I am not usually much of a cat person. Princess Donut has me in a chokehold anyway.
Matt Dinniman gave us a prize-winning show cat in an apocalyptic dungeon, and apparently that was all it took. Now I am emotionally invested in her opinions. This is where we are.
If you are new to Dungeon Crawler Carl, start with our guide to the books, audio and good stuff. This list sticks to Donut’s personality and the basic setup, with no major later-book plot reveals.
1. She brings show-cat confidence to the apocalypse
The world has ended. The situation is horrifying. Donut still has the self-esteem of a creature who expects to be admired professionally. I love that the dungeon does not automatically turn her into a humble little survival mascot. She arrives with standards.
2. She has an opinion about absolutely everything
Carl already has enough to deal with, and then there is a cat providing commentary. The pleasure is in how specific her personality is. You are never waiting around wondering whether Donut might have some thoughts. You are waiting to find out how much worse those thoughts are going to make Carl’s day.
3. Her pop-culture references make me ridiculously happy
This is one of my favorite parts. I am such an MMORPG girl, so the game mechanics already have me. Then Donut brings her television-informed understanding of the world into the conversation, and I am gone. There is something so funny about human entertainment being filtered through this particular cat.
4. She and Carl are an excellent argument for unlikely friendships
He starts out with his ex-girlfriend’s show cat. That is already an awkward arrangement before you add the alien dungeon. Their different priorities give the story so much of its humor, but their partnership is what makes me want to stay with them.
5. She is allowed to be difficult
I appreciate a favorite character who can be a whole problem. Donut can be vain, demanding and deeply convinced of her own correctness. Loving her does not require pretending she would be an easy roommate. In fact, I feel Carl deserves a little credit here.
6. The loyalty underneath the attitude gets me
All that entitlement would wear thin if there were nothing under it. The attachment is the part that sneaks up on you. I can laugh at her behavior and still care very much about whether she and Carl are okay. That is a dangerous combination for my reading schedule.
7. She makes the dungeon’s audience obsession even funnier
The publisher describes the dungeon as an intergalactic reality show. Putting a show cat in that setting is such a good choice. Of course this horrifying entertainment machine has to contend with a personality who already considers herself worth watching.
8. She makes the absurd parts feel personal
A deadly fantasy dungeon could become a blur of monsters and numbers. Donut gives me somebody whose reaction I want to hear. A ridiculous situation becomes funnier because I know she is going to approach it with her own very particular concerns.
9. Her merch has become a personal temptation
There is official Princess Donut chocolate. I did not need my book obsession to develop a snack component, but I respect the decision. A cat getting her own Virgin Dirty Shirley-inspired chocolate bar feels entirely appropriate.
10. She converted a person who is not usually a cat person
That would be me. I came for a completely unhinged adventure with game mechanics. Now I have a favorite princess, and she is a show cat with an attitude. I am prepared to live with this.
