Representation: Not much of note that I remember

Rating: 4/5 This was a fun science fantasy story that blended an alien invasion with a reality show skinned as a fantasy video game. I’d never heard of this series until I saw it come up on NetGalley, so I thought it was brand new only to learn it’s a whole series. I’m definitely interested in reading more! This had a chaotic start with every building being crushed, and from that point on, it’s just constant go go go and we’re learning everything as Carl is learning. There are lore dumps, but in this context it makes complete sense, because Carl is also getting these lore dumps. I really enjoyed Carl’s dynamic with Princess Donut, the sassy cat, and them figuring out things together. I appreciated all of the characters that made an appearance, it was good to see all the variety of personalities and relationships. However, I don’t recall seeing much queer representation unless I completely overlooked it. That’s my only gripe with this, and it also feels like it was a little fixated on certain scenes at times. But overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I would read more of this series like I said earlier.

I've long avoided the LitRPG craze. While some books sounded interesting, their overall reputation scared me off. I'm also very picky when it comes to good RPG video games and tabletop campaigns, so I knew that any LitRPG I picked up would have a high bar to clear. The Ace prints of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Carl's Doomsday Scenario, and The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook, however, convinced me to take a chance—and I'm very glad I did.

If you've never heard of a LitRPG, imagine a video game in book form. Usually, the main character is the player character, and the books revolve around leveling up, inventory management, and other hallmarks of video game RPGs. The Dungeon Crawler Carl series is one of the biggest names in LitRPG and now has seven installments, three of which have been published by Ace, the long-standing fantasy/sci-fi imprint. The series follows Carl and his ex-girlfriend's beloved show cat, Donut, who enter a living RPG after the world is destroyed by a reality contest show run by an alien empire. It's a lofty (and silly) concept, but Matt Dinniman, the author, handles it seriously and pulls it off admirably. Along the way, Carl levels up, crafts a fantasy persona, and forms a party with the now-talking Donut.

The greatest strength of this series is its characters, specifically Carl, Donut, and Katia. They all feel authentic, and it’s a pleasure to watch them try to survive the gauntlet they find themselves in. They have flaws they must grow with and overcome as the series progresses. This is especially well-done with Donut, who is one of the best characters I’ve read in a long time. Somehow, Dinniman created an amazingly well-rounded character out of a talking cat, and I’m in awe of that.

The books also lean into RPG elements in a way I loved. My favorite part of the series (besides Donut) is the bosses our heroes face. As someone who tends to prefer being the Dungeon Master for TTRPGs rather than a player, I found Dinniman’s creation of these bosses one of the coolest parts of the books. It added a wonderful layer of worldbuilding. His level design is also fantastic. I especially loved the subway-based level in The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook and could easily read a whole series set in a world like that.

The only drawback for me was the humor, which occasionally felt too edgy or didn’t land. Humor is highly subjective, so your mileage may vary, but in the first book, some jokes felt like they were punching down. However, these moments decreased as the series progressed, and by the third book, there were far fewer jokes I felt were in poor taste.

Overall, I recommend this series. It’s a lot of fun and has definitely opened up the LitRPG genre for me. I’m planning to explore more of these books now, which is probably the highest praise I can give. I’m also excited for the next installment in the series, as well as David Dalglish’s forthcoming LitRPG, Level: Unknown.

Although I’m a huge fan of MMORPGs and fantasy roleplaying games like D&D, Pathfinder, etc., Dungeon Crawler Carl might actually be my first legit, honest-to-goodness LitRPG novel, rather than broader gamelit genre which simply incorporates a game into its plot elements and framing. And since RPG mechanics like stat allocation, skill leveling, and similar features can be both some of the most exciting and also the most tedious of roleplaying games, I was also very curious to see how it would work out.

