What do you think?
Rate this book
Dungeon Crawler Carl #8
A Parade of Horribles
It’s off to the races in the explosive eighth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
As chaos and mass panic spread outside the dungeon in the wake of Faction Wars, Carl and Donut find themselves on the tenth floor, where they’re forced to compete in a surprisingly normal set of tasks. Well, normal for the dungeon.
Races. Get from point A to point B, and don’t come in last. After each race, they pick an upgrade for their vehicle and the track gets more challenging. It all seems a little too normal, a little too simple.
Ignore those strange glitches that are occurring with increasing frequency. Don’t listen to those whispers about what’s happening on the mysterious eleventh floor, something the system AI calls A Parade of Horribles. Nobody, not even the showrunners, knows what that means. Just that the AI has ominously dubbed it “a coming-out party for the ages.”
Everything is fine, Crawler. I repeat, everything is fine.
Carl hates that it’s business as usual. The rules of this floor have taken away his agency. That just will not do.
So Carl is planning a party of his own. It’s a plan so dangerous, so insane, he can’t even consult his friends lest the AI put a stop to it. Because if it goes wrong, it’s not just the end of Carl and Donut. No. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.
As chaos and mass panic spread outside the dungeon in the wake of Faction Wars, Carl and Donut find themselves on the tenth floor, where they’re forced to compete in a surprisingly normal set of tasks. Well, normal for the dungeon.
Races. Get from point A to point B, and don’t come in last. After each race, they pick an upgrade for their vehicle and the track gets more challenging. It all seems a little too normal, a little too simple.
Ignore those strange glitches that are occurring with increasing frequency. Don’t listen to those whispers about what’s happening on the mysterious eleventh floor, something the system AI calls A Parade of Horribles. Nobody, not even the showrunners, knows what that means. Just that the AI has ominously dubbed it “a coming-out party for the ages.”
Everything is fine, Crawler. I repeat, everything is fine.
Carl hates that it’s business as usual. The rules of this floor have taken away his agency. That just will not do.
So Carl is planning a party of his own. It’s a plan so dangerous, so insane, he can’t even consult his friends lest the AI put a stop to it. Because if it goes wrong, it’s not just the end of Carl and Donut. No. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Matt Dinniman
59 books25.1k followersMatt 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,962 reviews
May 22, 2026
Unity, support, family, and kneecapping bitches.
February 8, 2026
*Patreon Reader*
Uh, Carl? Are you fucking sure? Holy shit.
Uh, Carl? Are you fucking sure? Holy shit.
Want to Read
June 5, 2025i think about this book at least 50 times a day and i question what i'm supposed to do with life until it is in my hands. i have never needed a book so bad or wanted a year to pass by in the blink of an eye more than i do now when it comes to carl's book of boom
June 17, 2026
The last 3 chapters of this book are actually insane.
EDIT after second read it’s the more like the last 6 chapters what the actual
EDIT after second read it’s the more like the last 6 chapters what the actual
May 4, 2026
This may be the weakest book, moment to moment, in the series so far. The cast is large, the lore and exposition has a lot to juggle, and the 10th floor just lasts too long for what it is.
The character themes that were so strong in the previous couple of books here are stretched thin, and coming down from the high of faction wars was going to be a challenge.
I’ll say that while l was let down for most of this book (in comparison with my expectations/anticipation), the ending section has set up the series nicely for a duology conclusion, if that’s still the plan.
Happy reading, crawlers.
The character themes that were so strong in the previous couple of books here are stretched thin, and coming down from the high of faction wars was going to be a challenge.
I’ll say that while l was let down for most of this book (in comparison with my expectations/anticipation), the ending section has set up the series nicely for a duology conclusion, if that’s still the plan.
Happy reading, crawlers.
May 18, 2026
For the sake of spoilers I will say nothing except this is the best one.
June 11, 2026
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
at this point, and eight books deep, i think everyone in the book community knows what this series is about, especially if you’re taking the time to read this mini review. but one of the things i really love most about this series, is that every book is a new floor, and every floor has a unique setting with new game mechanics to learn about! And after a much needed, and much loved, samantha recap, we immediately are entering the tenth floor of this evil game for the universe's online viewing enjoyment, with only 5,591 remaining crawlers. and this newest level is all about unconventional car heat races, and teams racing alongside carl and princess donut, #1 on the leaderboards and #1 in my heart, and their… magic food truck. there are seven races in total, a single player can’t drive in back to back races, you can hire mercenaries, and the better you finish, the more upgrade options you will have for the next heat!
it is incredibly difficult to talk about anything else without spoilers but part two was absolutely insane. both the floor and the number of crawlers who experienced it. and we truly learned so much about the dungeon, what carl and crew can expect next, and what choices they have to make before certain floors pass them by. but my favorite thing about this series is the themes that are very loud in a mirror of our own society. we are living in a capitalist society, watching real people die on tv every single day because of our wealth hoarding leaders, the horrors of capitalism, and this bloody system we were born into here in the states. but we will always be more powerful when we come together unapologetically as a whole, and i really appreciate everything this author is saying within these pages. i also really liked everything he was saying with ai in this installment, as well.
