Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into the expansive bibliography of Dakota Krout, the biggest question is how to approach the interconnected series collectively known as the Divine Dungeon Universe (DDU). While these series can technically be read independently, they share a singular lore, overlapping magic systems, and crucial character crossovers that reward readers who follow a specific sequence.
The most widely recommended and satisfying entry point is the core Divine Dungeon series, starting with Dungeon Born. This series lays the essential foundation of the universe's mechanics, history, and rules of cultivation. Once you finish Cal and Dale's story, you should transition into The Completionist Chronicles, which serves as the chronological and narrative sequel to the events of the Divine Dungeon. For readers who want to understand the deep mechanics of the world-building, the companion series Artorian's Archives can be read alongside or immediately after completing the main series.
The Core Divine Dungeon Universe
1. The Divine Dungeon (Completed)
This is where the universe begins. The series introduces Cal, a sentient dungeon who must consume essence to grow, and Dale, a young sheep-herder who becomes a powerful cultivator. The magic system combines wuxia-style cultivation with classic dungeon-core gaming mechanics. Reading this series first is essential for understanding the background of the gods and systems that populate Krout's later books.
- Dungeon Born (2016)
- Dungeon Madness (2017)
- Dungeon Calamity (2017)
- Dungeon Desolation (2018)
- Dungeon Eternium (2019)
- Essence (2019) (A companion anthology set in the same universe)
2. Artorian's Archives (Ongoing)
Co-authored with Dennis Vanderkerken, this massive expansion series focuses on Artorian, a veteran who becomes a mentor figure. Chronologically, this series is unique: it starts before the events of Dungeon Born, runs concurrently with the entire Divine Dungeon saga, and then continues past its conclusion to bridge the gap directly into The Completionist Chronicles. Because it features massive spoilers for the end of Divine Dungeon, readers should avoid starting it until they have at least finished the third or fourth book of the main series.
- Axiom (2019)
- Alumni (2019)
- Annex (2020)
- Arsenal (2020)
- Acme (2020)
- Anima (2021)
- Artifact (2021)
- Architect (2023)
- Anaheim (2024)
- America (2024)
3. The Completionist Chronicles (Ongoing)
This is the primary sequel series to The Divine Dungeon. The story follows Joe, a military veteran who chooses to have his consciousness permanently uploaded into the game-like world of Eternium to escape a physical body bound to a wheelchair. While it functions perfectly as a standalone LitRPG, readers who have completed The Divine Dungeon will immediately recognize the origin of the world, the true identities of the pantheon of gods, and the underlying logic of Joe's spells and abilities.
- Ritualist (2018)
- Regicide (2018)
- Rexus (2019) (Focuses on the character Rex, best read between books 2 and 3)
- Raze (2019)
- Ruthless (2020)
- Inflame (2021)
- Invent (2022)
- Implode (2022)
- Tenacity (2023)
- Thesaurize (2023)
- Thunderplump (2023)
DDU Side Stories & Spin-Offs
As the Divine Dungeon Universe expanded, Dakota Krout collaborated with other authors to detail side characters and concurrent storylines within the Eternium timeline.
Completionist Chronicles: Wolfman Warlock
Co-authored with James A. Hunter, this side story follows the adventures of a character named Wolfman Warlock within the Eternium game world. It is best read after finishing Raze (Book 4 of the main Completionist series) to maintain continuity with the main world events.
- Bibliomancer (2019)
- Libriohexer (2021)
Divine Dungeon: Lion's Lineage
Co-authored with Rohan Hublikar, this series explores other corners of the cultivation world during the DDU timeline.
- Hunt (2021)
- Roar (2023)
Dakota Krout's Standalone Series
In addition to his massive shared universe, Krout has authored several standalone series. These do not share continuity with the Divine Dungeon and can be read in any order, though reading by publication order within each individual series is highly recommended.
Full Murderhobo (Completed Trilogy)
A completed, darker LitRPG series that shifts perspectives among several childhood friends who are forced into different, extreme training dimensions. The series is known for its fast-paced progression and subversion of typical heroic tropes.
- Something (2020)
- Anything (2022)
- Everything (2023)
Cooking with Disaster
A humorous, post-apocalyptic LitRPG series that follows a chef surviving in a system-driven, hostile new world. It combines survival elements with progression fantasy and culinary-themed abilities.
- Grilled Armageddon (2024)
- Sewer Skewers (2024)
- Omelet Endgame (2024)
Year of the Sword
A high-fantasy cultivation series where the rules of the world change based on the calendar, with different kingdoms influenced by the months of the year.
- Lord January (2022)
- Lady February (2022)
- Dokeshi March (2022)