osubuckeye4
Well-known member
And.... I just finished Parade of Horribles
Now what do I do?
Now what do I do?
Dungeon Crawler Carl series
- Thread starter osubuckeye4
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bconcrete
VolksFAGGIN
I'm struggling with this one for some reason, number 9 wrapped up so many threads I'm having trouble digging back in lol.
And it's my least favorite "level" concept they've had so far.
osubuckeye4
Well-known member
The first 400 pages or so were kind of rough/sluggish. I agree that the
racing
I will say that there's a ton of info that gets dumped out in the last 200 pages.... the last 100 pages in particular are completely bonkers.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
So I’ve been pretty slow in reading the first book. I just got to chapter 11 while in the car on our trip this weekend. But once he got thru the tutorial and fought the first boss, it’s really started to pick up. But that’s as far as I’ve got.
osubuckeye4
Well-known member
Book 1 had some chuckles, but I thought that the story really didn't start to find it's way until the middle of book 2.
First 600 pages or so (book 1 was 400'ish?) are amusing, but as I was reading it I was constantly thinking... 'wait, there are seriously 8 books of this that span 6,000+ pages? I don't get it.'
By the time I finished book 2 I was hooked.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
Alright, literally just finished book 1 on my lunch break. I have one question, does book 2 give any answers as to what is going on with Agatha? And if not, how long does it take for that to get answered fully? That was the only thing that was mentioned right at the end that I was super curious about. There was one other thing that I kind of halfway got spoiled from social media, but i found out it doesn't happen until book 4, so I'm not really worried about it.
bconcrete
VolksFAGGIN
You do get answers on Agatha, but not for awhile. You will have a whole list of other characters and questions that come up tho.
This series is very much a slow burn on a lot of these things. Seeds planted in book 2 wont bear fruit until like book 7, but when they do it makes perfect sense. He does a great job planting seeds, letting stuff marinate, and paying them off (or not) when it becomes the right time.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
Yeah there's been a bunch of that just in the first book. The Agatha thing at the end just made my ears perk up more than the other stuff.
osubuckeye4
Well-known member
I won't spoil anything, but...
Book 2 doesn't directly give much info on what is going on with Agatha. Stuff that gets mentioned in book 2 will weave into what Agatha's deal is though.
As Crete mentioned, later books definitely do explain what is going on with Agatha.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
I'm halfway thorough book 2 now, and while I like it a lot, I kinda feel like book 1 was better. I know @osubuckeye4 you said book 2 gets better about halfway through, so hopefully it'll really pick up. I'm right at the end of the 2nd quest with all the dead hookers, and
osubuckeye4
Well-known member
I don't know that book 2 is 'better'... I Just personally, when reading book 1, got worried that all the books were going to be structured like book 1 (rather linear/confined to the dungeon/following the same progression loops/recycling a bunch of the same humor).
Book 2 starts to introduce things outside of the dungeon, like Carl appearing on Odette's show, which shows that there is a MUCH larger world than just the happenings in the dungeon.
The other books really start to dive into this and while the dungeon and progression and loot are always important... the things that are happening outside of the dungeon start to become extremely important as well, and I found that those elements kept the books from becoming too repetitive/stale.
As far as Dinnimans writing/literary chops... what you see in book 1 is pretty much what you get in future books. The future books are longer, but his writing style is consistent (for better or worse).
If you're starting to get interested in what is going on, and where things eventually end up... stick around because he does deliver on that front. If you just don't care for how he writes, you can bail.
I will say... he's nowhere near as polished as authors like Joe Abercrombie or Scott Lynch... and he doesn't do the technical research that someone like Andy Weir puts into his books. You're more reading these for the world building and breezy page turning aspect... not because they are literary masterpieces. (just my opinion)
goodcat1337
Well-known member
I tried to do a spoiler tag but it didn't work lol. But they're trying to stop the big explosion that's about to happen
osubuckeye4
Well-known member
The spoiler tag verbiage showed up when I did the 'reply', it is weird though because you can't see it unless you isolate it in the reply.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
I thought I was about halfway done, but apparently I was at the very end cause I just finished it on my lunch break. This one was way shorter than book 1. I was listening on Audible and didn't realize there were only 25 chapters.
So now I have to wait until 8/1 so I can redeem another free credit so I can start the 3rd book.
So now I have to wait until 8/1 so I can redeem another free credit so I can start the 3rd book.
goodcat1337
Well-known member
Started book 3. I've heard people talk about The Iron Tangle and how confusing it is and to just not worry about it. Didn't realize that was book 3. I've only made it through three chapters so far, they just bought their personal space and upgraded their training stuff, and Carl just found out that Brandon died. Starting off kinda slow, but I've seen people say this one is their favorite of the series so far, so I know it will pick up once they get done with all the set up and stat upgrades, etc.
bconcrete
VolksFAGGIN
You may have noticed the pattern, and they all go this way pretty much: start slow and world build, build momentum, build momentum, and then it goes completely off the rails by the end. And usually ends with some sort of Carl-caused explosion.