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Dungeon Crawler Carl #4
The Gate of the Feral Gods
New Achievement! Total, Utter Failure.
You failed a quest less than five minutes after you received it. Now that’s talent.
A floating fortress occupied by warrior gnomes. A castle made of sand. A derelict submarine guarded by malfunctioning machines. A haunted crypt surrounded by lethal traps.
It was supposed to be easy. One bubble. Four castles. Fifteen days. Capture each one, and the stairwell is unlocked.
Here's the thing. It's never easy. Carl and his team can't go it alone. Not this time. They must rely on the help of the low-level, I-can't-believe-these-idiots-are-still-alive crawlers trapped in the bubble with them. But can they be trusted?
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the fifth floor of the dungeon.
You failed a quest less than five minutes after you received it. Now that’s talent.
A floating fortress occupied by warrior gnomes. A castle made of sand. A derelict submarine guarded by malfunctioning machines. A haunted crypt surrounded by lethal traps.
It was supposed to be easy. One bubble. Four castles. Fifteen days. Capture each one, and the stairwell is unlocked.
Here's the thing. It's never easy. Carl and his team can't go it alone. Not this time. They must rely on the help of the low-level, I-can't-believe-these-idiots-are-still-alive crawlers trapped in the bubble with them. But can they be trusted?
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the fifth floor of the dungeon.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2021
5,004 people are currently reading
13.6k people want to read
About the author
Matt Dinniman
20books6,530followersMatt Dinniman is the best-selling writer and artist from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is the published author of dozens of short stories and a gaggle of books. In addition, his art publications—from greeting cards to stationery kits to calendars—can be found in boutique and stationery shops around the world. Also, he strongly feels like a pretentious twat when he writes about himself in third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,229 reviews
December 8, 2023
While it still has the charm from the previous books, it was a bit of a mess with way too much going on, and ultimately filled with quests that didn't engage me as much as the previous books in the series.
January 23, 2025
I'm so glad I found this series.
I love Carl and Donut more with each book.
This one is just as great as the previous ones, and what a cliffhanger!
I love Carl and Donut more with each book.
This one is just as great as the previous ones, and what a cliffhanger!
March 4, 2025
Continues to be a bizarro kind of fun. This is the one where the current dungeon survivors have to fight their way to the center of four different biomes.
Still has moments of humor, mostly with Donut the cat, who is absolutely letting the power go her head.
“Well they’re terrible at it,� Donut said. “I mean, really. If they can’t even manage to kill one human who doesn’t wear pants, how can anyone expect them to control an intergalactic empire? No offense, Carl.�
Dinniman gets some more thoughtful notes in as well:
“It felt like the wrong lesson, especially now. But that’s what happens, isn’t it? The universe shows us how cruel it can be, and we are worse for it.�
But every time we start to bog down too much in the tragedy–after all, people are dying as they make their way in this video game fantasy–we get pulled out with the absurdity. The continued presence of Samantha, the talking head of the demigod, and Mongo, the dog-like dinosaur, are particularly good at defusing.
“Mongo vomited the corpse� and then ate it again. “Wait,� I gasped. “We need to loot � inventory.�
“I got it all the first time he barfed …up, …� Donut said.�
One of the interesting points of the series is the voice. Normally told first-person from Carl, it’s solid. Occasionally there is some phrasing or speech that has me mentally scratching my head, but truthfully, I think that’s because Dinniman gets too close to real life. Let’s be honest: people don’t talk the way they do in books. Speech is messy.
“She was acting normal, which was absolutely abnormal in this situation.�
The plotting gets a little bananas at the end as they finally complete their own biome but then consider the problem of completing the other three. Honestly, I started to feel exhausted at that point. It was like watching a Hollywood thriller, à la Speed, which goes from the first and lengthy problem-solution to ever more escalating (read: ridiculous) scenarios. This crescendo was followed by a couple chapters of aftermath and dungeon. The in-the-moment character narration shifted for this section, losing any traction the story had regained. It truly felt like should be an in-between novella, deserving of a dive into Carl’s ‘burn-it-all-down� mentality.
Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to genre fans. I just needed a break before continuing.
Still has moments of humor, mostly with Donut the cat, who is absolutely letting the power go her head.
“Well they’re terrible at it,� Donut said. “I mean, really. If they can’t even manage to kill one human who doesn’t wear pants, how can anyone expect them to control an intergalactic empire? No offense, Carl.�
Dinniman gets some more thoughtful notes in as well:
“It felt like the wrong lesson, especially now. But that’s what happens, isn’t it? The universe shows us how cruel it can be, and we are worse for it.�
But every time we start to bog down too much in the tragedy–after all, people are dying as they make their way in this video game fantasy–we get pulled out with the absurdity. The continued presence of Samantha, the talking head of the demigod, and Mongo, the dog-like dinosaur, are particularly good at defusing.
“Mongo vomited the corpse� and then ate it again. “Wait,� I gasped. “We need to loot � inventory.�
“I got it all the first time he barfed …up, …� Donut said.�
One of the interesting points of the series is the voice. Normally told first-person from Carl, it’s solid. Occasionally there is some phrasing or speech that has me mentally scratching my head, but truthfully, I think that’s because Dinniman gets too close to real life. Let’s be honest: people don’t talk the way they do in books. Speech is messy.
“She was acting normal, which was absolutely abnormal in this situation.�
The plotting gets a little bananas at the end as they finally complete their own biome but then consider the problem of completing the other three. Honestly, I started to feel exhausted at that point. It was like watching a Hollywood thriller, à la Speed, which goes from the first and lengthy problem-solution to ever more escalating (read: ridiculous) scenarios. This crescendo was followed by a couple chapters of aftermath and dungeon. The in-the-moment character narration shifted for this section, losing any traction the story had regained. It truly felt like should be an in-between novella, deserving of a dive into Carl’s ‘burn-it-all-down� mentality.
Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to genre fans. I just needed a break before continuing.
August 4, 2024
If your main characters aren't putting the beat down on feral gods running amok in a local void bubble run by a lunatic AI gamemaster with a foot fetish by lobbing rage-filled demi-gods trapped in the severed head of a rough looking sex doll with a magical jai alai xistera, are you really reading?
Consistently creative, never predictable, and always fun, DCC continues a wild run. Great summer reading!
Consistently creative, never predictable, and always fun, DCC continues a wild run. Great summer reading!
March 8, 2025
My first Dungeon Crawler Carl experience of 2025.... Good to be back!
Whilst The Gate of the Feral Gods did not introduce as many unique, new elements to keep the story and the 'dungeon' experience as fresh as the previous instalments, it was still an enjoyable read. I hope for an injection of a fresh turn in the next instalment, and trust Dinniman to keep Carl's journey entertaining.
