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Underdog #5

Labyrinth of Fright

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After wiping out the drak nest, Eric finds himself now also in a trap. In order to avoid dying in a cave-in, he activates the manuscript he received for defeating the Lady of the Anomaly. A portal then whisks Eric away to the lookout point atop the mysterious Citadel of Chaos.

The entrance to the Citadel is guarded by the Gatekeeper, a huge troll encased head to toe in a suit of plate armor. Thanks to his Friend of the Trolls amulet, Eric manages to avoid fighting him and thus passes the Gatekeeper’s first test and can enter the Citadel of Chaos to partake in its mysteries.

Eric isn’t interested in its mysteries though and he tells the troll as much directly. He even goes so far as to say he would rather just go on his merry way and leave the Citadel. But the Gatekeeper informs Eric that he will not be able to leave quite so easily because now that he has activated the manuscript, he must undergo a test known as Unity with Chaos!

On the one hand, Eric understands that taking part in the undoubtedly dangerous activity threatens to end not only in loss of time, but possibly loss of life as well. On the other hand though, he remembers perfectly well what Chaos Magic is capable of.

What if Eric is able to pass the test? Will Chaos grant him power? After all, Eric is conscious of the fact that, despite how markedly he has changed and grown stronger, he is still nowhere near as powerful as the Steel King, who is holding Maya and Mee in captivity.

Could the gods perhaps be telling Eric the time has come to do as the Woodwose instructed?

The time has come to grow stronger!

586 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 29, 2020

167 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

Alexey Osadchuk

34 books528 followers
Alexey Osadchuk was born in 1979 in the Ukraine. In the late 1990s his family moved to the south of Spain where they still live today.

Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted for publication.

He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. The first book of Mirror World was published In 2013. The English translation of the series is now available on Amazon in its entirety, prompting a reviewer to call Alexey “one of the best LitRPG authors to date”.

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5 stars
444 (51%)
4 stars
271 (31%)
3 stars
118 (13%)
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30 (3%)
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6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
2 reviews
January 6, 2021
Expected more

Not sure why there is a review stating Mink's fate has been left perilous condition. Nothing in Book 4 implies that.

The writing seems to have taken a turn for the worse along with the plot. Characters are one dimensional and there is little to no depth to them.

There are a lot of grammatical errors and incoherent phrasing.

The story line seems rushed and poorly thought out.

Honestly, I expected much much more from this book. Also, MC's stats are never displayed I am not even sure how he got so much overpowered between book 4 and book 5. He has strong spells, but now it seems he has unlimited Mana and is only held back by his Will attribute. Strength, Intellect, health, Mana, etc are completely thrown away.

Author has created his version of Superman whose only weakness is low Will.
Profile Image for Akshay.
898 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2025


Overview:
"Labyrinth of Fright" is the fifth book in the Underdog series, continuing the journey of the protagonist, Eric, in a virtual reality (VR) world filled with peril, leveling mechanics, and fantastical challenges. The story picks up with Eric delving deeper into the labyrinth, a perilous and ever-changing dungeon that holds not just treasures but deadly threats. His goal remains the same—to overcome incredible odds, enhance his skills, and ultimately survive in this harsh environment where power dynamics and survival-of-the-fittest reign supreme.




Plot and Worldbuilding:
Osadchuk excels in creating a sense of tension and constant progression. The labyrinth itself is richly detailed, and the way Eric navigates it—while interacting with creatures, traps, and allies—offers a fresh layer of complexity that keeps readers engaged. The VR world is woven with elements familiar to the LitRPG genre, such as stat increases, skill trees, and leveling, but what sets it apart is the labyrinth's ever-changing nature and Osadchuk’s attention to the small, tactical details of how Eric adapts to various scenarios. The shifting mechanics of the labyrinth serve as a metaphor for the volatility of power in this game-world, where strategy often outweighs brute force.




Character Development:
Eric’s growth, both as a player and as a leader, is evident in this installment. His tactical mind and problem-solving abilities are highlighted more than ever, as he faces increasingly dangerous enemies. However, while Eric’s character arc shows gradual progress, some secondary characters remain underdeveloped. Their motivations and backgrounds feel flat, and they exist mostly to support Eric's journey rather than to have individual stories of their own. Compared to other LitRPGs, such as *The Land* by Aleron Kong or *Awaken Online* by Travis Bagwell, which focus more heavily on character interactions and internal conflicts, *Labyrinth of Fright* is more action-driven, relying on fast-paced dungeon-crawling rather than deep emotional exploration.




