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Dungeon Diving #4
Dungeon Diving 104
With Ken on the run and Crimson missing, he goes to the Elven world with Neldra and Fayeth to hide out until Crimson returns.Lady Rendral isn’t quite what he expected, her reclusive life leads her to happily accept Ken and Fayeth for the summer. But the future Empress of the Elven people isn’t without her own struggles.Political opponents push her and she hires Ken to dig up some dirt on those who would stymie her goals. Ken can see her struggle and works with Lady Rendral to topple her opposition.
299 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2023
368 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Sentar
50 books776 followersBorn and raised in the agricultural midwest, I moved every year after school even as far as Shanghai before settling down with my wife in Chicago.
I have always enjoyed Wuxia stories and became thrilled when I discovered harem stories spreading to western books. I've written down my day dreams for years as an idle hobby. Inspired by the harem genre I'm finally fleshing them out into full blown novels.
I'm excited to share my stories with you as I turn them into novels and series.
Connect with me on Facebook for updates on my latest books.
https://www.facebook.com/Bruce-Sentar...
I have always enjoyed Wuxia stories and became thrilled when I discovered harem stories spreading to western books. I've written down my day dreams for years as an idle hobby. Inspired by the harem genre I'm finally fleshing them out into full blown novels.
I'm excited to share my stories with you as I turn them into novels and series.
Connect with me on Facebook for updates on my latest books.
https://www.facebook.com/Bruce-Sentar...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
August 8, 2024
This is fourth in a LitRPG harem story that builds character and plot over time. Read in order.
So you know kind of what you are getting by this time, though the characters are split apart for this whole story. Ken and Fayeth are headed to spend their summer in the elflands for plot reasons and the rest of his party (i.e. harem) remain on earth to train at his family's compound. Oh, and Crimson is sealed off from Ken closing the portal with her still on the other side to save humanity.
So this is mostly Ken being a foreigner in elfland and "courting" the elf princess who needs him for plot reasons. Fayeth is playing the middle piece to connect the princess to his "adrel" (elf marriage construct with mystic elements). Since the princess needs Ken for plot reasons, he spends a lot of time skeptical of her motivations. And since he's all about love and trust in his party/harem, that makes him reluctant to just jump right in. That said, this whole book is aimed at getting him connected to the princess "in that way", so it isn't like there's any real tension there. Which is fine because she's kind of awesome and both powerful and vulnerable in all the right ways.
I'm giving this four stars for the interesting plot and strong pace despite the limited scope due to Ken's outsider status. It was good, but I found that I missed his other party members and their interactions. I did like the growth the author managed to deliver for Crimson in the few snippets from her PoV. I feel like I understand her attachment to Ken better (and the underlying desperation driven by her class power).
A note about Steamy: We only get two (plus small inserts here or there) explicit sex scenes in the book putting this just barely into the middle of my steam tolerance. Sentar excels at choosing the right moments to include for relationship development (as opposed to simple titillation).
So you know kind of what you are getting by this time, though the characters are split apart for this whole story. Ken and Fayeth are headed to spend their summer in the elflands for plot reasons and the rest of his party (i.e. harem) remain on earth to train at his family's compound. Oh, and Crimson is sealed off from Ken closing the portal with her still on the other side to save humanity.
So this is mostly Ken being a foreigner in elfland and "courting" the elf princess who needs him for plot reasons. Fayeth is playing the middle piece to connect the princess to his "adrel" (elf marriage construct with mystic elements). Since the princess needs Ken for plot reasons, he spends a lot of time skeptical of her motivations. And since he's all about love and trust in his party/harem, that makes him reluctant to just jump right in. That said, this whole book is aimed at getting him connected to the princess "in that way", so it isn't like there's any real tension there. Which is fine because she's kind of awesome and both powerful and vulnerable in all the right ways.
I'm giving this four stars for the interesting plot and strong pace despite the limited scope due to Ken's outsider status. It was good, but I found that I missed his other party members and their interactions. I did like the growth the author managed to deliver for Crimson in the few snippets from her PoV. I feel like I understand her attachment to Ken better (and the underlying desperation driven by her class power).
A note about Steamy: We only get two (plus small inserts here or there) explicit sex scenes in the book putting this just barely into the middle of my steam tolerance. Sentar excels at choosing the right moments to include for relationship development (as opposed to simple titillation).
November 10, 2023
I am surprised it managed to earn a second star
Disclaimer: I am a Patreon supporter and read this prior to a “rewrite”
TLDR: Ken gains many levels just to match his stats from the end of the last book which makes sense given he clearly is not the same Ken that has been in the previous books. Everything else with the elf trip was decent at worst to amazing in the better parts.
Review with potential spoilers:
First of all, as disclosed above, I read the original draft as Patreon supporter so some of my frustrations are due to the alleged rewrite being more of a second pass and polish than a true rewrite.
The good:
Revival magic was not changed from what it had been in the past to something overpowered for no reason other than ‘plot needs it to work differently now’. The princess is an awesome addition to the world. There were times where Ken showed his training and skills. There were more places that had major lols. Rough scenes have been polished and some scenes/mini-arcs that were lacking detail have been flushed out.
