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Deepest Dungeon #2
Masters of Strata
Martin and Iron Riot have made their mark on the Dungeons of Strata, slaying the first of the nightmarish Archdukes faster than anyone could have hoped. Yet the dungeon has left its marks on them too.
Scarred with wounds that will not heal and changed in ways that he cannot comprehend, Martin must contend with the mysterious true nature of the game and the lengths that the Masters who made this world are willing to go to keep their secrets.
The Masters have complete control over everything in Strata. They now hunt Martin outside the game, using every means at their disposal to put a stop to his progress.
But they have forgotten the age-old Never corner a rat.
Scarred with wounds that will not heal and changed in ways that he cannot comprehend, Martin must contend with the mysterious true nature of the game and the lengths that the Masters who made this world are willing to go to keep their secrets.
The Masters have complete control over everything in Strata. They now hunt Martin outside the game, using every means at their disposal to put a stop to his progress.
But they have forgotten the age-old Never corner a rat.
326 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2021
85 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
G.D. Penman
31 books82 followersG. D. Penman is a critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling fantasy author, and the ghostwriter of over 200 books across various genres. Prior to his literary career he worked as a bookseller, game designer, literary critic and editor. He lives in Dundee, Scotland with his partner, children and a vast menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 24, 2021
So I have a very mixed opinion about this book. On the one hand, the story its self is good however I really don't think the author thought about the difference between written and audio when writing this book thats not ment as anything other then in written text you can skim and skip the repetitive word not every book is ment to be in audio format. I say all of this because for me the second half of the book was a huge struggle to get through and their were points were I almost quit reading the book and that was a big disappointment becausei enjoyed the first one but for both big fights, one being with the stone snake women and the second the archduke with the archduke being the worst with the overly repetitiveness with the echos. It adds nothing to the book and it's annoying and it made me want to skip both fights. The first book had a bit of repetition but this was ridiculous and overly done and it damaged the over all story for me. Again the story it self was good not as good as the first but but if you don't mind the repetition then you should love this book it was not for me.
June 24, 2021
As much as I enjoy a solid LitRPG romp, this second book of what appears will a trilogy repeats the faults of the first. There are very few encounters for this guild as they progress through two more (?) deeps of this 100 level labyrinth. Over half of the monsters they do encounter are boss level mobs which they then exploit their way to victory over with a suboptimal setup of two to four incompatible personalities. Still, I’m entertained enough to see how it ends... yeah, I’m a sucker.
August 16, 2024
Masters of Strata is book two in G.D. Penman’s Deepest Dungeon series. The book continues to follow Martin and his guild, Iron Riot, as they continue to delve deeper into the Dungeons of Strata. However, growing strife within the guild as well as mounting antagonism from the enigmatic Masters challenge Martin as he tries to learn the truth behind the game. Overall, this novel, like its predecessor, maintained a good combination of an entertaining plot and strong use of Lit RPG genre mechanics. I did feel like this novel’s active avoidance of emotional and deep conversations between Martin and the side characters limited those characters development, which was one aspect I was hoping to see this novel.
I think Masters of Strata, like the previous novel, poses a good balance of Lit RPG mechanics, enough to make the story interesting and flavorful, but not overwhelming the plot in doing so. I appreciated how, for the most part, the decisions Martin made in his RPG character development were impactful, and often times strategy comes down to exploiting the in-game mechanics.
One thing I love about the book is the internal struggle Martin faces, both with the dysmorphia caused by the game as well as the constant voice from the dungeon worming its way into his head. I think these two things help give Martin a lot more character depth, as well as insidiously question the reality of the world outside of Strata. I enjoyed the tidbits of this in the previous book and was delighted to see this expanded on in the sequel. This aspect also dovetailed really nicely into the worldbuilding that developed in the story, which was also quite fun.
While I like the development and depth into Martin and his psyche, the book shies away from developing the three primary side characters: Julia, Jericho and Lindsay.
Some other thoughts I had about the novel:
- I was surprised that the
- It had been a year since I read the previous book, and I had no recollection who Edwin Klimpt was at all. I wish the novel had been kinder in the introduction of reminding the reader who Klimpt was.
- Normally, I feel sequels are longer, and I was surprised that this book was slightly shorter than its predecessor. I wish some of those pages had been devoted to character development.
Overall, I enjoyed book 2 of the Deepest Dungeon series for its fun plot, quick pace, and use of Lit RPG elements. While I think the book does a great job exploring Martin as a character, I wish there had been more time devoted to the side characters, but I have a strong suspicion this will be rectified in the next book in the series.
