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Pantheon Online #1
Den of Thieves : a LitRPG adventure
A world of villains is no place for a hero...
Imprisoned for a crime he barely remembers, Gunnar is forced to labor in an underground prison camp. But if he works hard, he earns time in a beta test for the first fully immersive online RPG.
Pantheon Online is beyond anything Gunnar has ever experienced, but the game is inextricably linked to his reality as a prisoner. He may not be the best or the brightest criminal, but if he fails to perform... things are not going to go well for him.
Gunnar must quickly learn to navigate a cutthroat city of thieves and assassins, garner the favor of a goddess, earn his way into a guild, and try not to be the brunt of all the AI's deprecating jokes.
But there's more going on, and the further Gunnar progresses, the more he realizes that he is in for the ride of his life.
Or is it... for his life?
Imprisoned for a crime he barely remembers, Gunnar is forced to labor in an underground prison camp. But if he works hard, he earns time in a beta test for the first fully immersive online RPG.
Pantheon Online is beyond anything Gunnar has ever experienced, but the game is inextricably linked to his reality as a prisoner. He may not be the best or the brightest criminal, but if he fails to perform... things are not going to go well for him.
Gunnar must quickly learn to navigate a cutthroat city of thieves and assassins, garner the favor of a goddess, earn his way into a guild, and try not to be the brunt of all the AI's deprecating jokes.
But there's more going on, and the further Gunnar progresses, the more he realizes that he is in for the ride of his life.
Or is it... for his life?
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2022
170 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Klopfenstein
13 books132 followersChildren of the Gods out Sept. 30.
Author of the Shadow Watch Saga, and the Rogue System trilogy.
Author of the Shadow Watch Saga, and the Rogue System trilogy.
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August 19, 2023Obligatory re-read as I edit Book 3. The trilogy ends on Nov. 17.
I wrote it, and it comes out on May 23!
I wrote it, and it comes out on May 23!
July 9, 2023
4+ stars
This is the first true LitRPG adventure book I've ever read and if this is what people are writing, then I should read more of it. Full disclosure, I do not play RPG games (or really many games at all), but my husband loves them and I've spent many hours watching him play Skyrim, Borderlands, or Assassin's Creed. This was a unique combination an RPG game and a novel in that the main character wakes up to find he has been imprisoned for accidentally running over a girl while drunk behind the wheel. As a way to reduce some of his prison sentence (or maybe gain favor), he signed up to Beta test a new full-body immersive Virtual Reality RPG game while "sleeping" at night, while having all his bodily needs met through various tubes in his body. While playing the game, he can spend as much time as he wants in the game (as long as he doesn't die) and only a single night will pass in the real world. When he comes out of the game, he spends the day working, cleaning out extremely smelly sludge (basically he's the sewer crew), so his motivation is to do as well in the game as possible.
In some ways, this reminded me of Assassin's Creed, where there is a present-day futuristic time where such technology is possible, and while the game has its own story, there are choices you make in the game that may impact the present day.
I found the story so much fun, and there is just enough mystery surrounding how he ended up in the game to keep you wondering. I really liked the main character and the choices he makes and how he works through the ramifications of his choices, as well as applying his various skill points and so on. If I played an RPG it's possible I would pick up on other things I didn't quite get, but I don't and I still really loved this story.
The story does leave you hanging a bit, although like any good RPG, minor/side quests get solved. However, the main quest remains unresolved (and not completely understood), and you're left wanting more. Which sets you up nicely for book 2.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author for review purposes, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. However, I liked it enough that I bought the first two books and will be buying the third when it comes out.
This is the first true LitRPG adventure book I've ever read and if this is what people are writing, then I should read more of it. Full disclosure, I do not play RPG games (or really many games at all), but my husband loves them and I've spent many hours watching him play Skyrim, Borderlands, or Assassin's Creed. This was a unique combination an RPG game and a novel in that the main character wakes up to find he has been imprisoned for accidentally running over a girl while drunk behind the wheel. As a way to reduce some of his prison sentence (or maybe gain favor), he signed up to Beta test a new full-body immersive Virtual Reality RPG game while "sleeping" at night, while having all his bodily needs met through various tubes in his body. While playing the game, he can spend as much time as he wants in the game (as long as he doesn't die) and only a single night will pass in the real world. When he comes out of the game, he spends the day working, cleaning out extremely smelly sludge (basically he's the sewer crew), so his motivation is to do as well in the game as possible.
In some ways, this reminded me of Assassin's Creed, where there is a present-day futuristic time where such technology is possible, and while the game has its own story, there are choices you make in the game that may impact the present day.
I found the story so much fun, and there is just enough mystery surrounding how he ended up in the game to keep you wondering. I really liked the main character and the choices he makes and how he works through the ramifications of his choices, as well as applying his various skill points and so on. If I played an RPG it's possible I would pick up on other things I didn't quite get, but I don't and I still really loved this story.
The story does leave you hanging a bit, although like any good RPG, minor/side quests get solved. However, the main quest remains unresolved (and not completely understood), and you're left wanting more. Which sets you up nicely for book 2.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author for review purposes, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. However, I liked it enough that I bought the first two books and will be buying the third when it comes out.
May 15, 2022
A satisfying read, imaginative and well-written, immersive and thought-provoking, fast-paced action and witty humour, adventure with a heart, a welcome escape from ever bleaker reality. Promising start to a new series. Recommended to people who enjoy RPG and/or good stories )
In the year 2046, Jake finds himself in a special prison, having been offered a deal to beta test a new game to shorten his stay, an offer hard to refuse that finds him with metal disks embedded on his arms and in the back of his spine. After the day's highly unpleasant work, he is hooked up to the Virtuality Core for him to enter the realms of Pantheon, 'the greatest advancement in MMORPG gaming', unlike anything that had existed before. The immersive experience is fascinating for the reader to witness, as we follow him becoming a dusk elf by the name Gunnar and his advancement in-game (as well as some off-game stuff). Will he meet any allies or will everyone be an enemy that simply hasn't backstabbed him yet? How (or if) will he survive the various challenges and quests and how will they shape his character? Will he be able to get strong and skilled enough in time for what he needs to do? Can he find and seize a precious opportunity to join some guild or will he end up an outcast, struggling on the outskirts? Is everything what it looks like, or is there something more behind it all, something even more incredible?
This has been the first full-length LitRPG novel I've read and I must say I have now developed an interest in the genre. Klopfenstein has made the series starter pull the reader in and keep getting more into it by each development. The characters are interesting, the imagery is well (even tangibly) described and the plot keeps one guessing, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Also, the readers are not bogged down by endless stats or notifications, rather they are presented reasonably and even entertainingly along the way, like the game mechanics. There are moments of excitement, of beauty and even joy, and some of these characters have really grown on me, I find myself rooting for them and caring about what happens. There's plenty to fuel the imagination and, even though I'm not an active player myself and not familiar with all the customary things that would go with that, it did not stop me from enjoying the ride.
I appreciate the fact that Den of Thieves is not the sort of 'mindlessly slaying as many monsters as you can in the shortest amount of time to level up and do all sorts of other nasty stuff too for that same purpose, no matter what' thing as some of the shorter stories of the genre I've read before. So I did have some doubts when I got this book, but already the first few chapters had me intrigued. The main hero may have done something thoughtless earlier on to end up in the situation we meet him in, but he turns out to be a deeper character with a heart and soul, not just another player. Also the hints at something more behind it all... The more he learns and advances in the game, finding his way, the more curious it all gets. Also, all the charming detail in this book! Klopfenstein makes you take notice of many sorts of stuff and I wonder if tomorrow I shall be looking slightly differently and more appreciatively even at this reality. I shall definitely be looking forward to the next book!
