Book Review: The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman (2024)

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Dungeon Anarchist’s CookbookbyMatt Dinniman

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre:Fantasy, Science Fiction

Series:Book 3 of Dungeon Crawler Carl

Publisher:Ace (October 22, 2024)

Length:544 pages

Author Information:Website

Dungeon Crawler Carl is the gift that keeps on giving. Just when I thought the series couldn’t get any better, it blows me away again with the third volume, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook. So many great moments in this installment, which is so far my favorite one yet, and I am excited to sing its praises.

A short recap: After the apocalyptic takeover of Earth by an alien conglomerate, Carl and his cat Donut have found themselves participating in a televised dungeon crawl with the surviving remnants of humanity. Making it through the first three levels in spectacular fashion has rocketed them up the social media charts, amassing them quadrillions of views and favorites, making them solid fan favorites. However, all this attention also has a downside. Making it to the top ten crawler list may mean more sponsorships and better loot, but it also paints a giant target on your back, making it more attractive to player-killers to collect your bounty.

As the book opens, Carl and Donut have made it to the fourth floor, called the Iron Tangle. True to its name, this level is once again different than the ones we’ve seen before, introducing a highly complex subway system made up of hundreds of trains and lines, all packed into a tight space. The cars are populated with new mobs and bosses, posing more dangerous and difficult challenges, and finding and accessing the stairways down to the next level will be harder than ever. Still, one positive side of a smaller map is that for the first time, crawler groups can interact and work together. New alliances are formed as Carl catches up with old friends, but unfortunately, his notoriety also makes him a magnet for schemes and suspicion. Despite knowing he can’t save everyone, that won’t stop Carl from doing everything he can to try.

Things just keep getting better as this third book ramps things up for Carl and Donut while striking an impressive balance between the author’s sense of humor and some surprisingly emotional moments. Furthermore, the one criticism I had with the previous book—namely its shift to a quest narrative, resulting in our protagonists working through a string of mini side adventures, mostly on their own—is happily not an issue here, with The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook returning readers to a plotline that is once more heavily focused on crawler-to-crawler dynamics.

The fourth floor of the dungeon also makes for a wild setting. Dinniman deserves credit for his attempt to explain the labyrinthine layout of the Iron Tangle, which features an eclectic mix of trains and systems from different worlds and timelines. Ultimately though, his efforts might not have been enough. While I’m sure it all makes perfect sense in his own head, translating it to readers is another matter. Visual aids such as maps or diagrams would have been extremely helpful here, because I confess I had trouble piecing together a clear mental picture in my mind. Still, even if you can’t wrap your head around it, the payoff in the end I worth the price of admission. It’s the boss fights and the sense of urgency that keeps the pages turning after all, not to mention Carl’s explosive methods of problem solving.

The other highlight of this book is the character development, which continues to be exceptional. Carl is proving himself to be more than just a stereotypical action hero, growing into a true leader. Donut’s character arc also takes an intriguing turn as we see her maturing in her own unique way. But the biggest treat of all is perhaps Katia, who joins the fray and becomes a major player in a big way. This book had me pumping my fists by the end of it, and she’s a huge reason why.

Hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with action, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook is filled with everything I loved about the first two books of Dungeon Crawler Carl and more, building upon the unstoppable momentum. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you’re missing out on one of the most entertaining LitRPGs around. Highly recommended to readers and gamers alike.