Racing Toward the Endgame

A Parade of Horribles pushes the Dungeon Crawler Carl series into increasingly dangerous and chaotic territory while keeping Matt Dinniman’s trademark mix of absurd humor and high-stakes storytelling intact.

Set on the dungeon’s tenth floor, the novel introduces race-based challenges that initially appear straightforward before revealing deeper instability beneath the surface. Carl and Princess Donut remain the emotional and comedic core, navigating increasingly impossible situations shaped by rebellion and distrust of the system controlling them.

Dinniman balances explosive action with expanding mythology and sharper thematic focus around power, agency, and found family. Despite its large scale and relentless momentum, the book feels unusually purposeful within the broader series arc, carrying the sense that major endgame pieces are finally moving into place. For longtime readers, A Parade of Horribles feels less like a detour and more like acceleration.

The Hype Around Carl Continues

Early reception has been strongly positive, with readers and genre reviewers praising the novel’s pacing, humor, and escalating stakes.

Many describe the book as one of the series’ most focused entries, highlighting its stronger sense of direction and emotional investment. A Parade of Horribles also arrives during a period of growing mainstream recognition for Dungeon Crawler Carl, reinforcing Matt Dinniman’s role as one of LitRPG’s defining modern voices.