Quick note: I so enjoyed this series I’m doing a reread just in a different medium. I enjoyed book one of Dungeon Crawler Carl just as much the second time around. I really enjoyed my follow up questions so I left them as is. Seriously, what are you waiting on? Pick up this series!
Rate: 5/5
Medium: ebook/Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
I have a confession my friends. I am chagrined to admit that I not only judged a book by the title, I didn’t pick up that book despite my good friend who has never led me astray, recommending it. In early April, Cory messaged me telling me I should read Dungeon Crawler Carl and his only complaint with the book was that he lost track of time while reading it. Despite this high praise, I couldn’t get over the name. Then a month and a half later I stumbled across a reel discussing the four current classes that book lovers fall into: Red Rising, Stormlight Archive, Sarah J Maas….and Dungeon Crawler Carl. Having forgotten about the previous recommendation I made a flippant comment to Cory about how this book could be among such royalty. After being reminded about the former recommendation and that he was on book seven of the series, I promptly fixed my error, immediately downloading Dungeon Crawler Carl and not looking back once and recommending it to all of my friends and coworkers. I’m even pulling friend cards to peer pressure my friends to get beyond the title. I need more people to be talking about this book.
Needless to say, Dungeon Crawler Carl surprised me. I’ve read maybe one other LitRPG book over the years. In comparable reads, I would eventually gloss over the generated stats and blurbs, however in Dungeon Crawler Carl the snarky, fedish driven AI game controller is one of my favorite parts of this read. As I got further into the story, my eagerness grew with every new clever and crude description. Dinniman must have a whole separate book of ideas for game skills, achievements, or bosses tucked away. I can’t help but be curious at the ideas that didn’t make it or that he’s saving for later in the series. I am endlessly amused by the ways Dinniman fit random stereotypes into Dungeon Crawler Carl from hoarders and bootlegging to gym bros and pyramid schemes. My favorite would have to be a meth war between goblins and lava spewing bad llamas.
As the book is mostly just Carl and Donut we really get a gauge for who they are, especially our dearest Donut. I always have a soft spot for pet sidekicks, and Princess Donut might be one of my all time favorites. Carl initially comes across as very black and white and rather rough around the edges, but as he progresses throughout the dungeon we really start to see him shine as he does the right thing over and over again, often risking his own skin in the process. His depth of character is rich but other than brief, painful mentions of his Dad we get very little backstory for him.
In Dungeon Crawler Carl, Dinniman wastes no time in getting straight to the action. By page five we are fast forwarding right into Earth’s new reality, and Cory didn’t exaggerate when he said you would lose yourself in the story. I never stay up late reading anymore, due to the odds that one or both of my kids will have me up in the middle of the night. I would be reading Dungeon Crawler Carl every spare chance I could manage, grinding my way through the dungeon with Carl and Donut, eager to find out what precarious situation they would find themselves in next.
Other than Carl, Princess Donut, and the foot loving AI, my favorite part of this read is the fascinating worldbuilding. Dinniman creates a labyrinth that contains (infamous) elements of our own culture and merges it with fantasy and science fiction characters and themes that feel familiar. By the end of this read I was looking forward to finding out what clever creation Dinniman had tucked around the next corner.
Overall, I have been reminded in quite spectacular fashion to never judge a book by its title with Dungeon Crawler Carl being my favorite read of 2025.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- Who is Agatha? Is she from the other corporation, The Valtay? Why is she in the dungeon and why is she not showing up in the feeds and causing glitches? What are the pieces in Carl’s inventory? Did she save the people in the old folks home?
- Will the goblins show back up in the story after Carl killed their Boss and the babies?
- What changes will Carl and Donut choose for Floor 3?
- What are the ramifications of Donut’s tiara? What will it have to do with the Orc they thoroughly pissed off during the interview?
- When will Frank and Maggie catch up to them?
- If they make it to floor four will they get patrons?
- What happened to the people on the surface?
- What Brandon and his crew turn into for floor three? What about the old people?
- How will Mongo keep growing?
- What was the last piece of advice that Odette gave Carl and Donut?
- What is the history between Odette and Mordicai?
- Every time I read Mongo I think about the movie, Blazing Saddles.
The Critiquing Chemist 
I read the first installment and it was good but I haven’t started volume 2 yet. I found it entertaining and I probably need to get back to it before I forget too many details.
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