As always, the writing style was addictive, the audiobook experience immersive and the characters unique.
Whilst The Gate of the Feral Gods did not introduce as many unique, new elements to keep the story and the 'dungeon' experience as fresh as the previous instalments, it was still an enjoyable read. I hope for an injection of a fresh turn in the next instalment, and trust Dinniman to keep Carl's journey entertaining.
As always, the writing style was addictive, the audiobook experience immersive and the characters unique.
February 28, 2025
“A distant part of me was alarmed at this attitude. But this was war, and there was no use pretending like it wasn’t.�
“This I swear on my life. One by one, I will break you. I will break you all.�
That epilogue though?? I KNEW IT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Carl marry me ily 💋💋
“Oh shit, oh shit,� Louis said. “What’re we going to do? Cat, you gotta teleport us out!� “Cat?� Donut said. “I am Princess Donut, you buffoon!�
“Target any healers within range� or “Target anyone who thinks it’s okay to put mayonnaise on hotdogs.�
“The next achievement came in the AI’s creepy, I’m-touching-myself-and-smoking-a-cigarette voice. New Achievement! Smushed for Daddy.�
“Puppies shouldn’t ever share a world with pain. Yet here we are. Thanks, earth culture.�
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love how the covers of this series progressively get more and more unhinged and iconic💅
PRINCESS DONUT I MISSED YOU 💛💛
“This I swear on my life. One by one, I will break you. I will break you all.�
That epilogue though?? I KNEW IT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Carl marry me ily 💋💋
“Oh shit, oh shit,� Louis said. “What’re we going to do? Cat, you gotta teleport us out!� “Cat?� Donut said. “I am Princess Donut, you buffoon!�
“Target any healers within range� or “Target anyone who thinks it’s okay to put mayonnaise on hotdogs.�
“The next achievement came in the AI’s creepy, I’m-touching-myself-and-smoking-a-cigarette voice. New Achievement! Smushed for Daddy.�
“Puppies shouldn’t ever share a world with pain. Yet here we are. Thanks, earth culture.�
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love how the covers of this series progressively get more and more unhinged and iconic💅
PRINCESS DONUT I MISSED YOU 💛💛
February 1, 2025
At this point, all I feel I know how to do is LIVE, LAUGH, CARL 💖
”now get out there and kill, kill, kill!�
I never want this series to end, but the bigger plot is really seeping into this book and I can see the end is coming 😭
May Carl make them all suffer 😈
”now get out there and kill, kill, kill!�
I never want this series to end, but the bigger plot is really seeping into this book and I can see the end is coming 😭
May Carl make them all suffer 😈
Currently reading
April 27, 2025Reading
Listen, I'm just gonna leave this here cause I couldn't resist. How I love to waste time 😂
Pre-read
I'm fangirling on Carl by now.
I vote we add him to the list of Fantasy Book-boyfriends 👀
Listen, I'm just gonna leave this here cause I couldn't resist. How I love to waste time 😂
New Achievement! Smushed for Daddy.
You have been stepped upon by a deity. You have survived the encounter. And while this wasn’t the pink-fleshed suppleness of a human-shaped foot that crushed your fragile, wet body, it’s nice sometimes to switch things around. You know, just to test the boundaries of your own limits. When one experiments, oftentimes one finds new and exciting ways to get that rush.
While fun, it wasn’t quite the same. You probably don’t realize how lucky that is for you.
Reward: You have received a Platinum Spicy Box.
Pre-read
I'm fangirling on Carl by now.
I vote we add him to the list of Fantasy Book-boyfriends 👀
March 23, 2025
★★★★� 5/5
� (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ�) � Note : This review will be short and quick as I don't want to ruin the beauty of this experience for anyone else!
The Gate of the Feral Gods is book four in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and is just proof that it IS possible for authors to make a series better and better with each new installment, because wow, this was incredible.
As usual, I don't want to make this review super long or too in depth because I think this series is better experienced through reading/listening to it yourself rather than anything I could tell you in these reviews.
: ̗̀� My Review Rants
This book picks up on the fifth floor of the Dungeon, where every crawler is grouped up and put in bubbles that essentially lock them in and they are forced to destroy 4 castles in order to pop their bubble. Sounds simple, right? Only, those four castles are on four different planes - one in the sky, one on the ground, one submerged in water, and one at the floor-level of the ocean. And where you're sent upon arriving in the dungeon may determine just how fast you die if you get put in a bubble that is just working against you from the beginning - that's Carl, Donut, and Katia's bubble.
This was such an incredible journey. I felt like I was returning home after a long vacation and my heart warmed immediately jumping into this. I love Carl, Donut, Mongo, and Katia more than I need air to fill my lungs and keep me alive. This journey is now mine as well and I can't wait to go with them, floor-by-floor, as they absolutely shit on the Borint Corporation.
Carl's mental fortitude is rapidly getting worse, and he is going to extreme measures to get his point across, AND I SUPPORT HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!!! I may support women's wrongs, but I also support Carl's wrongs.
Also, the ending/epilogue. I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW IT! I'M SO EXCITED TO START BOOK 5.
: ̗̀� Final Thoughts
5-beautiful-shiny-brilliant stars for this masterpiece. This series truly gets better the further in I go and I couldn't ask for anything better to experience. On to book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade, I go!
: ̗̀� Series Reviews
Check out my reviews for the other books in this series:
Dungeon Crawler Carl : Book 1
Carl's Doomsday Scenario : Book 2
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook : Book 3
The Gate of the Feral Gods : Book 4
The Butcher's Masquerade : Book 5
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride : Book 6
This Inevitable Ruin : Book 7
“I had multiple, passive, low-tier stealth movement abilities that never worked for shit because I traveled with a dinosaur and a talking cat, but I hoped it would help cover my passage now.�
� (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ�) � Note : This review will be short and quick as I don't want to ruin the beauty of this experience for anyone else!
The Gate of the Feral Gods is book four in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and is just proof that it IS possible for authors to make a series better and better with each new installment, because wow, this was incredible.
As usual, I don't want to make this review super long or too in depth because I think this series is better experienced through reading/listening to it yourself rather than anything I could tell you in these reviews.
