So much craziness on the trains! I am going to forever root for Carl, Princess Donut, and Mongo and the new addition of Katia. I also did like and feel so bad for the NPCs. You are getting more self aware ones like Brandy on the Nightmare Express and it is easier than ever to hate the ones running this and keeping the NPCs in the dark by wiping their minds and inserting false memories. It is just one more reason to hope that Carl and Donut can bring the whole thing down! Another great read and so hard to put down! Such a great series because Carl is so down to earth, and can figure out, usually, a solution to whatever problem gets thrown his way. And I absolutely love how he and Donut work together and their relationship is so sweet!

The third book in Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl's series was great - encompassing all the things I loved about the first two books in the series, including the fantastic world-building, humor, action-packed and high-stakes plot as well as the characters that we've all grown to love. I, of course, enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to the fourth book in the series.

I think this series is now my entire personality. The politics and power struggles outside the dungeon are definitely starting to affect what's going on inside, and as the numbers inside the dungeon continue to drop, who they can trust becomes more and more important to Carl and Donut. While I didn't have a clue how they were navigating this floor (reassured by the author's note!) I still enjoyed the setting and I can't wait to see what happens on the next floor.

3.5/5

This series is a lot of fun, but I do find that the more books I read from it, it's starting to feel repetitive.

And it is not repetitive as in the same things keep happening, it is not literally repetitive, it just feels a bit closed off. There are only so many things that can really happen in this environment, so it just feels kind of the same at times. It can kind of feel like we're not really going anywhere at times. (Metaphorically and literally.)

I do always like when this little gang comes across a new character, that always helps to shake things up.

This series is definitely for fans of video games and games with Dungeons and Dragons-esque situations.

PRINCESS DONUT WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE! She's the real main character here.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This series has quickly climbed to one of my all time favorites. Thank you so much Berkley for the for the e-arc of this book. I think that each book progressively gets better. I knew starting book one that each book would be a five star read. Matt’s creativity and combinations for his wild characters never cease to amaze me. He also infuses moments of heartfelt found family as well as some mental health mentions. The series is addicting and plays like a video game in your head. What I loved about this book in particular were the train scenes. I think it created such an interesting visual as well as cracking down on some of the elements of the game that just don’t make sense to Carl. I look forward to continuing this story in book four.

"The Iron Tangle" is an absolutely phenomenal addition to the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, proving once again why this saga is a New York Times bestseller! Just when you think Carl and Princess Donut's journey couldn't get any more insane, Matt Dinniman throws us into the bewildering, brilliant chaos of the fourth level.

The Iron Tangle itself is a stroke of genius – a subway system twisted into a knot of impossible proportions, where every turn challenges your perception of "up" and "down," "near" and "far." The concept is incredibly fresh and executed with such skill that you feel the disorientation right alongside Carl. The trains are a death trap, the stations are illusions, and the exit is always just out of reach, making for some truly heart-pounding and mind-bending scenarios.

What truly elevates this installment is the increased stakes. Carl and Donut are not just surviving; they're popular, which puts a massive bounty on their heads. This forces them into uneasy alliances and ratchets up the paranoia. The question of who to trust becomes a deadly puzzle in itself, adding layers of intrigue to the already complex dungeon. And the hint about a seemingly useless book holding the key to unraveling it all? Pure, unadulterated storytelling brilliance.

As always, Carl's grim humor and Donut's sassy, unforgettable presence shine through, making even the most perilous moments hilariously entertaining. The pacing is relentless, the action is thrilling, and the puzzles are genuinely clever. Plus, the exclusive bonus material is the cherry on top for true fans.

If you're a fan of Dungeon Crawler Carl, or just looking for an incredibly original, action-packed, and genuinely funny read, stop what you're doing and dive into "The Iron Tangle." You won't regret it!

In this third book of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Carl and Donut are still killing and leveling up, now with Katia, an added party member who was separated from her previous group. Carl discovers a book written by previous crawlers that helps him create new explosives and other devices, Donut continues to up her Charisma, and instead of the medieval setting, there are trains and sad monsters as well as more shows and bounty hunters. As with the previous volumes, this one is entertaining if you're familiar with the tropes of gaming; folks who like puzzle quests will like this one especially. It's fantasy popcorn, perfect for a light summer read, albeit one with the deaths of some previous characters.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Sci-Fi Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 22, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Complex Subway Themed Dungeon
Unique Monsters
RPG Turned Reality
Lots of Action

Review: This dungeon features The Iron Tangle, a complicated subway system with more even more monsters than before! From a devilish boiler woman to hoards of undead, you never know what Carl and Donut will face!

This set of floors is a lot more complex than the first sets so I did get mildly lost (in terms of where we are) but it was still a very fun read! It's so strange the range of emotions I've felt with these books that seem to be mainly funny, violent and a bit vulgar. I loved the cookbook and it's "unique" advantage. On to the next book!💪

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

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

The third book in the series seriously raises the stakes: right from the start, Carl, Donut, and Katia dive into a labyrinth, a tangled underground world of trains, where every monster encounter and solved puzzle feels like a small victory.

I love the train theme in the plot, that atmosphere just pulls you in. It was a bit confusing at first, but once you get into it, it clicks.

The characters are showing new sides of themselves. There's a stronger sense of teamwork now, and yes I definitely see the found family vibes 🥹 Katia gets more of the spotlight here, and girl, this is your time shine, you're appreciated!

As for the humor… I think I laughed the most while reading this part. The layers of sarcasm, dark jokes, and brutal comedy helped balance out the chaos happening all around.

And again, the pace doesn't let up. This book is longer than the previous ones, but it honestly doesn’t feel that way.

I’m running straight to the next book! 🏃🏼‍♀️

⭐️4,25/5

Carl and Princess Donut’s allies are growing in this book. I love the cookbook that Carl finds. All of this book, and this series, has felt so natural to what one would experience in a gaming scenario. It includes all of the terrible things that might happen when you piss off the dungeon master (the AI), that winning can only come by working together, and the absolute chaos of combing as much random sh*t together as you can. Wonderful, fast-paced, and the character development is going so well!

I adored this installment of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series in ways I can barely describe. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook not only has an incredibly cool mind-bending transit setting it also introduces a critical tool for Carl's dungeon escapades. Matt Dinniman has done an incredible job creating a wide variety of characters with depth and relationships. Book 3 really stepped it up in terms of the relationships between crawlers. I was not expecting that resolution with Hestia. I am a nerd and a dork and though I love all the pop culture references in the series I was even more giddy for Carl to figure out how the train functioned. I am obsessed with this series. Thank you!

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

Welcome to the Iron Tangle! Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, have to team up with other contestants not just to survive, but to solve a deadly puzzle in this third, mind-twisting novel in the New York Times bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

Earth has been transformed into the set of the galaxy’s most watched game show: Dungeon Crawler World, a nightmarish, multilevel, video game–like dungeon filled with traps, monsters, and mind-bending puzzles. Carl and Donut have survived so far, but this fourth level is unlike anything they could imagine. The Iron Tangle: an impossibly complicated subway system tied together into a knot of trains of all kinds, from classic steam engines to sleek modern cars. Up is down. Down is up. Close is far. The cars are filled with monsters, the railway stations aren’t always what they seem, and the exit is perpetually just a few stops away.

The top ten list is populated, and Carl and Donut have made it. But that popularity comes with a price. They each now have a bounty on their head. They must work with other crawlers to solve the puzzle of the floor, but how can they do that when they don’t know who to trust? The secret to unraveling it all may be hidden in the pages of a seemingly useless book.

Welcome, Crawlers. Welcome to the fourth floor of the dungeon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Still a great time, with hilarious bikinis, I’m loving these books!

This one felt like it could have been a novella. But I still very much enjoyed the story. However it felt very rushed and felt like there was a lot of unnecessary filler.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

As the third book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, I had high expectations—and this one absolutely delivered. After loving books one and two, I was fully prepared for a wild ride. And wow, did I get one: nightmare trains, a constantly shifting system, and moments that kept me guessing the entire time.

This book had me giggling, sketching out floor maps, and obsessing over how they were going to survive. The dungeon floor in The Iron Tangle felt fresh and wildly creative. The environment was packed with complex moving pieces, and the lore expanded not just within the dungeon but around the entire production. Every book pulls me deeper into the world, and the best part? The lore never distracts from the actual plot—it enhances it.

The characters are stronger than ever. We finally get to see Katia in full force, and the twists in her arc brought this installment to the next level. Carl, Donut, and Mongo continue to be chaotic perfection, and I love how they flex and evolve to include Katia in their party dynamic. The heart of this story is still deeply human—at its core, it’s always asking: How do we keep as many people alive as possible?

By the end, I was practically foaming at the mouth for the next book. The Iron Tangle is a whirlwind of puzzles, boss fights, and absurdity around every corner. Be prepared to shift forms, lose sleep, and fall even harder for this world.

Welcome to the Iron Tangle! Carl and Princess Donut have to solve a deadly puzzle involving an impossibly complicated subway system full of monsters, mysterious railway stations, and exit that no one can get to.
Ok, this one hurt my brain. Seriously, the amount of time I spent trying to understand the Iron Tangle is wild. Matt Dinniman basically gave the advice to just go with it, and I’ll have to do that when I reread this book, because I’m still confused. That said, this book is a romp, and the plot (mostly) makes sense, even if you aren’t quite sure how they did it. Embrace the chaos and ride along with Carl and Princess Donut.

ALL ABOARD THE DCC HYPE TRAIN (literally in this case)

Look, sometimes these trains were confusing as hell. It was giving me, first time visiting Tokyo vibes. How are there so many colours and lines?! But it's ok, just let daddy Carl take care of you and buckle up for a crazy ride.

I can't believe how FAST I am consuming these books and I can't stop thinking about them. This is my life now.

Teamwork with deadly consequences for failure and an abundance of trains, combines to make this a book you'll remember long after finishing it.

Of the 3 books so far, this one might be my least favorite. The Tangle and the end reveal were impossible to follow and yes, Matt does give a disclaimer in the beginning warning you to not even try. But me being me, I had to try and make myself angry anyways.

Still 5/5 because what else would you give a Carl book?