One of the earliest lines really struck me, “And every time I breathed, my mouth and nose started to fill with sand. We needed masks.” I checked the book’s release date and, sure enough, 2021. So the cover art and this line felt like a nod to COVID, but done in a clever way. I appreciated that.
I’ve been binging these books since I discovered them in 2025. And I am not at all sick of the plot, storyline, characters, or their antics. In fact, the larger battle happening outside the dungeon is getting more and more clear. I’m getting more invested with each book.
Of the books I’ve read thus far, this is the first one I felt compelled to start over after the last page. And I am not disappointed. I’m discovering so many hints to the later events, even in the first 3 chapters!
This has been a satisfying series. Even though the subject matter is kinda dark, Carl’s determination, Katia’s wits, and Donut’s charisma keep it from feeling heavy and depressing. It’s the opposite, actually. I feel like it’s encouraging,…that said, I’m kinda nervous about what’s going to happen to Carl and Princess Donut in the next book, but I’m hooked.
I reread this right away after the end credits and I picked up so much more the 2nd time around.