In the year 2046, Jake finds himself in a special prison, having been offered a deal to beta test a new game to shorten his stay, an offer hard to refuse that finds him with metal disks embedded on his arms and in the back of his spine. After the day's highly unpleasant work, he is hooked up to the Virtuality Core for him to enter the realms of Pantheon, 'the greatest advancement in MMORPG gaming', unlike anything that had existed before. The immersive experience is fascinating for the reader to witness, as we follow him becoming a dusk elf by the name Gunnar and his advancement in-game (as well as some off-game stuff). Will he meet any allies or will everyone be an enemy that simply hasn't backstabbed him yet? How (or if) will he survive the various challenges and quests and how will they shape his character? Will he be able to get strong and skilled enough in time for what he needs to do? Can he find and seize a precious opportunity to join some guild or will he end up an outcast, struggling on the outskirts? Is everything what it looks like, or is there something more behind it all, something even more incredible?
This has been the first full-length LitRPG novel I've read and I must say I have now developed an interest in the genre. Klopfenstein has made the series starter pull the reader in and keep getting more into it by each development. The characters are interesting, the imagery is well (even tangibly) described and the plot keeps one guessing, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Also, the readers are not bogged down by endless stats or notifications, rather they are presented reasonably and even entertainingly along the way, like the game mechanics. There are moments of excitement, of beauty and even joy, and some of these characters have really grown on me, I find myself rooting for them and caring about what happens. There's plenty to fuel the imagination and, even though I'm not an active player myself and not familiar with all the customary things that would go with that, it did not stop me from enjoying the ride.
I appreciate the fact that Den of Thieves is not the sort of 'mindlessly slaying as many monsters as you can in the shortest amount of time to level up and do all sorts of other nasty stuff too for that same purpose, no matter what' thing as some of the shorter stories of the genre I've read before. So I did have some doubts when I got this book, but already the first few chapters had me intrigued. The main hero may have done something thoughtless earlier on to end up in the situation we meet him in, but he turns out to be a deeper character with a heart and soul, not just another player. Also the hints at something more behind it all... The more he learns and advances in the game, finding his way, the more curious it all gets. Also, all the charming detail in this book! Klopfenstein makes you take notice of many sorts of stuff and I wonder if tomorrow I shall be looking slightly differently and more appreciatively even at this reality. I shall definitely be looking forward to the next book!
January 5, 2023
I enjoyed the book and read it quickly in a few hours. It made my recent plane ride fly by. See what I did there? It is one of the better Lit RPGs I’ve read because it has a consistent flow. The MC starts pathetically weak and doesn’t get instantly stronger but earns his progression. The improvement is gradual, and we get constant comparisons to other powerful characters to gauge that progress, such that at the end, he can do all the amazing things that he could only watch others do in the beginning.
The writing is tight, with only a few awkward sentences, but much better than most I’ve read from Indie authors. I was rarely pulled out of the story. The sarcastic AI wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but the humor was far from annoying like most who try too hard to be humorous. It was a nice addition.
It does fall into the pit of advancing skills by occasionally working out in a gym or practicing. So there are chapters where the MC runs or lifts weights or practices climbing walls or picking locks. The story is supposed to illustrate an RPG in development whose creators want to be as addictive as possible, so why it would include working out in a gym is beyond me. I don’t know any players that would prefer to do that to killing goblins in an abandoned mine as a side quest.
The main reason I did not give it 5 stars is its lack of stakes. Dying in the game means you respawn, so there isn’t much at stake if you try something and fail. At one point in the story, one character kills another, and the friends of the diseased threaten revenge but end up brushing it off by saying he will just respawn. In fact, later, the victim and the killer come face to face, and the guy who respawned doesn’t hit back. Death should be the ultimate penalty, but it isn’t. Yet, the story pivots around the assassination of someone that changes everything. Won’t he just respawn? Now, I think there is a difference between NPCs and PCs and what happens when they die, but we aren’t told exactly who is who. We only know for sure that the MC is a PC. The example I mentioned above, where a character dies and respawns, was someone I was sure was an NPC, so I'm not sure how it works.
