I’m free. Goodbye.

This series is decidedly not for me. The jokes aren’t funny, the world isn’t interesting, and I dislike Carl immensely.

3.75/5

Another enjoyable read with moments that had me super interested and moments when the "humour" made me roll my eyes. I feel like the author does have an unresolved problem with his ex, cause this feels personal at times.

A certain moment with other players trying to play our main characters had me clutching my pearls, not gonna lie. I do wish that level of excitement was consistent throughout the whole book, and not just info dumping after info dumping and then a big "Oh shit" moment.

But we're heading into dangerous levels in this game, so I can't wait to see if a proper problem hits the screen.

New Yorker crawlers! This one is for you. As we are pro in transferring from train to train and have a NYC tour with just 2.90, this one speaks to us. Listen for the announcements, transfer where you should do, and find the right line to get the hell out of the level. Carl and Donut could have used our help and finished this level in no time :)

It was good that our heroes had other crawlers to connect this time. It was not everyone for themselves. Especially with Katia's inclusion, Carl and Donut started to be the leader that they always meant to be. They rallied the folks to share information and test different approaches as they cemented their place in the Top 10. Their sponsors were all about helping them too.

Namesake of the book at this level Carl got his Anarchist's Cookbook. This book was not the list of your usual recipes, but a diary, user manual, tip and tricks list for the upcoming floors. Given how much things escalated, Carl would appreciate this gift for sure

I don't know how Matt does it. This is the third book in the series and it just keeps getting better and better. Catchphrases such as "Kill! Kill! Kill!", "Goddamnit, Donut", "This is an outrage", and "Glurp Glurp" have now completely taken over conversations with my husband (who is reading the hardcovers in tandem with me). We had originally planned to ask for the rest of the series as a Christmas present, yet here we are - the proud owners of all six published books and eagerly awaiting our pre-order on Book 7. We started reading this series 6 days ago.

Book 3 features the Iron Tangle, a dungeon level where Crawlers must fight on board a series of different trains and intersecting train lines. It is the craziest, most unique level of the dungeon so far and the hijinks are even greater. I loved every single page and immediately started Book 4 upon completion. Dungeon Crawler Carl is my life now. All other books pale in comparison.

This series must be read in order, but it is so worth it. Clear your calendar and prepare for some New Achievements! I also highly recommend buying the hardcovers because they have a bonus chapter from Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret at the end of each one that focuses on the monsters viewpoint in the dungeon. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would.

A huge huge thank you to NetGalley, Berkley/Ace, and Matt Dinniman for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
"

📚✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨📚
The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook — Matt Dinniman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

At this point, I have fully accepted that this series owns me. Three books in and I’m officially a Dungeon Crawler Carl lifer. The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook takes everything I loved from the first two books—chaos, creativity, Princess Donut’s diva energy—and raises the stakes to dizzying new heights. Equal parts absurd comedy and nail-biting tension, this installment had me laughing, gasping, and muttering ‘oh no’ out loud more times than I’d like to admit. 🐾🔥. This series is proof you don’t need romance to keep a romantasy reader completely obsessed.

Book 3 takes the glorious chaos of the first two books and layers it with even more political maneuvering, unexpected alliances, and “oh no, this is way bigger than we thought” energy. The danger is sharper, the satire is biting, and the creativity? Off the charts. I found myself cackling one minute and white-knuckling my Kindle the next.

As a romantasy reader, I’m still shocked I’m thriving in a story without any slow-burn kiss scenes—because the loyalty, banter, and sheer ride-or-die bonds between characters hit just as hard as any romantic fantasy. Princess Donut remains an icon, and Carl’s grit mixed with “are you kidding me right now?!” reactions make him one of my favorite unconventional MCs.

🛡️ Dungeon politics with teeth
🐾 Feline royalty still reigns supreme
🎭 Satire sharper than a +5 dagger
📦 Loot with deadly strings attached
☠️ Danger, absurdity, and wit in equal measure
😂 Humor so sharp it could be a weapon
🌌 The bigger picture is starting to come into terrifying focus

If the first two books were training wheels for chaos, this is the moment the bike gets rocket boosters and you’re holding on purely out of faith and caffeine.

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Another great entry into the ever-escalating chaos of televised apocalypse. This time there are some clues from the history of the games and indications of the intrigues of the galaxy beyond. More friends are lost, but even more connections are made among the crawlers.

Okay, these books are starting to get chonkyy but still remain so so fun to read! Third in a series and ready to dive into the next one!

Did I at any point understand how this level was set up and laid out? Absolutely not. Did I feel like I needed to? Also no.

We still love Mordecai. We now fully love Katia (I struggled with her a bit in the second book). Also, how have I not mentioned Princess Donut yet in any of my reviews?! We absolutely love Donut. Especially in this book we really start to expand our cast of characters, and I love getting to see more of people's builds and interactions with the larger groups.

If you're reading this review/book, you probably know the premise of the series. By this point we start to get into the deeper overarching subplot spanning the entire series and seeing some of those themes. The timing of this feels really well suited to help have a universal thread that helps keep you invested in the series beyond just the absolute good time of each level.

This is such a fun series. I'm loving the characters and their interactions. Princess Donut is so fun and funny.

another enjoyable, funny read in the dungeon crawler carl series!

not quite as good as the previous books, but i still enjoyed it.

excited to continue the series!

The third iteration in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and it was certainly interesting. I was confused by the Iron Tangle but according to Dinniman that’s kinda the point. I wouldn’t have made it past this floor for SURE. Can’t wait for book 4! Thank you @netgalley @berkleypub for the eARC

So far, this is my favorite Dungeon Crawler Carl book. I love the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook element of it. I thought that was brilliant. I also loved the dynamics between all the crawlers and see a lot of potential within the future books.

Carl and Donut have made it to the fourth level of the dungeon. This one is all about trains. Now, I will admit that I have a soft spot for trains, and the way these are used was brilliant. Now, they must find a way to increase their levels and make it to a stairway while navigating personal relationships and the strange dynamic of having another member in their party who may not want to remain with their party.

These books are just a darn good time. Give them a chance!

Thank you to Net Galley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Ace for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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

Book Three was incredible!

I obviously can’t say too much without spoiling anything, but wow—this installment was such a ride. The introduction of new characters was SO well done, and it was amazing to see some recurring favorites (and non favorites) return. I also loved how the book tied up some loose ends from Book One in a really satisfying way.

As always, we got to dive deeper into the characters we’ve come to know, but this time we also got more insight into the AI system and the game objects. There were so many important items introduced in this book, and the way they came into play—especially in the final chapter—was just amazing.

Once again, I highly recommend the audiobook version. The narration and voice acting elevate the entire experience, and I’m so happy to have finished this third book in such an exciting and rewarding way!

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook is chaotic, clever, and so much fun-like getting dropped into a logic puzzle made of subway tunnels, monsters, and absolute mayhem. Carl continues to be one of the most relatable protagonists out there: grumpy, sarcastic, emotionally drained, and just trying to survive a game that keeps getting weirder. His dynamic with Princess Donut (who remains an absolute legend) and the growing found family vibe makes this installment feel even more emotionally rich.

The dungeon floor this time around is the most confusing yet-think cursed subway system with twisted rules and wild boss mechanics, but that’s kind of the point. You don’t always need to get it to enjoy the ride. The humor is sharp, the chaos is constant, and Dinniman’s social commentary sneaks in between the explosions and snark.

While this wasn’t my favorite in the series (mostly because my brain gave up trying to track all the mechanics), it still hit hard in terms of character growth, emotional moments, and sheer entertainment value. Dinniman’s blend of absurdity and sincerity somehow just works—and I’m definitely ready for level five.

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

This book was definitely more cohesive than the last one (second in the series). This time they're on a train. The whole dungeon floor is like a train puzzle. I think having a vehicle helped this story stay on track.

This book cranks the chaos up (if even possible). It’s darkly funny, action-packed, and full of outrageous twists that keep you hooked. Carl and Donut’s dynamic is still gold, and the stakes feel bigger (and weirder) than ever.

I adore this series. Book three continues everything we loved from the first two installments while expanding the world and diving into a new, imaginative setting. It’s a wild ride, packed with intense emotional moments and a completely chaotic, intense climax.

Trains! I did not see the theme of this level coming, but it felt fresh and dynamic, if at times a bit confusing, as the characters navigate various train lines and bosses. It’s not unlike maneuvering through Shinjuku Station, except instead of dodging tourists, you’re battling intense monsters.

We also get intriguing new developments around portals, time, and the loss of time, that feel like they’ll become more important as the story continues. The titular Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook is a neat addition, with insight into past crawlers and their experiences.

There are twists, turns, and plenty of surprises. But more than anything, the heart of this series is the characters and seeing them grow, support each other, and face seemingly insurmountable odds together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. This review was written voluntarily.

In book three, the video game-style dungeon was full of looping train lines and stations full of monsters. I appreciated the author’s note at the beginning setting the expectation that there would be a lot of colors and numbers that could be confusing but would make sense in the end. I was able to just go with it and not try to make my own map in my head as they worked the mystery and tried to get off the floor before its collapse.

Mordecai was a helpful guide to the team but unforeseen circumstances forced Carl to solve multiple problems without him.

Carl and Donut continued to be a great team. Katia grew so much in this book. I’ve come to really like her character and I look forward to seeing more of her in the next book.

The consistent humor and epic battles with horror vibes make this series so much fun. Carl’s good heart makes it easy to root for him and Donut to succeed.

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

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook

“In a dungeon-transformed Earth, Carl and Princess Donut navigate the Iron Tangle’s complex subway system, solving puzzles while dealing with bounties on their heads and uncertain allies.”

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

Characters: 5/5
Again, the characters are top notch. Love Carl and Donut, and now we have Katia! (I know she was technically introduced in the last book, but I feel like she makes a bigger impact here.) As always, I love Carl and Donut, even Odette and Zev, but Katia was a surprise. I thought she was just there as a temporary character, but I love her almost as much as Carl and Donut. Her confidence just continues to climb throughout this book. She learns so much about herself and comes to really trust Carl and Donut. She just really rounded out their group, I think.

Setting: 5/5
As we saw in the second book, the setting for the third book was just as rich and thought-out. I did find the trains to be very complicated, but honestly didn’t feel like it was that big of a deal. I didn’t feel like it was any less without understanding it. What felt important was watching the characters understand and work together to understand the trains/train system. But it was again, different from the previous book and had its own sort of atmosphere to it that felt engaging, and different and exciting.

Plot: 5/5
I love how each book has its own mini plot, but the main plot of the whole series is still there in the background and Matt always manages to remind you that yeah, this is just for this floor, and to keep the bigger picture as a reminder who the real enemy is. What’s the ultimate goal??

Themes: 5/5
You still see the themes from previous books of friendship, found family, etc., but in this third iteration you find more resistance, survival, working together, the blurred line between entertainment and exploitation, etc.

Emotional: 5/5
The emotional impact was just as prevalent as the previous Carl books. I’m a scary amount of obsessed with Carl and Donut and any time something bad looks like it’s going to happen, I panic. I have an unhealthy attachment to these characters and feel the need to start the next book directly after reading the previous book. You also start seeing a change somewhat in the characters and their moods and their development.

Enjoyment: 5/5
I swear, each time I finish the book, I immediately begin the next book and expect it to fall short. Not super short, but shorter than the previous book and I am always pleasantly surprised. I enjoy each book in the moment of reading it and then it feels like it has a very satisfying ending, then I can’t wait to start the next one!

Hope these never run out, the adventure and humor just never ends! If you need something fun, fast moving, and off the wall, here you go. You just have to read these ...