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It’s that time of year when stores like Barnes & Noble start marking down books to be on sale for the holidays. If you’re reading a book review online, there’s a good chance you’re a bookworm like me and are looking for your next adventure between the pages. Let me present to you, Dungeon Crawler Car.
From Google Books:
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This isn’t your ordinary game show.
What’s fascinating about this book is how unique it is. There have been plenty of books in the past that have borrowed gaming ideas but this one felt different enough. First and foremost, it wasn’t a young adult book full of cliches.
The balance of video game tropes with adult language gave the story a more mature feeling. Dungeon Crawler Carl reads very much like an RPG in enough of a way that doesn’t insult the gaming community. Too many books such as this are written and it feels like the author just Googled gaming terms never having played a video game themselves.
The book is written as if it takes place in a gameshow but has all the narratives of a quirkier Final Fantasy game. There are the world bosses that have the accompanying vs card when encountered. The reader frequently encounters Carl and Princess Donut’s skill leveling and achievements. The levels each get more challenging and unique the further our heroes venture in. Not only do the bosses get more challenging but so do the enemies whose levels also vary. There are randomized loot, stats and skills, and potions or spells. Dungeon Crawler Carl should satisfy both the reader and gamer of whoever picks it up.
This is a rare case when you can judge a book by its cover. Without the title, I would’ve never thought to pick it up. As a gamer, Dungeon Crawler is a recognizable term and I quickly read the inside flap of the dust cover and made my decision. There were brief moments in this one where the pace slowed a bit, but that’s okay.
A decent part of the story was spent with Carl and Donut leveling the same way you would in a video game when there’s not much for you to do. However, with likable characters, familiarity, and humor it’s easy to understand why this series has grown to seven books and may eventually get a TV series. If you’re looking for something fun and adventurous, add this to your holiday wish list.