: ̗̀� My Review Rants
“We have to kill these things anyway, so if the AI wants you to kill in a certain way, I don’t see why it matters. This is just like one of those agility courses that Miss Beatrice used to insist I complete at all the regional cat shows. I did not like doing it, and I never ribboned of course, but I knew if I did well, I would get an extra brushing that evening. We are all prostitutes in one way or another, I suppose.�
This book picks up on the fifth floor of the Dungeon, where every crawler is grouped up and put in bubbles that essentially lock them in and they are forced to destroy 4 castles in order to pop their bubble. Sounds simple, right? Only, those four castles are on four different planes - one in the sky, one on the ground, one submerged in water, and one at the floor-level of the ocean. And where you're sent upon arriving in the dungeon may determine just how fast you die if you get put in a bubble that is just working against you from the beginning - that's Carl, Donut, and Katia's bubble.
This was such an incredible journey. I felt like I was returning home after a long vacation and my heart warmed immediately jumping into this. I love Carl, Donut, Mongo, and Katia more than I need air to fill my lungs and keep me alive. This journey is now mine as well and I can't wait to go with them, floor-by-floor, as they absolutely shit on the Borint Corporation.
Carl's mental fortitude is rapidly getting worse, and he is going to extreme measures to get his point across, AND I SUPPORT HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!!! I may support women's wrongs, but I also support Carl's wrongs.
Also, the ending/epilogue. I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW IT! I'M SO EXCITED TO START BOOK 5.
: ̗̀� Final Thoughts
5-beautiful-shiny-brilliant stars for this masterpiece. This series truly gets better the further in I go and I couldn't ask for anything better to experience. On to book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade, I go!
“Orthrus. The most loveable hell-hound on this side of Alpha Centauri. The left side is for sniffin� and the right side is for lickin� and that pink belly of his? It’s for kissin�.�
“Target any healers within range� or “Target anyone who thinks it’s okay to put mayonnaise on hotdogs.�
“New Achievement! You’re the reason why daddy drinks! You have, for an unspecified reason, raised the ire of the System AI. You have corrected the issue, and everything is back to normal. The acceleration action has been suspended. This time. Good boy. Reward: You’ve received a Gold Makeup Sex is the Best Sex box.�
“Puppies shouldn’t ever share a world with pain. Yet here we are. Thanks, earth culture.�
: ̗̀� Series Reviews
Check out my reviews for the other books in this series:
Dungeon Crawler Carl : Book 1
Carl's Doomsday Scenario : Book 2
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook : Book 3
The Gate of the Feral Gods : Book 4
The Butcher's Masquerade : Book 5
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride : Book 6
This Inevitable Ruin : Book 7
November 5, 2023
4.75 stars.
This was amazing! Fantastic floor setup. Love that the floor had 4 parts for variety. It made the plot much more interesting given that it’s just one floor per book.
The action was great. The pushback by Carl against the Borant was great. Loving the snippets from the Cookbook. The author should totally write the whole book and publish it as a companion with info added in from Carl.
The only negative in the book is the dead queen storyline which felt messy.
Fucking loved the setup for the next floor. Very excited.
This was amazing! Fantastic floor setup. Love that the floor had 4 parts for variety. It made the plot much more interesting given that it’s just one floor per book.
The action was great. The pushback by Carl against the Borant was great. Loving the snippets from the Cookbook. The author should totally write the whole book and publish it as a companion with info added in from Carl.
The only negative in the book is the dead queen storyline which felt messy.
Fucking loved the setup for the next floor. Very excited.
January 7, 2025
TL;DR: after the convoluted train plot of book 3, a nice return to form here with a really fun level, solid supporting characters and relationship conflicts, and some really exciting action scenes and twists. It still gets a bit bogged down in gameplay and rules (and the giant dog and turkey are a bit silly), but Dinniman is a mad scientist and genius and I'm willing to go wherever he takes me as a reader. Hoping for more of palace intrigue and backroom politics of the games in the subsequent books.
July 10, 2021
Dinniman delivers again!
A very unique story told brilliantly, Carl and his squad get up to more shenanigans and things get crazy as usual. There were some aspects of the story in this that didn’t quite sit well with me but everything still made sense. And the ending/epilogue more than made up for anything else that may have been lacking.
I liked this one more than the previous one but not as much as the first two, still becoming one of the greatest series out there.
A very unique story told brilliantly, Carl and his squad get up to more shenanigans and things get crazy as usual. There were some aspects of the story in this that didn’t quite sit well with me but everything still made sense. And the ending/epilogue more than made up for anything else that may have been lacking.
I liked this one more than the previous one but not as much as the first two, still becoming one of the greatest series out there.
March 29, 2024
This is absolutely insane, but I am finding it unputdownable! It's a LitRPG train wreck and I am all in for it!
January 20, 2023
Here is where we left our heroes
"“Another floor ending with a big explosion,� Katia said after the train disappeared. “Spoiler alert, Katia,� Donut replied. “It’s always going to end with an explosion.�"
And here is where this new level begins:
"We had to step out of the way as a group of tall camels strode by on steampunk-like, metal and spring stilts."
Dinniman is no Douglas Adams (*The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) but he is in much the same vein. Instead of Earth being destroyed for a “superhighway,� here it is being “mined� for its entertainment value as millions of humans (and a few “others�) are put through a multi-level dungeon for the entertainment of galactic citizens and corporations who can: watch; cheer; and participate in various ways from betting to sending “gift boxes� to specific “dungeon crawlers.�
Our “hero,� Carl, is a survivor of the first several levels of this challenge (see books 1-3). He now has a reputation for blowing things up and, maybe, for being crazy. He is also resourceful and increasingly resentful of the corporations and empires behind this “sick show.� "I had a better design in my head, but it would take too long to build. As always, safety came last.� Just the way we want it!
Dinniman is remarkable for maintaining his original momentum and his zeitgeist.
"“Another floor ending with a big explosion,� Katia said after the train disappeared. “Spoiler alert, Katia,� Donut replied. “It’s always going to end with an explosion.�"
And here is where this new level begins:
"We had to step out of the way as a group of tall camels strode by on steampunk-like, metal and spring stilts."
Dinniman is no Douglas Adams (*The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) but he is in much the same vein. Instead of Earth being destroyed for a “superhighway,� here it is being “mined� for its entertainment value as millions of humans (and a few “others�) are put through a multi-level dungeon for the entertainment of galactic citizens and corporations who can: watch; cheer; and participate in various ways from betting to sending “gift boxes� to specific “dungeon crawlers.�
Our “hero,� Carl, is a survivor of the first several levels of this challenge (see books 1-3). He now has a reputation for blowing things up and, maybe, for being crazy. He is also resourceful and increasingly resentful of the corporations and empires behind this “sick show.� "I had a better design in my head, but it would take too long to build. As always, safety came last.� Just the way we want it!
Dinniman is remarkable for maintaining his original momentum and his zeitgeist.
April 11, 2025
Niesamowicie dobrze bawiłam się na tej książce, chociaż muszę przyznać, że momentami ciut mi się dłużyła. Ale są tutaj teksty, które wyrywają z kapci, dzieją się rzeczy przezabawne, szalone, ale też straszne i okrutne. Po epilogu mam ochotę zacząć od razu kolejny tom, ale tym razem poczekam aż dojedzie do mnie wydanie papierowe, żebym mogła porobić od razu znaczniki.
Czytajcie Carla.
Czytajcie Carla.
February 13, 2023
This is fourth in the series that you should really read in order for full impact.
This time, the survivors are all split up into different bubbles. Which means Carl and Donut have to work with the tools at hand. And some of them are real tools. Plus, it looks like the System went for level averaging, so the others in our team's space are under-leveled and some have been coasting.
A running theme has been Carl's determination to save as many as he can for the next level "because it's right", sometimes jeopardizing his own chances and taking very real risks to do so. I kind of liked how it worked this time out, though. I liked that the coasting losers he runs into responded with some backbone and gained enough functionality to turn themselves around—and be useful for the plans and plots Carl and Donut made. And I particularly enjoyed how Donut was as much a part of their turn around as Carl.
And I seriously liked Carl turning the doomsday plot device on its head and using it as a tool just like any other. This book is a continuation of the pivot to the more serious as Carl starts deliberately sabotaging the game itself. He's using all the hints and foreshadowing the dungeon has been throwing out to turn things on those exploiting his planet for entertainment. There's some serious ju-jitsu in this one with Carl wrecking things the aliens didn't know were on the table and I just loved every minute of that.
This comes in a solid five stars even as things turn a bit darker for the series. I predict that will continue. Which I find apprehensive because I'm not a fan of the dark places this could go. It's a certainty that friends and people we have come to care about will die. Things are too dangerous and the setup too overpowering for this not to happen and still take the setting seriously. It's going to be a question of whether I can get past those kinds of things to stay with a team I've come to really enjoy.
A note about Chaste: Still very chaste. Katia was a possibility as a romantic interest, but the emotional beats at this point are solidly sisterly. I'm okay with that.
This time, the survivors are all split up into different bubbles. Which means Carl and Donut have to work with the tools at hand. And some of them are real tools. Plus, it looks like the System went for level averaging, so the others in our team's space are under-leveled and some have been coasting.
A running theme has been Carl's determination to save as many as he can for the next level "because it's right", sometimes jeopardizing his own chances and taking very real risks to do so. I kind of liked how it worked this time out, though. I liked that the coasting losers he runs into responded with some backbone and gained enough functionality to turn themselves around—and be useful for the plans and plots Carl and Donut made. And I particularly enjoyed how Donut was as much a part of their turn around as Carl.
And I seriously liked Carl turning the doomsday plot device on its head and using it as a tool just like any other. This book is a continuation of the pivot to the more serious as Carl starts deliberately sabotaging the game itself. He's using all the hints and foreshadowing the dungeon has been throwing out to turn things on those exploiting his planet for entertainment. There's some serious ju-jitsu in this one with Carl wrecking things the aliens didn't know were on the table and I just loved every minute of that.
This comes in a solid five stars even as things turn a bit darker for the series. I predict that will continue. Which I find apprehensive because I'm not a fan of the dark places this could go. It's a certainty that friends and people we have come to care about will die. Things are too dangerous and the setup too overpowering for this not to happen and still take the setting seriously. It's going to be a question of whether I can get past those kinds of things to stay with a team I've come to really enjoy.
A note about Chaste: Still very chaste. Katia was a possibility as a romantic interest, but the emotional beats at this point are solidly sisterly. I'm okay with that.
December 13, 2024
Lots of development in this one, but I missed the Carl/Donut relationship building a bit here, and this level wasn't my favorite. Still, this series continues to be so entertaining to listen to. Very excited to get to the next two books sometime this fall. If I can wait that long.
[4.5 stars]
[4.5 stars]
December 27, 2024
Third read update: dynamite yet again. This is where I think Dinniman truly hit his stride in figuring out the perfect balance of story elements to make this series sing. We have more grounding in the setting, and the goals of the floor are more clearly laid out, allowing for a more immersive and intentional feel to all the action. We start seeing more of what's going on outside of the dungeon and begin to see a meta-plot forming and how Carl factors in as an agent of chaos.
Dinniman also frequently sprinkles in bits from the cookbook, which is yet another narrative device that works like a charm to vary the reading experience and provide hints at what we're dealing with while foregrounding the meaningful political themes.
Also, this ending was absolutely bonkers, the falling action was incredible, and a character stand-off in the middle of the book is one of the most tense scenes I've ever read. How Dinniman manages to make all of this batshit crazy stuff still grounded in genuine emotion and drama is a wonder to behold. Just a tremendous tremendous book.
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Reread update: just as great as the first read, and it was fun to catch a bunch of tiny foreshadowing details for some important things later. Also even though I just listened to this a few weeks ago, enough crazy stuff happens that a lot of the little details that bring so many of the scenes to life had already fled my memory and were fun to re-experience fresh all over again.
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Original Review:
Goddamnit Donut, I'm giving in. Here's my first 5-star rating for this series, which has sunk its teeth into me completely and taken me on a wild ride. This is the first of the dungeon levels that hasn't felt randomly chaotic or absurdly convoluted, so I was better able to follow along with the drama of the quests and the crawlers' strategies for getting through everything.
Dinniman's formula finally clicked into place for me to have full engagement with the whole book, and my attachment to Carl and Donut and lots of side characters is at an extremely high level. I'm loving the larger worldbuilding and plotting that's hinted at with things going on outside the dungeon and how that might be playing in to events inside. The action scenes are creative and tense and often a blast to visualize, and the attention to detail is so impressive where items and skills that were picked up or mentioned at any point along the way in previous books/chapters might come into play at any time.
Kudos to narrator Jeff Hays, who is giving the audio performance of a lifetime here and is blowing me away with what he's doing. The combo of his narration and Dinniman's writing is really hitting my funny bone continuously, right alongside hitting me in the feels with the deeper and darker elements that make for quite the satisfying mix and something I may have only experienced before with the Dresden Files.
Gotta go start the next book!
Dinniman also frequently sprinkles in bits from the cookbook, which is yet another narrative device that works like a charm to vary the reading experience and provide hints at what we're dealing with while foregrounding the meaningful political themes.
Also, this ending was absolutely bonkers, the falling action was incredible, and a character stand-off in the middle of the book is one of the most tense scenes I've ever read. How Dinniman manages to make all of this batshit crazy stuff still grounded in genuine emotion and drama is a wonder to behold. Just a tremendous tremendous book.
----------
Reread update: just as great as the first read, and it was fun to catch a bunch of tiny foreshadowing details for some important things later. Also even though I just listened to this a few weeks ago, enough crazy stuff happens that a lot of the little details that bring so many of the scenes to life had already fled my memory and were fun to re-experience fresh all over again.
----------------
Original Review:
Goddamnit Donut, I'm giving in. Here's my first 5-star rating for this series, which has sunk its teeth into me completely and taken me on a wild ride. This is the first of the dungeon levels that hasn't felt randomly chaotic or absurdly convoluted, so I was better able to follow along with the drama of the quests and the crawlers' strategies for getting through everything.
Dinniman's formula finally clicked into place for me to have full engagement with the whole book, and my attachment to Carl and Donut and lots of side characters is at an extremely high level. I'm loving the larger worldbuilding and plotting that's hinted at with things going on outside the dungeon and how that might be playing in to events inside. The action scenes are creative and tense and often a blast to visualize, and the attention to detail is so impressive where items and skills that were picked up or mentioned at any point along the way in previous books/chapters might come into play at any time.
Kudos to narrator Jeff Hays, who is giving the audio performance of a lifetime here and is blowing me away with what he's doing. The combo of his narration and Dinniman's writing is really hitting my funny bone continuously, right alongside hitting me in the feels with the deeper and darker elements that make for quite the satisfying mix and something I may have only experienced before with the Dresden Files.
Gotta go start the next book!
March 17, 2025
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum
There’s LitRPG, and then there’s Dungeon Crawler Carl. In fact, Matt Dinniman may have forever ruined this genre for me, as I don’t think I’ll ever find a series as fun and amazing. The Gate of the Feral Gods is the fourth installment, but there’s no slowing down here. Instead, we’re charging full steam ahead, plunging deeper into the chaos!
The story picks right up from where things left off in The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, joining Carl and his larger-than-life feline companion, Princess Donut, as they descend deeper into the dungeon in their continued fight for survival. Now on the fifth floor, the rules shift dramatically, presenting an entirely new set of challenges. This level introduces a unique twist: all crawlers are separated into individual biome-themed “bubbles� which are scattered across four quadrants of the game world. Unfortunately for Carl and Donut, this means being cut off from their friends, and to make matters worse, they won’t be able to access the next floor until all the objectives in their bubble are met. As this is not something they can do on their own, success hinges upon finding new allies—and fast.
By now, we’re starting to see a pattern emerge, with each level introducing a distinct gaming mechanic. In many ways, the fifth floor mirrors an epic game of Capture the Flag, in which crawlers are randomly assigned to the different bubbles, such as air, water, land, and deep ocean. Each biome also features their own set of dangers, mobs, and goals. The only way to break free is to destroy the castles in their respective bubbles, which would then allow crawlers to assist others in doing the same. But of course, Carl, Donut, and their new party member Katia have landed in one of the toughest bubbles, where the challenges are more difficult and the odds against them are stacked higher than ever. Still, as we all know, it will take much more than that to break their spirit.
The Gate of the Feral Gods was yet another fantastic sequel, and I just love cracking open each book to discover what awesome adventure awaits us next. What makes these books so addictive and so entertaining is the way each volume builds upon the ones that came before, driving up the excitement while still maintaining the humor, heart, and thrilling action. These books are laugh-out-loud funny, and I’m always surprised at Carl’s ingenious solutions to seemingly impossible situations. I’m also floored by the sheer creativity in everything from small-scale puzzles in the dungeon to the overarching intrigue of who or what in the great wide universe is actually in control of the crawl.
It’s honestly impressive how Dinniman can manage to juggle so many moving pieces of the storyline all at once. You’ve got multiple character arcs unfolding simultaneously, all their interconnected plotlines, a dungeon and its AI that are constantly shifting in new and unexpected ways, various RPG mechanics that are expanding as the characters get stronger, plus an intergalactic political drama playing out in the background to boot! Whew! With so much happening at once, one thing for sure is that you’ll never be bored, and what’s more, each storyline is given the time and attention it deserves. True, sometimes things can feel a little overwhelming, but so far, the author seems quite diligent in resolving story threads so that readers aren’t left hanging.
But truly, what sets Dungeon Crawler Carl apart is its character development. Yes, we get new quest lines, new boss fights, and plenty of the crazy-ass dungeon-crawling mayhem that can only come from the mind of Matt Dinniman, but we also get to see Carl and Donut’s relationships evolve—both with each other and with the ever-expanding cast of allies and adversaries. In some ways, this series has the feel of a favorite soap opera, where I just can’t wait to dive back in to catch up with all the characters.
That said, things get pretty bleak for some of them. It’s a sad fact that none of the side characters are truly safe, and even Carl and Donut get put through the wringer, as they adapt to increasingly cruel and brutal challenges. Our protagonist has repeatedly sworn that the dungeon will not break him, but with each new level, the physical and psychological toll on him only seems to get worse. Still, whenever circumstances start to look dire, there’s always much needed levity to pull us out—often thanks to Donut and her impeccable talent for saying the most absurd things at the most inopportune times.
When all is said and done, I think The Gate of the Feral Gods might be my favorite book of the series so far, delivering on every front and exceeding expectations in every way. This book has everything readers love about Dungeon Crawler Carl—pulse-pounding action, gut-busting humor, and surprisingly deep emotional moments—all wrapped up in an explosive plot that’s impossible to put down. It’s a must read for fans, obviously. And if you haven’t started this series yet, don’t wait! With the re-issuing of all the books, there’s no better time to jump in.
There’s LitRPG, and then there’s Dungeon Crawler Carl. In fact, Matt Dinniman may have forever ruined this genre for me, as I don’t think I’ll ever find a series as fun and amazing. The Gate of the Feral Gods is the fourth installment, but there’s no slowing down here. Instead, we’re charging full steam ahead, plunging deeper into the chaos!
The story picks right up from where things left off in The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, joining Carl and his larger-than-life feline companion, Princess Donut, as they descend deeper into the dungeon in their continued fight for survival. Now on the fifth floor, the rules shift dramatically, presenting an entirely new set of challenges. This level introduces a unique twist: all crawlers are separated into individual biome-themed “bubbles� which are scattered across four quadrants of the game world. Unfortunately for Carl and Donut, this means being cut off from their friends, and to make matters worse, they won’t be able to access the next floor until all the objectives in their bubble are met. As this is not something they can do on their own, success hinges upon finding new allies—and fast.
