Dungeon Crawler Carl

By Matt Dinniman

Book Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593820258
• ISBN13: 9780593820254
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

If you love video games, you’ll love this GUARANTEED😏 You’re welcome.

This was definitely giving me dungeon and dragons vibes (even though I never played it). I also started understanding what was going on around the 15page mark. I was thinking that it was written like a video game and I was right. Since I love video games, I loved this. It felt like I was playing a game in my head. I don’t know how Matt does it, whether he dreamt it or what, but I hope he keeps these books coming because THEY’RE AWESOME🥰🥰🥰 There were times when Donut irritated the heck out of me, especially when she turned into a self centered drama queen, but I tried to think of her as a child who just discovered she was good at something and felt it was necessary to brag. All in all though, I loved this book and I pray you give it a try.

Wow!

I went in blind starting this book. Had no idea what it was about, what kind of storyline it would have, or what kind of characters there would be. Boy was this a great way to get me out of a reading funk. If you are looking for a FUN book to laugh and enjoy without having to catalogue every detail, this is the book for you.

Finally aboard the hype train

Having heard about DCC through several friends, seeing Matt Dinniman's name constantly at nerd conventions, I finally dove in to the book series. I am with so many reviewers here in being disappointed in myself for taking so long to move this off my TBR. I had some ideas of what I thought this book was before going into it, and I'd say I was only 10% correct. This book is sassy, fun, and fast paced. Highly recommend.

OMG! Wow

Stop what you’re doing and read this book. Get completely engrossed in the series. Carl and Princess donut are your new favorite heroes. Trust me.

You will be hooked

This book series blends an apocalyptic, end of the world genre with comedy sci-fi roleplay. None of these were my individual genres before, but I’m now all in. The character depth is unreal and you will connect with them and their emotions before the end.

😍😍😍😍

This book is great I haven’t heard one bad review and Im just flying thru it

Can't believe I left this book sitting on my TBR so long!

Several people recommended Dungeon Crawler Carl to me and I put it on my TBR but took over a year to pick it up.... Big mistake! This has been an instant hit for me and such a veer from my normal genres but still amazing. Hilarious and creative! Totally worth the reward/listen whatever you choose. Try it, I highly doubt you will be disappointed!

Couldn’t put it down. Already ordered book 2.

As a D&D player and fan of the Hunger Games books, this was a perfect sweet spot for my tastes and interests. Funny, gross, exciting, and just the right amount of weird/unsettling to keep me reading late into the night when I know I should be sleeping. Can’t wait to get the next one!

This book is HILARIOUS, I can't believe it took me this long to read it!

A friend of mine told me about Dungeon Crawler Carl just around a year ago, and honestly I should've picked up a copy of it immediately after. I love Carl and Donut so much, the world is endlessly fascinating (and a little brutal,) and the writing is a very good mix of hilarious, horrific, and heartfelt. If you're reading this and you love D&D/ RPGs, cats with attitude and strong men in boxer briefs, go no further! Add this book to your cart and thank yourself later! 🥰

A fun read

The most diverting book I've read. Amazing character development and if you like D&D you will be addicted pretty fast

This book series will become your next obsession. Read it.

This LitRPG book contains a main character who spends the entire time walking around barefoot in his boxers, a talking award-winning show cat named Princess Donut and a televised alien game show. The amount of ridiculous elements that are contained within this book do not seem like they should realistically combine in such a perfect way. Yet that is exactly what Dungeon Crawler Carl delivers. Because within this framework of the completely unbelievable, Matt Dinniman creates extremely realistic characters and snapshots of human nature that bring a rawness to the book that drew me right in. As the characters are placed in increasingly ridiculous situations, their reactions remain realistic and I became highly invested in what happened to them. This book series will become your next obsession. Read it. 5/5 ⭐

So Addictive!

I will admit, I stayed away from this series at first because I was not a fan of the covers so much. When this series got a redo of the cover and my library actually got it, I knew I had to try and see what this about. And I was absolutely blown away! Carl and Princess Donut are the best team ever and I love how they are willing to do anything to stay together and help each other out in this crazy time of aliens who smooshed the structures on Earth and built a crazy dungeon under the surface for those lucky (or unlucky?) to have taken the pathways down. Be warned, this is highly addictive, a fast read because it is so hard to put down, and you will fall in love with Carl and Princess Donut!

Long live Donut!

Very fun read, action packed, dark humor, love Donut and Carl's relationship.

My favorite book series.

I bought them on Amazon when they were released but if you can get a deal on them thats cool also. Some people recommended the audio books I think the print is better.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

I got this book for a friend and it's hard to shop for him. He raved about how great the book was, it was soooo great he couldn't put it down and tried to read all thru the night. Now his birthday is coming and I know exactly what to get him, the series!