The training levels are over, and the real game begins. Carl and Princess Donut have made it to the third floor, where the stakes are higher, the dungeon is deadlier, and a new problem has emerged: Quests.
The Over City, a sprawling metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity, holds secrets they need to uncover. An undead circus prowls the ruins. Murdered women rain from the sky. And Carl still needs to find some pants.
Publishing year:Â 2024
Page count:Â 384
The Reading Experience
I finally got around to reading the second book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and it was every bit as fun as the first one. The story picks up right where book one left off and keeps the same chaotic, laugh-out-loud energy going full throttle. I honestly could not stop grinning.
If you have not started this series yet, do not let the LitRPG label scare you off. Yes, it stands for literary role-playing game, and yes, that sounds niche. But dismissing it on those grounds would be doing yourself a disservice. What Dinniman actually delivers is a brilliant, character-driven story wrapped in a genre-bending mix of post-apocalyptic science fiction, RPG mechanics, and reality TV satire. It sounds like it should not work. It absolutely does.
The writing pulls you along effortlessly. Dinniman knows how to keep a plot moving without sacrificing the characters, and that is where this series really shines. Carl and Donut are still the chaotic heart of the story, but I am starting to see new side characters take shape, and I get the feeling the cast is only going to get more interesting from here. I am already curious about who might end up joining the team.
This series is just pure, unfiltered fun. I am enjoying every minute of it and cannot wait to dive into the next book.
Summary
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario delivers exactly what you want from a sequel: more chaos, more laughs, and more of what made the first book so addictive. Dinniman keeps the momentum going without missing a beat, and the world only gets richer. If book one hooked you, book two will not let go.
Read it if: You loved book one and want more of the same chaotic, character-driven energy. Or if you skipped the first book because LitRPG sounded weird. Seriously. Give it a chance.
Skip it if: You did not like Dungeon Crawler Carl. This one will not change your mind.
Content Warnings
- Violence and gore
- Death
- Body horror (undead, mutilation)
- Strong language
This is where I’ll be sharing my review of the first book.
