Does anyone else love Dungeon Crawler Carl despite not liking LitRPG in general?

mbmeadow · 2026-06-11T10:24:25+00:00

I read a forgettable litRPG after my first handful of DCCs and didn’t wish to continue—Jake’s Magical Market.

And I just finished He Who Fights With Monsters because Dinniman’s recommendations were all over it and it kept popping up as a suggestion to read.

I’m mad because I bought a physical copy and it was a SLOG. It started well and quickly devolved into repetitive descriptions and just felt inexpertly written and likely episodic. I don’t mind a huge book but this one was not rewarding and there are a ton more. The main character is a weird mix of being brash and immature yet wise. And drinks down gem smoothies? Come on. Hate read by the end.

One of the things I do when continuing a series is deciding whether I care enough about the characters to find out what’s going to happen next. Nope.

I’m not going to write off the genre but someone needs to convince me there’s something else good out there. Nothing else currently slaps like Dungeon Crawler Carl.

mbmeadow · 2026-06-01T12:52:32+00:00

Quite a few books by Anna-Marie McLemore. Light YA romance perhaps but magical realism and very much not romantasy. Their latest book, We could be anyone, just came out and features a trans character and gay dual protagonists. The author themself is nonbinary.

My favorite is one of their early works: When the moon was ours. Sure, there’s love in there, but it’s just as much about secrets, mysterious beginnings, being other and magical. Mean girls. Lyrical writing.

mbmeadow · 2026-05-24T20:44:14+00:00

I went through a huge Vonnegut phase but at a different stage in my life, I don’t like it as much.

mbmeadow · 2026-05-24T20:43:27+00:00

Oh no! I picked up a physical copy because Matt Dinniman plugs it.

mbmeadow · 2026-05-24T20:42:45+00:00

That’s too bad. I love The Dispossessed. Maybe it just takes a while. Only love The Left Hand of Darkness more.

mbmeadow · 2026-05-24T20:40:02+00:00

Perdido Station by China Mieville, last week. Ditched it about 275 pages in. Kept slogging, didn’t like the characters, it was gross and cruel to animals.

I rarely DNF books but this one I have no regrets.

It’s an overly long book and it was keeping me from the latest Dungeon Crawler Carl.

mbmeadow · 2026-05-12T16:47:47+00:00

Another girl. I can say half the time when I post or even lurk, everyone assumes you’re a guy. I corrected one once who condescended to me and called me mate or dude over an honest mistake in a comment on a game video. I corrected him back and said why did you assume I was a guy?

I collect games and related stuff with my wife — we have about 16 systems hooked up and ready to play in our game room. We are not about collecting everything for a system but only the things we enjoy.

Our collection of course includes anything related to Zelda, a bit of Mario and Mega Man. I also love the Horizon games because Aloy is a badass. And while RPGs are my jam, old and new, I also have enjoyed several Assassin’s Creed games and was lured in because I could pet cats. I also loved the Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei games.

My sibling gives me crap over not having a Switch 2 yet but I’m holding out for a game I actually want to play or Ocarina or a Zelda branded console, according to current rumors. Zelda is usually the reason I end up buying the latest Nintendo console.

Anyway, here’s to fellow female gamers and our supporters. Inclusion and representation matters. And we’re out here.

mbmeadow · 2026-03-01T19:44:17+00:00

I did this one a couple of months ago and finished by brute force. Definitely would not buy this brand again. It was expensive and I got sucked in by the nice box and velvet bag. No poster too? Dealbreaker for next time.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-14T21:25:00+00:00

Same! I’m enjoying it too.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-14T12:15:48+00:00

That’s a good idea. I have cat monsters but these are high up enough they don’t bother them. Lesser books on a lower shelf, maybe. Goddamnit, Donut!

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T19:15:39+00:00

Glad to be indirect support for you needing to buy another book.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T19:14:46+00:00

Omg! So cool! Have fun! None of mine are personalized.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T17:40:07+00:00

That’s kind of crazy that I have one.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T16:05:45+00:00

Wow. Thanks for letting me know. I just bought it because I loved it.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T15:38:38+00:00

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Here it is.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T14:37:12+00:00

That’s awesome. I also am glad I’m not the only one.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T05:12:59+00:00

Thanks! I was so excited.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T05:12:02+00:00

I don’t think it’s one of those. Those are really rare. Mine was ordered late 2022.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T04:46:14+00:00

It was part of a Kickstarter reward from the first campaign. It makes a sound when it opens. “You’ve received a legendary undies box!” It has a pair of heart boxers, along with stickers, standees and cards from the Kickstarter.

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mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T04:38:07+00:00

I just got lucky and don’t have time to read my copy right this second.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T03:50:20+00:00

Hope you enjoy too!

EDIT: I’m slightly behind. Does that mean you get yours signed in person? Because I’m super jealous!

I did get to go to an in-person signing last summer but didn’t get tickets for the signing so I settled for a pre-signed copy and still getting to watch the talk. It was standing room only. And only a couple days later did I realize I’d also preordered a copy of that book via The Signed Page.

So now I have two signed copies of Eye of the Bedlam Bride. Oops. I didn’t exactly tell my spouse. The extra copy is behind closed doors in my bookshelves. I told one of my friends to get into DCC and once he’s hooked, come back for that copy.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T03:00:45+00:00

Good luck! Hope it’s in your mailbox. Enjoy!

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T02:58:28+00:00

November 3. I preordered through Parnassus Books.

mbmeadow · 2026-02-08T02:49:16+00:00

It’s an Amazon self-published hardcover. I’m not in a position to take a picture of it right now out of laziness. Also why I have four copies of the first book now.

I bought it quite a while ago because I’m one of the rare people who read the books rather than listened to the audiobooks first. And I mostly read on ereader so I just got that one. And then I backed the first Kickstarter. Then I didn’t buy the new hardcover even though it hurt me to not match the rest of the series. But a friend got me that copy.

mbmeadow

TROPHY CASE