SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1)
This topic is about Dungeon Crawler Carl
99 views
Group Reads Discussions 2025 > "Dungeon Crawler Carl" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

Comments Showing 1-31 of 31 (31 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by SFFBC, Ancillary Mod (new) - added it

SFFBC | 938 comments Mod
Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)

User-submitted content warnings on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f...

(More about CWs here.)


Saar The Book owl | 181 comments I've just finished the second one and I'm hooked. The first one is more of an introduction, especially the beginning of the book.


Sherene Levert | 53 comments This was my 1st stab at LITRPG and I love it!!!!


Stewart Ireland | 28 comments This is my first time participating in BOTM, but since this book was already on my TBR list it's the perfect place to start. I've read the first 20% of the book and here are my impression so far:

The concept of the book is ludicrous but it doesn't take itself too seriously so it's good fun. I'm definitely the target market for the book as a long time player of Dungeons & Dragons as well as MMORPG video games like World of Warcraft. I recognise some of the references, jokes and nuances that I think people who don't play these games may miss. A lot of this first part of the book that I've read so far has been about explaining the "rules" and understanding the "world". I'm looking forward to the rest which I guess will be more about the adventure.

One thing I dont like much is the excessive use of swear words. Call me old fashioned but I would prefer it if it was toned down a bit.


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments Hi, just joined the group. I'm about 150 pages in and having a lot of fun with this book. I've never read LitRPG before and I'm not a gamer, but still good fun anyway. Big fan of Princess Donut!


Becky (beckyofthe19and9) | 1908 comments I blew through the audio for this and the second book in the series in 3 days. Such fun! I loved it, and but for my desire to not give Amazon any more money, I’d snatch up the whole dang lot of them. Alas, I’ll have to figure something else out.

One thing - can a mod fix the thread title? Should be “Carl”, not “Call”. 😁


message 7: by Melanie, the neutral party (new) - rated it 4 stars

Melanie | 1735 comments Mod
Becky wrote: "One thing - can a mod fix the thread title? Should be “Carl”, not “Call”. 😁"

Umm ... we were just checking ... to see if you'd notice ... yeah. (fixed)


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments I'm getting to the point they are about to go down to the next level. Really loving these two main characters. The baddies are disgusting though and I'm really not used to reading books with so much violence. However, I'm still having a fun time reading it. How is everyone else feeling about the book?


Becky (beckyofthe19and9) | 1908 comments Melanie wrote: "Becky wrote: "One thing - can a mod fix the thread title? Should be “Carl”, not “Call”. 😁"

Umm ... we were just checking ... to see if you'd notice ... yeah. (fixed)"





message 10: by CBRetriever (new) - added it

CBRetriever | 6270 comments the book was OK, but I'm not willing to purchase X more books to see the series to its conclusion


Michelle (michellehartline) | 3204 comments I really wanted to like this one but I realized that I'm not a fan of LitRPG stories. I did like Princess Donut, though.


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments CBRetriever wrote: "the book was OK, but I'm not willing to purchase X more books to see the series to its conclusion"
Same. Even though I'm having fun reading it, I don't see myself reading more in the series.


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments Michelle wrote: "I really wanted to like this one but I realized that I'm not a fan of LitRPG stories. I did like Princess Donut, though."
Yeah, she's my favorite. I'm a cat person anyway.


Ellen | 940 comments Princess Donut was my favorite too.


message 15: by Mike (new) - rated it 2 stars

Mike DeVito I bailed after 9 chapters. Not much plot, not much character development. Does it get better?


Becky (beckyofthe19and9) | 1908 comments I listened to the audiobook so I don’t really know what chapter 9 mean in terms of what’s going on in the story, but I can say that Carl and Donut both develop over the course of the book, both personally and “in-game”. Though the full story arc is the series, not just this book.

The plot, aside from “level up, don’t die”, is something that is made more apparent later in the story, and that’s also the impetus for Carl’s arc.

Whether it “gets better” is entirely relative to what you enjoy, your taste and patience and maybe sense of humor. I enjoyed it from the start, so I can’t say whether it gets better if you’re not enjoying it now. That’s okay though - not every book needs to be for everyone.


message 17: by Melanie, the neutral party (new) - rated it 4 stars

Melanie | 1735 comments Mod
The tone is consistent throughout.