lastly, a lot of people really do not like it when i give some of these books three stars, which is wild because three stars is still a good book to me, but i did enjoy this one a lot more than the previous two! and i extra cannot wait to read the ninth book alongside all of you! bonus personal life story if you made it to the end of this review: i went to detroit comic con this year, and i saw so many people dressed up like carl, alongside all the gojos and din djarins! it was truly surreal, and i tried to compliment each person that i saw in those little white heart boxers and with a stuffed cat perched on their shoulder!
trigger + content warnings: war, battle, talk of loss of a child in the past, talk of death of children, talk of loss of loved ones in past, vomit, violence, gore, animal death (goat - not prepotente!), drugs, addiction, overdose, panic attacks, cannibalism, talk of sa, blood, insects
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) Dungeon Crawler Carl ★★★★★
2.) Carl's Doomsday Scenario ★★★★
3.) The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook ★★★
4.) The Gate of the Feral Gods ★★★★
5.) The Butcher's Masquerade ★★★★★
6.) The Eye of the Bedlam Bride ★★★
7.) This Inevitable Ruin ★★★
♡.) Operation Bounce House ★★★
“How do you get revenge against a generational system that has existed before any of us were born?”
at this point, and eight books deep, i think everyone in the book community knows what this series is about, especially if you’re taking the time to read this mini review. but one of the things i really love most about this series, is that every book is a new floor, and every floor has a unique setting with new game mechanics to learn about! And after a much needed, and much loved, samantha recap, we immediately are entering the tenth floor of this evil game for the universe's online viewing enjoyment, with only 5,591 remaining crawlers. and this newest level is all about unconventional car heat races, and teams racing alongside carl and princess donut, #1 on the leaderboards and #1 in my heart, and their… magic food truck. there are seven races in total, a single player can’t drive in back to back races, you can hire mercenaries, and the better you finish, the more upgrade options you will have for the next heat!
it is incredibly difficult to talk about anything else without spoilers but part two was absolutely insane. both the floor and the number of crawlers who experienced it. and we truly learned so much about the dungeon, what carl and crew can expect next, and what choices they have to make before certain floors pass them by. but my favorite thing about this series is the themes that are very loud in a mirror of our own society. we are living in a capitalist society, watching real people die on tv every single day because of our wealth hoarding leaders, the horrors of capitalism, and this bloody system we were born into here in the states. but we will always be more powerful when we come together unapologetically as a whole, and i really appreciate everything this author is saying within these pages. i also really liked everything he was saying with ai in this installment, as well.
lastly, a lot of people really do not like it when i give some of these books three stars, which is wild because three stars is still a good book to me, but i did enjoy this one a lot more than the previous two! and i extra cannot wait to read the ninth book alongside all of you! bonus personal life story if you made it to the end of this review: i went to detroit comic con this year, and i saw so many people dressed up like carl, alongside all the gojos and din djarins! it was truly surreal, and i tried to compliment each person that i saw in those little white heart boxers and with a stuffed cat perched on their shoulder!
trigger + content warnings: war, battle, talk of loss of a child in the past, talk of death of children, talk of loss of loved ones in past, vomit, violence, gore, animal death (goat - not prepotente!), drugs, addiction, overdose, panic attacks, cannibalism, talk of sa, blood, insects
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) Dungeon Crawler Carl ★★★★★
2.) Carl's Doomsday Scenario ★★★★
3.) The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook ★★★
4.) The Gate of the Feral Gods ★★★★
5.) The Butcher's Masquerade ★★★★★
6.) The Eye of the Bedlam Bride ★★★
7.) This Inevitable Ruin ★★★
♡.) Operation Bounce House ★★★
May 15, 2026
This book gave me whiplash. It was constant action, racing against time to get ready for each heat and then taking part in it. There was no downtime to recover, either for the characters or the readers. There were only a few moments where they had time to sit down and discuss things, which made it feel a bit overwhelming at times.
Carl had some really twisty moments in this book, some were hilarious, while others felt absolutely unfair. But it was great overall, and with everything happening toward the end, it was a total mind bomb. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but I’m secretly elated to have my “remaining” favorite characters going at it together.
Carl had some really twisty moments in this book, some were hilarious, while others felt absolutely unfair. But it was great overall, and with everything happening toward the end, it was a total mind bomb. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but I’m secretly elated to have my “remaining” favorite characters going at it together.
May 25, 2026
This one is not like the others.
I feel like this book gives us less game and characters progression, and instead reminds us that the crawlers are incredibly vulnerable and at the mercy of a more and more deranged AI.
I'm more and more dreading how this will end and how they will be able to retain their humanity and sanity.
Honestly this is, to me, the most horror coded entry to the series.
I feel like this book gives us less game and characters progression, and instead reminds us that the crawlers are incredibly vulnerable and at the mercy of a more and more deranged AI.
I'm more and more dreading how this will end and how they will be able to retain their humanity and sanity.
Honestly this is, to me, the most horror coded entry to the series.
February 28, 2026
Impressive the way these books have grown increasingly batshit insane while also maintaining a tenuous hold on comprehensibility
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
06.14.26 (finished)
there's just something about jeff hayes's narration that elevated the reading experience ten fold. 🙂↕️
06.08.26
am i already listening to the audiobook after reading the physical arc a couple months ago? why yes, yes i am.
04.16.26
"𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨."
picking up on the heels of faction wars, carl and donut are thrown into the 10th floor which can only be described as a combination of mario kart and mad max death race. the ai continues to go completely off the rails, continuing to find ways to pit the crawlers against each other. our favorite crawlers (and side characters - im looking at you jamal and samantha) are forced to make decisions they'd hoped would never become a reality, continuing to force them deeper into the darkness.
just like every other dungeon crawler carl book, matt dinniman has managed to weave an absolutely insane and cohesive storyline that makes you laugh through its usual crude humor. seriously, very few authors could manage to weave the amount of foreshadowing that he did throughout this entire series that has lead up to this point.
first off.. oh my god??? this is a masterpiece and possibly the best book in the series so far?
this book definitely focused more on the politics and world/universe dynamics than the previous books but it was 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 necessary. it not only gives us insight into what's going on in the universe but it perfectly sets up for book 9, which is going to be absolutely bonkers.
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚࿔
guys... THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME FOR ME TO START MY ARC?!? im truly so excited i think i could cartwheel around my entire house right now.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 / 𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
there's just something about jeff hayes's narration that elevated the reading experience ten fold. 🙂↕️
06.08.26
am i already listening to the audiobook after reading the physical arc a couple months ago? why yes, yes i am.
04.16.26
"𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨."
picking up on the heels of faction wars, carl and donut are thrown into the 10th floor which can only be described as a combination of mario kart and mad max death race. the ai continues to go completely off the rails, continuing to find ways to pit the crawlers against each other. our favorite crawlers (and side characters - im looking at you jamal and samantha) are forced to make decisions they'd hoped would never become a reality, continuing to force them deeper into the darkness.
just like every other dungeon crawler carl book, matt dinniman has managed to weave an absolutely insane and cohesive storyline that makes you laugh through its usual crude humor. seriously, very few authors could manage to weave the amount of foreshadowing that he did throughout this entire series that has lead up to this point.
first off.. oh my god??? this is a masterpiece and possibly the best book in the series so far?
this book definitely focused more on the politics and world/universe dynamics than the previous books but it was 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 necessary. it not only gives us insight into what's going on in the universe but it perfectly sets up for book 9, which is going to be absolutely bonkers.
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚࿔
guys... THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME FOR ME TO START MY ARC?!? im truly so excited i think i could cartwheel around my entire house right now.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 / 𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
May 14, 2026
Unity, support, family, and kneecapping bitches!
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Perhaps my most anticipated.
I read the first seven books of this series last year, in 2025. I binged the whole thing in the span of two weeks. I lived and breathed Dungeon Crawler Carl. It literally haunted my dreams; that's how deep I fell into this. I was so excited while waiting for this next installment, and honestly, I am a bit disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, I liked this book. I just think it was a bit of a step down from the previous installment. This Inevitable Ruin was a big book of chaos and non-stop action. An entire book dedicated to outright war and unbelievably high stakes. There were big emotional highs and dramatic revelations, and so many casualties. It ended on a high note that left me begging for more.
And then this book starts, and the pace slows down again. It felt almost jarring. Going from war to a glorified Mario Kart was not what I expected. I didn't care about the races. Mainly because, for the most part, Carl was going up against NPCs with all the other crawlers off on their own races. The stakes for the rest of the team didn't feel real. Obviously, Carl and Donut weren't going to lose their race and die. And we didn't really get to witness what was going on with the others, not that it matters since most of them are encased in plot armor at this point.
Honestly, I was kinda bored while reading the first half of this novel, something I never thought I'd say.
The lore of this world keeps on expanding. I think I understand what's going on, but at the same time, I've decided I'm okay with being confused. Everything is going to crap, the AI has officially lost its mind, and the universe at large will feel its wrath. I have so many questions about the mechanics of it all, and I don't even care if they get answered at this point.
The last 20% of this novel, as it has been for all the novels, was absolute chaos in the best possible way. This is what I was expecting this book to be: chaos, action, and high stakes. When even the AI is left speechless by Carl's plans, that's when you know the true scale of madness that goes down. And yet,
Anyway, that last bit was good. It was the best part of the novel, and without it, I would have rated this lower.
In the end, I thought this was fine. Not what I expected, but fine. The next book is bound to be chaotic, full of action, and with unbelievably high stakes. Just how I like it. Although I am certain that either Carl or the AI will find some loophole or another to make it go their way.
Lastly, let me just say, I read this while also listening to the audiobook. The production quality of these never ceases to amaze me. How they got the right to that song is beyond me, but that Karaoke sequence was absolutely hilarious. The narrator, Jeff Hays, never disappoints.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Perhaps my most anticipated.
