This book is chaotic, hilarious, and completely unhinged in the best way. It’s a genre of book I’d usually not read, but it was an enjoyable change of pace. The LitRPG elements are sharp, the humor lands on every page, and Carl (and Donut!) are as lovable as ever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to receive an e-ARC of this book, even after release!

Book Two is here—and gone in a flash!

I really enjoyed this sequel, especially since the first book did such a great job setting up the series. I loved getting to know more about Donut’s personality, she continues to be an hilarious character, and it was great to see the continued growth of Carl’s character too. We also finally learned more about their manager, which was very satisfying.

Without getting too spoilery, I really appreciated the character development and the deepening integration of the AI elements. We learn a lot more about the world and get some fantastic backstory—both for new characters and for a few beloved familiar ones. And Donut’s story about her and the neighborhood cat? Absolutely hilariou!!.

Around the 25% mark, I decided to switch to the audiobook, and I highly recommend going that route. The narration is excellent, and the variety of voice actors truly elevated the experience. The world-building is solid on its own, but the voices really brought it all to life.

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

I will never stop recommending these books .

This book continues to follow Carl and Princess donut as they go further into the dungeon. This book was just as good as the first and I cannot wait to keep going in the series.

5/5 stars and I would recommend to everyone!

New Achievement! Read a second 5-Star Book
The second book was just as much fun as the first - if not more.
Reward: Why do you keep asking for a reward?

If you enjoyed Book 1, this one is a no-brainer. If you didn’t? Well... I don’t know, maybe Donut will change your mind.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario somehow managed to be even more chaotic, funny, and unhinged than the first book—and I loved every second of it.

The new level is absolute madness in the best way possible. It’s like an open-world RPG cranked up to nightmare mode—with talk shows, murder mysteries and quests.
There’s a bit more emotional weight in this one, too. Some moments hit harder than expected, and I caught myself fully invested.

Carl continues to evolve in meaningful ways, but of course, once again, it’s Donut who really steals the show (and Mongo of course). I didn’t think I could love that snarky little royal floofball any more than I already did but here I am.

Matt Dinniman does it again! Carl's Doomsday Scenario is just pure, chaotic fun. The characters are nuts, the plot is completely outlandish, and the whole thing reads like an epic roleplaying game. I'd sign up in a heartbeat for Matt Dinniman to be my Dungeon Master! What really seals the deal is that touch of humanity that makes you care about Carl and root for him through all the madness.

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario

Characters 5
Setting 5
Plot 5
Themes 5
Emotional 5
Enjoyment 5

“The training levels have concluded. Now the games truly begin.”
Carl and Donut – Welcome to the Third Floor!

Characters: 5/5
Again, the new and old characters were just delightful. Such a variety of people, and monsters, and everything in between. The characters were just so fleshed out and I could tell the author had taken a lot of time designing the characters. I could see each of them as their own person. And we got to meet so many new characters in the second book. New NPC’s, and so many more NPC’s. They’re all a little less “monster” with more human attributes. They’re just regular people now living their lives, and it’s just fascinating.

Setting: 5/5
I had to change the setting from a 4 to a 5 because yes, it isn’t like a whole new world like Lord of the Rings or anything like that, but each floor of the dungeon is like its own ecosystem and just as flourished and different and fun. Each floor is just different enough to be entertaining, and I love how each floor’s theme is complete.

Plot 5/5
I mean, come on, the PLOT! It’s basically the same in all the books, right? Survive the floor and make it to the next one. BUT it’s the overall plot that comes in clutch. It’s each human surviving in any way they can with an end goal (for most of them) to just survive and just hoping to maybe take Earth back. It’s in insane look at the human condition.

Themes: 5/5
Loyalty, found family, finding purpose, friendship and trauma are just a few of the themes you’ll find in Carl’s Doomsday Scenario. Beautifully done. Heartbreaking in some, sweet, funny and fulfilling.

Emotional: 5/5
The bond between Carl and Donut is so beautiful. The interactions they have, the loyalty they have forming between them feels like it’ll last until the end of days. I love how they always end up fighting for each other and sticking up for each other and then arguing behind closed doors, and yet, even when they are upset at each other, they’ll drop everything at the drop of a hat to come to their rescue or defense.

Enjoyment: 5/5
After reading the first book, I thought to myself, oh great. They’ll start to go downhill after the first one and they’ll be good, but not as good. I was SO WRONG. This book was JUST AS ENJOYABLE as the first book and I devoured it in the same amount of time. No section of the book went down for me. Just as well written. The characters were just as great. The Crawlers and the NPC’s. So many things were added, but it all felt so organic. Now that the learning levels were over, you have quests and regular NPCs just “trying to get by.” Each character was so full of life.