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments Mike wrote: "I bailed after 9 chapters. Not much plot, not much character development. Does it get better?"

I agree about the tone.It's just killing baddies and leveling up. I do think we do get to know the characters more. Carl is really a good guy and he's saving people. He and Donut are hell bent on protecting each other. So, things do progress and change. Hope that wasn't too spoiler-ey


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments Becky wrote: "I listened to the audiobook so I don’t really know what chapter 9 mean in terms of what’s going on in the story, but I can say that Carl and Donut both develop over the course of the book, both per..."
Agree and well said. After reading your comment, mine was superfluous!


message 20: by Sarah (new) - added it

Sarah E B  ʚ♡ɞ (saraheb2011) | 14 comments It was a nice surprise and it is a nice break from LitRPG, which can blur into one another for a while.


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments I just finished DCC. I'm really surprised how much I enjoyed it! Loved our protagonists and the story really started to develop. Looking forward to learning more about Agatha. So, I will probably pick up the sequel at some point. I'm thinking I will switch to audio for these. I hear the narrator is excellent.


Becky (beckyofthe19and9) | 1908 comments Tracie, be cautious with the audio! When I checked my library, they have them, but they are AI read. :S

The audiobook versions that everyone raves about (which are admittedly VERY good) are read by Jeff Hays, and are exclusive to Audible.


Dennis Roobeek | 12 comments I was quite looking forward to this book, a book with 4.5 stars out of 138.000 reviews, that’s impressive. But I’m a bit disappointed. It is funny at times but certainly not hilarious. I agree Donut is a great character and I will keep going. I’m hoping for more now that I’m at the part where the second level down starts. I had to look up LitRPG :-) haha no idea. Maybe I’m simply more into epic stories


Becky (beckyofthe19and9) | 1908 comments How can you get more epic than CARL?? :P


Tracie (tracieayn) | 14 comments Becky wrote: "Tracie, be cautious with the audio! When I checked my library, they have them, but they are AI read. :S

The audiobook versions that everyone raves about (which are admittedly VERY good) are read b..."


Thanks for the info, Becky!


message 26: by Sarah, The Unsettled (new) - rated it 4 stars

Sarah | 3234 comments Mod
I am finally getting around to this. I’m having fun! I agree with someone else, I don’t know if it’s as hilarious as I expected based on other reviews but I do wonder if it’s because I’m not listening to the Audible version, I went with the hardcover.

I have laughed out loud a few times at some of the rewards and stuff. It’s been a welcome reprieve this week just that’s it’s managing to hold my attention and the pages are turning.


message 27: by Kim (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kim | 13 comments I didn't go into this book expecting much. I've never read any LitRPG, but I love fantasy and I am a gamer (RPGs being my favourite genre), so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this funny take on dungeon delving. I loved the sarcastic achievements and, of course, Princess Donut. I'll probably continue with the series and see how Carl and Donut make


Banshee (bansheethecat) | 230 comments I have only just finished the tutorial bit and I'm already obsessed. And I've never even been interested in RPG games! Now I understand why this series has so much hype.


message 29: by Sunni (new) - added it

Sunni I loved it! It’s super funny and goofy. The first book hooked me and I just finished the second one, and I’m obsessed. I got my husband hooked on it now too.


DivaDiane SM | 3717 comments I just got started on this yesterday and I’m racing through it. It’s fun! I am NOT a gamer, but I don’t live under a rock either, but to experience a game like this is great!


Dennis Roobeek | 12 comments The second half of the book was hard for me to get through. I couldn’t get myself to read much more than a chapter each day. It was the constant repetitions of the same idea. I have to admit it is quite creative to think of all these little and larger monsters and the endless gadgets with their descriptions and levels and points. And I guess if you enjoy the basic premise and concept, you have a whole series to look out for. That will not be me. I miss a dynamic storyline. I have given it 2 stars. I am so happy I can now start on the Anthony Ryan novel that has just come out.


back to top