This book is certainly one of the most original stories I've ever read. Carl and his cat Donut are accidentally thrown into a real life LITRPG and he has to make it through all the levels of the dungeon. It's violent, but also at the same time, tongue in cheek. I was most impressed with Donut, of course. And poor Carl had to do all this without pants.
Thank you to Ace for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

I had a great time reading this! Wasn’t expecting to get so engrossed, but it was a ton of fun! The story was very entertaining and the characters were great. I think anybody that enjoys video games would be into this series. It would also appeal to fans of Ready Player One.

Getting into this series rewired my brain chemistry, and I went through a deep and intense rabbit hole. All I read was Dungeon Crawler Carl. I finished the published books, immediately became subscribed to Matt's patreon, and read the next book in bits and pieces through posts. The only thing I wanted to read was more Carl and Donut. Yes, I suggested this to anyone around me I thought would like it. People I didn't think would like it. The illiterate. Anyone and everyone was suggested this book.

Read if you like:

Science fiction
Video games
Reality TV
Dark humor
Action
Adventure

My thoughts:

Dungeon Crawler Carl is everything I didn’t know I was looking for in a book. It’s seriously fun, fast-paced, and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Don’t let that fool you though, it’s so much more than that.

First, I loved the format of this book. The dungeon is part video game, part reality TV show and it worked so well. There are status updates and achievements, loot boxes and levels up. I loved the sense of humor woven throughout all of these things. The game has a built in AI that provides all the updates and achievements and it’s absolutely hilarious. I won’t spoil anything but let’s just say that the AI has a thing for Carl, one part of his anatomy in particular.

The AI isn’t the only hilarious things about the book. Carl and Princess Donut definitely get that distinction. (Yes, Princess Donut is a cat. It’s great.) Carl has such a twisted sense of humor and I loved it. Donut, on the other hand, wasn’t necessarily trying to be funny, it just happened. The situations these two got into made for some laugh out loud moments.

That’s not to say that Dungeon Crawler Carl is all fun and games. As the story progresses and Carl begins to learn more about the dungeon and it’s origins, things take a darker turn that I foresee playing a big role in future books. There is much more to the dungeon and the game and I’m very curious to see where that part of the story is going.

I’m also eager to see how the dungeon changes Carl. As they get deeper, Carl starts to see what it takes to survive and how it changes people, even going so far as to make them turn on each other. Carl has a kind heart underneath his rough exterior and I hope he doesn’t lose that over the course of the series.

Overall, Dungeon Crawler Carl is one of those books that you just need to experience for yourself. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before and I am eager to dive into book two.

TL;DR

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a must-read for everyone. It’s a truly unique story that will capture your attention (and your heart) from start to finish. Carl and Princess Donut are two of the strangest characters and you won’t be able stop thinking about them. This series has serious potential and I can’t wait to see where it takes these two.

Well this was fun! Carl and Princess Donut have to try to survive in a game they never wanted to be in. I had so much fun reading the book, Donut had me laughing so hard! Definitely going to continue with this series.

Y'all, this book totally blew me away and hit all the right nerdy spots! Seriously, why didn't I read it sooner?! I'm always here for an underdog, and Carl is hands-down the best. His banter with Donut is hilarious, and their antics are just wild. I absolutely love the whole concept of this story, and I'm beyond excited to binge the rest of the series!

What a fun romp of a book and an introduction to the universe Dinniman has built. He writes with witticisms that are not groan-worthy. The pace is fast and the characters are varied. I can see why this series has become such a hit. It is an interesting take on modern day social media and how it can feel like it is effecting your whole life, and for Carl it is.

DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL is not the kind of book I usually pick up, but I have to say, I really enjoyed it! I was totally enthralled in the beginning, a little less interested in the middle with the explanation of all the creatures and how Carl and Donut were going to kill them, and then, when things were getting really interesting, it ended! I can see why people binge this whole series with a cliffhanger ending like that.

Carl is such a likeable, standup character, and I immediately fell in love with Donut. Their whole dynamic is adorable. The storyline is incredibly unique, and absolutely bonkers, and every time I started wondering how or why something was happening, Matt Dinniman provided a (crazy yet plausible) answer.

I am probably not the target audience for this book, but I’ll still continue the series after a short break - I see the 8th book is publishing this fall. There are so many things that could happen as the series progresses and I’m hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to read an electronic copy of DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL in exchange for my honest opinion.

I first heard of this book from Cari can read’s YouTube channel about a week before I was given the opportunity to obtain an ARC. The serendipity of this made the book even better!

I’m usually a big fan of books with a whole group of MCs but the writing gave me enough banter just between Princess Donut and Carl. This is reminiscent of an RPG fantasy game, so imagine that with humor that is from people from a different world making the wildest commentary about earthly things. And on that note the game’s AI commentary/quips is so out there it made me chuckle once or twice.