The bad:
Ken decided to go into situations that ALL of his previous training and past character logic would have dictated he avoid. Two specific situations that were pointed out as Ken breaking character and should have been rectified if this was a true rewrite. Ken’s stats at the beginning of the book take a major hit compared to his stats at the end of the last book. Only one stat stays the same after Ken gains 2 levels with the rest of them going down by at multiple points resulting in an overall loss of multiple levels of stats. This drop was pointed out in Patreon and I think rectified but found it’s way into the “rewrite” that was not posted on Patreon prior to release. Given I find it unforgivable for an author who has a large group of people supporting his work and giving feedback aimed to keep things consistent across multiple books in a series when the author is bouncing between multiple series, I am surprised I feel like I cannot rate this lower than 2 stars. Had Bruce taken the time needed to to not make it Ken went from collected lowish level master assassin, getting high level support to take on a dozen or so people 10-15 levels higher than himself, to reckless ‘plot armor for the win’ murder hobo who is willing to go into a situation where he’ll need to take on dozens of people 20-40 levels above him who are supported by dozens of people up to 20 levels above him without any high level support while bringing along the person the enemy is targeting without any high level support on hand, this could have easily been a 5+ star book. It is unfortunate that Bruce appears to be more focused on sticking to self imposed book limits and schedules then allowing for the additional time needed to get the story right and deal with what life throws at him. If 201 has the same core character changes without any reason other than ‘plot dictates to be that way’, I’ll unfortunately be forced to withdraw my support until the quality of Bruce’s work goes back to what it was for the first three books in this series and the first 8 books in Dragon’s Justice
Disclaimer: I am a Patreon supporter and read this prior to a “rewrite”
TLDR: Ken gains many levels just to match his stats from the end of the last book which makes sense given he clearly is not the same Ken that has been in the previous books. Everything else with the elf trip was decent at worst to amazing in the better parts.
Review with potential spoilers:
First of all, as disclosed above, I read the original draft as Patreon supporter so some of my frustrations are due to the alleged rewrite being more of a second pass and polish than a true rewrite.
The good:
Revival magic was not changed from what it had been in the past to something overpowered for no reason other than ‘plot needs it to work differently now’. The princess is an awesome addition to the world. There were times where Ken showed his training and skills. There were more places that had major lols. Rough scenes have been polished and some scenes/mini-arcs that were lacking detail have been flushed out.
The bad:
Ken decided to go into situations that ALL of his previous training and past character logic would have dictated he avoid. Two specific situations that were pointed out as Ken breaking character and should have been rectified if this was a true rewrite. Ken’s stats at the beginning of the book take a major hit compared to his stats at the end of the last book. Only one stat stays the same after Ken gains 2 levels with the rest of them going down by at multiple points resulting in an overall loss of multiple levels of stats. This drop was pointed out in Patreon and I think rectified but found it’s way into the “rewrite” that was not posted on Patreon prior to release. Given I find it unforgivable for an author who has a large group of people supporting his work and giving feedback aimed to keep things consistent across multiple books in a series when the author is bouncing between multiple series, I am surprised I feel like I cannot rate this lower than 2 stars. Had Bruce taken the time needed to to not make it Ken went from collected lowish level master assassin, getting high level support to take on a dozen or so people 10-15 levels higher than himself, to reckless ‘plot armor for the win’ murder hobo who is willing to go into a situation where he’ll need to take on dozens of people 20-40 levels above him who are supported by dozens of people up to 20 levels above him without any high level support while bringing along the person the enemy is targeting without any high level support on hand, this could have easily been a 5+ star book. It is unfortunate that Bruce appears to be more focused on sticking to self imposed book limits and schedules then allowing for the additional time needed to get the story right and deal with what life throws at him. If 201 has the same core character changes without any reason other than ‘plot dictates to be that way’, I’ll unfortunately be forced to withdraw my support until the quality of Bruce’s work goes back to what it was for the first three books in this series and the first 8 books in Dragon’s Justice
November 13, 2023
Meh.
The new location had potential, but it was wasted with cliche politics. The bit at the end was forced and predictable. The power balance is horrible, combat is boring. It all depends on who shows up, skill means nothing. The focus is all on the relationships and the setting is suffering for it.
The new location had potential, but it was wasted with cliche politics. The bit at the end was forced and predictable. The power balance is horrible, combat is boring. It all depends on who shows up, skill means nothing. The focus is all on the relationships and the setting is suffering for it.
November 12, 2023
4.5 stars. The author describes this book as a bit "darker" than the others in the series, and if so, stick with it. The absense of the (painfully) obvious "comic relief" (specifically Harley, but a lot less Bun-Bun and nose-bleed hentai grandpa is good too) makes this more readable for me. It's still about young people, but it feels less juvenile.
The decision to concentrate on the MC's POV was good, as the occasional shifts of focus weren't spreading the story too thin. Let's see what we get as the new school year starts.
The decision to concentrate on the MC's POV was good, as the occasional shifts of focus weren't spreading the story too thin. Let's see what we get as the new school year starts.
December 24, 2024
Title: Dungeon Diving 104: A Side Quest Worth Taking
Introduction:
Hey there, fluff-folk and dungeon delvers! It’s Kiba Snowpaw, your frosty alpha Ice Wolf from the ever-frozen tundra of HowlStrom. As someone who’s braved 5,000 games, devoured 400+ audiobooks, and honed ice magic for decades, I have an instinct for quality storytelling. Today, I’m tackling Dungeon Diving 104 by Bruce Sentar, the fourth installment of this LitRPG epic. Does it maintain its chill-factor, or does it leave us howling in the wind? Let’s dive in—pun absolutely intended.
