Dungeon Crawler Carl is the gift that keeps on giving. Just when I thought the series couldn’t get any better, it blows me away again with the third volume, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook. So many great moments in this installment, which is so far my favorite one yet, and I am excited to sing its praises.

A short recap: After the apocalyptic takeover of Earth by an alien conglomerate, Carl and his cat Donut have found themselves participating in a televised dungeon crawl with the surviving remnants of humanity. Making it through the first three levels in spectacular fashion has rocketed them up the social media charts, amassing them quadrillions of views and favorites, making them solid fan favorites. However, all this attention also has a downside. Making it to the top ten crawler list may mean more sponsorships and better loot, but it also paints a giant target on your back, making it more attractive to player-killers to collect your bounty.

As the book opens, Carl and Donut have made it to the fourth floor, called the Iron Tangle. True to its name, this level is once again different than the ones we’ve seen before, introducing a highly complex subway system made up of hundreds of trains and lines, all packed into a tight space. The cars are populated with new mobs and bosses, posing more dangerous and difficult challenges, and finding and accessing the stairways down to the next level will be harder than ever. Still, one positive side of a smaller map is that for the first time, crawler groups can interact and work together. New alliances are formed as Carl catches up with old friends, but unfortunately, his notoriety also makes him a magnet for schemes and suspicion. Despite knowing he can’t save everyone, that won’t stop Carl from doing everything he can to try.

Things just keep getting better as this third book ramps things up for Carl and Donut while striking an impressive balance between the author’s sense of humor and some surprisingly emotional moments. Furthermore, the one criticism I had with the previous book—namely its shift to a quest narrative, resulting in our protagonists working through a string of mini side adventures, mostly on their own—is happily not an issue here, with The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook returning readers to a plotline that is once more heavily focused on crawler-to-crawler dynamics.

The fourth floor of the dungeon also makes for a wild setting. Dinniman deserves credit for his attempt to explain the labyrinthine layout of the Iron Tangle, which features an eclectic mix of trains and systems from different worlds and timelines. Ultimately though, his efforts might not have been enough. While I’m sure it all makes perfect sense in his own head, translating it to readers is another matter. Visual aids such as maps or diagrams would have been extremely helpful here, because I confess I had trouble piecing together a clear mental picture in my mind. Still, even if you can’t wrap your head around it, the payoff in the end I worth the price of admission. It’s the boss fights and the sense of urgency that keeps the pages turning after all, not to mention Carl’s explosive methods of problem solving.

The other highlight of this book is the character development, which continues to be exceptional. Carl is proving himself to be more than just a stereotypical action hero, growing into a true leader. Donut’s character arc also takes an intriguing turn as we see her maturing in her own unique way. But the biggest treat of all is perhaps Katia, who joins the fray and becomes a major player in a big way. This book had me pumping my fists by the end of it, and she’s a huge reason why.

Hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with action, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook is filled with everything I loved about the first two books of Dungeon Crawler Carl and more, building upon the unstoppable momentum. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you’re missing out on one of the most entertaining LitRPGs around. Highly recommended to readers and gamers alike.

Blog post scheduled for Nov 12th
Most definitely have and will continue to talk about these books on Youtube and Instagram frequently. I love this series.

**TL;DR**: Another fantastic installment in the Carl series - I continue to love these
**Source**: NetGalley! Thank you for the eArc! I also bought a physical and audio edition. I love these y’all.

**Plot**: Carl and Donut are now in the Iron Tangle, trains galore!
**Characters**: I adore these guys, I can’t say that enough
**Setting**: This was my only issue with this book, I just got real confused by the trains and the hoping of the lines. But I still enjoyed it.
**Fantasy:** More great worldbuilding here, we got some very interesting hooks for the next books and plots as well!

**Thoughts**:

I can’t say much about the Carl books without spoiling much but I’ll give you a cleaned up version of my thoughts. Carl and Donut have made it down to the Iron Tangle. Unlike the past few levels that felt fairly traditional in dungeon/town layouts, this one is a level of just train lines that are all intersecting and weaving around. The only way to get anywhere is via trains and the only stops and rest stops are train stops. I’m not going to lie that confused me just a bit as someone who has never been on a train or subway, but if you’re familiar you’ll probably understand it easier.

I also really enjoyed the character conflicts in this. The stress between Hekla and Carl’s crew came to a head and we saw a resolution, maybe not a complete one, but the start of one with that. There wasn’t as much as far as leveling and skill-ups but I’m looking forward to seeing more of that in the new level which seems a bit more like a normal dungeon.

