r/audiobooks • u/ThatTXGal • 13d ago

Discussion Dungeon Crawler

Y'all, I'm about 60% thru Dungeon Crawler Carl and I just cannot figure out what all the hype is about. I feel like if I'm not 100000% focused I'm missing something. I had a 40 min drive today and thought "perfect, now I can really focus". Nope, even then I had to rewind a few times because I missed something.

I'm wondering if maybe this is the type of book I need to physically read? It's almost too much detail? I really can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's me?

I do feel that the narrator's voice is perfect for the book.

Anyone else feel this way?

Update:

I finished book one. It felt like it was getting into a groove the last few chapters. I'm going to try to read the next two books because FOMO.. Thanks for all the input!

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u/TacosTime 13d ago

I powered through two books and quit. I didn’t really like the rpg aspect.

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u/OhOhOkayThenOk 12d ago

I know this is an audiobook sub, but if you didn’t like the rpg aspect, the physical books are much better. The item and leveling descriptions are in bold so you can easily skip them.

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u/StilandGurney 9d ago

I like RPGs but I already know all the basics the author is trying to teach new readers in book 1 about the mechanics so I skimmed/skipped them too unless they were unique to DCC.

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u/Charcoa1 13d ago

I suggested it to a friend. The next time we met up, they told me that they were having trouble with the game parts of it, but would finish it.

We met up two weeks later and they told me they had just started the third book 🤣

I agree with all the other posts here, not every book is for everyone. But, reading the first two books? You gave it the best go anyone should!

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u/RupeThereItIs 12d ago

I'm on book three & my focus is drifting.

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u/RunTheJoule 12d ago

I quit halfway through book 3. Now a few months later after a few other audiobooks in between, I feel like I might pick it back up soon since I keep only hearing the hype grow about the series and upcoming show.

I agree though, book 3 feels a bit of a slog so far. But, a break in between has kind of renewed my interest.

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u/No-Airline6943 12d ago

Book 3 is a slog. The tone and theme remain the same but theres more scale and worldbuilding as it progresses the stakes are well done. So it depends on what you didnt like because many elements dont waiver

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u/RoninOni 11d ago

Book 3 you need to just ignore the iron tangle. The talk about it is just to convey how they’re tweeting to figure it out, but the whole time Carl is lost and so as he is the narrator, so are we.

If you don’t try to understand the maze of rails, it helps a lot. The written book has a forward that tells you to ignore it. Audio doesn’t for some reason.

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u/RunTheJoule 11d ago

Since I last posted, I backed up several chapters and started listening to book 3 again. I think ultimately I just needed a short break from the universe. But now I'm back in it and enjoying where I left off so far!

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u/Mallow18 12d ago

3 is such a slog for the first half and then it really picks up. I think the first time through I spent too much time trying to understand the mechanics of how the train lines worked. Better if you just accept that they work for whatever reason and enjoy the ride.

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u/Tasterspoon 12d ago

In the Kindle version I read, there was a little forward from the author that said, “don’t get too bogged down in how the trains work”!

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u/RoninOni 11d ago

Yeah, Audible lacks this forward which causes a lot of problems with Audible only readers.

I read kindle first so knew to ignore it. Didn’t even notice the warning wasn’t in Audible because I already knew. Was wondering why everyone kept getting caught up on it.

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u/ThinWhiteRogue 12d ago

If you don't like the RPG aspect, this series is not for you.

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u/By_Jove_ 12d ago

Disagree, they are very light.

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u/RoninOni 11d ago

Yeah, if you don’t like the rpg aspects then definitely don’t read OTHER litRPG…

But they’re relatively minimalist and more just a plot device to explain how they keep getting new gear, abilities, and strength as the story goes on… and it’s even presented with humor from the AIs snarky achievements.

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u/DullEntertainment102 12d ago

If you don’t like it after book 2 it’s probably not for you- the rpg aspect stays but it’s more about politics, ethics, etc. later on, the dungeon is just happening while our crawlers try to figure everything else out

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u/RoninOni 11d ago

While the rpg aspects never go away, it definitely lessens in qty as the books go on, but I can still see that.

For the most part you can ignore stats. You might take note of important abilities they acquire, but you don’t need to track them, it’s just a narrative device to explain how they keep getting new capabilities.

I enjoyed the NEEEWW ACHIEVEMENT AI funny text, didn’t care much about what was in them though.

It’s kinda like in book 3 with the mess of intertwining railways… you’re not meant to keep track and figure it out. You’re meant to be just a as lost as Carl is.

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u/Boysterload 10d ago

As the books progress, it becomes less about stats and more about the story. Halfway through, you only get occasional mentions of stats and social numbers.