The book follows our eponymous protagonist, just your ordinary guy who one night finds himself thrust into a nightmarish game-like reality after an apocalyptic event destroys the Earth and wipes out most of humanity. It was a cold, wintry night when Carl was roused out of bed by his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning show cat, who decided at that fateful hour to get herself stuck in a tree. Wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a hastily thrown on leather jacket, Carl goes outside to rescue Princess Donut when suddenly, every man-made structure on the planet was suddenly compressed, instantly smushing anyone and anything under any kind of roofed shelter when the world collapsed.

Long story short, Earth’s survivors become the latest victims to be forced into a deadly dungeon-crawling competition, all part of a massive, universe-spanning entertainment network created for the amusement of alien spectators. Carl, along with Donut—who gains the ability to talk after ingesting a special pet biscuit provided by the game—must face numerous monsters, traps, and other dangerous challenges in order to make their way into the deeper levels of the dungeon, adapting to complex RPG-style rules related to things like stat and experience farming, looting and rewards, and even race/class selection. In addition, since the dungeon crawl is a televised competition, there is the social media factor to consider, where crawlers must navigate the fickle world of views, favorites, and followers to gain an advantage.

To be honest, I’m surprised it took me this long to find Dungeon Crawler Carl. It’s been making big waves in the indie publishing sphere for the last few years, and I can safely say now that the hype is absolutely, indubitably real and well-deserved! As the first three books are re-released with the traditional publisher treatment this fall, I will definitely be devouring the series as fast as I can. This opening volume took me by surprise in the best way possible, taking even the most inscrutable concepts of RPGs and making them entertaining and immersive. This is waaaaay more than just a story about a guy living a real-life video game—it’s a thoroughly binge-worthy adventure set in a richly developed, fully fleshed-out dystopian universe. While gaming mechanics are key to the plot, they are integrated naturally and seamlessly without ever hampering the fast-paced momentum.

Another standout point is the humor, which leans heavily into explosive slapstick and unapologetically pokes fun at the worst aspects of human nature, often in the most inappropriate and crass ways. The contrast between the main character’s grim reality (billions dead, millions more dying by the second for the entertainment of bloodthirsty viewers cheering on every brutal death) and the absurd situations in which he finds himself (partying up with a fame-obsessed talking cat, encounters with a lewd AI harboring a secret foot fetish, using meth to incite a goblin-llama gang war) ensures that even in its bleakest moments, Dungeon Crawler Carl had me rolling with laughter.

Carl himself is an instantly relatable protagonist and convincing despite the circumstances. His personality is a mix of goodness and sensible pragmatism, the perfect counterbalance to the haughty and unpredictable Princess Donut, which results in a dynamic that is endlessly entertaining. The book also has creativity in spades, even with its world-building rooted deeply in familiar RPG worlds and their fantasy settings. Thanks to the alien apocalypse and reality TV angles, Carl and Donut find themselves in imaginative and often bizarre scenarios that keep the story feeling fresh.

But before I offer up my full recommendation, a couple caveats to keep in mind. First, the humor isn’t going to be for everyone. Expect crude comedy and jokes of the over-the-top-omg-I-can’t-believe-they-went-there variety. Second, readers unfamiliar with RPG mechanics may find the sections explaining the ins-and-outs to be too dense and info-dumpy. Certainly, non-gamers can still enjoy the story but there’s the real risk of being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of detail.

Much like Ready Player One was a love letter to the pop culture of the 80s, Dungeon Crawler Carl can be seen as a tribute to roleplaying games. It reads like a mashup of World of Warcraft, The Hunger Games, and War of the Worlds—in other words, an absolute blast! I deem this a must-read for RPG enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy wild humor and action in their stories. This novel is a true gem, and as of this writing, I’m already deep into book two. Can’t wait to continue this crazy journey with Carl!

This was a really fun book. I wasn't really sure about it when I started but am really happy I tried it. It was very funny, even though it was pretty violent, it was done in a somehow not so gruesome way. The world building and character development were very well executed.
My only complaint is that I don't care for books that end on a cliffhanger, though this one was somewhat mild. I'm not sure how many books will be in this series but I'd rather read them together than have to wait for the next release.

A tremendous amount of rowdy, riotous fun. Deeply funny and blood-soaked, expertly managing tone to keep the reader guessing. This was such a blast!

Reading this was exciting and laugh-out loud funny and super-duper-violent. The main character, Carl, is a Coast Guard veteran running around in his underwear, accompanied by his ex-girlfriend's fancy show cat, Princess Donut. It's pretty silly. It felt a bit like standing behind someone playing a really exciting, laugh-out-loud-funny, super-duper-violent video game.

[Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

After the world ends one evening, those who survive are offered the choice of trying to live off of a destroyed planet or to head underground and become reality stars in a weird alien video game reality show where the goal is to live until the next level. Carl and his ex-girlfriend's show cat (Princess Donut) choose the latter…

DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL by Matt Dinniman was my first ever LitRPG and I found it to be a fun (traumatizing) time!

Carl and Princess Donut are such a fun duo and the formatting of the story really leans into the video game/role playing aspect, which I’ve never consumed before and (as a non-gamer girlie) found very intriguing.

This story is DARK. It’s the end of the world and the remaining population are killing each other in order to survive/make good tv, however, Dinniman works in some humor to make it not feel so doom and gloom.

Parts of the RPG did drag for me and some of the language wasn’t my favorite, but I’ve heard the audiobooks are amazing, so if I do continue with this series, I think that will be the route I go (literally need to know what happens to my queen, Princess Donut 🐱)

Thanks to Ace, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun first book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series of LitRPG SciFi novels. I enjoyed this first installment very much. It was an intriguing concept with great action and comedy. I would encourage anyone who likes Hitchhikers’ Guide or some of John Scalzi’s humorous writing (Starter Villain especially) to check out this series. I think you will enjoy the humor and the world building.

Highly recommended!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available for me.

The world ends. Carl and his cat end up in a Dungeons & Dragons world, fighting for their survival. The cat is a total hoot. The writing is a bit uneven in a few places, but the rest of the book easily makes up for that. I'm so happy that this is the first book in a series, as I definitely want to see more of these characters and their journey to get to the end of the dungeon.

I asked for requests online for a palate cleanser book and Dungeon Crawler Carl was suggested several times. I went in completely blind and what a wild ride! It was ridiculous, offensive and complete fun at every turn. I laughed out loud and gasped in horror and delight. I can't wait to follow Carl and Princess Donut as they travel down deeper into the dungeon!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Squid Games. All buildings on earth have been destroyed by an alien race, along with anyone in them. Our hero Carl, and his ex-girlfriends' cat, Princess Donut, along with anyone still left alive, has to survive in a multi level labyrinth, similar to a video game, and must go on a killing rampage to survive. And not only do they have to survive against monsters of increasing difficulty, they have to do it in an entertaining way because, oh yeah, aliens across the universe are watching, and you want views to get special packages that may help you survive (think Hunger Games). To add to the tension, when different groups of humans meet up, sometimes they will be helpful, and sometimes they will try to kill you.

Matt Dinniman has done an excellent job maintaining interest through a series of battles and video game scenarios.. Every time you think the story will start to lag, he adds a new element, and believe me, each one is more entertaining than the prior one. Think of this book as Season 1, and if you are a binger, you will immediately be lining up the next book in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ecopy. My opinion is my own. Now I have to go read Book 2.

I absolutely loved this book! It was hilarious and full of great action. I’m not huge into video games but this book definitely has me wanting to play some. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in the next levels and see what other trouble Carl and Princess Donut are going to get into.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for an eARC of this book to read and review.

One of my coworkers told me about this book and RAVED about it, so of course, I had to request and read it immediately.

For a good chunk of this book, I was ON the Dungeon Crawler Carl bandwagon. The book is funny, smart and I was 100% enjoying the ride.

Until. I hit a couple of characters that hit me the absolute WRONG way and that sank any enjoyment I had in this book.

Please do not get me wrong, this book was very funny and if it wasn't for that ONE thing, this would have been five stars and I would have been foaming at the mouth for the next book in the series, no question. I complained to my coworker about it and they told me a little, saying that the characters purposefully misrepresented themselves as law enforcement officials, but by that time, the damage was done. I finished the book, but will not be continuing with the series. I WILL recommend it at my store to customers who enjoy funny, if violent, contemporary sci-fi/fantasy. The issue I had wasn't a deal-breaker for me recommending it. However, I feel the star rating is how much I enjoyed the book, not how much I think others will enjoy it, so I can't go higher than two stars. I was going to go one star, but I didn't absolutely hate this and after careful reflection, I don't think one star is warranted as the issue I had wasn't one that sparked a rage-quit or a book throw across the room.

2, I'm really REALLY sad that it had that one thing in there but I don't think it will affect most readers, stars.

I highly recommend this book as it is one of the funniest novels I have read in a while. Its unique, fast-paced plot had me finishing it in a day, and now I am on the third book. This book/plot is filled with quirky characters, peculiar monsters, a bit of adult humor, and some gruesome elements. Carl is thrust into a terrifying and absurd ordeal reminiscent of a RPG game when he is forced to survive in underground tunnels fighting monsters and leveling up his ability. He has great character development and is lucky to be with Princess Donut. Princess Donut, my favorite character, is a cat gifted with the ability to talk, filled with sarcasm, and a confidence that can only be tamed by a cat. If you want a read that will make you chuckle, go "eww", and mindless, unpredictable fun, give this book a chance.

This book was a refreshing and delightful visit back to my youth in the 1980s and the world of classic Dungeons & Dragons RPG and 16 bit video games. This is a wonderfully escapist story that just pulls you along with all the fun and farce that makes retro such a powerful idea. If you looking for a fantasy adventure that hide contemporary themes and problem than this isn't the book you want. If you want to read dialogue that is as lively as a Tom Cruise movie with its wit, sarcasm, and banter you have a first book in a series that will speak to you, as much as it did to me! This book is a pure treat to read and I know I will be back to read more of this series!

Thank you NetGalley, Dandy House, and Matt Dinniman for the arc copy that I read. This review reflect my own thoughts of this book.

4*

This book was everything and more it set out to be. An absurd romp through fantasy tropes we think we know, it's neither overtly complex or oversimplified.

It's easy to follow along with Carl's story, and it was fun to take a peek at the story through the lens of game mechanics and world building.

I'm interested in reading the next in the series, and I hope that Dinniman can continue to keep things fresh and unexpected.

I'm definitely not the target audience for this book, but also - was this really necessary? The story alternates between mind-numbing descriptions of how the points work in the postapocalyptic video game world made real and excessive murdering of fellow game runners. The very female-coded talking cat companion who's not too bright but has an overpowered point distribution grates mightily, as well.

Carl and Princess Donut are my new favorite characters! When the world suddenly collapses (literally) Carl finds himself stranded in nothing but his boxers, t-shirt and a pair of pink Crocs. When reality becomes a lifelike Dungeons and Dragon's game, Carl and Princess Donut, the Persian cat, must figure out what they are doing fast before they are obliterated. Full of disgustingly squishy dungeon creatures that Carl loves to stomp, this hilarious adventure is impossible to put down. Great for fans of the Hitchhiker's Guide or any fan of D & D. I can't wait to read Book 2.

4.5 stars

Really fun mix of live action role play and a video game sort of plot. Love the character development and princess donut. The start really grabbed me, and I really grew to like the characters. If you are a fan of video games I would give this one a try.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form an opinion from.

Another new author and not disappointed at all. So so good. So bizarre, fun and refreshing to read something so "out there." Carl is the main character in this one. Very video game-y in this book, which isnt usually my jam but it worked this time. I did find myself LOL a few times. A very imaginative read for sure with the world-building - definitely unpredictable and once again I think "very out there." If you are ready for a wild adventure - you have to check this one out. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest opinion.