casting this spell on enemies or innocent bystanders.

* BlobMonster: There's a green slime guarding part of the dungeon.

* {{Railroading}}: Almost all routes through the dungeon lead to the room with the key to Kalman's treasure. Probably why that event's depicted on the cover.

''Dungeon of Dread'' was the first book published in the ''Literature/EndlessQuest'' {{Gamebook}} series, based on the TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons role-playing game.

* {{Sidekick}}: Caric, who's an experienced warrior when the book begins, does do most of the work, but Laurus is helpful in his own right. Like when things get desperate in the showdown with Kalman, gets desperate enough he ''bites'' the wizard, giving Caric a few precious seconds to find something that'll work against the wizard.

* InventoryManagement: A feature that was left out of most future books in the series (but not all), with you being expected to find an important key through your trek through the dungeon.

* {{Railroading}}: Almost all routes through the dungeon lead to the room with the key to Kalman's treasure. Probably why that event's depicted on the cover.

* BasiliskAndCockatrice: Kalman keeps a basilisk as a pet and watchdog to his treasure stash, as you're warned almost as soon as you get inside the dungeon. As is to be expected, the room before Kalman's treasure horde is full of [[TakenForGranite other adventurers who've been turned to stone]].

* BasiliskAndCockatrice: Kalman keeps a basilisk as a pet and watchdog to his treasure stash, as you're warned almost as soon as you get inside the dungeon.

* {{Railroading}}: Almost all routes through the dungeon lead to the room with the key to Kalman's treasure.

* EvilSorcerer: Kalman.