I can’t believe I’m six books into this series. Time flies when you’re reading something so absolutely insane and heartfelt like this! It’s still constantly surprising with ideas this far deep, which is a testament to Dinniman’s creativity. This series is fully encapsulating and I can’t wait to read the next one.

The floor this time features a card battle gimmick. Crawlers have to capture creatures with flags to add them to their deck. The card game itself is fairly standard with monsters, traps, buffs and spells the deckmaster can use. It seems complex at first, but don’t get caught up in the rules. You don’t need to understand them as the characters do a great job of reminding you of things when needed through good hearted banter. Donut and Carl have grown a lot since the first entry and though their outward personalities haven’t changed much, as their image has to be protected, we see glimpses into their true states through clever exposition. Carl intuits Donut’s emotions much like a parent might and seems to know just what to say to put her at ease. Since we see the world through Carl’s perspective, we don’t get much on Donut’s personal endeavors. The things she does only come to our attention when Carl finds out. This dynamic helps solidify her as her own entity, rather than be dependent on Carl to tell him what to do. She has grown up and her actions reflect that. The two have mature conversations when they can and their emotional bond helps them communicate without words when needed. Donut is a reflection of Carl in how she cares for others, but still finds her own, cat-like way to do so. Katia is still around and her struggles with drugs come to light in this entry. After reading the epilogue from the last book, I was really excited to see how her situation would play out. The crown and the drug use being some heavy issues to tackle, the story handles them well. It takes time to overcome addiction and the problem of the crown is a dark cloud over the relationship between Katia and our two main protagonists. (If you don’t remember, basically Katia or Donut have to die before the end of the ninth floor. One has to kill the other or they’re both doomed.) Rather than keep it a secret, Katia explains the issue to Carl and presents a plan to keep either from dying. It showcases a level of trust that is well-earned through how much the two have been through together. Plus, we all know how Carl can come up with crazy plans on the fly.

The indomitable human spirit is on full display here as people band together against the showrunners. Those within the game and outside of it, tend to work together because they’re in the same boat. It proves to be infectious as well, since most of the aliens root for Carl and Donut through sponsorships and their viewer numbers. The crawlers are mostly united, but the floor seeks to force them to fight one another. Carl is opposed to this and seeks to find another way, which leads to some ridiculous developments. He is the very symbol of what humanity should be and why the galaxy seems to be changing before our very eyes.

There are numerous subplots going on simultaneously to Carl and Donut’s. Some of these are highlighted at the end of the story, probably setting up for the next entry. They hint at some interesting changes within the dungeon and outside of it that make me even more eager for the next book. The story of the NPCs being one that’s explored throughout the entire series. It starts to become more entwined with the main story and I think the next floor will see it come to a head (hopefully).

From a nightclub disaster to an apocalypse-level event, this story is constantly throwing new ideas at you. Gods, demons, zombies, giant spiders and more will keep you on the hook throughout the entire story. If you’re this far in, you’re accustomed to how it flows and will find that this entry continues along the same trajectory into the unknown with earnestness. You’ll likely never be able to see what’s coming next, but this isn’t to say the events don’t have a sequence to them. Most things that happen will come with a reminder of an item from days past or rule that was mentioned before. Nothing is truly out of left field or without purpose. Finding that meaning or guessing what’s next is what keeps the series feeling fresh six books in. Keep up the surprises Dinniman and this series will become one of my all time favorites (if it’s not already, I’m probably lying to myself).