Carl's Doomsday Scenario: Dungeon Crawler Carl book 2 by Matt Dinniman Book Review

Dungeon Crawler Carl 2: Carl's Doomsday Scenario. Recently, I started diving into the Dungeon Crawler world. I had heard a lot about it and was looking for a series to sink my teeth into. I didn't realize until recently that I had books one through four in my audiobook collection in Audible. I am about to start book four, but I need to record book two, and then probably book three. I have finished books two and three so far and am trying to pace myself because I have other NetGalley books to read.

In this book, the training levels have concluded, and now the game truly begins. Ratings and reviews are off the charts. The dungeon gets more dangerous each day. In a grinder designed to chew up and spit out crawlers by the millions, Carl and Princess Donut need to work harder than ever to survive. The Over City is a sprawling, once thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. These streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus roams the ruins, murderous prostitutes rain from the sky, and an ancient spell is ready to reveal its dark purpose. Carl still has no pants. They call it Dungeon Crawler World. For Carl and Donut, it's anything but a game.

I understand why this book series has such a phenomenal following. I have really enjoyed the chaos, adventure, and whimsy of this world. The book pokes fun at pop culture and modern society, and in my opinion, it is whimsical. It is absolutely fantasy, sci-fi, fiction, humor, and dystopia as well.

I kind of wish I had gone to the Matt Deniman table when he was at Dragon Con in Atlanta this past Labor Day weekend. I only went one day this year, but I have already bought my five-day pass for next year. I am hoping he comes back so I can get an autographed book. I missed that opportunity, not only for Matt Deniman but for Tek King Fischer as well. Dragon Con is so big that I never made it to the building with the authors, which was bad time management on my part.

There is a lot going on in Dungeon Crawler Carl number two. In book number one, we addressed levels one and two. Now, the crawlers are given a certain number of days to make it through levels and find the next staircase. Carl and Donut are doing pretty well. They are leveling up and amassing a following with their chaos and are becoming people to watch. No one else has a cat like Princess Donut. Carl runs around barefoot in his boxer shorts, a beat-up leather jacket, some accessories, toe rings, and tattoos.

Once entering this particular level, it feels more like a city scenario. Carl accidentally agrees to take on his first quest, which Morai does not want him to take. In book number one, Morai acted as their guide in safe rooms. At each level, they could find him and talk about dungeon details. When they reach level three and choose their player races and classes, Carl picks Primal. His appearance does not change much. Princess Donut picks Cat and is very proud to be a cat. Other players have chosen different forms.

Morai is forced into a frog-like race in book three, but this book focuses on book two. Morai becomes Princess Donut's manager because she chooses a child actor class with lots of charisma. Now, instead of them finding Morai, he follows them, appearing when they enter a safe room. He is an NPC but still sentient and somewhat indestructible.

Carl chooses an anarchy class, which fits with his chaotic tendencies and the theme of wanting to overthrow the corporation running the show. One major obstacle involves dismantling a creepy circus with a skull-faced bear on roller skates. The quest Carl accidentally takes leads him to help an NPC concerned about women being killed. It ends up being a huge quest with many events tied to it.

Gum Gum hires them for what could be called the raining prostitutes quest. Gum Gum cleans up after the bodies and checks if they are alive. Carl and Donut feel bad about it. Morai warned them not to get involved, but he often tells them that. His level of compassion seems lacking. Carl and Donut care about the people who are in the dungeon with them. Carl is adamant that this experience will not break him or change who he is, and I really like that about him.

I completely understand why this series has such a phenomenal following. It is captivating and hard to put down. Chelsea, a reviewer on Goodreads, said the narrator deserves a raise.

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