I'm really glad I decided to finally read this series! It's crazy and funny, but also touches on some dark and heavy themes that are really well interwoven with the humor.
I love how the world-building deepens with each level we reach and every new bit of lore we uncover. One of my favorite things is how every character feels unique, each with their own quirks and personality. Honestly, it seems like there’s no limit to what Matt Dinniman can do with the world of Dungeon Crawler Carl - it’s nonstop action and chaos, and you genuinely never know what’s coming next!
I want to send Princess Donut a huge Celestial box, and Carl is really growing on me too. I'm loving their character development and how they keep fighting no matter what. With Mordecai and Mongo joining the crew and the Royal Court of Princess Donut expanding, it’s so fun following them through the dungeon.
I honestly can’t wait to start book 3 - I'm dangerously close to binge-reading the whole series!
～Thank you to Berkley (Ace) and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book picked up where the first book left off, now with even more levels for Carl and Donut to get through. I have to say, I think the pacing struggled a little with this one. It was still a lot of fun, but the sections devoted to leveling up were a little repetitive at times (frankly, just like they are in games, so perhaps that was purposeful!). The comedy continued, the banter continued, and the absolutely hilarious achievements continued.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Sci-Fi Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 24, 2024
📖 384 pages

🔪 RPG but Reality
✨️ Dungeons & Dragons Vibes
🎮 Multilevel, Video Game
🐈 Pet Velociraptor + Talking Cat
‼️ Lots of Side Quests

Review: Missles, killer clowns, and Succubi! Oh my! This was a great sequel! I liked the ancient village/ruins, the rotting circus and interesting guild options for this set of dungeons! Both books had great world building but I enjoyed the deeper lore! I was also super excited that we get more from Mordecai this book!

Thank you so much Berkeley Publishing, Ace, and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

M ⚠️: language, use of g**d****, gore/violence, emetophobia,

This is an amazing continuation of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and it does not disappoint! I did not even know lit-RPG was a genre but I AM HERE FOR IT. Team Princess Donut forever!! Long may she reign!!

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Thank you Berkeley Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Entertaining but Overstuffed

The second installment of Dungeon Crawler Carl continues the wild ride with even higher stakes, weirder monsters, and more dark humor. Carl and Princess Donut are as chaotic and oddly endearing as ever, diving deeper into the dungeon while facing increasingly bizarre challenges—from undead circuses to murder-mystery rainstorms.

The worldbuilding is impressive, and the creativity on display is nonstop. The Over City setting adds a fresh layer of intrigue, and the introduction of quests brings more structure to the madness. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and fans of book one will likely enjoy this next level of absurdity.

That said, the book feels a bit overstuffed. The nonstop action and constant weirdness can become overwhelming, making it harder to connect with the characters or stay invested in the storyline. The pacing occasionally drags under the weight of side quests and detours, and some of the humor misses the mark.

Overall, it’s a fun and imaginative sequel, but it tries to do a little too much. A solid read for fans of the first book, but not quite as sharp or engaging as the debut.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Still a rollicking good time and hilarious fun.

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario expands on the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe and offers some extremely funny moments! I am constantly impressed with Matt Dinniman’s unique storytelling and ideas. Even as the plot gains layers with additional tv shows and politics the story always feels effortless to read. I have never been so constantly entertained with a series in my life. I could not stop reading!! Thank you again for publishing the most absolute gem of a series.

I'm in this adventure till the very end.

This part is even crazier! We've got nightclubs, undead circuses, zombies, tons of quests and upgrades!

There’s no room for a boring plot when you’re literally speeding through in a minecart!

Once again, I saw the whole show playing out in my head, vivid, atmospheric!

Oh, how I missed this duo! Their dynamic is everything, the banter, the support, the chaos. Truly the best found family in hell, a man, a cat, and now... a raptor. Carl is a bit more grounded now (well, as grounded as you can be when everything’s exploding), and Donut keeps growing as a character, not just a fluffy ball of rage, but a fiercely loyal and surprisingly complex queen.
And Mordecai? My favorite side character. At least when he’s sober, lol.

But it’s not just laughs, there are deeper moments too, and I especially liked Carl’s childhood memory scene. It added such a human layer to all the madness.

So glad there’s more to come!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

This was a great read! I have been hearing a lot of great reviews about this series and I look forward to reading more books from Matt Dinniman.

Carl and Donut are probably two of my most favorite characters in fiction. Ever. These books are hysterical. There's so much destruction, sarcasm, and wit. I'm impressed with Matt's imagination with the different classes, skills, monsters, subclasses, and gadgets. Each is distinctive and fun. I love the non-stop action, which keeps this book on the MOVE. There's a bit of political maneuvering in this one that we didn't see before which feels like it's going to move into more in future books. Onto the third!

The adventure continues. The author keeps writing such fast-paced and captivating storylines! As the characters and the world expands, I find myself becoming even more obsessed. Matt Dinniman is insane - in the best of ways. I do not typically read this genre but the way it is written is an absolute masterpiece. How can he be so funny?

If I thought the first book was incredible (which I did), this second book knocked me out. I am in this and I am in deep!!!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

After finishing the first book in 24 hours I had to immediately pick up this one and I devoured this just as fast as the first. I am fully submerged in this series. We picked up right where we left off and that made jumping back in that much easier. I found this was just as hilarious. Even though the training levels are completed we still have high stakes and quests that keep us deeply engaged.

Join Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they attack the third level of the galaxy’s most watched game show Dungeon Crawler World. Their antics on the first two levels have earned them a massive following, but now the training wheels are off and they must complete new Quests involving an undead circus, murdered women falling from the sky, and ancient spells.
I loved how this book expanded the Dungeon Crawler world, while still deepening Carl and Princess Donut’s relationship, and, of course, its full of crazy antics, strange creatures, and Carl’s trademark chaos. Another hit in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series!

Coming back to the series I was so excited, and rightfully so because it ended up being just as amazing as the first! Princess Donut is that girl or cat? Lol. But her humor and little remarks had me laughing throughout this entire book. And Carl, he’s such an easy character to like, and I enjoy reading his growth and heroism that he’s gained so much more of in this book. Can’t wait to read the third!

Ok I am officially a dungeon dweller, and I never want to leave.

These characters are SO great and I have an absolute blast (hah) with them. This book definitely upped the ante and the ending blew me away (hah hah)

The stakes are higher, and the comedy elements funnier. The perfect balance. And Carl's cat deserves some of the spotlight too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I started this series on a whim, and after finishing Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, the second installment of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, I can confidently say this will be my series of the year. We’re back with Carl and Donut (his ex-girlfriend’s cat—yes, really) as they descend deeper into the dungeon, and this wild ride somehow manages to stay hilarious, grounded, and completely unhinged in the best way.

Where do I even begin? The pacing mirrors the first book, and the humor is just as iconic. I’m usually either laughing, crying, or both while flipping through the pages. This one kicks off with Carl and Donut choosing their races and classes—an opening that immediately had me excited for the chaos to come.

That said, this book is very much a setup for bigger things down the line. There’s a good amount of exposition and slower moments where the action takes a backseat to world-building and lore. Coming off the first book, which was fast-paced and full of payoff, this one feels a bit more like a slow burn. It still has those fun and unexpected moments, but I’d go in knowing it’s laying the groundwork for something even bigger.

All in all, it’s a solid middle installment that builds the world and keeps things moving. Even if I wasn’t constantly dying of laughter like I was in book one, I still had a great time. And honestly—when you give a cat a dinosaur, you have to let the tension simmer. Long live Mongo... and may the rest of the Princess Posse make it out alive.

Levels 1 and 2 were just the beginning..
The adventures of our favourite trio continue as we follow main character Princess Donut and her minions, Mango and Carl as they traverse the dungeon levels on the hunt for good loot, bosses to battle and pants for Carl.
With the same wit as the first and hilarious new sticky situations that Carl, Donut and Mango find themselves in, this really was a great follow up to Dungeon Crawler Carl. I loved reading the antics this trio continually found themselves in, and I really like where this story is going. There's a lot to love in this series and I am still having a great time, and look forward to continuing.
The ending was explosive and I can't wait to see what Carl cooks up in The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook.
Again, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Jeff Hays continues to knock it out of the park bringing these characters to life.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this series, but so far, I haven’t been disappointed. I had no idea where the plot was going and and I still don’t know how it’s going to end up. I can’t wait for the next installment!

I started reading this book before I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.