A Parade of Horribles

Dungeon Crawler Carl #8

by Matt Dinniman, Unknown Author

It’s off to the races for Carl and Donut in the eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut must compete in increasingly difficult and unhinged challenges in order to survive the tenth floor of the dungeon.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Dystopia, Adventure

Hardcover

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Matt 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.

Reviews

[Mattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unity, support, family, and kneecapping bitches.

[baohua]

i 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

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Patreon Reader*

Uh, Carl? Are you fucking sure? Holy shit.

[Maude Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last 3 chapters of this book are actually insane.

[Evan O’Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the sake of spoilers I will say nothing except this is the best one.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

i can't believe i am actually caught up :[ new dcc <3

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 ★★★

[taylor ❤️‍&#x1f525; · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️]

Dungeon 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
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[Brandi]

I 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.

[boxer_dogs_dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was surprising and amazing.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT. I inhaled this like my life depended on it. I need the next book NOW

[Sara]

matt hurry up I'm dyin over here


Edit: thank you kind sir 🫡

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive the way these books have grown increasingly batshit insane while also maintaining a tenuous hold on comprehensibility

[Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

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, the plot armour around some of the cast was unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I am asking for anyone to die; it's just crazy how many loopholes keep being found to keep people alive. All the crawlers that died in this book are people we've never met; they might as well be NPCs. The stakes don't hit the same when no one important is in danger!

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.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Alex Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[LambchoP]

Will this be the last book of the series, or are there more books planned?

[tomoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

przez pierwszą połowę miałam problem się wciągnać - wyścigi to nie jest mój ulubiony motyw. ale w drugiej części wydarzenia eskalują i dostajemy starą, dobrą jazdę bez trzymanki.

[Ashley]

A+ cover, no notes. Love the colors. Love the tiny Sir Rendlegore, and the judgmental Donut in her sunglasses. Happy to see also that Carl still has his luscious locks. Don't know why there's a truck with a chicken on it, but happy to find out.

[Jono Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart, that was so incredibly good and emotional. SO much happened and I had such a fun time on this wild ride.

I loved the level, the idea was so wacky but it worked. We made some new friends along the way.

The laughs were still there, alongside some serious aspects. I did worry how we'd progress from Faction Wars and Carl's feelings felt genuine. Donut was as sassy as ever, I love her so much.

That ending?! Excuse me! Matt, what have you done to us?!

Now what am I supposed to do?

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story picks up right after Faction Wars, as the crawlers reach the tenth floor. Carl and Princess Doughnut must compete in a series of races, making sure they never finish last. Anyone who survives the tenth floor joins The Parade of Horribles on the eleventh. At first, things seem simple, but with the AI delving into chaos and the world outside the dungeon falling apart, the tenth floor could be the toughest yet. Crawlers are forced to face each other, tough choices are ahead, and not everyone will make it through.

Matt Diniminan delivers another exciting book, and I can’t get enough of this series. The book is a true mix of chaos and humor. There’s so much happening on the tenth floor with all the races and characters that I almost lost track. I’m so attached to these characters now that finishing this book was an emotional ride. Although most of the action happens on the tenth floor, A Parade of Horribles also reveals more about the AI system and the politics outside the dungeon. The series is clearly heading toward its finale, and I’m excited to see what comes next. If you’re a Dungeon Crawler fan, you won’t want to miss this one!

Audiobook Fans:

Jeff Hayes delivers another strong performance in Parade of Horribles. I think this is his best narration in the Dungeon Crawler Series, and I’m always amazed by how many unique voices he gives each character. I listened to Chapter 57 four times before moving on, and it’s now my favorite part of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review A Parade of Horribles. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emma Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I realize I am biased because I 100% love this series, but alas, here we are. I will admit I didn't love the 10th floor. I was bored a lot of the time, and the races weren't really my favorite. If this review had been based solely on that floor, I probably would not have rated it as high; however, the 11th floor made it all worth it. Some of the quotes in the last 20% of the book gave me chills. It made me so excited to see where the story is going to go. I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Rob Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I'm giving a full 5 stars to a DCC book. How a silly book about a televised gameshow version of the apocalypse managed to turn into a story with such heart, so powerful a commentary on modern society, and still managed to keep the insane fun it started with is beyond me.

And as always, the audiobook version elevates this series. Fantastic!

[Benghis Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun week in the life this was for me, and I’m just sad it’s already over. I think I could be satisfied just reading/listening to new DCC for the rest of my life.

This delivered everything I was hoping for at this point in the series — a fresh feeling floor theme, deeper lore drops, and continual raising of the survival and emotional stakes. Dinniman is simply a master storyteller and knows how to keep me absolutely spellbound through all kinds of story beats.

As with every single DCC book, it wasn’t perfect for me, but the contentment I feel listening to the story makes that a moot point, not to mention the humor and liveliness of the dialogue and events always makes every scene engaging. This one suffered a bit from the same issues as bk 3, where I thought a lot of the zany races were light on scene setting and description, which made them a bit hard to visualize. In the end though I don’t mind that too much, since I know as I reread/listen in both formats that these scenes will get more and more distinct.

And anyway, the real heart of these books isn’t found in the action scenes but in the quieter moments, from the heartfelt character bonding to those insanely tense reveals and twists that come from just learning new information. And A Parade of Horribles is chock full of those, and if you’re as invested in the cast and ultimate outcome of this great big pile of chaos as I am, those moments are what you live for in reading sff.

While the quieter moments may have stolen the show for me here, the races were a blast and were just such maximally tense and exhilarating sequences where you really felt the danger of the situations. The second to last race in particular in the apartment building is one of those tour-de-force massive set pieces that only Dinniman is capable of (and which he’s been delivering consistently since bk 5). It managed to combine crazy large scale action with extremely hard hitting and grounded emotional beats and is the type of sequence unique to DCC, where he goes so overboard yet still somehow makes you believe in the stakes and the character drama. And that karaoke scene?!!! What an absurd treat that was in the audio.

With how Dinniman delivered on Faction Wars, I suspect we’re in for something special with the Ascendancy Games coming up. Bring on book 9 and the 12th floor!

[Temi (temisreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl, Princess Donut, and the gang return to enter the 10th floor of the dungeon in what I can best describe as a chaotic game of mario kart mixed with death dying dangers at every corner. Carl and Donut continue to steal my heart and be the best partnership and the side characters shined in this one! I can’t say much about this plot because it is book eight in a series but Matt Dinniman manages to write this absolutely insane storyline that is funny, makes your heart race, and is vulnerable all at once. Carl and Donut find themselves having to make hard decisions and just like with every DCC book, the ending was absolutely nuts. Everything is about to hit its crescendo and I am equally excited and terrified for what’s to come in the final books!

Thank you Berkley Publishing | ACE and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!

[Kaden Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

M-rated Mario Kart. This series is truly an epic masterpiece

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*]

Really sad this is no longer titled Carl's Book 0' Boom.

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
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.