Help finding an older book for a re-read!

It's been several years and I can't remember the author/title.

The protag, I think a prisoner, was loaded into a VRRPG and interacted with mainly NPCs and other VR players. It was a fairly standard fantasy setting. Eventually some of the humans joined into staying in the game, I think. Thanks!

PS: a book from this year, 'Dungeons and Wives', got me thinking of it.