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mayrasbookverse 's review for:
Dungeon Crawler Carl
by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: No
Carl never expected to become part of an alien-run intergalactic game show—but that’s exactly what happens when Earth is destroyed, and humanity is forced into a dungeon crawler that’s broadcast to the galaxy. To make matters worse, Carl enters this twisted competition while stuck in his ex-girlfriend’s sparkly Crocs, without pants, and carrying her show cat, Princess Donut—who now talks and believes she’s royalty.
This book was absurd and hilarious. The best way I can describe it is The Hunger Games meets Fortnite, but with dark comedy, video game logic, and satirical commentary on entertainment culture. I listened to this on audio, and the narration made the humor shine even more.
Princess Donut is easily my favorite part—she’s sassy, self-important, and insists on being treated like royalty. Her dynamic with Carl adds a really fun emotional layer, because she technically isn’t his cat, but you can feel how much they care for each other as the story goes on.
The dungeon itself is brutal, with endless monsters and boss fights. I originally thought the first book would cover the entire game, but they don’t even reach level 10, which means there’s so much more in the rest of the series. There’s also a reality TV layer, complete with sponsors, talk shows, and popularity rankings, making it feel like a satirical version of The Hunger Games—just as tragic in its stakes, but with a lot more absurd comedy sprinkled throughout.
Spice: No
Carl never expected to become part of an alien-run intergalactic game show—but that’s exactly what happens when Earth is destroyed, and humanity is forced into a dungeon crawler that’s broadcast to the galaxy. To make matters worse, Carl enters this twisted competition while stuck in his ex-girlfriend’s sparkly Crocs, without pants, and carrying her show cat, Princess Donut—who now talks and believes she’s royalty.
This book was absurd and hilarious. The best way I can describe it is The Hunger Games meets Fortnite, but with dark comedy, video game logic, and satirical commentary on entertainment culture. I listened to this on audio, and the narration made the humor shine even more.
Princess Donut is easily my favorite part—she’s sassy, self-important, and insists on being treated like royalty. Her dynamic with Carl adds a really fun emotional layer, because she technically isn’t his cat, but you can feel how much they care for each other as the story goes on.
The dungeon itself is brutal, with endless monsters and boss fights. I originally thought the first book would cover the entire game, but they don’t even reach level 10, which means there’s so much more in the rest of the series. There’s also a reality TV layer, complete with sponsors, talk shows, and popularity rankings, making it feel like a satirical version of The Hunger Games—just as tragic in its stakes, but with a lot more absurd comedy sprinkled throughout.