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Dungeon Diving #9

Dungeon Diving 301

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Ken and company come back from summer break after arduous training for their third year at Haylon. No longer are they the fresh adventurers that once didn’t know the right end of the sword.
Instead they have settled into Star City among the Orkai and are thriving deep within the dungeon and even locating trails for the class to get powerful new abilities.
Things in the dungeon are never so simple. Lucian, a Leomatis Shaman is mourning the death of his grandmother before his father decides that Ken would become the perfect obstacle to whet his soft son’s claws.
At the same time, the Orkai Arbiters are going scorched earth on some problem that had bubbled up from the dungeon shuffle.
As always, the answer is for Ken to grow stronger.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2025

398 people are currently reading
98 people want to read

About the author

Bruce Sentar

51 books806 followers
Born 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...

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5 stars
1,036 (70%)
4 stars
318 (21%)
3 stars
85 (5%)
2 stars
14 (<1%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
2,584 reviews71 followers
August 18, 2025
I remember when Sentar wrote books with a solid setting, compelling characters, and a driven story. They also contained a harem. Now, it's all about the harem, the story is a by-product. The characters are practically interchangeable. And the setting is pointless. I don't see any point in continuing with this author
32 reviews
August 9, 2025
Please come up with a new series

You are a brilliant writer, but this series has gone beyond the story. This was supposed to be a young man finding his way in life and now it’s about how many women he can take to bed. I read it knowing it’s a harem novel, but there has to be something to the story. There was only one real battle the entire book.
98 reviews
August 14, 2025
Good but slightly off kilter too.

It was another good entry into the series, but there was a few things that just sorta felt… off.

To be clear actual writing, world building and everything was good.
Personal preference with the whole worms thing is fairly meh, but could be interesting if done well later.
Different Povs were good- but also keep working on them to find the right balance. Probably just a little too much of some characters and some bits that felt kinda unnecessary.

What felt off for me is hard to pin point but I’ll try.
I guess sort of overall pacing? It felt like it slowed down a heap here. Felt a little too static like they were stuck in one scene for basically the entire book, and that there wasn’t enough plot progression. Also kinda not enough focus on Ken and continuing his development.
Some Trouble with long running series is it can get veryyyy political and bogged down in the details, and that’s got to be effectively countered with suitable action and pacing pick up scenes giving a sense of moving forward, which felt lacking here.

Another thing was for example, Felin getting an ability. Seems like that would be a fairly big deal and was sort of treated like that but then was completely overshadowed by the villain plot here. But the villain just wasn’t really that interesting?

If you’re going to do villain Povs, it’s fine to do a one shot pov here or there but don’t focus on the small time dudes and keep giving them screen time in a single book. Keep it short and sweet sorta thing.

Id recommend probably doing something like setting up a main villain ARC over a couple books and very slowly introduce short to long pov chapters over the course of two-three books etc. or at least that’s an idea.

Either way it was a good read and I’m looking forward to the next one.
128 reviews19 followers
August 18, 2025
Excellent

I believe this is the best book yet! The characters are ever growing and more and more antagonists coming out of the dungeon walls. Complexity is increasing and notoriety growing the only way is down or death. Love this series!
9 reviews
August 14, 2025
Another One

These books can’t come out fast enough! Obsessed with the story progression and character development! One of my favorite authors does it again!
1,495 reviews15 followers
August 15, 2025
This series is an absolute must read!!!

