Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) (2024)

What an absolutely absurd, bizarre, and outlandishly fun read this turned out to be - could it be that progression fantasy is the genre I never knew I needed!

Final Rating: 4.8/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Talk about a surprise – this book is completely absurd, and somehow, I'm all for it. I mean, I never thought I'd enjoy something so outlandish. I'm usually drawn to stories with depth and complexity, yet here I am, totally taken aback by how much fun I had with this one. It's zany, it's ludicrous, and against all expectations, I found myself absolutely loving it. It turns out this kind of book might just be the secret ingredient I never knew was missing in my reading life.

A quick heads-up before we go any further: this book might not click with everyone. My usual go-tos are sophisticated, multi-layered fantasy and sci-fi novels. But on the flip side, I've got a big soft spot for the quirky and humorous (big nod to the likes of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams) - although I should note that the humour is of a very different style to those two legends. If a book can make me chuckle, it's usually a winner in my eyes. Plus, I've been into video games for ages, particularly RPGs.

So, if your preference leans heavily towards the more serious, traditional fantasy and sci-fi, then this may not be your thing. However, if you're into gaming, enjoy progression fantasy or LITRPGs, and appreciate some light-hearted, even absurd humor, then this book is definitely worth checking out. It's a unique mix, and you might find it as surprisingly enjoyable as I did.

Also. Listen to the Audiobook. This would be a top 3 of all time audio narration for me.

Plot Summary
This truly-bizarre story revolves around the main character, Carl, who finds himself in a bizarre and dangerous situation where Earth has been turned into a massive dungeon. Players are forced to navigate this dungeon, facing various challenges and enemies, with their progress watched by alien viewers. Think Diablo the computer game told in a story format, and with jokes thrown in along the way - and you’re most of the way there.

Plot: 5/5
This was my first dive into progression fantasy, and I must say, I quickly got hooked.The book cleverly integrates video game-like elements: characters leveling up, acquiring better loot, and enhancing their gear and stats. This progression makes them increasingly powerful, a concept I found captivating as the challenges Carl faces escalate in intensity and complexity. It's a thrilling survival tale (with tinges here and there of dystopian power struggles beyond “the game”), and I couldn't get enough of it.

“Question: What’s the only thing standing between an innocent child and a happy, fulfilling life? Answer: You. The answer is you.”

The plot is inherently dark, but it's the overlay of juvenile humor that sets it apart. This humor transforms what could be disturbing moments into something unexpectedly funny, provided you're willing to let go of your critical and analytical mind and just immerse yourself in the fun. And trust me, there's a lot of fun to be had here. Humour of course a very subjective beast, and so it may or may not work for you.

One final point of praise: the originality and inventiveness of the scenarios Carl encounters. Not only does the episodic nature of the challenges keep the pace and momentum going. The creativity in these situations is remarkable, making me think, "I would love to play this as a video game!" It's a testament to the author's imagination and ability to craft a story that's as entertaining as it is unique.

World building: 5/5
When it comes to world-building, I usually have a pretty structured approach. I look for coherence: does the magic system make sense? Does the story naturally emerge from the world that's been built? Are the magical elements consistent across different contexts? Normally, these are my benchmarks. But with this book, sticking to this framework just doesn't do it justice. If I did, it'd probably end up with a one-star rating in this department. And that would be missing the point entirely.

“Cats are assholes. I get it. But do you know why people like cats, despite their asshole-ness? It’s because they don’t f*cking talk. If they did, and they were all like you, they’d all be extinct because we’d have killed you all by now.”

This book throws conventional world-building out the window. It's not about coherence or predictability - it's about embracing the ridiculous. And this is where it shines. The unpredictability, the over-the-top weapons and magic, the ludicrous skills - they're not meant to be balanced or make sense in a traditional way. That chaos is the heart of its charm.

The world here is, frankly, fantastic in its absurdity. Stats, levels, and experience points seem to be handed out with no rhyme or reason. The powers, weapons, and the world itself are bonkers. Fire-spitting llamas, a magic cat armed with magic missiles, Carl's inexplicably powerful bare feet - it's all part of the wild ride. And that's exactly why I found it so captivating. It's a world where the usual rules don't apply, and that's what makes it such a blast

Characterisation: 4.5/5
How can one not start a section on characters with Princess Donut - i.e. Carl’s pet cat turned sidekick. She is flipping amazing. And I'm not even the biggest cat fan. Perhaps that's why I loved her so much. She’s not just a sidekick; she's a character in her own right, with a distinct personality that provides a perfect foil to Carl. Her sarcastic remarks and magical abilities add a layer of humor and unpredictability to the story. She also "literally" develops as a character. Great stuff.

Princess Donut

Carl, our protagonist, stands out with his blend of pragmatism and wit. He’s not your typical hero; he’s more of an everyman thrust into extraordinary situations. What makes Carl so compelling is his evolution throughout the story. He starts as someone who seems like he might be out of his depth, but as the challenges ramp up, so does his ingenuity, resilience, and humor. This growth feels organic and is one of the book's strengths in character development.

“Goddammit Donut!”

My only slight qualm is the side characters. I guess like a video game, many of the others feel like generated NPC's to me. Sure some of them have some interesting back stories, but they felt a little flat to me. Perhaps that's the risk of making a single POV story.

Prose: 4.5/5
When it comes to the prose of "Dungeon Crawler Carl," the term 'prose' itself feels somewhat misaligned. It suggests a formality that doesn't quite fit Matt Dinniman's style in this book. His writing is more functional, infused with a touch of the profane and the absurd. It's not the epitome of highbrow wit, and it's clear that this style might not align with everyone's sense of humor. However, it's undeniably inventive, creative, and, most importantly, fun.

“New achievement! You’ve killed an armed mob with your bare f*cking hands! Holy crap, dude. That’s kinda f*cked up. Reward: You’ve received a Bronze Weapon Box!”

The humor in Dinniman's prose is likely to be divisive among readers. In fact, how you react to the humor can be a great indicator of whether this book is for you. If the first 50 pages or the initial 1-2 hours of the audiobook don't draw a laugh from you, this might not be your cup of tea. For me, while the humor didn't reach the clever heights of some of my favorite humorists, it certainly inspired a kind of manic, unbridled, joyful sense of fun.

So. The writing style aligns perfectly with the book's tone and content, though I'd be the first to admit that it doesn't stand out for lyrical elegance. Yet, in the context of this story, that's perfectly fine. Dinniman's ‘prose’ drives the fun, offbeat nature of the narrative effectively, even if it doesn't strive for poetic beauty.

Enjoyment: 5/5
If you've picked up on anything from my review, it's probably clear that I had a total blast with Dungeon Crawler Carl. I think a major part of that was the surprise factor. I'm all about the deep, engaging reads, but finding a book that's as fun as a great video game session or a laugh-out-loud comedy flick? That's rare for me - although maybe not rare in the Progression Fantasy genre. And this book nailed it. It turned out to be a rip-roaring, addictive read.

I get that this might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for the highbrow fantasy/sci-fi/literature crowd. And hey, I usually hang out in that crowd too (although maybe not the literature one as much). But this book? It was the perfect breather I needed. A great way to shake things up between those big, heavy fantasy epics I usually dive into. As I'm lining up to tackle series like Malazan and other massive tomes this year, this series might well be the light-hearted detour I need to break them up.

In short, this book is for those times when you're looking for something different. Something less about deep thinking and more about just kicking back and having a good time. It's a reminder that diving into a wild, fun story can be just as satisfying as getting lost in more serious, intricate plots.

Final Rating: 4.8/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Dungeon Crawler Carl:
Book 1. The Shadow of What Was Lost

My favourite books of 2024 in preferential order
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕:
1. The Way of Kings - (My Review)
2. Dungeon Crawler Carl

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗:
…
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑:
3. The Poppy War
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑:
...

This book whispered sweet nothings to my soul. I tore through it like a fat man at an all you can eat buffet with 5 minutes til closing. The banter between Donut and Carl is hilarious, and the action and snark is top notch. Goddamnit Dinniman.

It's very well done, but I did not like it
This book is very well written. Matt Dinniman is an amazing writer.
But this book Dungeon Crawler Carl made me feel bad. I was impressed by the craft but I was on the verge of quitting all the way through. Now I'm done and I can say that almost every aspect of this book is masterful, but Had I never started it I might be a slightly happier person.
This alien invasion/ post apocalypse/ LitRPG/ horror-comedy is intense, and brutal, and hard to stomach. The terror, agonizing deaths, implied rape, cannibalism, baby killing, and genocide of all human life on earth was not lightened by a few clever one liners and zippy jokes. The gross out factor is high.
Matt Dinniman doesn't just kill his characters, he breaks and destroys them. He makes you watch it in detail. He twists the knife. and then he tells a joke about it. That he does this all very skillfully almost makes it worse.
Thanks, but no. I'm done with this series and I'm done with this author.

How can we focus on surviving when we have all that other stuff to deal with?

This series protagonists are hand to hand fighter with demolition expertise or that's what he will eventually become, if his race and class change don't change his course too much, and a snobby talking cat who is a stereotype of a spoiled princess, and she won an absurd number of pageants to back it up.
I love Dungeon Crawler Carl, I love Matt he is a really good writer, and he is outside of the box, kind of, i am not sure how many people will do the same as he does, his incel hippie vegan and so on real world jokes are really funny, and those incel guys are really losers, one of them actually threatened to kill his family because he made a goblin in this very book an incel 🤣
Oh and btw fun fact i learned from kindle dictionary the word INCEL, is actually woman made!
a queer woman first used this word in her memoires because it was very hard for her to get with someone or something like that.

What made me not give this novel as high a rating as i initially intended is this, the combat system, the crafting system, so far the major combat plays at being great and intricate and exciting, when it really is not, i feel people are probably as confused as me by all the building they don't realize how sh*tty the fight scenes are in fact!

so yeah somehow this literally became the weakest combat i saw in any litrpg, let's build a fort, and poke the boss with spears hiding under it, it's so silly and the fight was so easy.
let's build MOAB and roll down bombs on the boss chasing us, now i am glad he didn't let them get experience from this boss, because if they became OP, it would have fallen into the same issue most litrpgs have, and yeah i don't think Carl and princess donut are OP, they are really vulnerable characters.

so the crafting and the mazes need to be more clear for me to ever give this a better rating, because i really do feel they are being explained in more words than they should be, and just confusing us more lol

I think this is the last LITRPG for me till the end of the year, let's see if i stand my ground this time, but i really need to finish a few of my open books.

The Good news is the next book has clowns and dead hookers in it.

"Goddammit, Donut!"

This Dungeon Crawl is hilarious. The Plot is not new: Extraterrestrial beings transform Earth in a giant, underground dungeon. If you make it to the top..., well in this case to the bottom, you survive or you just die in the process of getting there.
But this Dungeon Crawl is not about killing, it's about killing big and getting views. I loved every bit of it. Carl, the MC, trying to get through the dungeon alive and Princess Donut, his view-and-follower-addicted ex girlfriend's cat just make a hilarious duo.

If you like dungeon crawls and are open to a different, comical approach, then this is your go-to book!

This was really fun! The world building was absolutely amazing. The characters, the narration, the plot- everything about this is fantastic. I was never bored. Loved the humour.

A must read for any dystopian survival fantasy/RPG fans. All hail Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk.

I loved everything about this book. I mean, what's not to love. A likable MC with a lovable cat sidekick who thinks she's actually the MC. A post-apocalyptic dungeon crawling with monsters. An alien corporation pulling the strings in the background. It was action-packed, hilarious, fast-paced, and thoughtful.

There's little doubt that this is my favorite March read. If you're looking for a fun and quick fantasy novel that breaks convention and feels like you're watching a video game or ttrpg come to life, pick up this book. You're going to love it!

Also! Soundbooth Theater did an amazing job on the audiobook. In fact, it might be the best audiobook I've ever listened to.

Goddamnit Donut, you captured my heart. I read the book while listening to the audiobook at the same time which I highly recommended because this audiobook is spectacular. At first I thought this was a fully cast production, but nope, just one guy voice-acting all the parts. Super-fun experience especially for fans of RPGs/computer gaming.

Completely absurd, but very entertaining 😀👍

I can understand why a lot of people like this but it definitely wasn't for me.

Most of humanity is wiped out by aliens who plan to harvest Earth's minerals. The handful that remains have been thrown into a televised death game (e.g. The Running Man, The Hunger Games, etc) where everything is like a hack & slash dungeon crawl RPG (e.g. Diablo or Torchlight). If you survive to the 18th level of the dungeon then you win.

Can Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat (who can now talk) survive?

This is litRPG. It leans super hard on that. That means everything is like a videogame. And that's where it lost me. Because, at least in the parts that I could force myself through, the book gives you stereotypical dungeon crawl RPG .... and not exactly very much else.

That means when Carl does stuff, he often gets Achievements, just like in a videogame.

New achievement! Trailblazing Crazy Cat Lady.
You are the first crawler to have entered to the World Dungeon accompanied by a cat. You must really love that thing. Too bad you’re both probably going to die a horrible death at any moment. Or maybe not. Look at the prize you just received!
Reward: You’ve received a Legendary Pet Box!

New achievement! Early Adopter.
You are one of the first 5,000 Crawlers to enter a new World Dungeon. Sucker.
Reward: You’ve received a Silver Adventurer Box!

New achievement! Empty pockets.
You didn’t bring any supplies. None. You know you still gotta eat, right?
Reward: You’ve received a Bronze Adventurer Box!

This snippet is pretty much the litmus test for whether you'd like this. Did that humor make you laugh? Do you want to read an entire book of dated, edgy humor like in the Borderlands videogame? Did you like that everything is gamified and think reading about those systems is super-duper fun?

This means that the first 100 pages at least -- that's all I could force myself to read -- is like reading the novelization of a videogame with full explanation of its mechanics. How characters have attributes and skills, how to gain XP, how leveling works.

Clearly a lot of people answer yes. But for me, it's a hard no.

Obviously lots of people like this but...I don't really get it. The target audience surely knows all this -- it is bog standard generic RPG stuff -- and is bored? The author isn't even doing anything interesting with it -- like how Brandon Sanderson builds interesting magical systems and interesting worlds. This is literally cut & paste generic fantasy RPG. And those not in the target audience are definitely not going to be interested.

Outside of all the videogame mechanic infodumping....there was just zero in the first 100 pages to suck me in. Carl has no personality to speak of. There's not exactly any interesting or witty dialogue.

The book -- like many of its kind -- is devoid of anything like real human emotion. I mean: you can't even really do that with this kind of book. Because it would be all about how Carl has PTSD from being forced to murder people and the soul-crushing loneliness of realising that everyone he has ever known is dead and he'll likely die alone too.

But that's not how this kind of story goes, so all of that gets swept under the rug. Carl murders some goblins -- literally with his bare feet -- and it is played for laughs.

Worth it.

I put this off for a long long time because I thought for sure the whole entertainment, broadcast, system that Dinniman put together would have been utterly annoying. And I was right, but it everything fits together so well.

When I first saw that the system was a “funny” one I made a snide comment about how original it was and it always gets so old so fast. It didn’t. It just got better and better and even more than that, it was explained well.

We are supposed to hate the system and everything that’s behind it, and we do, but it somehow all ends up as a riveting read as well.

The cat is such a cat as well and I wouldn’t have Princess Donut any other way, a character that grows on you through the book. Most side characters leave a mark on the story that remains as well.

Don’t sleep on this.

This LitRPG is an apocalypse system-upgrade type. I have no idea if that's actually a thing, though it does distinguish it from isekai. I suppose? Anyway, Carl is present when the Earth is converted by murdering anyone inside—including inside vehicles. Aliens come Douglas Adams-like claiming the planet because we didn't file any injunctions in the galactic court (or something). But it turns out that the mineral thing used as an excuse isn't the point.

The point is a giant Dungeon-based reality show where all the survivors get to do an extended dungeon crawl gaining levels and loot and entertaining the masses. Carl was out trying to retrieve his errant cat, Donut. Er. Princess Donut, an award-winning Persian with personality for days. And one of the first things that happens is a special pet treat that upgrades Donut with tons of stat boosts and the ability to talk. And it gets wackier from there. Which is hard to believe, I know.

And as absurd as it sounds (yes, I know it sounds ginormously absurd), Dinniman is a comedic genius. I laughed out loud so much Melissa started asking questions. Seriously, Carl is the perfect straight man and any fastballs that get past Donut are served by the snarky system. I've highlighted a lot of the system messages so you should check those out if you want a feel for the tone.

I laughed entirely too much not to give this five stars. I was hugely entertained. I really hope Dinniman can keep this up over the whole series. There's not even a hint of strain so far.

A note about Chaste: Even though Carl is running around barefoot and in boxers (what do you wear in the middle of the night while chasing your cat?), there's no room for shenanigans. So there are none. I consider it pretty chaste as a result.

Hilarious beginning to this super popular LITRPG series, and a great palate cleanser after some heavier reads.

As a long term RPG-fan (Final Fantasy series in particular), I’ve been curious about LITRPG for a while. Dungeon Crawler Carl has been making the rounds for a while, so I grabbed the audio for a long drive I had and devoured almost the entire thing in one go.

The writing is the perfect blend between sarcasm, humour, and adrenaline-fuelled fights, and I can’t help but root for Carl and Princess Donut.

This is a “standard” dungeon style maze crossed with The Hunger Games in terms of followers, interviewers, and patrons, plus an almost Cradle-like “other” that’s really in control of everything - it’s all rolled into one in a well-balanced way.

