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Essence: A Divine Dungeon Anthology
Infernal or celestial. Young or old. Each has their own path to power.Delve into the world of the Divine Dungeon with new and old cultivators alike. Discover the Lion Kingdom’s beginning, learn the origin of Odin and his ravens, and take a philosophical approach to cultivation. These stories and more are included in the first short story anthology set in Dakota Krout’s Divine Dungeon universe.Eight incredible new tales told by eight amazing authors.Check out this LitRPG and GameLit fantasy anthology today!Lion Start by Rohan HublikarJoin Garron and Andros as they flee an oppressive Noble house and begin learning the secrets of cultivation while evading capture. Perhaps their methods will even create a legacy of its own?Legacy of Thunder by Steven WilldenLearn the origin of Odin and his ravens, back when they were all simple cultivators in Azguardia. How did a child eventually become one of the most powerful and well-known lightning users of all time?Flight of the Glitterflit by Ryan BallTest both the dangers and joys of surpassing your personal limits with Jack, as he learns what it really means to determine your own destiny. A person’s fate is never what you would suspect.Splat! by Raymond JohnsonA simple Dungeon Goblin has been killed in the same way over and over, constantly revived by the dungeon it has bound itself to. Is there more to the deaths than simply fighting adventurers?The Spirit Dungeon by Alexis KeaneAn infernal cultivator is driven from his home by true necromancers. During his escape, he finds a secret that could allow him to live nearly forever. Will he be able to control it?Hidden Lantern by James AuwaerterThe Inquisition has arrived. At least, one of the members has. It is up to him to determine if this area is worth saving… or should be purged by fire.Butcher Boy by Dakota KroutFollow the saga of Ramset as he learns what it means to be a cultivator in a city where men are only allowed to be mere mortals.Axiom by Dennis VanderkerkenWhat is cultivation? How is it possible? Philosophy to the rescue! When an old man loses everything, he decides that age is not going to be what stops him from rescuing the young ones that have been ‘recruited’ by the raiders that took them.
- GenresFantasyAnthologies
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2019
255 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Dakota Krout
78 books2,885 followersAuthor of the best-selling Divine Dungeon, Completionist Chronicles, and Full Murderhobo series, Dakota Krout was chosen as Audible's top 5 fantasy pick of 2017, has been a top 5 bestseller on Amazon, and a top 6 bestseller on Audible.
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 26, 2019
An excellent edition to the Divine Dungeon Universe written by many talented writers, each one catching my attention with their witty writing.
November 8, 2019
Fun to see new material from the Divine Dungeon world of Cal and the others. 8 stories from 8 authors, including one from the man himself (Dakota Krout).
It looks like a few of these will become books in their own right, which I would like to see. Several of the stories seemed to end as teasers to future work, rather than wrapping up in a clear finish.
My 3 favorites of the 8 stories:
* Flight of the Glitterflit - What happens when a Glitterflit befriends one of the dungeon delvers? What will become of them later?
* Butcher Boy - An interesting take on a lower-caste character getting a leg up via the magic of the world. Clearly more to be told in this story by Dakota Krout.
* Splat! - The story of one of the goblin dungeon mobs - this one was nicely self-contained. I'm not sure I could deal with the "voice" of this character for a longer story. But the concept of seeing the world from the viewpoint of the mobs is pretty nice. Like the Glitterflit.
It looks like a few of these will become books in their own right, which I would like to see. Several of the stories seemed to end as teasers to future work, rather than wrapping up in a clear finish.
My 3 favorites of the 8 stories:
* Flight of the Glitterflit - What happens when a Glitterflit befriends one of the dungeon delvers? What will become of them later?
* Butcher Boy - An interesting take on a lower-caste character getting a leg up via the magic of the world. Clearly more to be told in this story by Dakota Krout.
* Splat! - The story of one of the goblin dungeon mobs - this one was nicely self-contained. I'm not sure I could deal with the "voice" of this character for a longer story. But the concept of seeing the world from the viewpoint of the mobs is pretty nice. Like the Glitterflit.
July 12, 2023
I can’t read this author fast enough!
I just burned my way through the Divine Dungeon books and need to go back and review them all. I literally only stopped to sleep occasionally and tend to my children. They’re that good, friends. I don’t mean to overhype them and call them better than 10 Super Bowls (or halftime shows. Or the commercials. Or the Puppy Bowl. Whatever makes you happy) so they’re unable to live up to expectations, but WOW! Best series I’ve read in AGES! I’m now going to work my way through every single thing Dakota Krout has EVER written. Maybe even his grocery list.
Enjoy, friends! He’s more than worth the time, and you can even read while being responsible with Audible!
I just burned my way through the Divine Dungeon books and need to go back and review them all. I literally only stopped to sleep occasionally and tend to my children. They’re that good, friends. I don’t mean to overhype them and call them better than 10 Super Bowls (or halftime shows. Or the commercials. Or the Puppy Bowl. Whatever makes you happy) so they’re unable to live up to expectations, but WOW! Best series I’ve read in AGES! I’m now going to work my way through every single thing Dakota Krout has EVER written. Maybe even his grocery list.
Enjoy, friends! He’s more than worth the time, and you can even read while being responsible with Audible!
November 12, 2019
There are the first chapters of some books to be published in the future. HOWEVER, the rest are excellent short stories written by fans of the DD. Dakota Krout invited people to use his basic DD "universe" to base their stories in with the qualification that they could not use main characters from DD. He had been planning on keeping them in the community by putting them up on his Patron website but instead put them together in this book. It is always a pleasure to read stories people come up with and what Dakota Krout did was very magnanimous.
November 30, 2019
A glorious return to the universe of the Divine Dungeon.
While the Dungeon in question appears - peripherally - only in a handful of stories, it's still good. All the various authors brought in for this anthology made their own very good takes on the world. Some stories are more contrived than others, but overall, this is top quality for the fans of the series.
And if you've never read the Divine Dungeon, don't start with this book. You'll be baffled by some of the concepts. It is assumed you are familiar with the various progression/cultivation/leveling mechanics involved.
While the Dungeon in question appears - peripherally - only in a handful of stories, it's still good. All the various authors brought in for this anthology made their own very good takes on the world. Some stories are more contrived than others, but overall, this is top quality for the fans of the series.
And if you've never read the Divine Dungeon, don't start with this book. You'll be baffled by some of the concepts. It is assumed you are familiar with the various progression/cultivation/leveling mechanics involved.
February 23, 2020
An exciting collection of short stories
Another peek into this amazing universe introduces us to some new characters, as well as cameos by those we’ve met in other novels. I wish there was more to these stories and especially loved reading Artorian’s series, and hope the excerpt draws many to that story as well.
Such an enjoyable world to learn more about, excitement and fear abound as we watch the struggles of cultivators and even non-cultivators. A snippet of a female led society, an inquisitor in training sneaks into town, read on to discover more!
Another peek into this amazing universe introduces us to some new characters, as well as cameos by those we’ve met in other novels. I wish there was more to these stories and especially loved reading Artorian’s series, and hope the excerpt draws many to that story as well.
Such an enjoyable world to learn more about, excitement and fear abound as we watch the struggles of cultivators and even non-cultivators. A snippet of a female led society, an inquisitor in training sneaks into town, read on to discover more!
March 28, 2025
This was an anthology based on Divine Dungeon. That said, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. You really need to have read the series to enjoy these and even then they are not as engaging as I remember the Divine Dungeon series being. I am going to read the spinoff series and hope it recaptures what I enjoyed with the initial series. Overall if you’re a fan, read this. Otherwise read the series, become a fan, then maybe tackle this one.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
November 26, 2019
Wonderful. Simply wonderful.
Almost every one of these stories answered at least one of my questions while reading the Divine Dungeon series. Some even have me answers I didn't even know I wanted answers to. Good writing that, just like with the Divine Dungeon, I didn't want to put down. Some stories are more fun while others are darker and serious, but no matter what they are all a good time, as expected.
Almost every one of these stories answered at least one of my questions while reading the Divine Dungeon series. Some even have me answers I didn't even know I wanted answers to. Good writing that, just like with the Divine Dungeon, I didn't want to put down. Some stories are more fun while others are darker and serious, but no matter what they are all a good time, as expected.
November 20, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed
I came into this book expecting to see a few shining gems among a medley of more or less mundane stories. I was pleasantly surprised to find a back to front piece of excellence. It truly has been a pleasure to explore this world further
I came into this book expecting to see a few shining gems among a medley of more or less mundane stories. I was pleasantly surprised to find a back to front piece of excellence. It truly has been a pleasure to explore this world further
January 21, 2020
Fantastic fun!
What a great pleasure to return to this world! All the stories are well crafted and enjoyable. The butcher's boy was fantastic and now I can't wait to sink my teeth into axiom! This is a must read for any fans of the divine dungeon series!
What a great pleasure to return to this world! All the stories are well crafted and enjoyable. The butcher's boy was fantastic and now I can't wait to sink my teeth into axiom! This is a must read for any fans of the divine dungeon series!
May 12, 2022
If you enjoy the Divine Dungeon series you will like this book
Several of the short stories in this anthology provide interesting back stories to the Divine Dungeon series and Arthurian Archive series.
Several of the short stories in this anthology provide interesting back stories to the Divine Dungeon series and Arthurian Archive series.
November 13, 2019
Excellent
Awesome compilations! I'm looking forward to reading all these new authors! Dakota was pretty good too lol.
Ok, " three more words"
Awesome compilations! I'm looking forward to reading all these new authors! Dakota was pretty good too lol.
Ok, " three more words"
November 25, 2019
Mostly good
I think I enjoyed all the stories, but several left me wanting more - no real resolution. Given the last one leads in to a new book, I hope the rest are as well.
I think I enjoyed all the stories, but several left me wanting more - no real resolution. Given the last one leads in to a new book, I hope the rest are as well.
February 16, 2020
Good
Interesting array of stories that add to the pre existing universe. Most are cool, many not a repeat read though I'd like to see some of them expanded upon
Interesting array of stories that add to the pre existing universe. Most are cool, many not a repeat read though I'd like to see some of them expanded upon
January 30, 2022
Great book
A great collection of stories set in the Divine Dungeon universe. Hopefully some of them get turned into full length books.
A great collection of stories set in the Divine Dungeon universe. Hopefully some of them get turned into full length books.
January 5, 2023
Characters: 4*
Plot: 3*
Universe: 5*
A good anthology of short stories set in this universe.
Plot: 3*
Universe: 5*
A good anthology of short stories set in this universe.
November 22, 2019
Awesome
A fun way of seeing the world from many different unique perspectives! Can’t wait for more to come out soon!
A fun way of seeing the world from many different unique perspectives! Can’t wait for more to come out soon!
August 31, 2025
Some good stories. Not suitable as a stand alone story. Read after "The Devine Dungeon" series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews