
Welcome, Crawler: Dungeon Crawler Carl is now on Libby!
Survival is optional. Library access is not.
If you’re a fan of LitRPG, you’ve likely seen Dungeon Crawler Carl recommended more than once. The originally self-published series from author Matt Dinniman has become a standout sensation in the growing genre, known for its dark humor, sarcasm, satire, and action-packed storyline. With more than seven million copies sold, it’s now one of the most visible titles in the LitRPG genre.
Now there’s a new achievement unlocked: the entire English‑language Dungeon Crawler Carl series is available in ebook—exclusively on the Libby app. All you need is your library card.
Who is Dungeon Crawler Carl?
Carl and Princess Donut, his ex‑girlfriend’s prize-winning show cat, are thrust into a sadistic intergalactic reality TV show that has consumed Earth. To stay alive, they must navigate an enormous 18-level dungeon packed with monsters, traps, and valuable loot, all while being watched by alien audiences.
There are currently 7 books in the series that are now all available on Libby. The eighth installment in the series, A Parade of Horribles, arrives on May 12, 2026.
The apocalypse has been televised. Now it’s being checked out!
LitRPG is having a moment. On Libby, LitRPG checkouts have increased more than 600% year over year. Learn more about the wildly popular series below to see why millions of readers can’t stop recommending these genre‑defining books.
BOOK 1
Dungeon Crawler Carl
by Matt Dinniman
The apocalypse will be televised!
You know what's worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what's worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That's what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game-like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that's actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain't your ordinary game show.
BOOK 2
Carl's Doomsday Scenario
by Matt Dinniman
The ratings and views are off the chart. The fans just can't get enough. The dungeon gets more dangerous each day. But in a grinder designed to chew up and spit out crawlers by the millions, Carl and Princess Donut need to work harder than ever just to survive.
They call it the Over City. A sprawling, once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. But these streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus trawls the ruins. Murdered prostitutes rain from the sky. An ancient spell is finally ready to reveal its dark purpose.
Carl still has no pants.
They call it Dungeon Crawler World. For Carl and Donut, it's anything but a game.
BOOK 3
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook
by Matt Dinniman
Welcome to the Gun Show!
The top ten list is populated. The sponsorship program is open. The difficulty is ramping up. The first three floors were nothing compared to what Carl and Donut now face.
The Iron Tangle. An impossibly-complicated subway system built out of the world's subterranean railway systems, all combined and then tied together into a knot. Up is down. Down is up. Close is far. The cars are filled with monsters, the railway stations are less than safe, and the exit is always just a few stops away.
But there is hope. For the first time, the crawlers are all working together. The loot is better than ever. And the secret to unraveling it all may be hidden in the pages of a seemingly-useless book. Welcome, crawlers. Welcome to the fourth floor of the dungeon.
BOOK 4
The Gate of the Feral Gods
by Matt Dinniman
New Achievement! Total, Utter Failure.
You failed a quest less than five minutes after you received it. Now that's talent.
A floating fortress occupied by warrior gnomes. A castle made of sand. A derelict submarine guarded by malfunctioning machines. A haunted crypt surrounded by lethal traps.
It was supposed to be easy. One bubble. Four castles. Fifteen days. Capture each one, and the stairwell is unlocked.
Here's the thing. It's never easy. Carl and his team can't go it alone. Not this time. They must rely on the help of the low-level, I-can't-believe-these-idiots-are-still-alive crawlers trapped in the bubble with them. But can they be trusted?
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the fifth floor of the dungeon.
BOOK 5
The Butcher's Masquerade
by Matt Dinniman
Attention. Attention. The gates are down. The hunters are loose.
Run, Run, Run.
A lush jungle teeming with danger. Savage dinosaurs seeking blood. A fallen princess intent on vengeance. A mysterious, end-of-floor celebration for the top crawlers, dubbed "The Butcher's Masquerade."
The sixth floor. The Hunting Grounds.
As the remaining crawlers battle for their lives, a new, terrible threat looms. Outside tourists are finally allowed to enter the game, and they are here and ready to hunt. Among them is Vrah, a famed and veteran hunter, intent on collecting the biggest trophy of her career.
But their prey is far from harmless, and this season they are fighting back.
BOOK 6
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
by Matt Dinniman
It is bedlam on the eighth floor.
As management reels from the unexpected conclusion of the seventh level, the surviving crawlers stumble onto the eighth and find themselves scattered. It's a map based on Earth's final days before the collapse, where ethereal, intangible ghosts of humanity go about their lives, oblivious of the impending doom. Living amongst these ghosts are monsters based in Earth lore. "Legendary" creatures tied to the geographical location they inhabit.
Each team of crawlers is given a task: find and capture six of these beasts. The captured monsters will be turned into cards. Cards that can be summoned into battle again and again. The stronger, the deadlier, the better.
At the end of the floor, the bad guys will also have decks, and they will have some of the most powerful cards available. So it's crucial to assemble the toughest squad possible.
But, like always, there is a catch. There's always a catch.
BOOK 7
This Inevitable Ruin
by Matt Dinniman
The ninth floor.
Nine armies, each led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. Each team has one objective: to capture and hold the castle at the very center of the battlefield. Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, and, of course, betrayal... It all makes for great fun and even greater television.
After all, none of these powerful aliens really die when they're playing war.
Except this time. This time, winner takes all. Those who fall, stay in the ground.
As the AI continues its rapid decline, Carl and company take advantage of the chaos. For the first time ever, the crawlers are fighting back. They are now one of the nine teams. And this season, there's a tenth army on the playing field. The NPCs, who are normally used as nothing but cannon fodder, have become fully self-aware and formed a team of their own.
For Donut and Katia, the stakes are even higher. Only one of them will be allowed to leave this level. If they all want to survive, they're going to need a little help from a veteran or two. This is it. This is what they've been fighting toward. This is war.
Where to start (hint: Level One)
New to the series? Start with Book 1 and learn the rules alongside Carl and Princess Donut. Already a fan? This is a good opportunity to reread, catch up before Book 8 releases in May, or recommend the series to someone curious about LitRPG.
Be sure to also check out Matt Dinniman’s four standalone novels, the Dominion of Blades series, and The Shivered Sky series. If you don't see the titles in your library's collection yet, learn how you can let your library know you're interested, right in the Libby app.
All you need is Libby, your library card, and a willingness to dive into the apocalypse. Are you ready?
*Title availability may vary.
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