DCC doesn’t take itself too seriously, and there are plenty of anecdotes and callbacks to various pop culture references, people, and places, which give the whole serious a hugely entertaining, light-hearted feel.

Even though some of the stats went over my head somewhat, I was gripped by Carl’s bemusem*nt and plight, and his “everyman” character. There are levels, skills, points, the whole shebang, and a plethora of NPCs (both enemies and non-combatants) that are often a lot more than what they seem.

Much like the 18-level maze that this series is set in, there is clearly a lot of depth bubbling under the surface. We’re able to glimpse just enough to know there are big things working behind-the-scenes, and I can’t wait to discover what makes this whole thing tick, and how it’ll all end.

It’s been mentioned before, but I agree that the narration was absolutely **outstanding** and made me snort laugh several times with some of the deliveries. The achievements alone were 10/10 for creativity.

A brilliantly fun foray into LITRPG that I would recommend!

Me ha encantado. ¡Es una pasada!
¿Frikada? Muy grande. ¿Diversión? Al 100%. ¿Original? Hell yeah!

Personajes chulísimos, con carisma (29 puntos concretamente) y mucha imaginación. Subtramas que se mezclan con el arco principal y un no parar de pasar cosas. Realmente mantiene la acción prácticamente todo el rato y no es fácil porque no es especialmente corto.

En resumen:

¡Nuevo género desbloqueado! LitRPG. Es una mezcla entre libro y juego pero no de los de "elige tu propia aventura" sino que es un libro libro en el que los personajes es como si estuvieran en un juego. No pongas esa cara, casi seguro que ya has leído algo parecido a esto si has leído Ready Player One, lo que pasa es que aquí es MUCHO más explícito: puntos de atributos, cajas de botín, subir de nivel, etc... ¡Muy original!

Really really fun.

This book wasn't for me. It is funny and the premise is quite original, but those two elements alone don't make a complete story for this reader. For that, you need strong characters with good, clear motivations to sit alongside an intriguing and well-paced plot to carry you through the story. Even in comedies, these things are fundamental to me and both are things that I thought were lacking in this book.

This story is actually just a series of events that exist only to set up the next joke/weird/shocking thing. It, therefore, feels like the author is using a story to give his jokes a world to exist in, rather than using jokes to enrich his story and take it to new heights. Depending on your taste in books, this is where your mileage may vary. For me, I read books for the stories and am of the firm opinion that books should put the story first above everything else. If however, you are here for the laughs then you may enjoy this a lot more than I did.

Overall, I would probably give this book just 2-stars, but I'm rounding up to account for my own personal tastes getting in the way.

4.75/5

One of the funniest book I've ever read

Unique take on the post apocalyptic litRPG book with humour on a whole another level. Almost all the jokes landed perfectly for me. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions.

Also, the audiobook narration by Jeff Hays was too damn good. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with Audible for the rest of the series...

4/5

Dungeon Crawler Carl is an incredibly fun and hilarious story full of all manner of outlandish, wild and zany escapades. It’s likely not to be a book for everyone, but if you’re a fan of video games or crazy absurd settings and stories; then this book is for you. It’s rare for a book to make me smirk at something funny. It’s even rarer for it to make me audibly laugh, which this did, lots and lots of times. The plot and the characters are both so absurd, you forget that you’re just rolling with it and you actually become invested in the craziness.

It’s not massively complex with sophisticated characters or deeply layered storylines, though it does touch briefly on themes such as capitalism and consumerism if that’s of interest to you. That’s not a criticism though, not every Sci-Fi Fantasy needs to be deeply layered. Sometimes you just want to escape into a good book and just forget the world and enjoy some camp entertainment, which is exactly what this book is. It feels very Rick and Morty meets Ready Player One. In many respects, I think it does a lot of things better than Ready Player One and I might just prefer it. I love a pop culture reference but RP1 did go a little overboard on them; whereas in Dungeon Crawler Carl, they’re more reigned in. Also, anytime that Riverdale is referenced for the absurdity that it is, is going to get a good reaction from me.

Carl’s a great protagonist, who is brilliantly funny in his own right but he’s outshone by his hilarious cat, Princess Donut. As a cat dad myself, I found much to relate to with both Carl and Donut. Cats are absolute wankers but they’re brilliant. They’re mini dictators, and they drive you up the wall, but I’d do anything for my babies. Carl and Princess Donut perfectly capture the dynamic between cat and cat parent. Though I don’t think I’d want either of mine to accompany me as my backup on an intergalactic game show of life and death, one is scared of his own shadow and the other has no co-ordination and only cares for eating, sleeping and pissing outside of his litter tray just to spite me when he doesn’t get his own way, so I don’t think I’d be in good hands.

I’m a little cautious about the rest of this series. I’m a little worried about how it’s going to remain fresh and not feel repetitive as the series goes on, but going off the fanfare for the rest of the series, I think my fears might be averted. I plan to use the series as a palette cleanse in between my bigger and heavier reads; and if book #1 is any indication, they’ll be perfect for just that. I do think this series would make for a brilliant TV show, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if it ended up being produced.

Who knew chasing his ex-girlfriend’s fancy Persian cat (Princess Donut) outside in the cold would save Carl’s life? 🐱

Due to a mining claim by an alien race, all the buildings on earth vanishes below the surface, killing anyone inside instantly. The only way to survive is to fight in a newly formed underground dungeon battling monsters and each other where each level gets harder and players can ‘level up’. Of course, this is all televised for the entertainment of a cosmic gameshow - think a whacky version of the Hunger Games mixed with Dungeons and Dragons.

Donut ends up eating a magical biscuit, boosting her up and turning her into a smooth-talking cat, relegating Carl as her bodyguard. It’s awesomely funny. 🍪

It’s not just a fun litRPG adventure - it offers critique on consumer culture and capitalism. Narratives and who controls them.

I am worried about later books becoming repetitive and boring, yet I have been told by trusted mutuals that it only gets better.

I picked this up as an audiobook, and I do think this is the most fun way to ingest this! I am wondering whether to pick up the rest as audiobooks instead of book format as it was just so immersive and gave the characters such a voice and personality.

Pure adrenaline fun!

Bookstagram

This was a new genre for me! I've been playing video games for 35 yrs and reading for much longer, haha, so this was a neat way to experience that game feel in a book. This story is about Carl and Donut (a cat) trying to survive while making their way through a dungeon for the entertainment of aliens who have destroyed earth. It's part Running Man (these popular death games are being broadcast to the universe), Hunger Games (benefactors can drop in supplies to their favourite contestants), Diablo (a classic dungeon crawler game that leads ever-downward and in which the character can use potions and gets magic clothing) and whatever game lets you have a talking animal as a sidekick.

It's quite unique (for me, anyway) and definitely not for everyone. If you like RPGs then you'll mostly enjoy it. Even I found it a big repetitive by the end. And that's with a fantastically amazing narrator the likes of whom I've never experienced before. One star just for Jeff Hays.

One verrry uncomfy and confusing scene aside, I had a lot of fun with this. The audiobook is just as good as everyone has said. I love LitRPG when done well and when not offensively misogynist (which I don't think this was, aside from a few nitpicks) because the feeling of coming along for the ride of a game or puzzle makes my brain very happy. Plus a talking cat is a main character. I will definitely be continuing the series.

[3.5 stars, rounded up]

r/fantasy BINGO: Survival (Hard Mode)

Believe the hype.

I'm as tough as anyone on self-published fiction and I'm too old for membership in the conceivable target audience for any serialized web fiction. I've dabbled with reading litRPG and cultivation and isekai and what not, enough to understand some of the appeal, but I still insist on judging such books by the same standard as more traditional genres.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is the real deal.

Dinniman had many years of writing and other creative arts under his belt before he started this series, and it shows. I think this is what elevates DCC: it's coming from a serious, experienced writer, with all the skill that entails in evidence on the page, and one who has a clear love of the sub-genre. It's no wonder that this is the litRPG that is making it to traditional publishing, with a print-only deal that will soon see this book in brick-and-mortar bookshops. (Have there been other pure litRPG titles that made it there first? I don't think so but please inform me if I'm wrong.)

Every chapter oozes with characterization, plot development, excellent pacing, humour, moral tension, and delicious bloody violence. There's story beyond just "the system", a failing of many attempts at litRPG for me, and the madness is treated with sincerity from a contemporary human viewpoint. There is no lack of complexity to the story elements and characters. Salient themes abound: genocidal trauma, corporate power and politics, ethics in the face of horrible circ*mstances, reality television, pet show breeding ....

The blend of chaotic, visceral fun and serious ethical issues makes this book pop. The characters are a blast, the situation is fraught, and the appeal is undeniable.