---
Basic Plot Summary:
Ken finds himself in unfamiliar territory—literally and figuratively—as he travels to the Elven world with Fayeth and Neldra, seeking refuge after Crimson is stranded beyond the portal. Lady Rendral, the enigmatic elven queen-to-be, provides sanctuary but soon enlists Ken for a high-stakes political mission. Together, they navigate court intrigue, unravel plots, and—of course—build relationships that might just shift the balance of power in the elven realm. Meanwhile, Crimson faces unimaginable challenges in the Naga world, showcasing her mettle and deepening the mystery of her connection to Ken.
---
Originality:
Sentar proves his mastery of blending LitRPG mechanics with harem dynamics in a way that feels fresh and engaging. While the trope of “outsider in a magical kingdom” is familiar, the elven political subplot and the exploration of Ken’s growing abilities add depth. The book shines in its ability to juggle interpersonal relationships alongside world-shaking events without losing focus.
---
About the Writer:
Bruce Sentar is a LitRPG luminary with a knack for crafting harem tales that go beyond surface-level escapism. His work draws comparisons to Daniel Schinhofen and Shane Hammond, but Sentar’s unique focus on character-driven narratives sets him apart. In "Dungeon Diving 104," his experience shines through in the balance of action, intrigue, and romance.
---
Analysis/Evaluation:
Character Development:
Main Characters:
- Ken: Ken continues to evolve as both a leader and a tactician. His struggle to reconcile his assassin training with his growing emotional bonds is compelling and relatable. His journey in the elven world pushes him out of his comfort zone in new and interesting ways.
- Crimson: Though physically absent from Ken’s side, Crimson’s chapters in the Naga world are some of the book’s most intense. Her battles showcase not only her power but also the emotional stakes of her connection to Ken.
- Lady Rendral: The future elven queen is a standout addition to the cast. Her blend of vulnerability and political savvy makes her a fascinating foil to Ken’s more straightforward approach.
Supporting Characters:
- Fayeth: As Ken’s guide to the elven world, Fayeth balances her own emotional arc with her role as mediator between Ken and Rendral.
- Neldra: Though less prominent, Neldra’s presence adds a grounding element to the story.
Character Arcs and Relatability:
Each character feels well-realized, with distinct motivations and arcs. The interplay between Ken’s party members and the new elven characters creates a rich tapestry of relationships that feel authentic and engaging.
---
Structure and Mechanics:
The pacing of "Dungeon Diving 104" is well-balanced, alternating between Ken’s elven escapades and Crimson’s high-octane survival in the Naga world. The LitRPG mechanics remain consistent, with clear explanations of stats and abilities that enhance rather than detract from the narrative. The dungeon elements, though less prominent, are seamlessly integrated into the story’s larger political and emotional stakes.
---
Impact:
This installment takes the series in a new direction, expanding the world-building while deepening the emotional stakes. For fans of the series, "Dungeon Diving 104" is a pivotal chapter that sets the stage for even greater challenges ahead.
---
Hook and Thesis:
The hook is simple yet effective: How does Ken navigate an entirely new world while maintaining his principles and protecting those he cares about? The thesis, as always, is about growth—both personal and collective—and the choices that define us.
---
Praise and Critique:
What Howls:
- World-Building: The elven world is vividly realized, with its political intrigue and cultural nuances adding depth to the story.
- Character Depth: Lady Rendral’s arc is a highlight, and Crimson’s solo journey adds a layer of grit to the narrative.
- Emotional Stakes: The relationships feel earned, with Ken’s internal conflict adding a layer of realism.
What Leaves Frostbite:
- Pacing Issues: Some chapters feel rushed, particularly the resolution of the elven political subplot.
- Continuity Errors: Minor inconsistencies in the LitRPG mechanics may frustrate detail-oriented readers.
- Party Separation: The absence of Ken’s full party leaves a noticeable void, though this is somewhat mitigated by the strength of the elven characters.
---
Personal Enjoyment:
As a reader and listener, I found "Dungeon Diving 104" to be a captivating addition to the series. The mix of political intrigue, character development, and high-stakes action kept me engaged from start to finish.
---
Highlights and Drawbacks:
Highlight: Crimson’s chapters are a masterclass in tension and character development.
Drawback: The resolution of the elven political subplot feels too convenient, undermining its potential impact.
---
Comparison:
Readers of Heavenly Chaos by Daniel Schinhofen will appreciate the mix of personal stakes and world-building, while fans of Master Class by Annabelle Hawthorne will enjoy the nuanced character relationships.
---
Overall Conclusion:
"Dungeon Diving 104" is a worthy entry in the series, balancing character-driven storytelling with thrilling action and world-building. While not without its flaws, it’s a must-read for fans of LitRPG and harem tales. Sentar continues to prove why he’s a standout in the genre.
Rating:
Story: 4.6 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Characters: 4.8 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Mechanics: 4.4 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Overall: 4.7 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Stay frosty, my fellow adventurers, and may your tales always end with epic loot and legendary bonds!
Introduction:
Hey there, fluff-folk and dungeon delvers! It’s Kiba Snowpaw, your frosty alpha Ice Wolf from the ever-frozen tundra of HowlStrom. As someone who’s braved 5,000 games, devoured 400+ audiobooks, and honed ice magic for decades, I have an instinct for quality storytelling. Today, I’m tackling Dungeon Diving 104 by Bruce Sentar, the fourth installment of this LitRPG epic. Does it maintain its chill-factor, or does it leave us howling in the wind? Let’s dive in—pun absolutely intended.
---
Basic Plot Summary:
Ken finds himself in unfamiliar territory—literally and figuratively—as he travels to the Elven world with Fayeth and Neldra, seeking refuge after Crimson is stranded beyond the portal. Lady Rendral, the enigmatic elven queen-to-be, provides sanctuary but soon enlists Ken for a high-stakes political mission. Together, they navigate court intrigue, unravel plots, and—of course—build relationships that might just shift the balance of power in the elven realm. Meanwhile, Crimson faces unimaginable challenges in the Naga world, showcasing her mettle and deepening the mystery of her connection to Ken.
---
Originality:
Sentar proves his mastery of blending LitRPG mechanics with harem dynamics in a way that feels fresh and engaging. While the trope of “outsider in a magical kingdom” is familiar, the elven political subplot and the exploration of Ken’s growing abilities add depth. The book shines in its ability to juggle interpersonal relationships alongside world-shaking events without losing focus.
---
About the Writer:
Bruce Sentar is a LitRPG luminary with a knack for crafting harem tales that go beyond surface-level escapism. His work draws comparisons to Daniel Schinhofen and Shane Hammond, but Sentar’s unique focus on character-driven narratives sets him apart. In "Dungeon Diving 104," his experience shines through in the balance of action, intrigue, and romance.
---
Analysis/Evaluation:
Character Development:
Main Characters:
- Ken: Ken continues to evolve as both a leader and a tactician. His struggle to reconcile his assassin training with his growing emotional bonds is compelling and relatable. His journey in the elven world pushes him out of his comfort zone in new and interesting ways.
- Crimson: Though physically absent from Ken’s side, Crimson’s chapters in the Naga world are some of the book’s most intense. Her battles showcase not only her power but also the emotional stakes of her connection to Ken.
- Lady Rendral: The future elven queen is a standout addition to the cast. Her blend of vulnerability and political savvy makes her a fascinating foil to Ken’s more straightforward approach.
Supporting Characters:
- Fayeth: As Ken’s guide to the elven world, Fayeth balances her own emotional arc with her role as mediator between Ken and Rendral.
- Neldra: Though less prominent, Neldra’s presence adds a grounding element to the story.
Character Arcs and Relatability:
Each character feels well-realized, with distinct motivations and arcs. The interplay between Ken’s party members and the new elven characters creates a rich tapestry of relationships that feel authentic and engaging.
---
Structure and Mechanics:
The pacing of "Dungeon Diving 104" is well-balanced, alternating between Ken’s elven escapades and Crimson’s high-octane survival in the Naga world. The LitRPG mechanics remain consistent, with clear explanations of stats and abilities that enhance rather than detract from the narrative. The dungeon elements, though less prominent, are seamlessly integrated into the story’s larger political and emotional stakes.
---
Impact:
This installment takes the series in a new direction, expanding the world-building while deepening the emotional stakes. For fans of the series, "Dungeon Diving 104" is a pivotal chapter that sets the stage for even greater challenges ahead.
---
Hook and Thesis:
The hook is simple yet effective: How does Ken navigate an entirely new world while maintaining his principles and protecting those he cares about? The thesis, as always, is about growth—both personal and collective—and the choices that define us.
---
Praise and Critique:
What Howls:
- World-Building: The elven world is vividly realized, with its political intrigue and cultural nuances adding depth to the story.
- Character Depth: Lady Rendral’s arc is a highlight, and Crimson’s solo journey adds a layer of grit to the narrative.
- Emotional Stakes: The relationships feel earned, with Ken’s internal conflict adding a layer of realism.
What Leaves Frostbite:
- Pacing Issues: Some chapters feel rushed, particularly the resolution of the elven political subplot.
- Continuity Errors: Minor inconsistencies in the LitRPG mechanics may frustrate detail-oriented readers.
- Party Separation: The absence of Ken’s full party leaves a noticeable void, though this is somewhat mitigated by the strength of the elven characters.
---
Personal Enjoyment:
As a reader and listener, I found "Dungeon Diving 104" to be a captivating addition to the series. The mix of political intrigue, character development, and high-stakes action kept me engaged from start to finish.
---
Highlights and Drawbacks:
Highlight: Crimson’s chapters are a masterclass in tension and character development.
Drawback: The resolution of the elven political subplot feels too convenient, undermining its potential impact.
---
Comparison:
Readers of Heavenly Chaos by Daniel Schinhofen will appreciate the mix of personal stakes and world-building, while fans of Master Class by Annabelle Hawthorne will enjoy the nuanced character relationships.
---
Overall Conclusion:
"Dungeon Diving 104" is a worthy entry in the series, balancing character-driven storytelling with thrilling action and world-building. While not without its flaws, it’s a must-read for fans of LitRPG and harem tales. Sentar continues to prove why he’s a standout in the genre.
Rating:
Story: 4.6 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Characters: 4.8 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Mechanics: 4.4 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Overall: 4.7 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Stay frosty, my fellow adventurers, and may your tales always end with epic loot and legendary bonds!
July 3, 2025
Romance:
November 12, 2023
I adored books 1 through 3, but was a little worried about book 4. First because it's hard to maintain a high level of quality throughout a series, and second because I'd heard some rumours from early readers that they didn't care for the ending of the book.
And in the event...I loved this book too. I do have a couple criticisms:
First, while there is a small recap at the start, I felt like it could have stood to be about 30% larger, and especially included some capsule character bios. I honestly struggled a bit to match names to characters for some of the minor characters.
Second, the end is a little clunky. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly enjoyable scene and has good pacing, but when you stop and think about it, it makes very little sense.
Third, this was a somewhat classic "the party is split" story, and the book ends up focused on one of the three groups to the exclusion of the others, and (somewhat inevitably) ended up pausing all the ongoing plots to focus on some new threads relevant to this. Which is fine, but it means a lot of great characters and interesting plot threads were entirely ignored. In some ways this book felt less like a sequel and more like a spinoff "book 3.5 - what the protagonist did on his summer vacation".
Still! Great book, very enjoyable, this continues to be one of my favourite series. I continue to love the tone, setting, adroit use of litrpg tropes, and interesting world.
And in the event...I loved this book too. I do have a couple criticisms:
First, while there is a small recap at the start, I felt like it could have stood to be about 30% larger, and especially included some capsule character bios. I honestly struggled a bit to match names to characters for some of the minor characters.
Second, the end is a little clunky. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly enjoyable scene and has good pacing, but when you stop and think about it, it makes very little sense.
Third, this was a somewhat classic "the party is split" story, and the book ends up focused on one of the three groups to the exclusion of the others, and (somewhat inevitably) ended up pausing all the ongoing plots to focus on some new threads relevant to this. Which is fine, but it means a lot of great characters and interesting plot threads were entirely ignored. In some ways this book felt less like a sequel and more like a spinoff "book 3.5 - what the protagonist did on his summer vacation".
Still! Great book, very enjoyable, this continues to be one of my favourite series. I continue to love the tone, setting, adroit use of litrpg tropes, and interesting world.
January 28, 2024
Fun series, well written and good balance of LitRPG and HaremLit/sex
I have to say that this is a fun and well written series, particularly the character dialog, thoughts, and development. It has a very limited number of sex acts, but I feel the author hit a great balance. He also has put a lot of effort into realistic verbal teasing and seduction, developing a solid sense of **anticipation** (a seemingly difficult task for most writers, or something they forget), whether the scene is romantic, sexual, or combative. My wife isnt a fan of haremlit, but I still am recommending the series to her based on my enjoyment of the writing and the low volume, but reasonable amount of sex. Honestly, the teasing and sensuality in the non sex scenes makes it far more enjoyable even as a harem lit style book.
One grievance I had with this particular installment is what seems like a high volume of continuity errors. Particularly the issue with sharing powers of the Trelican. The author seems to be highly inconsistent in this book, though there have been some occasional minor slip ups in prior books in the series too. However, this factor is a main plot point in this book and it should've been more clearly defined and the author should've taken more care to follow the rules of his story (big pet peeve of mine for major plot points, especially since the author is the one making the rules... it's just carelessness). If you have editors or test readers, shame on them, if not, get some.
One other point of note, again particularly in this book, is the overuse of certain words in close proximity to each other. If you're using the same descriptors within a paragraph of each other, check your thesaurus. Shouldnt be too hard to read the small section and recognize when you're doing it.
I have to say that this is a fun and well written series, particularly the character dialog, thoughts, and development. It has a very limited number of sex acts, but I feel the author hit a great balance. He also has put a lot of effort into realistic verbal teasing and seduction, developing a solid sense of **anticipation** (a seemingly difficult task for most writers, or something they forget), whether the scene is romantic, sexual, or combative. My wife isnt a fan of haremlit, but I still am recommending the series to her based on my enjoyment of the writing and the low volume, but reasonable amount of sex. Honestly, the teasing and sensuality in the non sex scenes makes it far more enjoyable even as a harem lit style book.
One grievance I had with this particular installment is what seems like a high volume of continuity errors. Particularly the issue with sharing powers of the Trelican. The author seems to be highly inconsistent in this book, though there have been some occasional minor slip ups in prior books in the series too. However, this factor is a main plot point in this book and it should've been more clearly defined and the author should've taken more care to follow the rules of his story (big pet peeve of mine for major plot points, especially since the author is the one making the rules... it's just carelessness). If you have editors or test readers, shame on them, if not, get some.
One other point of note, again particularly in this book, is the overuse of certain words in close proximity to each other. If you're using the same descriptors within a paragraph of each other, check your thesaurus. Shouldnt be too hard to read the small section and recognize when you're doing it.
January 28, 2024
I have enjoyed this series, probably more than I should, but its been a fun romp. Like the other books, it's patterned after a Japanese harem anime, and that's fine. I don't need the graphic sex, but it is part of the genre.
This particular story felt rushed. I am not going to give it away, you can read it and discover the story for yourself. That said, I thought the author spent a lot of time developing story elements that may or may not have been necessary to spend the time on. I thought they didn't spend as much time as maybe I would have liked on what was going on with Crimson, but that was fine. The ending, however, was rushed. It was like we spent a long time sitting in the top of the pool as the cork was pulled out the bottom. We had a mustachioed villain who was rather flat that I had no investment in, and then suddenly were seeing the villain defeated and everything comes together the way it should. I would have liked the villain to be maybe a little more thought out and a little more of a threat. Everything was on the periphery and the major crux of the story was focused on the physical enticement for a relationship between the Princess and Ken. I mean, okay, fine, but they needed probably another couple chapters to really play the story out well.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and will probably read the next one.
This particular story felt rushed. I am not going to give it away, you can read it and discover the story for yourself. That said, I thought the author spent a lot of time developing story elements that may or may not have been necessary to spend the time on. I thought they didn't spend as much time as maybe I would have liked on what was going on with Crimson, but that was fine. The ending, however, was rushed. It was like we spent a long time sitting in the top of the pool as the cork was pulled out the bottom. We had a mustachioed villain who was rather flat that I had no investment in, and then suddenly were seeing the villain defeated and everything comes together the way it should. I would have liked the villain to be maybe a little more thought out and a little more of a threat. Everything was on the periphery and the major crux of the story was focused on the physical enticement for a relationship between the Princess and Ken. I mean, okay, fine, but they needed probably another couple chapters to really play the story out well.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and will probably read the next one.
