If the first two books were Carl and Donut finding their footing, this one is them fully letting loose, and it is an absolute blast. The crafting system takes center stage and it suits Carl perfectly, because nothing is more satisfying than watching someone improvise increasingly unhinged solutions to impossible problems. New faces like Prepotente and Firas bring fresh energy, and Donut remains in peak form throughout.
Three books in and the emotional stakes keep climbing right alongside the action. There are moments here that genuinely hit hard, and they land because the groundwork has been so carefully laid. This series shows absolutely zero signs of slowing down.