Book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series takes place in an area called The Iron Tangle, a confusing, overlapping web of train tracks, platforms, and subways. This book even begins with a note from the author not to worry too much about the confusing setting, because it is supposed to be confusing for the crawlers, but I admit that had me a little concerned. A vivid setting is key to my enjoyment of any work of fiction: If I can’t imagine the surroundings, or if the difference between two areas is not adequately described, no amount of action will keep me interested.
Surprisingly, Carl, Donut and co. exploring a bunch of very similar train cars and platforms was not a deal-breaker for me. Dinniman did a good job of differentiating these areas not by how they looked (which would have been difficult) but by what happened there. In the end, I took his advice and did not try to make sense of the so-called tangle. Instead, I went along for the ride, and it was great fun.
In this book, we see a bit more of something that started in the previous installment: Carl engaging with other crawlers not as a rival or enemy, but as a comrade. It’s not enough for him to survive, he needs to help others survive too. He makes a point of adding crawlers he meets to his chat list, and shares knowledge freely. Despite the bounty on their heads, Carl isn’t content with merely winning the game. Without saying so explicitly, it’s becoming clear his goal is to subvert the game and exact revenge.
Since this was the most recent of the books to be re-published in hardback by Ace, and therefore the last one available from my library, I decided to buy the whole seven book series as eBooks. I’m very excited to continue with book 4, The Gate of the Feral Gods, as soon as possible!