Come for the Chaos, Stay for the Donut
I should be a walking billboard for this series—or is it a wheeling billboard, since I’m in a wheelchair?—with as much as I have recommended it to my clients, friends, and fellow bookworms.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario picks up immediately where the first book ended. Carl and Princess Donut have left the training levels of the first two dungeons behind, entering the third level with a marked increase in their contestant ratings and views. It seems the audience across billions of alien worlds just can’t get enough of this twosome, but they must work even harder just to survive.
This time, Carl and Princess Donut are introduced to Over City, a once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity involving an active volcano. Along with their dangerous pet, Mongo, and their new game manager, Mordecai, they find themselves facing off against an undead circus troupe and NPC elites starring in their own crossover show. Between trying to solve the mystery of murdered prostitutes falling from the sky and battling an ancient magical enemy working on a definitive elimination spell, the stakes have never been higher.
I want to be careful not to say too much more; going in blind is the best way to immerse yourself in this incredibly far-fetched, sarcastic take on society, norms, beliefs, and the lengths we are willing to go to survive. At approximately 380 pages, it is a fast, easy, and thoroughly enjoyable read—as long as you don’t take it too seriously. (Note: This is an adult-oriented novel with plenty of violence and swearing, so keep that in mind if it’s a dealbreaker for you!)
In my opinion, this book takes the brilliant worldbuilding introduced in the first installment and expands on it in several excellent ways. Matt Dinniman has officially established his footing, direction, and style; from here on out, it’s full speed ahead. He masterfully weaves together complex political and governmental layers among the various alien races, keeping you hooked with crazy plot twists.
He also pulls off an incredible feat: genuine, laugh-out-loud humor. It is notoriously difficult to deliver laughs in a book format, but my hat is off to Dinniman, who makes it look entirely effortless. His straightforward, natural writing style helps the reader easily dive into a chaotic world of mayhem.
What surprised me most, however, was the character development. Carl, Princess Donut, and Mongo quietly endear themselves to you in ways you just don’t see coming. Dinniman balances a fast-paced plot with intimate insight into the characters’ thoughts and motivations. It’s hard for a writer to achieve both strong character growth and tight plotting in the same story, but Dinniman magically blends them into an unforgettable recipe of conflict and drama. By the end of this book, I realized I am completely emotionally invested in these characters. Their outcomes matter dearly to me.
Overall, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario is another stellar escape from reality and a wonderful, unique reading experience. It’s like witnessing the ultimate train wreck: you think you want to look away, but you’re utterly pulled in. My advice? Grab a drink and a snack, curl up on the couch, and enjoy the ride.
This was a ridiculous, fun journey and another easy 5-star read for me. I’ve already gifted the graphic novel of book one to my favorite human, bought a copy for myself, and am officially a super-fan. I’ve already started book three! As a non-video-game player, I am just as caught off-guard by how much I love this LitRPG series as you probably are.
Come to the dark side… we have cookies, not Donuts! =) I cannot wait to see this adaptation on TV.