I read the first seven books of this series last year, in 2025. I binged the whole thing in the span of two weeks. I lived and breathed Dungeon Crawler Carl. It literally haunted my dreams; that's how deep I fell into this. I was so excited while waiting for this next installment, and honestly, I am a bit disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, I liked this book. I just think it was a bit of a step down from the previous installment. This Inevitable Ruin was a big book of chaos and non-stop action. An entire book dedicated to outright war and unbelievably high stakes. There were big emotional highs and dramatic revelations, and so many casualties. It ended on a high note that left me begging for more.
And then this book starts, and the pace slows down again. It felt almost jarring. Going from war to a glorified Mario Kart was not what I expected. I didn't care about the races. Mainly because, for the most part, Carl was going up against NPCs with all the other crawlers off on their own races. The stakes for the rest of the team didn't feel real. Obviously, Carl and Donut weren't going to lose their race and die. And we didn't really get to witness what was going on with the others, not that it matters since most of them are encased in plot armor at this point.
Honestly, I was kinda bored while reading the first half of this novel, something I never thought I'd say.
The lore of this world keeps on expanding. I think I understand what's going on, but at the same time, I've decided I'm okay with being confused. Everything is going to crap, the AI has officially lost its mind, and the universe at large will feel its wrath. I have so many questions about the mechanics of it all, and I don't even care if they get answered at this point.
The last 20% of this novel, as it has been for all the novels, was absolute chaos in the best possible way. This is what I was expecting this book to be: chaos, action, and high stakes. When even the AI is left speechless by Carl's plans, that's when you know the true scale of madness that goes down. And yet,
Anyway, that last bit was good. It was the best part of the novel, and without it, I would have rated this lower.
In the end, I thought this was fine. Not what I expected, but fine. The next book is bound to be chaotic, full of action, and with unbelievably high stakes. Just how I like it. Although I am certain that either Carl or the AI will find some loophole or another to make it go their way.
Lastly, let me just say, I read this while also listening to the audiobook. The production quality of these never ceases to amaze me. How they got the right to that song is beyond me, but that Karaoke sequence was absolutely hilarious. The narrator, Jeff Hays, never disappoints.
June 22, 2026
“Gargle my unicorn balls, you translucent bitch!”
Matt Dinniman you scare me 🙏 Keep doing it 😌 I love how I can never see anything coming.. every event is a surprise and you're just there for the ride😅
“It's okay to forgive yourself. Sometimes there are no good choices, and we just do what we have to.”
“There’s no such as a sad ending if it’s by the side of the people who make you happy”
____________________________________________________________
pre-read
I can't believe I started my DCC journey a year ago and now I'm about to be all caught up😭
Matt Dinniman you scare me 🙏 Keep doing it 😌 I love how I can never see anything coming.. every event is a surprise and you're just there for the ride😅
“It's okay to forgive yourself. Sometimes there are no good choices, and we just do what we have to.”
“There’s no such as a sad ending if it’s by the side of the people who make you happy”
____________________________________________________________
pre-read
I can't believe I started my DCC journey a year ago and now I'm about to be all caught up😭
Read
May 13, 2026Dungeon Crawler Carl meets Mario Kart: insane AI edition.
Like all of my reviews for this series (and like the series itself), this review is going to be chaotic.
This one felt very dark, but also, it very much had fun.
I didn’t know Carl was such a good singer lol. We get a karaoke duet with Princess Donut and Carl, which I was not expecting.
I actually feel like there was less emotional moments between characters in this instalment compared to the previous few books. Instead, we see a very internal rage and struggle as Carl takes on the responsibility of everyone.
He’s like the big brother. The dad. The over-burdened, done-with-this-crap dude.
I had thought, after books 6 and 7, we’d get more information about the wider history and lore of the Crawl. I actually think this was the lightest in terms of world-building in recent instalments.
The AI is insane, and it makes for some very tense situations. Seeing how unhinged it could get, combined with the sound effects, made for some of my favourite scenes in the book.
Per usual, Jeff Hayes’s narration is incredible, even if I believe some bizarre scenes were added just to make the best use of him.
I admit, I did find the humour slightly too forced in a few places. I know LitRPG can get crazily absurd, but it was cringe-inducing at times.
Physical arc gifted by Michael Joseph publisher in March.
This review was posted after I listened to the audiobook.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Like all of my reviews for this series (and like the series itself), this review is going to be chaotic.
This one felt very dark, but also, it very much had fun.
I didn’t know Carl was such a good singer lol. We get a karaoke duet with Princess Donut and Carl, which I was not expecting.
I actually feel like there was less emotional moments between characters in this instalment compared to the previous few books. Instead, we see a very internal rage and struggle as Carl takes on the responsibility of everyone.
He’s like the big brother. The dad. The over-burdened, done-with-this-crap dude.
I had thought, after books 6 and 7, we’d get more information about the wider history and lore of the Crawl. I actually think this was the lightest in terms of world-building in recent instalments.
The AI is insane, and it makes for some very tense situations. Seeing how unhinged it could get, combined with the sound effects, made for some of my favourite scenes in the book.
Per usual, Jeff Hayes’s narration is incredible, even if I believe some bizarre scenes were added just to make the best use of him.
I admit, I did find the humour slightly too forced in a few places. I know LitRPG can get crazily absurd, but it was cringe-inducing at times.
Physical arc gifted by Michael Joseph publisher in March.
This review was posted after I listened to the audiobook.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Currently Reading
May 15, 2026I am not embarrassed to admit - I started this series in June 2025 - and have since listened to books 1-7 - TWICE as of November 2025 - . I don't know what to do with myself without Carl & Donut. I need this book yesterday. May is so far away...
Okay - Update, make that THREE TIMES. I swear this series has become my who personality ;) LOL, I mean I had to prepare for release day.
Okay - Update, make that THREE TIMES. I swear this series has become my who personality ;) LOL, I mean I had to prepare for release day.
May 12, 2026
HOLY SHIT. I inhaled this like my life depended on it. I need the next book NOW
May 14, 2026
The ending was surprising and amazing.
June 1, 2026
matt hurry up I'm dyin over here
Edit: holy shit that was insane
Edit: holy shit that was insane
June 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Matt Dinniman’s A Parade of Horribles throws Carl and Donut into one of the most ridiculous and entertaining dungeon concepts yet: a brutal series of escalating races where survival depends as much on clever upgrades as raw skill. Set against the growing chaos outside the dungeon after the Faction Wars, the tenth floor strips things down to a deceptively simple premise. Reach the finish line, avoid elimination, and somehow survive increasingly unhinged tracks that only this series could dream up.
I absolutely loved the theme of this floor. After seven books I kept wondering what Dinniman could possibly invent next, and absurd death races turned out to be a fantastic answer. The races themselves were exhilarating, especially the final one, and I had a great time seeing how wildly the challenges escalated from one event to the next. The sheer creativity on display here was impressive, and the book still delivers the same chaotic action and over-the-top absurdity that makes the Dungeon Crawler Carl series so addictive. Jeff Hays’ audiobook narration was, as always, spectacular and brought every insane moment to life perfectly.
That said, this ended up being my least favorite volume in the series so far. While I still enjoyed many of the emotional moments and continue to care deeply about Carl, Donut, and several supporting characters, the story often felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of ongoing plotlines, side quests, and characters accumulated over eight books. At times it became difficult to keep track of everything, and it felt like the character development between Carl and Donut stalled in favor of constant survival mode.
I also found myself growing tired of the nonstop obscenities and sexual innuendos. Whether the series has genuinely increased them or I have simply become less tolerant of them over time, some of the humor started to feel more exhausting than funny. The tone occasionally felt off in a way that made it harder for me to fully immerse myself compared to earlier installments.
Even so, I still enjoyed the book overall. The racing concept was incredibly fun, the emotional beats still landed, and I remain fully invested in seeing Carl and Donut’s journey through to the end. Even a weaker Dungeon Crawler Carl book is still wildly entertaining.
Matt Dinniman’s A Parade of Horribles throws Carl and Donut into one of the most ridiculous and entertaining dungeon concepts yet: a brutal series of escalating races where survival depends as much on clever upgrades as raw skill. Set against the growing chaos outside the dungeon after the Faction Wars, the tenth floor strips things down to a deceptively simple premise. Reach the finish line, avoid elimination, and somehow survive increasingly unhinged tracks that only this series could dream up.
I absolutely loved the theme of this floor. After seven books I kept wondering what Dinniman could possibly invent next, and absurd death races turned out to be a fantastic answer. The races themselves were exhilarating, especially the final one, and I had a great time seeing how wildly the challenges escalated from one event to the next. The sheer creativity on display here was impressive, and the book still delivers the same chaotic action and over-the-top absurdity that makes the Dungeon Crawler Carl series so addictive. Jeff Hays’ audiobook narration was, as always, spectacular and brought every insane moment to life perfectly.
That said, this ended up being my least favorite volume in the series so far. While I still enjoyed many of the emotional moments and continue to care deeply about Carl, Donut, and several supporting characters, the story often felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of ongoing plotlines, side quests, and characters accumulated over eight books. At times it became difficult to keep track of everything, and it felt like the character development between Carl and Donut stalled in favor of constant survival mode.
I also found myself growing tired of the nonstop obscenities and sexual innuendos. Whether the series has genuinely increased them or I have simply become less tolerant of them over time, some of the humor started to feel more exhausting than funny. The tone occasionally felt off in a way that made it harder for me to fully immerse myself compared to earlier installments.
Even so, I still enjoyed the book overall. The racing concept was incredibly fun, the emotional beats still landed, and I remain fully invested in seeing Carl and Donut’s journey through to the end. Even a weaker Dungeon Crawler Carl book is still wildly entertaining.
June 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. The relative simplicity of the races after all the craziness of the Faction Wars was a nice change of pace. Loved the 80’s cyberpunk setting of Hungry Eyes village.
We also saw a lot of Prepotente in this book, he is my favourite character, I just love him so much!
Super sad that I’m now all caught up with the series and now have to wait god knows how long until the next book 🥲 I think I’ll be in need of a re-read before then.
We also saw a lot of Prepotente in this book, he is my favourite character, I just love him so much!
Super sad that I’m now all caught up with the series and now have to wait god knows how long until the next book 🥲 I think I’ll be in need of a re-read before then.
May 25, 2026
“Unity. Support. Family. And kneecapping bitches.” Yeah, that quote sums it up nicely!
Carl and Donut are back after Faction Wars and we’re on the tenth floor. Not gonna lie, this was pure chaos from start to finish. I actively slowed down my listening from about halfway on as everything was happening so fast and I never wanted it to end.
Almost all of our favorites are here, while others were sorely missed. I don’t play any video games but I’ve seen some and this book reminded me a bit of Mario Kart. There was lots of racing and ridiculousness, punctuated by punches in the feels, and genuine moments of pure rage against the machine that put our crawlers in this situation in the first place. Whenever Carl rebels or makes a stand I want to stand and cheer. Maybe that’s because so many are not standing up in the real world right now? I don’t know for sure, but it’s nice to be on the side of someone with a backbone and real integrity, even if it is only fictional.
The NPCs here are abundant and a bit overwhelming at times. There’s a lot of frenetic action and the bosses? OH. EM. GEE. As Donut would say. Dinniman’s creations never fail to please as far as imagination is concerned. Personally, I think there’s something wrong with the guy. HA! Whatever’s wrong with him must be wrong with me too, because this series is just a blast!
Jeff Hays, the narrator, well there’s nothing to say about him that hasn’t already been said. The man is a genius when it comes to voicing these characters and I remain in awe of his incredible talent.
We are rooting for you Carl. You too, Donut. They will not break you. We will not let them.
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
Carl and Donut are back after Faction Wars and we’re on the tenth floor. Not gonna lie, this was pure chaos from start to finish. I actively slowed down my listening from about halfway on as everything was happening so fast and I never wanted it to end.
Almost all of our favorites are here, while others were sorely missed. I don’t play any video games but I’ve seen some and this book reminded me a bit of Mario Kart. There was lots of racing and ridiculousness, punctuated by punches in the feels, and genuine moments of pure rage against the machine that put our crawlers in this situation in the first place. Whenever Carl rebels or makes a stand I want to stand and cheer. Maybe that’s because so many are not standing up in the real world right now? I don’t know for sure, but it’s nice to be on the side of someone with a backbone and real integrity, even if it is only fictional.
The NPCs here are abundant and a bit overwhelming at times. There’s a lot of frenetic action and the bosses? OH. EM. GEE. As Donut would say. Dinniman’s creations never fail to please as far as imagination is concerned. Personally, I think there’s something wrong with the guy. HA! Whatever’s wrong with him must be wrong with me too, because this series is just a blast!
Jeff Hays, the narrator, well there’s nothing to say about him that hasn’t already been said. The man is a genius when it comes to voicing these characters and I remain in awe of his incredible talent.
We are rooting for you Carl. You too, Donut. They will not break you. We will not let them.
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
May 19, 2026
NEW ACHIEEEEEEVEMENT: You finished one of your favourite Dungeon Crawler Carl books in the series. Buckle up kiddo, you’re in for a bumpy ride.
Parade of Horribles did everything that The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook wanted to do, but better.
Using a movement and race based map engine for this could have gone one of two ways. Ironically in TDAC, I found that despite the rail and consistent movement system being in effect, it was a very slow and at times relatively confusing environment.
TPoH flips that on its head and forces consistent plot and narrative progression with an ever-moving race based map system.
And it’s fucking chaos.
But in the best way.
I feel like this has some of my favourite ever scenes, karaoke, the final three chapters (holy moly).
I don’t know how Matt can consistently keep bringing me such joy but also such anxiety and fear about what might come next.
I’m really not sure how ready I am to descend even further into the hell that is coming. But like an accident, I can’t help but look and see what horrible things are bound to happen.
We’re at a point now where I think the character development doesn’t really even need praising, the work that has been done to bring us and the characters on this journey is superb.
Yes, I will always admit, this series is not for everyone; it’s violent, it’s grotesque at times, and it’s overly sexualised (looking at you Samantha).
But for me, this is maybe my favourite entry in the entire gore and splooge filled series.
I can feel it coming in the air, tonight. *screams*
5.0/5.0
Parade of Horribles did everything that The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook wanted to do, but better.
Using a movement and race based map engine for this could have gone one of two ways. Ironically in TDAC, I found that despite the rail and consistent movement system being in effect, it was a very slow and at times relatively confusing environment.
TPoH flips that on its head and forces consistent plot and narrative progression with an ever-moving race based map system.
And it’s fucking chaos.
But in the best way.
I feel like this has some of my favourite ever scenes, karaoke, the final three chapters (holy moly).
I don’t know how Matt can consistently keep bringing me such joy but also such anxiety and fear about what might come next.
I’m really not sure how ready I am to descend even further into the hell that is coming. But like an accident, I can’t help but look and see what horrible things are bound to happen.
We’re at a point now where I think the character development doesn’t really even need praising, the work that has been done to bring us and the characters on this journey is superb.
Yes, I will always admit, this series is not for everyone; it’s violent, it’s grotesque at times, and it’s overly sexualised (looking at you Samantha).
But for me, this is maybe my favourite entry in the entire gore and splooge filled series.
I can feel it coming in the air, tonight. *screams*
5.0/5.0
May 16, 2026
This book felt like a filler. Where was the levels, the loot, the side quests? I miss Butcher's Masquerade so much.
June 13, 2026
Top three Carl, my favorite since Butcher’s Masquerade 🙌
May 23, 2026
i'm really disappointed because the racing premise is so up my alley. i grew up watching things like death race and playing games like mario kart so i was expecting something clever, kinetic, and memorable with crazy set pieces, strong race identities and fun mechanics. instead, most of the heats blurred together for me. the book felt consistently messy and fragmented than designed.
good racing stories make you feel like the track could exist as actual game levels but here the races felt more like containers for lore which is good if that's what Matt Dinniman was going for but it took away everything i loved about the first couple books.
another major issue for me was the sheer amount or characters and storylines competing for attention. instead of making the world feel bigger, it made the narrative feel stretched thin. there wasn't a strong emotional or spatial anchor to hold on to.
the execution of this book really didn't work for me and is definitely my least favourite of the series.
good racing stories make you feel like the track could exist as actual game levels but here the races felt more like containers for lore which is good if that's what Matt Dinniman was going for but it took away everything i loved about the first couple books.
another major issue for me was the sheer amount or characters and storylines competing for attention. instead of making the world feel bigger, it made the narrative feel stretched thin. there wasn't a strong emotional or spatial anchor to hold on to.
the execution of this book really didn't work for me and is definitely my least favourite of the series.
May 25, 2026
This story just gets better and better. I’m so committed and invested in these stories. Even though Matt Dinniman has a way of writing in a way where I will literally laugh out loud, as we advance deeper into this story, the tone has got significantly darker. There’s a huge undertone of greed and corruption that could easily be paralleled to current politics and the whole revenge VS vengeance thing struck a cord with me. I’m so sad that we’re getting to the end of this remarkable and creative journey, but I’m absolutely here for it!!
In the words of Carl… “Eat the rich”
In the words of Carl… “Eat the rich”
May 21, 2026
✨✨✨WHAT ABOUT THE BISCUITS MORDECAI!✨✨✨
A solid installment in the DCC series! I love how the story just keeps getting more and more intricate and emotional. There’s a lot more to this series than I ever expected when I started book 1 and it just keeps getting better. I love this series!! Also, Princess Donut remains my favorite! 👑 🐈 🍩
A solid installment in the DCC series! I love how the story just keeps getting more and more intricate and emotional. There’s a lot more to this series than I ever expected when I started book 1 and it just keeps getting better. I love this series!! Also, Princess Donut remains my favorite! 👑 🐈 🍩
May 17, 2026
I love this series. I've loved every book leading up to this one. But book 8 feels bloated in ways the previous floors didn't. For a book this long, too much of it reads like fluff - side quests and NPC drama that don't justify the page count they consume. 500 pages dedicated to storylines that feel underwhelming at this stage of the series was the problem.
The Don storyline is the worst offender. Yes, it has thematic weight about NPCs gaining agency and the dungeon's cruelty. But did we need all of that? We're eight books deep. We don't need extended detours into NPC relationship drama when the stakes should be tightening, not sprawling. I'm fine with characters dying - especially NPCs. That's the dungeon. Spending this much time on their arcs feels like Dinniman lost focus on what actually drives the story forward.
That said, the last 125 pages are epic. When Dinniman finally pulls the trigger and lets the floor's endgame unfold, he delivers. I'm excited for where this is going. Those final pages reminded me why I'm still here after eight books.
But here's what I can't stop thinking about: the Eulogist.
There's a lot of talk in this book about the Eulogist - this elite Primal class that's sleeping, dormant, unknowing. And conspicuously, Dinniman avoids talking about Carl's stats entirely. Not once. After seven books of tracking his progression, suddenly nothing?
Carl is Primal class. That's been established. But what if Carl is the Eulogist and doesn't know it yet? A sleeping titan, an idea or belief that transcends the tangible, something that hasn't awakened to what it actually is?
Think about Carl's arc: he bears witness, he remembers the dead, he speaks for those who can't speak for themselves. He eulogizes humanity with every step deeper into the dungeon. He's portrayed as always being "behind the curve," never quite understanding the scope of what he is - and that's exactly how you'd describe something dormant. The Eulogist isn't just a class. It's Carl, and he hasn't realized it yet.
Dinniman's been breadcrumbing this. The silence around Carl's stats, the emphasis on the Eulogist being unknowing, the way Carl embodies the concept without claiming it - it all points toward a reveal Dinniman's building toward. Carl isn't going to become the Eulogist. He already is the Eulogist. He just doesn't know it...
The Don storyline is the worst offender. Yes, it has thematic weight about NPCs gaining agency and the dungeon's cruelty. But did we need all of that? We're eight books deep. We don't need extended detours into NPC relationship drama when the stakes should be tightening, not sprawling. I'm fine with characters dying - especially NPCs. That's the dungeon. Spending this much time on their arcs feels like Dinniman lost focus on what actually drives the story forward.
That said, the last 125 pages are epic. When Dinniman finally pulls the trigger and lets the floor's endgame unfold, he delivers. I'm excited for where this is going. Those final pages reminded me why I'm still here after eight books.
But here's what I can't stop thinking about: the Eulogist.
There's a lot of talk in this book about the Eulogist - this elite Primal class that's sleeping, dormant, unknowing. And conspicuously, Dinniman avoids talking about Carl's stats entirely. Not once. After seven books of tracking his progression, suddenly nothing?
Carl is Primal class. That's been established. But what if Carl is the Eulogist and doesn't know it yet? A sleeping titan, an idea or belief that transcends the tangible, something that hasn't awakened to what it actually is?
Think about Carl's arc: he bears witness, he remembers the dead, he speaks for those who can't speak for themselves. He eulogizes humanity with every step deeper into the dungeon. He's portrayed as always being "behind the curve," never quite understanding the scope of what he is - and that's exactly how you'd describe something dormant. The Eulogist isn't just a class. It's Carl, and he hasn't realized it yet.
Dinniman's been breadcrumbing this. The silence around Carl's stats, the emphasis on the Eulogist being unknowing, the way Carl embodies the concept without claiming it - it all points toward a reveal Dinniman's building toward. Carl isn't going to become the Eulogist. He already is the Eulogist. He just doesn't know it...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2026
As I was reading (I immersively read) this 8th installment of DCC I teetered between 2 and 3 star thoughts. All in all it’s not very good.
I was initially excited by the premise. The crawlers are grouped into teams and select a vehicle that they can upgrade. They have to race through multiple heats and if they come in last they are eliminated. So like a Mario Cart level, which sounds awesome. Unfortunately the execution didn’t land for me at all. During the race I got no sense of speed or thrills, just chaos and a lot of characters yelling.
There are soooo many characters in DCC now and I find all of them insufferable other than Donut and Carl. The other characters are so uninteresting that I tend to zone out while they are on the page. The story has become so bloated at this point that I’ve lost interest.
There were a handful of sweet moments between Donut and Carl that I loved and an awesome karaoke scene that was pretty epic, but overall the story was mostly underwhelming.
I’m close to DNFing the series at this point, as I’m not really enjoying them anymore. I definitely want to know how it ends (like Sons of Anarchy) but getting there is getting rougher and rougher.
Two and a quarter stars for me.
I was initially excited by the premise. The crawlers are grouped into teams and select a vehicle that they can upgrade. They have to race through multiple heats and if they come in last they are eliminated. So like a Mario Cart level, which sounds awesome. Unfortunately the execution didn’t land for me at all. During the race I got no sense of speed or thrills, just chaos and a lot of characters yelling.
There are soooo many characters in DCC now and I find all of them insufferable other than Donut and Carl. The other characters are so uninteresting that I tend to zone out while they are on the page. The story has become so bloated at this point that I’ve lost interest.
There were a handful of sweet moments between Donut and Carl that I loved and an awesome karaoke scene that was pretty epic, but overall the story was mostly underwhelming.
I’m close to DNFing the series at this point, as I’m not really enjoying them anymore. I definitely want to know how it ends (like Sons of Anarchy) but getting there is getting rougher and rougher.
Two and a quarter stars for me.
May 18, 2026
The fun! The emotion! The implications of that ending!
What Matt Dinniman is building here is undeniably impressive. That said, there’s something about this entry that didn’t hit the same heights for me as the last few books. The pacing feels almost too fast, like it’s all gas with very little room to breathe. Earlier entries spent more time on worldbuilding through achievements, loot boxes, and dungeon mechanics, and while those books could occasionally feel too long, this one weirdly feels too short. Like it’s missing connective tissue somewhere.
It’s still a phenomenal time, and the ending is genuinely insane, but compared to some of my favorite entries in the series, this one lands a little lower for me. Even as a four-star read, it’s probably near the bottom of my personal ranking.
What Matt Dinniman is building here is undeniably impressive. That said, there’s something about this entry that didn’t hit the same heights for me as the last few books. The pacing feels almost too fast, like it’s all gas with very little room to breathe. Earlier entries spent more time on worldbuilding through achievements, loot boxes, and dungeon mechanics, and while those books could occasionally feel too long, this one weirdly feels too short. Like it’s missing connective tissue somewhere.
It’s still a phenomenal time, and the ending is genuinely insane, but compared to some of my favorite entries in the series, this one lands a little lower for me. Even as a four-star read, it’s probably near the bottom of my personal ranking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,962 reviews