From the first page till the very last this book has grabbed my attention and held tight!!! The Dungeon has yet again found a way to surprise!!! Character development and advancement has been first rate as always!!! World building and development is bar none the best you'll read!!! Yet another disaster awaits our favorite characters in the future and I can't wait to see how they handle it!!!!
4 reviews
August 17, 2025
Love this series but lacked substance compared to others in the series

Let me begin by stating that I love this series and Bruce's other novels such as Returners Defiance and Ard's Oath. But this entry felt lacking in substance. Not quite filler but certainly not on par with what I've cone to expect. I look forward to the next entry and hope that some of these loose plot threads make some progress. I would love to see another hundred pages of actual progression in the storyline that push things along... DD 301 felt rushed... in 302 it would be great to see the same level of effort and plot development we've seen in earlier entries. For example... Helen... that thread feels like its moving far too slowly. I get that there is meant to be a slow burn but the overly tsundere trope just gets annoying when there is no glimmer of change or progress. Anyhow, Dungeon Diving is one of my favorite series and hopefully 302 does more to progress the story and character development.
23 reviews
August 13, 2025
Growth

This book was really good. The only problem I saw that was really, very obvious, was that Helen is not growing and changing in any way. She is still just as insanely suspicious and obserdly judgemental of Ken's personality, character and actions in this book as she was in the first book. She has now been around him enough for long enough to start picking up on the fact that he is neither a horndog nor a pervert and that he has no say in how all the girls around him act and what they say and definitely no control over any of them. And that they are a part of his harem because they want to be a part of his harem not because he encouraged them to be and that he, at least, cares about every one of them. At this point her willful blindness is just reaching the point of ridiculousness. At this point in the series her use of that attitude toward Ken as a shield she is using to put between herself and him because of her real feelings for him and how she treats him because of it should be, at least, coming up a lot less than it is. Their relationship should be on the level of plutonic cooperative allies that are able to have somewhat decent conversations with each other at random and when needed, at least. But, that is just not happening yet and it really should be by now. Even the characters Charlotte and Penny have grown since the first book and Felin has also changed a little since she entered the series. So it amazes me that the author has not developed Helen's character more by now. Unless the growth happening outwardly with her attitude getting worse is considered character development, I'm getting real interested where the author is taking the Helen character in the future of this series.
10 reviews
January 5, 2026
I'm done with this book series.
Again a book without any "Dungeon Diving", instead we are doing exactly the same as the previous one. Person is being an asshole to Ken & party -> Kill despite being lower leveled -> shoulder pats -> introduce the next one.
Now we had in this order one after the other: The prince, his father, his uncle, random lion guy, his shaman boss-lady, other random lion guy I might even be missing some as it is becoming somewhat of a blur.
Again, no dungeon diving, no adventures. Crimson does her training sessions like in all the other books. The ultra special one of a kind super abilities Crimson and Ken have are now introduced as commonplace, any talent-less hack above level 50 has one (which is basically everyone).
With the introduction of the new worlds Ken and Co are back at the bottom of the barrel again as the weakest underdogs. This directly means they'll can/should have no influence on the upcoming conflict with the tadpoles as they are now again trash mobs that would all be vaporized by any stray attack.
I think the story has lost direction and was written into a corner, it seems to be written at breakneck speeds without much of a plan. What happened to pushing the limits, exploring the depths and the ultimate dream of finding out what is at the bottom of the dungeon? This is book 9 already.
I honestly would be contend with it taking a little more time between books if it meant a better story and less mistakes.
139 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2025
I think that is probably the first book that didn't have a new love interest, or an expansion to the harem. All of the other books had a picture of one of the members of Ken's harem. I have no idea who the woman is on the cover. We are introduced to a new race known as the Whalewyn a humanoid decedent from whales and dolphins. There is a potential love interest there, though it never gets developed.
This book starts after the summer break in which Ken spends much of his time training with Crimson. Instead of spending time with his family the Nagato clan or the Silver Fangs. The Orkai are busy with some new threat that isn't revealed until the end of the book. As such the Arbitrators are not to be involved and are viscous when they do get involved. Crimson moves the class down to Star City, which makes sense though the administrator of Haylon gives up to easy. There is still trouble with the Nekon faction that kidnapped Felina. There is hints of a potential love interest between Ken and Helena but it never comes to fruition.
The goal of everyone is to get stronger, so there is days of sadistic training and some dungeon diving. But to really get everyone stronger they must complete a dungeon trial. Only Crimson and Ken have completed a trail and that made them strongest forces in the human world. They need others to do the same.
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485 reviews28 followers
August 12, 2025
This was another strong book in the series. The author tried something new, which was to include multiple scenes from the main antagonist's viewpoint. That sometimes enhances a book if it is done right, and in this case, it actually worked really well. The next book's main story thread wouldn't work as well without those antagonist's viewpoints in this book.

The harem does not grow in this particular book, though one woman does seem to get somewhat closer to that point. This book featured the MC being a little less brutally OP in relation to everyone else, as he got smacked around quite a bit and was bailed out by Crimson and others. That was actually a little refreshing, as him face tanking stuff in the previous books was often tedious to read.

I look forward to the next book in the series.
5 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2025
One of the weaker in the series

I absolutely love the Dungeon Diving series and most of Bruce Sentar’s works, however this addition to the series was overall lackluster.

While it did a decent job moving the story forward, it felt like the book lacked a lot of the soul that made the series so great. The interactions between characters had their moments but were just missing something. Though I did love the new additions. The antagonist was heavily focused and while started interesting, was overall a letdown and the climax felt hollow. It wasn’t a bad book, but considering the level of the other books on the series brought to the table, I can’t help but be disappointed.

Also a severe lack of spice but that’s more my own personal taste. I love the characters and always want more, but it does seem to be a declining trend lately.
290 reviews9 followers
August 10, 2025
Wish we had more time with the Elves

This was another great one, especially with the new antagonist and who he worked with. Also, the next book should be interesting with Demons returning to the city. I wish we had more time or more meaningful interaction with the elves. His first elf lady had like one line of dialog, and the princess wasn't much better. They didn't really feel like they were in a relationship with him anymore. He didn't see them for months, and there was basically no reunion or reaffirmed feelings. Hopefully, that's fixed in the next one, but I hate when the main characters get left to the wayside. It happened towards the end of Dragons Justice as well with some of the FMCs that this book is poised to the worse because we have even more characters.
Profile Image for Leather.
577 reviews12 followers
October 28, 2025
Probably the weakest installment in this series. Not much happens, and the RPG/adventure progression aspect is completely ignored in this volume. There are lots of meetings, training, and discussions, but ultimately very little plot progression, aside from a few new developments toward the end of the book.
My main criticism is the series' near abandonment of the RPG aspect: the author gives us Ken's stats only once in the book, and we have no idea how the other characters have progressed.
The end of the book gives hope for a more impactful next volume, but always with the risk that politics will once again take precedence over the action.
133 reviews
August 13, 2025
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, you're not going to find anything to your liking here. More action, more ventures. More magic. I really can't tell you too much about spoiling the whole plot for you, but I was entertained throughout and the main characters didn't act like morons just for plot purposes which is always satisfying. Hope this review helps. I apologize for any spinners I'm writing it with voice to text
143 reviews
August 18, 2025
Great plot

This book intensifies the plot from the previous books. With the introduction of Star City in the previous book, this book increases the stakes and splits into multiple plot threads, all without sacrificing the characters and relationships that are the core of the series.

The world building continues to build, although at a reduced pace compared to the last book. It still sets up interesting future potential, but more of that is done in the plot.

Overall, very good.
Profile Image for Chad Martin.
197 reviews
September 5, 2025
Another great installment of the Dungeon Diving series. Ken continues to upscale his abilities and strengths as his group continues to build. The dungeon throws new challenges in his way as the a new Race of creatures, found after the dungeon shuffle, try to take Felin away.
I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to his movement forward as he competes with Crimson to delve ever deeper into the Dungeon. I continue to find the development of the team around him interesting as well. Looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Dannan Tavona.
1,012 reviews11 followers
October 15, 2025
Grinding and leveling, oh my

Alternate universe, LitRPG, portals, dungeon diving, save the world, harem adult situations

Life in the dungeon turns out to be harder than first presented. Seem the deeper one goes, new and tougher races appear. And, a new threat has manifested. It seems the rest of the class should hold out and get the special tattoos in the intimate location. A few minor details forgotten, but certainly not enough to hinder the story. Excellent editing. Next in the series!
57 reviews
December 13, 2025
i listened to the audio book. and the narrator's suck for these characters( second book i listend to in the series with them). i love their other works.

crimson is flat. nothing there.
grandpa is not a Lecherous old man. like before.
charlotte is not invested.
ken seems to be a regurgitation of eddy hill
des feels completely off.

while i loved the story with the other narrators. ill be dropping this from here on out. it lost the heart( the characters) of the story in audio book.

this is just my oppion
Profile Image for Michael Baez.
41 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2025
A new twist that ups the ante

So we got the party going for the op skills just as the nekorian issue is fully settled only for a cross between the goa'uld and the flood to show up in the dungeon. Can't wait for this demon lord to want Ken and his growing cult under her, especially with how fast him and the girls are growing. I get the feeling him clearing each trial really can unlock something new, just a feeling.
32 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2025
A step up!

In the afterward, the author tells us he's switched up how he introduces the bad guys... And while reading, I noticed a difference in the story writing, but couldn't put my finger on WHAT was different, just that I was having an enjoyable time reading. Even more than usual! He also mentioned how much it was a struggle to be an indi writer, with no one to help with all the minutiae of the process. I feel ya, brother!!! You're doing great though. Keep it up!
Profile Image for slugbiscuit.
494 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2025
This was kind of all over the place. The main conflict stems from the bitch-ass lions causing more problems, but plenty of fuel for future conflicts was dumped in. Ken continues to put forth a frustratingly weak performance, as his go-to strategy is to stall until someone can save him. More potential harem members wander into the story, but the only payoff is Helen's continued deflection. It felt fairly unsatisfying overall.
75 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2025
The third year begins

Ken and his class begin their third year at Haylon amidst the craziness of the dungeon while coming to terms with the fact that there are races that are way more powerful than anything they understood before the dungeon shuffle. The Leomantis clan are not going to let one of their shamans' deaths go unanswered, and Helen's dislike toward Ken is explored.
Profile Image for Eric Bertone.
290 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2025
Enjoyable as always

I appreciate that we are starting to see the dungeon as a new kind of community instead of just a place to delve. The new antagonists are a cool new plot piece that I cant wait to see what happens next with. I like the new perspectives being brought in to help develop the storyline as well.
587 reviews
August 19, 2025
Enjoyable

Another enjoyable read in the series. The MC is forging ahead with increasing his stats and getting stronger. The book introduces new enemies to defeat and more potential harem members emerge. A good read for people who have already read the previous books, with a bit more story from the perspective of the main bad guy for this book.
Profile Image for Steve.
1,633 reviews62 followers
August 26, 2025
Made it about 10%, but I'm done with this series. Story has some potential, but is ruined by juvenile characters and dialogue (like the rest of the series to-date), so this is the end of the line. May be the end of me following this author too, as I see a lot of the same factors in most of his recent books.
443 reviews9 followers
September 14, 2025
Marvelous story and series

The characters are numerous but well defined and expertly woven into the weave of the series/story. The plot and overall goals continues to change and develop - keeping the readers attention. Absolutely wonderful writing!!! Great anticipation for the next book and hoping there will be many more books in the series!
Profile Image for Brandon.
1 review
September 29, 2025
Pretty weak entry for what I consider one of Sentar's premium series. Not a lot of character development or progression for the main cast. A bad guy is quickly set up and dispatched, seemingly to set up the idea of the worms as the next big bad and the cult idea. Just felt like all set up for later stuff with not enough payoff for now.
419 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2025
Good book

It was so damn good and we'll worth the wait. It was nonstop action from the get go and didn't stop till the last page. I look forward to reading the next book in the series 😀
402 reviews4 followers
August 13, 2025
Incredible!

Another incredible Dungeon Diving 101 book by Bruce Sentar! Awesome characters, great story building up from all the past books and a great plot line for the next books! I can’t wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews

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