The plot was zany and eccentric which was perfect for the writing style. A very fun read. An easy read, with a simple plot that has enough intrigue it’s not stupid. Highly recommend this!

I think the audiobook would be top tier of this!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I enjoyed this book Dinniman has created an intriguing scenario for the end of our world and populated it with wildly imaginative characters. Our heroes include Carl, a pretty capable guy fighting for his life without shoes or pants, and his cheating girlfriend's prize winning cat. Once Princess Donut is able to speak, she has lots to say, and provides much of the humor this game fantasy.

I enjoyed this. It's a departure from my more serious reading. I tend to go for literary novels, historical novels, more hard SF and nonfiction. Years ago, I had a SF/fantasy phase, and this one made me think of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series, which I loved. This one has plenty of action and commentary on modern society's greed and exploitation, but the action definitely dominates.

I might pick up one of the sequels, but I'm not dying to find out what happens next. I expect it's more of the same.

Marked this as unfinished at 29%.

This book is in more of a niche genre, and I don't fall into the target demographic. I feel as if it's more suited to a younger generation, since it's centered around RPG, gaming and reality TV. I have never enjoyed any of those things. It is well-written and the pacing moves along at a rapid clip. The content is what I disliked.

I had also downloaded the sequels. Since I saw from reviews that the content of the sequels is the same as book one, I won't be rating them.

I wish that things had worked out!

Part Hunger Games, part Survivor, part first-person RPG, part Magic the Gathering, part D&D, all with a splash of aliens, talking cats, and just plain entertainment, this book is quite the ride!

It's really difficult to fully explain this book in just one or two sentences. I've tried, but you can't fully describe everything in just a few words. There's so much going on. Tons of humor, lots of action, and a cat with a typical cat-itude, this was fun from the start and didn't let go. There were a couple of parts that were a little crude, limiting who I can share this with, but for those who are looking for a good unique ride, this is it.

Can't wait to pick up the next installment and see where the next level takes our barefooted hero and his feline companion!

I loved this book. Carl and Donut are fantastic characters and I liked watching their relationship evolve as they progressed through the dungeon. I appreciated the humor throughout because it was a nice offset to their bleak environment. The AI is a fantastic and chaos inducing addition to the story.

This was certainly a romp. Not the most sophisticated thing I’ve ever read, but hilarious at times. Donut is truly the star of this book. I don’t know if I’d have continued without the banter between Carl and Donut.

This. Was. So. FUN!!

I had no idea what was going to happen from page to late but I found myself laughing, smiling, and generally having a great time. I recommend this book/series ALL THE TIME. It's such an easy sell with wide appeal, it's a great recommendation for adults new to reading and also people who love things like Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms, ect.

This was very different for me but I did like it a lot. It was like reading a really interesting DND campaign. My only qualm was that it felt a little juvenile at times but I think that is my preferences for what a fantasy/sci fi book usually is. But I am glad I did get to read it I found it very humorous and enjoyable. I will definitely be recommending it to my friends.

🐈‍⬛ WOW. What would you do if Earth turned into a survival game show overnight? Would you take your chances as a dungeon crawler? For our protagonist, it's not a choice—his entire life, and humanity as he knew it, is gone. His only shot at survival? Make it through the chaotic, dangerous, and absurdly hilarious levels of the dungeon. And once I started Dungeon Crawler Carl, I couldn't do anything but read.

🐈‍⬛ This was my first LitRPG adventure, and I wasn’t sure if it would have enough depth to satisfy my emotional cravings—but it blew me away. I devoured every moment. The game mechanics were clever and genuinely fun, and the Syndicate’s commentary? Sharp, satirical, and laugh-out-loud funny. Princess Donut is everything—sassy, dramatic, and iconic. Her dynamic with Carl is gold: she’s the high-strung queen to his sarcastic, reluctant hero.

🐈‍⬛ The writing is next-level genius. One moment you're laughing, the next you're tense, then you're laughing again because it's just so damn absurd and good. Dinniman somehow makes a completely bonkers premise feel real, and honestly, a little too close to home. This story is a masterclass in satire, as the story takes jabs at power structures, media manipulation, and our own meandering capitalist hellscape. It’s as much a political comedy as it is a pulse-pounding adventure. I feel like Carl most days—lost, angry, and waiting for a loot box from a sponsor.

🐈‍⬛ I know this is a series I’ll binge with wild devotion and mourn when it ends. I’ve never been more ready to escape.