I think Masters of Strata, like the previous novel, poses a good balance of Lit RPG mechanics, enough to make the story interesting and flavorful, but not overwhelming the plot in doing so. I appreciated how, for the most part, the decisions Martin made in his RPG character development were impactful, and often times strategy comes down to exploiting the in-game mechanics.
One thing I love about the book is the internal struggle Martin faces, both with the dysmorphia caused by the game as well as the constant voice from the dungeon worming its way into his head. I think these two things help give Martin a lot more character depth, as well as insidiously question the reality of the world outside of Strata. I enjoyed the tidbits of this in the previous book and was delighted to see this expanded on in the sequel. This aspect also dovetailed really nicely into the worldbuilding that developed in the story, which was also quite fun.
While I like the development and depth into Martin and his psyche, the book shies away from developing the three primary side characters: Julia, Jericho and Lindsay.
Some other thoughts I had about the novel:
- I was surprised that the
- It had been a year since I read the previous book, and I had no recollection who Edwin Klimpt was at all. I wish the novel had been kinder in the introduction of reminding the reader who Klimpt was.
- Normally, I feel sequels are longer, and I was surprised that this book was slightly shorter than its predecessor. I wish some of those pages had been devoted to character development.
Overall, I enjoyed book 2 of the Deepest Dungeon series for its fun plot, quick pace, and use of Lit RPG elements. While I think the book does a great job exploring Martin as a character, I wish there had been more time devoted to the side characters, but I have a strong suspicion this will be rectified in the next book in the series.
June 15, 2021
Dont pay attention to the stats
This book is a game book, but the author continually forgets to include the last level ups in the stats. Fantastic book tho, 5 stars even with that annoying error.
This book is a game book, but the author continually forgets to include the last level ups in the stats. Fantastic book tho, 5 stars even with that annoying error.
June 23, 2021
The MC is a 'high functioning sociopath' or at least has sociopathic tendencies...this story is just too weird...not sure I'll read the 3rd volume...
August 16, 2024
2,5 stars. Unfortunately, this book felt much weaker than the first one. Many setups were left unanswered. Small events take many pages to get through, resulting in minimal dungeon progress. That leaves me with little hope for a well rounded ending of the third book.
Many points bothered me while reading this story, including:
- Jericho is a 1 dimensional character. We get it, he growls at every single sentence and idea by Martin. At least Lindsay is a joy to read and Julia gives a little humanity to the gang.
- Did the characters ever pick a trade? In part one Martin figured it would help them craft quality armor. Never mentioned again.
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-
-
-
-
-
-
- There were a few typos in my e-reader file.
- And a personal pet peeve:
The good parts: extremely well written bosses and areas. They truly are horrific and disgusting to imagine. Creative solutions in defeating them. A nice dose of humor. Raising philosophical questions about the origin of the dungeons. Despite its shortcomings, I do want to find out how the story ends.
Many points bothered me while reading this story, including:
- Jericho is a 1 dimensional character. We get it, he growls at every single sentence and idea by Martin. At least Lindsay is a joy to read and Julia gives a little humanity to the gang.
- Did the characters ever pick a trade? In part one Martin figured it would help them craft quality armor. Never mentioned again.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- There were a few typos in my e-reader file.
- And a personal pet peeve:
The good parts: extremely well written bosses and areas. They truly are horrific and disgusting to imagine. Creative solutions in defeating them. A nice dose of humor. Raising philosophical questions about the origin of the dungeons. Despite its shortcomings, I do want to find out how the story ends.
April 5, 2025
This is an odd book. Our protagonist, a player in a dungeon virtual reality game, is finding out that there is something decidedly strange going on in the game he is currently playing, something that is implicating the world outside of the game in sinister ways.
He and his group are trying to be the first to finish the game, and it seems that there are forces that are strenuously opposing that attempt.
The protagonist seems to have some of the indicators of autism, but if so, he is high-functioning. His team members each have their own social disfunctions, which makes the society of the team a constant point of friction. These personalities are well-described, but don't seem to change much through the story.
The game world is interesting, featuring only anthropomorphic animal species (including the players) and monsters. The conceit is a dungeon world with many levels, each involving some sort of challenge to proceed to the next level.
The outer (real?) world is largely sketched in, and only to the extent necessary for the main plot.
The main plot is complex and involves elements of both worlds intersecting to complicate the race to the end of the dungeon.
This book straddles the boundary between virtual reality and isekai in an interesting way, but I didn't find the story being told to be especially compelling. That said, it's interesting enough that I'll finish the series (which is only three books long). I want to know how this is going to turn out.
He and his group are trying to be the first to finish the game, and it seems that there are forces that are strenuously opposing that attempt.
