Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Author: Matt Dinniman

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3 stars

The Overview: The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition. You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what. Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show. Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not. –Goodreads

Dave’s Review:

Dungeon Crawler Carl is an entertaining and fairly original take on the fantasy genre, although I am not entirely convinced it has the depth or staying power to sustain a lengthy series. Matt Dinniman’s writing is very accessible, if also pretty basic. The premise requires a considerable suspension of disbelief, but once you accept the absurdity of the setup, there is plenty of fun to be had.

The novel follows Carl as he navigates a bizarre, deadly dungeon that has essentially turned the apocalypse into a televised game show. Much of the story revolves around video game mechanics, including levels, equipment, achievements, skills, and increasingly difficult challenges. In fact, at times it reads less like a traditional novel and more like someone describing an RPG, right down to the details of how the game works. This will probably appeal to readers who enjoy that sort of thing, but I occasionally found it a little too literal and repetitive. I enjoy video games myself, but I generally prefer to play them rather than read about them.

One of the more entertaining aspects of the story is Donut, Carl’s talking cat companion. I have a fondness for cats, so perhaps I am a little biased, but Donut adds some welcome personality and humor to the proceedings. The novelty of having a talking cat along for the adventure may eventually wear thin, just like some of the other gimmicks in the book, but for now I found her a lot of fun.

There is actually plenty of humor throughout, much of it deliberately juvenile and occasionally quite funny. The irreverent tone helps make an otherwise ridiculous premise work, and the characters and situations provide some genuinely entertaining moments. However, the jokes can become tiresome when the same sort of humor is repeated too often. The overall formula also starts to feel familiar fairly quickly, with Carl repeatedly encountering new challenges, acquiring upgrades, and finding increasingly creative ways to survive.

I can see the appeal of the series, particularly for readers who enjoy RPGs and video game culture. The writing is straightforward, the pacing is brisk, and the book never takes itself too seriously. Overall, Dungeon Crawler Carl is fun, undemanding entertainment. I plan to continue the series, but I will remain somewhat cautious about how long its central concept can hold my attention before the novelty wears off.