For Fans Of:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Murderbot Diaries
Ready Player One
Becky Chambers
Borderlands (video game)
Squid Game

Major Tropes & Themes:
LitRPG, dystopian sci-fi/fantasy
dark comedy, absurdist satire
underdogs vs. the system
unlikely allies
corporate exploitation & dystopia
hard-hitting social commentary

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars—or more if I could. This is going straight into my personal loot box. You can pry it from my cold, dead hands. ✨

🐈‍⬛ Huge thanks to Matt Dinniman, Berkley (Ace), and NetGalley for the chance to read this absolute banger of a book. I’ll be recommending this to just about everyone I know, on retail sites, and on Instagram ASAP!

TL;DR

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a wholly unexpected book that blurs the line between science fiction and fantasy. Carl and Princess Donut made me laugh and brought kindness to a dungeon. This book is complex, entertaining, and moving. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book, but since then the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Sometimes books require reading no matter how hard I try to avoid them. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman had been on my radar for a couple of months. It sounded interesting, but I have a huge backlog of books to get through. So, I ignored it. Yet, the title kept popping up unexpectedly in my various online doings. One day, I was at Barnes and Noble and saw the pink foil spine with gold lettering. It definitely stood out from the other book spines. I had some time to kill before picking my son up; so, I opened the book. I got so engrossed I ended up being late to pick up my son. (This was still way before daycare closed; he had friends still there, and I took him to a playground to say I’m sorry.) After bringing the book home, I finished it in three days. Now, I’m a very slow reader. I like to luxuriate in a book. Finishing a book in three days means I didn’t put it down very often. Dinniman’s writing swept me up and provided exactly the kind of reading experience that I love. It is a comedic book with depth, with emotion, and it made me think deeper about the world. The day after I finished Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, I went back to Barnes & Noble and bought the second and third book. I’m hooked on this series.

Carl has just found out his girlfriend is cheating on him via Instagram. She’s on a cruise while he’s in snowy Seattle caring for her cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk. The Persian cat escaped the warmth of Carl’s apartment, forcing him to go outside. As he’s standing in the cold retrieving the cat from a tree, all human-made structures in the world are flattened by aliens. The Syndicate has come to claim mining rights on the planet Earth, and humans failed to appeal to keep their planet their own. Any human who happens to be outdoors when the Syndicate visits is given a choice: remain on their own unbothered by the aliens but also fending for themselves in a world without any infrastructure or enter the dungeon. Carl chooses the warmth of the dungeon entrance. Upon entering, he and Princess Donut find themselves in a, well, a videogame dungeon brought to life. They barely survive their first encounter with goblins, but they do find the entrance to a tutorial guildhall where a non-player character (NPC) named Mordecai. It turns out Carl and Princess Donut are in the universe’s favorite reality game show, Dungeon Crawler World. Trillions of aliens are watching humanity navigate levels of the dungeon, which is filled with monsters, bosses, traps, and, of course, other humans. Survival is not likely. Thus begins Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is the opening book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. This first book focuses on the tutorial portion of the dungeon, but that doesn’t mean the stakes aren’t high. Over thirteen million humans enter the dungeon, but much fewer than that make it to the next level. Life in the dungeon is short, brutal, and televised throughout the universe. If a crawler’s death is entertaining enough, it’ll be shown in a sports highlights style summary. Survival isn’t just based on skill, though. As with any reality program, the crawlers must gain an audience for themselves to get better loot. That’s right, social media influences the game. The book is told from Carl’s perspective, and it’s a fast-paced, roller-coaster ride filled with adventure and moments of emotional impact.

Humor

Humor balances the heaviness of the over-arching narrative. Carl and Princess Donut are funny, and Dinniman’s use of video game tropes is excellent. For example, the AI that helps Carl categorize items has a foot fetish and is particularly taken with Carl’s feet. So, Carl’s loot boxes give him items with bonuses for being bare foot and for stomping on enemies. There are safehouses, tutorial halls, and, even, bathrooms set throughout the levels to keep the game interesting. The alien audience doesn’t want to see humans eliminating bodily waste in the dungeon; yet humans do. So, the AI starts imparting punishments for those who fail to use the restrooms.

Overall, the humor in this book is sophomoric at best. It’s simplistic, crude, hilarious, and sometimes pushed to a grotesque limit. It’ll appeal to fans of South Park. For readers who enjoy that type of humor, it is funny. For example, one of the first monsters that Carl and Princess Donut meet is a meth-dealing llama who can spit lava. Another is that Carl receives an award for entering the dungeon with no pants on. Much like the exploration of themes, the humor is a bit shallow and wide-ranging. As the trainer Mordecai says on page 302, “Not everything will be social commentary.” Dinniman also uses humor that occasionally critiques, but, as with South Park, there’s discussion to be had about whether taking something to the grotesque limit really is critique or just causing the same harm it is attempting to lampoon. For example, there’s an interviewer with grotesquely large breasts, which can be taken as Dinniman critiquing the videogames industry’s continued use of anatomically impossible female anatomy. Based on the other aspects of the interviewer, it’s clear that the aesthetic choice fits in with the other grotesqueries of their body. So, is Dinniman drawing attention to the unrealistic portrayal of women’s bodies in videogames? Or is it just another example of science-fiction/fantasy writers needlessly commenting on women’s bodies? Each reader will have to decide for themselves.

Cruelty

Cruelty in general is a theme that Dinniman explores across the book. The world of Dungeon Crawler Carl is excessively cruel, and no one is safe. Not Carl, not the other crawlers, not the corporate sponsors, not the NPCs, and not even the showrunners. Yet this isn’t a dark book. As Carl and Princess Donut progress, they involve themselves in mini narratives simply because Carl is kind. A group of elderly individuals who happened to be outside their retirement home during the alien invasion entered the dungeon at the behest of their care workers. But these people are in no condition to fight monsters. Dementia, disability, and the frailty that comes with age mean they’re vulnerable. All the advice Carl receives is to kill them all for the experience points, which will help him survive. But Carl is a hero, not a monster; so, even at personal risk, he decides to help this group. Cruelty seems everywhere in the world now, and cruelty is the overwhelming theme surrounding Carl’s life. He, however, chooses kindness. Because, for Carl, survival is meaningless if a person becomes the monster themselves. Survival at the cost of a person’s values is not thriving; it’s not rising above the baser instincts. There must be more to life than mere survival, and helping others gives purpose to Carl’s time in the dungeon.

Media Adds to the Cruelty

Because of their successes and their involvement with others, Carl and Princess Donut get invited to media appearances. That’s right. Crawlers not only have to deal with life threatening monsters, they also must entertain. Survival depends on more than just dungeon navigating skills but also on building an audience. As a former show cat, Princess Donut shines in the media world. Dinniman’s use of media appearances is wonderful and funny, and he’s also adjusted those media appearances for the YouTube era. Not only do Carl and Princess Donut appear on the equivalent of the Late-Night Show. But they also go on a social media influencer show where cruelty is the point, and the audience of young men bask in the misery and misfortune of others. Dinniman doesn’t shy away from the dark sides of the audience’s nature. One could draw comparisons to sports fans who shout obscenities at players on the fields or start fights with other fans in the stands. Those competing seem to have their humanity removed so that they represent the other. Dinniman takes this to excess where the audience watches as a host makes contestants choose who in their party dies.

Conclusion

Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl covers a lot of ground. As is common in the fantasy/science-fiction genres, this book is an opening to a larger narrative. As such, it must set up the world, introduce and make readers care about the characters, and tell a good story to pique interest in the series. This means that several of the critiques in this story are shallow. As Carl is dealing with a timer and Dinniman’s goal is to introduce readers to his massive world, there isn’t a whole lot of time for navel gazing. After all, this series has at least 18 levels for Carl and Princess Donut to explore and survive. Don’t expect Carl to have long examinations on the cruelty of hunting down seemingly sapient creatures simply to get loot and experience. Yet the book does acknowledge that in oblique ways. With this being an opening edition, later volumes will have opportunity to explore these themes in depth. The humor keeps the tone light; the action moves the plot forward at a breakneck pace; and the insertions of video game achievements give a delightful sense of progression. But it’s Carl and Princess Donut that give the readers hope. They were thrust into a world of danger where it would be easy to lose their humanity (or feline-ity). But they don’t. Carl and Princess Donut find a way to be the best version of themselves. In a world where it’s easier to not care, to take the easy route, to put personal profit above all else, Carl and Donut decide to care. And in the face of all that cruelty, it turns out that caring is heroic.

OMG. Dungeon Crawler Carl is just SO MUCH FUN!!! I cannot even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book. I'm probably not the imagined target audience of this, and I have to admit, litrpg has never really been my thing, but something about this just hits perfectly. Characters are fun, and funny, and complicated, and the premise feels both trope-filled and wholly original - I certainly can appreciate all the callouts of things in general American society, but i certainly never imagined them playing out like this. I'm thrilled to know there are more books in the series, because this story feels so far from done. I'm really impressed with the world and character building, and I can't wait to see where Dinniman takes this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Oh my goodness. I cannot recommend this book enough. I feel like this book has changed my entire personality and I’m constantly talking about it.

This book is Yzma in cat form and Kronk making their way through an alien game show after the Earth has basically been destroyed.

I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of these. I will personally be buying physical copies for my shelves of every single book in the series.

The narrator was top tier in this also. Definitely recommend listening instead of just reading if you can.

5/5 would recommend to everyone and have already been recommending it to everyone.