I didn’t think I could love Princess Donut more…but I do! And I will riot if anything happens to Mongo.

This 2nd book in the series picks up right where the first left off, which is a relief because I needed that cliffhanger solved. It delivers the same fast-paced action as the 1st book! But now with circus clowns and vampiric floating heads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for an eARC of this book! This is my honest review.

Review of Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario is exactly the kind of sequel I didn’t know I needed until I was laughing out loud, emotionally invested, and Googling how many books are left in the series because I already need more. If Dungeon Crawler Carl sucked you in, this second installment cranks the chaos up to eleven—more action, more weirdness, and yes, somehow even more heart.

Carl and Princess Donut are back, and this time they're dropped into Over City, a level that's part post-apocalyptic wasteland, part twisted fantasy world, part Vegas fever dream—complete with undead circuses, raining sex workers, and magical mayhem. It’s unhinged in the best possible way, and the LitRPG elements (stats, quests, loot, class upgrades) are somehow even more fun this time around.

What really makes this book shine, though, is the character growth. Carl steps more confidently into the hero role, and his mix of sarcasm and moral compass makes him endlessly compelling. Donut continues to be a scene-stealer (as always), and their friendship remains the heart of the story. And shoutout to Mordecai, who levels up from quirky side character to someone with real depth and story potential.

The worldbuilding also kicks into high gear. We’re not just crawling through dungeons anymore—we’re getting glimpses of intergalactic politics, royal drama, and the cosmic horror that underpins the entire game. It adds a ton of richness without losing the fast-paced, “what-the-hell-is-happening” energy that makes this series so addictive.

Sure, some moments push the limits of believability (I mean, Carl is literally dying multiple ways at once and still kicking butt), but the story is so unapologetically bonkers that you just roll with it. Also, for a book that revels in absurdity, it handles surprisingly heavy themes—grief, trauma, neglect—with real care.

In short: it’s wild, it’s ridiculous, it’s emotionally layered, and it’s a total blast. Whether you’re here for the carnage, the comedy, or the character arcs, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario delivers. I’m already onto the next book—and slightly worried about how attached I’ve become to a talking cat and her human sidekick.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Back and saving the world, are we really in good hands? Well at least it will all end while we are laughing - the fun continues, with even more adventure than the first one!

Carl and Donut enter the third floor with their velociraptor pet and immediately must choose their race and class, gaining new skills. As they enter the Over City, they are now mixed up with people from all over the world. Old allies and foes could be anywhere. And Carl still has no pants…

Book two picks up right where book one left off. You can’t read this as a standalone but need all the world-building and backstory from book one to enjoy the rest of this series.

With villages full of shops, ruins full of monsters and an undead circus, the video game-style dungeon was different in this book but full of the same outrageous humor and epic battles with horror vibes. I enjoyed the addition of official quests within the game and Mordecai’s new role guiding them through the floor.

The partnership and connection between Carl and Donut grew steadily, balancing the story with genuine affection and reflection on what truly matters in life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley (ACE) for the ARC.

This series continues to be action packed and hilarious. Plus who doesn't enjoy sharing with your construction coworkers that you're reading a book with a character called Princess Donut?

Thank you a million times over to Netgalley and Ace Publishing for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I didn’t love this book quite as much as book one- the dead prostitutes quest/plot line didn’t really hook me for some reason. I am glad Carl and Donut showed the dead women some respect., although I wish the writing had delved a little deeper in that regard.

Although some reviewers seem to be uninterested in the rants about fight strategy, leveling up, skill-point distribution, etc., I found it really fun and entertaining! I love reading about the clever schemes Carl and Donut use to overpower the enemies. And the rest of it is like reading a video game!

I am liking the little side stories we get at the end of each book that give us a glimpse of what is going on “backstage” in the dungeon.

I will definitely be recommending this series to anyone who likes action-packed books, humorous sci-fi, video games, and/or DnD.

4.25/5

😼Carl and the amazing (ahem... QUEEN) Donut are back in the second installment of Matt Dinniman’s outrageous but breathtaking Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Just when you think things couldn't get worse for Carl, well, why did you think that? What kind of series did you think this was?! I thought the first was fun, and this was even more, if that's possible. Doomsday Scenario drops our fave duo into an undead and completely overrun nightmare city. There's raining corpses and all kinds of new villains and side quests. They need to balance building their fanbase and sponsorships and solving the puzzles and survival.

😼This sequel doesn’t suffer at all the dreaded second-book slump. We’re introduced to more about the quests in a deeper way. In expanding the video game mechanics, the world never gets boring or slow. The humor was so chef's kiss, and the satire just spoke right to my soul. Odette’s show-within-the-show was one of my favorite parts of the book. The running gags make you feel really connected to the characters and like you're "in" on the joke. It's superb. The dynamic between Carl and Donut continues to be top notch. Somehow, the relationship grows and sneaks itself right into your heart in all the action and goofiness. This book was an absolute blast! I would definitely recommend to keep going with the series if you've read the first and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next just as much!

😼 Major Tropes & Themes:

- LitRPG
- reality TV
- quests and final boss battles
- found family and party dynamics
- dark humor, satire, action
- suspense

😼You'll probably love the DCC Series if you like:

- Knives Out
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Scott Pilgrim comics
- Borderlands (video game)

5 out of 5 stars!

Big thank you to Matt Dinniman, Berkley (ACE) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Carl's Doomsday Scenario! Will share my review to Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble 💫

After finishing book one, I had to quickly start book two. I am hooked on following Carl and Princess Donut. Somehow Dinniman works in compassion, human empathy, and solidarity into this LitRPG, progressive fantasy and it works so well.

I didn't enjoy it as much as book one, so I'd give this one a 4.5 instead of a 5.

The dynamic between Carl and Donut is just fantastic to watch build and while this level dragged a bit much, I enjoyed watching them learn more about each other.

This second entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl books is just as good as the first. Normally, there is a bit of a let down when reading the second installment of a series as unique as this one, but I did not find that to be the case here at all. As I have mentioned before, I am not normally a fan of progression or LitRPG stories, but DCC has changed my mind about this genre in a big way. The adventures, quests, battles, and character interactions made this story come to life in multiple ways. The political intrigue between Carl, Donut, and the Skull Clan, along with Borant’s financial difficulties only added to the excitement and entertainment of this novel.

In addition, I am really enjoying the extra bonus material that is included at the end of the main story. I am looking forward to the way the various storylines will come together and cannot wait to continue this series! So much, in fact, that I have purchased the six currently-released hardcovers and all of the audiobooks. I look forward to continuing in the Dungeon Crawler World!

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, the second book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, takes everything that worked so well in the first book and adds to it. Readers who enjoyed book one will not be able to put this one down.

The character development in this was phenomenal and I truly hope that continues in future books. While Carl and Princess Donut are the main characters, there are a whole host of secondary characters that appear to have quite intriguing stories of their own. Readers do start to see more of that in this book but it’s clear we’re only just scratching the surface. Donut and Carl may be the most well-developed so far but even their stories still have mysteries that I would love answers to.

The story had me on the edge of my seat and it never slowed down. This one introduced a ton of new features of the dungeon such as quests, reality TV shows, new creatures, and more. I found myself hooked on the different quest storylines and I hope there are more to come on future levels. They added to the videogame feel of the book that I have come to adore!

Also, I have to mention how much I love the system AI. It’s so sassy and I never know what it’s going to say or do next. It’s obsession with Carl continues to grow and it adds a bit of hilarity to a sometimes extremely serious story.

Overall, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario is another wonderful entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I am thoroughly invested at this point and can’t wait to see what terrors await Donut and Carl in the next level of the dungeon.

TL;DR
I didn’t think it was possible but Carl’s Doomsday Scenario may be even better than Dungeon Crawler Carl. The character development was phenomenal. The plot is full of twists that I could never see coming. It’s fast-paced and extremely fun. It’s very cohesive as a series but does a great job creating and completing individual storylines. This is quickly shaping up to be a new favorite series of mine.

"Carl's Doomsday Scenario": An Intriguing and Resourceful Journey

"Carl's Doomsday Scenario" is a 3-star read that offers an engaging and unique premise, centered around a character facing his own personal doomsday.

The book truly shines with its captivating concept, diving deep into what a "doomsday scenario" means on an individual level. Readers will enjoy seeing Carl's remarkable resourcefulness as he navigates challenging situations, constantly finding clever ways to survive. The story introduces a cast of interesting secondary characters, adding a layer of human drama and showing the wide-reaching impact of the crisis. There's a clear sense of the immense scale of the "scenario," making Carl's journey feel all the more compelling.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkeley for taking me on another Carl ride!

Another fun dive into the dungeons of Carl and Princess Donut. I love these books and the shenanigans in which transpire in the levels. I'm glad we have character growth in a few characters (at least for now). Should be on a bathroom wall: (For a fun time read Dungeon Crawler Carl books)

Matt Dinniman does it again! I enjoyed this second book. It just gets more outlandish and more fun to read. I highy recommend this book (and the series so far).

Carl and Donut remain an elite pairing. I love getting more time with Mordecai and the peeks behind the scenes that Odette offers- this book really starts expanding the larger world of the story, which I think is super interesting.