The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #6)[May 25, 2024]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Time to send a complaint :D

We've been waiting like antsy puppies for weeks..."

/agree :)

[Nirkatze]

Finally starting!!!! Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[Folklore based floor--and "Those of you in Japan are just fucked." LOL Yup. Holy crap but does Japan have EVERYTHING... Though the rest of East Asia isn't that much better, there's a lot of bleedthrough... a lot of Yokai are regional... but then you've also got Obake, which aren't... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Finally starting!!!! Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"

Welcome to almost be in the land of sadness with no new DCC book to look forward to next month.....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Finally starting!!!! Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"

Is Australia safe because there are no cryptids?... everything is just real :D and/or everyone is better prepared from living with drop bears and other real monstrosities :D

[Tonari no Emily]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "MY GOD these are good. Love the mix of serious, outrageous, disgusting, hilarity. "

I describe these books as stupid, ridiculous but wonderful <3 My IRL book club theme for..."

YES! I'm curious how they'll take it lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Finally starting!!!! Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"

Is Australia safe because there are no cryptids?... everything is just real :D and/or everyone is better prepared from living wi..."

They'd probably just go with the real things which are basically just as scary as the cryptids 😂

[Ann-Marie]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "MY GOD these are good. Love the mix of serious, outrageous, disgusting, hilarity. "

I describe these books as stupid, ridiculous but wonderful

YES! I'm ..."

I wish it was guaranteed to be the pick! We all have the option to nominate a book that fits a theme and then 3 are picked out of a hat and we vote on those so if my book isn't one of those picked then no DCC :(

[Nirkatze]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Finally starting!!!! Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"

Welcome to almost be in the land of sadness with no new DCC book to look forward to next month....."

WAAA YOU MADE ME CRY! ( ﾉД`)

Timelord Iain wrote: "Is Australia safe because there are no cryptids?... everything is just real :D and/or everyone is better prepared from living wi..."

Dittoing Emily... I have a feeling they'd snag Crocodile Dundee and Kung-Fu Kangaroos... maybe Swarm Bunnies... Tazmanian Devils....

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[I love the conversation in this chapter, on how the past is past, and Carl doesn't "want to be defined by what [he] can't control." And the River... "I'M STILL HERE. I'M ALWAYS HERE." I wonder if Carl has gone berserk in the past? And then "patches don't last." Good deep stuff--and a good message.

I also love that there are several former Handbook authors working with Carl's secretive "Peace" sponsors... and the way that one lady was trying to send Carl a message... nice tidbit on the bigger picture...

Earlier--I'm glad to have the backstory behind Odette & Mordecai... I wonder how long it will take Carl to find out...

Also wondering about the Orisha? I thought they were African gods... are Cuban beings also called the same? Or brought over? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[OMG Toxoplasma Gondii!! What a twist... I wonder why Donut doesn't have this ability--since she's more likely to ACTUALLY have those living in her... When P&A died I actually felt rather sad, unlike @Quinn... it wasn't quite Wandering Inn level of quick connection, but I did like them...

I'm glad that there's a plan now to get Katia & Donut divorced from the Sepsis Crown... but I don't like how it involves more secrecy. Secrets tend to rip people apart in this game... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[Go Donut!! I loved the insult-swapping at the meeting. She totally won that one... I was worried for a minute on how to respond to that codpiece threat, but she totally ripped him apart... I'll have to remember that line... I can just see her flirting her tail at him, a cat F-you. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[LOL Uzi Jesus... "I am the way, motherfucker." That had me cracking up in a grocery store... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 34 (view spoiler)[So, interesting tidbit--Sai means rhino in Japanese. So the Sai Rhinos are Rhino Rhinos.

Astrid's situation... they just keep finding more horrible crap about the whole situation... I hope that she isn't dead dead... and I wonder how getting killed will affect her "getting out soon."

The card game playing--like that person who looked like a little kid just flattening them--makes me think of Seasonal Fears--the Summer Queen who defeated her opponents by beating them at Pokemon... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

"Iowa and Idaho aren't even next to each other." LOL Just. Little things. Like this. These books are so much fun.

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 56 (view spoiler)[Just in case we thought we didn't already hate Kwon enough... when will that opportunistic little shit eat it? (hide spoiler)]

[Quinn]

Chapters 20-51. Meant to do an earlier update, but I forgot and I couldn't put the book down.

(view spoiler)[We're getting so much from this book. More universe lore, more AI shenanigans, more Carl internal disputes. While this entry feels very big, I'm also enjoying the relatively small scope of the challenges. We get to slow down in the 2nd phase to see how Carl and Donut are doing before big reveals inevitably happen.

I never thought about it before, but this whole series feels like a slow burn/slow drip of information and arcs. The plots are so well meshed and flows so well that, when looking back on the series, it kinda feels like one giant novel that just happens to be broken down into multiple books.

The AI finally breaking free is awesome and terrifying in one. I've loved it's antics from page one. I especially love how ambiguous it feels. It helps Carl out a ton of times, but it will just as much hinder and throw tantrums as it will help, which lends it a lot of depth for a character we never truly interact with.

There's really just so many things happening at this point in the book, the start of Part 3, that I can't even really put my thoughts to paper. My mind is scrambled.

Above all, I hope to see more of the Open Intellect Pacifist Network. Their motivations are clear, but what exactly their whole plan is is beyond me. There's clearly still more to it, so I suppose I have to wait and see. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 48 ... I never thought I would be so angry with Beatrice!!! And here I was feeling sorry for her in the last book!!! I am so pissed right now!!!

[Choko]

Samantha is so scarily unpredictable, but she is absolutely hilarious!!!:)))

[Ann-Marie]

Choko wrote: "Samantha is so scarily unpredictable, but she is absolutely hilarious!!!:)))"

I love her so much <3

[Choko]

This was... something! I love this series, but I am always left a bit bewildered when I finish each book... There is too much action at times and I wish we had more of the contemplative moments between our main characters... Actually, we got more than usual in this book, and that pleased my desire for the more personal touch, so I am satisfied. Still, as much as I adore Samantha and Donut and love every moment they are spotlighted, I wish we had more about some of the other members of our gang... I am guessing the author isn't really going into them, because all will probably die sooner rather than later, and I get that, but I think the payoff would be a stronger connection for the reader and thus a bigger emotional response once the inevitable happens... Still, I am having a blast listening to these and can't wait for the author to catch up with our demands for more!!!:)))

[Tonari no Emily]

Am sad we don't have another one to look forward to this month 😭

[Ann-Marie]

I agree but I do not see it being long before I do a re-listen lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah.. I want to try out the full cast ones.. I'm usually not a fan of those, but I'm intrigued!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Just saw a youtube short… Matt Dinniman agrees feet are gross… the foot fetish AI was a spur of the moment idea/joke about what the worst possible thing to happen would be in that first book, and it’s just become an ever-growing thing… and now people won’t stop sending him feet pics 🤣

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Just saw a youtube short… Matt Dinniman agrees feet are gross… the foot fetish AI was a spur of the moment idea/joke about what the worst possible thing to happen would be in that first book, and i..."

That is awesome! I mean terrible for him lol

[Choko]

Haha!!!!

[Nirkatze]

Ann-Marie wrote: "That is awesome! I mean terrible for him lol ..."

LOL

Finished a few days ago but been behind this week on all my commenting... (view spoiler)[Loved getting the Secret Agent Agatha insight in the epilogue... only makes me more curious to see more Extra-Dungeon stuff going forward--like with the Pacifist Network sponsors, and with that end-speech--The AI removing all protections for the factions next floor!! Carl is coming for them. They will get to learn what it feels like.

The Daughter's Kiss thing at the end... I felt like that tied into something I should remember but like Carl, totally forgot. Anyone have a refresher for me? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

More thoughts... (view spoiler)[Man, just as I was thinking that I hated Kwon, he dies... and his death... wanting his ring back, remembering his kid... almost makes me feel for him... until Carl loots him and finds all the stuff he's been taking off of other Crawlers he's either killed or led to their deaths. Asshole. But still. I love how Dinniman can create these people who we enjoy hating... and then twisting us by showing us they're only human... Like that Cookbook person said... they're all just trying to survive... But you can survive by making everyone a target, or survive by bringing everyone together as a team. I know which I'd prefer.

Holy shit that ending, with the Bedlam Bride taking over Carl and the eye.... I can't even... damn. When she saw the Cookbook, I was so scared.... No idea how that's going to turn out.

Favorite line: Donut: "I cast 'Why Are You Hitting Yourself' on Satan!" (hide spoiler)]

[Quinn]

For a week, I had covid, so I didn't continue reading until I was better. Now I've finally finished it.

(view spoiler)[The last 50 or so pages was completely insane. So many things happened that I'm having trouble remembering everything that happened. Well, now I understand the book's name. I love that it recieved a new context through the events of the last chapters. I thought it was just talking about her literal eye, since it drives people insane, but now it means the tattoo Carl was forced upon. Genius.

Everything going on in the series just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I can easily imagine how the next book will top this one in theatrics, action, etc. But after that? I have no idea what the 10th floor will look or feel like.

I like that things happen outside of Carl's view. The side characters have their own lives and consequences that impact the world and story. It makes it feel more fleshed out, if that makes sense.

I'm excited for the next book, to see how the AI will twist the rules, to see how Carl's revolution will expand, and, unfortunately, to see which characters won't make it. I don't see how there can't be a major death in the next book.

It took me 2 days after I finished to write this review, and I still feel like I haven't properly digested everything, so this feels a little lackluster, but this is absolutely a 4.5/5 (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I feel like I will re-read at some point entirely too soon and then again before the next book is released so I can be as fluent in this series as I am with TJ Klune's or KD Edwards' books <3

[Nirkatze]

It's a bit early to say this, but anyone want to join me in a reread next June? I'm TOTALLY making my local book club read the first one. I'll put a poke in my tracker if folks say sure.

Really appreciated your notes @Quinn! Does anyone remember how many floors there are supposed to be in the dungeon? What will Dinniman pull out of his hat next?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

18 floors less books… book 7 is floor 9, book 9 will be floor 12… who knows past that… floor 12 is the ascension of gods floor

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "It's a bit early to say this, but anyone want to join me in a reread next June? I'm TOTALLY making my local book club read the first one. I'll put a poke in my tracker if folks say sure.

Really ap..."

I should be ready for re-read #2 by next June lol

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "18 floors less books… book 7 is floor 9, book 9 will be floor 12… who knows past that… floor 12 is the ascension of gods floor"

Is that 18 floors for the series, or floor 18 is the final floor and any player who survives through it wins the dungeon (and planet back)?

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "18 floors less books… book 7 is floor 9, book 9 will be floor 12… who knows past that… floor 12 is the ascension of gods floor"

Is that 18 floors for the series, or floor 18 ..."

I think there are 18 floors total but no one has ever done it, right?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

No one has made it past beating floor 12, entering floor 13, and immediately making a deal to leave the dungeon…

[Ann-Marie]

I look forward to the day when I have this info available off the top of my head lol

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

My mind palace was built by hoarders... sometimes I can draw on the info at the drop of a hat... other times it's buried in Bird Facts...

[Nirkatze]

I read that as "bird farts"... >.<

[Ann-Marie]

Soooo there is a 100% chance I bought this lovely today. I called the store and was assured this was the autographed copy WITH a drawstring bag that says GODDAMMIT DONUT lol

https://www.ubookstore.com/Dungeon-Cr...

https://www.instagram.com/mattdinnima...

[Nirkatze]

Damn... I was going to buy a copy too... but then saw that shipping to Alaska and Hawaii costs more than the book. Total bull--it costs the same as anywhere else in the U.S. if you use regular post!

I'm going to wait and hope that when Dinniman does a kickstarter for #2 it'll have copies of #1 available to order...

Awesome catch, Ann-Marie! I hope you share pictures!

[Ann-Marie]

I'll definitely post pics and I subscribed to his patreon as well!

[Nirkatze]

Sweet!

[Nirkatze]

Book 7 has a cover reveal on Dinniman's Patreon! Title is "This Inevitable Run"

He asked folks not to share it yet as it's not finalized. If you're subscribed to his patreon you should be able to see it there though--it looks pretty cool!
(https://www.patreon.com/posts/book-7-...)

Donut's a bit hard to find but she's on there... and Carl's hair has gotten long...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I found the cover on google images... someone posted it to the subreddit yesterday, and it got removed for unallowed Patreon spoilers, but it's still in the google cache for image results... can't really zoom in and see Donut on top of the tower in the background tho... the google image is too blurry... the cover creates so many questions, tho...

[Ann-Marie]

Dinnaman posted the actual cover since the patreon folks kept posting the unfinished one:

https://old.reddit.com/r/DungeonCrawl...

[Nirkatze]

Tbh, it took me reading his post twice before I noticed the part where he asked folks not to share it.

He said that there's a spoiler hidden in the image...

[Ann-Marie]

Someone posted on the DCC reddit asked what Samantha would be like when she gets her body back and quite a few replied that she will kill their mother and each and every time I read it I heard the narrator screeching that in her voice lol

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Tbh, it took me reading his post twice before I noticed the part where he asked folks not to share it.

He said that there's a spoiler hidden in the image..."

A few are saying that the tattoo on his arm is new, looks like it is naga related? Some others were saying Bianca is flying without Pony so did something happen? I haven't started the book 7 chapters yet, I am considering a re-listen from book 1 first because I am a psycho lol

[Nirkatze]

If you can hold off, remember we have that reread scheduled for next June... ^_^

I too feel the pull...

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "If you can hold off, remember we have that reread scheduled for next June... ^_^

I too feel the pull..."

I can see myself re-reading now and then again next year. In the reddit post Dinniman said tentatively the ebook with be out later this year and the audio a few months later. Of course this is definitely not set in stone. I have also been considering getting the full cast audio of the first book, it's like $20.

[Nirkatze]

I think I'll give the full cast a try for next June. Sounds like a fun idea--in general I really like what Jeff Hayes has done with Soundbooth Theater.