The only less positive thing I can say is that due to its serialized nature, when bound in book form it doesn't provide the same full arcs that you can expect from a traditional novel. It was still a satisfying experience, but aside from completing a dungeon level, by the end no specific story or character arc reaches completion. But that's okay because you bet I'll continue the series. Another caveat particular to the genre is that the game details pile up quickly. Characters quickly amass more skills and loot and abilities and tidbits of info than any reader can recall without a reference guide, many of them not even useable for several more books/levels, and if I didn't choose to not even try to retain any of that and trust in the author to make it relevant and memorable eventually, I would be driven mad.

This book covers levels 1 and 2 of the evolving dungeon, while subsequent volumes, according to the blurbs, appear to cover one additional level each. There are 6 books (taking the reader through dungeon level 7) out now, with the material for book 7 well in progress. The dungeon is designed to have 18 levels, although in-book we're told no one continues past level 12-13 or so. So how long will the series be? Will it ever conclude? Will it maintain its quality? We shall see.

I'm giving this 5 stars, but not rating it based on my usual criteria (out of 10). It can't be compared to typical novels, in my opinion. I wasn't sure if LitRPG would be something I'd like, but this book is just 100% pure fun, and I honestly couldn't put it down. I was told to listen to the audiobook, and it was the best audiobook narration I've listened to.

It was wild, hilarious, over the top (in the best way), and extremely addictive. I love RPGs and video games, so this brought back a certain nostalgia that felt comfortable but still brought new things to the table.

I don't have too much more to add here other than it was the fastest I've ever started a book 2 after finishing the first book.

It's a really fun read that kept me laughing throughout the book. I enjoyed the cat character, Donut, the most of all. She is now my favorite or second favorite cat in any book that I have read, the other being Mogget from Sabriel by Garth Nix.

So I just did the silliest thing I can remember in terms of my reading life...after finishing the most recent DCC release with bk 6, I just couldn't let go of the series and immediately booted up bk 1 again...within a month of finishing it the first time. And it was delightful. I had no adjustment period of getting used to a new subgenre with lit rpg or new characters or a new narrator and was just flowing with it from the start. It was a blast seeing the origins of so many relationships, skills, and spells knowing where everything goes later, especially with all the books being so absurdly fresh in my memory. The humor was even hitting harder this time around, and I definitely caught some of the subtler jokes that I missed before or that required a bit of extra context.

I'm raising my rating to 4.5 stars for a bk 1 that does an incredible job at getting everything kicked off, accomplishing a huge amount of worldbuilding and set up while keeping up the pace and narrative momentum. Carl arrives onto the page fully formed as someone who's both emotionally overwhelmed by the new horrible situation but who is practical and smart enough to navigate the circ*mstances expertly. His stubborn heroic altruistic streak, good heart, and biting anger at injustice and cruelty all make him a character I've come to root so much for. Watching him and Donut grow closer together through their early travails is also so heartwarming, as they learn how to be more like equal companions rather than just an owner and their pet. Donut is just so precious, being so wonderfully innocent and open-hearted not to mention hilarious. I'm so addicted to this series right now I'm going to have to go cold turkey soon or else I'm never going to be able to read anything else.

Original Review:
This was a cool change of pace for me, something that felt like a hybrid book/video game experience. I had low expectations for my first Lit RPG, especially because I've never played DnD or any other similar style of game in any format. I did it fully by audio, and Jeff Hays did so many lively voices that really brought things to life, and at the very least I felt it was going to be amusing and engaging because of that. But not too long in I found myself getting pretty invested in the story.

Things started to get grittier and darker than I was expecting, creating an interesting tonal mix with all of the humor. Not all of the jokes landed with me, but a good percentage of them did to get me chuckling. There are hints of larger worldbuilding at play that expanded the scope of the story beyond the video-game like dungeon crawl. Carl is a likable protagonist, and Princess Donut is a great sidekick. Things generally moved along at a blistering pace with a variety of interactions and enemies, so it never got bogged down in repetitive action. The reader always knows just as much as Carl does about the dungeon, so there's a continual sense of unease about the unknown rules and dangers along with a fun thrill of discovery as we learn about how everything works.

I'm onto the next one to see what completely nuts stuff is going to happen next!