This series stays strong. If you like the first book and I continue to advise you to pick up the rest. They’re hilarious but also pack a bit of a punch. A fantastic series and I’ll be continuing it, no questions asked.

Things have never been slow for this series, but I feel like things went up a notch in this book. We got a lot more universe building and clues being dropped for what all is happening outside of the dungeon crawl that Carl and all of Earth are trapped in. I am very much a fan of the direction that the overall story is heading in, hinting at Carl possibly affecting events outside of the dungeon through his actions in the dungeon and in the interviews.

Princess Donut, as always, is the best character ever written.

Thank you to Ace Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook is the third book featuring Dungeon Crawler Carl (and Princess Donut) by Matt Dinniman. Originally published in 2021, this reformat and re-release from Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint is 544 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a fun and well written take on light comedic dungeoncrawler fantasy. MC Carl is unwillingly thrust into a starring role in a survivor reality TV contest when an alien invasion puts a major crimp in *everyone's* day. Princess Donut (his ex-GF's pampered show cat) is along for the ride, and the book is positively bursting with sarcastic humor and improbable situations, with viewers from across the universe tuned in to see what happens next, and which contestants get eliminated, permanently. Each adventure sees the contestants thrust into a new floor of the dungeon with new loot, new puzzles and traps, and ever more creative ways to crash and burn.

It's not at all derivative, but the bonzo, zany humor will likely appeal to fans of Charles Stross and Tom Holt.

Four stars. There are currently 6 books in the series with a 7th due out in 4th quarter 2024. It would make a great choice for a genre buddy/binge read. It's definitely full on silly, but it's diverting.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Dungeon Anarchist Cookbook is the third book in The Dungeon Crawler Carl book series by Matt denniman. The Group is in a subway train station from hell. They’ve made it to the fourth floor, butt as the levels go up their skill set and powers do as well. In this book Caisha reunites with Hekla and is hesitant to leave, Carl and princess donut. Will have to help Heckla,, they will go up against the biggest monster that Carl has ever seen and it may just take two Carl’s to do the job. Before book 3 is over everything will change and not in a way that carl and the gang appreciate. I am always in awe of the authors imagination and talent. Not only does he continuously come up with new and more creative monsters but the descriptions of their surroundings just astound me. I already have the fourth and fifth book downloaded and can’t wait to get started. This is a very imaginative phenomenal and again talented author who never ceases to blow my mind. #NetGalley, #BerkeleyPublishing, #MattDinniman, #DungeonCrawlerCarl, #DungeonAnarchistCookbook,

The third book in the series in unfortunately the weakest so far. I was cheering for my favorite character's, but the trains! It was confusing and a bit of a head scratcher why so much time was spent on them. I'm hoping book book 4 gets the story back on track. The humor and the heart was there, but the story was missing.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book 3) by Matt Dinniman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 534 / Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy
Original Release Date: April 21, 2021
Hardback Release Date: October 22, 2024
🥳#HappyPubDay!🎉

In book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Carl and Donut have reached the fourth level, which is basically a subway system of trains, stops, and so many monsters. While there’s a ton of thrilling action, the gameplay on this one got a little tiring for me as it all takes place in the subway system. But I did like the recurring characters and how the crawlers are finally starting to work together. I’m looking forward to book 4.

The whole series is available for free with #KindleUnlimited.

Thank you, @MattDinniman, @BerkleyPub, and @NetGalley for my gifted copy.

just as fun as the first two! the one liners in this book is so funny and i genuinely find donut funny, i hope we get to keep her forever!

"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 addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman - 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.

Includes part three of the exclusive bonus story "Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.""

Oh hell yes, especially to the bonus story, "Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret!"

For book three of Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series, we join our heroes as they journey across the fourth floor of the world dungeon. On this floor of the dungeon, also known as the Iron Tangle, Carl, Princess Donut, Mongo, and new party member Katia must find their way through the immense maze of rail lines connecting hundreds upon hundreds of stations while dealing with the requisite monsters and a mystery or two along the way. Not only is the strength and difficulty of the monsters increasing, but Carl and company must face this floor without access to their most valuable asset, their guide turned manager Mordecai, for the majority of the floor. Additionally, we start to see and learn much more about the different crawlers briefly mentioned in the recap episodes of the two previous novels as the various parties start mixing and communicating more with each other over the chat interface. The state of greater galactic affairs begins to play a much more prominent part in the dungeon level storylines and theming, as well, setting up for the (hopefully) eventual visits to the sixth and ninth floors.

The book continues with the hallmark irreverent attitude of the previous books in the series, but with fewer laugh out loud moments. This book feels like a turning point in the series as a more serious tone starts to emerge from what was previously a barely contained madcap scramble of all the most egregious RPG video game tropes. While the first two books felt like the crazed first run through of any RPG video game, this book feels more like a measured second or third run through the game where the goal is a little bit bigger than just getting through to the end. The real complexity of the characters and how they have adapted to this crazy situation start to shine through as well as the dynamics between Carl's party and the other groups (and even NPCs), particularly the other Top Ten crawlers. Now that the reader is well versed in the format, they can sit back and start to look more closely at what is going on.

While I definitely enjoyed the change in the tone, the execution of the level felt a little bit lacking. The confusion of the Iron Tangle was more of a distraction than anything else, and I think Dinniman knew this which is why he mentions up front in the forward to "not worry" about keeping it all straight. There are also fewer new monsters with their wonderfully cheeky descriptions and because of the entire "sameness" of the stations, the wonder of the setting falls off quickly (unless you are a train buff, I suppose). Still, the book presents a wild ride and earns a solid four-star rating.

This author is amazing! Absolutely love everything he writes. This book is thrilling and amazing and will keep you on your toes. Definitely another book to keep around for bad days and comfort reads!

Carl and Princess Donut traverse the elaborate train system of the fourth level in another rollicking installment of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. The story deftly combines over-the-top video game action, clever plotting, strong character development, and an impactful theme of survival. While I found some of the train world-building to be a bit too complex, the thrilling ending and the repartee between Carl and Princess Donut is delightful. I also enjoyed how their new companion Katia makes both re-evaluate how they relate to others. The resonant theme of Carl's personal focus on not losing what makes him human transitioning to care for larger groups of people elevates the series from guilty pleasure read to fulfilling narrative.

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

SI loved this continuation of the Dungeon Crawl game show with Carl, Katia, Mongo, and Princess Donut as they try to survive and reach the next level. The story perfectly balances humor, love, real-life issues, cuteness, danger, machinations, supernatural elements, surprises, and morality. This book continues precisely where the last book left off. Carl, Donut, and Mongo are now on level 4 of the Crawl - the Tangle. They continue to be very popular with the fans, Mordecai assists them, Carl comes up with crazy dangerous plans, and Donut continues to be Donut. I loved the interplay between Carl and Princess Donut and that Carl’s character is a sweet, snarky, messy, lucky, sarcastic, kind of dumb, angry, and awkward man who regularly screws up, which makes him a very likable and relatable hero. I especially love his mantra of “You will not break me.” The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - fighting, dangerous situations, supernatural creatures, evil entities, henchmen, loyal friends, tragic backstories, mystical coincidences, snark, plot twists, and laughs.

Ace Books/Berkley Publishing provided an early galley for review.

We're back again for book three in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I enjoyed book 1 and book 2, so I was ready for another run with our heroes.

By this point in the series, Dinniman's style and narrative rhythms are fairly well-established. We have the voices of the characters; we have the framework of the game and its elements. The new wrinkles are the layout of the level, the secrets behind them and what it will take for Carl and company to get through them. That is the where the freshness comes in each time, especially if each book is only going to give us one level of progression. There is a lot more story to go; Dinniman needs to be careful with how he doles it to avoid either boring or burning out the reader.

The first half of this one was a bit slower for me, for the reasons just noted. However, when the second half hit all of the pieces came together and proceeded at a breakneck pace. Hopefully future volumes will give less of the former and more of the latter.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Carl and Donut survived the third level and are back for more! Welcome to the Iron Tangle, a nighmare train station with hundreds, if not thousands of trains lines and stations.

While I still loved this book, it was my least favorite so far (not saying much, it's still easily a 4-star book). I loved the characters, the new party member, the achievements, but I got a bit bored at the descriptions anytime they discussed the train lines. It was meant to be super confusing to all of us and to them, but that did mean I zoned out everytime they tried to figure out the layout of the system. I had trouble following it. I really loved the backstory we're starting to see in the NPCs lives, it's very sad, but something I think about whenever I play games, so it felt very realistic.

I still love this series and already started book 4.

🚂 Dungeon Anarchist Cookbook 🚂

Carl and Donut are back in the third book of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. They’ve officially reached the fourth floor, The Iron Tangle. The Iron Tangle is a maze of complex railways featuring every type of train, and monster, you can imagine. Joined by Katia, the newest member of the team, the three have to unravel the mystery of the rails in time to reach the stairway to the fifth floor.

However, this is made all the more complicated when Mordecai, their Manager, mentor, and guide, is put into a “time out” for breaking game rules. With the game clock ticking down, the trio must figure out how to survive the rails, the monsters, and each other in order to save themselves and the other crawlers on this floor.

The most noticeable difference between this book and the others in the series is how much more interaction there is between the crew and other crawlers, especially the more notorious ones in the Top Ten. One thing I always find fascinating about post-apocalyptic stories is how events and circumstances change people, and there was plenty of that included in this storyline.

Ok, full disclosure time: while I still had fun, this was my least favorite book I’ve read in this series so far. The Iron Tangle was complicated on its own and made even more so by several different portals. It had trouble following it all, and eventually gave up. Also, there was a tendency to over explain certain aspects, while neglecting others, that left the pacing a little off for me.
Eventually, I gave up trying to understand and just went along with it.

This is one of those books that’s makes me wish I used a 1-10 scale instead of 1-5. I had a lot of fun with this book, but that’s what I expect when I read them, to have fun. I don’t expect to feel confused or even a wee bit frustrated with the plot. Wee bit frustrated = a wee bit off of my rating. Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
(Rounded up for NetGalley)

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley publishing for my free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

One-word review: Fascinating
Emojis: 🤭🫣😏
Rating: 5 🌟s

Favorite Character: In this third book in the series, I have to say my favorite character wasn’t Carl or Donut. It was actually Katia, who I loved seeing grow and become a force in her own right. I met her in book 2, where she was a bit of a wallflower - unsure how to use her powers, stand up to others, and what her role should be. In book 3, she learns to embrace her power with inner strength and self-confidence. Her transformation is truly inspiring, even if it meant Donut had to take a back seat.

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. I loved the overall tone of this installment. There were many positives to counter the increasing challenges, and the floor was extra fascinating—much more puzzle-like.

4. I didn’t learn as much about the aliens as I hoped to in this installment. I felt like that part of the world-building stalled, but not completely.

3. This is a story of survival, and the way it is portrayed is a testament to the author's skill. The themes that play into survival are covered so artfully that a reader might not even realize they are there. The resilience of the human spirit is a strong undercurrent, and I predict it will take the aliens by even more surprise than it already has.

2. There is still plenty of snark to make my sarcastic heart happy. However, it has died down primarily because Donut is a less prominent character. The achievements still make me laugh every time they are read.

1. The progression of humanity and Carl’s pivotal role in it was a narrative I particularly enjoyed. The question of whether they would succumb to the 'Lord of the Flies' route or be convinced to take a more Quixotic/Three Musketeers approach was a compelling one. The aliens' desire to see humanity turn against each other was a constant threat, but the potential for humanity to rise above it is a powerful theme.

Summary
Carl, Donut, and Mongo, now saddled with the shy Katia, are trapped in a level that's a commuter's worst nightmare, with dozens of underground and train lines traveling between nearly indistinguishable stations. And naturally all filled with monsters.
Review

I’ve taken to reading at least one unrelated book between series entries, but this time a) I found my chosen intervening book very slow going, and b) I was eager to get back to Carl and his adventures; it was just a lot more fun to read.

At this point, I do think the central conceit is starting to show its age a bit. We all know how these things are broadly going to go, and Carl and crew have received so many special items that Dinniman has to go out of his way to invent reasons not to use them. The seams are beginning to show.

It’s not helped by a level so complex that Dinniman starts the book with an author’s note saying “you won’t understand it, but don’t worry”. I haven’t cared too much about how the levels actually work in the past, but this one did seem a special level of ‘lacking a toehold’. Carl and crew get up to their usual shenanigans of killing monsters, etc., but the fun is starting to pall.

We do see the introduction of a new characters, some interesting player developments, and more development of the NPCs, which is welcome. I think I’ve got a pretty good grasp on where the series is headed, and it looks good and Dinniman has done a nice, reasonably subtle job of setup.

I do think the series is going to need to do something a little different in the coming books to ensure it doesn’t fall into an ever more predictable rut, but so far, so good.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

The wild ride continues in the 3rd book of Dungeon Crawler Carl!
The set up of the level is even more complicated than the previous ones. Honestly I didn't follow a lot of the train related references and the floor plan. But it doesn't diminish the fun and chaos of the dungeon and Carl's crazy solutions to each problem he faced!
In this book, we see more of the other crawlers and how everyone comes together. It's super enjoyable and look forward to more of Carl and Princess Donut's adventures!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!