Rated 2.3 / 5 from 2 logs on Katalog
It's another Dungeon Crawler Carl book, since book two I've enjoyed all of them about the same amount. I got into this series exclusively to check out what "the best sounding audiobook" sounds like but the genre or the topic didn't interest me at all. Getting through the first one was a bit of a slog, the humor didn't work for me, supporting characters were simple and Carl wasn't a very interesting protagonist. However, since book two I've grown to love the characters, get hooked on the overarching story and, boy, the voice acting is absolutely incredible. When I found out that all the different and colorful characters are voiced by the same man, I simply couldn't believe it. Book 5 is more of the same, creative, emotional and fun video-gamey situations resolved in clever ways. Simple but hilarious and heartwarming character interactions. Steadily increasing scope of the story keeps you hooked in between books. Sometimes cringey and too edgy internal monologues, but Hayes pulls it off! Some of the long ago set up plot lines are wrapped up in a satisfying way, many of the supporting cast see substantial growth and form connections which feel deserved and natural. Seeing Carl take control of the situation in the early chapters of the book (and boy, listening to that shit for the first time was electrifying) results in a comparatively unexciting middle act, but the last act brings it back in spectacular fashion. It's been my go to "easy" listening for months now but that doesn't mean I'm spacing out at any point, ok maybe except for those "NEW ACHIEVEMENT! " parts which can absolutely drag, again, Hayes as the narrator saves it.