The protagonist seems to have some of the indicators of autism, but if so, he is high-functioning. His team members each have their own social disfunctions, which makes the society of the team a constant point of friction. These personalities are well-described, but don't seem to change much through the story.
The game world is interesting, featuring only anthropomorphic animal species (including the players) and monsters. The conceit is a dungeon world with many levels, each involving some sort of challenge to proceed to the next level.
The outer (real?) world is largely sketched in, and only to the extent necessary for the main plot.
The main plot is complex and involves elements of both worlds intersecting to complicate the race to the end of the dungeon.
This book straddles the boundary between virtual reality and isekai in an interesting way, but I didn't find the story being told to be especially compelling. That said, it's interesting enough that I'll finish the series (which is only three books long). I want to know how this is going to turn out.
May 11, 2022
Setting:
Being a litRPG this novel had a split setting between the real world (essentially indistinguishable from the modern world) and the game world.
The game in question is Strata Online. The entire game world is a massive underground dungeon divided into 100 floors and packed to the brim with deadly monsters. Players can choose between a handful of classes and four different anthropomorphized animals as playable races.
Characters:
Martin: Martin understands emotions but does not entirely seem to have them. He shows frustration at times but only when confronted with a problem he hasn't solved yet or wishing everyone in his team was as smart as him.
Lindsay: Lindsay is Martian's best friend and the head of the gaming group. She tends to solve problems by running directly at them without an ounce of subtlety.
Plot:
Iron Riot continue their push downwards in the dungeon, eager to be the first to claim victory against the final boss at the very bottom. Meanwhile, Martin continues his investigation into the origins of the game while continuing to deal with the master that seems intent on stopping him for still unclear reasons.
My Thoughts:
The in-game events continue on as expected. The team pushes deeper into the dungeon and comes across new and awful monstrosities to do battle with. The more interesting plot developments happen with Martin's investigation into the game's origins.
Without wishing to spoil anything, I have a feeling this plotline could be somewhat decisive. It gets weirdly intellectual in a way that I am not familiar with in other works in this genre. Some readers will definitely appreciate the new approach Penman has adopted, while others may find it all a bit too weird and… no we'll just stick with the spoiler free word of "weird".
What might be rather less divisive is Martin. Martin really kinda comes off as a dick in this book. In the first book he seemed largely like a shy nerd who's just super into videogames and not all that great with people. In this book, he repeatedly shows willingness to exploit the emotions and behavioral patterns of his "friends" all while whining about how if they were as smart as him he wouldn't need to explain his brilliant plans to the poor stupid idiots they would have also come to his, obviously correct, conclusions about what to do.
There are some hints that Martin may have some form of neuro-diversity which might explain some or all of his behaviors, but even if that is the case an explanation doesn't always make things okay. It might make sense why he does the things he does, but the things are still not cool things.
If you enjoyed the first book, I do think it's worth continuing, while keeping in mind the earlier caveat regarding the game's origin plotline being potentially divisive.
As a final comment, with where things end Penman has given themselves an interesting challenge in the final book. Again trying to avoid spoilers here but that final book is gonna need to cover a lot of ground, both literally and metaphorically.
Being a litRPG this novel had a split setting between the real world (essentially indistinguishable from the modern world) and the game world.
The game in question is Strata Online. The entire game world is a massive underground dungeon divided into 100 floors and packed to the brim with deadly monsters. Players can choose between a handful of classes and four different anthropomorphized animals as playable races.
Characters:
Martin: Martin understands emotions but does not entirely seem to have them. He shows frustration at times but only when confronted with a problem he hasn't solved yet or wishing everyone in his team was as smart as him.
Lindsay: Lindsay is Martian's best friend and the head of the gaming group. She tends to solve problems by running directly at them without an ounce of subtlety.
Plot:
Iron Riot continue their push downwards in the dungeon, eager to be the first to claim victory against the final boss at the very bottom. Meanwhile, Martin continues his investigation into the origins of the game while continuing to deal with the master that seems intent on stopping him for still unclear reasons.
My Thoughts:
The in-game events continue on as expected. The team pushes deeper into the dungeon and comes across new and awful monstrosities to do battle with. The more interesting plot developments happen with Martin's investigation into the game's origins.
Without wishing to spoil anything, I have a feeling this plotline could be somewhat decisive. It gets weirdly intellectual in a way that I am not familiar with in other works in this genre. Some readers will definitely appreciate the new approach Penman has adopted, while others may find it all a bit too weird and… no we'll just stick with the spoiler free word of "weird".
What might be rather less divisive is Martin. Martin really kinda comes off as a dick in this book. In the first book he seemed largely like a shy nerd who's just super into videogames and not all that great with people. In this book, he repeatedly shows willingness to exploit the emotions and behavioral patterns of his "friends" all while whining about how if they were as smart as him he wouldn't need to explain his brilliant plans to the poor stupid idiots they would have also come to his, obviously correct, conclusions about what to do.
There are some hints that Martin may have some form of neuro-diversity which might explain some or all of his behaviors, but even if that is the case an explanation doesn't always make things okay. It might make sense why he does the things he does, but the things are still not cool things.
If you enjoyed the first book, I do think it's worth continuing, while keeping in mind the earlier caveat regarding the game's origin plotline being potentially divisive.
As a final comment, with where things end Penman has given themselves an interesting challenge in the final book. Again trying to avoid spoilers here but that final book is gonna need to cover a lot of ground, both literally and metaphorically.
November 1, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Portal Books.
Masters of Strata is a darker and more nuanced book than the first book, Dungeons of Strata. There's more detail about how the VRMMO game Strata works as well as its game theory underpinnings. Martin's investigation into what makes the game tick bears some fruit, but it's tainted and the reliability of the source is questionable. You see, Martin, the MC of the series, is at heart an Aristotelian, but he's told in this entry in the Deepest Dungeon series, that Strata, the VRMMO they're immersed in, is really Platonic in nature. This dichotomy underlies the philosophic discord in this book but its exploration is usually encountered outside the game when Martin emerges briefly into real life.
Don't worry though--this book is mainly about the action and leveling not pie-in-the-sky theories. Playing Strata keeps our foursome busy and it's quite a ride. The author, GD Penman, exhibits quite the imagination as the levels and bosses mount up. I'll certainly never look at a wax candle the same way again. The stress of playing above their level creates friction betwixt the members of Iron Riot and it's interesting to observe the group dynamics. Go Iron Riot!
Masters of Strata is a darker and more nuanced book than the first book, Dungeons of Strata. There's more detail about how the VRMMO game Strata works as well as its game theory underpinnings. Martin's investigation into what makes the game tick bears some fruit, but it's tainted and the reliability of the source is questionable. You see, Martin, the MC of the series, is at heart an Aristotelian, but he's told in this entry in the Deepest Dungeon series, that Strata, the VRMMO they're immersed in, is really Platonic in nature. This dichotomy underlies the philosophic discord in this book but its exploration is usually encountered outside the game when Martin emerges briefly into real life.
Don't worry though--this book is mainly about the action and leveling not pie-in-the-sky theories. Playing Strata keeps our foursome busy and it's quite a ride. The author, GD Penman, exhibits quite the imagination as the levels and bosses mount up. I'll certainly never look at a wax candle the same way again. The stress of playing above their level creates friction betwixt the members of Iron Riot and it's interesting to observe the group dynamics. Go Iron Riot!
June 14, 2021
Gritty and Monster Filled
The feeling of foreboding from the previous novel continues to grow in this second part of our story. As our MCs delve deeper into Strata, our sense of foreboding increases. Is Strata really just a harmless game or is there something else involved?
Once again the author's imagery is excellent, helping to convey the whole depth of the trip deep down into the bowels of Strata. The interplay between our main characters became a tad monotonous. It is a testament to the author's skill that he manages to set almost all the story inside a gloomy dungeon but still manages to hold the reader's attention tunnel after tunnel.
I finished this book, it ends with the anticipated to be continued, but didn't really enjoy it. Between not remembering much of what happened in the first book and the ominous darkness of the underground setting, this book simply wasn't my cup of tea. The author's skill in crafting the story gives it a very high 4 star rating. Unfortunately it just misses 5 stars due to my opinion of it.
Worth a try if you enjoyed part 1.
The feeling of foreboding from the previous novel continues to grow in this second part of our story. As our MCs delve deeper into Strata, our sense of foreboding increases. Is Strata really just a harmless game or is there something else involved?
Once again the author's imagery is excellent, helping to convey the whole depth of the trip deep down into the bowels of Strata. The interplay between our main characters became a tad monotonous. It is a testament to the author's skill that he manages to set almost all the story inside a gloomy dungeon but still manages to hold the reader's attention tunnel after tunnel.
I finished this book, it ends with the anticipated to be continued, but didn't really enjoy it. Between not remembering much of what happened in the first book and the ominous darkness of the underground setting, this book simply wasn't my cup of tea. The author's skill in crafting the story gives it a very high 4 star rating. Unfortunately it just misses 5 stars due to my opinion of it.
Worth a try if you enjoyed part 1.
