"Goddammit, Donut!
it If you had told me a few months ago that I’d be obsessing over a Sci-Fi LitRPG about a man in boxers and an award-winning Persian cat fighting through a sadistic alien game show, I wouldn’t have believed you. As someone whose shelves are usually packed with thrillers, romcoms, and the occasional fantasy, this was a total wild card. It was my first-ever LitRPG, and my nerdy little heart felt like it was falling down a tunnel of complete love alongside Carl and Princess Donut as they fought for survival.
The story begins on a snowy January night in Seattle when Carl finds himself barely dressed, chasing a trophy-winning cat outside—an act that inadvertently saves both their lives when aliens arrive and instantly flatten every building on Earth. To survive, they must enter a universally televised dungeon, descending through levels while becoming stronger and faster to avoid being “squished” when the time limit runs out. Carl and Donut, alongside millions of other “crawlers,” have to navigate this alien gauntlet with the help of a tutorial guide, talk show hosts, and even some very overwhelmed healthcare residents.
Everything about this book is absolutely weird, from the MMORPG plot to the fact that I’d never even heard of it before now. Jeff Hays gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the narrator, bringing a level of emotion to this bizarre world that is, at times, incredibly sad. What truly pushed this to a 5-star experience for me was sharing it with my person; seeing a D&D and gaming lover react to this story made it even more special. It’s a series that connects people through its chaos, and I am already diving into Book 2. If you’re looking for something that breaks every rule of your usual genres, this is it. Books 2 through 6? Yes, please.
