# Morningwood

By Neven Iliev · Everybody Loves Large Chests, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/morningwood-fa31e810/

The treasure chest is the protagonist. A mimic, a dungeon monster that hides in the shape of loot, starts eating adventurers and gaining levels. Growing intelligence and warlock powers take it beyond its original role as a trap, with summoned demons joining its adventures.

## What makes it funny?

The opening sets up an eager young adventurer looking for treasure. When the chest eats him, the triumphant level-up announcement belongs to the monster. The familiar beginning of a hero’s career becomes a successful feeding for the creature he failed to recognize.

### The comedy at work

A dungeon obstacle gets the powers and progression usually reserved for its victims. Its growing intelligence remains comically limited, so greater abilities produce stranger interactions with the world. Game conventions supply the structure, while a predatory viewpoint turns their rewards and expectations into dark jokes.

### Try this if…

For readers drawn to an inhuman protagonist, visible game statistics and crude fantasy parody. The sexual humor and repeated objectification of women are a major part of the experience; readers who find those tiring may lose interest despite the unusual lead.

### Good to know

Book one of Everybody Loves Large Chests. Expect gore, violence, profanity and explicit sex. Reader reviews on the audiobook publisher’s page also flag sexual violence, abuse and ableist slurs. Jeff Hays narrates the audio edition.

## What to expect

- Genre: Fantasy · LitRPG
- On the shelf: Progression fantasy
- Kind of humor: Dark comedy · Parody
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Story ingredients: Dungeon adventuring
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Length: 187 pages
- Audiobook: 8 hr 24 min
- Published: 2017

## A few distinguishing details

- A treasure-chest monster gets the leading role
- Level-ups reward the predator eating adventurers

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Soundbooth Theater audiobook](https://soundbooth.app/everybody-loves-large-chests/everybody-loves-large-chests-volume-1-morningwood)
- Reading sample: [Author serial prologue](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/8894/everybody-loves-large-chests/chapter/99919/prologue)
- Review: [The Bookwyrm Speaks review](https://thebookwyrmspeaks.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-bookwyrms-review-of-morningwood-by.html)
- Review: [ScifiWard review](https://scifiward.com/morningwood-everybody-loves-large-chests-by-neven-iliev)
- Author commentary: [Author introduction](https://www.patreon.com/ELLC/about)
- Book information: [Google Books print edition](https://books.google.com/books/about/Morningwood.html?id=AigsswEACAAJ)
- Book information: [Apple Books author bibliography](https://books.apple.com/gb/author/neven-iliev/id1303955912)
- Book information: [Bibliographic listing](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/i/neven-iliev/morningwood.htm)