Action and Pacing:
The action scenes are relentless, a hallmark of Osadchuk’s style. Combat is intricately described, with each fight meticulously mapped out using game mechanics—something fans of the LitRPG genre will appreciate. The labyrinth setting allows for a variety of encounters, from large-scale monster battles to more cerebral, puzzle-like confrontations. However, the downside is that the constant action leaves little room for breathing space. The pace is so intense that, at times, it risks reader fatigue. When compared to works like *Dungeon Crawler Carl* by Matt Dinniman, which balances action with humorous and satirical moments, *Labyrinth of Fright* can feel more one-dimensional in its intensity.




The LitRPG Elements:
As expected from the genre, *Labyrinth of Fright* leans heavily into RPG-style progression. The stats, inventory management, and level-ups are all crucial to the story, and they are integrated seamlessly into the narrative. Osadchuk does a commendable job of keeping the game mechanics relevant without bogging down the story in technicalities. That said, the novel sometimes suffers from repetitive sequences, where Eric’s progress feels too linear—kill a monster, get stronger, rinse, repeat. In this regard, it pales in comparison to *Awaken Online*, where the moral choices tied to progression give a deeper, more philosophical edge to the gameplay elements.




Comparisons to Contemporaries:
When compared to other popular LitRPG series, *Labyrinth of Fright* holds its own in terms of worldbuilding and action but falls short in terms of character depth and thematic complexity. Here’s a breakdown:


*The Land* (by Aleron Kong) – Where *The Land* focuses more on world politics and relationships between various factions, *Labyrinth of Fright* is more focused on survival and overcoming environmental challenges. Kong’s series is often richer in terms of lore and offers a more diverse set of character interactions. *Labyrinth of Fright* can feel more isolated due to its dungeon-centric plotline.

*Awaken Online* (by Travis Bagwell) – Bagwell’s series stands out for its darker, morally complex protagonist and the exploration of themes like power, morality, and autonomy. In comparison, *Labyrinth of Fright* sticks to a more traditional hero’s journey. Eric's decisions are typically black-and-white, and the emotional stakes don’t feel as high as they do in *Awaken Online*.

*Dungeon Crawler Carl* (by Matt Dinniman) – Dinniman's series incorporates humor, satire, and a quirky tone, which gives it a distinct flavor within the genre. *Labyrinth of Fright*, in contrast, is much more serious and gritty. It lacks the comedic elements that could provide relief from the intense action sequences.




Strengths:


Fast-paced action with high-stakes encounters.
Creative dungeon design with ever-shifting mechanics that keeps readers on their toes.
Well-integrated RPG elements that enhance the immersion into the world.


Weaknesses:

Secondary characters lack depth and serve more as plot devices than as fully fleshed-out individuals.
Repetitive action sequences and leveling structure can feel formulaic at times.
The narrative is action-heavy, with less focus on emotional or philosophical depth compared to other LitRPGs.




Conclusion:
"Labyrinth of Fright" is a solid addition to the Underdog series, especially for fans of intense dungeon-crawling and strategic combat. While it doesn’t quite reach the complexity of some of its contemporaries, it excels in maintaining a relentless pace and delivering satisfying, high-octane moments. If you’re seeking an action-packed, immersive LitRPG experience, this book will not disappoint. However, readers looking for more nuanced characters and deeper thematic exploration may find the novel lacking in those aspects.



Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ (4/5)
1 review
January 23, 2021
This book just departs from the LitRPG genre and goes to fantasy.
Throughout the whole book we arent shown Erics stats, just the value of his will and sometimes mention that his mana suply doubled.
But even then, his mana is basically infinite unless using it to resist mental attacks.

What put me off the most was the author trying to go the magicswordman route even though Eric physical stats are garbage. I mean, at the last book it was ok, people there were weaker, but on the "real" world, his stats + physical artifacts should actually be way weaker than a lvl 10 Gorgie... But even still he does lots of damage for no reason at all.

Not to mention the lack of iridescent tablets while killing lots of magical beings (and mages), hell he got one on the first book for killing the eel (more than 15 lvl + minimal magic damage), and because of his level zero trait the system always thinks whatever he does is the first time and gives the maximum reward..

The author even forgot to justify why he didnt get any skills from the Drak Mother...

Looks like the author thought about a cheat power but didnt plan on how to not make it too overpowered
Profile Image for Karl  Ben-Shachar .
101 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2021
I did not enjoy this one.

