The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

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Oof, this one too me a bit to get through – I enjoyed it, it was a fun read, but it felt like slog at times. I think perhaps this particular entry into the DCC universe was a bit too long for me. If it had been maybe a hundred pages shorter, this would have been perfect. We're getting some VERY interesting things set up, though, so I am very excited to get to the next book, which is the last one that's been released! After I read that one, I'll be caught up and I'll have to wait for the next book like everyone else. BOOOOOO.

Donut still reigns supreme, and Samantha is growing on me – I found her annoying in the first book she was in. I love seeing Carl just dominate pretty much every situation he's put into. He's a master at thinking on his feet, and it's so much fun to watch as the story moves on. I wasn't a huge fan of the Katia side-plot, simply because I didn't like seeing her in pain. I hope she gets an eventual resolution that makes her happy. She's had a rough go. I mean, they all have, but Katia is someone we've seen lots of.

Anyway, on to the next!

There is so much foreshadowing done in these books and clues to what is going on behind the scenes. I'm so excited to one day re-read these books and comment on how things were set up here or recognize what is actually happening and what the aliens are talking about.

So, so good and the next book is going to be E P I C. I'm dying to read it, but I'm also so scared haha.

I’m starting to recognize weaknesses in the writing. Dinniman has a habit of setting up big climactic moments only to knock them over. Which is fine, to an extent. But stop setting up big moments if you’re gonna knock them over

Also, I couldn’t stand the card-fighting. It didn’t work for me

It was quite good, but not quite as good as the last book. It did finish really strong though and I can't wait for the audio version of the next book to be out next month.

I've been binging this series in audio now for the past 2 months or so and I'm sad I'm not able to jump right into the next one.

The narration continues to be fantastic. I guess they are redoing the series as an audio drama with multiple narrators, but I'm good with just Jeff Hays. He's one of the best narrators I've listened to in quite some time.

This series is a lot of fun. The humor can be a bit sophomoric, which may turn off some folks, but it works pretty well for me.

If you haven't checked this series out yet and you like RPGs/heavy action fantasy series give this one a look.

Another whale-sized book, another read-through-the-night plot, more interesting characters and surprising twists. It's getting darker and sadder.

And the aliens' goings-on are taking up more of the pages. These my eyes glaze over, there are too many groups and members of those groups, too many mythologies, gods, demi gods, inferior gods that are sisters and wives of the same junior god. So confusing! I just slide over it and hope it doesn't trip me up somehow, later.

I'm caught up now. I think the latest book has just been released so I'll probably have to wait several years before the San Francisco library will let it out of there hands. I find it shocking that the nearest library that has this book in any format is on the other coastline from me!

Gotta catch em all...Uzi Jesus

4.50/5.00

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride is an excellent name for this book. Simply awesome. This book delivers a powerful punch and exceeds expectations for book 6 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. The authors fabricates a fun and innovative combat style in this book which is just pure fun. Like book 5, book 6 leans in the horror of this genocide committed by the villains. There are moments where I felt as hopeless as the crawlers. Matt Dinniman has finally managed to wrench the emotions from me that was always needed for this series.

The struggle between the mudskippers, the AI, the syndicate council, the faction teams and the crawlers is simply excellent and super fun. The ethical dilemmas in this book makes me pause and reconsider this book. Is this really just lit-RPG, or is it as deeply thematic as many science fictions stories? The book evokes anger and not just the genocide but the gleeful exploitation of the survivors. It also makes us think, can consumerism really take such a horrible path ? Is this a dramatic version of our future ?

Carl's character takes an important step ahead as the fellow crawlers recognize and admit the role he plays. He has become general Carl. I cannot wait to see the aliens get slaughtered in the next book. Princess Donut takes a step back in this book, which I am disappointed by, but its okay. I am torn as to what I want from the series. Is it better to stay in the dungeon and entertain ? Or is the political intrigue of the galaxy a better choice to quickly end the series. I am not sure. Based on the story so far, I believe we will spend several more books in the dungeon.

The plot for this book is top quality. Just excellent. So many unexpected twists and turns, so many hopeless moments mixed with moments of hope.

Now get out there and Kill! Kill! Kill!. This Cascadia needs to die a slow painful death.

Weakest one of the series so far. The last 20% or so were great, but this one dragged on too long for me. The gimmick on this floor was just annoying and we had way too many info dumps on this system, especially when it looks like it will be gone in the next book.

It seems like the overreaching story will finally start coming together soon, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next one.

9/10

Everything was cool, that is all I have to say.