PET

Check my full review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0G7LqgRIiZc

What immediately hooked me about this series is its perfect balance of absurdity and genuine character development. Carl and Princess Donut aren't just accumulating stats in a cosmic reality show dungeon; they're evolving as individuals forced to rely on each other in increasingly dangerous situations. Their dynamic is priceless - especially Princess Donut's sarcastic observations and stubborn all-caps messaging, while still behaving like the prize-winning, tiara-loving cat she is.

The world-building constantly surprises and entertains. Each dungeon level operates on unique rules, creating fresh challenges and unpredictable scenarios with physics-defying environments populated by bizarre hybrid creatures and memorable NPCs. Unlike other books that might rely heavily on nostalgia (like that shit book called Ready Player One), Dungeon Crawler Carl creates its own fascinating universe that asks deeper questions about capitalism, entertainment, and the value of human life while delivering consistently creative combat scenes.

I particularly appreciate how the series handles its video game elements. While stats, achievements, and power-ups are present, it never feels like you're reading about someone else's gaming session - the stakes are real, and the deaths permanent. The reality show framework adds another brilliant layer, with crawlers appearing on intergalactic talk shows and receiving sponsor gifts that further blur the line between entertainment and survival horror.

After devouring the first three books (about 1300 pages) in rapid succession, what keeps me coming back is how each book provides enough closure by completing a dungeon level while building anticipation for the next challenge. The fights are consistently entertaining with Carl's surprising solutions, and Jeff Hays' audiobook narration elevates the experience even further with distinct character voices and perfect pacing. Despite occasional graphic violence and dark humor, the series maintains an irresistible momentum that makes it impossible to put down.

Ok so. I forced myself to read 210 pages out of the ~700. I think it's one of those books that people in the past said that it was good, and now everyone else (almost) have to say it's good so they don't fall out of the bubble.

Basically, the setting seems interesting. It starts a bit confusing but it's ok because you just started the book. Then you go into a “short story” about some priest. 120 pages of short story. Only about 10 are interesting.

Finally the story ends. Things get a bit interesting again ... and then a new guy comes to tell his story. Yet again I get random details that don't matter, yet again I get new characters to remember, new locations... this is the moment I said “nope”.

I will just read a plot summary and be done with it.

DNF at 47%

Videi with my impressions here: https://youtu.be/GqgvW_4t__I?si=oPzkALsXSooqwZMS

When is this going to get good?? 🫣

Really good book. It hooks you in from the first 30 pages.

(I wrote this review about 5 years ago when I first finished the book. I'm just copy/paste this here. I would try to write the review in a more “professional” manner but it's not worth my time)

The first book was ok. Even that it had similarities with Star Wars and The Wheel of time, even that it had actions that made you think .... WHY?? it was short and ok to read.

The second book was LONG and booooring. I mean, it was SOOOOOOOoo boring.

Ok the 3rd book is out. The price is even higher that the other books. Yea yea it's a best seller.

So what do we get? An even longer book. A book that attacks your intelect. Stupid dialogs. The only interesting part of the book are the last 50 pages.

Eragon it's still an %%#hole. Yea his a teenager. That's how teenagers behave. But come on. YOU (Eragon) are an KNIGHT. You have power. People put your hopes in you and you are still an arogant prick. People tell you don't behave as you should but YOU STILL don't listen.

If you are maximum 15 years old, or this is the only book you'v read, this is an awasome book. If not, you will just get anoyed. VERY annoyed.

I'm not going to give up exact examples because of spoilers, but you will see dialogs like this:

- Hey. Let me heal your wounds!
- No. There are others who may need help.
- But man! Look at your wounds. It will only take a ...
- I SAID NO! Leave me alone!
- But look at you!
- Ok but do it fast.

——–

Belive me. You will read something like this in the book.
It seems everyone is a prick in this book. They all defy superior's orders.

Not to mention this is the type of the book you know GOOD will win. It's just a mather of time.

I don't feel like there is WAR. Galbatorix can attack in any moment. They can attack and YOU KNOW you are not prepared. Nooo. They have time to love. They have time to disobey orders. They have time to QUESTION the orders. I bet they know they will win anyway.

P.S. For the people who praise the last 50 pages. Yea. They weare nice. But 50 pages are not 760 pages.