Intro to the Series
When someone tells you there’s a book about a Seattle man in crocs getting stuck with his ex’s Persian cat and hunting goblins in a subterranean dungeon-based gameshow, you pick up a copy. I started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl (DCC) at the beginning of December and have blown through the first three books. The writing can be a bit clunky at times, but the story is pure dopamine, complete with loot boxes, ever changing themes, and leveling up.
For those unfamiliar, DCC comes from a genre called “Lit RPG”. Essentially, these are worlds that have an XP system (people level up to gain new powers) and everyone in the world understands is aware of it.
DCC’s inciting incident is a unique take that I never saw coming. An alien conglomerate—not unlike Douglas Adams’s Vogons—files a notice of Earth’s destruction and upon a lack of appeals from the residents, destroys every structure on the planet at the same time. Anyone unlucky enough to be inside one of said structures gets turned into a bloody meat pancake. Anyone outside is given the option to participate in Dungeon Crawler World, a televised intergalactic gameshow where they fight their way through increasingly difficult dungeon levels. I’m not sure if anyone else has done something like that, but it was a first for me, and I really enjoyed the premise.
Book 1 – Dungeon Crawler Carl (My Affiliate Link to Purchase)
The first book in this series is a whole lot of Carl raging against the alien machine. He enters the dungeon with his ex-girlfriend’s Persian cat, Princess Donut, who quickly gains sentience, giving rise to a friendship that drives these books. Clunky writing and moments of ham-fisted plot aside, the interactions between Carl and Donut are what redeem these books.
From Carl’s first moments in the dungeon, the danger of the game is real. Crawlers (those who participate in Dungeon Crawler World) die left and right emphasizing just how low the odds are that anyone makes it through all the dungeon levels alive. Each book in the series sees Carl navigating one or two floors of the dungeon, with the goal of making it to the final floor, 18. The first book covers two floors in a quick fashion which means the plot hums along like a souped-up goblin bike filled with boom juice. There were no dull moments, something I can’t say for later entries.
Additionally, the first book introduces a metric sh** ton of side characters, and they’re all memorable. Whether it’s a group of seniors that came in from an old folks home, or psychotic ex-cops, this book has them all. Wrapping up these various archetypes into a neat, gameshow format makes it easy to keep up with characters even when Carl and Donut have moved on.
Overall, I found the first book to be unique and a fast read. My biggest complaint is the writing. I know I’m throwing stones from a glass house, but I do find some of the descriptions to be overly wordy or repetitive. The dungeon system AI can also be annoying to read, which is part of the plot, but still tiresome. After reading the hundredth achievement that sounds like it was written by a twelve-year-old that just learned about online gaming, I found myself wanting to skip through them. All that said, I recommend you give this one a look and get through the first quarter of it before you pass judgment (the beginning is rough).
4/5 Stars – Well worth a read if you can get past some clunk
Book 2 – Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (My Affiliate Link to Purchase)
Starting with the good, the theme of the third floor and the subject of this book is engaging. The Over City is a once sparkling metropolis that has fallen into ruin, complete with psychotic clown monsters, bustling towns, and classist bird folk. The book also introduces the dungeon’s class system, allowing crawlers to pick their specializations and in some cases change their species entirely. This adds a fun fantasy dimension, despite Carl and Donut picking more tame class options. One of my favorite side characters, Mordecai (a past dungeon competitor), becomes a main and is forced into helping Carl and Donut survive.
The first half of this book is fast paced with an engaging side story and starts to reveal more about the aliens that created the gameshow in the first place. Dinneman’s meta humor shines and creates intriguing plot hooks that carry through the rest of the series. Additionally, Carl and Donut’s relationship is tested and it offers solid character growth for both of them.
For me, the book falls apart in its second half. The first half has Carl and Princess Donut slogging through mutant clowns, aggravated baboons, and ultra powerful NPCs. The second sees them unraveling a mystery in a city of bird folk that ends up feeling overcomplicated and boring. Having read future books, a lot of this clunk is in service of later plot points, but it’s still a difficult read. I found myself needing a break once I had finished this before moving onto the next entry in the series.
That said, while the second half is rough, the ending is engaging and raises the stakes quickly. Overall, the book was still enjoyable, I just wish it had been a little more consistent. I also love the systems Dinniman introduced and all of the lore he packed in about the creation of the gameshow. If he successfully pays off the breadcrumbs he laid in this book, my opinion might change.
3.5/5 Stars – A strong start is slowed by an overcomplicated second half
Book 3 – The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (My Affiliate Link to Purchase)
This one should be called: Dinniman’s editor needed to say “no” more. I really enjoyed the themes of the floors in the first two books. I strongly disliked the theme in Book 3. This book takes place entirely in “The Tangle” a series of interlocking subway tracks filled with monsters and NPCs living out false lives generated by the game’s AI. Dinniman created some memorable settings in the first few books, and it feels like he kneecapped himself here by confining the entirety of this book to subterranean tunnels and trains. Topping it off, the system he develops is confusing enough that there’s a note at the beginning of the book that basically says: “Yeah, this one is a lot, you don’t have to pay much attention to the logistics.”
Setting the theme aside, this book shines in its character development. By adding a new member to the party, Katia, and fleshing out some of the other top crawlers in the dungeon, the book adds depth to the world. I pushed through this book because I wanted to know more about the characters and couldn’t wait to see them clash with some of the bigger villains. Katia slots in well with Carl and Donut, providing a grounded force to their antics and balancing the party out. Her journey is satisfying and cements Dinniman’s ability to continually create new character stakes.
Unlike the second book, this entry started convoluted and weak but ended strong. The last third of this book is lightning fast with some incredible fights and set pieces. It made the slog feel worth it and left me excited to move on to the next entry. I think with some more judicious edits to the first half, the pacing could have been vastly improved. Ultimately, it felt too long. The premise is interesting enough, but grows stale quick.
3/5 – Weak start, strong finish, too much tunnel time
Closing Thoughts
So far, this series has been uneven, but I see why people are drawn to it. Dinniman is an incredible popcorn writer. Every chapter leaves you wanting just one more bite until suddenly hours have blown by. Even when the books were at their most overwritten, I still wanted to find out what happened next. Additionally, Carl, Donut, Mordecai, and Katia are all great characters. I will suffer through a lot of rough writing to find out what happens to them. I’m excited to read Book 4, but I will be taking a palette cleanser in between.
If you enjoyed this review, consider checking out my books! I am an action-adventure writer and my latest comedic sci-fi novel, One Night at Kedasi, just released at the end of last year. It follows Zip Turbine, a sarcastic ship captain, and her best friend Tom, a five-foot tall talking shrimp. They’re forced into a deadly mission to an “abandoned” theme park asteroid where they face untold peril and a secret, deadly foe.
Ashton Macaulay 