There is a weird hiccup with time as well that the author should clean up or explain better. We are told that it doesn’t matter how long the MC stays in the game; it is always the length of one night’s sleep IRL. That means days pass in the game while only 8 hours passes IRL. Time in the game is described as relative. Now, we’ve all experienced dreams like that, but the MC interacts with other PCs in the game, so their time can’t also be relative, can it?
Overall, I liked the book and look forward to the second in the series.
The writing is tight, with only a few awkward sentences, but much better than most I’ve read from Indie authors. I was rarely pulled out of the story. The sarcastic AI wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but the humor was far from annoying like most who try too hard to be humorous. It was a nice addition.
It does fall into the pit of advancing skills by occasionally working out in a gym or practicing. So there are chapters where the MC runs or lifts weights or practices climbing walls or picking locks. The story is supposed to illustrate an RPG in development whose creators want to be as addictive as possible, so why it would include working out in a gym is beyond me. I don’t know any players that would prefer to do that to killing goblins in an abandoned mine as a side quest.
The main reason I did not give it 5 stars is its lack of stakes. Dying in the game means you respawn, so there isn’t much at stake if you try something and fail. At one point in the story, one character kills another, and the friends of the diseased threaten revenge but end up brushing it off by saying he will just respawn. In fact, later, the victim and the killer come face to face, and the guy who respawned doesn’t hit back. Death should be the ultimate penalty, but it isn’t. Yet, the story pivots around the assassination of someone that changes everything. Won’t he just respawn? Now, I think there is a difference between NPCs and PCs and what happens when they die, but we aren’t told exactly who is who. We only know for sure that the MC is a PC. The example I mentioned above, where a character dies and respawns, was someone I was sure was an NPC, so I'm not sure how it works.
There is a weird hiccup with time as well that the author should clean up or explain better. We are told that it doesn’t matter how long the MC stays in the game; it is always the length of one night’s sleep IRL. That means days pass in the game while only 8 hours passes IRL. Time in the game is described as relative. Now, we’ve all experienced dreams like that, but the MC interacts with other PCs in the game, so their time can’t also be relative, can it?
Overall, I liked the book and look forward to the second in the series.
May 23, 2022
I'm hooked, this is one of those books you don't want to end. There are so many twists and sub-plots which are staged within both IRL and RPG. For example Jake aka Gunnar seems unsure that the event which put him into the game in the first place actually occurred at all. I'm definitely looking forward to the next episode as I still have lots of unanswered questions.
You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy this mix of fantasy and adventure.
You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy this mix of fantasy and adventure.
May 25, 2022
Well written with an interesting take on Jake, alias Gunnar, imprisoned in real life for a crime he can't really remember, doing hard labour during his waking hours and being forced into RPG which appears to be just as real, when asleep. Full of unexpected quests, killings, deception and humour. Although I'm not a gamer, I enjoyed reading it and it was easy to follow. Not an ending, but a new beginning with expectations of so much more to come.
May 30, 2022
Interesting premise and system, well written.
This is the first of a series and thus far I am enjoying it.
The pacing is well done and the MC is likeable and has a good power balance.
The system is interesting with its differing levels of affinity based on the physical player.
An intriguing ending as well.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Well done.
This is the first of a series and thus far I am enjoying it.
The pacing is well done and the MC is likeable and has a good power balance.
The system is interesting with its differing levels of affinity based on the physical player.
An intriguing ending as well.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Well done.
May 16, 2022
This story starts off slowly and
works its way up to an intriguing
cliff - hanger ending.
I've already pre - ordered the next
book in the series.
Enjoy !!
Phyllis S.
works its way up to an intriguing
cliff - hanger ending.
I've already pre - ordered the next
book in the series.
Enjoy !!
Phyllis S.
June 18, 2022
a friendly amount of twists
I can comfortably say I never knew where people stood in this book and that is a welcome change to some predictable writing lately. Can’t wait for more!
I can comfortably say I never knew where people stood in this book and that is a welcome change to some predictable writing lately. Can’t wait for more!
August 6, 2022
Awesome
I really liked this book. There is a bit of a twist at the end that I honestly didn't see coming. It's worth a read. I can't wait for the next one.
I really liked this book. There is a bit of a twist at the end that I honestly didn't see coming. It's worth a read. I can't wait for the next one.
November 27, 2022
Good Storytelling & Awesome Game Design
Already read this a few times waiting for the next book.
Highly enjoyable and good portrayal of Man vs Man - betrayal, desire to trust and remain true to self.
Already read this a few times waiting for the next book.
Highly enjoyable and good portrayal of Man vs Man - betrayal, desire to trust and remain true to self.
November 7, 2023
What a great litRPG read! Loved the characters and their development as well as the twists and turns. I was greatly surprised at every turn. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
August 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this it wasn't cookie cutter it wasn't predictable and was a fun read. I also find both the real world action and the game world intriguing and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
May 1, 2022
Jke Darrow is imprisioned for killing a student while drunk driving. In the future with surveillence by technology no jury trials are necessary. The prison he is sent to is owned ny Mercer Corp but it is more like a labor camp. Prisoners work during shifty and while not working to online and it halps the company develope games. However, the gaming can be painful if goals are not met. During one session he see a palyers who looks exactly like the student he killed. Is there a sub plot to his imprisonment? Very interesting reading.
November 12, 2025
Den of Thieves was surprisingly entertaining, and I found myself pulled into the twists and tension right away. Even though I kept feeling like Jake was being framed and that he was given a false memory which made everything even more unsettling I still enjoyed the ride. Experiencing the story through that uncertainty added a layer of psychological intrigue that kept me turning pages. The world is engaging, the stakes are high, and despite my frustration on Jake’s behalf, the book definitely kept me hooked from start to finish; which I was not at all expecting. For someone who doesn't currently play video games, I do remember the basics on "leveling up" and the parts to gaming but I have not played VR games, at least not interactive ones and I will say, I found it creepy how real everything can seem, minus the extinct and mythological creatures. I got this first book free on Audible; I think that it is in the catalog.
June 22, 2025
The set up and plot are amazing but good lord the mc is stupid and has no street smarts and not alot of common sense. Boy goes to party 🥳 boy gets blackout drunk or drugged boy wakes up remembering a blonde 👱♀️ and the party but doesn't know what happened boy goes to prison and has been surgically altered boy doesn't ask how many years he got boy doesn't ask for proof boy doesn't ask if he will ever get out.. I'm assuming he's not getting out ever because they fit him up with gear I doubt they will let him go he knows to much and he asks no questions and by him being locked up and the guard told there are places like where he is at all over the world and they are testing and using people for suspect reasons 🤔 and they can probably make up anything and lock you up. It's really messed up but I like it
December 1, 2023
Den of Thieves is a story about prisoners testing a new roll playing game (very similar to Sentencced to Troll, but there's something going on in the game, and he's dropped right into the middle of it all. Readers who like the story taking off from the very start, and not letting up might enjoy this one.
For me though, this one just didn't check enough of the boxes for my tastes. I'm likely not going to continue with the series.
For me though, this one just didn't check enough of the boxes for my tastes. I'm likely not going to continue with the series.
June 5, 2022
KU Review
Likable and sincere mc. Definitely more going on in the grand scheme than what we’ve seen so far. Worth the read and looks to be an interesting story overall. Looking forward to the next.
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis.
Likable and sincere mc. Definitely more going on in the grand scheme than what we’ve seen so far. Worth the read and looks to be an interesting story overall. Looking forward to the next.
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis.
June 6, 2022
Brilliant fun!
This book was a whole lot of fun. A really interesting story and actually laugh out load moments, particularly when reading the devs synopsis of achievements. The characters are good and feel worth rooting for. The pace is well done. Definitely worth a read. I'm going to get the next one.
This book was a whole lot of fun. A really interesting story and actually laugh out load moments, particularly when reading the devs synopsis of achievements. The characters are good and feel worth rooting for. The pace is well done. Definitely worth a read. I'm going to get the next one.
July 4, 2022
This is a classic example of tone over story.
And it never ends we!!. This kind of book relies an its characters and an interesting plot. This fails twice over. The plot is stale. The characters are flat except for the MC. He is just pathetic. There is nothing here you ever since up caring about, and the immersion is never realized.
And it never ends we!!. This kind of book relies an its characters and an interesting plot. This fails twice over. The plot is stale. The characters are flat except for the MC. He is just pathetic. There is nothing here you ever since up caring about, and the immersion is never realized.
July 9, 2024
New twist to the LitRPG Genre.
The setup is fairly original. There are some mysteries that haven’t been solved by the end of the first book, but feel like they will be answered in the 2nd. The world and game mechanics are pretty straightforward but haven’t been entirely revealed yet.
The setup is fairly original. There are some mysteries that haven’t been solved by the end of the first book, but feel like they will be answered in the 2nd. The world and game mechanics are pretty straightforward but haven’t been entirely revealed yet.
March 6, 2025
Really good book
This book is actually better than Defiance of the Fall. It doesn't have too much fluff, and it's very interesting. The main storyline has me a little confused, but hopefully, book 2 will take care of that. MC is likable, and the other characters are not too numerous, so you end up not remembering who they are. I am looking forward to reading book 2.
This book is actually better than Defiance of the Fall. It doesn't have too much fluff, and it's very interesting. The main storyline has me a little confused, but hopefully, book 2 will take care of that. MC is likable, and the other characters are not too numerous, so you end up not remembering who they are. I am looking forward to reading book 2.
May 23, 2022
Intriguing with plenty of action to keep you guessing as to what happens next. Gunhar is imprisoned for a crime he doesn’t even remember. The story draws you in from the beginning to the end. Ready for the next book.
March 15, 2023
Good!
I wasn’t sure would like this book at first, a bit of a slow start in the “drawing me in” factor. But draw me in it did. I also enjoyed book two and am looking forward to book three coming out!
I wasn’t sure would like this book at first, a bit of a slow start in the “drawing me in” factor. But draw me in it did. I also enjoyed book two and am looking forward to book three coming out!
May 26, 2023
Solid litrpg spin VR
Good start.... Began a bit derivative but slowly etched it's way into it's own groove... Solid beginning.. Some good characters and increasing depth of weave.. Highly recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and The Dream
Good start.... Began a bit derivative but slowly etched it's way into it's own groove... Solid beginning.. Some good characters and increasing depth of weave.. Highly recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and The Dream
August 23, 2025
A new genre for me and I must say I really enjoyed it. The story keeps you engaged I couldn’t stop listening and the narrator does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life I highly recommend
November 18, 2025
Highly enjoyable
I really enjoyed this book - even if I'm still not certain what is going on in "back of house"
Interesting MC and world build - 👍
Snarky, sarcastic, a little bit mean and outright critical System - 👍
Hanging out for book 2 - 👍👍👍
I really enjoyed this book - even if I'm still not certain what is going on in "back of house"
Interesting MC and world build - 👍
Snarky, sarcastic, a little bit mean and outright critical System - 👍
Hanging out for book 2 - 👍👍👍
May 16, 2022
Interesting. If you are a gamer this is a book for you. The descriptions on stats are clear and informative for people who have not played a game like is. D & D was so fun.
March 9, 2023
It was okay
I feel like this book had potential. But the author didn’t provide enough substance for the world he had created.
I feel like this book had potential. But the author didn’t provide enough substance for the world he had created.
April 19, 2024
The MC seems to be an idiot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews