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Pangea Online #3
Pangea Online 3: Vials and Tribulations: A LitRPG Novel
"Pangea Online invites you to participate in the first-ever Pro-Am Tournament! Mentor the most promising talent of the future while cementing your status as one of the greats! Don't miss the biggest, most innovative tournament in gaming history!"
Esil is content with his quiet life beta testing new game worlds, so he doesn’t give the invitation a second thought. Having every detail of his life scrutinized while pursuing gold and glory are ambitions of the past, and mentoring is at the bottom of his to-do list. That all changes when Dean, a teenager from the same orphanage where Esil grew up, begs for help.
This is a life-changing opportunity for a kid from the Boxes. So when every other former champion refuses to take a chance on Dean, Esil must make a choice. Either step into the spotlight he grew to hate or abandon Dean to a life in the mines.
Pick up the final installment of this litRPG series today!
Esil is content with his quiet life beta testing new game worlds, so he doesn’t give the invitation a second thought. Having every detail of his life scrutinized while pursuing gold and glory are ambitions of the past, and mentoring is at the bottom of his to-do list. That all changes when Dean, a teenager from the same orphanage where Esil grew up, begs for help.
This is a life-changing opportunity for a kid from the Boxes. So when every other former champion refuses to take a chance on Dean, Esil must make a choice. Either step into the spotlight he grew to hate or abandon Dean to a life in the mines.
Pick up the final installment of this litRPG series today!
298 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2021
79 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Rowland
20 books565 followersS.L. Rowland is a cozy fantasy and LitRPG author known for crafting immersive worlds filled with adventure, heart, and a touch of humor. A lifelong gamer and fantasy enthusiast, he draws inspiration from tabletop RPGs, video games, and the fantastical. When he’s not writing, he enjoys weightlifting, hiking with his Shiba Inu, and enduring the heartbreak of being an Atlanta sports fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 3, 2025
DNF at 30%. I’m really sick of Rowland setting up a story about a system that is inherently broken by self-interested and evil rich people, and then trying to bring nuance to it by insisting that “not all rich people are bad! See, Aleesia is a good person!” When that’s not the point. The point isn’t that the rich people should die or be punished, but that they should at least recognize their privilege and be humbled by it. When you set up a theme like this, you should follow up with the main characters tearing down or reforming the system to make the world a better place. Yes, Esil does what he can, but nothing more. Rowland isn’t interested in doing anything meaningful.
Compared to a novel like Ready Player One, where the main character’s primary goal is to prevent an evil corporation from taking over the virtual world so that it can stay free, inherently effecting the lives of every person on the planet, this is a cheap imitation.
This may be harsh, and less critical readers may say that this simply isn’t the point, but when you set up a theme like this, it very much is the point. There is no nuance to be had when it comes to a system that relies on poverty and corruption.
Compared to a novel like Ready Player One, where the main character’s primary goal is to prevent an evil corporation from taking over the virtual world so that it can stay free, inherently effecting the lives of every person on the planet, this is a cheap imitation.
This may be harsh, and less critical readers may say that this simply isn’t the point, but when you set up a theme like this, it very much is the point. There is no nuance to be had when it comes to a system that relies on poverty and corruption.
February 25, 2025
Another book; another restart.
First book was rags to riches, second book was full immersion, and this book is vicarious rags to riches.
Most of the characters here are from the previous books, though there is a new co-protagonist who is from the same orphanage that Esil grew up in.
Again, we have a competition with a prize that is important to the new guy, we have much the same antagonists, and the character arcs are almost beat-for-beat the same as in the first book.
This isn't a bad book, but it's almost exactly the first book redone ... and the first book was better.
The series is fine, but not especially memorable. Frankly, a reader might be best off just reading book 1 and dropping the series at that point. There's nothing to hate here, but there's very little to remember, either.
First book was rags to riches, second book was full immersion, and this book is vicarious rags to riches.
Most of the characters here are from the previous books, though there is a new co-protagonist who is from the same orphanage that Esil grew up in.
Again, we have a competition with a prize that is important to the new guy, we have much the same antagonists, and the character arcs are almost beat-for-beat the same as in the first book.
This isn't a bad book, but it's almost exactly the first book redone ... and the first book was better.
The series is fine, but not especially memorable. Frankly, a reader might be best off just reading book 1 and dropping the series at that point. There's nothing to hate here, but there's very little to remember, either.
