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Carl and Donut are back again in the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook! This was a 4 star for me, purely because I had a hard time following along at first. The Iron Tangle was confusing for me to follow. I felt like I needed a map of my own to make sense of some of what was happening. I can't imagine how confusing it would be to actually be in it! Our found family is growing in this novel, and we see some old characters return, which was nice. I still had a lot of laugh out loud moments, and I love that we are starting to see deeper into the workings behind Dungeon Crawler World. Matt Dinniman is lining SOMETHING up, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

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Carl only gets zanier, and so does Donut. The universe is fleshed out even more as we see the inner workings of the different corporations and houses.

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The found family is coming in strong in this one. Level 4 kept our contestants in a twisty, tangle of trains. Early on the trains were super confusing but at the end the lessons learned from the trains are definitely lined up and you just know it’s going to be relevant in future levels. I love that Princess Donut is getting even sassier (if you can even believe it’s possible). And I’m so glad we got to catch up with Ellie and some of the others from the nursing home.

The more of the books I read in this series, the more I love it as a whole. I’m ready to see where Level 5 takes us!

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Hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming. Carl and Donut are the perfect duo in this post alien apocalyptic worl.d.

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By book three, you might think you’ve got a handle on the madness that is Dungeon Crawler Carl—but The Dungeon Archivist’s Cookbook laughs in your face and throws you headfirst into the "Iron Tangle'" a floor so surreal it practically defies physics and logic. And it’s glorious!

*The Dungeon Archivist’s Cookbook* is clever, chaotic, and emotionally satisfying, proving this series isn't just surviving level by level—it’s leveling up in every way. Buckle up. The Iron Tangle doesn’t care if you get motion sick.

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This is the book where the series truly levels up.

Still packed with chaos, carnage, and Carl’s signature sarcasm—but now with deeper stakes, richer worldbuilding, and some seriously emotional gut-punches. Carl’s evolution from reluctant contestant to reluctant revolutionary is gripping, and Donut? She continues to be the high-maintenance murder queen of my heart.

The action is relentless, the humor lands hard, and the plot twists hit like a hammer to the skull (in the best way). But it’s the underlying heart—Carl’s loyalty, rage, and stubborn humanity—that really shines through the madness.

Hilarious. Horrifying. Surprisingly heartfelt.

If book 1 pulled you in, book 3 will make you stay.

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group

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Carl and Donut have survived the first three levels of the dungeon, but now they are in for the ride of their lives - on a train! Will they be able to figure out the jumble of train lines to find the next stairwell? And if they do, who will be there waiting?

These just keep pulling you in deeper and deeper! The additional characters really came to life in this one as our two MCs gain popularity not only among the viewers outside the dungeon, but also with their fellow crawlers. There's also an emotional depth to the different interactions that is a little unexpected, but brings a lot to the storyline.

Can't wait to get to the next installment!

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Donut and Carl take on a subway system! I didn’t know about that because I have not read any of the blurbs for these books. It was an interesting concept, but I found it confusing at first. It could be because the plot moves at a quick pace. Regardless, the rest of the book was fantastic!

One of my favorite things about this series is the number of times it makes me laugh out loud! Dinniman does a great job balancing the hilarious with the serious. Princess Donut and Carl have some of the best banter! There are many hilarious moments, but this book also has many heart-wrenching ones. I found myself tearing up just a little a couple of times. There was a lot of character growth for several characters in this book. Katia is a character that I came to love in this book. She’s coming into her own and figuring things out. I love the way she’s connected with this group!

Overall, this was another great addition to the series. There are some confusing times, but it’s worth it in the end. I do listen to the audio and read along. I love the immersive reading! Plus, the audiobooks are AMAZING. I can’t wait to read book 4!!

Thank you, Berkley:Ace and Netgalley for the e-arc! I also own the hardcover and audio! I told you- I love these books!! haha. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

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While this book was still an amazingly wild ride that I expect from this series, this one was still my least favorite so far. I’m still loving Carl’s and Princess Donut’s hijinks. I found this level of the Dungeon to be quite confusing. I’m still unsure how they figured out how to make it out. The murder train theme was definitely unique. I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble comes next.

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4 Stars

I am still really enjoying this series but it is getting a little repetitive. It's also getting difficult to write a review about this book. Carl and Princess Donut have now made it to level 4 and they are in the Top 10. I really enjoyed the premise of this level, murder train time. The humor is still really great and I think this is a very special series. I will probably take a break for a bit as I have read the first three books too fast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkey for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

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If chaos, gore, and a talking cat on a murder train sound like your thing—READ THIS.
Five stars, again. I can’t believe I’ve rated three books in a row 5 stars, but here we are. This series refuses to miss. Every floor somehow gets weirder, funnier, and more surprisingly emotional than the last.

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I think this is the first time over ever given three consecutive books in a series 5 stars but I just don’t have anything bad to say. The series continues to be entertaining, fun, humorous and we continue to see Carl and Donut develop and grow. We delve more into their pasts and memories but we also get the hilarious chaos and banter. I continue to truly enjoy how unpredictable the plot is and how I will never know what will happen next, but in a good way. It all makes sense within the world presented and yet it’s still utter chaos and hilarity. I’m going to move onto the next book and see what Mongo is appalled about next.

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Carl and Donut have made it to the 4th level. And they are on the Top 10 List of Dungeon Crawlers. However, the 4th floor is a tangle of intertwined trains filled with monsters. The stations are just as crazy and the stakes just get higher. Plus there is infighting among the crawlers when they need to work together to solve the puzzles and survive. Especially when the big reveal at the end flips all their plans sideways. Another interesting read with Katia coming into her own and leading the way at times. Plus the fun a Carl getting a "joke" cookbook. Just wondering what horrors await the team on the next floor.

Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this title.

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Not my type of humor.

Extremely low brow.


I’m not the target audience for this book unfortunately

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Carl and Princess Donut have survived the nightmarish, multilevel, video game–like dungeon filled with traps, monsters, and mind-bending puzzles so far, but in order to advance further in the game they are going to have to team up with other crawlers like themselves. The level they are on now is called The Iron Tangle, an impossibly complicated subway system tied together into a knot of trains of all kinds. The top ten list has been populated, and Carl and Donut have made it...but that popularity comes with a price. They each now have a bounty on their head. And the secret to unraveling it all may be hidden in the pages of a seemingly useless book.

This felt like playing an endless video game. It was full of non-stop action, but it felt like they were just spinning their wheels, repeating the same steps over and over. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite book in the series so far, it was still good.

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Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for a copy of the arc.

The start of this one is pretty slow and repetitive. I know that that’s intentional and that the book even gives us a warning but I feel like its a disservice to Dinnimans style.

I also feel like the character development would have benefited from speeding up slightly. We get a taste but I want more. We still don’t truly feel the stakes because only Carl and Donut are near fully flushed out and we know they are fine.

Still though it picks up at about 50% is and is as always a fun and wild ride. Probably my least favorite so far but still enjoyable.

We really see the story shine with the uh Ill call it the scoop scene. Wonderfully mixing silly, gore, and heart wrenching in a surprising bloody mess.

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These books just get better and better! I was just as hooked to this book as I was the first two! Can’t wait to continue with this series. Matt is a genius!

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I loved the change of scenery in The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook. The fourth floor taking place on a subway train made for a really interesting story. I love how the crawlers are starting to work together. As a result there are so many more characters that you get to know throughout. You also learn more about the core group. Mordecai was noticeable absent from most of the story and that was sad. His interactions with Carl and Donut are always fun. Can't wait to see how things progress.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I can't get enough of this series! They are so much fun to read, with humor and nonstop action. I'm recommending the heck out of them.

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5🌟

In the succinct words of the game narrator - Choo Choo, Motherfucker!

That's right, the next level of the dungeon is on a train system. Carl, Donut, Mongo, and Katia are all back, fighting for survival. I don't know how this book manages to be so heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time, but Matt Dinniman does a brilliant job of writing this series. New crawlers and creatures are introduced, as is the labyrinth of a railway system. You can't put too much thought into the system setup; just enjoy the ride! Now, onto book 4!

Recommended for everyone who liked/loved the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

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