September 18, 2021
Ugh, what a mind f**k...
In my review of the first book I describe in more detail how it made me feel mentally unhinged, so if you're already considering reading the second in the series...get ready to travel deeper down the rabbit hole.
My biggest gripe at this point is the stunted length of the books. I try to only listen to audiobooks 15 to 30 hours in length, as it provides sufficient time to flesh out a logical subset of an overarching story. These first two books (approx 10 hours each) ended too abruptly in my opinion, kindling rage akin to how I felt at the end of each week's episode of 'LOST' years ago. Having limited this saga's books to their current lengths is its greatest flaw in my eyes, as they read like a heavily abridged edit of the true story at times. This saddens me, as books don't have director's cuts to appease people like me.
Now it's time to go into withdrawal until the third audiobook is available I guess...unless I can find another literary crack rock to hold me over.
In my review of the first book I describe in more detail how it made me feel mentally unhinged, so if you're already considering reading the second in the series...get ready to travel deeper down the rabbit hole.
My biggest gripe at this point is the stunted length of the books. I try to only listen to audiobooks 15 to 30 hours in length, as it provides sufficient time to flesh out a logical subset of an overarching story. These first two books (approx 10 hours each) ended too abruptly in my opinion, kindling rage akin to how I felt at the end of each week's episode of 'LOST' years ago. Having limited this saga's books to their current lengths is its greatest flaw in my eyes, as they read like a heavily abridged edit of the true story at times. This saddens me, as books don't have director's cuts to appease people like me.
Now it's time to go into withdrawal until the third audiobook is available I guess...unless I can find another literary crack rock to hold me over.
August 30, 2021
Masters of Strata has plenty of typical LitRPG action, but where it shines is the atmosphere and psychological tension. Hints from book one become fully fleshed out as Martin learns more about the world of Strata, and some of his encounters and revelations sent chills down my spine.
The characters are flawed but likeable, even as Martin makes some really sus decisions that affect his party's IRL safety. The monsters are well-designed to test his party's abilities and cohesion. Overall, the narrative and plot are solid - but it is the psychological aspect that rocketed this book onto my GOAT list. I can't wait for book 3!
The characters are flawed but likeable, even as Martin makes some really sus decisions that affect his party's IRL safety. The monsters are well-designed to test his party's abilities and cohesion. Overall, the narrative and plot are solid - but it is the psychological aspect that rocketed this book onto my GOAT list. I can't wait for book 3!
August 26, 2021
I Hate the Ending So Much
I love the concept of the novels but the ending is terrible, it’s like the main character suddenly became a different character. Throughout the entire series Martin has been calculated and logical only to suddenly become reckless and thoughtless. I cannot fathom why Martin would make such an obviously stupid choice, not when there were ways for the author to reach the same conclusion organically.
I hope this doesn’t continue into the next book.
I love the concept of the novels but the ending is terrible, it’s like the main character suddenly became a different character. Throughout the entire series Martin has been calculated and logical only to suddenly become reckless and thoughtless. I cannot fathom why Martin would make such an obviously stupid choice, not when there were ways for the author to reach the same conclusion organically.
I hope this doesn’t continue into the next book.
November 13, 2021
+1 star just for having it not be humans again.
It's an interesting idea. It does allow for game mechanics that absolutely wouldn't be in a real game. Does make me wonder what the government is doing about everything.
It's an interesting idea. It does allow for game mechanics that absolutely wouldn't be in a real game. Does make me wonder what the government is doing about everything.
January 4, 2022
Wonderful sequel
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was as good as the first in the series if not better. The main detractor here was the one dimensional nature of some of the characters who seemed oversimplified to fit the narrative
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was as good as the first in the series if not better. The main detractor here was the one dimensional nature of some of the characters who seemed oversimplified to fit the narrative
January 26, 2025
I loved everything about this series. Well written, plenty of action, an overall fun read. Cover art kicks ass too. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. Not too chunky on game stats, which I liked.
September 14, 2021
A very good continuation to a very unique take on litrpg. Well done, with really great mythology to it. Here’s looking forward to the final entry in the series.
October 8, 2021
Great installment
More please !
More please !
July 20, 2022
The second book in the series had a darker tone. The gang ends up in quite a few predicaments. It was entertaining and addictive. I can't wait for the conclusion.
October 19, 2023
enjoyed the book. the interpersonal issues presented by the guild was a bit grating in this one.
January 5, 2026
never thought I could be terrified of not being able to log out
August 23, 2023
Kind of getting boring and grindey. I hate Jericho and his irrational attitude and in getting kind of tired of the MC being positioned as some kind of Rainman autie super strategist.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews