literary gluttony

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

If the first Dungeon Crawler Carl was a chaotic banquet of absurdity and adrenaline, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario feels like the morning-after buffet—still satisfying, still wild, but a bit slower to refill the trays. Dinniman continues his unhinged blend of humor, brutality, and heart, throwing Carl and his cat companion back into the game-like hellscape that made the first installment such a cult hit. The world expands, the stakes rise, and the blood still flows in generous quantities—but the pacing occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own cleverness.

Carl remains the same reluctant hero we love: equal parts snark and stubborn resolve. His dynamic with Donut continues to be the emotional backbone of the story, offering sharp wit and surprising tenderness amid the chaos. But this time around, there’s a noticeable heaviness to the humor—a sense that the punchlines are landing in a darker, more twisted world. Some of that tonal shift works beautifully; other moments feel like they’re chasing the high of the first book’s originality.

Dinniman’s imagination is still on full blast, conjuring bizarre monsters, layered dungeon politics, and new ways to make readers laugh right before making them wince. Yet the pacing occasionally feels uneven, especially in the middle stretch, where the momentum dips in favor of exposition. It’s a risk that pays off in world-building, but it might test readers who crave the breathless pace of book one.

Still, when Carl’s Doomsday Scenario hits, it hits hard—funny, gory, and gleefully unpredictable. It’s a sophomore entry that doesn’t quite hit the perfect combo, but it’s still a wild ride worth taking if you loved the first.

Devour or Nibble: Nibble. It’s a solid second course—rich, weird, and enjoyable—but not quite the all-you-can-eat chaos of the first plate.