Dungeon Crawler Carl Review

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

I gave Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 3.75 stars. I’m officially hooked—this book is weird, chaotic, and incredibly intriguing in a way that makes it hard to put down.

This was such a unique reading experience. The concept alone is wild, and the execution keeps you constantly wondering what could possibly happen next. It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and leans heavily into dark humor, which made it really entertaining overall.

That said, there is quite a bit of crude language and some bizarre, uncomfortable elements that didn’t always land for me. At times it crossed into territory that felt more weird than funny, and it definitely pulled me out of the story here and there.

“NEW ACHIEVEMENT! You survived something horrible. Again. Reward? The sweet, sweet knowledge that it’s only going to get worse.”

Princess Donut absolutely stole the show for me. She is the book. Every scene she’s in is better, funnier, and more memorable. Her personality, attitude, and commentary brought so much life to the story that I found myself looking forward to her parts the most.

Carl is a solid main character, and I liked him overall. He’s grounded, loyal, and easy to root for, though I did find myself a little surprised by how soft he seemed at times given his military background. That said, it also makes sense in its own way and adds to his relatability.

Despite a few elements that weren’t my favorite, I’m definitely invested. The world is too interesting and the characters too engaging not to keep going.

“You will not break me,” I said. “We’ll see about that,” the dungeon replied.

If you’re okay with crude humor, some oddball moments, and a very unconventional story, Dungeon Crawler Carl is absolutely worth picking up. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.