u/collieholly

Each picture is going to be its own page! Would love to hear what all of you would recommend :)

Just finished A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman, and I really enjoyed this one.

I had people saying to prepare myself because this book felt different or might not hit the same way, but honestly, I liked it a lot more than I expected based on that. To me, it felt completely on par with everything that has happened in the series so far.

The story still had the same chaos, tension, humor, and emotional weight that have kept me invested, and by the end I was fully locked in again. I’m really excited to see where the story goes from here, especially after that twist at the end of the 11th floor.

Definitely another strong entry in the series for me.

Book seven and yeah, this one really landed for me. I think part of why it worked so well is that the floor mechanics had been set up and discussed enough beforehand that there was no buildup-to-letdown moment — it just delivered on what it promised. No floor 7 situation here.

What I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did was how much the external pressures and politics are starting to take center stage. That layer of the story is really picking up and I found myself genuinely invested in it in a way I hadn't quite anticipated. It adds a different kind of tension that plays really well alongside everything else the series does.

Still going strong seven books in. At this point I'm just committed.

Okay so after my feelings on book five, this one was a very welcome bounce back. I actually really liked it. The combat game mechanic added to the floor felt genuinely fresh — something I feel like we hadn’t really seen from the series before — locked external combat for squad leaders. Sure, it’s giving TCG vibes, but honestly? It worked. I was into it.

Hot take: this might be one of my favorites in the series so far. After a book five, book six just reminded me why I got hooked on this in the first place.

Book five and I have to be honest — this one didn't hit the same as most of the others for me. It wasn't bad, but compared to the rest of the series so far it just felt like a step down. And floor 7? Genuinely a letdown. I went in expecting more and came away underwhelmed.

That said, I'm already a good ways into book six and it's holding up so much better. Whatever happened with book five, the series seems to be back on track. Sometimes you just get a weaker entry in an otherwise great series, and I'm willing to let it slide.

Book four and this series continues to just do its thing. The concept for this one was interesting and I really liked where the ending landed — felt like a satisfying stopping point while still leaving plenty to look forward to.

And okay, I was genuinely surprised by the summoning moment. But then I thought about it for half a second and realized I really shouldn't be at this point. That's just Carl. The man is going to Carl his way through every situation no matter what, and honestly that's part of why I keep coming back. And the tease at the end? LOVE IT

Still really enjoying how the story is unfolding overall. The series has this way of escalating that keeps it fresh without losing what makes it work. Excited to see where it goes from here.

No spoilers please — still making my way through (obviously haha)!

So this one took me almost a full month to get through, which honestly says something — the first book had me moving a lot faster. Corvus isn't bad, and it does some interesting things with the story that the first book didn't, but it didn't quite hold up to the standard that got me hooked on the series in the first place. The pacing felt different in a way that didn't always work for me.

That said, I've already got book three on preorder, so clearly I'm not giving up on it. I'm hoping the series finds its footing again and carries the momentum forward. Sometimes a second book is just a bridge, and I'm willing to see where it's bridging to.

Forgot to post this one when I finished it two weeks ago, but I wrapped up The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook and have already made it halfway through book 4 — so safe to say I’m still fully hooked on this series. AND I've already gotten the notifications of my regular copy (to read) and signed copy (to cherish) being shipped for book 8!

This was probably the first book in the series where the beginning took me a little longer to settle into. The first half felt a bit more jaunted to me, and it took some time before I felt fully locked back in. That said, the latter half really brought it home.

Once the momentum picked up, it reminded me why I’ve been enjoying these books so much: the chaos, the character dynamics, the absurd humor, and the way the stakes keep building without losing the emotional thread underneath everything.

By the end, I was right back in it. It ended on a high note for me and made jumping into the next book feel like an easy choice.

This series continues to be such a weird, funny, violent, surprisingly heartfelt ride, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.