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Discount Dan's Backroom Bargains #2
Cul-de-sac Carnage
Welcome back, Bargain Hunters! Stock up. Lock down. And brace yourself for the sale of a lifetime. With the shadow of the Flayed Monarch looming ever closer, Dan must prepare the store and himself for the battle to come. To stand a chance, he’ll need to expand his operations, broker a precarious trade deal with the Delvers of Howlers Hold, and transform his stash of relics into an arsenal of magical war crimes.
But first, he’ll need to carve a bloody path through the heart of the 24th floor—Eternal Suburbia. A hellish, never-ending labyrinth of tidy lawns, cookie-cutter houses, and homicidal homeowners. Few survive the lawnmower men, the feral Karens, the ever-ravenous Kannibal Kids, or the tyrannical HOA, which reigns supreme with an iron fist of petty rules and bloodstained bylaws. With a gaggle of increasingly untrustworthy allies, and dangers lurking behind every perfectly trimmed hedge, Dan will need to do the impossible if he wants to beat the system and live to fight another day.
Need some convincing, here's what readers are saying!
"The Cousin of Dungeon Crawler Carl - similar premise, a man out of his world and into a fresh hell of levels, monster and magic with a adorable inhuman sidekick." — 5 Stars
"Everything imaginable is evil gods, toilet-headed monsters, mimics, sportsman goblins, literal shit golems, a town of furries, balloon-shaped bombs, evil suburbs, creative swears aplenty, laundry gnomes, building kaijus. I'm just getting started here. TL; Read it ASAP. You won't regret it." — 5 Stars
"I don’t know what just happened man, I thought this was just going to be a dumb backrooms thing. There were 773 pages. That was 2 days ago, now there’s nothing left and I'm sad." — 5 Stars
"Its crazy, disturbing, horrific, and honestly just super messed up. Its also one of the best stories I have ever read." — 5 Stars
But first, he’ll need to carve a bloody path through the heart of the 24th floor—Eternal Suburbia. A hellish, never-ending labyrinth of tidy lawns, cookie-cutter houses, and homicidal homeowners. Few survive the lawnmower men, the feral Karens, the ever-ravenous Kannibal Kids, or the tyrannical HOA, which reigns supreme with an iron fist of petty rules and bloodstained bylaws. With a gaggle of increasingly untrustworthy allies, and dangers lurking behind every perfectly trimmed hedge, Dan will need to do the impossible if he wants to beat the system and live to fight another day.
Need some convincing, here's what readers are saying!
"The Cousin of Dungeon Crawler Carl - similar premise, a man out of his world and into a fresh hell of levels, monster and magic with a adorable inhuman sidekick." — 5 Stars
"Everything imaginable is evil gods, toilet-headed monsters, mimics, sportsman goblins, literal shit golems, a town of furries, balloon-shaped bombs, evil suburbs, creative swears aplenty, laundry gnomes, building kaijus. I'm just getting started here. TL; Read it ASAP. You won't regret it." — 5 Stars
"I don’t know what just happened man, I thought this was just going to be a dumb backrooms thing. There were 773 pages. That was 2 days ago, now there’s nothing left and I'm sad." — 5 Stars
"Its crazy, disturbing, horrific, and honestly just super messed up. Its also one of the best stories I have ever read." — 5 Stars
616 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
221 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
James A. Hunter
79 books1,110 followersJames Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Bibliomancer (The Completionist Chronicles Expanded Universe), and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, an industry leader that specializes in publishing LitRPG, Fantasy, and selection Science Fiction.
James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.
Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com
James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.
Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 5, 2025
Probs actually 4.5 but definitely a step up in writing quality from the first. Still a DCC clone tho
October 9, 2025
Backrooms dungeon crawler Dan and croc return with a new installment. It’s pretty fun! 3.5⭐️
I like how the store keeps growing and all the floors are psychedelic twisted backroom monstrosities. I especially liked the evil HOA. Very fitting.
The major deterrent for me is that the often crude humor gets old. I get it Dan has got the emotional maturity of a teenager but it just too predictable. There were points that I was like “ let me guess, they can suck a bag of dicks, or this person is a cockwaffle”. It’s a shame cuz the world building is fun enough that I’ll come back it’s just kinda like ughhhh another dumb comeback. Honestly if you took that out and added maybe a smidge more horror this could be a serious contender in the litrpg genre.
I like how the store keeps growing and all the floors are psychedelic twisted backroom monstrosities. I especially liked the evil HOA. Very fitting.
The major deterrent for me is that the often crude humor gets old. I get it Dan has got the emotional maturity of a teenager but it just too predictable. There were points that I was like “ let me guess, they can suck a bag of dicks, or this person is a cockwaffle”. It’s a shame cuz the world building is fun enough that I’ll come back it’s just kinda like ughhhh another dumb comeback. Honestly if you took that out and added maybe a smidge more horror this could be a serious contender in the litrpg genre.
October 8, 2025
The storyline is great, but he repeats a lot in the book. I like the idea of someone trapped in a LitRPG world starting their own business to work towards escape. I will definitely continue reading the series :)
July 10, 2025
Review: another great installment by Mr. hunter. I hope this series never ends.
4.6/5
4.6/5
July 15, 2025
Gritty goodness
The absolutely disgusting pictures painted makes me sure I'd never want to end up here. Though dan seems to be kicking ass anyways. Lots of fun, can't wait to see how much crazier it can get.
The absolutely disgusting pictures painted makes me sure I'd never want to end up here. Though dan seems to be kicking ass anyways. Lots of fun, can't wait to see how much crazier it can get.
September 10, 2025
Thank god I was finally able to get out of my month long reading slump with this book. Discount Dan never fails to entertain.
November 10, 2025
As a Kyle I'm proud of this one, ignore my review for book one. I was late to the party. What a great book. Maybe we'll get a backrooms style Kyle convention on a separate floor in a following book... Very entertaining, thanks again James.
December 22, 2025
Cul-de-sac is a significant step forward for the series, addressing many of the structural issues that made the first book feel a bit scattered. James Hunter seems to have found his rhythm here, taking the "discount" gimmick and embedding it into a narrative that feels much more cohesive and intentional. While the comparisons to Dungeon Crawler Carl are still inevitable given the snarky tone and the high-stakes absurdity, this sequel begins to carve out a more distinct identity for Dan and his increasingly bizarre predicament.
The greatest improvement in this installment is the flow of the story. The "vignette" feeling of the first book has been replaced by a more driving, singular plot that makes the world-building feel less like a backdrop and more like a functional part of the stakes. The humor is still front and center, but it feels better integrated into the action rather than pausing for a punchline. By leaning into the specific "neighborhood" setting, Hunter creates a sense of place that was missing before, making the survival elements feel more immediate and personal.
Dan himself is becoming a more well-rounded protagonist. His creative, "budget-friendly" solutions to high-level problems continue to be the highlight of the series, but we’re starting to see the consequences of his actions catch up to him. This added layer of responsibility helps anchor the more ridiculous moments, giving the reader a reason to care about the outcome beyond just seeing what weird gadget he’ll use next. The supporting cast is also starting to gel, providing a solid sounding board for Dan’s brand of cynical optimism.
While it still hits a few familiar tropes of the "System Apocalypse" genre, Cul-de-sac proves that the series has real legs. It’s a fun, fast-paced read that manages to be both a great tribute to the masters of the genre and a solid adventure in its own right. It feels like the disjointed pieces of the first book have finally clicked into place, making me much more excited to see where the "discount" path leads next.
The greatest improvement in this installment is the flow of the story. The "vignette" feeling of the first book has been replaced by a more driving, singular plot that makes the world-building feel less like a backdrop and more like a functional part of the stakes. The humor is still front and center, but it feels better integrated into the action rather than pausing for a punchline. By leaning into the specific "neighborhood" setting, Hunter creates a sense of place that was missing before, making the survival elements feel more immediate and personal.
Dan himself is becoming a more well-rounded protagonist. His creative, "budget-friendly" solutions to high-level problems continue to be the highlight of the series, but we’re starting to see the consequences of his actions catch up to him. This added layer of responsibility helps anchor the more ridiculous moments, giving the reader a reason to care about the outcome beyond just seeing what weird gadget he’ll use next. The supporting cast is also starting to gel, providing a solid sounding board for Dan’s brand of cynical optimism.
While it still hits a few familiar tropes of the "System Apocalypse" genre, Cul-de-sac proves that the series has real legs. It’s a fun, fast-paced read that manages to be both a great tribute to the masters of the genre and a solid adventure in its own right. It feels like the disjointed pieces of the first book have finally clicked into place, making me much more excited to see where the "discount" path leads next.
July 1, 2025
Title: A Visceral Romp Through the Backrooms
Content Ratings: Language – R; Violence – R; Other – R
It is assumed that if you're reading this review, you're already familiar with the series. If not, go look at book 1 reviews and decide whether or not you want to start there, because this is more of the same. Speaking of more, this book has more of just about everything book 1 had, so use that as your measuring stick as to whether to continue or not.
That said, what jumped out at me about this book (besides the numerous horrors of the backrooms)?
* Much more
* Good progression
* Creative problem solving
* Humor (wacky characters and a very snarky system that gets quite creative with the rewards and titles)
* Croc (which is enough reason to be interested)
* Silliness
* Wisdom - a book that finally exposes the true dangers of HOAs and essential oils
Once the pacing and main storyline arc were established, this was once again a book I could barely put down. That's a caveat, though, because - for me - it started a little slow. It just seemed like the pacing was off a little, the wackiness was a little forced, and Croc wasn't given enough moments to shine. Your mileage may vary - it could well be that it just took me a while to shift gears back into Discount Dan mode.
So, what made this such a visceral experience? Duh - it's the viscera.
Content Ratings: Language – R; Violence – R; Other – R
It is assumed that if you're reading this review, you're already familiar with the series. If not, go look at book 1 reviews and decide whether or not you want to start there, because this is more of the same. Speaking of more, this book has more of just about everything book 1 had, so use that as your measuring stick as to whether to continue or not.
That said, what jumped out at me about this book (besides the numerous horrors of the backrooms)?
* Much more
* Good progression
* Creative problem solving
* Humor (wacky characters and a very snarky system that gets quite creative with the rewards and titles)
* Croc (which is enough reason to be interested)
* Silliness
* Wisdom - a book that finally exposes the true dangers of HOAs and essential oils
Once the pacing and main storyline arc were established, this was once again a book I could barely put down. That's a caveat, though, because - for me - it started a little slow. It just seemed like the pacing was off a little, the wackiness was a little forced, and Croc wasn't given enough moments to shine. Your mileage may vary - it could well be that it just took me a while to shift gears back into Discount Dan mode.
So, what made this such a visceral experience? Duh - it's the viscera.
July 14, 2025
This takes place after book 1 and continues to build out the overarching plot of "how do I get strong so the flayed monarch doesn't kill me? But also, I think I want to help the other poor SOBs trapped her." A lot happens here, but the real meat of the story is when Dan and his friends are contacted by another power player in the lower levels, and decide to go on a mission that should help them slow down the flayed monarch. This ends up with them having to make their way down a bunch of levels and the bulk of the story takes place on a nightmare suburban landscape. The book has all kinds of weird stuff: illusions, magic laundry cleaning, evil kids riding around in bike gangs, jokes about suburban dads grilling, a government conspiracy theorist with magic marijuana, snarky rewards, twisted spells/abilities and more.
Overall, if you like Dungeon Crawler Carl, and you liked the first book, you'll be a big fan of this one. I will say this book still reminds me a lot of DCC (in a good way) but it is finding its own path/voice. Can't wait for book 3.
Overall, if you like Dungeon Crawler Carl, and you liked the first book, you'll be a big fan of this one. I will say this book still reminds me a lot of DCC (in a good way) but it is finding its own path/voice. Can't wait for book 3.
October 10, 2025
Slightly better than the first go round
Look, if you're like me--and if you're reading this, you might be--you're always hip-deep in the cess pool of self-published Lit RPG. Sometimes, that means you're the first person you know to read Matt Dinniman. Mostly, it's mediocre schlock that has just enough redeeming moments of shine to keep you going. This book is... Somewhere in between.
The first book was enough of a knockoff of Dungeon Crawler Carl that I kept going out of a sort of morbid curiosity to see what the next legally distinct copy would turn up next. It's not an alien dungeon, it's The Backrooms! It's not a talking magical cat, it's a talking magical dog! It's not Carl, it's Dan! It's not heart-covered boxers, it's daisy dukes and a knockoff versace bathrobe! You get the idea.
But all that trash talked, I think this second book starts to diverge in important ways and find it's own path. I don't know if it's the best path for me, but it's going somewhere new. And I guess I'm along for the ride.
Look, if you're like me--and if you're reading this, you might be--you're always hip-deep in the cess pool of self-published Lit RPG. Sometimes, that means you're the first person you know to read Matt Dinniman. Mostly, it's mediocre schlock that has just enough redeeming moments of shine to keep you going. This book is... Somewhere in between.
The first book was enough of a knockoff of Dungeon Crawler Carl that I kept going out of a sort of morbid curiosity to see what the next legally distinct copy would turn up next. It's not an alien dungeon, it's The Backrooms! It's not a talking magical cat, it's a talking magical dog! It's not Carl, it's Dan! It's not heart-covered boxers, it's daisy dukes and a knockoff versace bathrobe! You get the idea.
But all that trash talked, I think this second book starts to diverge in important ways and find it's own path. I don't know if it's the best path for me, but it's going somewhere new. And I guess I'm along for the ride.
July 7, 2025
If you liked the first book, you'll enjoy this one too.
What you'll get in this book: progress on the overarching plot (and a possible new ally?), an exciting plot for this book (suburban horror), creepy monsters, gross monsters, great boss battles, a surprising new character... and much more.
One thing that continues to fascinate me is the "magical" artifacts. The flavor text often makes me smile. But it's the combinations that interest me. Sometimes Dan gets something fantastic, sometimes he gets crap, but finding out is fun.
The one thing that I'd like to see more of is character development for Temperance and Jakob. Both have great back stories, but I'd like to see something more from Temperance than murder hobo. I'd also like to see them take a leadership role, or have something going on outside of Dan's mission. The groundwork for them has me eager to see more. More of Croc goes without saying.
Sad that I have to wait so long for the next book!
What you'll get in this book: progress on the overarching plot (and a possible new ally?), an exciting plot for this book (suburban horror), creepy monsters, gross monsters, great boss battles, a surprising new character... and much more.
One thing that continues to fascinate me is the "magical" artifacts. The flavor text often makes me smile. But it's the combinations that interest me. Sometimes Dan gets something fantastic, sometimes he gets crap, but finding out is fun.
The one thing that I'd like to see more of is character development for Temperance and Jakob. Both have great back stories, but I'd like to see something more from Temperance than murder hobo. I'd also like to see them take a leadership role, or have something going on outside of Dan's mission. The groundwork for them has me eager to see more. More of Croc goes without saying.
Sad that I have to wait so long for the next book!
June 27, 2025
Wow this 2nd book takes us down a really dark path, whereby Dan and his group prepare to face their nemesis the Flayed Monarch, however before doing so Dan knows he has to get stronger. He needs to gain more allies and he and his group have to face the 42nd floor, the one of eternal suburbia, the one where everything looks eutopic at face value, but is pure horror once one gets down to disobeying the HOA controlling everything. The horrors our group face on this floor are pure imagination on the part of James Hunter, but they are so fucked up they are pure evil. This book is a crazy thrilling ride but definitely not for the squimish, enjoy the ride!! Phew and what a ride this is. Onward to book 3!
July 28, 2025
These are solid middle of the road books. This one could have had a bit more going on to make me feel satisfied with the ending, but it is what it is. I was expecting and hoping the mission they set out on would be completed in one book, but it wasn't. The introduction of some new "characters" was nice, along with the return of the ones you'd expect from book one. The over the top enemies and dialog is refreshing and oddly humanizing...at least compared to the humans I'm around.
Nothing crazy with a deep plot, but a fun silly book series that bumps up to the line of satire without fully going past it.
Nothing crazy with a deep plot, but a fun silly book series that bumps up to the line of satire without fully going past it.
August 16, 2025
This one dragged. Phrases like "war crimes," "this disgusting trauma will haunt me," "it had tentacles," "mouth like a lamprey," "don't lie to friends," "we didn't have time [insert additional conversation or lengthy relic text]" got really repetitive and lost their impact.
Dan killing everything with AoE allowing him to outlevel everyone makes you question everyone else's relic choices. Meanwhile he's constantly commenting that level differences make it so the lower levels can't make a dent in the hp of higher level characters, though he always finds a way- both to damage and to get damaged...
anyway, like my review, it dragged.
Dan killing everything with AoE allowing him to outlevel everyone makes you question everyone else's relic choices. Meanwhile he's constantly commenting that level differences make it so the lower levels can't make a dent in the hp of higher level characters, though he always finds a way- both to damage and to get damaged...
anyway, like my review, it dragged.
August 3, 2025
really great book
Great book and such a fun read with very likable characters. Really creative. I have also read the rogue dungeons books and listened to the viridian gate series on audible. They were both good series but this is really phenomenal compared to them. My only negative is that the next book won’t be out for a year. That’s too long for a book like this. Hope he stops writing other stuff and just focus on getting this series out sooner. Viridian gate has been over for a while…just let it rest
Great book and such a fun read with very likable characters. Really creative. I have also read the rogue dungeons books and listened to the viridian gate series on audible. They were both good series but this is really phenomenal compared to them. My only negative is that the next book won’t be out for a year. That’s too long for a book like this. Hope he stops writing other stuff and just focus on getting this series out sooner. Viridian gate has been over for a while…just let it rest
July 12, 2025
4.4⭐️
0🌶️
Listened to the audiobook on Audible
Dan does not have forces giving him to dive deeper into the back room. This book opens that door and give him drive under the threat of war. His business is disrupting this delve and he is make some big enemies and some pretty awesome allies. This book fully of silly enemies and excellent upgrades. We even see upgrades to his store. I am excited for book 3!
0🌶️
Listened to the audiobook on Audible
Dan does not have forces giving him to dive deeper into the back room. This book opens that door and give him drive under the threat of war. His business is disrupting this delve and he is make some big enemies and some pretty awesome allies. This book fully of silly enemies and excellent upgrades. We even see upgrades to his store. I am excited for book 3!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2025
fast paced and funny
After reading the first book, I was anxiously waiting for this one to come out. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed. It was another one of those books that I had difficulty putting down. I love the interaction between the characters, and especially fond of croc.
Well, this book is certainly not international best seller Twilight, it is still definitely worth your time
After reading the first book, I was anxiously waiting for this one to come out. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed. It was another one of those books that I had difficulty putting down. I love the interaction between the characters, and especially fond of croc.
Well, this book is certainly not international best seller Twilight, it is still definitely worth your time
July 17, 2025
Carnage and chaos ahead!
Yeeeeehhhhh.... Not for the queasy at heart, that's for sure. This second book in the series continues in the bloody chaos of the first. Not quite fully unhinged, but pretty close. Dan undergoes some solid growth and picks up some awesome relics while barely surviving several encounters. All in all, great fun. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
Yeeeeehhhhh.... Not for the queasy at heart, that's for sure. This second book in the series continues in the bloody chaos of the first. Not quite fully unhinged, but pretty close. Dan undergoes some solid growth and picks up some awesome relics while barely surviving several encounters. All in all, great fun. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
September 12, 2025
fun
MC makes new friends and finds a safe spot. He cuts a trade deal with them. It just requires that he descends a couple levels and get laundry service for his store. He also needs to descend to level 99 to face someone called The Franchiser. He gets stuck on level 24 in the worst HOA ever. He wins his way through and Discount Dan’s grows stronger.
Funny story with good fast pacing. Interesting characters. Neat world building. Awesome narrator Please enjoy
MC makes new friends and finds a safe spot. He cuts a trade deal with them. It just requires that he descends a couple levels and get laundry service for his store. He also needs to descend to level 99 to face someone called The Franchiser. He gets stuck on level 24 in the worst HOA ever. He wins his way through and Discount Dan’s grows stronger.
Funny story with good fast pacing. Interesting characters. Neat world building. Awesome narrator Please enjoy
November 5, 2025
I started reading this because I got into Dungeon Crawler Carl and needed something new that scratched that itch. This series is fun so far but feels more like a typical power fantasy than DCC and kind of lacks the heart and nuance that DCC does well.
This series probably won’t completely satisfy the urge but it’s pretty fun so far and I liked the 2nd book better than the first. I’ll probably keep reading these as they come out.
This series probably won’t completely satisfy the urge but it’s pretty fun so far and I liked the 2nd book better than the first. I’ll probably keep reading these as they come out.
July 1, 2025
Discount Dan now with 300 + more furries. If you thought the last instalment had one to many furries boy do I have a treat for you. Come for the promise of carnage stay for croc and Edward Cullen who weirdly enough might make an appearance.
July 8, 2025
So weird and so much fun
This book manages to streamline everything from book one. Ridiculous action, downtime well spent, and meaningful level ups.
It's weird though... Like, weird weird. Hope you're into that.
This book manages to streamline everything from book one. Ridiculous action, downtime well spent, and meaningful level ups.
It's weird though... Like, weird weird. Hope you're into that.
July 25, 2025
hit the spot
I really liked this book much more than book 1. Now that we have background on Dan and the room there was less expositions and more action! I can’t wait to see what comes next for Dan.
I really liked this book much more than book 1. Now that we have background on Dan and the room there was less expositions and more action! I can’t wait to see what comes next for Dan.
August 19, 2025
Pretty messed up!
I thought the parts about the copied homes and hoa that sucks your lives lol. Lots of crazy action similar to dungeon crawler Carl. The ways they combine the artifacts are awesome!
I thought the parts about the copied homes and hoa that sucks your lives lol. Lots of crazy action similar to dungeon crawler Carl. The ways they combine the artifacts are awesome!
August 29, 2025
The cast is growing, the stakes are rising.. I'm a fan of James Hunter's humor, and that's really the highlight of this series for me. Some of the mechanics kind of fly by me, but that's OK. I like the series, horrific and all. Will be discussing more on my YouTube channel, BellTube.
November 25, 2025
3.5/5. The chaos continues!! Overall, the most notable is that the writing style has definitely improved and I found myself enjoying book 2 better than the first.
I wish Croc was my bff so we could eat fro-yo and watch Twilight together.
I wish Croc was my bff so we could eat fro-yo and watch Twilight together.
July 1, 2025
An amazing continuation of the first book. Love all the action and also the diving deeper into one specific floor
July 4, 2025
Very good book
This is a fine fantasy adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the little pony horror. I anxiously await the sequel.
This is a fine fantasy adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the little pony horror. I anxiously await the sequel.
July 7, 2025
Good continuation of the series. Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews