The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook was a bit of a mixed read for me. I still really enjoy following Carl and Donut as they try to survive this insane Dungeon and there is that same wild, over the top energy that makes this series so addictive. The character moments are great as always and I especially liked the glimpses into what other Crawlers are facing. Those little side encounters really make the world feel bigger and the intergalactic stuff happening outside the Dungeon is still such a fun, imaginative touch.
Where it lost me a bit was the main setting for this level, a sprawling, tangled subway and train system. Normally I am all for complicated worldbuilding, but here I just found it hard to visualise where they were or how it all connected. Portals, stations, endless train lines… it started feeling more confusing than clever. Because this setting takes up such a huge chunk of the plot, that confusion kept pulling me out of the story. Which is a shame, because when the focus shifted back to the characters and smaller moments, I was completely on board.
Even with those issues, I am still hooked on the series. There is a darker edge simmering under all the chaos that I would love to see explored more and Carl and Donut’s dynamic is just too good to walk away from. The worldbuilding, humour and wild situations keep pulling me back in, so I will definitely be there for Level Five, hopefully with a map I can actually follow.
⭐️3/5 stars Confusing at times, but I’m still hooked and ready for more.
Amy Leigh Reads 
Maybe it’s only the more recent edition that includes it, but the beginning of the book explains that it is supposed to be presented as this impossible to imagine tangle of lines with colours that barely make sense, and a system that hurts the brain.
The author specifically states that whilst it is there to explain the confusing chaos the protagonists are facing, not to worry about understanding the layout too much as it’s not necessary to the reader.
Going in with that expectation, I have ended up enjoying this book far more than the first 2, even with initial hesitation as I knew it was solely based in what are effectively just train platforms and tunnels. Each book continues to impress me with how invested I am in all of the characters and the dungeon itself – not to mention the obvious politics going on behind the scenes.
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