December 11, 2023
Another good installment of the Dungeon Diving installment. This one is a little side quest, so to speak, where we see Ken head to the Elven home world to meet their Queen while Crimson is stuck tackling the Naga after being closed in the Portal after last book.
With Crimson, we get to see what a total bad ass that she is when she single handedly dominates the Naga world on her way to get back to Ken. We are also introduced to her Limit Break skill and how Ken may be able to help her control it.
Ken is able to spend one on one time with Fayeth as she introduces him to the Eleven World, one embroiled in a tense political war with the current Emperor and a Noble group. We met the Eleven Queen, Lady Rendral, who needs Ken's Trelican ability and see how he can help another damsel in distress.
Although this was a different take than the previous books and Ken's time at Hayden, it was no less exciting and interesting. I enjoyed the time spent with the Elves. Mr. Sentar continues to enthrall me with his story and the characters, we see how his harem back at the Silver Fangs compound continues to develop as well in small snippets. I can't wait to see what happens as Ken and the girls start their second year at Hayden.
With Crimson, we get to see what a total bad ass that she is when she single handedly dominates the Naga world on her way to get back to Ken. We are also introduced to her Limit Break skill and how Ken may be able to help her control it.
Ken is able to spend one on one time with Fayeth as she introduces him to the Eleven World, one embroiled in a tense political war with the current Emperor and a Noble group. We met the Eleven Queen, Lady Rendral, who needs Ken's Trelican ability and see how he can help another damsel in distress.
Although this was a different take than the previous books and Ken's time at Hayden, it was no less exciting and interesting. I enjoyed the time spent with the Elves. Mr. Sentar continues to enthrall me with his story and the characters, we see how his harem back at the Silver Fangs compound continues to develop as well in small snippets. I can't wait to see what happens as Ken and the girls start their second year at Hayden.
May 24, 2024
This fourth part of the Dungeon Diving series has interesting pacing - the start felt really rushed which was a bit weird but at least nicely prevented 'recap syndrome', which is where the author spends a large part of each book to recap everything that happened before in a long series, and which I find super annoying. After that the book entered a nice pacing, with a good buildup and a nice ending, although it did make me wonder about the planned length of the series. Throughout the series we know that Ken is supposed to level to ca. level 65-70 to catch up to Crimson, but this 4th installment only covered a summer holiday and brought Ken up to level 25 or so, so by that speed there would need to be 12 parts just to allow Ken to catch up, before even getting into serious action!? Note that I'm not complaining, I think the buildup and leveling is nicely done, combined with building up a party and raid group, but it does feel a bit slow, in particular because we're told from the start that that's the plan. Anyway, in this part Ken visits the elves while Crimson gets to spend quality time with the archnemesis nagas. I liked the story, it's a bit basic but that's part of what makes it an easy and entertaining read.
November 17, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I like the author's use of humor in his writings. I also like his writing style. He's not the most descriptive and there were a few times I had to read adjust my view of the surroundings as the event unfolds.
In this story after the Naga invasion of the safe zone through a portal that a scientist had been working on creating, things became chaotic and Crimson ended up on the wrong side of the portal when Ken managed to shut it. Portals are unavailable inside the dungeon, those who can portal do so only on the surface. When Ken becomes the only person who has the ability to create portals he becomes overly valuable, Ken doesn't have the mana to be able to use this ability. So with Crimson in the Naga world and everyone wanting Ken, the royal consort decides taking him to the Elven world as the best option. Things are not so harmonious in the elven world as one would think and Ken and Fayeth soon get involved in the politics.
In this story after the Naga invasion of the safe zone through a portal that a scientist had been working on creating, things became chaotic and Crimson ended up on the wrong side of the portal when Ken managed to shut it. Portals are unavailable inside the dungeon, those who can portal do so only on the surface. When Ken becomes the only person who has the ability to create portals he becomes overly valuable, Ken doesn't have the mana to be able to use this ability. So with Crimson in the Naga world and everyone wanting Ken, the royal consort decides taking him to the Elven world as the best option. Things are not so harmonious in the elven world as one would think and Ken and Fayeth soon get involved in the politics.
November 25, 2023
Really enjoying this series
So lucky I started this on a weekend. 4am on Sunday morning as I couldn’t stop reading from about 50% The story is progressing well, the characters are well balanced although I did miss Des and Charlotte in this book. This was the elven arc and covers the two months Ken spends with the elves at The Great Tree. The mix of action and slice of life was great. Most but not all of the intimate scenes were fade to black, as is usual with Bruce, introducing new characters into the bedroom gains extra details, but its a lot tamer than many harem books in this genre. Need to wait now for the next book in the series, although he releases a book each month, he cycles through his active series.
So lucky I started this on a weekend. 4am on Sunday morning as I couldn’t stop reading from about 50% The story is progressing well, the characters are well balanced although I did miss Des and Charlotte in this book. This was the elven arc and covers the two months Ken spends with the elves at The Great Tree. The mix of action and slice of life was great. Most but not all of the intimate scenes were fade to black, as is usual with Bruce, introducing new characters into the bedroom gains extra details, but its a lot tamer than many harem books in this genre. Need to wait now for the next book in the series, although he releases a book each month, he cycles through his active series.
November 11, 2023
Ken must try to stop a coup take over by a band of elf nobles during a war with the naga
Ken helps to stop the Naga from an invasion in the human world by closing a portal from the Naga world during a demonstration ending his first year at Haylon . He is swept up an taken to the elven world for 2 months for the summer . He falls in love with the daughter of the Emperor . During his stay the Naga wage war in the elven world . An band of elven nobles wage war in the elven world during the war a coup to take over the elven world while the Emperor is away . Ken must try to stop the coup at all cost .recommend reading excellent series .
Ken helps to stop the Naga from an invasion in the human world by closing a portal from the Naga world during a demonstration ending his first year at Haylon . He is swept up an taken to the elven world for 2 months for the summer . He falls in love with the daughter of the Emperor . During his stay the Naga wage war in the elven world . An band of elven nobles wage war in the elven world during the war a coup to take over the elven world while the Emperor is away . Ken must try to stop the coup at all cost .recommend reading excellent series .
November 15, 2023
Ken gets to visit the elven community a little ahead of plans. We follow Ken for the bulk of the story. We get some snippets of his party and Crimson, though.
Ken works to get a handle of sorts on his new ability, train and level, and fall into Elven politics.
I am still loving this series. It throws some anime tropes at you, but is still a fun story. It is very much a magic academy story at the moment. As they are heading into their sophmore year with book 5, we will be in school for the next few books. Which I am not minding at all.
I recommend giving this series a try if you have not already.
Ken works to get a handle of sorts on his new ability, train and level, and fall into Elven politics.
I am still loving this series. It throws some anime tropes at you, but is still a fun story. It is very much a magic academy story at the moment. As they are heading into their sophmore year with book 5, we will be in school for the next few books. Which I am not minding at all.
I recommend giving this series a try if you have not already.
November 15, 2023
My favourite one yet
This was a series of firsts for mr. Sentar. Splitting up the harem mid series for the side characters to get a little time skip power up, and having an additional new member be a long distance member (at least until ken can control the portals). As usually Bruce introduces us to a new world in a way that feels more immersive. Usually writers focus mainly on major details that are so different or the same. Such as infrastructure and food. And while those are present, the small details he adds make all the difference. Like the different shape of the library ladder for instance. Excellent book mr. Sentar and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
This was a series of firsts for mr. Sentar. Splitting up the harem mid series for the side characters to get a little time skip power up, and having an additional new member be a long distance member (at least until ken can control the portals). As usually Bruce introduces us to a new world in a way that feels more immersive. Usually writers focus mainly on major details that are so different or the same. Such as infrastructure and food. And while those are present, the small details he adds make all the difference. Like the different shape of the library ladder for instance. Excellent book mr. Sentar and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
June 23, 2024
Summertime with Elves and More
The Maid Cafe is a huge hit and the party must go on... Nega attack through an experimental portal that Ken closes, but Cam get stuck on their side. She goes on a killing spree killing and killing in an uncontrolled fit of anger. She will see her love, Ken, again.
Ken, escapes the guild leaders that now have uncontrolled access to him and his abilities, to the elven Kingdom to meet the princess.
...fall in love and gain eachothers abilities... save the Kingdom from a coop... save the King on the frontlines fighting Naga...
*Phew* what a busy Summer Vacation and can't wait to get back to school...
Read in 2 days
The Maid Cafe is a huge hit and the party must go on... Nega attack through an experimental portal that Ken closes, but Cam get stuck on their side. She goes on a killing spree killing and killing in an uncontrolled fit of anger. She will see her love, Ken, again.
Ken, escapes the guild leaders that now have uncontrolled access to him and his abilities, to the elven Kingdom to meet the princess.
...fall in love and gain eachothers abilities... save the Kingdom from a coop... save the King on the frontlines fighting Naga...
*Phew* what a busy Summer Vacation and can't wait to get back to school...
Read in 2 days
November 11, 2023
A worthy addition to the series. I had to admit when it became clear Sentar was splitting the party, with the bulk of them not really featuring in this book, I was concerned. He did that in Dragon's Justice at least once and the result wasn't good. Oddly though this time it worked out fine and I didn't find myself missing Des, Charlotte, & Harley. That said, I'm glad they'll be back together for the next school year soon, and I hope Sentar doesn't make a habit of splitting them up. It would be a shame if this series ended up going downhill the same Dragon's Justice has.
November 20, 2023
Nice change for the series
Really like the change in location. Would be interesting to hear a bit more Bout Crimson and what she finds on the lower levels. Her outfit in a blinding white leather, with red hair might be a cool change. Thought the elves were engaging and the flow seemed a bit better. As much as I like the "old" party members, some just seem to be less in sync. Char with the bunny and the lesbian Bard as the 2 that stick out the most. Hope to see some advancement or changes there.
Really like the change in location. Would be interesting to hear a bit more Bout Crimson and what she finds on the lower levels. Her outfit in a blinding white leather, with red hair might be a cool change. Thought the elves were engaging and the flow seemed a bit better. As much as I like the "old" party members, some just seem to be less in sync. Char with the bunny and the lesbian Bard as the 2 that stick out the most. Hope to see some advancement or changes there.
December 14, 2024
It's good
If you like the previous books in the series, you're going to like this one if you didn't like the previous books. I don't know why you're reading this one or thinking about doing so because it's more of the same. Lots of action and adventure. It's nice to see the elfin homeworld. Some more decent characterization. Different characters are backstories are filled out a little bit more which is nice. I can't really tell you any more than that without ruining the plot for you. Hope this helps. Apologize for spelling errors. I'm writing this review with voice to text
If you like the previous books in the series, you're going to like this one if you didn't like the previous books. I don't know why you're reading this one or thinking about doing so because it's more of the same. Lots of action and adventure. It's nice to see the elfin homeworld. Some more decent characterization. Different characters are backstories are filled out a little bit more which is nice. I can't really tell you any more than that without ruining the plot for you. Hope this helps. Apologize for spelling errors. I'm writing this review with voice to text
November 16, 2023
Incredible
This is definitely in my top 5 favorite series of all time with this latest book. The protagonist goes to visit the elves during the summer and meets The elf princess And add her to his harem. Crimson finally gets back From Dealing with the Naga And advances Her hopes With Ken. The book ends in a great spot to pick up in the next 1. I hope this series is continued For a long time to come
This is definitely in my top 5 favorite series of all time with this latest book. The protagonist goes to visit the elves during the summer and meets The elf princess And add her to his harem. Crimson finally gets back From Dealing with the Naga And advances Her hopes With Ken. The book ends in a great spot to pick up in the next 1. I hope this series is continued For a long time to come
November 11, 2023
Summer Fun
Another great entry to this series. While it went in some directions I didn’t expect and I missed some of the original crew’s presence it is still one of the most fun series out there. There is something here for about everyone: comedy, drama, action and violence, flirting and spice.
Another great entry to this series. While it went in some directions I didn’t expect and I missed some of the original crew’s presence it is still one of the most fun series out there. There is something here for about everyone: comedy, drama, action and violence, flirting and spice.
November 12, 2023
An entertaining side quest!
In this book we get to see some of the elven world which was actually quite entertaining. I wasn't expecting it to be as far as it was considering how book three ended but it was still good.
Honestly I enjoyed seeing more of crimson's development than anything
In this book we get to see some of the elven world which was actually quite entertaining. I wasn't expecting it to be as far as it was considering how book three ended but it was still good.
Honestly I enjoyed seeing more of crimson's development than anything
November 15, 2023
The latest installment of the Dungeon Divers is good,
But not great. A lot more excitement and a lot less slice of life, and I'm sure that that will excite some of you to no end. But that sol is what I have been looking for.
I hope Ard's Oath continues as before.
At least there is no Harley in this one.
But not great. A lot more excitement and a lot less slice of life, and I'm sure that that will excite some of you to no end. But that sol is what I have been looking for.
I hope Ard's Oath continues as before.
At least there is no Harley in this one.
November 15, 2023
Adventure and Politics
This was a great book very refreshing in how the story came together. The fact that we were able to see Ken demonstrate some of his lessons learned from his grandparents was awesome. All some great job with introducing the cat people and Crimson getting some control over her ability.
This was a great book very refreshing in how the story came together. The fact that we were able to see Ken demonstrate some of his lessons learned from his grandparents was awesome. All some great job with introducing the cat people and Crimson getting some control over her ability.
November 25, 2023
Superior story telling and absolutely full of fun
The characters and their relationships really dazzle and draw the reader into a very finely crafted world that you just want to keep going and going. This is an amazing series and I am absolutely stoked about Dungeon Diving 105. This author is at the peak of writing and maintaining the quality of his writing from book to book.
The characters and their relationships really dazzle and draw the reader into a very finely crafted world that you just want to keep going and going. This is an amazing series and I am absolutely stoked about Dungeon Diving 105. This author is at the peak of writing and maintaining the quality of his writing from book to book.
December 5, 2023
A really good narrative with a great story to weave through.
The characters are finely detailed enough that subsequent books are easily readable on return after a time.
However, nothing beats reading a series back to back till you're done, but I've never been able to resist reading whatever comes along in any series so far, :)
The characters are finely detailed enough that subsequent books are easily readable on return after a time.
However, nothing beats reading a series back to back till you're done, but I've never been able to resist reading whatever comes along in any series so far, :)
December 10, 2023
A great book with a well developed world
Another great book in the series, it’s enjoyable and entertaining to read. It has good pacing and has real effort put into the characters and the world development.
It does have some adult scenes but in my opinion they are well written and not overbearing like a lot of book in this genre.
Another great book in the series, it’s enjoyable and entertaining to read. It has good pacing and has real effort put into the characters and the world development.
It does have some adult scenes but in my opinion they are well written and not overbearing like a lot of book in this genre.
February 17, 2024
Enjoyable dungeon dive
The MC meets 2 new harem candidates before landing in the midst of a political upheaval. Meanwhile Crimson his OP paramour with a power that makes it dangerous for her to get excited has to decimate naga armies. I did enjoy the ninja activities before the MC and his allies were captured by the opposition. Also enjoyed the ongoing training montagues.
The MC meets 2 new harem candidates before landing in the midst of a political upheaval. Meanwhile Crimson his OP paramour with a power that makes it dangerous for her to get excited has to decimate naga armies. I did enjoy the ninja activities before the MC and his allies were captured by the opposition. Also enjoyed the ongoing training montagues.
April 2, 2024
The quality of the story and character development was about the same as the previous 3 titles.
However, the sex scenes were quite poor by comparison, often cutting off after the first few leading sentences. I understand that its difficult to moderate the amount of 'steam' in a romance book, but this particular title fell short from my expectation set by the previous titles.
However, the sex scenes were quite poor by comparison, often cutting off after the first few leading sentences. I understand that its difficult to moderate the amount of 'steam' in a romance book, but this particular title fell short from my expectation set by the previous titles.
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