Princess Donut has named your party The Royal Court of Princess Donut. Princess Donut has changed your title to Royal Bodyguard. Princess Donut has changed her title to Grand Champion Best in Dungeon."
From the point of view of “Princess Donut” -
"“It’s quite simple, really,” Donut said. “You need to assist me to this 18th level, so I can exit this hellscape and resume my rightful place as liege. I am assuming this rat creature won’t be able to travel with us,” she lifted her paw and pointed it at me, “so you have been promoted from manservant to bodyguard. Congratulations, Carl.”
From Carl’s p.o.v. –
"This game, this terrible, cruel game left scars that spanned centuries. I thought of the cheering crowds, watching this all from the safety of their homes. You will not break me. f*ck you all. You will not break me."
If you have ever played Dungeons & Dragons; if you have ever done a “dungeon crawl;” the premise of this adventure will feel quite familiar. What gives author Dinniman extra points are:
His imagination;
The backstory;
His sense of humor;
The pace of the action; and,
The world building. Aliens come to Earth. We learn (as does Carl) that they are here to mine the Earth for its rare minerals. But wait! There is more. They are doing so in a way that Earth’s human population is drastically reduced. The remaining fraction of 1 % find themselves “invited” to take shelter below ground. They learn subsequently that they must survive (as best they can) a multi-level maze filled with traps and monsters. For each “success” they receive greater powers and/or equipment. It isn’t long before they learn that this “challenge” is being broadcast galaxy-wide to all intelligent species who are as interested in it as many were to the show “Survivor.” Carl isn’t the best prepared for this – finding himself with his (ex?) girlfriend’s cat (Donut) as they enter. Among the things that Carl must cope with are: Donut may be smarter than he is; Donut can talk; and Carl was surprised and left without his pants or shoes. All will be explained.
Here are a few examples:
"A few more achievements popped up, all concerning us defeating the boss. Killing a borough boss. Killing a borough boss with a mixed group. Killing a borough boss in under 10 minutes. Killing a borough boss with more than 10 minions. None of the achievements offered any good loot except the silver boss box."
"They were giving us these incredible upgrades, but I also knew the monsters were going to keep pace with our progress. And while I felt overpowered, a part of me feared I was actually falling behind."
"“I thought this was the plan.” “Like I said, it’s part of it, but it’s not all of it. I can’t tell you the rest,” I said, pointing up at the ceiling, which had become the universal gesture for “The assholes are listening.” Since this scheme involved using a dungeon exploit, I wanted to keep it in my head. Even Donut didn’t know the full extent. Mordecai told us that the viewers couldn’t see our private chats, but Borant and the dungeon AI could. I didn’t want to risk them changing the rules on us at the last second."

Author Dinniman has jumped right into this LitRPG genre with panache and abandon. This is a fun sprint that has a lot of threads to it (even if it lacks any serious substance).

Read to be diverted and you may sign up for the series.

2.5/5

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!
You have received an extra half-star rating for having an awesome pet! You successfully wrote a pet character that made the reader laugh out loud! Reward? It's better than a 2 star!

*cough* So yeah, the .5 star is for Mongo, who might be my favorite character in the book.

This book was a wild ride! I don't have a ton of experience with LitRPG style books at this point, but I think Matt Dinniman's version was a fantastic representation of how to handle the leveled video game style storytelling in a way that is incredibly engaging and character-driven.

Carl and Donut are a delightfully contrasted pair of characters leading us on a merry and dangerous dungeon crawl in a televised post-apocalyptic death match. Carl serves as the steady backbone of the story, also growing more backbone of his own the further in we go. Princess Donut, his cat, is a bratty fluffball who has just enough endearing quotes to keep her from landing in my "hated characters" list. We'll see if that relationship improves when and if I continue the series.

The characterization of the entire cast, both crawlers, NPCs, and other, is colorful, to say the least. It is clear from the opening pages that Dinniman was having a blast designing the crew. The other thing I loved about this book was how much of a nostalgic circus ride it was for those of us with video gaming history, especially of the dungeon crawling variety.

The humor in this book, from my perspective, takes two distinct paths. One is the bickering, nostalgic quips, and general nerdy one-liners that had me laughing out loud. The second was one of the reasons I rated the book lower than I wanted to when I started the story. The amount of gross sexual humor in this book kept pulling me away from the characters and the rest of the humor that I actually found really hilarious. For me, it definitely crossed the line into gratuitous.

Jeff Hayes' performance in this audiobook was absolutely stellar. I was amazed at how good his performance was. Seriously amazing. I definitely understand why it's a major selling point of this series. I'm torn with this book, because I really loved so many aspects of it, but the sexual humor really crossed some lines for me and pulled me out of the story repeatedly. I'm not sure if I will continue the series yet.

In conclusion, Mongo is fabulous.

DNF at 18% 2.5 hours in. It’s so stupid. May be good for 10 or 12 year olds. I don’t know.

I really tried to make it through this one but gave it up around 80% in. It’s written for a very specific audience- mainly guys who like DnD, fighting, and weird sex stuff.