By now, we’re starting to see a pattern emerge, with each level introducing a distinct gaming mechanic. In many ways, the fifth floor mirrors an epic game of Capture the Flag, in which crawlers are randomly assigned to the different bubbles, such as air, water, land, and deep ocean. Each biome also features their own set of dangers, mobs, and goals. The only way to break free is to destroy the castles in their respective bubbles, which would then allow crawlers to assist others in doing the same. But of course, Carl, Donut, and their new party member Katia have landed in one of the toughest bubbles, where the challenges are more difficult and the odds against them are stacked higher than ever. Still, as we all know, it will take much more than that to break their spirit.
The Gate of the Feral Gods was yet another fantastic sequel, and I just love cracking open each book to discover what awesome adventure awaits us next. What makes these books so addictive and so entertaining is the way each volume builds upon the ones that came before, driving up the excitement while still maintaining the humor, heart, and thrilling action. These books are laugh-out-loud funny, and I’m always surprised at Carl’s ingenious solutions to seemingly impossible situations. I’m also floored by the sheer creativity in everything from small-scale puzzles in the dungeon to the overarching intrigue of who or what in the great wide universe is actually in control of the crawl.
It’s honestly impressive how Dinniman can manage to juggle so many moving pieces of the storyline all at once. You’ve got multiple character arcs unfolding simultaneously, all their interconnected plotlines, a dungeon and its AI that are constantly shifting in new and unexpected ways, various RPG mechanics that are expanding as the characters get stronger, plus an intergalactic political drama playing out in the background to boot! Whew! With so much happening at once, one thing for sure is that you’ll never be bored, and what’s more, each storyline is given the time and attention it deserves. True, sometimes things can feel a little overwhelming, but so far, the author seems quite diligent in resolving story threads so that readers aren’t left hanging.
But truly, what sets Dungeon Crawler Carl apart is its character development. Yes, we get new quest lines, new boss fights, and plenty of the crazy-ass dungeon-crawling mayhem that can only come from the mind of Matt Dinniman, but we also get to see Carl and Donut’s relationships evolve—both with each other and with the ever-expanding cast of allies and adversaries. In some ways, this series has the feel of a favorite soap opera, where I just can’t wait to dive back in to catch up with all the characters.
That said, things get pretty bleak for some of them. It’s a sad fact that none of the side characters are truly safe, and even Carl and Donut get put through the wringer, as they adapt to increasingly cruel and brutal challenges. Our protagonist has repeatedly sworn that the dungeon will not break him, but with each new level, the physical and psychological toll on him only seems to get worse. Still, whenever circumstances start to look dire, there’s always much needed levity to pull us out—often thanks to Donut and her impeccable talent for saying the most absurd things at the most inopportune times.
When all is said and done, I think The Gate of the Feral Gods might be my favorite book of the series so far, delivering on every front and exceeding expectations in every way. This book has everything readers love about Dungeon Crawler Carl—pulse-pounding action, gut-busting humor, and surprisingly deep emotional moments—all wrapped up in an explosive plot that’s impossible to put down. It’s a must read for fans, obviously. And if you haven’t started this series yet, don’t wait! With the re-issuing of all the books, there’s no better time to jump in.
November 18, 2024
This was easily my favorite of the series so far. The stakes are higher, the fights are crazier, and we're finally starting to get a good glimpse of the politics of the corporations and star systems involved with the creation and funding of the Crawl. I really love the approach this time around, after the entangling confusion of the train tunnels in book 3. This time, there are of bunch of "bubbles" like a colossal sheet of bubble wrap. Each bubble contains four biomes, each with a set number of crawlers, and a "castle" to take down in order to complete the bubble/floor. I do have to add that the epilogue was absolutely amazing, and totally has me guessing at the direction Matt is going to take this series. Can’t wait for book 5
December 19, 2024
This series is really heating up. Easily my favorite so far!
September 30, 2022
Un libro más de esta saga que estoy disfrutando muchísimo desde la primera a la última página.
Similar a los anteriores: personajes de 10, mucha diversión, mucha acción y unas subtramas chulísimas.
Una pequeña pausa y continúo con el quinto (y a día de hoy último publicado)
Similar a los anteriores: personajes de 10, mucha diversión, mucha acción y unas subtramas chulísimas.
Una pequeña pausa y continúo con el quinto (y a día de hoy último publicado)
March 10, 2025
Houston we have a problem...I only found Dungeon Crawler Carl a few weeks ago and I'm already done with book 4 and the 5th floor. And lets be honest I've really already read book 5 because I just couldn't wait. That means I'll be out of books soon...and what will I do without a weekly dose of Princess Donut, Mongo and Carl.
God Damnit Matt Dinniman, what have you done to me with your series with fantastic plucky characters, a more and more unstable AI, a competition like survival game that is televised and some big intergalactic shenanigans. Anytime I start one of these books I just can't stop listening to them, since the audio is fantastic.
After all the plucky humans banded together in the last book to beat the level, the alien show producers have come up with a way to separate them all and "randomly" placed bubbles. Each has four quadrants and you need to basically capture the flag in all four before the stairs down to the next level will be available. Mongo is appalled!!! One of the quadrants is underwater and Donut is adamant she is not going into the water. She has yet to learn she can't say stuff like that out loud, the AI is always listening and it's sense of humor can be a touch sadistic, just ask Carl who still doesn't have any pants.
Carl is ramping up the violence and his ingenuity. If nothing else he is proving that the human spirit is hard to crush and he will find a way to break them all. Donut is hilarious as always and Katia grew on me quite a bit this time around.
I'm eating these up like a googly-eyed walrus slurping spaghetti at a clown convention! (<---Thanks Grok)
New characters, new quests, an encounter with a god and a talking sex doll head just to round out some of the ridiculousness that makes these so much fun. Also an Octoshark!!!
With that interesting reveal at the end, I can't wait to see what is in store for Humanities last hope on the 6th floor. Happy Hunting everyone.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★�
Character Separation: ★★★★�
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★�
Sound Effects: Minor
Jeff Hayes performance continues to be pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. Great catchphrase! I still believe some of my enjoyment of this series is due to the audio production of it. Still a seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started.
God Damnit Matt Dinniman, what have you done to me with your series with fantastic plucky characters, a more and more unstable AI, a competition like survival game that is televised and some big intergalactic shenanigans. Anytime I start one of these books I just can't stop listening to them, since the audio is fantastic.
After all the plucky humans banded together in the last book to beat the level, the alien show producers have come up with a way to separate them all and "randomly" placed bubbles. Each has four quadrants and you need to basically capture the flag in all four before the stairs down to the next level will be available. Mongo is appalled!!! One of the quadrants is underwater and Donut is adamant she is not going into the water. She has yet to learn she can't say stuff like that out loud, the AI is always listening and it's sense of humor can be a touch sadistic, just ask Carl who still doesn't have any pants.
“Spoiler alert. Nobody is going to read your autobiography disguised as a space vampire and minotaur romance. You and every other half-wit out there with a nearby Starbucks and a laptop is writing the same bile. What you’re really doing is inadvertently live-blogging the story of human mediocrity,�
Carl is ramping up the violence and his ingenuity. If nothing else he is proving that the human spirit is hard to crush and he will find a way to break them all. Donut is hilarious as always and Katia grew on me quite a bit this time around.
I'm eating these up like a googly-eyed walrus slurping spaghetti at a clown convention! (<---Thanks Grok)
New characters, new quests, an encounter with a god and a talking sex doll head just to round out some of the ridiculousness that makes these so much fun. Also an Octoshark!!!
With that interesting reveal at the end, I can't wait to see what is in store for Humanities last hope on the 6th floor. Happy Hunting everyone.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★�
Character Separation: ★★★★�
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★�
Sound Effects: Minor
Jeff Hayes performance continues to be pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. Great catchphrase! I still believe some of my enjoyment of this series is due to the audio production of it. Still a seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started.
July 26, 2021
I've loved the Crawler Carl books up to book 4. Yes, it starts out strong with a devious new level, but it eventually finds itself stuck in the sand.
I think this level makes sense in theory, but like the subway tracks in book 3 it gets too tangled up. The level is overly complicated, and I think it's telling that Carl didn't take out the underwater castle. I have a feeling Matt just didn't want to tackle something that was already complex.
The air castle is fine, but it's the mess that happens between that and the sand castle that slows things down. Carl decides to kill a show host, which takes away five days of grinding while his case is evaluated.
After that we have the mess with the dozens of feral gods who trash the level, and the fight with the guy who was the only one to get a celestial box.
The only reason he makes number 1 on the top ten is because of something he does later in the book. I won't spoil it, but it had nothing to do with the level itself.
For whatever reason, I just couldn't get into this book as much as the previous three. I ended up reading two complete books in the middle of this one (the new Hondo Jinx and the latest from Daniel Schinhofen). I finally forced myself to finish it late last night.
I'm not giving up on the series, and what Matt is trying to do is commendable. He's turned dungeon diving on it's head, and I expect a lot of new authors will follow his lead in the years to come.
4/5*
I think this level makes sense in theory, but like the subway tracks in book 3 it gets too tangled up. The level is overly complicated, and I think it's telling that Carl didn't take out the underwater castle. I have a feeling Matt just didn't want to tackle something that was already complex.
The air castle is fine, but it's the mess that happens between that and the sand castle that slows things down. Carl decides to kill a show host, which takes away five days of grinding while his case is evaluated.
After that we have the mess with the dozens of feral gods who trash the level, and the fight with the guy who was the only one to get a celestial box.
The only reason he makes number 1 on the top ten is because of something he does later in the book. I won't spoil it, but it had nothing to do with the level itself.
For whatever reason, I just couldn't get into this book as much as the previous three. I ended up reading two complete books in the middle of this one (the new Hondo Jinx and the latest from Daniel Schinhofen). I finally forced myself to finish it late last night.
I'm not giving up on the series, and what Matt is trying to do is commendable. He's turned dungeon diving on it's head, and I expect a lot of new authors will follow his lead in the years to come.
4/5*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2022
4.75/5
A page-turning laugh riot with Exciting setups for the next one.
My second favorite entry in this series after book 1.
This book had everything that was in the previous entry, Carl executing a crazy-ass dangerous plan, Donut owning the talk shows and Katia doing everything in her power to keep them safe... And more... Secondary characters had some much-needed page time.
There are some minor issues like some scenes felt a bit dragged and this book could have been even better if they cut down some pages.
And... The setup they made for the next entry is exciting as fu*k. Book 5 ASAP...
A page-turning laugh riot with Exciting setups for the next one.
My second favorite entry in this series after book 1.
This book had everything that was in the previous entry, Carl executing a crazy-ass dangerous plan, Donut owning the talk shows and Katia doing everything in her power to keep them safe... And more... Secondary characters had some much-needed page time.
There are some minor issues like some scenes felt a bit dragged and this book could have been even better if they cut down some pages.
And... The setup they made for the next entry is exciting as fu*k. Book 5 ASAP...
March 31, 2025
4.5�
Probably my second favorite book in the series so far (after the 1st one)!
This book, like every other book in this series, was fun, wild, and weird as hell. I definitely liked this floor more than the previous one. I love seeing all of Carl and Donut's shenanigans!
I honestly don't know if I'm super hyped about the next book after that epilogue (I don't think I like this development very much), but the next level sounds exciting.
Probably my second favorite book in the series so far (after the 1st one)!
This book, like every other book in this series, was fun, wild, and weird as hell. I definitely liked this floor more than the previous one. I love seeing all of Carl and Donut's shenanigans!
I honestly don't know if I'm super hyped about the next book after that epilogue (I don't think I like this development very much), but the next level sounds exciting.
March 2, 2025
3.5 Stars
This is another fun installment in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Fans of the first three installments won't be disappointed as this one remains on equal footing with a good balance of excitement and humour. My rating reflects the fact that I really enjoy this series but it's not a personal favourite as those tend to be more serious reads.
This one continues to draw links to MMOs and video games in general, clearly written for a geeky audience. I read the physical copy provided to me by the publisher but I understand this novel has grown quite a following on audio. I had the opportunity to experience the narration when a friend gifted me the first book. As a dialogue heavy novel with a lot of jokes, this one works very well read aloud.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is another fun installment in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Fans of the first three installments won't be disappointed as this one remains on equal footing with a good balance of excitement and humour. My rating reflects the fact that I really enjoy this series but it's not a personal favourite as those tend to be more serious reads.
This one continues to draw links to MMOs and video games in general, clearly written for a geeky audience. I read the physical copy provided to me by the publisher but I understand this novel has grown quite a following on audio. I had the opportunity to experience the narration when a friend gifted me the first book. As a dialogue heavy novel with a lot of jokes, this one works very well read aloud.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 9, 2024
New floor - New challenges - Same Carl and Donut.The fifth floor has split the crawlers into different quadrants and bubbles so they can't all team up like they did on the fourth floor. Every quadrant in a particular bubble must be cleared before anyone can take the stairs down to the next floor. The Compensated Anarchist Carl has his cookbook and is ready to wreak havoc on the Dungeon and those behind it. He's ready for anarchy.
The Gate of the Feral Gods was really good. We saw most of the pleasant elements from the prior books along with the seriousness the situation demands. Carl's incredulous about the rules that the Syndicate follow. The way they value some lives all the while enslaving the majority of a planet to fight to the death for profit. That's without even mentioning the individuals who didn't enter the dungeon and were effectively left to die. Carl understands he can die at any time, but he's determined to fight everyone responsible for his, the human race, the NPCs, and the former crawlers subjugation. He also intends to save everyone he can and he'll use the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook to help.
I really appreciate the tone getting a bit heavier, it was one of the elements I felt the series had been missing. Carl's only beginning to defy the authority behind the crawl. He doesn't intend to let anything or anyone stop him in his pursuit. His devotion to helping the NPCs is also admirable considering he's so limited in what he can actually do.
The Gate of the Feral God's has me excited about what happens next in the series. I hope the story only gets better from here.
July 31, 2022
This series continues to be brilliant!!!
April 11, 2025
This review was originally published on
3.5 stars
Well, I only took a few weeks off from Dungeon Crawler Carl, and I kid you not when I say that I got serious withdrawal symtomps� why yes, you better believe that I am still going absolutely feral over this series. The stakes are higher, the consequences more dire, and the “WHAT THE FUCK� factor is just through the roof in The Gate of the Feral Gods. What a wild ride.
After the complete and utter mind boggling clusterfuck that was The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, it was a great relief to discover that this fifth flour of the dungeon was just a lot more easy� or so we thought. I mean, it’s not like the evil sadistic alien dungeon master overlords are ever going to make it easy for our dear Crawlers, so cue the fucking depraved madness babyyyy!
Now, I seriously don’t know what it was about The Gate of the Feral Gods, but I kept zoning out while listening to the audiobook. Don’t get me wrong, Jeff Hays� narration is still absolutely god-tier, but the plot and pacing of this book just didn’t really grab me as much as the earlier instalments did. Which is weird, because I feel like this book objectively had some of the strongest (side-) character development as this level really forced all the crawlers to (reluctantly) work together, and it also delivered some of the most satisfying wider world building revelations.
Maybe it was because I felt like Princess Donut didn’t get as much time to shine as in the previous instalments, and we all know that Princess Donut is the absolute star of the show. Or maybe it was because I kinda missed Odette and the interview segments, as those little breaks from the hectic mad-dash action are often some of my favourite moments in the series and help me process all the craziness that we were just dragged through. Or maybe my brain is just tired, also very possible.
In any case, there was still plenty to love and enjoy in The Gate of the Feral Gods, and I think it’s a testament to Dinniman’s skill as an author that I was still so highly entertained and just kept being pulled back in every time I thought I was losing attention. I mean, come on, there’s just so much wickedly wild imagination packed into these books, and I just love seeing Carl take it all in with the most deadpan attitude ever.
And speaking of Carl, I feel like he had some of the most humbling and the most confidence/ego-boosting moments here, which really gave his character more nuance and complexity than I was ever anticipating. No, he has never been just an obedient player, but now he is really letting his teeth and claws show, and I am soooo ready for this insane “TAKE DOWN THE SYSTEM� vibe. Also, Carl’s inexplicably weird love/hate dynamic with the hysterical AI continues to crack me the fuck up; I never thought I could adore anything related to AI so much, but this freakish and surprisingly rebellious thing has my heart (but it will never have my feet).
And you know, even though The Gate of the Feral Gods was a bit of a bumpy ride for me in places, I can’t deny that I still had an absolute blast. Plus, the ominously enticing and revelatory epilogue has me beyond excited (okay and a little scared) to see what is coming in book 5. At this point I truly don’t care what type of unhinged scenario these characters find themselves in, I just want to live through it all with them. Bring on the chaos and destruction friends!!
3.5 stars
Well, I only took a few weeks off from Dungeon Crawler Carl, and I kid you not when I say that I got serious withdrawal symtomps� why yes, you better believe that I am still going absolutely feral over this series. The stakes are higher, the consequences more dire, and the “WHAT THE FUCK� factor is just through the roof in The Gate of the Feral Gods. What a wild ride.
After the complete and utter mind boggling clusterfuck that was The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, it was a great relief to discover that this fifth flour of the dungeon was just a lot more easy� or so we thought. I mean, it’s not like the evil sadistic alien dungeon master overlords are ever going to make it easy for our dear Crawlers, so cue the fucking depraved madness babyyyy!
Now, I seriously don’t know what it was about The Gate of the Feral Gods, but I kept zoning out while listening to the audiobook. Don’t get me wrong, Jeff Hays� narration is still absolutely god-tier, but the plot and pacing of this book just didn’t really grab me as much as the earlier instalments did. Which is weird, because I feel like this book objectively had some of the strongest (side-) character development as this level really forced all the crawlers to (reluctantly) work together, and it also delivered some of the most satisfying wider world building revelations.
Maybe it was because I felt like Princess Donut didn’t get as much time to shine as in the previous instalments, and we all know that Princess Donut is the absolute star of the show. Or maybe it was because I kinda missed Odette and the interview segments, as those little breaks from the hectic mad-dash action are often some of my favourite moments in the series and help me process all the craziness that we were just dragged through. Or maybe my brain is just tired, also very possible.
In any case, there was still plenty to love and enjoy in The Gate of the Feral Gods, and I think it’s a testament to Dinniman’s skill as an author that I was still so highly entertained and just kept being pulled back in every time I thought I was losing attention. I mean, come on, there’s just so much wickedly wild imagination packed into these books, and I just love seeing Carl take it all in with the most deadpan attitude ever.
And speaking of Carl, I feel like he had some of the most humbling and the most confidence/ego-boosting moments here, which really gave his character more nuance and complexity than I was ever anticipating. No, he has never been just an obedient player, but now he is really letting his teeth and claws show, and I am soooo ready for this insane “TAKE DOWN THE SYSTEM� vibe. Also, Carl’s inexplicably weird love/hate dynamic with the hysterical AI continues to crack me the fuck up; I never thought I could adore anything related to AI so much, but this freakish and surprisingly rebellious thing has my heart (but it will never have my feet).
And you know, even though The Gate of the Feral Gods was a bit of a bumpy ride for me in places, I can’t deny that I still had an absolute blast. Plus, the ominously enticing and revelatory epilogue has me beyond excited (okay and a little scared) to see what is coming in book 5. At this point I truly don’t care what type of unhinged scenario these characters find themselves in, I just want to live through it all with them. Bring on the chaos and destruction friends!!
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