March 18, 2024
Esil had no desire to compete in another tournament. He did not want to be in the spotlight again. But when he goes to the orphanage he grew up in to talk to the kids about hope, he saw what he remembered feeling in their eyes. One kid wasn't as receptive at first, and Esil shared what he knows and experienced. In helping the kids, he becomes closer to this kid, Dean. And when no one else will take a chance to work with a kid from the Boxes, Esil steps in to help him see there's more and to give Dean a chance.
I liked seeing Esil stand up for what he believes in with the Boxes and needing a chance for better living, homes, and so much more. I loved that Esil stepped out of his comfort zone to help Dean. And they really become a team.
I did find at times the story slowed for me and I was thankful I was listening to the audio book. The changes in voices with having 2 narrators was great and kept me interested. I was hoping for a little more with the emersion world Esil worked in for book 2, but we didn't get much there. We did see a glimpse of it. And at the end we heard there was more happening. So...I guess Esil's okay with it and they do remember him.
I like the theme of the story. Friends and family. Esil has created his own family with his friends. And he's determined to help them.
I liked seeing Esil stand up for what he believes in with the Boxes and needing a chance for better living, homes, and so much more. I loved that Esil stepped out of his comfort zone to help Dean. And they really become a team.
I did find at times the story slowed for me and I was thankful I was listening to the audio book. The changes in voices with having 2 narrators was great and kept me interested. I was hoping for a little more with the emersion world Esil worked in for book 2, but we didn't get much there. We did see a glimpse of it. And at the end we heard there was more happening. So...I guess Esil's okay with it and they do remember him.
I like the theme of the story. Friends and family. Esil has created his own family with his friends. And he's determined to help them.
July 11, 2025
With the beta testing of the full-immersion units done Esil is now safely out of the spotlight, spending his days testing new game world. When he’s invited to a Pro-Am Tournament, he doesn’t think twice about it. He’s put his glory hounding days behind him. But when Dean, a teen from the same orphanage where Esil grew up, begs for help things change. This opportunity could change Dean’s life and Esil must make a choice: Either step into the spotlight he grew to hate, or abandon Dean to a life in the mines.
This is the conclusion to the Pangea Online trilogy and I was sadly disappointed. Book two set up such high hopes for deep diving into the full immersion system and conversations about living online and shutting out reality. It also, once again, played very lightly on the themes of classism and rich getting richer off of poor peoples’ labor in a way that felt perfunctory. Esil wants to make real changes but does absolutely nothing to even begin fighting the systems.
The writing was well done and the narration was great. I loved that there were two voices playing multiple characters, because it kept things flowing and enjoyable. I just wish the whole series had done more with the societal themes of classism, AI, and living on social media/internet. Overall, a solid finish to the series.
Content Warnings:
Major - Fantasy Violence
Moderate - Classism
This is the conclusion to the Pangea Online trilogy and I was sadly disappointed. Book two set up such high hopes for deep diving into the full immersion system and conversations about living online and shutting out reality. It also, once again, played very lightly on the themes of classism and rich getting richer off of poor peoples’ labor in a way that felt perfunctory. Esil wants to make real changes but does absolutely nothing to even begin fighting the systems.
The writing was well done and the narration was great. I loved that there were two voices playing multiple characters, because it kept things flowing and enjoyable. I just wish the whole series had done more with the societal themes of classism, AI, and living on social media/internet. Overall, a solid finish to the series.
Content Warnings:
Major - Fantasy Violence
Moderate - Classism
March 5, 2021
Can An Author Write A Hopeful Dystopian Trilogy?
Can An Author Write A Hopeful Dystopian Trilogy? It's a weird question for a weird concept, but this Novel, the third book of the _Pangea Online_ trilogy proves that it is possible to write such a work, because S. L. Rowland has done it. This is the third book in the trilogy, so put it down; go buy the first and second books and read them before starting this one.
The trilogy really is set in a dystopian world. World War III has killed off huge swathes of the human race. Radiation poisons the lands where large cities once stood. Some rich people live lives of luxury and comfort in the few livable areas of the world; while those less fortunate must wear filter masks to breathe the air when they leave their environmentally controlled and sanitized homes. Those less fortunate still, the working poor, live in radiation shielded boxes and never venture outside without full Hazmat gear. And the destitute die slowly of radiation poisoning and disease wandering the allies and wastelands.
This is the world that Esil Allen is born into and finds himself orphaned and bereft of memory. To find out how he finds hope and deals with his nightmare of a life, start at the beginning!
Can An Author Write A Hopeful Dystopian Trilogy? It's a weird question for a weird concept, but this Novel, the third book of the _Pangea Online_ trilogy proves that it is possible to write such a work, because S. L. Rowland has done it. This is the third book in the trilogy, so put it down; go buy the first and second books and read them before starting this one.
The trilogy really is set in a dystopian world. World War III has killed off huge swathes of the human race. Radiation poisons the lands where large cities once stood. Some rich people live lives of luxury and comfort in the few livable areas of the world; while those less fortunate must wear filter masks to breathe the air when they leave their environmentally controlled and sanitized homes. Those less fortunate still, the working poor, live in radiation shielded boxes and never venture outside without full Hazmat gear. And the destitute die slowly of radiation poisoning and disease wandering the allies and wastelands.
This is the world that Esil Allen is born into and finds himself orphaned and bereft of memory. To find out how he finds hope and deals with his nightmare of a life, start at the beginning!
January 26, 2022
A very nice ending for a great trilogy
Another great edition to the story, our hero returns to the orphanage he grew up in and finds a young protégé to train and compete in a new tournament while he is on a vacation from his job in the full immersion lab. The kid is a total mini me of the MC and that makes their time together bring up old and forgotten feelings the MC tried to bury in the past.
This is a light read, but even so the world building is fun and immersive. I was sucked into the story right from the beginning and enjoyed all the action and goof balling in it. The new competition is interesting and fun, the old characters are still awesome and the new ones do not fall short. Even the villain from the first book returns to a final showdown with our hero and his new mini me.
4.8/5 highly recommended when you are in a mood for a light read that is fun and immersive.
Another great edition to the story, our hero returns to the orphanage he grew up in and finds a young protégé to train and compete in a new tournament while he is on a vacation from his job in the full immersion lab. The kid is a total mini me of the MC and that makes their time together bring up old and forgotten feelings the MC tried to bury in the past.
This is a light read, but even so the world building is fun and immersive. I was sucked into the story right from the beginning and enjoyed all the action and goof balling in it. The new competition is interesting and fun, the old characters are still awesome and the new ones do not fall short. Even the villain from the first book returns to a final showdown with our hero and his new mini me.
4.8/5 highly recommended when you are in a mood for a light read that is fun and immersive.
February 5, 2022
Esil has retired from the public light to focus on his work beta testing the full immersion and working to set up a charity for the orphans in the boxes. When he heard about a mentor tournament, he dismissed the idea entirely. That was before the deep dive was shifted to another department. He had been hanging out with an orphan from the boxes to try to find him a sponsor, so he decided to take him on himself.
This book feels more like the first book in the trilogy. The main thing about book three is the addition of Dean, the orphan boy from the boxes. It is really cool to see Esil taking on the role of mentor and older brother. Pangea Online is my favorite VRMMO setting. I love the idea that in the same setting, you can play anything from Sci Fi to fantasy to shooters to retro to sports to racing and that you can earn benefits that carry over to other worlds. A huge benefit is that there is a male and female narrator if you prefer audible.
Content warning: none
This book feels more like the first book in the trilogy. The main thing about book three is the addition of Dean, the orphan boy from the boxes. It is really cool to see Esil taking on the role of mentor and older brother. Pangea Online is my favorite VRMMO setting. I love the idea that in the same setting, you can play anything from Sci Fi to fantasy to shooters to retro to sports to racing and that you can earn benefits that carry over to other worlds. A huge benefit is that there is a male and female narrator if you prefer audible.
Content warning: none
March 19, 2025
This book was a big disappointment. While it was decently well written and the plot flowed well, it was basically book one with a partner duo in the games instead of Esil by himself. The games were fun and interesting but nothing special.
What I found sad was that there was such a great opportunity here to showcase full immersion more from the previous book and it was essentially thrown away in favor of another basic Pangea tournament. 😩 We could have had huge discussions on the effects full immersion has on the brain, both the good and the bad… and it could have been a very interesting way to get kids thinking more about their online habits and hobbies.
This book just did not take anything far enough. Even the poor vs rich aspect in this book felt like it wasn’t taken far enough and it was wrapped up with a perfect bow without taking any real time to develop the process.
I was hoping for more from this book after the second one.
What I found sad was that there was such a great opportunity here to showcase full immersion more from the previous book and it was essentially thrown away in favor of another basic Pangea tournament. 😩 We could have had huge discussions on the effects full immersion has on the brain, both the good and the bad… and it could have been a very interesting way to get kids thinking more about their online habits and hobbies.
This book just did not take anything far enough. Even the poor vs rich aspect in this book felt like it wasn’t taken far enough and it was wrapped up with a perfect bow without taking any real time to develop the process.
I was hoping for more from this book after the second one.
December 16, 2023
Almost done contains possible spoilers.
I love this world so that I am practically inspired to write fan fiction, which I have never wanted to do before. I mean the world is filled with infinite possibilities. It would make a spectacular table top rpg.
That being said in this book I feel like Esil is a little preachy when he is dealing with Dean. Esil got to play the game the way he wanted without a mentor guiding him. He chose to be neutral good without someone pushing him to do it. I feel like Dean is a more chaotic character and has Esil parenting him along the way. I don't like his apparent lack of self discovery, but I'm not done yet, so I guess we shall see.
I love this world so that I am practically inspired to write fan fiction, which I have never wanted to do before. I mean the world is filled with infinite possibilities. It would make a spectacular table top rpg.
That being said in this book I feel like Esil is a little preachy when he is dealing with Dean. Esil got to play the game the way he wanted without a mentor guiding him. He chose to be neutral good without someone pushing him to do it. I feel like Dean is a more chaotic character and has Esil parenting him along the way. I don't like his apparent lack of self discovery, but I'm not done yet, so I guess we shall see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
3.25*
Lowered rating due to the set up of book 2 leading... almost nowhere in this one. This book tied off the loose ends but didn't take advantage of the majority of the plot that was there for the taking.
In total this series ended up being about how we all need to help each other and how systemic poverty can corrupt a system (not to mention how people get treated). Overall a great message, but it gets pushed a bit hard to make this idle reading. Maybe for a YA (or younger) audience the large emotional swings, lack of a direct "villain" (though there is an antagonist) and the blatant moral component wouldn't hit so awkwardly.
All in all, a tolerable end for the trilogy.
Lowered rating due to the set up of book 2 leading... almost nowhere in this one. This book tied off the loose ends but didn't take advantage of the majority of the plot that was there for the taking.
In total this series ended up being about how we all need to help each other and how systemic poverty can corrupt a system (not to mention how people get treated). Overall a great message, but it gets pushed a bit hard to make this idle reading. Maybe for a YA (or younger) audience the large emotional swings, lack of a direct "villain" (though there is an antagonist) and the blatant moral component wouldn't hit so awkwardly.
All in all, a tolerable end for the trilogy.
March 11, 2021
A fantastic ending to a wonderful journey
I can't put into words how awesome this story was. Evil and Dean's growth throughout the story were absolutely fantastic.
The character development was a fun journey to follow, I also enjoyed how he handled the transition between book 2 and 3.
I am sad to see the journey end because I enjoy this series so much and do hope that we will sometime in the future see a continuation of it.
I highly recommend reading this story if your looking at it and picking up the others in the series if you havent yet.
I can't put into words how awesome this story was. Evil and Dean's growth throughout the story were absolutely fantastic.
The character development was a fun journey to follow, I also enjoyed how he handled the transition between book 2 and 3.
I am sad to see the journey end because I enjoy this series so much and do hope that we will sometime in the future see a continuation of it.
I highly recommend reading this story if your looking at it and picking up the others in the series if you havent yet.
December 12, 2023
Ohhhh 😯 yeah the continuity of Vials and Tribulations wraps up this wonderfully fun trilogy perfectly. I loved the fact that the makers of Pangea are now moving ahead to combine the immersive piece of Pangea in with the entire system. And when Esil teams-up with Dean, to participate in a tournament. I absodamnlutely knew that I was gonna be in for a great time. And like I expected I was completely mesmerized by this enthralling story! In actuality this whole story ARC was the best as SL Rolland and Soundbooth Theater sticks the landing 🥰!
April 24, 2022
A well-written LitRPG, with the added bonus of having many positive characters, whose efforts give hope to the world. That was refreshing! I loved the second book the most, as the initial deep immersion was so effective, as well as the untangling of Esil's past. I do hope the author considers a follow-on trilogy, again with Esil and Aleesya, and the immersion we saw in volume two. Great job on the approach used to tell a grand story in and out of the online game.
March 1, 2021
Awesome
An awaome book from an awesome author. Mr Rowland wrapped up the awesome story nicely. It's a shame to see the end of this awesome series. But I look forward to more awesome books from this awesome dude.. Why don't I say awesome again lol... Honestly tho. This guy can write!
An awaome book from an awesome author. Mr Rowland wrapped up the awesome story nicely. It's a shame to see the end of this awesome series. But I look forward to more awesome books from this awesome dude.. Why don't I say awesome again lol... Honestly tho. This guy can write!
February 1, 2022
A satisfying ending.
An epic yet satisfying conclusion to this trilogy of pangea online as we our MC once again enter a new tournament but not alone and has to work together with his partner dean to win to give those and show those in the boxes that they too deserve a chance other then mining.
An epic yet satisfying conclusion to this trilogy of pangea online as we our MC once again enter a new tournament but not alone and has to work together with his partner dean to win to give those and show those in the boxes that they too deserve a chance other then mining.
March 24, 2022
Once again the setting is shifted as Esil goes from alpha playtesting a full immersion version of the game to coaching another kid from the boxes in a brand new duos competition. Once again the ethics and conscience of the Big Corp is laughable, but the characters are otherwise strong and the story is plain fun.
February 9, 2023
The writing was good, the story was good, but it was basically book 1 again. Virtually identical story, and the author never really delved deeper into the real issues simmering behind the scenes. They just got magically fixed at the end. Also, we never did learn what data mining was for, which felt like a rather large hole.
February 28, 2021
Excellent series
A really great story line that is very inspiring that shows how important helping others is more important than being selfish! This is a great story that grabs a readers attention from the start !
A really great story line that is very inspiring that shows how important helping others is more important than being selfish! This is a great story that grabs a readers attention from the start !
April 27, 2021
Great Finally
At great end to a really good series. I really enjoyed the books.
What better way to end than a massive battle? Will our heroes win the day or will one of their friends be the one to take the prize? Read now to find out.
At great end to a really good series. I really enjoyed the books.
What better way to end than a massive battle? Will our heroes win the day or will one of their friends be the one to take the prize? Read now to find out.
May 17, 2021
Great series!
Always sad when a good series comes to a close, at least there was a good ending though! Loved the characters and the subtle and maybe not so subtle correlations to other games/books/media out there. Love it!
Always sad when a good series comes to a close, at least there was a good ending though! Loved the characters and the subtle and maybe not so subtle correlations to other games/books/media out there. Love it!
April 16, 2025
Enjoyable ending to a fun series
I enjoyed this last book in the Pangea series. A few typos here and there, but a satisfying conclusion to Esil’s story. I hope to see more stories that take place in this world!
I enjoyed this last book in the Pangea series. A few typos here and there, but a satisfying conclusion to Esil’s story. I hope to see more stories that take place in this world!
March 2, 2021
Fantastic series
Very reminiscent of Ready Player One. The characters are fantastic, well written. I devoured this series in a week, and I really want another book.
Very reminiscent of Ready Player One. The characters are fantastic, well written. I devoured this series in a week, and I really want another book.
March 3, 2021
Excellent end to a trilogy.
I really enjoyed this book. It finishes the trilogy in a standout way. Rail is a great main Character and I was really rooting for him to do well.
I really enjoyed this book. It finishes the trilogy in a standout way. Rail is a great main Character and I was really rooting for him to do well.
March 6, 2021
Wonderful conclusion!
I always love it when a series has an ending that doesn’t disappoint! You won’t regret the ride! Plus there may be more!
I always love it when a series has an ending that doesn’t disappoint! You won’t regret the ride! Plus there may be more!
March 25, 2021
A very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like action, VR with twist and magic.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like action, VR with twist and magic.
April 1, 2021
Great story
Great story, read all three books back to back and could not put it down. A definite must read series
Great story, read all three books back to back and could not put it down. A definite must read series
June 2, 2021
Good conclusion
I liked it, yeah it’s a bit tropy but in a enjoyable way. The action was good and I liked the characters
I liked it, yeah it’s a bit tropy but in a enjoyable way. The action was good and I liked the characters
July 25, 2021
Tear jerker feel good story
Better than book 2 and really good feel good story that brings sentiment. Might even find it a bit inspirational and uplifting.
Better than book 2 and really good feel good story that brings sentiment. Might even find it a bit inspirational and uplifting.
September 5, 2021
Another fun plot line in this sequel. I enjoy that each book in this series is a complete story. Each book is just another adventure into Pangea Online.
February 1, 2022
This was a fun and wholesome (if a tad short) ending to a nice story. 👍🏾👍🏾
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews