Levelling isn't too bad in this game actually. If you enter a new area and keep dying all the time (especially expensive if you have phoenix down on gambit) just go back and fight stuff for a couple of levels. I'd usually head to where thar be lots of skeletons - there are a few of those areas - and chain-kill them for lots of valuable bones to sell in addition to the XP

If you're like me, the main problem you're "stuck" is because you don't find it all that motivating. Rest assured it does get good at the very end.