I sorry but this book was basically filler. Nothing important happen, other than a few unanswered questions about the Steel king and his plans. We did find out what happened to Eric's former companions, but that's about it. A few new spells and unnecessary dialogue with new characters who I had zero interest in. I'm actually upset that I waited for this book. I kind of want my money back. I actually schemed and skipped entire chapters. Sigh.
Profile Image for Meggie.
5,370 reviews
July 16, 2021
Simply said, fantastic! I loved everything in Labyrinth of Fright. The main storyline was pulling, absolutely fantastic and definitely to short for my taste. I read this book twice now, once in e-book edition and second time in audible. Simply said once again, FANTASTIC!!
Profile Image for Leather.
583 reviews12 followers
November 27, 2025
Good first half in the citadel of chaos. After that, mainly boring.
Profile Image for Lukas Lovas.
1,405 reviews64 followers
July 17, 2021
We finally saw a bit more world building here. Looking forward to the next one :)
Profile Image for LionessLover.
12 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2021
If this stupid and frankly creepy "chuckle" is so greatly overused again in the next novel I'll never buy anything from this author again. He copied the ineptitude of some Asian authors to have their characters do anything but "chuckle".
The book ends without any information about what was gained in the final battle, which must have been a lot. For the rest, my standards for this genre are not very high, I only read this when I want something extremely light anyway, and this book is not much worse than the previous ones and still pretty good compared to others in the same genre. Still, after a few Xianxia cultivation novels I've had enough of creepy "chuckling" MCs. What about a simple *smile*? Or just let the character make a normal statement like what actual people do >90% of the time.
Profile Image for Jon Honey.
101 reviews3 followers
December 13, 2024
A chill ran down my spine.

I felt a tingle run down my spine, as a chill filled my spine deeply tingling. We did some things, learned some lore and ants begin marching up my spine.

Then a chill ran down my spine as a tingling ran up my spine, whereby a platoon of ants began marching down my spine.
Profile Image for Kristy Maitz.
2,771 reviews
July 12, 2021
My GOD what an powerful progress and it's getting better with each book. I hardly can wait for next book. Author Alexey Osadchuk done marvelous work.
251 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2024
The story started to lag for me. I can't quite put my finger on why.
225 reviews5 followers
February 8, 2021
Disappointing overall.

There's a lot of "make shit up" and revisionist history in this one that makes it clear that the author has given himself permission to manipulate the story in whatever way is the easiest for him to take it where he wants to go. This might not bother some readers but I feel like there's an unspoken contract that readers have with authors where we are willing to suspend our disbelief and enjoy their stories, and in return they'll stay true to what they've written. This installment breaks that contract and makes it clear we can't really trust anything that we've read up to this point.

Other than that, this fourth book is pretty much exactly what any reader of the series would expect. I was annoyed (but unsurprised) that there isn't any sense of grieving after the end of the previous novel... the lost relationship isn't even acknowledged after about 20% into the book. Basically the cynical world is still out to get our MC and he's not going to let that happen. I miss the sense of optimism and friendship we got in book three.

I'll keep reading these since I'm committed to the story at this point, but there's not a lot of joy to be had here.

I'm not sure if the original is in Russian or Spanish (it feels like it's translated from Russian). It's really good overall, definitely one of the best GameLit translations out there. After reading four of these my one small nit is that there are often useless connecting phrases used to introduce paragraphs, like "The thing was that," and "As an aside,". They add nothing but extra words and distraction from the flow. It's a tiny thing but they just jump out at me now that I've noticed them. Also "lilac" is such an odd color to obsess over... everything is lilac.
Profile Image for Clint Young.
849 reviews
January 3, 2021
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”

Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.

I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.

If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.

Cheers
Profile Image for Sydney.
1,350 reviews67 followers
April 22, 2022
3 And Who Was The Hunted Stars

Labyrinth of Fright is the fifth book in the Underdog series by Alexey Osadchuk.

I find myself with too many questions burdening my mind after this books conclusion. Most only forming within its very pages, at that. Mainly in regards to all the yet untold lies within the tales and songs of lore so predominantly known throughout their world. What the magister of the Tower of Chaos was hoping to accomplish so obliquely maligning herself against our protag.

I miss Mee. Pinebogey is an enjoyable addition to the story, I truly appreciated all of the authors efforts in making his amazing connection and abilities in concert with one of the new Hearts of the Forest so profound. It will difficult to see him and our Mc part ways as this adventure continues. Even the new additions of potential behind the Ice Fangs joining his retinue does not in any detract from longing I feel for this family of null, beast, and gremlin to reunite.

It seems next book should lead us into the undermountain, allowing us to finally see his mysterious beasties come to life. A new adventure with an entirely yet untouched upon race of this world finally showcasing itself. These are the things I look forward to.

Finally, I wonder as to destination of one mysteriously disappearing Gatekeeper. Whether we may find him in the boughs of the trolls home. Possibly when our protag makes his way back to the contaminated forest?
Profile Image for Lester Soriano.
21 reviews
January 9, 2024
The author forgot the rules he was using in the previous books.

If there is a 30-level gap when defeating an enemy there is an iridescent tablet.
When Eric defeated the snake mother he also killed a bunch of level 30 creatures. But he only got 1 iridescent tablet for the level 80 snake.

Then he keeps on flip-flopping on the MC resolve. In one chapter he is in a hurry to save his friends.. then for some reason, he sacrifices his way back from the Labyrinth of Fright for people he barely knows.

Then the author even changed his fighting style to the magic style of a magic swordsman. But if you are thinking about it his stats are just basically the states of a level 10 character except for the almost infinite mana capacity. How can he fight high level with that kind of physical stat....
Profile Image for Travis.
2,959 reviews48 followers
January 15, 2021
I received a review copy of this book.
This is a pretty good story continuation in this world, we find out interesting things about various factions, learn more about level progression, see our main character rewarded for some interesting actions, and (as always) see there are those who don't want our main character to succeed, but that's just par for the course for our guy, who handles it all as any normal person would, (you know, run away when it's tough, kick butt and take names when it's impossible, and break the system once or twice in the process). Great fun here, and although I didn't laught out loud more than a few times during the reading of this one, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story, and if you've been following this series, I'm sure you will enjoy it as well.
1,154 reviews15 followers
June 2, 2022
This series is truly a mixed bag.

On the one hand i loved the story how the weakest of the weak struggles against impossible seeming odds, some twists and would give the series 4,5 stars. On the other a truly horrible translator with only rudimentary knowledge of English (permanently mixed times, half sentences, made up phrases that ruined my reading experience throughout the ENTIRE series) and a too trusting and often stupidly generous MC. Given the shortness of the books the price of the single books is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!

Therefore only 2 stars.
1,008 reviews14 followers
January 19, 2021
Still cooking

This the fifth book was excellent. The story continues to expand and the great system provides. The battles are well though out and the magic is still fun. The levels and damage are skyrocketing as the MC Eric moves up the good chain and battles more and more impossible monsters. Don't see the end yet or even a woman in his life but that's good as more books to enjoy.
Profile Image for Murtah Blake.
101 reviews
June 28, 2022
I've just finished book 8 in the Underdog series, which means I've read the entire series now and I absolutely loved it. Some nights I could barely put the book down to go to sleep for work in the morning. I'd always say to myself just one more chapter. I enjoyed seeing our main man Eric go from a literal zero to something amazing and very interesting in constantly unexpected ways. Thank you Alexey Osadchuk! Thank you.
16 reviews
January 15, 2021
Great series

This is a fantastic series. Osadchuk really has a gift for wriitng.
Lots of adventure. Lots of good loot. I love that the main person gets rewarded and the system in this series is great fun. portals to other universes and intrigues are also aplenty.
so all in all. I sinceryly hope we will get more of this series.
Well done Mr Alexey !
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,765 reviews32 followers
September 6, 2021
This seems like an anime, when our protagonist "puts on his mask" and gets a power up...

I liked this book, I don't think the author has fallen too far from what he created in book one (other than instead of the protagonist surviving, he is now proactively hunting).

I want to see who he stomps in the next book.

3/5 Stars
Profile Image for Jeffery Harper.
42 reviews
January 5, 2021
Once again great

I loved the extensive world building in this one. I like how you focused on that. It was refreshing. Look forward to the next book. Hopefully we learn more about our MCs unique Zero trait.
97 reviews
January 6, 2021
Worth the read

This is another great entry in the series. The characters are well developed, the writing is descriptive and the plot enthralling. The MC isn’t too overpowered and continues to grow through smart thinking and a dash of luck. Looking forward to the next entry!
Profile Image for Chris Pelham.
75 reviews6 followers
Read
February 23, 2021
So good

Some editing/translation errors but not bad at all pretty few. So all in all great translation and editing. See more errors in books originally written in English lol.

Excellent story as always. I have enjoyed every book in the series so far :) rate it a 8
Profile Image for Brad.
228 reviews
December 23, 2022
good read

I like the MC I love Gorgie and I like the world but sometimes I feel like this book doesn’t know what it is. Part litrpg part something else. Really could use a good editor. The world is amazing though.
Profile Image for Danny Evans.
170 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2021
Wish it was longer!

Great book! Am looking forward to seeing what happens next issue. I am so going to buy it too. Hurry up and get it done!
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,196 reviews86 followers
January 6, 2021
Book five

Mistakes: I found two sentences with a missing word.

Plot: Dealing with the forces of Chaos while hunting monsters.

Characters: I love following this character.

8/10
Profile Image for Cheryl Grant.
35 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2021
Underdog is awesome. The main character after 5 books is still not overpowered so it stays interesting. Very easy read
32 reviews
January 6, 2021
Hellyea

Solid story. Can not wait for the next books in this story!So glad i picked up this series.A very good job.
46 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2021
Good story

This is not the first book in the series, but I does tell you the salient points you might have forgotten and still keeps you turning pages... Story is very good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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