Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl #1

Author: Matt Dinniman

Genre: Adult, fantasy, sci-fi, apocalyptic, adventure

Publication date: September 2020

Published by: Ace

Source: Purchased hardcover

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis: 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.

Includes part one of the exclusive bonus story “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.”

My rating: ★★★★⯪

I had been seeing a lot of my friends on Goodreads raving about this series, and one day while I was at B&N I saw this book, and I was like, "Hey thats the one!" The new neon cover is what definitely caught my attention. But I'm glad to have finally gotten on the bandwagon because I had a lot of fun reading it!

You know the tagline "The apocalypse will be televised"? That's basically the story. Lol. Aliens descend upon Earth, collapse all the buildings, and throw all the survivors into this RPG-style dungeon where they will not only fight for their lives but also fight to win back Earth's resources. And it will all, indeed, be televised. Lol.

I leaned back in the chair. I'm on an alien television show. Holy shit.

I really liked this concept! It was so much fun and action-packed! And we all know how much I love my action. Lol.

There were also some weird alien creatures they had to fight, a psychotic AI that was obsessed with Carl in the weirdest way, and Carl's dramatic cat, Princess Donut, whom I loved with all my heart 😆

This was just fun and chaotic and so freaking funny! I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing how this series progresses.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